Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.

And for election day – The Uncultured Mr Maslow – politicalbetting.com

1235710

Comments

  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,811
    Endillion said:

    So, how many constituencies does Aquitane get, and do we think they'll lean Tory or Labour?

    Boris En Marche?
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826

    Affluent? In Hartlepool? Someone's talking shite.

    @kateferguson4: Hearing that voter turnout is high in some parts of Hartlepool - particularly the more affluent parts of the town. Which would be good news for the Tories

    https://twitter.com/kateferguson4/status/1390291521249894400

    Type. She meant effluent.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,615

    Affluent? In Hartlepool? Someone's talking shite.

    @kateferguson4: Hearing that voter turnout is high in some parts of Hartlepool - particularly the more affluent parts of the town. Which would be good news for the Tories

    https://twitter.com/kateferguson4/status/1390291521249894400

    I thought rich people voted Labour now?
    Yeah, that's the point Ben Walker has made.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 23,118
    kyf_100 said:

    MattW said:

    kyf_100 said:

    The way the Conservatives have hung leaseholders out to dry over the cladding scandal is a national disgrace.

    There are people who bought 25% of a flat under a shared ownership scheme with deposits as little as 35k who are now expected to pony up twice that to fix defects they weren't responsible for while the developers who caused them get off scot free. For a flat they "own" quarter of yet are responsible for 100% of the bills.

    1.3 million flats in the UK are currently unmortgageable, people's lives are on hold, and MPs have voted five times now not to protect leaseholders from costs that will likely bankrupt them.

    While I'm not directly affected by any of this I know people who are and I was close to buying a property that is affected by all of this - so it's a bit of a "there but for the grace of god go I" thing for me.

    In the shared ownership case you quote, who owns the other 75% and why do they not share the liability if the owner is to be liable?

    Is it a matter of a questionable categorisation as "maintenance" and the person who lives there signed up to pay maintenance?

    Thanks
    When you sign up to a leasehold you sign up to 100% of the costs of maintaining that building, even if you only own a percentage of the building.

    But the truth is you never actually own _any_ of the building. You merely lease it from the freeholder for a set amount of time - effectively you are a long term tenant with the ability to sell your lease on to someone else.

    The freeholder owns the building. This is where it gets complicated. The original developer of the building often sells off the freehold to an investor, who may not be based in the Uk and ownership can be obscured through a series of shell companies. Making it difficult if not outright impossible to force the freeholder to pay the costs of rectifying the defects. Hence the reason why the government is so keen to pass costs on to leaseholders.

    Remember, leaseholders own nothing other than a scrap of paper that entitles them to rent a property for a set number of years.

    Even without the cladding scandal, you are beholden to the freeholder for how much repairs, service charges etc cost - mismanagement and corruption are rife and leaseholders have little option but to accept all costs the freeholder chooses to pass on to them.

    The advice is obviously to never buy leasehold, however for people who can only own a flat (or who live in London, where freeholds are rare and prohibitively expensive), there isn't much choice if you wan to "own" property rather than rent on an assured shorthold tenancy.

    We've discussed the cladding scandal at length in this thread, but it's worth pointing out that leasehold as a system exists in England only and the rest of the world thinks it's bonkers.

    A good thread on the subject:

    https://twitter.com/doctorow/status/1286700538994683909

    True.

    However, if the leaseholder only bought 25% then somebody owns the other 75% of the lease.

    Why are they not responsible for 75%?
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 60,216
    Good day yesterday:


  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,615

    Given Boris has just won a thumping victory over the French by lunchtime, do I now have to go out and vote Tory?

    No, our naval forces haven't forced France to honour the Treaty of Troyes.
    Why does you have Petain as your avatar?
    A reminder that you can go from hero to zero very easily and the fact that you're often remembered for your failures not the successes.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,046
    Taz said:

    Affluent? In Hartlepool? Someone's talking shite.

    @kateferguson4: Hearing that voter turnout is high in some parts of Hartlepool - particularly the more affluent parts of the town. Which would be good news for the Tories

    https://twitter.com/kateferguson4/status/1390291521249894400

    You’d be surprised. There are some nice parts in the seat.
    Is there anywhere with literally no nice parts? A relative of mine lives in one of the grimmest villages I've ever seen, but theres still some nice bits a mile up the road.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,811

    I still haven't voted. Still not sure if I can be arsed.

    I haven't voted either - if it weren't for Covid I probably would have done by now.
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 19,454
    kle4 said:

    Taz said:

    Affluent? In Hartlepool? Someone's talking shite.

    @kateferguson4: Hearing that voter turnout is high in some parts of Hartlepool - particularly the more affluent parts of the town. Which would be good news for the Tories

    https://twitter.com/kateferguson4/status/1390291521249894400

    You’d be surprised. There are some nice parts in the seat.
    Is there anywhere with literally no nice parts? A relative of mine lives in one of the grimmest villages I've ever seen, but theres still some nice bits a mile up the road.
    Sunderland
  • Pro_RataPro_Rata Posts: 5,282

    Affluent? In Hartlepool? Someone's talking shite.

    @kateferguson4: Hearing that voter turnout is high in some parts of Hartlepool - particularly the more affluent parts of the town. Which would be good news for the Tories

    https://twitter.com/kateferguson4/status/1390291521249894400

    I thought rich people voted Labour now?
    Yeah, that's the point Ben Walker has made.
    Electoral Calculus has Hartlepool at 30% ABC1.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 42,098
    Pulpstar said:

    Scrimshaw has called Hartlepool for the Tories.

    https://twitter.com/LeanTossup/status/1390293505688457223

    LeanTossup
    @LeanTossup
    The LeanTossup model has Hartlepool being won by the Tories. https://amp.theguardian.com/politics/2021/

    I'm going 3500 as the margin.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,046

    Floater said:
    Can you overdo France surrender meme's ? Twatterati is certainly trying today....until somebody claims its hate speech.
    Yorktown was a great laugh :lol:
    Too soon.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,615
    kle4 said:

    Taz said:

    Affluent? In Hartlepool? Someone's talking shite.

    @kateferguson4: Hearing that voter turnout is high in some parts of Hartlepool - particularly the more affluent parts of the town. Which would be good news for the Tories

    https://twitter.com/kateferguson4/status/1390291521249894400

    You’d be surprised. There are some nice parts in the seat.
    Is there anywhere with literally no nice parts? A relative of mine lives in one of the grimmest villages I've ever seen, but theres still some nice bits a mile up the road.
    Middlesbrough, large tracts of the West Midlands.
  • ozymandiasozymandias Posts: 1,503

    Fenman said:

    Cookie said:

    I had intended to not vote Tory today. Thought I'd give the Lib Dems a look, given their opposition to abandoning parliamentary scrutiny over lockdown. But Jeez, they make it difficult. Layla Moran now appears to be siding with he French over Jersey. Is there any chance of these people taking a pro-British stance on something?

