They’re not wrong. It’s shockingly bad. An obscene insult to one of the most serenely beautiful cities in the world. How did it happen? How did it cost so much???
The amazing thing is that, despite costing £400m, it manages to look cheap. Like a po-mo Premier Inn on the outskirts of Basingstoke
The worst public building erected in the UK - ever??
They needed something to make what happened inside look good. It didn't work.
And in fairness with the building of the turd it is probably only the second ugliest building in Edinburgh.
I thought it cost more than 400m
I think that the official figure was £414.4m. Not even worth 1% of that.
It has a negative value. Because it is actively ugly, and distressing to look at, so it detracts from the cityscape of lovely Edinburgh, and harms its reputation.
And every day someone looks at it and winces, and their day is made just a little bit worse. It is bad for humankind
Someone should write a book about how a building this obviously horrible and ugly ends up getting built, and at such vast expense, to boot. It's the architectural equivalent of one of those mahoosively expensive Hollywood movies that make about $3. Like Heaven's Gate. Or the Postman by Kevin Costner.
Unlike those movies, Holyrood will never gain a cult following and it will always be there in your face to insult Edinburgh folk, until it is demolished in a fit of honest shame
The SNP wanted it in the old Royal High School high up on Calton Hill, but that was too uppity for the Unionists and it had to be put down in the valley next to Holyroodhouse [the Palace].
So how does that explain why it's so (apparently) god awful?
It doesn't. But it does explain the location.
The primary architect did die half way through designing it (if you see what I mean) but I'm not sure how much impact that had.
Location & architect change likely upped the price tag, but price tag was probably gonna be stratospheric regardless.
Funny thing was there was a superb Enlightenment Greek Revival building lying empty. But oh no, having it on the hill was too much of a nationalist shibboleth and no the SNP wouldn't be listened to when they wanted to put it there.
They’re not wrong. It’s shockingly bad. An obscene insult to one of the most serenely beautiful cities in the world. How did it happen? How did it cost so much???
The amazing thing is that, despite costing £400m, it manages to look cheap. Like a po-mo Premier Inn on the outskirts of Basingstoke
The worst public building erected in the UK - ever??
They needed something to make what happened inside look good. It didn't work.
And in fairness with the building of the turd it is probably only the second ugliest building in Edinburgh.
I thought it cost more than 400m
I think that the official figure was £414.4m. Not even worth 1% of that.
It has a negative value. Because it is actively ugly, and distressing to look at, so it detracts from the cityscape of lovely Edinburgh, and harms its reputation.
And every day someone looks at it and winces, and their day is made just a little bit worse. It is bad for humankind
Someone should write a book about how a building this obviously horrible and ugly ends up getting built, and at such vast expense, to boot. It's the architectural equivalent of one of those mahoosively expensive Hollywood movies that make about $3. Like Heaven's Gate. Or the Postman by Kevin Costner.
Unlike those movies, Holyrood will never gain a cult following and it will always be there in your face to insult Edinburgh folk, until it is demolished in a fit of honest shame
The SNP wanted it in the old Royal High School high up on Calton Hill, but that was too uppity for the Unionists and it had to be put down in the valley next to Holyroodhouse [the Palace].
So how does that explain why it's so (apparently) god awful?
It doesn't. But it does explain the location.
The primary architect did die half way through designing it (if you see what I mean) but I'm not sure how much impact that had.
Location & architect change likely upped the price tag, but price tag was probably gonna be stratospheric regardless.
Funny thing was there was a superb Enlightenment Greek Revival building lying empty. But oh no, having it on the hill was too much of a nationalist shibboleth and no the SNP wouldn't be listened to when they wanted to put it there.
Maybe it's not Brexit or Starmer? 5:15 PM · May 10, 2021·Twitter Web App
What this boils down to, in my opinion, is the impatience and intolerance of left-wing voters. They're no longer prepared to compromise on anything, so they're fragmenting into all sorts of different minor parties that promise unrealistic outcomes in a short time frame. They want everything yesterday. They're not interested in the "long slog" of ordinary politics. The established centre-left parties are too slow and non-radical for their liking.
It's not "the Left" - it's the end of a mass unionised working-class labour force forming the bedrock of established left-wing parties throughout the West. The nature of both work and politics has changed.
Now, "Left" means radical action on climate change and social issues, and individual identity being more important than national identity.
Most of the buildings have now been demolished or refurbed but not Holyrood
Fascinating list. I agree with the public in every case
The only one I might have saved is that car park in Newcastle. Sometimes Brutalism can work, and be exhilarating in its monstrous and insulting ugliness.
Trouble is, it should be on some industrial estate or in Thames dockyards, not in the middle of a rather noble city like Newcastle (which, unlike too many British cities, has a coherent and sometimes handsome architectural plan)
Also the supermarket. I like that. But I see it has been kept. Good
They’re not wrong. It’s shockingly bad. An obscene insult to one of the most serenely beautiful cities in the world. How did it happen? How did it cost so much???
The amazing thing is that, despite costing £400m, it manages to look cheap. Like a po-mo Premier Inn on the outskirts of Basingstoke
The worst public building erected in the UK - ever??
They needed something to make what happened inside look good. It didn't work.
And in fairness with the building of the turd it is probably only the second ugliest building in Edinburgh.
I thought it cost more than 400m
I think that the official figure was £414.4m. Not even worth 1% of that.
It has a negative value. Because it is actively ugly, and distressing to look at, so it detracts from the cityscape of lovely Edinburgh, and harms its reputation.
And every day someone looks at it and winces, and their day is made just a little bit worse. It is bad for humankind
Someone should write a book about how a building this obviously horrible and ugly ends up getting built, and at such vast expense, to boot. It's the architectural equivalent of one of those mahoosively expensive Hollywood movies that make about $3. Like Heaven's Gate. Or the Postman by Kevin Costner.
Unlike those movies, Holyrood will never gain a cult following and it will always be there in your face to insult Edinburgh folk, until it is demolished in a fit of honest shame
The SNP wanted it in the old Royal High School high up on Calton Hill, but that was too uppity for the Unionists and it had to be put down in the valley next to Holyroodhouse [the Palace].
So how does that explain why it's so (apparently) god awful?
It doesn't. But it does explain the location.
The primary architect did die half way through designing it (if you see what I mean) but I'm not sure how much impact that had.
Location & architect change likely upped the price tag, but price tag was probably gonna be stratospheric regardless.
Funny thing was there was a superb Enlightenment Greek Revival building lying empty. But oh no, having it on the hill was too much of a nationalist shibboleth and no the SNP wouldn't be listened to when they wanted to put it there.
On the German Greens, I don't follow German politics closely, but I think the Left here shouldn't get excited about it spreading here.
Arguably "the Left here" should be worried in case the German success (if it happens) lends credibility to the UK Green Party as a repository for voters disillusioned, or more likely baffled, by Labour.
It's possible, but if people do follow German politics closely enough to be influenced by it (a big if for most), they'll find that the Greens there are boringly centrist apart from a couple of keynote issues like nuclear power (which the CDU have been phasing out anyway). I can imagine people who would really like them (moderate policies with a layer of environmental concern), and I know people who really like the UK Greens (Corbynism+hippies) but it's hard to imagine anyone liking both.
Batley & Spen was Tory-held 1983 - 1997 by Elizabeth Peacock, and has,therefore, not been such a consistently Labour seat. Nevertheless I find it difficult to see how Starmer could survive its loss. Unlike Hartlepool the timing is not so much in his hands , though he may be able to defer it to early Autumn - ie September. By that time the vaccine 'bounce' may well have dissipated or been overtaken by other events.
Wither the fearless free speech warriors who will defend this noble horse doper?
I’m more concerned about his defence that a groom urinated on the horse’s food…
Omg, I missed this on first read
Baffert has had at least 30 positive doping tests for his horses, but insisted to Fox that he runs a clean operation.
How is he still operating?
I know… are they all his own horses or does he train for other owners…
No, they aren't "his" but he does seem to have incredible bad luck such as the pain relief the groom was wearing which rubbed onto a horse and caused it to fail a post-race test.
The horse has NOT been disqualified at this time - the Kentucky racing authorities are waiting the results of further tests.
What are the odds on being so unlucky so frequently and all on champion horses?
In a training barn with a history of taking low price yearlings and turning them into winners at Triple Crown races. That said, drug tests on horses are incredibly sensitive and do turn up false positives. When my daughter is competing, even though she is an amateur (but because it is an Olympic sport governed by the FEI), we have to be very careful for some 3 months or so around the barn and with feed supplements.
Perhaps your daughter might consider switching to a somewhat more reputable sport? Ratting?
Just kidding in her case, and ditto for your horsey friends.
BTW, always loved the Monty Python bit "Upper-Class Twit of the Year" which had something like:
"There goes Smith Smythe-Smith! His father was in the Cabinet, and his mother won the Derby!"
Batley & Spen was Tory-held 1983 - 1997 by Elizabeth Peacock, and has,therefore, not been such a consistently Labour seat. Nevertheless I find it difficult to see how Starmer could survive its loss. Unlike Hartlepool the timing is not so much in his hands , though he may be able to defer it to early Autumn - ie September. By that time the vaccine 'bounce' may well have dissipated or been overtaken by other events.
Not so sure. I think the Queen’s Speech sets the narrative into the summer, and then in Sep/Oct it’s the run in to a spending review. Noting the recent economic forecasts, that spending review will actually be good news vs. what was in the Budget. The story will be “sweeties for all”.
Boris must have done something awesome for someone in a previous life.
The only one I might have saved is that car park in Newcastle. Sometimes Brutalism can work, and be exhilarating in its monstrous and insulting ugliness.
Trouble is, it should be on some industrial estate or in Thames dockyards, not in the middle of a rather noble city like Newcastle (which, unlike too many British cities, has a coherent and sometimes handsome architectural plan)
I think the German Greens are well to the Left of where I'd be comfortable with but I think their success on the basis that the 'realist' wing now dominates, and they've shown that in coalition for a number of years:
"The Green party in Germany is not the socialist project of Extinction Rebellion. In many ways, it is further to the right than the British Conservatives. In November, the party launched a ‘zero tolerance’ plan to tackle Muslim extremism, calling for a boost to police powers and a ban on Salafi organisations. Meanwhile, the Greens have successfully run Baden-Württemberg, Germany’s third largest state, since 2011, where self-confessed ‘green conservative’ Winfried Kretschmann, the Minister-President, has fought against tax increases and in favour of pro-market policies. The proud diesel-driving Catholic also takes a tough line on migrant gangs, arguing that ‘the most dangerous thing that human evolution has produced is hordes of young men’. Kretschmann was re-elected earlier this year on an increased majority.
The appeal of the German Greens lies in their centrism. Both Baerbock and Habeck have relentlessly stressed the party’s status as a Bündnispartei — a coalition party willing to work with anyone in order to get things done. Its ecological politics are broad and popular: promoting renewables, protecting the environment and promising new green jobs. But it opposes Nord Stream 2, Merkel’s dream of an oil pipeline flowing from Russia that many see as the cause of her ambivalence towards Putin. Berlin’s western allies would be only too happy to see the Kremlin’s crude tentacles cut back."
Maybe it's not Brexit or Starmer? 5:15 PM · May 10, 2021·Twitter Web App
What this boils down to, in my opinion, is the impatience and intolerance of left-wing voters. They're no longer prepared to compromise on anything, so they're fragmenting into all sorts of different minor parties that promise unrealistic outcomes in a short time frame. They want everything yesterday. They're not interested in the "long slog" of ordinary politics. The established centre-left parties are too slow and non-radical for their liking.
It's not "the Left" - it's the end of a mass unionised working-class labour force forming the bedrock of established left-wing parties throughout the West. The nature of both work and politics has changed.
Now, "Left" means radical action on climate change and social issues, and individual identity being more important than national identity.
Parties that want to win elections have to do two things, both essential: they have to present a message that people will vote for, not should vote for or used to vote for. And they have to present as being compasses rather than weather vanes leaders not followers. Left and right all that stuff means nothing in this context. There is stuff and presentations that people will vote for and things they won't. Labels don't really help.
BTW to say something positive about SKS, just recently the USA escaped from a leader who plainly supported violence in his cause and the overthrow of the democratic process if it would help him. He could even have won if a few million people had switched. This is scary. While Jezza was in charge there was only one party in UK who could win and be trusted with having the state in its hands. With SKS in charge there are now two. Like America we always need a spare party just in case.
Most of the buildings have now been demolished or refurbed but not Holyrood
Fascinating list. I agree with the public in every case
The only one I might have saved is that car park in Newcastle. Sometimes Brutalism can work, and be exhilarating in its monstrous and insulting ugliness.
Trouble is, it should be on some industrial estate or in Thames dockyards, not in the middle of a rather noble city like Newcastle (which, unlike too many British cities, has a coherent and sometimes handsome architectural plan)
Also the supermarket. I like that. But I see it has been kept. Good
It wasn't in Newcastle. It was in Gateshead. And was iconic. I have a coffee mug with a picture of it on the side.
To unite the threads of architecture and Germany, see this
The Germans have simply abandoned the attempt to make attractive modernist town centres, realising we are somehow incapable. Instead they are now rebuilding entire medieval town centres, brick for brick, from scratch - the ones the RAF flattened. Frankfurt is an example
We should do exactly the same in the UK. I can think of a dozen cities/disrricts, off the bat, which would benefit enormously from such a scheme. Coventry, Exeter, Northampton, maybe Brum, Swansea, Plymouth, Derby, Clydebank, do it.
