I did say it was rather interesting timing that the updated vaccine efficiency numbers came out 3 days after the big decision and badically invalidated all the models (that were already using incorrect numbers).
The problem is we just know that Johnson wont have asked the tricky, probing questions. He would have just quickly breezed through the meeting blustering around and making jokes.
Imagine Thatcher chairing this covid Quad of ministers.
Johnson breezed through one meeting on a scooter, in one door, out the other, shouting “2 Jabs free, 3 for a Pfizer”.
It looks like a bona Fido 3rd wave on the infections table. Probably too soon from uptick to show on hospitalisation chart yet?
I did say it was rather interesting timing that the updated vaccine efficiency numbers came out 3 days after the big decision and badically invalidated all the models (that were already using incorrect numbers).
I imagine that should Johnson be following the detail of all this he will be f*cking furious that he has once again been bounced into a lockdown decision.
He should reverse the decision.
He does have the two week review date. I suggest he calls in all the data himself and not allow it to be filtered through Hancock.
I think there's zero chance of them bringing forward the July date. They will say that whatever the detail available on June 14th there were still a large range of possibilities and it was right to be cautious. And that if the vaccines were more effective than thought then that makes an even greater case for delay to allow everyone time to be vaccinated.
They will reason that this is a far lesser evil than precipitously opening up having admitted they made a mistake only to potentially see something go wrong with the figures shortly afterwards.
I would say its unlikely but non-zero.
If it looks like hospitalisations etc have peaked or are nowhere near the graph in a fortnight's time they will be able to say that thanks to the extra data they're now confident.
But inertia plays now to letting the four weeks play out in full, regrettably.
I don't think hospitalisations have peaked....
Prof Spector and Zoe - who are normally a week or two ahead of the case data let alone the indicators with more lag - are saying that things are now levelling off.
Katy Balls: The north-south Tory parliamentary coalition has so far held together on the basis that all sides could win from the government’s message. The byelection result adds to the growing concern among Tory MPs in the south that this is no longer the case.
John Harris: But what has happened since [Cameron] has been a kind of counter-revolution within the [Tory] party: any anxieties about being seen as “the nasty party” have been blithely sidelined, and a nakedly populist, divisive agenda has been embraced, built on our departure from the EU. The purging of more centrist Conservatives has hardly helped. Not for the first time, what [Davey’s] party seems to have divined is an overlooked part of the electorate who may soon start to change the political weather. They do not like Boris Johnson, or what he is doing with power. Brexit is still uppermost in their minds. If they are watching GB News, it is only for the laughs. And as people like them now embrace home-working and move in ever-increasing numbers from London to its surrounding areas, they ought to be causing the Conservatives’ cleverer minds no end of concern.
Freedland: Plot it on a graph and the change stares right back at you. Fifty years ago, parties of the left fared best among those with the least education and the lowest income, while the right flourished among those with the most of both. These days, the right still does well among the affluent, but on education the two camps have swapped places: these days, and far too crudely put, if you’re a graduate you vote left; if you’re not, you don’t. [However…] The harder truth is that those who want change will have to speak to voters about the things they, the voters, care about, and in a way that makes sense to them. It will require discipline and coherence, even from those who think they’re doing noble work “widening the debate” or “raising awareness”, when in fact they’re just making progressives look weird. There is no short cut – via Chesham and Amersham or anywhere else.
The wheels are coming off this regime much faster than I thought they would.
Mike, if you are around, thank you again. You made me smile on Friday morning having taken up your C&A tip twice over. Brilliant betting tip. Thank you.
I'm afraid that Johnson is hopeless on detail. He bluffs, blusters and blagues but has no grasp of facts, no attention to detail and no capacity to apply himself.
Matt Hancock failed to tell Boris Johnson about a major Public Health England (PHE) study showing the effectiveness of vaccines against the Indian or delta variant during a key meeting to decide whether to extend Covid restrictions, The Telegraph can disclose....