    Don't be silly. Only in this country is there a significant part of the political and media establishment who thoroughly despise their own country and anything it does or says, irrespective of merit. It's almost unique.
    I despise my country. However, I despise the French even more.
    I'm fond of my country, and various others where I've lived. But I think apparent hostility is mostly reaction against the more excessive forms of nationalism. If someone tells me that British is always best, I'll make a derisive noise. But doesn't mean we're not sometimes best, or usually good.
    That's very good to hear and a sensible approach. Labour's problem is that many of their followers and members fail to even consider Britain is good at anything, and that we are the cause, either now or historically, of all the worlds problems - and only by continual self-flagellation and abject remorse with the destruction of everything that we are and were can we go forward. Which is crap. We are good at things, and in some things we are certainly the best. We aren't good or the best at everything - but then again nor is any other country or organisation.

    And yet - a large proportion of the left especially take the default position that we're just shit at everything and there is nothing at all good about our country. Which is why, well, red wall.

  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 38,784
    Can someone other than Leon summarise the UK/France fish war of 2021? I haven't really paid any attention to it.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,046

    kle4 said:

    Taz said:

    Affluent? In Hartlepool? Someone's talking shite.

    @kateferguson4: Hearing that voter turnout is high in some parts of Hartlepool - particularly the more affluent parts of the town. Which would be good news for the Tories

    https://twitter.com/kateferguson4/status/1390291521249894400

    You’d be surprised. There are some nice parts in the seat.
    Is there anywhere with literally no nice parts? A relative of mine lives in one of the grimmest villages I've ever seen, but theres still some nice bits a mile up the road.
    Middlesbrough, large tracts of the West Midlands.
    The relative in question is not far from Middlesbrough in fairness
  • ozymandiasozymandias Posts: 1,503
    MaxPB said:

    Can someone other than Leon summarise the UK/France fish war of 2021? I haven't really paid any attention to it.

    Similar to the ballad of Brave Sir Robin.
  • FloaterFloater Posts: 14,207

    Back from voting. Two of my votes were for Conservative candidates. I did so quite explicitly as a one-off 'thank you' to Boris for his Government's vaccine rollout. They are saving lives, it's brilliant and I wanted to express my gratitude.

    They have no guarantee that I would vote for them again.

    I split my votes -supported the local hard working councillor - someone who works that hard needs to be supported
  • FloaterFloater Posts: 14,207
    MaxPB said:

    Can someone other than Leon summarise the UK/France fish war of 2021? I haven't really paid any attention to it.

    They came, they saw, they ran away
  • ClippPClippP Posts: 1,903

    Back from voting. Two of my votes were for Conservative candidates. I did so quite explicitly as a one-off 'thank you' to Boris for his Government's vaccine rollout. They are saving lives, it's brilliant and I wanted to express my gratitude.

    They have no guarantee that I would vote for them again.

    Do you think that Johnson needs any encouragement to take unto himself ever-greater dictatorial powers?

    Every vote for the Conservatives takes us closer to the moment when people revolt - and I am not in favour of revolutions.
  • FloaterFloater Posts: 14,207

    kle4 said:

    Taz said:

    Affluent? In Hartlepool? Someone's talking shite.

    @kateferguson4: Hearing that voter turnout is high in some parts of Hartlepool - particularly the more affluent parts of the town. Which would be good news for the Tories

    https://twitter.com/kateferguson4/status/1390291521249894400

    You’d be surprised. There are some nice parts in the seat.
    Is there anywhere with literally no nice parts? A relative of mine lives in one of the grimmest villages I've ever seen, but theres still some nice bits a mile up the road.
    Middlesbrough, large tracts of the West Midlands.
    Jaywick
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,169

    Affluent? In Hartlepool? Someone's talking shite.

    @kateferguson4: Hearing that voter turnout is high in some parts of Hartlepool - particularly the more affluent parts of the town. Which would be good news for the Tories

    https://twitter.com/kateferguson4/status/1390291521249894400

    I thought rich people voted Labour now?
    Labour's problem summarised in one house.

    https://bit.ly/33ikWJN
  • solarflaresolarflare Posts: 3,705
    Floater said:

    MaxPB said:

    Can someone other than Leon summarise the UK/France fish war of 2021? I haven't really paid any attention to it.

    They came, they saw, they ran away
    Hopefully that's not the fish we're talking about
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 19,454
    Pulpstar said:

    Affluent? In Hartlepool? Someone's talking shite.

    @kateferguson4: Hearing that voter turnout is high in some parts of Hartlepool - particularly the more affluent parts of the town. Which would be good news for the Tories

    https://twitter.com/kateferguson4/status/1390291521249894400

    I thought rich people voted Labour now?
    Labour's problem summarised in one house.

    https://bit.ly/33ikWJN
    You're right. Not enough flags for Keir Starmer.
  • eekeek Posts: 28,362

    kle4 said:

    Taz said:

    Affluent? In Hartlepool? Someone's talking shite.

    @kateferguson4: Hearing that voter turnout is high in some parts of Hartlepool - particularly the more affluent parts of the town. Which would be good news for the Tories

    https://twitter.com/kateferguson4/status/1390291521249894400

    You’d be surprised. There are some nice parts in the seat.
    Is there anywhere with literally no nice parts? A relative of mine lives in one of the grimmest villages I've ever seen, but theres still some nice bits a mile up the road.
    Middlesbrough, large tracts of the West Midlands.
    Even Boro has nice parts

    https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@54.5648206,-1.2409606,3a,75y,129.75h,78.37t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1scZJVeayqj3IFoAyte7GRZg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
  • ozymandiasozymandias Posts: 1,503

    Pulpstar said:

    Affluent? In Hartlepool? Someone's talking shite.

    @kateferguson4: Hearing that voter turnout is high in some parts of Hartlepool - particularly the more affluent parts of the town. Which would be good news for the Tories

    https://twitter.com/kateferguson4/status/1390291521249894400

    I thought rich people voted Labour now?
    Labour's problem summarised in one house.

    https://bit.ly/33ikWJN
    You're right. Not enough flags for Keir Starmer.
    Nah. Just dismissed as a house full of racists.
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 19,454

    Pulpstar said:

    Affluent? In Hartlepool? Someone's talking shite.