Architects will shriek and howl and moan about "pastiche" but given that they are congenitally unable to design anything better they can fuck off
I think the German Greens are well to the Left of where I'd be comfortable with but I think their success on the basis that the 'realist' wing now dominates, and they've shown that in coalition for a number of years:
"The Green party in Germany is not the socialist project of Extinction Rebellion. In many ways, it is further to the right than the British Conservatives. In November, the party launched a ‘zero tolerance’ plan to tackle Muslim extremism, calling for a boost to police powers and a ban on Salafi organisations. Meanwhile, the Greens have successfully run Baden-Württemberg, Germany’s third largest state, since 2011, where self-confessed ‘green conservative’ Winfried Kretschmann, the Minister-President, has fought against tax increases and in favour of pro-market policies. The proud diesel-driving Catholic also takes a tough line on migrant gangs, arguing that ‘the most dangerous thing that human evolution has produced is hordes of young men’. Kretschmann was re-elected earlier this year on an increased majority.
The appeal of the German Greens lies in their centrism. Both Baerbock and Habeck have relentlessly stressed the party’s status as a Bündnispartei — a coalition party willing to work with anyone in order to get things done. Its ecological politics are broad and popular: promoting renewables, protecting the environment and promising new green jobs. But it opposes Nord Stream 2, Merkel’s dream of an oil pipeline flowing from Russia that many see as the cause of her ambivalence towards Putin. Berlin’s western allies would be only too happy to see the Kremlin’s crude tentacles cut back."
Its worth remembering that the German Greens green ambitions are more moderate than Boris's Conservatives ones are.
From what I've read the German Greens would be my second choice party as it stands (FDP first), but I don't think their voting system works via ranked voting.
Maybe it's not Brexit or Starmer? 5:15 PM · May 10, 2021·Twitter Web App
What this boils down to, in my opinion, is the impatience and intolerance of left-wing voters. They're no longer prepared to compromise on anything, so they're fragmenting into all sorts of different minor parties that promise unrealistic outcomes in a short time frame. They want everything yesterday. They're not interested in the "long slog" of ordinary politics. The established centre-left parties are too slow and non-radical for their liking.
It's not "the Left" - it's the end of a mass unionised working-class labour force forming the bedrock of established left-wing parties throughout the West. The nature of both work and politics has changed.
Now, "Left" means radical action on climate change and social issues, and individual identity being more important than national identity.
BigG's list is a bit over-simplified. The Danish social democrats are completely dominant at the moment, and both Swedish and Norwegian parties are doing OK. But more to the point is that under PR it's natural to split so you can express your views more precisely. The Swedes aren't losing votes to their right but to moderate leftish alternatives who are allied to them. With PR, why not split?
But I agree that reliance on class voting is building on sand.
They’re not wrong. It’s shockingly bad. An obscene insult to one of the most serenely beautiful cities in the world. How did it happen? How did it cost so much???
The amazing thing is that, despite costing £400m, it manages to look cheap. Like a po-mo Premier Inn on the outskirts of Basingstoke
The worst public building erected in the UK - ever??
They needed something to make what happened inside look good. It didn't work.
And in fairness with the building of the turd it is probably only the second ugliest building in Edinburgh.
I thought it cost more than 400m
I think that the official figure was £414.4m. Not even worth 1% of that.
It has a negative value. Because it is actively ugly, and distressing to look at, so it detracts from the cityscape of lovely Edinburgh, and harms its reputation.
And every day someone looks at it and winces, and their day is made just a little bit worse. It is bad for humankind
Someone should write a book about how a building this obviously horrible and ugly ends up getting built, and at such vast expense, to boot. It's the architectural equivalent of one of those mahoosively expensive Hollywood movies that make about $3. Like Heaven's Gate. Or the Postman by Kevin Costner.
Unlike those movies, Holyrood will never gain a cult following and it will always be there in your face to insult Edinburgh folk, until it is demolished in a fit of honest shame
The SNP wanted it in the old Royal High School high up on Calton Hill, but that was too uppity for the Unionists and it had to be put down in the valley next to Holyroodhouse [the Palace].
So how does that explain why it's so (apparently) god awful?
It doesn't. But it does explain the location.
The primary architect did die half way through designing it (if you see what I mean) but I'm not sure how much impact that had.
Location & architect change likely upped the price tag, but price tag was probably gonna be stratospheric regardless.
Funny thing was there was a superb Enlightenment Greek Revival building lying empty. But oh no, having it on the hill was too much of a nationalist shibboleth and no the SNP wouldn't be listened to when they wanted to put it there.
To unite the threads of architecture and Germany, see this
The Germans have simply abandoned the attempt to make attractive modernist town centres, realising we are somehow incapable. Instead they are now rebuilding entire medieval town centres, brick for brick, from scratch - the ones the RAF flattened. Frankfurt is an example
We should do exactly the same in the UK. I can think of a dozen cities/disrricts, off the bat, which would benefit enormously from such a scheme. Coventry, Exeter, Northampton, maybe Brum, Swansea, Plymouth, Derby, Clydebank, do it.
Architects will shriek and howl and moan about "pastiche" but given that they are congenitally unable to design anything better they can fuck off
Some of Bath too. It got the Baedeker treatment. And Portsmouth, especially the area to the south and east of the nasval dockyard. Hell, even Plymouth naval base could do with the restoration of the residential terrace - the south part is in part a mess from hasty wastime/postwar expansion over blitzed areas.
Haven't the Germans been doing it for some time? Or am I thinking of the Poles and Warsaw? But it's a nice approach.
Most of the buildings have now been demolished or refurbed but not Holyrood
Fascinating list. I agree with the public in every case
The only one I might have saved is that car park in Newcastle. Sometimes Brutalism can work, and be exhilarating in its monstrous and insulting ugliness.
Trouble is, it should be on some industrial estate or in Thames dockyards, not in the middle of a rather noble city like Newcastle (which, unlike too many British cities, has a coherent and sometimes handsome architectural plan)
Also the supermarket. I like that. But I see it has been kept. Good
It wasn't in Newcastle. It was in Gateshead. And was iconic. I have a coffee mug with a picture of it on the side.
So what replaced it? A branch of Tesco.
Yeah, I liked it. But I didn't have to live with it looming over me every day in Gateshead/Newky. It was quite, er, "imposing"
As opposed to carefully arranged, preplanned sex with a member of your own family.
A couple from Alabama get married and on the morning of the big day the father of the groom said if he's got any questions then to call home.
That night as the young couple are getting ready for bed the bride says to her husband "this is my first time".
The groom gets spooked who calls his dad for his advice. "Come home son," is the response, "if she ain't good enough for her family, she ain't good enough for ours."
The original, almost certainly unrealistic, budgeted cost of Holyrood was £40m. Donald Dewar (unionist) was responsible for the original estimate and subsequent budgetary control. Only when George Reid (national) was in charge of the budget, and threatened to pull the plug on the whole project, were costs finally under control and the building finally finished. Yet another example of why Scotland will be run better by nationalists than by useless unionists. Incidentally, as a Scottish Nationalist, I am proud of the Parliament building in a way that I could never be proud of the Colonial Monstrosity in Westminster.
To unite the threads of architecture and Germany, see this
The Germans have simply abandoned the attempt to make attractive modernist town centres, realising we are somehow incapable. Instead they are now rebuilding entire medieval town centres, brick for brick, from scratch - the ones the RAF flattened. Frankfurt is an example
We should do exactly the same in the UK. I can think of a dozen cities/disrricts, off the bat, which would benefit enormously from such a scheme. Coventry, Exeter, Northampton, maybe Brum, Swansea, Plymouth, Derby, Clydebank, do it.
Architects will shriek and howl and moan about "pastiche" but given that they are congenitally unable to design anything better they can fuck off
Some of Bath too. It got the Baedeker treatment. And Portsmouth, especially the area to the south and east of the nasval dockyard. Hell, even Plymouth naval base could do with the restoration of the residential terrace - the south part is in part a mess from hasty wastime/postwar expansion over blitzed areas.
Haven't the Germans been doing it for some time? Or am I thinking of the Poles and Warsaw? But it's a nice approach.
I was at college in Portsmouth. If a nuclear bomb struck Portsmouth it would cause £100 million of improvements.
The original, almost certainly unrealistic, budgeted cost of Holyrood was £40m. Donald Dewar (unionist) was responsible for the original estimate and subsequent budgetary control. Only when George Reid (national) was in charge of the budget, and threatened to pull the plug on the whole project, were costs finally under control and the building finally finished. Yet another example of why Scotland will be run better by nationalists than by useless unionists. Incidentally, as a Scottish Nationalist, I am proud of the Parliament building in a way that I could never be proud of the Colonial Monstrosity in Westminster.
Because, as we all know. the Scots were deeply squeamish about colonialism and preferred to stay home rather than get involved with the British Empire, in any way
They’re not wrong. It’s shockingly bad. An obscene insult to one of the most serenely beautiful cities in the world. How did it happen? How did it cost so much???
The amazing thing is that, despite costing £400m, it manages to look cheap. Like a po-mo Premier Inn on the outskirts of Basingstoke
The worst public building erected in the UK - ever??
They needed something to make what happened inside look good. It didn't work.
And in fairness with the building of the turd it is probably only the second ugliest building in Edinburgh.
I thought it cost more than 400m
I think that the official figure was £414.4m. Not even worth 1% of that.
It has a negative value. Because it is actively ugly, and distressing to look at, so it detracts from the cityscape of lovely Edinburgh, and harms its reputation.
And every day someone looks at it and winces, and their day is made just a little bit worse. It is bad for humankind
Someone should write a book about how a building this obviously horrible and ugly ends up getting built, and at such vast expense, to boot. It's the architectural equivalent of one of those mahoosively expensive Hollywood movies that make about $3. Like Heaven's Gate. Or the Postman by Kevin Costner.
Unlike those movies, Holyrood will never gain a cult following and it will always be there in your face to insult Edinburgh folk, until it is demolished in a fit of honest shame
The SNP wanted it in the old Royal High School high up on Calton Hill, but that was too uppity for the Unionists and it had to be put down in the valley next to Holyroodhouse [the Palace].
So how does that explain why it's so (apparently) god awful?
It doesn't. But it does explain the location.
The primary architect did die half way through designing it (if you see what I mean) but I'm not sure how much impact that had.
Location & architect change likely upped the price tag, but price tag was probably gonna be stratospheric regardless.
Funny thing was there was a superb Enlightenment Greek Revival building lying empty. But oh no, having it on the hill was too much of a nationalist shibboleth and no the SNP wouldn't be listened to when they wanted to put it there.
That’s a good looking building. Westminster were fools to turn it down.
Still not found a use.
I am not sure personally that Nicola's ego would have fitted inside it.
It is surely quite astonishing that a planning department can impose such restrictions on the use of a building that it remains empty for more than 50 years. It is a beautiful building on a great site but what a waste.
They’re not wrong. It’s shockingly bad. An obscene insult to one of the most serenely beautiful cities in the world. How did it happen? How did it cost so much???
The amazing thing is that, despite costing £400m, it manages to look cheap. Like a po-mo Premier Inn on the outskirts of Basingstoke
The worst public building erected in the UK - ever??
They needed something to make what happened inside look good. It didn't work.
And in fairness with the building of the turd it is probably only the second ugliest building in Edinburgh.
I thought it cost more than 400m
I think that the official figure was £414.4m. Not even worth 1% of that.
It has a negative value. Because it is actively ugly, and distressing to look at, so it detracts from the cityscape of lovely Edinburgh, and harms its reputation.
And every day someone looks at it and winces, and their day is made just a little bit worse. It is bad for humankind
Someone should write a book about how a building this obviously horrible and ugly ends up getting built, and at such vast expense, to boot. It's the architectural equivalent of one of those mahoosively expensive Hollywood movies that make about $3. Like Heaven's Gate. Or the Postman by Kevin Costner.
Unlike those movies, Holyrood will never gain a cult following and it will always be there in your face to insult Edinburgh folk, until it is demolished in a fit of honest shame
The SNP wanted it in the old Royal High School high up on Calton Hill, but that was too uppity for the Unionists and it had to be put down in the valley next to Holyroodhouse [the Palace].
So how does that explain why it's so (apparently) god awful?
It doesn't. But it does explain the location.
The primary architect did die half way through designing it (if you see what I mean) but I'm not sure how much impact that had.
Had huge impact on the cost. He died before he drew up the final plans. He;d delivered the vision (so we were still goig to end up with an awful looking building) but he hadn't finished the "turning the vision into an actual working building" when he popped his clogs.
given he was a massive award winning architect the people who came along to finish the job were too scared to make the necessary changes. As a result everyone struggled to build a basically impossible design thus the massive cost overrun and various ergonomic problems of actually using it as a parliament.
He certainly had a 'distinct' style - that's a market in Barcelona
Most of the buildings have now been demolished or refurbed but not Holyrood
Fascinating list. I agree with the public in every case
The only one I might have saved is that car park in Newcastle. Sometimes Brutalism can work, and be exhilarating in its monstrous and insulting ugliness.
Trouble is, it should be on some industrial estate or in Thames dockyards, not in the middle of a rather noble city like Newcastle (which, unlike too many British cities, has a coherent and sometimes handsome architectural plan)
Also the supermarket. I like that. But I see it has been kept. Good
It wasn't in Newcastle. It was in Gateshead. And was iconic. I have a coffee mug with a picture of it on the side.