I'm afraid that Johnson is hopeless on detail. He bluffs, blusters and blagues but has no grasp of facts, no attention to detail and no capacity to apply himself.
Fucking Hopeless is definitely on the receiving end of a blue-on-blue shock and awe briefing campaign at the moment.
Father's Day as well. I've had half a case of wine; the other half was for my recent birthday. And a couple of cards, including one for father-in-law. Which was nice.
Father's Day as well. I've had half a case of wine; the other half was for my recent birthday. And a couple of cards, including one for father-in-law. Which was nice.
Half a case of wine before 7 in the morning is quite good going!
Father's Day as well. I've had half a case of wine; the other half was for my recent birthday. And a couple of cards, including one for father-in-law. Which was nice.
Half a case of wine before 7 in the morning is quite good going!
Arrived a day or so ago, so I'm taking it steadily.
F1: one of those weekends when it's hard to find much of anything. Backed Sainz at 3 for best of the rest. If I didn't blog every race weekend I suspect I would've skipped this one.
I see that democracy is alive and well in Iran. One man, one vote. And the one man with the one vote, Ayatollah Khamenei, has cast it for a mass murderer.
You don’t have to be a raging pro-Israeli to agree with much of what is said here:
F1: one of those weekends when it's hard to find much of anything. Backed Sainz at 3 for best of the rest. If I didn't blog every race weekend I suspect I would've skipped this one.
Father's Day as well. I've had half a case of wine; the other half was for my recent birthday. And a couple of cards, including one for father-in-law. Which was nice.
Half a case of wine before 7 in the morning is quite good going!
Father's Day as well. I've had half a case of wine; the other half was for my recent birthday. And a couple of cards, including one for father-in-law. Which was nice.
Half a case of wine before 7 in the morning is quite good going!
The most revealing story I heard about Bercow was a few months ago.
At the school his kids are at there are 2 parents represented on the board.
Sally & John Bercow have occupied both of those seats having actively campaigned to win them.
And, I am told, favour their children’s interests over the broader school community
Of course this is all third hand gossip, but it does seem entirely plausible
I'd have to say he'd come very high on the list of 'defections' any sensible political party would wish to avoid. I struggle to see an obvious voting cohort that would be following him from blue to red. Other reasons why blues might move of course but in Bercow's wake? No.
As an aside it seems from reports in the press and elsewhere that there may be something of a local difficulty for Labour with the Muslim vote in B & S. Apparently the fact that his wife is half Jewish is not helping their cause. If so what an extraordinary indictment of the party for its courting of factionalism for too many years now.
Father's Day as well. I've had half a case of wine; the other half was for my recent birthday. And a couple of cards, including one for father-in-law. Which was nice.
Half a case of wine before 7 in the morning is quite good going!
And no typos as well!
Also no blether about aliens...
Next week is supposedly the release of the report to congress, so expect the media coverage to ramp up!
Bercow is one of my few political heroes in a thin last couple of years. Driving round London with a bumper sticker 'Bugger Brexit' while holding the job of Speaker was direct selling at its best. Another is Stormy Daniels. If you're going to dish the dirt on Donald in a crowded field you need something special and that name does it on its own. Finally the psychopath Dominic Cummings. A case of redemption. The man who could sell sand to the Saudis is now using his humungous talent to rid us of the Frankenstein monster he helped create.
The most revealing story I heard about Bercow was a few months ago.
At the school his kids are at there are 2 parents represented on the board.
Sally & John Bercow have occupied both of those seats having actively campaigned to win them.
And, I am told, favour their children’s interests over the broader school community
Of course this is all third hand gossip, but it does seem entirely plausible
I'd have to say he'd come very high on the list of 'defections' any sensible political party would wish to avoid. I struggle to see an obvious voting cohort that would be following him from blue to red. Other reasons why blues might move of course but in Bercow's wake? No.
As an aside it seems from reports in the press and elsewhere that there may be something of a local difficulty for Labour with the Muslim vote in B & S. Apparently the fact that his wife is half Jewish is not helping their cause. If so what an extraordinary indictment of the party for its courting of factionalism for too many years now.