    @kateferguson4: Hearing that voter turnout is high in some parts of Hartlepool - particularly the more affluent parts of the town. Which would be good news for the Tories

    https://twitter.com/kateferguson4/status/1390291521249894400

    I thought rich people voted Labour now?
    Labour's problem summarised in one house.

    https://bit.ly/33ikWJN
    You're right. Not enough flags for Keir Starmer.
    Nah. Just dismissed as a house full of racists.
    You appear to have gotten out of the wrong side of the bed today.
  • CookieCookie Posts: 13,772
    kle4 said:

    kle4 said:

    Taz said:

    Affluent? In Hartlepool? Someone's talking shite.

    @kateferguson4: Hearing that voter turnout is high in some parts of Hartlepool - particularly the more affluent parts of the town. Which would be good news for the Tories

    https://twitter.com/kateferguson4/status/1390291521249894400

    You’d be surprised. There are some nice parts in the seat.
    Is there anywhere with literally no nice parts? A relative of mine lives in one of the grimmest villages I've ever seen, but theres still some nice bits a mile up the road.
    Middlesbrough, large tracts of the West Midlands.
    The relative in question is not far from Middlesbrough in fairness
    There are some parts of Middlesbrough which are moderately affluent - Nunthorpe, for example - and many really very nice areas immediately outside of its borders.

    Not sure we can, any more, assume that turnouts from the affluent bits = good news for the Tories though. Maybe.

    If I had to live in any seat, which seat would I least want it to be? Possibly West Bromwich East. Even here though, I think you could find some nice bits.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 23,118
    MaxPB said:

    Can someone other than Leon summarise the UK/France fish war of 2021? I haven't really paid any attention to it.

    I'll leave that for another.

    This was just episode one.

    It is not yet as piratical as the last one - scallops in 2018.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8lC2vnXJtY
  • FloaterFloater Posts: 14,207
    kle4 said:

    Sexist term!

    Good on France and the UK for providing something newsworthy but petty to displace the brisk voting and dogs outside polling stations.
    When I just voted it was actually busier than I expected and there was a dog outside!

    PS - people - don't forget a pen / pencil in addition to your mask when you go

  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 19,454
    Floater said:

    kle4 said:

    Sexist term!

    Good on France and the UK for providing something newsworthy but petty to displace the brisk voting and dogs outside polling stations.
    When I just voted it was actually busier than I expected and there was a dog outside!

    PS - people - don't forget a pen / pencil in addition to your mask when you go

    I didn't bring a pencil. I just used the one provided as normal.
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 38,784

    MaxPB said:

    Can someone other than Leon summarise the UK/France fish war of 2021? I haven't really paid any attention to it.

    Super Boris summoned the spirit of Prince Philip and sent in her majesty's Royal Navy to squash the pesky frogs but they surrendered immediately. Amen
    Lol! Did the French actually run away from two decrepit boats?
  • ozymandiasozymandias Posts: 1,503

    Pulpstar said:

    Affluent? In Hartlepool? Someone's talking shite.

    @kateferguson4: Hearing that voter turnout is high in some parts of Hartlepool - particularly the more affluent parts of the town. Which would be good news for the Tories

    https://twitter.com/kateferguson4/status/1390291521249894400

    I thought rich people voted Labour now?
    Labour's problem summarised in one house.

    https://bit.ly/33ikWJN
    You're right. Not enough flags for Keir Starmer.
    Nah. Just dismissed as a house full of racists.
    It's this perpetual cold. In the words of Withnail.
  • FloaterFloater Posts: 14,207

    Floater said:

    kle4 said:

    Sexist term!

    Good on France and the UK for providing something newsworthy but petty to displace the brisk voting and dogs outside polling stations.
    When I just voted it was actually busier than I expected and there was a dog outside!

    PS - people - don't forget a pen / pencil in addition to your mask when you go

    I didn't bring a pencil. I just used the one provided as normal.
    There aren't any in the booths - and they are asking for people to take their own
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 19,454
    edited May 2021
    Floater said:

    Floater said:

    kle4 said:

    Sexist term!

    Good on France and the UK for providing something newsworthy but petty to displace the brisk voting and dogs outside polling stations.
    When I just voted it was actually busier than I expected and there was a dog outside!

    PS - people - don't forget a pen / pencil in addition to your mask when you go

    I didn't bring a pencil. I just used the one provided as normal.
    There aren't any in the booths - and they are asking for people to take their own
    Odd. My polling station had pencils on string in the booths as normal.

    Why are people obsessing over this anyway? We know that COVID isn't really transmitted by touch.
  • EndillionEndillion Posts: 4,976
    Just voted. I have very little confidence in my GLA votes, but I can honestly say I made my Mayoralty vote Count.
  • GardenwalkerGardenwalker Posts: 21,298
    Sean_F said:

    I'm not so sure that the government will be caught out. There was a decline in home ownership levels after 2007, but it seems to have bottomed out in 2015. Construction output has risen by 30% since 2013, and quite a lot of new builds have come through.

    The premise, however, that high levels of home ownership correlate with high levels of Conservative support is entirely correct.

    IanB2 said:

    Some concrete numbers from Waverley (Surrey, mixed Con/LD/Residents councillors, Lab making a more serious effort than before but not expecting a gain). 26.6% of the electorate have ordered PVs, and 59.7% of those have actually voted (more will arrive today, but should be close to the final figure), so 16% of all voters have voted before today. Voting today is described as "steady with occasional queues". Guess at final figure: 35-40%? No party is making a serious telling effort, though a few candidates are hanging around smiling hopefully at voters.

    Some concrete numbers from Waverley (Surrey, mixed Con/LD/Residents councillors, Lab making a more serious effort than before but not expecting a gain). 26.6% of the electorate have ordered PVs, and 59.7% of those have actually voted (more will arrive today, but should be close to the final figure), so 16% of all voters have voted before today. Voting today is described as "steady with occasional queues". Guess at final figure: 35-40%? No party is making a serious telling effort, though a few candidates are hanging around smiling hopefully at voters.

    I think you underestimate the number that will come in on the day, given that any polling station can now take them in. The key takeaway from your data is that possibly around half of all the votes will have been cast by post, which is likely to be a record.
    Had a lunchtime report from two polling stations on just this point - the number of PVs handed in was 0 and 1 respectively.

    But I'm sure you're right that the proportion of votes cast by post will be a record. Perhaps eventually it will be like Switzerland, where 90% vote by post and campaigning accordingly stops a couple of days before the election. They see voting by hand as antiquated as writing a handwritten business letter - sure, you can do it, by why take the trouble?
    I’m against postal voting generally.