So what replaced it? A branch of Tesco.
Yeah, I liked it. But I didn't have to live with it looming over me every day in Gateshead/Newky. It was quite, er, "imposing"
It was also impractical - I remember that some floors had ceilings that were below minimum legal heights (we used to park there when heading to Newcastle, we now park by Gateshead Stadium metro or Grangertown car park)
The original, almost certainly unrealistic, budgeted cost of Holyrood was £40m. Donald Dewar (unionist) was responsible for the original estimate and subsequent budgetary control. Only when George Reid (national) was in charge of the budget, and threatened to pull the plug on the whole project, were costs finally under control and the building finally finished. Yet another example of why Scotland will be run better by nationalists than by useless unionists. Incidentally, as a Scottish Nationalist, I am proud of the Parliament building in a way that I could never be proud of the Colonial Monstrosity in Westminster.
They’re not wrong. It’s shockingly bad. An obscene insult to one of the most serenely beautiful cities in the world. How did it happen? How did it cost so much???
The amazing thing is that, despite costing £400m, it manages to look cheap. Like a po-mo Premier Inn on the outskirts of Basingstoke
The worst public building erected in the UK - ever??
They needed something to make what happened inside look good. It didn't work.
And in fairness with the building of the turd it is probably only the second ugliest building in Edinburgh.
I thought it cost more than 400m
I think that the official figure was £414.4m. Not even worth 1% of that.
Bit of a dump from the outside, but inside I think it looks quite nice.
Same as the British Library (the "new" one on Euston Road). Lovely lush interiors, but the exterior? Pff. A great public building like THE BRITISH LIBRARY should resonate with a welcoming grandeur, a proper sonority. A confident embrace of the street
It looks like a mildly fortified Tesco in Croydon with extra arty bits. It is not in Holyrood's league for actual howling ugliness, but it is so disappointing. So timid and pathetic.
As I said earlier the Senedd in Cardiff shows we can still design lovely AND impressive public buildings, but too often we get them wrong. A cultural decay
Quite a few people working near the top of the British Library find will its name offensive.
The original, almost certainly unrealistic, budgeted cost of Holyrood was £40m. Donald Dewar (unionist) was responsible for the original estimate and subsequent budgetary control. Only when George Reid (national) was in charge of the budget, and threatened to pull the plug on the whole project, were costs finally under control and the building finally finished. Yet another example of why Scotland will be run better by nationalists than by useless unionists. Incidentally, as a Scottish Nationalist, I am proud of the Parliament building in a way that I could never be proud of the Colonial Monstrosity in Westminster.
Because, as we all know. the Scots were deeply squeamish about colonialism and preferred to stay home rather than get involved with the British Empire, in any way
The Scots that were involved with the British Empire, slavers, tobacco barons, etc, would have identified as British. Their successors are the likes of Alister Jack and Gordon Brown. Not Scots.
To unite the threads of architecture and Germany, see this
The Germans have simply abandoned the attempt to make attractive modernist town centres, realising we are somehow incapable. Instead they are now rebuilding entire medieval town centres, brick for brick, from scratch - the ones the RAF flattened. Frankfurt is an example
We should do exactly the same in the UK. I can think of a dozen cities/disrricts, off the bat, which would benefit enormously from such a scheme. Coventry, Exeter, Northampton, maybe Brum, Swansea, Plymouth, Derby, Clydebank, do it.
Architects will shriek and howl and moan about "pastiche" but given that they are congenitally unable to design anything better they can fuck off
Some of Bath too. It got the Baedeker treatment. And Portsmouth, especially the area to the south and east of the nasval dockyard. Hell, even Plymouth naval base could do with the restoration of the residential terrace - the south part is in part a mess from hasty wastime/postwar expansion over blitzed areas.
Haven't the Germans been doing it for some time? Or am I thinking of the Poles and Warsaw? But it's a nice approach.
Germans have been doing it a long time, in the West.
In contrast to the East. Remember Kurt Vonnegut writing, IIRC in preface to "Slaugherhouse Five" that post-war Dresden had been rebuilt to look like Toledo, Ohio or something like that.
I think the German Greens are well to the Left of where I'd be comfortable with but I think their success on the basis that the 'realist' wing now dominates, and they've shown that in coalition for a number of years:
"The Green party in Germany is not the socialist project of Extinction Rebellion. In many ways, it is further to the right than the British Conservatives. In November, the party launched a ‘zero tolerance’ plan to tackle Muslim extremism, calling for a boost to police powers and a ban on Salafi organisations. Meanwhile, the Greens have successfully run Baden-Württemberg, Germany’s third largest state, since 2011, where self-confessed ‘green conservative’ Winfried Kretschmann, the Minister-President, has fought against tax increases and in favour of pro-market policies. The proud diesel-driving Catholic also takes a tough line on migrant gangs, arguing that ‘the most dangerous thing that human evolution has produced is hordes of young men’. Kretschmann was re-elected earlier this year on an increased majority.
The appeal of the German Greens lies in their centrism. Both Baerbock and Habeck have relentlessly stressed the party’s status as a Bündnispartei — a coalition party willing to work with anyone in order to get things done. Its ecological politics are broad and popular: promoting renewables, protecting the environment and promising new green jobs. But it opposes Nord Stream 2, Merkel’s dream of an oil pipeline flowing from Russia that many see as the cause of her ambivalence towards Putin. Berlin’s western allies would be only too happy to see the Kremlin’s crude tentacles cut back."
Its worth remembering that the German Greens green ambitions are more moderate than Boris's Conservatives ones are.
From what I've read the German Greens would be my second choice party as it stands (FDP first), but I don't think their voting system works via ranked voting.
Boris is at serious reach of overreach on his green stuff.
It's the most obvious vector upon which a threat to his right-flank could develop.
The original, almost certainly unrealistic, budgeted cost of Holyrood was £40m. Donald Dewar (unionist) was responsible for the original estimate and subsequent budgetary control. Only when George Reid (national) was in charge of the budget, and threatened to pull the plug on the whole project, were costs finally under control and the building finally finished. Yet another example of why Scotland will be run better by nationalists than by useless unionists. Incidentally, as a Scottish Nationalist, I am proud of the Parliament building in a way that I could never be proud of the Colonial Monstrosity in Westminster.
Because, as we all know. the Scots were deeply squeamish about colonialism and preferred to stay home rather than get involved with the British Empire, in any way
The Scots that were involved with the British Empire, slavers, tobacco barons, etc, would have identified as British. Their successors are the likes of Alister Jack and Gordon Brown. Not Scots.
Lol! You’re retrospectively saying they aren’t proper Scots? I mean, we’ll happily take all their achievements. You’ll be left with... erm... Burns and Robert the Bruce.
Edit: Fleming, Smith, Hume, James Clark Maxwell. Who wants the likes of those? They were “not Scots”.
I'm not sure German anti-colonialism is quite the issue over there.
We stripped them of their overseas empire in 1918, and the allied powers of their European one in 1945, and neither was - how can we put it generously - "ambiguous" in the legacy it left for humanity.
To unite the threads of architecture and Germany, see this
The Germans have simply abandoned the attempt to make attractive modernist town centres, realising we are somehow incapable. Instead they are now rebuilding entire medieval town centres, brick for brick, from scratch - the ones the RAF flattened. Frankfurt is an example
We should do exactly the same in the UK. I can think of a dozen cities/disrricts, off the bat, which would benefit enormously from such a scheme. Coventry, Exeter, Northampton, maybe Brum, Swansea, Plymouth, Derby, Clydebank, do it.
Architects will shriek and howl and moan about "pastiche" but given that they are congenitally unable to design anything better they can fuck off
Some of Bath too. It got the Baedeker treatment. And Portsmouth, especially the area to the south and east of the nasval dockyard. Hell, even Plymouth naval base could do with the restoration of the residential terrace - the south part is in part a mess from hasty wastime/postwar expansion over blitzed areas.
Haven't the Germans been doing it for some time? Or am I thinking of the Poles and Warsaw? But it's a nice approach.
The Poles have certainly been doing it for decades, to great success, also the Baltics, maybe Czechia?
We also do it in a quiet way. Half of the Nash Terraces were rebuilt from scratch after the war - unbelievably, there was a Labour Party plan to demolish them all - Churchill supposedly intervened.
They are still being rebuilt now, half of Park Crescent was torn down and replaced - identically - in the last few years
To my mind the Nash Terraces constitute the most beautiful ensemble of urban domestic architecture in the world. They are certainly successful, and desirable. You can buy a whole one for £185 million
To unite the threads of architecture and Germany, see this
The Germans have simply abandoned the attempt to make attractive modernist town centres, realising we are somehow incapable. Instead they are now rebuilding entire medieval town centres, brick for brick, from scratch - the ones the RAF flattened. Frankfurt is an example
We should do exactly the same in the UK. I can think of a dozen cities/disrricts, off the bat, which would benefit enormously from such a scheme. Coventry, Exeter, Northampton, maybe Brum, Swansea, Plymouth, Derby, Clydebank, do it.
Architects will shriek and howl and moan about "pastiche" but given that they are congenitally unable to design anything better they can fuck off
Some of Bath too. It got the Baedeker treatment. And Portsmouth, especially the area to the south and east of the nasval dockyard. Hell, even Plymouth naval base could do with the restoration of the residential terrace - the south part is in part a mess from hasty wastime/postwar expansion over blitzed areas.
Haven't the Germans been doing it for some time? Or am I thinking of the Poles and Warsaw? But it's a nice approach.
Berlin is a monument to reconstruction, though the old West Berlin has the more meticulous rebuilds. At least both sides avoided building up, Ferhsenturm aside. Even the GDR spent a shitload on rebuilding historical Dresden, though the replacement housing for Dresdeners was somewhat more utilitarian.
The original, almost certainly unrealistic, budgeted cost of Holyrood was £40m. Donald Dewar (unionist) was responsible for the original estimate and subsequent budgetary control. Only when George Reid (national) was in charge of the budget, and threatened to pull the plug on the whole project, were costs finally under control and the building finally finished. Yet another example of why Scotland will be run better by nationalists than by useless unionists. Incidentally, as a Scottish Nationalist, I am proud of the Parliament building in a way that I could never be proud of the Colonial Monstrosity in Westminster.
Because, as we all know. the Scots were deeply squeamish about colonialism and preferred to stay home rather than get involved with the British Empire, in any way
The Scots that were involved with the British Empire, slavers, tobacco barons, etc, would have identified as British. Their successors are the likes of Alister Jack and Gordon Brown. Not Scots.
If anyone was left wondering just how delusional the SNP and other nationalists can get...
The original, almost certainly unrealistic, budgeted cost of Holyrood was £40m. Donald Dewar (unionist) was responsible for the original estimate and subsequent budgetary control. Only when George Reid (national) was in charge of the budget, and threatened to pull the plug on the whole project, were costs finally under control and the building finally finished. Yet another example of why Scotland will be run better by nationalists than by useless unionists. Incidentally, as a Scottish Nationalist, I am proud of the Parliament building in a way that I could never be proud of the Colonial Monstrosity in Westminster.
Because, as we all know. the Scots were deeply squeamish about colonialism and preferred to stay home rather than get involved with the British Empire, in any way
The Scots that were involved with the British Empire, slavers, tobacco barons, etc, would have identified as British. Their successors are the likes of Alister Jack and Gordon Brown. Not Scots.
Lol! You’re retrospectively saying they aren’t proper Scots? I mean, we’ll happily take all their achievements. You’ll be left with... erm... Burns and Robert the Bruce.
You’re welcome to the achievements of Alister Jack and Gordon Brown.
Most of the buildings have now been demolished or refurbed but not Holyrood
Fascinating list. I agree with the public in every case
The only one I might have saved is that car park in Newcastle. Sometimes Brutalism can work, and be exhilarating in its monstrous and insulting ugliness.
Trouble is, it should be on some industrial estate or in Thames dockyards, not in the middle of a rather noble city like Newcastle (which, unlike too many British cities, has a coherent and sometimes handsome architectural plan)
Also the supermarket. I like that. But I see it has been kept. Good
It wasn't in Newcastle. It was in Gateshead. And was iconic. I have a coffee mug with a picture of it on the side.
So what replaced it? A branch of Tesco.
Yeah, I liked it. But I didn't have to live with it looming over me every day in Gateshead/Newky. It was quite, er, "imposing"
It was also impractical - I remember that some floors had ceilings that were below minimum legal heights (we used to park there when heading to Newcastle, we now park by Gateshead Stadium metro or Grangertown car park)
Sounds fantastic. Would keep out the Chelsea tractors.
The original, almost certainly unrealistic, budgeted cost of Holyrood was £40m. Donald Dewar (unionist) was responsible for the original estimate and subsequent budgetary control. Only when George Reid (national) was in charge of the budget, and threatened to pull the plug on the whole project, were costs finally under control and the building finally finished. Yet another example of why Scotland will be run better by nationalists than by useless unionists. Incidentally, as a Scottish Nationalist, I am proud of the Parliament building in a way that I could never be proud of the Colonial Monstrosity in Westminster.
Because, as we all know. the Scots were deeply squeamish about colonialism and preferred to stay home rather than get involved with the British Empire, in any way
The Scots that were involved with the British Empire, slavers, tobacco barons, etc, would have identified as British. Their successors are the likes of Alister Jack and Gordon Brown. Not Scots.