Katy Balls: The north-south Tory parliamentary coalition has so far held together on the basis that all sides could win from the government’s message. The byelection result adds to the growing concern among Tory MPs in the south that this is no longer the case.
John Harris: But what has happened since [Cameron] has been a kind of counter-revolution within the [Tory] party: any anxieties about being seen as “the nasty party” have been blithely sidelined, and a nakedly populist, divisive agenda has been embraced, built on our departure from the EU. The purging of more centrist Conservatives has hardly helped. Not for the first time, what [Davey’s] party seems to have divined is an overlooked part of the electorate who may soon start to change the political weather. They do not like Boris Johnson, or what he is doing with power. Brexit is still uppermost in their minds. If they are watching GB News, it is only for the laughs. And as people like them now embrace home-working and move in ever-increasing numbers from London to its surrounding areas, they ought to be causing the Conservatives’ cleverer minds no end of concern.
Freedland: Plot it on a graph and the change stares right back at you. Fifty years ago, parties of the left fared best among those with the least education and the lowest income, while the right flourished among those with the most of both. These days, the right still does well among the affluent, but on education the two camps have swapped places: these days, and far too crudely put, if you’re a graduate you vote left; if you’re not, you don’t. [However…] The harder truth is that those who want change will have to speak to voters about the things they, the voters, care about, and in a way that makes sense to them. It will require discipline and coherence, even from those who think they’re doing noble work “widening the debate” or “raising awareness”, when in fact they’re just making progressives look weird. There is no short cut – via Chesham and Amersham or anywhere else.
As usual, it's Freedland who offers the real insights.
The most revealing story I heard about Bercow was a few months ago.
At the school his kids are at there are 2 parents represented on the board.
Sally & John Bercow have occupied both of those seats having actively campaigned to win them.
And, I am told, favour their children’s interests over the broader school community
Of course this is all third hand gossip, but it does seem entirely plausible
I'd have to say he'd come very high on the list of 'defections' any sensible political party would wish to avoid. I struggle to see an obvious voting cohort that would be following him from blue to red. Other reasons why blues might move of course but in Bercow's wake? No.
As an aside it seems from reports in the press and elsewhere that there may be something of a local difficulty for Labour with the Muslim vote in B & S. Apparently the fact that his wife is half Jewish is not helping their cause. If so what an extraordinary indictment of the party for its courting of factionalism for too many years now.
The Labour candidate in B&S is female.
Although I suppose it is possible her wife Claire is half Jewish, albeit that seems a total irrelevance to the issues at hand.
More likely this is Galloway’s campaign making up BS again. Remember how in the Bradford by-election he pretended to be a Muslim?
I'm afraid that Johnson is hopeless on detail. He bluffs, blusters and blagues but has no grasp of facts, no attention to detail and no capacity to apply himself.
Fucking Hopeless is definitely on the receiving end of a blue-on-blue shock and awe briefing campaign at the moment.
I'm afraid that Johnson is hopeless on detail. He bluffs, blusters and blagues but has no grasp of facts, no attention to detail and no capacity to apply himself.
Fucking Hopeless is definitely on the receiving end of a blue-on-blue shock and awe briefing campaign at the moment.
Yes, that was the first thing that occurred to me too.
One of the few people who is more discredited than Johnson or Cummings. The worst Speaker of my lifetime who has been driven by self aggrandisement and arrogance. I genuinely pity the Labour Party.
I'm afraid that Johnson is hopeless on detail. He bluffs, blusters and blagues but has no grasp of facts, no attention to detail and no capacity to apply himself.
Fucking Hopeless is definitely on the receiving end of a blue-on-blue shock and awe briefing campaign at the moment.
I'm afraid that Johnson is hopeless on detail. He bluffs, blusters and blagues but has no grasp of facts, no attention to detail and no capacity to apply himself.
Fucking Hopeless is definitely on the receiving end of a blue-on-blue shock and awe briefing campaign at the moment.