    Going out to vote is a collective act of civic responsibility; one of the few opportunities we have to exercise public citizenship.

    I appreciate this ship has sailed; it’s a shame.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 41,950
    edited May 2021

    Pulpstar said:

    Really disappointed in Boris Johnson that he didn't name the naval task force 'Operation Mers-el-Kébir.'

    Should have called it "Operation Gain Hartlepool".
    'Operation hang the monkey'
    Spank the monkey more like..
  • tlg86tlg86 Posts: 26,173

    Affluent? In Hartlepool? Someone's talking shite.

    @kateferguson4: Hearing that voter turnout is high in some parts of Hartlepool - particularly the more affluent parts of the town. Which would be good news for the Tories

    https://twitter.com/kateferguson4/status/1390291521249894400

    I thought rich people voted Labour now?
    Yeah, that's the point Ben Walker has made.
    Probably not true in the Red Wall. Probably true in Woking.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,169

    Floater said:

    Floater said:

    kle4 said:

    Sexist term!

    Good on France and the UK for providing something newsworthy but petty to displace the brisk voting and dogs outside polling stations.
    When I just voted it was actually busier than I expected and there was a dog outside!

    PS - people - don't forget a pen / pencil in addition to your mask when you go

    I didn't bring a pencil. I just used the one provided as normal.
    There aren't any in the booths - and they are asking for people to take their own
    Odd. My polling station had pencils on string in the booths as normal.

    Why are people obsessing over this anyway? We know that COVID isn't really transmitted by touch.
    Mine had loads of seperate one, After I used it it went into a seperate box. I can't remember if the polling staff were masked or not (Think they were)
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,811

    Given Boris has just won a thumping victory over the French by lunchtime, do I now have to go out and vote Tory?

    No, our naval forces haven't forced France to honour the Treaty of Troyes.
    Why does you have Petain as your avatar?
    A reminder that you can go from hero to zero very easily and the fact that you're often remembered for your failures not the successes.
    But he collaborated with Hitler!
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 42,098
    Pulpstar said:

    Affluent? In Hartlepool? Someone's talking shite.

    @kateferguson4: Hearing that voter turnout is high in some parts of Hartlepool - particularly the more affluent parts of the town. Which would be good news for the Tories

    https://twitter.com/kateferguson4/status/1390291521249894400

    I thought rich people voted Labour now?
    Labour's problem summarised in one house.

    https://bit.ly/33ikWJN
    Bet they've got a big, out of control dog.
  • FloaterFloater Posts: 14,207

    Floater said:

    Floater said:

    kle4 said:

    Sexist term!

    Good on France and the UK for providing something newsworthy but petty to displace the brisk voting and dogs outside polling stations.
    When I just voted it was actually busier than I expected and there was a dog outside!

    PS - people - don't forget a pen / pencil in addition to your mask when you go

    I didn't bring a pencil. I just used the one provided as normal.
    There aren't any in the booths - and they are asking for people to take their own
    Odd. My polling station had pencils on string in the booths as normal.

    Why are people obsessing over this anyway? We know that COVID isn't really transmitted by touch.
    No idea - its not just here as I only found out when a son let me know after he went earlier in his area
  • CookieCookie Posts: 13,772

    Given Boris has just won a thumping victory over the French by lunchtime, do I now have to go out and vote Tory?

    No, our naval forces haven't forced France to honour the Treaty of Troyes.
    Why does you have Petain as your avatar?
    A reminder that you can go from hero to zero very easily and the fact that you're often remembered for your failures not the successes.
    But he collaborated with Hitler!
    I think that's the point. That's what he is remembered for. But prior to that he was seen as a hero.
  • ozymandiasozymandias Posts: 1,503
    kinabalu said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Affluent? In Hartlepool? Someone's talking shite.

    @kateferguson4: Hearing that voter turnout is high in some parts of Hartlepool - particularly the more affluent parts of the town. Which would be good news for the Tories

    https://twitter.com/kateferguson4/status/1390291521249894400

    I thought rich people voted Labour now?
    Labour's problem summarised in one house.

    https://bit.ly/33ikWJN
    Bet they've got a big, out of control dog.
    And if they were displaying a Palestinian flag instead what would be your assumption of the residents?
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 42,098

    D

    Pulpstar said:

    Really disappointed in Boris Johnson that he didn't name the naval task force 'Operation Mers-el-Kébir.'

    Should have called it "Operation Gain Hartlepool".
    'Operation hang the monkey'
    Spank the monkey more like..
    So, big night and (I'm guessing) a nervous one. Per the betting it's on a knife edge whether the SNP can get an overall majority on their own.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 71,043
    .
    MaxPB said:

    MaxPB said:

    Can someone other than Leon summarise the UK/France fish war of 2021? I haven't really paid any attention to it.

    Super Boris summoned the spirit of Prince Philip and sent in her majesty's Royal Navy to squash the pesky frogs but they surrendered immediately. Amen
    Lol! Did the French actually run away from two decrepit boats?
    No.

    (And the boats aren't decrepit, just feeble popgun barges.)
  • tlg86tlg86 Posts: 26,173
    Cookie said:

    Given Boris has just won a thumping victory over the French by lunchtime, do I now have to go out and vote Tory?

    No, our naval forces haven't forced France to honour the Treaty of Troyes.
    Why does you have Petain as your avatar?
    A reminder that you can go from hero to zero very easily and the fact that you're often remembered for your failures not the successes.
    But he collaborated with Hitler!
    I think that's the point. That's what he is remembered for. But prior to that he was seen as a hero.
    And still is...

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46129990

    Speaking during a tour of northern France in Charleville-Mezieres, the president said: "It's right that we honour the marshals who led France to victory (in WW1)."

    And referring to Pétain, Mr Macron said: "He was a great soldier", although he had made "disastrous choices" during the Nazi occupation of France.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 71,043

    Given Boris has just won a thumping victory over the French by lunchtime, do I now have to go out and vote Tory?

    No, our naval forces haven't forced France to honour the Treaty of Troyes.
    Why does you have Petain as your avatar?
    A reminder that you can go from hero to zero very easily and the fact that you're often remembered for your failures not the successes.
    You could have had Dave (pbuh).

  • LeonLeon Posts: 55,231
    Oh dear. Small Dick Energy is making American headlines

    https://www.thedailybeast.com/britain-accuses-france-of-showing-small-dick-energy-in-petty-navy-standoff-over-fish

    I have a sense Macron will LOATHE this
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 42,098

    kinabalu said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Affluent? In Hartlepool? Someone's talking shite.