Lol! You’re retrospectively saying they aren’t proper Scots? I mean, we’ll happily take all their achievements. You’ll be left with... erm... Burns and Robert the Bruce.
You’re welcome to the achievements of Alister Jack and Gordon Brown.
Alexander Fleming? James Clerk Maxwell? Adam Smith? David Hume? Gladstone?
They’re not wrong. It’s shockingly bad. An obscene insult to one of the most serenely beautiful cities in the world. How did it happen? How did it cost so much???
The amazing thing is that, despite costing £400m, it manages to look cheap. Like a po-mo Premier Inn on the outskirts of Basingstoke
The worst public building erected in the UK - ever??
They needed something to make what happened inside look good. It didn't work.
And in fairness with the building of the turd it is probably only the second ugliest building in Edinburgh.
I thought it cost more than 400m
I think that the official figure was £414.4m. Not even worth 1% of that.
It has a negative value. Because it is actively ugly, and distressing to look at, so it detracts from the cityscape of lovely Edinburgh, and harms its reputation.
And every day someone looks at it and winces, and their day is made just a little bit worse. It is bad for humankind
Someone should write a book about how a building this obviously horrible and ugly ends up getting built, and at such vast expense, to boot. It's the architectural equivalent of one of those mahoosively expensive Hollywood movies that make about $3. Like Heaven's Gate. Or the Postman by Kevin Costner.
Unlike those movies, Holyrood will never gain a cult following and it will always be there in your face to insult Edinburgh folk, until it is demolished in a fit of honest shame
The SNP wanted it in the old Royal High School high up on Calton Hill, but that was too uppity for the Unionists and it had to be put down in the valley next to Holyroodhouse [the Palace].
So how does that explain why it's so (apparently) god awful?
It doesn't. But it does explain the location.
The primary architect did die half way through designing it (if you see what I mean) but I'm not sure how much impact that had.
Had huge impact on the cost. He died before he drew up the final plans. He;d delivered the vision (so we were still goig to end up with an awful looking building) but he hadn't finished the "turning the vision into an actual working building" when he popped his clogs.
given he was a massive award winning architect the people who came along to finish the job were too scared to make the necessary changes. As a result everyone struggled to build a basically impossible design thus the massive cost overrun and various ergonomic problems of actually using it as a parliament.
He certainly had a 'distinct' style - that's a market in Barcelona
So that's why people are willing to pay good money for old pallets.
It doesn't look bad, but I do find the design a bit unusual for a parliament. It reminds me of large, wood-textured bars / mega-nightclubs, orientated towards the outdoors and the sea, that you'll find in ritzier parts of the coastal strip of Glyfada in Athens, Tel Aviv or LA.
They’re not wrong. It’s shockingly bad. An obscene insult to one of the most serenely beautiful cities in the world. How did it happen? How did it cost so much???
The amazing thing is that, despite costing £400m, it manages to look cheap. Like a po-mo Premier Inn on the outskirts of Basingstoke
The worst public building erected in the UK - ever??
They needed something to make what happened inside look good. It didn't work.
And in fairness with the building of the turd it is probably only the second ugliest building in Edinburgh.
I thought it cost more than 400m
I think that the official figure was £414.4m. Not even worth 1% of that.
It has a negative value. Because it is actively ugly, and distressing to look at, so it detracts from the cityscape of lovely Edinburgh, and harms its reputation.
And every day someone looks at it and winces, and their day is made just a little bit worse. It is bad for humankind
Someone should write a book about how a building this obviously horrible and ugly ends up getting built, and at such vast expense, to boot. It's the architectural equivalent of one of those mahoosively expensive Hollywood movies that make about $3. Like Heaven's Gate. Or the Postman by Kevin Costner.
Unlike those movies, Holyrood will never gain a cult following and it will always be there in your face to insult Edinburgh folk, until it is demolished in a fit of honest shame
The SNP wanted it in the old Royal High School high up on Calton Hill, but that was too uppity for the Unionists and it had to be put down in the valley next to Holyroodhouse [the Palace].
So how does that explain why it's so (apparently) god awful?
It doesn't. But it does explain the location.
The primary architect did die half way through designing it (if you see what I mean) but I'm not sure how much impact that had.
Had huge impact on the cost. He died before he drew up the final plans. He;d delivered the vision (so we were still goig to end up with an awful looking building) but he hadn't finished the "turning the vision into an actual working building" when he popped his clogs.
given he was a massive award winning architect the people who came along to finish the job were too scared to make the necessary changes. As a result everyone struggled to build a basically impossible design thus the massive cost overrun and various ergonomic problems of actually using it as a parliament.
He certainly had a 'distinct' style - that's a market in Barcelona
It looks like a load of deckchairs got picked up in a wind storm and ended up stuck to the building.
The original, almost certainly unrealistic, budgeted cost of Holyrood was £40m. Donald Dewar (unionist) was responsible for the original estimate and subsequent budgetary control. Only when George Reid (national) was in charge of the budget, and threatened to pull the plug on the whole project, were costs finally under control and the building finally finished. Yet another example of why Scotland will be run better by nationalists than by useless unionists. Incidentally, as a Scottish Nationalist, I am proud of the Parliament building in a way that I could never be proud of the Colonial Monstrosity in Westminster.
Because, as we all know. the Scots were deeply squeamish about colonialism and preferred to stay home rather than get involved with the British Empire, in any way
The Scots that were involved with the British Empire, slavers, tobacco barons, etc, would have identified as British. Their successors are the likes of Alister Jack and Gordon Brown. Not Scots.
I think the German Greens are well to the Left of where I'd be comfortable with but I think their success on the basis that the 'realist' wing now dominates, and they've shown that in coalition for a number of years:
"The Green party in Germany is not the socialist project of Extinction Rebellion. In many ways, it is further to the right than the British Conservatives. In November, the party launched a ‘zero tolerance’ plan to tackle Muslim extremism, calling for a boost to police powers and a ban on Salafi organisations. Meanwhile, the Greens have successfully run Baden-Württemberg, Germany’s third largest state, since 2011, where self-confessed ‘green conservative’ Winfried Kretschmann, the Minister-President, has fought against tax increases and in favour of pro-market policies. The proud diesel-driving Catholic also takes a tough line on migrant gangs, arguing that ‘the most dangerous thing that human evolution has produced is hordes of young men’. Kretschmann was re-elected earlier this year on an increased majority.
The appeal of the German Greens lies in their centrism. Both Baerbock and Habeck have relentlessly stressed the party’s status as a Bündnispartei — a coalition party willing to work with anyone in order to get things done. Its ecological politics are broad and popular: promoting renewables, protecting the environment and promising new green jobs. But it opposes Nord Stream 2, Merkel’s dream of an oil pipeline flowing from Russia that many see as the cause of her ambivalence towards Putin. Berlin’s western allies would be only too happy to see the Kremlin’s crude tentacles cut back."
Its worth remembering that the German Greens green ambitions are more moderate than Boris's Conservatives ones are.
From what I've read the German Greens would be my second choice party as it stands (FDP first), but I don't think their voting system works via ranked voting.
Boris is at serious reach of overreach on his green stuff.
It's the most obvious vector upon which a threat to his right-flank could develop.
I think the Tories have just made a (logical) bet that a mix of technology and behavioural changes people want to make anyway will get us there with limited pain. That being the case, we might as well be first mover and try and crack some of the technologies.
They’re not wrong. It’s shockingly bad. An obscene insult to one of the most serenely beautiful cities in the world. How did it happen? How did it cost so much???
The amazing thing is that, despite costing £400m, it manages to look cheap. Like a po-mo Premier Inn on the outskirts of Basingstoke
The worst public building erected in the UK - ever??
They needed something to make what happened inside look good. It didn't work.
And in fairness with the building of the turd it is probably only the second ugliest building in Edinburgh.
I thought it cost more than 400m
I think that the official figure was £414.4m. Not even worth 1% of that.
It has a negative value. Because it is actively ugly, and distressing to look at, so it detracts from the cityscape of lovely Edinburgh, and harms its reputation.
And every day someone looks at it and winces, and their day is made just a little bit worse. It is bad for humankind
Someone should write a book about how a building this obviously horrible and ugly ends up getting built, and at such vast expense, to boot. It's the architectural equivalent of one of those mahoosively expensive Hollywood movies that make about $3. Like Heaven's Gate. Or the Postman by Kevin Costner.
Unlike those movies, Holyrood will never gain a cult following and it will always be there in your face to insult Edinburgh folk, until it is demolished in a fit of honest shame
The SNP wanted it in the old Royal High School high up on Calton Hill, but that was too uppity for the Unionists and it had to be put down in the valley next to Holyroodhouse [the Palace].
So how does that explain why it's so (apparently) god awful?
It doesn't. But it does explain the location.
The primary architect did die half way through designing it (if you see what I mean) but I'm not sure how much impact that had.
Had huge impact on the cost. He died before he drew up the final plans. He;d delivered the vision (so we were still goig to end up with an awful looking building) but he hadn't finished the "turning the vision into an actual working building" when he popped his clogs.
given he was a massive award winning architect the people who came along to finish the job were too scared to make the necessary changes. As a result everyone struggled to build a basically impossible design thus the massive cost overrun and various ergonomic problems of actually using it as a parliament.
He certainly had a 'distinct' style - that's a market in Barcelona
It looks like a load of deckchairs got picked up in a wind storm and ended up stuck to the building.
Interestingly, it also shows that Holyrood was not a one-off, a hideous cat-poo of a building that went wrong coz the old guy snuffed it, no, Enric Miralles was designing truly ugly buildings that look like cheap demented shacks built by teams of alcoholics, long before that
Talking of delusions some choice quotations from that superb work of Scottish fantasy, not Lanark by Alasdair Gray but the even more fantastical Scotland's future:
P 72 “”Negotiations will enable phasing and the financial consequences of transition to be agreed, planned and managed by all parties”.[NB Is that even English?]
P 113 “”There could be a shared Sterling Area prudential regulatory authority…Alternatively, this could be undertaken by the regulatory arm of a Scottish Monetary Institute working alongside the equivalent UK authority on a consistent and harmonised basis.”
p 350 “The Scottish government expects Scottish bonds to become firmly established as a low risk, gilt-edged investment backed by Scotland’s substantial oil reserves and a stable, high-skilled economy trading successfully within the EU with few uncertainties.”
I think that for sheer off the wall lunacy the last one is the winner but a case could be made for each.
I think the German Greens are well to the Left of where I'd be comfortable with but I think their success on the basis that the 'realist' wing now dominates, and they've shown that in coalition for a number of years:
"The Green party in Germany is not the socialist project of Extinction Rebellion. In many ways, it is further to the right than the British Conservatives. In November, the party launched a ‘zero tolerance’ plan to tackle Muslim extremism, calling for a boost to police powers and a ban on Salafi organisations. Meanwhile, the Greens have successfully run Baden-Württemberg, Germany’s third largest state, since 2011, where self-confessed ‘green conservative’ Winfried Kretschmann, the Minister-President, has fought against tax increases and in favour of pro-market policies. The proud diesel-driving Catholic also takes a tough line on migrant gangs, arguing that ‘the most dangerous thing that human evolution has produced is hordes of young men’. Kretschmann was re-elected earlier this year on an increased majority.
The appeal of the German Greens lies in their centrism. Both Baerbock and Habeck have relentlessly stressed the party’s status as a Bündnispartei — a coalition party willing to work with anyone in order to get things done. Its ecological politics are broad and popular: promoting renewables, protecting the environment and promising new green jobs. But it opposes Nord Stream 2, Merkel’s dream of an oil pipeline flowing from Russia that many see as the cause of her ambivalence towards Putin. Berlin’s western allies would be only too happy to see the Kremlin’s crude tentacles cut back."
Its worth remembering that the German Greens green ambitions are more moderate than Boris's Conservatives ones are.
From what I've read the German Greens would be my second choice party as it stands (FDP first), but I don't think their voting system works via ranked voting.
Boris is at serious reach of overreach on his green stuff.
It's the most obvious vector upon which a threat to his right-flank could develop.
I'm not convinced that's right.
I think (and I believe you agree) that technology is the solution to green issues. Not abstinence, vegetarianism, or any other hair-shirt bullshit.
In some ways I think the green stuff could be a big win for Boris in the same way as the vaccines were. Instead of backing hairshirt bollocks, by backing new clean technologies firm and hard in the same way as the vaccines were backed early - the UK could be at the forefront of economic development in this area.
Plus in a decades time when Boris retires and the UK is already getting close to zero emissions what do the left have to say on the matter anymore? Smashing windows and protesting in London may seem clever to them and offputting to everyone else while they're able to claim there's an "emergency", but to do so once the UK has already firmly and irreversibly sorted out its own backyard its going to look as stupid as the Zero Covidiots like that female Scottish scientist and "independent SAGE" do now.
They’re not wrong. It’s shockingly bad. An obscene insult to one of the most serenely beautiful cities in the world. How did it happen? How did it cost so much???
The amazing thing is that, despite costing £400m, it manages to look cheap. Like a po-mo Premier Inn on the outskirts of Basingstoke
The worst public building erected in the UK - ever??
They needed something to make what happened inside look good. It didn't work.
And in fairness with the building of the turd it is probably only the second ugliest building in Edinburgh.
I thought it cost more than 400m
I think that the official figure was £414.4m. Not even worth 1% of that.
It has a negative value. Because it is actively ugly, and distressing to look at, so it detracts from the cityscape of lovely Edinburgh, and harms its reputation.