Yes, that was the first thing that occurred to me too.
That’s a worrying thought, because if Hancock’s for the chop, that means Williamson and Jenrick might just survive.
The most revealing story I heard about Bercow was a few months ago.
At the school his kids are at there are 2 parents represented on the board.
Sally & John Bercow have occupied both of those seats having actively campaigned to win them.
And, I am told, favour their children’s interests over the broader school community
Of course this is all third hand gossip, but it does seem entirely plausible
I'd have to say he'd come very high on the list of 'defections' any sensible political party would wish to avoid. I struggle to see an obvious voting cohort that would be following him from blue to red. Other reasons why blues might move of course but in Bercow's wake? No.
As an aside it seems from reports in the press and elsewhere that there may be something of a local difficulty for Labour with the Muslim vote in B & S. Apparently the fact that his wife is half Jewish is not helping their cause. If so what an extraordinary indictment of the party for its courting of factionalism for too many years now.
What an insulting story to Muslms. Which press? Surely not the Jewish Chronicle? I doubt they sell it in Andalusia
The most revealing story I heard about Bercow was a few months ago.
At the school his kids are at there are 2 parents represented on the board.
Sally & John Bercow have occupied both of those seats having actively campaigned to win them.
And, I am told, favour their children’s interests over the broader school community
Of course this is all third hand gossip, but it does seem entirely plausible
I'd have to say he'd come very high on the list of 'defections' any sensible political party would wish to avoid. I struggle to see an obvious voting cohort that would be following him from blue to red. Other reasons why blues might move of course but in Bercow's wake? No.
As an aside it seems from reports in the press and elsewhere that there may be something of a local difficulty for Labour with the Muslim vote in B & S. Apparently the fact that his wife is half Jewish is not helping their cause. If so what an extraordinary indictment of the party for its courting of factionalism for too many years now.
I have frequently challenged the argument that Boris is just "lucky" but "suffering" a "withering attack" from John Bercow is possibly an argument against me. It will remind many why they voted for him in the first place.
The most revealing story I heard about Bercow was a few months ago.
At the school his kids are at there are 2 parents represented on the board.
Sally & John Bercow have occupied both of those seats having actively campaigned to win them.
And, I am told, favour their children’s interests over the broader school community
Of course this is all third hand gossip, but it does seem entirely plausible
I'd have to say he'd come very high on the list of 'defections' any sensible political party would wish to avoid. I struggle to see an obvious voting cohort that would be following him from blue to red. Other reasons why blues might move of course but in Bercow's wake? No.
As an aside it seems from reports in the press and elsewhere that there may be something of a local difficulty for Labour with the Muslim vote in B & S. Apparently the fact that his wife is half Jewish is not helping their cause. If so what an extraordinary indictment of the party for its courting of factionalism for too many years now.
The Labour candidate in B&S is female.
And a quick google will tell you has a partner called Clare, although you have to go further down the results page than you might expect to find it.
I would have thought that her being a lesbian would depress the Muslim vote more her partner being half Jewish (presumably non practicing), but being realistic I can't imagine either aspect working in her favour in that particular community.
Bercow is one of my few political heroes in a thin last couple of years. Driving round London with a bumper sticker 'Bugger Brexit' while holding the job of Speaker was direct selling at its best. Another is Stormy Daniels. If you're going to dish the dirt on Donald in a crowded field you need something special and that name does it on its own. Finally the psychopath Dominic Cummings. A case of redemption. The man who could sell sand to the Saudis is now using his humungous talent to rid us of the Frankenstein monster he helped create.
I'm afraid that Johnson is hopeless on detail. He bluffs, blusters and blagues but has no grasp of facts, no attention to detail and no capacity to apply himself.
Fucking Hopeless is definitely on the receiving end of a blue-on-blue shock and awe briefing campaign at the moment.
I'm afraid that Johnson is hopeless on detail. He bluffs, blusters and blagues but has no grasp of facts, no attention to detail and no capacity to apply himself.