    @kateferguson4: Hearing that voter turnout is high in some parts of Hartlepool - particularly the more affluent parts of the town. Which would be good news for the Tories

    https://twitter.com/kateferguson4/status/1390291521249894400

    I thought rich people voted Labour now?
    Labour's problem summarised in one house.

    https://bit.ly/33ikWJN
    Bet they've got a big, out of control dog.
    And if they were displaying a Palestinian flag instead what would be your assumption of the residents?
    That they were either Palestinian or on the hard left.
  • GardenwalkerGardenwalker Posts: 21,298
    All this time we thought Boris wanted to be Churchill; he actually wanted to be Palmerston.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,811

    Floater said:

    Floater said:

    kle4 said:

    Sexist term!

    Good on France and the UK for providing something newsworthy but petty to displace the brisk voting and dogs outside polling stations.
    When I just voted it was actually busier than I expected and there was a dog outside!

    PS - people - don't forget a pen / pencil in addition to your mask when you go

    I didn't bring a pencil. I just used the one provided as normal.
    There aren't any in the booths - and they are asking for people to take their own
    Odd. My polling station had pencils on string in the booths as normal.

    Why are people obsessing over this anyway? We know that COVID isn't really transmitted by touch.
    There is some risk, from recent review papers - and not much time between users. So ...
  • StockyStocky Posts: 10,211
    Anyone know the key times to be up watching results on TV?
  • StockyStocky Posts: 10,211
    kinabalu said:

    D

    Pulpstar said:

    Really disappointed in Boris Johnson that he didn't name the naval task force 'Operation Mers-el-Kébir.'

    Should have called it "Operation Gain Hartlepool".
    'Operation hang the monkey'
    Spank the monkey more like..
    So, big night and (I'm guessing) a nervous one. Per the betting it's on a knife edge whether the SNP can get an overall majority on their own.
    Yes, I've been thinking about that.

    Any predictions from the Scots and Scots-watchers?

    @Alistair ?
  • ChrisChris Posts: 11,745

    Scott_xP said:


    ...

    I don't get the joke - does the cartoonist think that the Jersey affair is bad for Boris ?

    Are they mad ?

    Back from voting. Two of my votes were for Conservative candidates. I did so quite explicitly as a one-off 'thank you' to Boris for his Government's vaccine rollout. They are saving lives, it's brilliant and I wanted to express my gratitude.

    They have no guarantee that I would vote for them again.

    People are so fickle. Boris saved your life, so you are going to vote for him just once?

    And then you are going to vote for someone else, and in the next pandemic the government will leave people to die in the gutter. And serve them right too, if they didn't vote Tory.
  • EndillionEndillion Posts: 4,976
    Carnyx said:

    Floater said:

    Floater said:

    kle4 said:

    Sexist term!

    Good on France and the UK for providing something newsworthy but petty to displace the brisk voting and dogs outside polling stations.
    When I just voted it was actually busier than I expected and there was a dog outside!

    PS - people - don't forget a pen / pencil in addition to your mask when you go

    I didn't bring a pencil. I just used the one provided as normal.
    There aren't any in the booths - and they are asking for people to take their own
    Odd. My polling station had pencils on string in the booths as normal.

    Why are people obsessing over this anyway? We know that COVID isn't really transmitted by touch.
    There is some risk, from recent review papers - and not much time between users. So ...
    Mine was giving out pencils on request, but then not re-using them. No idea what they're planning to do with a massive box of pencils that have only been used to make four small crosses.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 51,589

    All this time we thought Boris wanted to be Churchill; he actually wanted to be Palmerston.

    This government is the absolute Pitts.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,811

    All this time we thought Boris wanted to be Churchill; he actually wanted to be Palmerston.

    This government is the absolute Pitts.
    At night all cats are Earl Grey.
  • ChrisChris Posts: 11,745

    MaxPB said:

    Can someone other than Leon summarise the UK/France fish war of 2021? I haven't really paid any attention to it.

    The previous treaty (which took 11 years to negotiate between Jersey & France) had a requirement that annually French authorities would submit to Jersey details of their catch. In 20 years they never did.

    The current treaty - negotiated between the UK & EU (neither France nor Jersey directly involved) requires that French fishermen can go on catching the same amount of fish as they have historically. Because the treaty was agreed so late there has been a 4 month grace period free for all where the French have caught as much as they like - two years worth of scollops in 4 months for example. They also stopped Jersey fishermen landing their catches in France. To get a licence to carry on fishing, French fishermen have to submit details of their historical catches - which many of them have not, either because they didn't understand the requirement, or because they simply never kept the record, or deliberately low-balled their claimed catch. So when the licences were issued on Friday - reflecting their reported historical catches - many of them were completely snookered.

    In the French Parliament a minister observed that as France supplies power to Jersey they have some leverage, to which one Whitehall source remarked "at least the Nazi's kept the lights on". Jersey can keep its own lights on in any case.
    Macron professed "surprise" which suggests either he or his officials didn't understand what the EU had signed on their behalf.

    French fishermen announced a blockade of St Helier - so Boris offered to send two boats to keep an eye on things, which Jersey gratefully accepted.

    About 80 boats arrived off St Helier this morning - some sailed in, then sailed out again, delaying a departure, but not stopping it. The RN hung back by about a mile. Two French Navy boats stayed just outside territorial waters. The French fishermen are returning to port, having had their demo.

    Looking ahead - if they haven't kept records of what they've caught - or have lied about how much they did catch they are still in trouble.

    This is classic "Brexit Red Tape" - just the boot is on the other foot and they don't like it.
    OMG! Foreigners are such bastards, aren't they?
  • ChrisChris Posts: 11,745
    Endillion said:

    Carnyx said:

    Floater said:

    Floater said:

    kle4 said:

    Sexist term!

    Good on France and the UK for providing something newsworthy but petty to displace the brisk voting and dogs outside polling stations.
    When I just voted it was actually busier than I expected and there was a dog outside!

    PS - people - don't forget a pen / pencil in addition to your mask when you go

    I didn't bring a pencil. I just used the one provided as normal.
    There aren't any in the booths - and they are asking for people to take their own
    Odd. My polling station had pencils on string in the booths as normal.

    Why are people obsessing over this anyway? We know that COVID isn't really transmitted by touch.
    There is some risk, from recent review papers - and not much time between users. So ...
    Mine was giving out pencils on request, but then not re-using them. No idea what they're planning to do with a massive box of pencils that have only been used to make four small crosses.
    Exporting them to France, I hope!!!
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,811
    Endillion said:

    Carnyx said:

    Floater said:

    Floater said:

    kle4 said:

    Sexist term!