And every day someone looks at it and winces, and their day is made just a little bit worse. It is bad for humankind
Someone should write a book about how a building this obviously horrible and ugly ends up getting built, and at such vast expense, to boot. It's the architectural equivalent of one of those mahoosively expensive Hollywood movies that make about $3. Like Heaven's Gate. Or the Postman by Kevin Costner.
Unlike those movies, Holyrood will never gain a cult following and it will always be there in your face to insult Edinburgh folk, until it is demolished in a fit of honest shame
The SNP wanted it in the old Royal High School high up on Calton Hill, but that was too uppity for the Unionists and it had to be put down in the valley next to Holyroodhouse [the Palace].
So how does that explain why it's so (apparently) god awful?
It doesn't. But it does explain the location.
The primary architect did die half way through designing it (if you see what I mean) but I'm not sure how much impact that had.
Had huge impact on the cost. He died before he drew up the final plans. He;d delivered the vision (so we were still goig to end up with an awful looking building) but he hadn't finished the "turning the vision into an actual working building" when he popped his clogs.
given he was a massive award winning architect the people who came along to finish the job were too scared to make the necessary changes. As a result everyone struggled to build a basically impossible design thus the massive cost overrun and various ergonomic problems of actually using it as a parliament.
He certainly had a 'distinct' style - that's a market in Barcelona
It looks like a load of deckchairs got picked up in a wind storm and ended up stuck to the building.
Interestingly, it also shows that Holyrood was not a one-off, a hideous cat-poo of a building that went wrong coz the old guy snuffed it, no, Enric Miralles was designing truly ugly buildings that look like cheap demented shacks built by teams of alcoholics, long before that
Reckon that's grossly unfair. To alcoholics & the demented. Also shacks.
They’re not wrong. It’s shockingly bad. An obscene insult to one of the most serenely beautiful cities in the world. How did it happen? How did it cost so much???
The amazing thing is that, despite costing £400m, it manages to look cheap. Like a po-mo Premier Inn on the outskirts of Basingstoke
The worst public building erected in the UK - ever??
They needed something to make what happened inside look good. It didn't work.
And in fairness with the building of the turd it is probably only the second ugliest building in Edinburgh.
I thought it cost more than 400m
I think that the official figure was £414.4m. Not even worth 1% of that.
It has a negative value. Because it is actively ugly, and distressing to look at, so it detracts from the cityscape of lovely Edinburgh, and harms its reputation.
And every day someone looks at it and winces, and their day is made just a little bit worse. It is bad for humankind
Someone should write a book about how a building this obviously horrible and ugly ends up getting built, and at such vast expense, to boot. It's the architectural equivalent of one of those mahoosively expensive Hollywood movies that make about $3. Like Heaven's Gate. Or the Postman by Kevin Costner.
Unlike those movies, Holyrood will never gain a cult following and it will always be there in your face to insult Edinburgh folk, until it is demolished in a fit of honest shame
The SNP wanted it in the old Royal High School high up on Calton Hill, but that was too uppity for the Unionists and it had to be put down in the valley next to Holyroodhouse [the Palace].
So how does that explain why it's so (apparently) god awful?
It doesn't. But it does explain the location.
The primary architect did die half way through designing it (if you see what I mean) but I'm not sure how much impact that had.
Had huge impact on the cost. He died before he drew up the final plans. He;d delivered the vision (so we were still goig to end up with an awful looking building) but he hadn't finished the "turning the vision into an actual working building" when he popped his clogs.
given he was a massive award winning architect the people who came along to finish the job were too scared to make the necessary changes. As a result everyone struggled to build a basically impossible design thus the massive cost overrun and various ergonomic problems of actually using it as a parliament.
He certainly had a 'distinct' style - that's a market in Barcelona
So that's why people are willing to pay good money for old pallets.
I can't get over that photo.
Presumably, a squad of Scottish politicians went over to Barcelona, looked at this arse-aching heap of sad, misconceived shite, and said "Great, we want more of that in Edinburgh, only much bigger and grossly over-priced"
Talking of delusions some choice quotations from that superb work of Scottish fantasy, not Lanark by Alasdair Gray but the even more fantastical Scotland's future:
P 72 “”Negotiations will enable phasing and the financial consequences of transition to be agreed, planned and managed by all parties”.[NB Is that even English?]
P 113 “”There could be a shared Sterling Area prudential regulatory authority…Alternatively, this could be undertaken by the regulatory arm of a Scottish Monetary Institute working alongside the equivalent UK authority on a consistent and harmonised basis.”
p 350 “The Scottish government expects Scottish bonds to become firmly established as a low risk, gilt-edged investment backed by Scotland’s substantial oil reserves and a stable, high-skilled economy trading successfully within the EU with few uncertainties.”
I think that for sheer off the wall lunacy the last one is the winner but a case could be made for each.
Imagine the smile on the faces of the future rUK negotiating team.
“Absolutely you can have all future rights over the oil fields - revenues and decommissioning costs (snigger) so long as we get everything else we want. Seriously - we will yield all rights to North Sea oil, even in our waters if you like”.
They’re not wrong. It’s shockingly bad. An obscene insult to one of the most serenely beautiful cities in the world. How did it happen? How did it cost so much???
The amazing thing is that, despite costing £400m, it manages to look cheap. Like a po-mo Premier Inn on the outskirts of Basingstoke
The worst public building erected in the UK - ever??
They needed something to make what happened inside look good. It didn't work.
And in fairness with the building of the turd it is probably only the second ugliest building in Edinburgh.
I thought it cost more than 400m
I think that the official figure was £414.4m. Not even worth 1% of that.
It has a negative value. Because it is actively ugly, and distressing to look at, so it detracts from the cityscape of lovely Edinburgh, and harms its reputation.
And every day someone looks at it and winces, and their day is made just a little bit worse. It is bad for humankind
Someone should write a book about how a building this obviously horrible and ugly ends up getting built, and at such vast expense, to boot. It's the architectural equivalent of one of those mahoosively expensive Hollywood movies that make about $3. Like Heaven's Gate. Or the Postman by Kevin Costner.
Unlike those movies, Holyrood will never gain a cult following and it will always be there in your face to insult Edinburgh folk, until it is demolished in a fit of honest shame
The SNP wanted it in the old Royal High School high up on Calton Hill, but that was too uppity for the Unionists and it had to be put down in the valley next to Holyroodhouse [the Palace].
So how does that explain why it's so (apparently) god awful?
It doesn't. But it does explain the location.
The primary architect did die half way through designing it (if you see what I mean) but I'm not sure how much impact that had.
Had huge impact on the cost. He died before he drew up the final plans. He;d delivered the vision (so we were still goig to end up with an awful looking building) but he hadn't finished the "turning the vision into an actual working building" when he popped his clogs.
given he was a massive award winning architect the people who came along to finish the job were too scared to make the necessary changes. As a result everyone struggled to build a basically impossible design thus the massive cost overrun and various ergonomic problems of actually using it as a parliament.
He certainly had a 'distinct' style - that's a market in Barcelona
It looks like a load of deckchairs got picked up in a wind storm and ended up stuck to the building.
Interestingly, it also shows that Holyrood was not a one-off, a hideous cat-poo of a building that went wrong coz the old guy snuffed it, no, Enric Miralles was designing truly ugly buildings that look like cheap demented shacks built by teams of alcoholics, long before that
Given Leon's comment AND recent Scottish parliamentary history, perhaps this is apropos?
Though not sure it was actually filmed at Holyrood.
Talking of delusions some choice quotations from that superb work of Scottish fantasy, not Lanark by Alasdair Gray but the even more fantastical Scotland's future:
P 72 “”Negotiations will enable phasing and the financial consequences of transition to be agreed, planned and managed by all parties”.[NB Is that even English?]
P 113 “”There could be a shared Sterling Area prudential regulatory authority…Alternatively, this could be undertaken by the regulatory arm of a Scottish Monetary Institute working alongside the equivalent UK authority on a consistent and harmonised basis.”
p 350 “The Scottish government expects Scottish bonds to become firmly established as a low risk, gilt-edged investment backed by Scotland’s substantial oil reserves and a stable, high-skilled economy trading successfully within the EU with few uncertainties.”
I think that for sheer off the wall lunacy the last one is the winner but a case could be made for each.
See page 113 is what cracks me up.
No Nat has been able to tell me what happens if the Sterling Area PRA has been set different targets by an independent Scotland and RUK?
As for the SMI I can only assume someone who doesn't working in banking/financial services came up with that one.
If there's one thing Brexit has shown, harmonisation between two divorcing patterns is difficult on mundane things, just imagine what it will be like on the currency and/or interest rates.
As for Scottish bonds, well given how many Nats, including a former First Minister, talk about walking away with no debts, good luck with that one.
PS - If it gives you any consolation I have to read reports like Mr Gray's as my day job.
I have to agree with the public on all of its choices, including the only one that they give to Starmer.
But cruel of the British public that nearly as many think that Boris is in better physical and mental health than Starmer. That has to be the only one I'd have unambiguously given to Starmer.
Love that 6% more think that Boris tells the truth more than Starmer.
Talking of delusions some choice quotations from that superb work of Scottish fantasy, not Lanark by Alasdair Gray but the even more fantastical Scotland's future:
P 72 “”Negotiations will enable phasing and the financial consequences of transition to be agreed, planned and managed by all parties”.[NB Is that even English?]
P 113 “”There could be a shared Sterling Area prudential regulatory authority…Alternatively, this could be undertaken by the regulatory arm of a Scottish Monetary Institute working alongside the equivalent UK authority on a consistent and harmonised basis.”
p 350 “The Scottish government expects Scottish bonds to become firmly established as a low risk, gilt-edged investment backed by Scotland’s substantial oil reserves and a stable, high-skilled economy trading successfully within the EU with few uncertainties.”
I think that for sheer off the wall lunacy the last one is the winner but a case could be made for each.
See page 113 is what cracks me up.
No Nat has been able to tell me what happens if the Sterling Area PRA has been set different targets by an independent Scotland and RUK?
As for the SMI I can only assume someone who doesn't working in banking/financial services came up with that one.
If there's one thing Brexit has shown, harmonisation between two divorcing patterns is difficult on mundane things, just imagine what it will be like on the currency and/or interest rates.
As for Scottish bonds, well given how many Nats, including a former First Minister, talk about walking away with no debts, good luck with that one.
PS - If it gives you any consolation I have to read reports like Mr Gray's as my day job.
I confess that at the moment I am pretty inconsolable. 50% of my fellow countrymen who bothered to vote just endorsed the deputy first Minister at the time that that shite was written and published with public money. We are so far through the looking glass that I am genuinely not sure that there is a way back.
More people think Boris tells the truth???? This is so over.
The first five question are devastating for Starmer.
"Stands up for the interests of the UK" - 52% over 25%. More than two to one
"Can build a strong economy" - 50% over 25%. Two to one
For the first time, I wonder if Sir Kir Royale can survive til the next GE
The depressing bit though is that, as discussed heavily on this site over the last few days, it’s hard to imagine any Labour MP in Parliament doing a lot better.
Talking of delusions some choice quotations from that superb work of Scottish fantasy, not Lanark by Alasdair Gray but the even more fantastical Scotland's future:
P 72 “”Negotiations will enable phasing and the financial consequences of transition to be agreed, planned and managed by all parties”.[NB Is that even English?]
P 113 “”There could be a shared Sterling Area prudential regulatory authority…Alternatively, this could be undertaken by the regulatory arm of a Scottish Monetary Institute working alongside the equivalent UK authority on a consistent and harmonised basis.”
p 350 “The Scottish government expects Scottish bonds to become firmly established as a low risk, gilt-edged investment backed by Scotland’s substantial oil reserves and a stable, high-skilled economy trading successfully within the EU with few uncertainties.”
I think that for sheer off the wall lunacy the last one is the winner but a case could be made for each.
See page 113 is what cracks me up.
No Nat has been able to tell me what happens if the Sterling Area PRA has been set different targets by an independent Scotland and RUK?
As for the SMI I can only assume someone who doesn't working in banking/financial services came up with that one.
If there's one thing Brexit has shown, harmonisation between two divorcing patterns is difficult on mundane things, just imagine what it will be like on the currency and/or interest rates.
As for Scottish bonds, well given how many Nats, including a former First Minister, talk about walking away with no debts, good luck with that one.
PS - If it gives you any consolation I have to read reports like Mr Gray's as my day job.
I confess that at the moment I am pretty inconsolable. 50% of my fellow countrymen who bothered to vote just endorsed the deputy first Minister at the time that that shite was written and published with public money. We are so far through the looking glass that I am genuinely not sure that there is a way back.
Face reality. Its the only solution.
Otherwise they will forever remain in denial, but once they face reality they need to start dealing with it.
More people think Boris tells the truth???? This is so over.
The first five question are devastating for Starmer.
"Stands up for the interests of the UK" - 52% over 25%. More than two to one
"Can build a strong economy" - 50% over 25%. Two to one
For the first time, I wonder if Sir Kir Royale can survive til the next GE
Maybe its just me but the last time I entered into a discussion about dismissing someone (and I really hated it in fairness) I did not come out of those discussions having promoted the person concerned. They were, well, dismissed.