Fucking Hopeless is definitely on the receiving end of a blue-on-blue shock and awe briefing campaign at the moment.
Yes, that was the first thing that occurred to me too.
That’s a worrying thought, because if Hancock’s for the chop, that means Williamson and Jenrick might just survive.
Neil Henderson @hendopolis · 2m INDEPENDENT DIGITAL: Record demand at A&E puts patient lives ‘at risk’ #TomorrowsPapersToday
What are all these record A&E presentations presenting with? Because by definition it can't be Covid.
I know. That's what I'm wondering. Suspect some of this is because some GPs are still refusing to see patients face to face.
Exactly.
GP surgeries are the cause of oversubscribed A&E's.
Actually, I can see my GP any time I want. I just go to the Golf club. But at his surgery? Impossible.
GPs may be one cause of overcrowded A&Es but another is the 111 NHS phone helpline, according to the Telegraph. Patients (including those who can't reach their GPs) call 111 and are told to go to A&E or call an ambulance, whose call-outs are up 20 to 30 per cent on normal.
Adrian Boyle, the vice-president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said the problem was largely being driven by the NHS 111 algorithm that is "too risk-averse".
"What we find is that NHS 111 is more likely to send people to either the emergency department, or to the GP, or call for an ambulance, where they don't have a condition, where it's just some call handler following an algorithm," he told The Telegraph.
The most revealing story I heard about Bercow was a few months ago.
At the school his kids are at there are 2 parents represented on the board.
Sally & John Bercow have occupied both of those seats having actively campaigned to win them.
And, I am told, favour their children’s interests over the broader school community
Of course this is all third hand gossip, but it does seem entirely plausible
I'd have to say he'd come very high on the list of 'defections' any sensible political party would wish to avoid. I struggle to see an obvious voting cohort that would be following him from blue to red. Other reasons why blues might move of course but in Bercow's wake? No.
As an aside it seems from reports in the press and elsewhere that there may be something of a local difficulty for Labour with the Muslim vote in B & S. Apparently the fact that his wife is half Jewish is not helping their cause. If so what an extraordinary indictment of the party for its courting of factionalism for too many years now.
Is Jo Cox's sister gay?
Apparently there is a partner called Claire. First I’ve heard And no ones business I guess but does that have an effect on how would vote?
I'm afraid that Johnson is hopeless on detail. He bluffs, blusters and blagues but has no grasp of facts, no attention to detail and no capacity to apply himself.
Johnson = worst PM this country has ever had! No-one is even close in this department.
Cue the PB Burleys who will now come to defend the disingenuous racist fat fornicator!
The most revealing story I heard about Bercow was a few months ago.
At the school his kids are at there are 2 parents represented on the board.
Sally & John Bercow have occupied both of those seats having actively campaigned to win them.
And, I am told, favour their children’s interests over the broader school community
Of course this is all third hand gossip, but it does seem entirely plausible
I'd have to say he'd come very high on the list of 'defections' any sensible political party would wish to avoid. I struggle to see an obvious voting cohort that would be following him from blue to red. Other reasons why blues might move of course but in Bercow's wake? No.
As an aside it seems from reports in the press and elsewhere that there may be something of a local difficulty for Labour with the Muslim vote in B & S. Apparently the fact that his wife is half Jewish is not helping their cause. If so what an extraordinary indictment of the party for its courting of factionalism for too many years now.
The Labour candidate in B&S is female.
Even murkier! Felix has it on good authority that because the Labour candidate is married to a man whose father was Jewish (had it been his mother you could have done away with the half) Muslims are not going to vote for him! If this is untrue as I suspect it is you are moving from fantasy to rather unpleasant islamaphobia. I think you should post links to these press reports
I'm afraid that Johnson is hopeless on detail. He bluffs, blusters and blagues but has no grasp of facts, no attention to detail and no capacity to apply himself.
Fucking Hopeless is definitely on the receiving end of a blue-on-blue shock and awe briefing campaign at the moment.