    Good on France and the UK for providing something newsworthy but petty to displace the brisk voting and dogs outside polling stations.
    When I just voted it was actually busier than I expected and there was a dog outside!

    PS - people - don't forget a pen / pencil in addition to your mask when you go

    I didn't bring a pencil. I just used the one provided as normal.
    There aren't any in the booths - and they are asking for people to take their own
    Odd. My polling station had pencils on string in the booths as normal.

    Why are people obsessing over this anyway? We know that COVID isn't really transmitted by touch.
    There is some risk, from recent review papers - and not much time between users. So ...
    Mine was giving out pencils on request, but then not re-using them. No idea what they're planning to do with a massive box of pencils that have only been used to make four small crosses.
    I thought fomite transmission is now thought to be minimal.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,811
    Stocky said:

    Anyone know the key times to be up watching results on TV?

    No election night - wait until the morning!
  • TimTTimT Posts: 6,468
    Leon said:

    Oh dear. Small Dick Energy is making American headlines

    https://www.thedailybeast.com/britain-accuses-france-of-showing-small-dick-energy-in-petty-navy-standoff-over-fish

    I have a sense Macron will LOATHE this

    I had not come across this term before your post, but I love it, and no doubt will be using it a little too liberally in the next few weeks.
  • northern_monkeynorthern_monkey Posts: 1,639
    For all those on tenterhooks to see who will be the glorious victor in the race to become the inaugural West Yorkshire Mayor, please note that the count won't take place until Sunday. My mate's doing the count for Leeds' locals tomorrow and Saturday then the mayoral one on Sunday, all in Leeds' lovely first direct arena.

    I'm sure that for many of you, it's going to be a long, frustrating wait.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,615
    Nigelb said:

    Given Boris has just won a thumping victory over the French by lunchtime, do I now have to go out and vote Tory?

    No, our naval forces haven't forced France to honour the Treaty of Troyes.
    Why does you have Petain as your avatar?
    A reminder that you can go from hero to zero very easily and the fact that you're often remembered for your failures not the successes.
    You could have had Dave (pbuh).

    A picture of Dave (pbuh) would trigger PB's snowflakes.
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    Endillion said:

    Carnyx said:

    Floater said:

    Floater said:

    kle4 said:

    Sexist term!

    Good on France and the UK for providing something newsworthy but petty to displace the brisk voting and dogs outside polling stations.
    When I just voted it was actually busier than I expected and there was a dog outside!

    PS - people - don't forget a pen / pencil in addition to your mask when you go

    I didn't bring a pencil. I just used the one provided as normal.
    There aren't any in the booths - and they are asking for people to take their own
    Odd. My polling station had pencils on string in the booths as normal.

    Why are people obsessing over this anyway? We know that COVID isn't really transmitted by touch.
    There is some risk, from recent review papers - and not much time between users. So ...
    Mine was giving out pencils on request, but then not re-using them. No idea what they're planning to do with a massive box of pencils that have only been used to make four small crosses.
    Just voted. Voting was "steady", not sure how that differs from "brisk".

    Mine had boxes of pencils that you could take, followed by a box to put used pencils into. Not many in the used pencil box, so I'm guessing they're taking them back, sanitising them and then re-using them? Or something like that?

    Gave 2nd preference for PCC to the Lib Dems.
  • TazTaz Posts: 14,361
    Pulpstar said:

    Affluent? In Hartlepool? Someone's talking shite.

    @kateferguson4: Hearing that voter turnout is high in some parts of Hartlepool - particularly the more affluent parts of the town. Which would be good news for the Tories

    https://twitter.com/kateferguson4/status/1390291521249894400

    I thought rich people voted Labour now?
    Labour's problem summarised in one house.

    https://bit.ly/33ikWJN
    They need to be told, in no uncertain terms, by young London based labour activists that they are flag shaggers. Perhaps give them a copy of Steve Bells amusing cartoon. That will show them the error of their ways.
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830
    Chris said:

    MaxPB said:

    Can someone other than Leon summarise the UK/France fish war of 2021? I haven't really paid any attention to it.

    The previous treaty (which took 11 years to negotiate between Jersey & France) had a requirement that annually French authorities would submit to Jersey details of their catch. In 20 years they never did.

    The current treaty - negotiated between the UK & EU (neither France nor Jersey directly involved) requires that French fishermen can go on catching the same amount of fish as they have historically. Because the treaty was agreed so late there has been a 4 month grace period free for all where the French have caught as much as they like - two years worth of scollops in 4 months for example. They also stopped Jersey fishermen landing their catches in France. To get a licence to carry on fishing, French fishermen have to submit details of their historical catches - which many of them have not, either because they didn't understand the requirement, or because they simply never kept the record, or deliberately low-balled their claimed catch. So when the licences were issued on Friday - reflecting their reported historical catches - many of them were completely snookered.

    In the French Parliament a minister observed that as France supplies power to Jersey they have some leverage, to which one Whitehall source remarked "at least the Nazi's kept the lights on". Jersey can keep its own lights on in any case.
    Macron professed "surprise" which suggests either he or his officials didn't understand what the EU had signed on their behalf.

    French fishermen announced a blockade of St Helier - so Boris offered to send two boats to keep an eye on things, which Jersey gratefully accepted.

    About 80 boats arrived off St Helier this morning - some sailed in, then sailed out again, delaying a departure, but not stopping it. The RN hung back by about a mile. Two French Navy boats stayed just outside territorial waters. The French fishermen are returning to port, having had their demo.

    Looking ahead - if they haven't kept records of what they've caught - or have lied about how much they did catch they are still in trouble.

    This is classic "Brexit Red Tape" - just the boot is on the other foot and they don't like it.
    OMG! Foreigners are such bastards, aren't they?
    What in that detailed, well-informed and balanced account of the issues invites that response?
  • HarryFreemanHarryFreeman Posts: 210
    MaxPB said:

    Can someone other than Leon summarise the UK/France fish war of 2021? I haven't really paid any attention to it.

    "Quiet news day kabuki theatre event suits both Boris and Macron.."
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 81,963
    All this talk of small dick, willy waving...one sector where it is a positive....

    BBC News - IBM 2nm chip breakthrough claims more power with less energy
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-57009930
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 23,479
    Is this utterly pointless game of Giant Battleships now over?