I want the covid public inquiry to look into why we went from the Government's long established pandemic plan, which rules out draconian policies, to this:
Allie Hodgkins-Brown @AllieHBNews · 43s Tuesday’s i - “Six days until you can hug your family” #TomorrowsPapersToday
Talking of delusions some choice quotations from that superb work of Scottish fantasy, not Lanark by Alasdair Gray but the even more fantastical Scotland's future:
P 72 “”Negotiations will enable phasing and the financial consequences of transition to be agreed, planned and managed by all parties”.[NB Is that even English?]
P 113 “”There could be a shared Sterling Area prudential regulatory authority…Alternatively, this could be undertaken by the regulatory arm of a Scottish Monetary Institute working alongside the equivalent UK authority on a consistent and harmonised basis.”
p 350 “The Scottish government expects Scottish bonds to become firmly established as a low risk, gilt-edged investment backed by Scotland’s substantial oil reserves and a stable, high-skilled economy trading successfully within the EU with few uncertainties.”
I think that for sheer off the wall lunacy the last one is the winner but a case could be made for each.
See page 113 is what cracks me up.
No Nat has been able to tell me what happens if the Sterling Area PRA has been set different targets by an independent Scotland and RUK?
As for the SMI I can only assume someone who doesn't working in banking/financial services came up with that one.
If there's one thing Brexit has shown, harmonisation between two divorcing patterns is difficult on mundane things, just imagine what it will be like on the currency and/or interest rates.
As for Scottish bonds, well given how many Nats, including a former First Minister, talk about walking away with no debts, good luck with that one.
PS - If it gives you any consolation I have to read reports like Mr Gray's as my day job.
I confess that at the moment I am pretty inconsolable. 50% of my fellow countrymen who bothered to vote just endorsed the deputy first Minister at the time that that shite was written and published with public money. We are so far through the looking glass that I am genuinely not sure that there is a way back.
That's the will of the people, vox populi, vox Dei.
As with Brexit you learn to live with it, whilst shaking your head and sighing internally.
Look on the bright side, Mrs Sturgeon and have set the standard for overturning the referendum to around 5/6 years.
If an independent Scotland turns out to be a mistake you can rejoin within a decade.
I want the covid public inquiry to look into why we went from the Government's long established pandemic plan, which rules out draconian policies, to this:
Allie Hodgkins-Brown @AllieHBNews · 43s Tuesday’s i - “Six days until you can hug your family” #TomorrowsPapersToday
Because the pandemic was much more severe and serious than any flu that had been planned for. We know that already. 😕
Talking of delusions some choice quotations from that superb work of Scottish fantasy, not Lanark by Alasdair Gray but the even more fantastical Scotland's future:
P 72 “”Negotiations will enable phasing and the financial consequences of transition to be agreed, planned and managed by all parties”.[NB Is that even English?]
P 113 “”There could be a shared Sterling Area prudential regulatory authority…Alternatively, this could be undertaken by the regulatory arm of a Scottish Monetary Institute working alongside the equivalent UK authority on a consistent and harmonised basis.”
p 350 “The Scottish government expects Scottish bonds to become firmly established as a low risk, gilt-edged investment backed by Scotland’s substantial oil reserves and a stable, high-skilled economy trading successfully within the EU with few uncertainties.”
I think that for sheer off the wall lunacy the last one is the winner but a case could be made for each.
See page 113 is what cracks me up.
No Nat has been able to tell me what happens if the Sterling Area PRA has been set different targets by an independent Scotland and RUK?
As for the SMI I can only assume someone who doesn't working in banking/financial services came up with that one.
If there's one thing Brexit has shown, harmonisation between two divorcing patterns is difficult on mundane things, just imagine what it will be like on the currency and/or interest rates.
As for Scottish bonds, well given how many Nats, including a former First Minister, talk about walking away with no debts, good luck with that one.
PS - If it gives you any consolation I have to read reports like Mr Gray's as my day job.
I confess that at the moment I am pretty inconsolable. 50% of my fellow countrymen who bothered to vote just endorsed the deputy first Minister at the time that that shite was written and published with public money. We are so far through the looking glass that I am genuinely not sure that there is a way back.
Apparently, Nicola says all our children and grandchildren will be entitled to a Scots passport, as no doubt will my wife
They all live in Wales other than our eldest who lives in Vancouver
More people think Boris tells the truth???? This is so over.
The first five question are devastating for Starmer.
"Stands up for the interests of the UK" - 52% over 25%. More than two to one
"Can build a strong economy" - 50% over 25%. Two to one
For the first time, I wonder if Sir Kir Royale can survive til the next GE
The depressing bit though is that, as discussed heavily on this site over the last few days, it’s hard to imagine any Labour MP in Parliament doing a lot better.
*faint despairing voice*
Yvette Cooper?
Probably too Remainery
They need a virile, patriotic Brexiteer - or at least someone more ambiguous on Brexit than Starmer.
Or they just accept that they are headed for another defeat, probably, and Starmer is the stoical Michael Howard who will take the punishment, absorb the blows, rebuild the party, and cue them up for victory in 2027-28. And in the meantime FFS find some good young leadership candidates. There must be SOME
Talking of delusions some choice quotations from that superb work of Scottish fantasy, not Lanark by Alasdair Gray but the even more fantastical Scotland's future:
P 72 “”Negotiations will enable phasing and the financial consequences of transition to be agreed, planned and managed by all parties”.[NB Is that even English?]
P 113 “”There could be a shared Sterling Area prudential regulatory authority…Alternatively, this could be undertaken by the regulatory arm of a Scottish Monetary Institute working alongside the equivalent UK authority on a consistent and harmonised basis.”
p 350 “The Scottish government expects Scottish bonds to become firmly established as a low risk, gilt-edged investment backed by Scotland’s substantial oil reserves and a stable, high-skilled economy trading successfully within the EU with few uncertainties.”
I think that for sheer off the wall lunacy the last one is the winner but a case could be made for each.
See page 113 is what cracks me up.
No Nat has been able to tell me what happens if the Sterling Area PRA has been set different targets by an independent Scotland and RUK?
As for the SMI I can only assume someone who doesn't working in banking/financial services came up with that one.
If there's one thing Brexit has shown, harmonisation between two divorcing patterns is difficult on mundane things, just imagine what it will be like on the currency and/or interest rates.
As for Scottish bonds, well given how many Nats, including a former First Minister, talk about walking away with no debts, good luck with that one.
PS - If it gives you any consolation I have to read reports like Mr Gray's as my day job.
I confess that at the moment I am pretty inconsolable. 50% of my fellow countrymen who bothered to vote just endorsed the deputy first Minister at the time that that shite was written and published with public money. We are so far through the looking glass that I am genuinely not sure that there is a way back.
That's the will of the people, vox populi, vox Dei.
As with Brexit you learn to live with it, whilst shaking your head and sighing internally.
Look on the bright side, Mrs Sturgeon and have set the standard for overturning the referendum to around 5/6 years.
If an independent Scotland turns out to be a mistake you can rejoin within a decade.
Just as if Brexit turns out to be a mistake and Labour win 2024 pledging to rejoin the EU, we could rejoin within a decade.
Most of the buildings have now been demolished or refurbed but not Holyrood
Fascinating list. I agree with the public in every case
The only one I might have saved is that car park in Newcastle. Sometimes Brutalism can work, and be exhilarating in its monstrous and insulting ugliness.
Trouble is, it should be on some industrial estate or in Thames dockyards, not in the middle of a rather noble city like Newcastle (which, unlike too many British cities, has a coherent and sometimes handsome architectural plan)
Also the supermarket. I like that. But I see it has been kept. Good
Maybe it's not Brexit or Starmer? 5:15 PM · May 10, 2021·Twitter Web App
What this boils down to, in my opinion, is the impatience and intolerance of left-wing voters. They're no longer prepared to compromise on anything, so they're fragmenting into all sorts of different minor parties that promise unrealistic outcomes in a short time frame. They want everything yesterday. They're not interested in the "long slog" of ordinary politics. The established centre-left parties are too slow and non-radical for their liking.
It's not "the Left" - it's the end of a mass unionised working-class labour force forming the bedrock of established left-wing parties throughout the West. The nature of both work and politics has changed.
Now, "Left" means radical action on climate change and social issues, and individual identity being more important than national identity.
Parties that want to win elections have to do two things, both essential: they have to present a message that people will vote for, not should vote for or used to vote for. And they have to present as being compasses rather than weather vanes leaders not followers. Left and right all that stuff means nothing in this context. There is stuff and presentations that people will vote for and things they won't. Labels don't really help.
BTW to say something positive about SKS, just recently the USA escaped from a leader who plainly supported violence in his cause and the overthrow of the democratic process if it would help him. He could even have won if a few million people had switched. This is scary. While Jezza was in charge there was only one party in UK who could win and be trusted with having the state in its hands. With SKS in charge there are now two. Like America we always need a spare party just in case.
It wasn't Jezza who lied to the Palace or unlawfully prorogued Parliament or purged internal dissent or who just today is proposing to embark on voter suppression.
They’re not wrong. It’s shockingly bad. An obscene insult to one of the most serenely beautiful cities in the world. How did it happen? How did it cost so much???
The amazing thing is that, despite costing £400m, it manages to look cheap. Like a po-mo Premier Inn on the outskirts of Basingstoke
The worst public building erected in the UK - ever??
They needed something to make what happened inside look good. It didn't work.
And in fairness with the building of the turd it is probably only the second ugliest building in Edinburgh.
I thought it cost more than 400m
I think that the official figure was £414.4m. Not even worth 1% of that.
It has a negative value. Because it is actively ugly, and distressing to look at, so it detracts from the cityscape of lovely Edinburgh, and harms its reputation.
And every day someone looks at it and winces, and their day is made just a little bit worse. It is bad for humankind
Someone should write a book about how a building this obviously horrible and ugly ends up getting built, and at such vast expense, to boot. It's the architectural equivalent of one of those mahoosively expensive Hollywood movies that make about $3. Like Heaven's Gate. Or the Postman by Kevin Costner.
Unlike those movies, Holyrood will never gain a cult following and it will always be there in your face to insult Edinburgh folk, until it is demolished in a fit of honest shame
The SNP wanted it in the old Royal High School high up on Calton Hill, but that was too uppity for the Unionists and it had to be put down in the valley next to Holyroodhouse [the Palace].
So how does that explain why it's so (apparently) god awful?
It doesn't. But it does explain the location.
The primary architect did die half way through designing it (if you see what I mean) but I'm not sure how much impact that had.
Location & architect change likely upped the price tag, but price tag was probably gonna be stratospheric regardless.
Funny thing was there was a superb Enlightenment Greek Revival building lying empty. But oh no, having it on the hill was too much of a nationalist shibboleth and no the SNP wouldn't be listened to when they wanted to put it there.
Most of the buildings have now been demolished or refurbed but not Holyrood
Fascinating list. I agree with the public in every case
The only one I might have saved is that car park in Newcastle. Sometimes Brutalism can work, and be exhilarating in its monstrous and insulting ugliness.
Trouble is, it should be on some industrial estate or in Thames dockyards, not in the middle of a rather noble city like Newcastle (which, unlike too many British cities, has a coherent and sometimes handsome architectural plan)
Also the supermarket. I like that. But I see it has been kept. Good
It wasn't in Newcastle. It was in Gateshead. And was iconic. I have a coffee mug with a picture of it on the side.
So what replaced it? A branch of Tesco.
Yeah, I liked it. But I didn't have to live with it looming over me every day in Gateshead/Newky. It was quite, er, "imposing"
It was also impractical - I remember that some floors had ceilings that were below minimum legal heights (we used to park there when heading to Newcastle, we now park by Gateshead Stadium metro or Grangertown car park)
The St James Park council car park is better. It’s always empty and like 70p per hour.
Most of the buildings have now been demolished or refurbed but not Holyrood
Fascinating list. I agree with the public in every case
The only one I might have saved is that car park in Newcastle. Sometimes Brutalism can work, and be exhilarating in its monstrous and insulting ugliness.
Trouble is, it should be on some industrial estate or in Thames dockyards, not in the middle of a rather noble city like Newcastle (which, unlike too many British cities, has a coherent and sometimes handsome architectural plan)
Also the supermarket. I like that. But I see it has been kept. Good
Brutalism seems to work with the Barbican.
Nope. Monstrosity. Or rather four monstrosities.
Brutalist buildings should survive only in photos, so we don't make the same mistakes again.
I think the German Greens are well to the Left of where I'd be comfortable with but I think their success on the basis that the 'realist' wing now dominates, and they've shown that in coalition for a number of years:
"The Green party in Germany is not the socialist project of Extinction Rebellion. In many ways, it is further to the right than the British Conservatives. In November, the party launched a ‘zero tolerance’ plan to tackle Muslim extremism, calling for a boost to police powers and a ban on Salafi organisations. Meanwhile, the Greens have successfully run Baden-Württemberg, Germany’s third largest state, since 2011, where self-confessed ‘green conservative’ Winfried Kretschmann, the Minister-President, has fought against tax increases and in favour of pro-market policies. The proud diesel-driving Catholic also takes a tough line on migrant gangs, arguing that ‘the most dangerous thing that human evolution has produced is hordes of young men’. Kretschmann was re-elected earlier this year on an increased majority.
The appeal of the German Greens lies in their centrism. Both Baerbock and Habeck have relentlessly stressed the party’s status as a Bündnispartei — a coalition party willing to work with anyone in order to get things done. Its ecological politics are broad and popular: promoting renewables, protecting the environment and promising new green jobs. But it opposes Nord Stream 2, Merkel’s dream of an oil pipeline flowing from Russia that many see as the cause of her ambivalence towards Putin. Berlin’s western allies would be only too happy to see the Kremlin’s crude tentacles cut back."