I'm afraid that Johnson is hopeless on detail. He bluffs, blusters and blagues but has no grasp of facts, no attention to detail and no capacity to apply himself.
Fucking Hopeless is definitely on the receiving end of a blue-on-blue shock and awe briefing campaign at the moment.
Yes, that was the first thing that occurred to me too.
That’s a worrying thought, because if Hancock’s for the chop, that means Williamson and Jenrick might just survive.
Of those 3 Hancock is indeed the stand out star.
No he isn’t.
Williamson makes Humza Yusuf look almost competent.
I'm afraid that Johnson is hopeless on detail. He bluffs, blusters and blagues but has no grasp of facts, no attention to detail and no capacity to apply himself.
Fucking Hopeless is definitely on the receiving end of a blue-on-blue shock and awe briefing campaign at the moment.
Ah but who is it that is briefing against Hancock, and is the inference that Boris is an innumerate twat whose eyes glaze over when shown a graph collateral damage or blowback?
I'm afraid that Johnson is hopeless on detail. He bluffs, blusters and blagues but has no grasp of facts, no attention to detail and no capacity to apply himself.
Fucking Hopeless is definitely on the receiving end of a blue-on-blue shock and awe briefing campaign at the moment.
Ah but who is it that is briefing against Hancock, and is the inference that Boris is an innumerate twat whose eyes glaze over when shown a graph collateral damage or blowback?
Surely you’ve know that for long enough not to have to infer it?
As for attack dog for Labour....the Red Wall aren't going to be impressed are they Mike...Mr Stop Brexit as many of them see him giving it large... will just remind all those Brexit voters that between him and Starmer weren't on their side (or that of democracy).
He isn't a powerful speakers, he comes across as arrogant and pompous.
True, but maybe the red wall is already lost. I’ve no idea whether Bercow will appeal in the blue wall but it’s true Labour do lack an attack dog.
Chihuahuas can be quite aggressive yappy dogs, but they rarely do much damage.
I wish our one was unable to do damage. She's a compulsive ankle biter, and can easily result people requiring a stitch or two.
But if we take her back to the shelter, she'll be put down, so we're stuck with her for another 15 or so years.
Get some of those chainmail ankle pieces. She’ll soon learn.
Katy Balls: The north-south Tory parliamentary coalition has so far held together on the basis that all sides could win from the government’s message. The byelection result adds to the growing concern among Tory MPs in the south that this is no longer the case.
John Harris: But what has happened since [Cameron] has been a kind of counter-revolution within the [Tory] party: any anxieties about being seen as “the nasty party” have been blithely sidelined, and a nakedly populist, divisive agenda has been embraced, built on our departure from the EU. The purging of more centrist Conservatives has hardly helped. Not for the first time, what [Davey’s] party seems to have divined is an overlooked part of the electorate who may soon start to change the political weather. They do not like Boris Johnson, or what he is doing with power. Brexit is still uppermost in their minds. If they are watching GB News, it is only for the laughs. And as people like them now embrace home-working and move in ever-increasing numbers from London to its surrounding areas, they ought to be causing the Conservatives’ cleverer minds no end of concern.
Freedland: Plot it on a graph and the change stares right back at you. Fifty years ago, parties of the left fared best among those with the least education and the lowest income, while the right flourished among those with the most of both. These days, the right still does well among the affluent, but on education the two camps have swapped places: these days, and far too crudely put, if you’re a graduate you vote left; if you’re not, you don’t. [However…] The harder truth is that those who want change will have to speak to voters about the things they, the voters, care about, and in a way that makes sense to them. It will require discipline and coherence, even from those who think they’re doing noble work “widening the debate” or “raising awareness”, when in fact they’re just making progressives look weird. There is no short cut – via Chesham and Amersham or anywhere else.
As usual, it's Freedland who offers the real insights.
Really? I'd say Harris though I often find Freedland to be insightful
I'm afraid that Johnson is hopeless on detail. He bluffs, blusters and blagues but has no grasp of facts, no attention to detail and no capacity to apply himself.