    What an embarrassing episode for all concerned.
  • ChrisChris Posts: 11,745
    IshmaelZ said:

    Chris said:

    MaxPB said:

    Can someone other than Leon summarise the UK/France fish war of 2021? I haven't really paid any attention to it.

    The previous treaty (which took 11 years to negotiate between Jersey & France) had a requirement that annually French authorities would submit to Jersey details of their catch. In 20 years they never did.

    The current treaty - negotiated between the UK & EU (neither France nor Jersey directly involved) requires that French fishermen can go on catching the same amount of fish as they have historically. Because the treaty was agreed so late there has been a 4 month grace period free for all where the French have caught as much as they like - two years worth of scollops in 4 months for example. They also stopped Jersey fishermen landing their catches in France. To get a licence to carry on fishing, French fishermen have to submit details of their historical catches - which many of them have not, either because they didn't understand the requirement, or because they simply never kept the record, or deliberately low-balled their claimed catch. So when the licences were issued on Friday - reflecting their reported historical catches - many of them were completely snookered.

    In the French Parliament a minister observed that as France supplies power to Jersey they have some leverage, to which one Whitehall source remarked "at least the Nazi's kept the lights on". Jersey can keep its own lights on in any case.
    Macron professed "surprise" which suggests either he or his officials didn't understand what the EU had signed on their behalf.

    French fishermen announced a blockade of St Helier - so Boris offered to send two boats to keep an eye on things, which Jersey gratefully accepted.

    About 80 boats arrived off St Helier this morning - some sailed in, then sailed out again, delaying a departure, but not stopping it. The RN hung back by about a mile. Two French Navy boats stayed just outside territorial waters. The French fishermen are returning to port, having had their demo.

    Looking ahead - if they haven't kept records of what they've caught - or have lied about how much they did catch they are still in trouble.

    This is classic "Brexit Red Tape" - just the boot is on the other foot and they don't like it.
    OMG! Foreigners are such bastards, aren't they?
    What in that detailed, well-informed and balanced account of the issues invites that response?
    What in it DOESN'T???
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,615
    edited May 2021

    On topic, becoming homeowners is what begets Tory voters, it is roughly the moment the majority of younger voters stop being lefties and become (fiscal) Conservatives.

    Even house prices ooop North are becoming disconnected from salaries.

    Citation needed. There's plenty of evidence that voting Conservative correlates with age, and buying houses correlates with age, but is the latter the reason for the former? I don't think we know. Are elderly tenants or young owners very different from their peers?

    I suspect something related but more subtle is at work. As people get older they become more resistant to change that might affect any aspects of the lives that they've built up - they are very unlikely to say "Oh, let's try a mad gamble", as people with little to lose might do. That's why it works with older people when the media scare them enough, and why Biden with a leftish programme could beat Trump, as Trump was definitely scarier even if you quite liked him and thought Biden was a bit doddery.
    Nick, sorry it is a theory that has been privately and publicly espoused by Tories like George Osborne and others.

    It isn't just the definitive pivot point but a major pivot point.

    It means you're earning enough to worry about just how much of your salary gets taxed at 40% and also it also coincides for many with becoming parents, so things like education and health become issues for the younger voter to consider in a way they haven't done so before.

    You also start paying attention to things like interest rates as well.
  • TazTaz Posts: 14,361

    Pulpstar said:

    Affluent? In Hartlepool? Someone's talking shite.

    @kateferguson4: Hearing that voter turnout is high in some parts of Hartlepool - particularly the more affluent parts of the town. Which would be good news for the Tories

    https://twitter.com/kateferguson4/status/1390291521249894400

    I thought rich people voted Labour now?
    Labour's problem summarised in one house.

    https://bit.ly/33ikWJN
    You're right. Not enough flags for Keir Starmer.
    Nah. Just dismissed as a house full of racists.
    They need to have the puss taken out of them unrelentingly by blue ticks and left wing activists on social media. That will show them the error of their ways.
  • TimTTimT Posts: 6,468

    Good day yesterday:


    From his photo, Mr Gye does not look old enough to be getting his second shot...
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 17,392

    Just voted.

    Voting was dead. I was the sole voter in my corner of Hackney.

    There were pencils.

    I staged my own “mini act of defiance” by voting maskless.

    The actual story is that I scooped up what I thought was a face mask as I left the house.
    But as I approached the polling station, I pulled out what was - on close inspection - one of my wife’s socks...

    I was once very embarrassed at the start of a lake district walk when my walking socks turned out to be a pair of gloves... Luckily a colleague had a spare pair...
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,615

    Given Boris has just won a thumping victory over the French by lunchtime, do I now have to go out and vote Tory?

    No, our naval forces haven't forced France to honour the Treaty of Troyes.
    Why does you have Petain as your avatar?
    A reminder that you can go from hero to zero very easily and the fact that you're often remembered for your failures not the successes.
    But he collaborated with Hitler!
    I know, that's why I talked about the zero part.

    Vidkun Quisling wasn't a hero to the Norwegian people for the decades in the way Maréchal Pétain was.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 41,950
    kinabalu said:

    D

    Pulpstar said:

    Really disappointed in Boris Johnson that he didn't name the naval task force 'Operation Mers-el-Kébir.'

    Should have called it "Operation Gain Hartlepool".
    'Operation hang the monkey'
    Spank the monkey more like..
    So, big night and (I'm guessing) a nervous one. Per the betting it's on a knife edge whether the SNP can get an overall majority on their own.
    Aye, pretty much 50-50 on a maj I think. General reports from all sides of comparatively busy turnout which is 'supposed' to suit indy side, but who knows..
    Applied for a postal vote this time since things were so uncertain 4 months ago, but delivered it to the polling station by hand. Again, reasonably busy for a rainy afternoon.
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 17,392

    Endillion said:

    Carnyx said:

    Floater said:

    Floater said:

    kle4 said:

    Sexist term!

    Good on France and the UK for providing something newsworthy but petty to displace the brisk voting and dogs outside polling stations.
    When I just voted it was actually busier than I expected and there was a dog outside!

    PS - people - don't forget a pen / pencil in addition to your mask when you go

    I didn't bring a pencil. I just used the one provided as normal.
    There aren't any in the booths - and they are asking for people to take their own
    Odd. My polling station had pencils on string in the booths as normal.