Its worth remembering that the German Greens green ambitions are more moderate than Boris's Conservatives ones are.
From what I've read the German Greens would be my second choice party as it stands (FDP first), but I don't think their voting system works via ranked voting.
Boris is at serious reach of overreach on his green stuff.
It's the most obvious vector upon which a threat to his right-flank could develop.
I think the Tories have just made a (logical) bet that a mix of technology and behavioural changes people want to make anyway will get us there with limited pain. That being the case, we might as well be first mover and try and crack some of the technologies.
That’s why I’m behind it anyway.
People will go for it if it makes their lives better, and only if it makes their lives better
If it costs them a lot of money or sacrifices, involving things like rationing or holiday restrictions, then they will tell the Government to piss off.
More people think Boris tells the truth???? This is so over.
The first five question are devastating for Starmer.
"Stands up for the interests of the UK" - 52% over 25%. More than two to one
"Can build a strong economy" - 50% over 25%. Two to one
For the first time, I wonder if Sir Kir Royale can survive til the next GE
Maybe 48 think Boris doesn’t Stand up for the interests of the UK making it +4 net, whilst only 20 think Sir Keir doesn’t, with 55 don’t knows, making him the winner by 1 point in net ratings!
Most of the buildings have now been demolished or refurbed but not Holyrood
Fascinating list. I agree with the public in every case
The only one I might have saved is that car park in Newcastle. Sometimes Brutalism can work, and be exhilarating in its monstrous and insulting ugliness.
Trouble is, it should be on some industrial estate or in Thames dockyards, not in the middle of a rather noble city like Newcastle (which, unlike too many British cities, has a coherent and sometimes handsome architectural plan)
Also the supermarket. I like that. But I see it has been kept. Good
Brutalism seems to work with the Barbican.
Actually I agree there. While having qualified opinions about a number of similar buildings, there is something about that whole development that is more relatable than many similar ones.
The original, almost certainly unrealistic, budgeted cost of Holyrood was £40m. Donald Dewar (unionist) was responsible for the original estimate and subsequent budgetary control. Only when George Reid (national) was in charge of the budget, and threatened to pull the plug on the whole project, were costs finally under control and the building finally finished. Yet another example of why Scotland will be run better by nationalists than by useless unionists. Incidentally, as a Scottish Nationalist, I am proud of the Parliament building in a way that I could never be proud of the Colonial Monstrosity in Westminster.
Because, as we all know. the Scots were deeply squeamish about colonialism and preferred to stay home rather than get involved with the British Empire, in any way
The Scots that were involved with the British Empire, slavers, tobacco barons, etc, would have identified as British. Their successors are the likes of Alister Jack and Gordon Brown. Not Scots.
Lol! You’re retrospectively saying they aren’t proper Scots? I mean, we’ll happily take all their achievements. You’ll be left with... erm... Burns and Robert the Bruce.
You’re welcome to the achievements of Alister Jack and Gordon Brown.
Alexander Fleming? James Clerk Maxwell? Adam Smith? David Hume? Gladstone?
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle? Harry Lauder? Tommy Sheridan?
I think the German Greens are well to the Left of where I'd be comfortable with but I think their success on the basis that the 'realist' wing now dominates, and they've shown that in coalition for a number of years:
"The Green party in Germany is not the socialist project of Extinction Rebellion. In many ways, it is further to the right than the British Conservatives. In November, the party launched a ‘zero tolerance’ plan to tackle Muslim extremism, calling for a boost to police powers and a ban on Salafi organisations. Meanwhile, the Greens have successfully run Baden-Württemberg, Germany’s third largest state, since 2011, where self-confessed ‘green conservative’ Winfried Kretschmann, the Minister-President, has fought against tax increases and in favour of pro-market policies. The proud diesel-driving Catholic also takes a tough line on migrant gangs, arguing that ‘the most dangerous thing that human evolution has produced is hordes of young men’. Kretschmann was re-elected earlier this year on an increased majority.
The appeal of the German Greens lies in their centrism. Both Baerbock and Habeck have relentlessly stressed the party’s status as a Bündnispartei — a coalition party willing to work with anyone in order to get things done. Its ecological politics are broad and popular: promoting renewables, protecting the environment and promising new green jobs. But it opposes Nord Stream 2, Merkel’s dream of an oil pipeline flowing from Russia that many see as the cause of her ambivalence towards Putin. Berlin’s western allies would be only too happy to see the Kremlin’s crude tentacles cut back."
Its worth remembering that the German Greens green ambitions are more moderate than Boris's Conservatives ones are.
From what I've read the German Greens would be my second choice party as it stands (FDP first), but I don't think their voting system works via ranked voting.
Boris is at serious reach of overreach on his green stuff.
It's the most obvious vector upon which a threat to his right-flank could develop.
I'm not convinced that's right.
I think (and I believe you agree) that technology is the solution to green issues. Not abstinence, vegetarianism, or any other hair-shirt bullshit.
In some ways I think the green stuff could be a big win for Boris in the same way as the vaccines were. Instead of backing hairshirt bollocks, by backing new clean technologies firm and hard in the same way as the vaccines were backed early - the UK could be at the forefront of economic development in this area.
Plus in a decades time when Boris retires and the UK is already getting close to zero emissions what do the left have to say on the matter anymore? Smashing windows and protesting in London may seem clever to them and offputting to everyone else while they're able to claim there's an "emergency", but to do so once the UK has already firmly and irreversibly sorted out its own backyard its going to look as stupid as the Zero Covidiots like that female Scottish scientist and "independent SAGE" do now.
Yes, I agree with that - if technology can make the changes *without* impinging on people's lifestyles or reducing their quality of living, then yes.
However, sadly, I don't always hear Conservatives at ministerial level making that argument.
More people think Boris tells the truth???? This is so over.
The first five question are devastating for Starmer.
"Stands up for the interests of the UK" - 52% over 25%. More than two to one
"Can build a strong economy" - 50% over 25%. Two to one
For the first time, I wonder if Sir Kir Royale can survive til the next GE
The depressing bit though is that, as discussed heavily on this site over the last few days, it’s hard to imagine any Labour MP in Parliament doing a lot better.
*faint despairing voice*
Yvette Cooper?
Probably too Remainery
They need a virile, patriotic Brexiteer - or at least someone more ambiguous on Brexit than Starmer.
Or they just accept that they are headed for another defeat, probably, and Starmer is the stoical Michael Howard who will take the punishment, absorb the blows, rebuild the party, and cue them up for victory in 2027-28. And in the meantime FFS find some good young leadership candidates. There must be SOME
The way things are going we could be looking at a coronation for Burnham as next leader to be honest.
Most of the buildings have now been demolished or refurbed but not Holyrood
Fascinating list. I agree with the public in every case
The only one I might have saved is that car park in Newcastle. Sometimes Brutalism can work, and be exhilarating in its monstrous and insulting ugliness.
Trouble is, it should be on some industrial estate or in Thames dockyards, not in the middle of a rather noble city like Newcastle (which, unlike too many British cities, has a coherent and sometimes handsome architectural plan)
Also the supermarket. I like that. But I see it has been kept. Good
Brutalism seems to work with the Barbican.
Brutalism can work - as an isolated one-off diluted by quality neighbours. An entire city or district built in the style would be horrifically dystopian. But as a singular, bracing wall of aggressive concrete and glass, it can be exhilarating, if it is contrasted with softer, kinder, older elements
So it works occasionally in London, because London is huge and pretty well preserved. The Barbican (for all its continuing flaws, like access) is effective because it is surrounded by the lovely dense historic streetscapes of the City, Smithfield, Farringdon.
The National Theatre works because it is just one striking building on the South Bank.
But we don't want any more of it. It is commonly hideous and very easy to get horribly wrong
More people think Boris tells the truth???? This is so over.
The first five question are devastating for Starmer.
"Stands up for the interests of the UK" - 52% over 25%. More than two to one
"Can build a strong economy" - 50% over 25%. Two to one
For the first time, I wonder if Sir Kir Royale can survive til the next GE
The depressing bit though is that, as discussed heavily on this site over the last few days, it’s hard to imagine any Labour MP in Parliament doing a lot better.
I think the German Greens are well to the Left of where I'd be comfortable with but I think their success on the basis that the 'realist' wing now dominates, and they've shown that in coalition for a number of years:
"The Green party in Germany is not the socialist project of Extinction Rebellion. In many ways, it is further to the right than the British Conservatives. In November, the party launched a ‘zero tolerance’ plan to tackle Muslim extremism, calling for a boost to police powers and a ban on Salafi organisations. Meanwhile, the Greens have successfully run Baden-Württemberg, Germany’s third largest state, since 2011, where self-confessed ‘green conservative’ Winfried Kretschmann, the Minister-President, has fought against tax increases and in favour of pro-market policies. The proud diesel-driving Catholic also takes a tough line on migrant gangs, arguing that ‘the most dangerous thing that human evolution has produced is hordes of young men’. Kretschmann was re-elected earlier this year on an increased majority.
The appeal of the German Greens lies in their centrism. Both Baerbock and Habeck have relentlessly stressed the party’s status as a Bündnispartei — a coalition party willing to work with anyone in order to get things done. Its ecological politics are broad and popular: promoting renewables, protecting the environment and promising new green jobs. But it opposes Nord Stream 2, Merkel’s dream of an oil pipeline flowing from Russia that many see as the cause of her ambivalence towards Putin. Berlin’s western allies would be only too happy to see the Kremlin’s crude tentacles cut back."
Its worth remembering that the German Greens green ambitions are more moderate than Boris's Conservatives ones are.
From what I've read the German Greens would be my second choice party as it stands (FDP first), but I don't think their voting system works via ranked voting.
Boris is at serious reach of overreach on his green stuff.
It's the most obvious vector upon which a threat to his right-flank could develop.
I think the Tories have just made a (logical) bet that a mix of technology and behavioural changes people want to make anyway will get us there with limited pain. That being the case, we might as well be first mover and try and crack some of the technologies.
That’s why I’m behind it anyway.
People will go for it if it makes their lives better, and only if it makes their lives better
If it costs them a lot of money or sacrifices, involving things like rationing or holiday restrictions, then they will tell the Government to piss off.
Absolutely agreed - and it should be scientifically possible.
This needs to be the next decades equivalent to the vaccine taskforce. Get the science and technology out there to get us out of this - without people needing to make hard choices or sacrifices in the future. No future lockdowns to save the environment, just a jab of clean energy to make the problem go away.
The original, almost certainly unrealistic, budgeted cost of Holyrood was £40m. Donald Dewar (unionist) was responsible for the original estimate and subsequent budgetary control. Only when George Reid (national) was in charge of the budget, and threatened to pull the plug on the whole project, were costs finally under control and the building finally finished. Yet another example of why Scotland will be run better by nationalists than by useless unionists. Incidentally, as a Scottish Nationalist, I am proud of the Parliament building in a way that I could never be proud of the Colonial Monstrosity in Westminster.
Because, as we all know. the Scots were deeply squeamish about colonialism and preferred to stay home rather than get involved with the British Empire, in any way
The Scots that were involved with the British Empire, slavers, tobacco barons, etc, would have identified as British. Their successors are the likes of Alister Jack and Gordon Brown. Not Scots.
If anyone was left wondering just how delusional the SNP and other nationalists can get...
Talk about burying your head in your sand over history.
More people think Boris tells the truth???? This is so over.
The first five question are devastating for Starmer.
"Stands up for the interests of the UK" - 52% over 25%. More than two to one
"Can build a strong economy" - 50% over 25%. Two to one
For the first time, I wonder if Sir Kir Royale can survive til the next GE
The depressing bit though is that, as discussed heavily on this site over the last few days, it’s hard to imagine any Labour MP in Parliament doing a lot better.
Some of the polling questions are always going to favour a PM who by dint of that role will score higher but really on the telling the truth question it really does make one wonder wtf has happened to much of the public .
Aaron Bastani @AaronBastani · 1m Most of the British media and political class mocked Labour members when they waved Palestine flags at party conference. Worse still some imputed that was racist.
They don’t care less about what is happening tonight.
To unite the threads of architecture and Germany, see this
The Germans have simply abandoned the attempt to make attractive modernist town centres, realising we are somehow incapable. Instead they are now rebuilding entire medieval town centres, brick for brick, from scratch - the ones the RAF flattened. Frankfurt is an example
We should do exactly the same in the UK. I can think of a dozen cities/disrricts, off the bat, which would benefit enormously from such a scheme. Coventry, Exeter, Northampton, maybe Brum, Swansea, Plymouth, Derby, Clydebank, do it.
Architects will shriek and howl and moan about "pastiche" but given that they are congenitally unable to design anything better they can fuck off
Some of Bath too. It got the Baedeker treatment. And Portsmouth, especially the area to the south and east of the nasval dockyard. Hell, even Plymouth naval base could do with the restoration of the residential terrace - the south part is in part a mess from hasty wastime/postwar expansion over blitzed areas.
Haven't the Germans been doing it for some time? Or am I thinking of the Poles and Warsaw? But it's a nice approach.
The Poles have certainly been doing it for decades, to great success, also the Baltics, maybe Czechia?
We also do it in a quiet way. Half of the Nash Terraces were rebuilt from scratch after the war - unbelievably, there was a Labour Party plan to demolish them all - Churchill supposedly intervened.