Fucking Hopeless is definitely on the receiving end of a blue-on-blue shock and awe briefing campaign at the moment.
Ah but who is it that is briefing against Hancock, and is the inference that Boris is an innumerate twat whose eyes glaze over when shown a graph collateral damage or blowback?
The most revealing story I heard about Bercow was a few months ago.
At the school his kids are at there are 2 parents represented on the board.
Sally & John Bercow have occupied both of those seats having actively campaigned to win them.
And, I am told, favour their children’s interests over the broader school community
Of course this is all third hand gossip, but it does seem entirely plausible
I'd have to say he'd come very high on the list of 'defections' any sensible political party would wish to avoid. I struggle to see an obvious voting cohort that would be following him from blue to red. Other reasons why blues might move of course but in Bercow's wake? No.
As an aside it seems from reports in the press and elsewhere that there may be something of a local difficulty for Labour with the Muslim vote in B & S. Apparently the fact that his wife is half Jewish is not helping their cause. If so what an extraordinary indictment of the party for its courting of factionalism for too many years now.
Is Jo Cox's sister gay?
Apparently there is a partner called Claire. First I’ve heard And no ones business I guess but does that have an effect on how would vote?
Murkier and murkier she's gay but has a half Jewish husband who is losing her the Muslim vote?
Katy Balls: The north-south Tory parliamentary coalition has so far held together on the basis that all sides could win from the government’s message. The byelection result adds to the growing concern among Tory MPs in the south that this is no longer the case.
John Harris: But what has happened since [Cameron] has been a kind of counter-revolution within the [Tory] party: any anxieties about being seen as “the nasty party” have been blithely sidelined, and a nakedly populist, divisive agenda has been embraced, built on our departure from the EU. The purging of more centrist Conservatives has hardly helped. Not for the first time, what [Davey’s] party seems to have divined is an overlooked part of the electorate who may soon start to change the political weather. They do not like Boris Johnson, or what he is doing with power. Brexit is still uppermost in their minds. If they are watching GB News, it is only for the laughs. And as people like them now embrace home-working and move in ever-increasing numbers from London to its surrounding areas, they ought to be causing the Conservatives’ cleverer minds no end of concern.
Freedland: Plot it on a graph and the change stares right back at you. Fifty years ago, parties of the left fared best among those with the least education and the lowest income, while the right flourished among those with the most of both. These days, the right still does well among the affluent, but on education the two camps have swapped places: these days, and far too crudely put, if you’re a graduate you vote left; if you’re not, you don’t. [However…] The harder truth is that those who want change will have to speak to voters about the things they, the voters, care about, and in a way that makes sense to them. It will require discipline and coherence, even from those who think they’re doing noble work “widening the debate” or “raising awareness”, when in fact they’re just making progressives look weird. There is no short cut – via Chesham and Amersham or anywhere else.
As usual, it's Freedland who offers the real insights.
Really? I'd say Harris though I often find Freedland to be insightful
I generally sense from most commentators the process of churning out 1,000 words or so to a deadline - sometimes it hits the target, often it doesn't. But with Freedland I am always struck by evidence of deeper thinking and understanding informed by history.
The most revealing story I heard about Bercow was a few months ago.
At the school his kids are at there are 2 parents represented on the board.
Sally & John Bercow have occupied both of those seats having actively campaigned to win them.
And, I am told, favour their children’s interests over the broader school community
Of course this is all third hand gossip, but it does seem entirely plausible
I'd have to say he'd come very high on the list of 'defections' any sensible political party would wish to avoid. I struggle to see an obvious voting cohort that would be following him from blue to red. Other reasons why blues might move of course but in Bercow's wake? No.
As an aside it seems from reports in the press and elsewhere that there may be something of a local difficulty for Labour with the Muslim vote in B & S. Apparently the fact that his wife is half Jewish is not helping their cause. If so what an extraordinary indictment of the party for its courting of factionalism for too many years now.