    Why are people obsessing over this anyway? We know that COVID isn't really transmitted by touch.
    There is some risk, from recent review papers - and not much time between users. So ...
    Mine was giving out pencils on request, but then not re-using them. No idea what they're planning to do with a massive box of pencils that have only been used to make four small crosses.
    I thought fomite transmission is now thought to be minimal.
    It is but advice has not really been updated to match the science. I suspect (a) its not doing harm (like all the hand washing and sanitizing) (b) helps convey the 'still a pandemic' message and (c) plans were made many months ago and not changed.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 122,874
    edited May 2021
    tlg86 said:

    Affluent? In Hartlepool? Someone's talking shite.

    @kateferguson4: Hearing that voter turnout is high in some parts of Hartlepool - particularly the more affluent parts of the town. Which would be good news for the Tories

    https://twitter.com/kateferguson4/status/1390291521249894400

    I thought rich people voted Labour now?
    Yeah, that's the point Ben Walker has made.
    Probably not true in the Red Wall. Probably true in Woking.
    It is the LDs the rich vote for in the South, not Labour, certainly at local level where the LDs are Nimbys and appeal to the upper middle class who like their views of and walks in open fields and are already home owners.

    In the North and Midlands home owners on above average incomes vote Tory.

    Only really in a few wealthy parts of Woke London like Hampstead and Islington and a few university cities like Bristol and Cambridge and Brighton and Cardiff do the rich vote Labour
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,797
    sarissa said:

    DavidL said:

    Charles said:

    Question. Is it legal to park a car literally plastered in party logos directly outside the door of the polling station?

    I just passed Brian Rose campaigning in the City...
    Must realise he’s about to be thrashed by a man with a bin on his head.
    I'm actually quite sad about not having the opportunity to vote for Mr Binface himself.
    I am yet to vote and was wondering if a write in would work.
    AFAIK, you can request an emergency proxy vote until 5:00PM today if you have a good reason.
    Thanks. I will be home before 10 to vote but Count Binface is sadly not on the list for NE Scotland. Indeed no one of his quality is.
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 60,216
    This one's going to run & run:

    Nominating myself as official adjudicator of the Battle of Jersey:

    United Kingdom 1 - 0 France

    Poor first half by France, followed by a poor second half. Really channelling that Macron “small dick energy”.


    https://twitter.com/EuRollout/status/1390296746463428614?s=20
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    Is there anything worth staying up for tonight?

    There's Hartlepool, but that's about 4am I think which if that's the only thing doesn't seem worth staying up for.
  • sarissasarissa Posts: 1,988
    Stocky said:

    Anyone know the key times to be up watching results on TV?

    Saturday for the list vote in Scotland....
  • TazTaz Posts: 14,361

    Is this utterly pointless game of Giant Battleships now over?

    What an embarrassing episode for all concerned.

    Almost as embarrassing as the awful movie of the same name that Rihanna starred in
  • El_CapitanoEl_Capitano Posts: 4,239

    Nigelb said:

    Given Boris has just won a thumping victory over the French by lunchtime, do I now have to go out and vote Tory?

    No, our naval forces haven't forced France to honour the Treaty of Troyes.
    Why does you have Petain as your avatar?
    A reminder that you can go from hero to zero very easily and the fact that you're often remembered for your failures not the successes.
    You could have had Dave (pbuh).

    A picture of Dave (pbuh) would trigger PB's snowflakes.
    I cycled past Dave (pbuh)'s polling station this morning. Voting was not brisk... it was dead as the proverbial. The homemade jam stand alongside had a nice big LibDem diamond on show, though.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,811

    Given Boris has just won a thumping victory over the French by lunchtime, do I now have to go out and vote Tory?

    No, our naval forces haven't forced France to honour the Treaty of Troyes.
    Why does you have Petain as your avatar?
    A reminder that you can go from hero to zero very easily and the fact that you're often remembered for your failures not the successes.
    But he collaborated with Hitler!
    I know, that's why I talked about the zero part.

    Vidkun Quisling wasn't a hero to the Norwegian people for the decades in the way Maréchal Pétain was.
    But, still, it's disappointing that you would have a known anti-Semite as your avatar.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,615
    Selebian said:

    Just been invited for my first jab (I'm 39). Text invitation, I hadn't been trying my luck on the booking site, mainly due to not getting around to it. Local vaccination centre about a mile away.

    Sister in law (37) been invited for hers too. Both North Yorks

    Edit: Does this mean I now have to dash out and vote Conservative? :wink:

    It means Bill Gates now controls you.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,811

    Nigelb said:

    Given Boris has just won a thumping victory over the French by lunchtime, do I now have to go out and vote Tory?

    No, our naval forces haven't forced France to honour the Treaty of Troyes.
    Why does you have Petain as your avatar?
    A reminder that you can go from hero to zero very easily and the fact that you're often remembered for your failures not the successes.
    You could have had Dave (pbuh).

    A picture of Dave (pbuh) would trigger PB's snowflakes.
    Piss be upon him?
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 122,874
    edited May 2021

    Is there anything worth staying up for tonight?

    There's Hartlepool, but that's about 4am I think which if that's the only thing doesn't seem worth staying up for.

    Harlow, Chelmsford, Uttlesford, Derby, Dudley, Rochdale, Oldham, Wolverhampton, Northumberland, Nuneaton, Southend, Thurrock and Wolverhampton and a handful of other councils are counting tonight, the vast majority though are only verifying tonight and counting tomorrow.

    The Mayor of Doncaster result will be tonight too
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 42,098
    edited May 2021

    Endillion said:

    Carnyx said:

    Floater said:

    Floater said:

    kle4 said:

    Sexist term!

    Good on France and the UK for providing something newsworthy but petty to displace the brisk voting and dogs outside polling stations.
    When I just voted it was actually busier than I expected and there was a dog outside!

    PS - people - don't forget a pen / pencil in addition to your mask when you go

    I didn't bring a pencil. I just used the one provided as normal.
    There aren't any in the booths - and they are asking for people to take their own
    Odd. My polling station had pencils on string in the booths as normal.

    Why are people obsessing over this anyway? We know that COVID isn't really transmitted by touch.
    There is some risk, from recent review papers - and not much time between users. So ...
    Mine was giving out pencils on request, but then not re-using them. No idea what they're planning to do with a massive box of pencils that have only been used to make four small crosses.
    Just voted. Voting was "steady", not sure how that differs from "brisk".

    Mine had boxes of pencils that you could take, followed by a box to put used pencils into. Not many in the used pencil box, so I'm guessing they're taking them back, sanitising them and then re-using them? Or something like that?

    Gave 2nd preference for PCC to the Lib Dems.
    Yep, same pencil arrangement here. Take one, use it to mark your ballot, then place it in the box set aside for this purpose. Absolutely no reason to try and stand out by doing anything different to that.
This discussion has been closed.