They are still being rebuilt now, half of Park Crescent was torn down and replaced - identically - in the last few years
To my mind the Nash Terraces constitute the most beautiful ensemble of urban domestic architecture in the world. They are certainly successful, and desirable. You can buy a whole one for £185 million
But we don't have to do lavish - just do it like Frankfurt. They rebuilt an entire "old town" city centre for £180m. We should deffo copy
That reminds me, Bristol/Clifton had some proper rebuilding too. Especially along Park Street. The University hall was rebuilt IIRC. I had reason to look into the area a few years back and was surprised how much rebuilding as before - at least externally - there had been.
More people think Boris tells the truth???? This is so over.
The first five question are devastating for Starmer.
"Stands up for the interests of the UK" - 52% over 25%. More than two to one
"Can build a strong economy" - 50% over 25%. Two to one
For the first time, I wonder if Sir Kir Royale can survive til the next GE
The depressing bit though is that, as discussed heavily on this site over the last few days, it’s hard to imagine any Labour MP in Parliament doing a lot better.
*faint despairing voice*
Yvette Cooper?
Probably too Remainery
They need a virile, patriotic Brexiteer - or at least someone more ambiguous on Brexit than Starmer.
Or they just accept that they are headed for another defeat, probably, and Starmer is the stoical Michael Howard who will take the punishment, absorb the blows, rebuild the party, and cue them up for victory in 2027-28. And in the meantime FFS find some good young leadership candidates. There must be SOME
The way things are going we could be looking at a coronation for Burnham as next leader to be honest.
Aaron Bastani @AaronBastani · 1m Most of the British media and political class mocked Labour members when they waved Palestine flags at party conference. Worse still some imputed that was racist.
They don’t care less about what is happening tonight.
It's just weird man — I don't understand why the left is so obsessed with Palestine
Most of the buildings have now been demolished or refurbed but not Holyrood
Fascinating list. I agree with the public in every case
The only one I might have saved is that car park in Newcastle. Sometimes Brutalism can work, and be exhilarating in its monstrous and insulting ugliness.
Trouble is, it should be on some industrial estate or in Thames dockyards, not in the middle of a rather noble city like Newcastle (which, unlike too many British cities, has a coherent and sometimes handsome architectural plan)
Also the supermarket. I like that. But I see it has been kept. Good
Brutalism seems to work with the Barbican.
Actually I agree there. While having qualified opinions about a number of similar buildings, there is something about that whole development that is more relatable than many similar ones.
The Barbican arboretum is incredible. So few people know about it. I was once photographed nude there, with a young female model. True story.
She got a bit narked and demanded more money when they told her it was Full Nudity, and she got the pay rise. I humbly went along
Comments
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-41097272
Now, "Left" means radical action on climate change and social issues, and individual identity being more important than national identity.
The only one I might have saved is that car park in Newcastle. Sometimes Brutalism can work, and be exhilarating in its monstrous and insulting ugliness.
Trouble is, it should be on some industrial estate or in Thames dockyards, not in the middle of a rather noble city like Newcastle (which, unlike too many British cities, has a coherent and sometimes handsome architectural plan)
Also the supermarket. I like that. But I see it has been kept. Good
Just kidding in her case, and ditto for your horsey friends.
BTW, always loved the Monty Python bit "Upper-Class Twit of the Year" which had something like:
"There goes Smith Smythe-Smith! His father was in the Cabinet, and his mother won the Derby!"
Boris must have done something awesome for someone in a previous life.
"The Green party in Germany is not the socialist project of Extinction Rebellion. In many ways, it is further to the right than the British Conservatives. In November, the party launched a ‘zero tolerance’ plan to tackle Muslim extremism, calling for a boost to police powers and a ban on Salafi organisations. Meanwhile, the Greens have successfully run Baden-Württemberg, Germany’s third largest state, since 2011, where self-confessed ‘green conservative’ Winfried Kretschmann, the Minister-President, has fought against tax increases and in favour of pro-market policies. The proud diesel-driving Catholic also takes a tough line on migrant gangs, arguing that ‘the most dangerous thing that human evolution has produced is hordes of young men’. Kretschmann was re-elected earlier this year on an increased majority.
The appeal of the German Greens lies in their centrism. Both Baerbock and Habeck have relentlessly stressed the party’s status as a Bündnispartei — a coalition party willing to work with anyone in order to get things done. Its ecological politics are broad and popular: promoting renewables, protecting the environment and promising new green jobs. But it opposes Nord Stream 2, Merkel’s dream of an oil pipeline flowing from Russia that many see as the cause of her ambivalence towards Putin. Berlin’s western allies would be only too happy to see the Kremlin’s crude tentacles cut back."
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/is-germany-about-to-go-green
BTW to say something positive about SKS, just recently the USA escaped from a leader who plainly supported violence in his cause and the overthrow of the democratic process if it would help him. He could even have won if a few million people had switched. This is scary. While Jezza was in charge there was only one party in UK who could win and be trusted with having the state in its hands. With SKS in charge there are now two. Like America we always need a spare party just in case.
So what replaced it? A branch of Tesco.
The Germans have simply abandoned the attempt to make attractive modernist town centres, realising we are somehow incapable. Instead they are now rebuilding entire medieval town centres, brick for brick, from scratch - the ones the RAF flattened. Frankfurt is an example
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dom-Römer_Project
We should do exactly the same in the UK. I can think of a dozen cities/disrricts, off the bat, which would benefit enormously from such a scheme. Coventry, Exeter, Northampton, maybe Brum, Swansea, Plymouth, Derby, Clydebank, do it.
Architects will shriek and howl and moan about "pastiche" but given that they are congenitally unable to design anything better they can fuck off
From what I've read the German Greens would be my second choice party as it stands (FDP first), but I don't think their voting system works via ranked voting.
But I agree that reliance on class voting is building on sand.
Haven't the Germans been doing it for some time? Or am I thinking of the Poles and Warsaw? But it's a nice approach.
That night as the young couple are getting ready for bed the bride says to her husband "this is my first time".
The groom gets spooked who calls his dad for his advice. "Come home son," is the response, "if she ain't good enough for her family, she ain't good enough for ours."
EDIT - Will this cut into Leon's flint dildo trade (so to speak) which I would guess has been one of the big success stories of the pandemic?
Like Amazon and GrubHub?
It is surely quite astonishing that a planning department can impose such restrictions on the use of a building that it remains empty for more than 50 years. It is a beautiful building on a great site but what a waste.
given he was a massive award winning architect the people who came along to finish the job were too scared to make the necessary changes. As a result everyone struggled to build a basically impossible design thus the massive cost overrun and various ergonomic problems of actually using it as a parliament.
He certainly had a 'distinct' style - that's a market in Barcelona
In contrast to the East. Remember Kurt Vonnegut writing, IIRC in preface to "Slaugherhouse Five" that post-war Dresden had been rebuilt to look like Toledo, Ohio or something like that.
It's the most obvious vector upon which a threat to his right-flank could develop.
Edit: Fleming, Smith, Hume, James Clark Maxwell. Who wants the likes of those? They were “not Scots”.
We stripped them of their overseas empire in 1918, and the allied powers of their European one in 1945, and neither was - how can we put it generously - "ambiguous" in the legacy it left for humanity.
We also do it in a quiet way. Half of the Nash Terraces were rebuilt from scratch after the war - unbelievably, there was a Labour Party plan to demolish them all - Churchill supposedly intervened.
They are still being rebuilt now, half of Park Crescent was torn down and replaced - identically - in the last few years
To my mind the Nash Terraces constitute the most beautiful ensemble of urban domestic architecture in the world. They are certainly successful, and desirable. You can buy a whole one for £185 million
https://luxurylondon.co.uk/house/property/john-nash-terrace-regents-park
But we don't have to do lavish - just do it like Frankfurt. They rebuilt an entire "old town" city centre for £180m. We should deffo copy
Even the GDR spent a shitload on rebuilding historical Dresden, though the replacement housing for Dresdeners was somewhat more utilitarian.
https://twitter.com/bitfinex/status/1390241119687032840?s=19
Just astonishing.
That’s why I’m behind it anyway.
P 72
“”Negotiations will enable phasing and the financial consequences of transition to be agreed, planned and managed by all parties”.[NB Is that even English?]
P 113
“”There could be a shared Sterling Area prudential regulatory authority…Alternatively, this could be undertaken by the regulatory arm of a Scottish Monetary Institute working alongside the equivalent UK authority on a consistent and harmonised basis.”
p 350
“The Scottish government expects Scottish bonds to become firmly established as a low risk, gilt-edged investment backed by Scotland’s substantial oil reserves and a stable, high-skilled economy trading successfully within the EU with few uncertainties.”
I think that for sheer off the wall lunacy the last one is the winner but a case could be made for each.
I think (and I believe you agree) that technology is the solution to green issues. Not abstinence, vegetarianism, or any other hair-shirt bullshit.
In some ways I think the green stuff could be a big win for Boris in the same way as the vaccines were. Instead of backing hairshirt bollocks, by backing new clean technologies firm and hard in the same way as the vaccines were backed early - the UK could be at the forefront of economic development in this area.
Plus in a decades time when Boris retires and the UK is already getting close to zero emissions what do the left have to say on the matter anymore? Smashing windows and protesting in London may seem clever to them and offputting to everyone else while they're able to claim there's an "emergency", but to do so once the UK has already firmly and irreversibly sorted out its own backyard its going to look as stupid as the Zero Covidiots like that female Scottish scientist and "independent SAGE" do now.
Today’s Redfield & Wilton
Leader Ratings
Boris 48/31
Sir Keir 26/33
Presumably, a squad of Scottish politicians went over to Barcelona, looked at this arse-aching heap of sad, misconceived shite, and said "Great, we want more of that in Edinburgh, only much bigger and grossly over-priced"
Is the Left considering he might be their best bet?
“Absolutely you can have all future rights over the oil fields - revenues and decommissioning costs (snigger) so long as we get everything else we want. Seriously - we will yield all rights to North Sea oil, even in our waters if you like”.
Though not sure it was actually filmed at Holyrood.
The B-52's - Love Shack
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SOryJvTAGs
No Nat has been able to tell me what happens if the Sterling Area PRA has been set different targets by an independent Scotland and RUK?
As for the SMI I can only assume someone who doesn't working in banking/financial services came up with that one.
If there's one thing Brexit has shown, harmonisation between two divorcing patterns is difficult on mundane things, just imagine what it will be like on the currency and/or interest rates.
As for Scottish bonds, well given how many Nats, including a former First Minister, talk about walking away with no debts, good luck with that one.
PS - If it gives you any consolation I have to read reports like Mr Gray's as my day job.
But cruel of the British public that nearly as many think that Boris is in better physical and mental health than Starmer. That has to be the only one I'd have unambiguously given to Starmer.
Love that 6% more think that Boris tells the truth more than Starmer.
"Stands up for the interests of the UK" - 52% over 25%. More than two to one
"Can build a strong economy" - 50% over 25%. Two to one
For the first time, I wonder if Sir Kir Royale can survive til the next GE
https://www.businessdaily.gr/english-edition/2470_lamda-offer-low-prices-10000-hellinikon-apartments
Mediterranean glam meets Mark Drakeford.
Otherwise they will forever remain in denial, but once they face reality they need to start dealing with it.
Allie Hodgkins-Brown
@AllieHBNews
·
43s
Tuesday’s i - “Six days until you can hug your family” #TomorrowsPapersToday
As with Brexit you learn to live with it, whilst shaking your head and sighing internally.
Look on the bright side, Mrs Sturgeon and have set the standard for overturning the referendum to around 5/6 years.
If an independent Scotland turns out to be a mistake you can rejoin within a decade.
They all live in Wales other than our eldest who lives in Vancouver
Yvette Cooper?
Probably too Remainery
They need a virile, patriotic Brexiteer - or at least someone more ambiguous on Brexit than Starmer.
Or they just accept that they are headed for another defeat, probably, and Starmer is the stoical Michael Howard who will take the punishment, absorb the blows, rebuild the party, and cue them up for victory in 2027-28. And in the meantime FFS find some good young leadership candidates. There must be SOME
Won't happen though. Any of it.
Brutalist buildings should survive only in photos, so we don't make the same mistakes again.
If it costs them a lot of money or sacrifices, involving things like rationing or holiday restrictions, then they will tell the Government to piss off.
However, sadly, I don't always hear Conservatives at ministerial level making that argument.
I've just bunged a few quid in that direction.
So it works occasionally in London, because London is huge and pretty well preserved. The Barbican (for all its continuing flaws, like access) is effective because it is surrounded by the lovely dense historic streetscapes of the City, Smithfield, Farringdon.
The National Theatre works because it is just one striking building on the South Bank.
But we don't want any more of it. It is commonly hideous and very easy to get horribly wrong
SKS has really fooked it up hasnt he
This needs to be the next decades equivalent to the vaccine taskforce. Get the science and technology out there to get us out of this - without people needing to make hard choices or sacrifices in the future. No future lockdowns to save the environment, just a jab of clean energy to make the problem go away.
A minor detail that can be worked around.
@AaronBastani
·
1m
Most of the British media and political class mocked Labour members when they waved Palestine flags at party conference. Worse still some imputed that was racist.
They don’t care less about what is happening tonight.
She got a bit narked and demanded more money when they told her it was Full Nudity, and she got the pay rise. I humbly went along
https://secretldn.com/barbican-conservatory-rainforest/