Is Jo Cox's sister gay?
Apparently there is a partner called Claire. First I’ve heard And no ones business I guess but does that have an effect on how would vote?
Murkier and murkier she's gay but has a half Jewish husband who is losing her the Muslim vote?
Find out in the next episode of SOAP!
Clearly some crossed wires here. Is the mix up about George Galloway?
Katy Balls: The north-south Tory parliamentary coalition has so far held together on the basis that all sides could win from the government’s message. The byelection result adds to the growing concern among Tory MPs in the south that this is no longer the case.
John Harris: But what has happened since [Cameron] has been a kind of counter-revolution within the [Tory] party: any anxieties about being seen as “the nasty party” have been blithely sidelined, and a nakedly populist, divisive agenda has been embraced, built on our departure from the EU. The purging of more centrist Conservatives has hardly helped. Not for the first time, what [Davey’s] party seems to have divined is an overlooked part of the electorate who may soon start to change the political weather. They do not like Boris Johnson, or what he is doing with power. Brexit is still uppermost in their minds. If they are watching GB News, it is only for the laughs. And as people like them now embrace home-working and move in ever-increasing numbers from London to its surrounding areas, they ought to be causing the Conservatives’ cleverer minds no end of concern.
Freedland: Plot it on a graph and the change stares right back at you. Fifty years ago, parties of the left fared best among those with the least education and the lowest income, while the right flourished among those with the most of both. These days, the right still does well among the affluent, but on education the two camps have swapped places: these days, and far too crudely put, if you’re a graduate you vote left; if you’re not, you don’t. [However…] The harder truth is that those who want change will have to speak to voters about the things they, the voters, care about, and in a way that makes sense to them. It will require discipline and coherence, even from those who think they’re doing noble work “widening the debate” or “raising awareness”, when in fact they’re just making progressives look weird. There is no short cut – via Chesham and Amersham or anywhere else.
As usual, it's Freedland who offers the real insights.
Really? I'd say Harris though I often find Freedland to be insightful
Is Freedland’s “insight” about graduates tending to vote Labour not in large part just ignoring the inverse correlation between age and university attendance?
Katy Balls: The north-south Tory parliamentary coalition has so far held together on the basis that all sides could win from the government’s message. The byelection result adds to the growing concern among Tory MPs in the south that this is no longer the case.
John Harris: But what has happened since [Cameron] has been a kind of counter-revolution within the [Tory] party: any anxieties about being seen as “the nasty party” have been blithely sidelined, and a nakedly populist, divisive agenda has been embraced, built on our departure from the EU. The purging of more centrist Conservatives has hardly helped. Not for the first time, what [Davey’s] party seems to have divined is an overlooked part of the electorate who may soon start to change the political weather. They do not like Boris Johnson, or what he is doing with power. Brexit is still uppermost in their minds. If they are watching GB News, it is only for the laughs. And as people like them now embrace home-working and move in ever-increasing numbers from London to its surrounding areas, they ought to be causing the Conservatives’ cleverer minds no end of concern.
Freedland: Plot it on a graph and the change stares right back at you. Fifty years ago, parties of the left fared best among those with the least education and the lowest income, while the right flourished among those with the most of both. These days, the right still does well among the affluent, but on education the two camps have swapped places: these days, and far too crudely put, if you’re a graduate you vote left; if you’re not, you don’t. [However…] The harder truth is that those who want change will have to speak to voters about the things they, the voters, care about, and in a way that makes sense to them. It will require discipline and coherence, even from those who think they’re doing noble work “widening the debate” or “raising awareness”, when in fact they’re just making progressives look weird. There is no short cut – via Chesham and Amersham or anywhere else.
As usual, it's Freedland who offers the real insights.
Really? I'd say Harris though I often find Freedland to be insightful
I generally sense from most commentators the process of churning out 1,000 words or so to a deadline - sometimes it hits the target, often it doesn't. But with Freedland I am always struck by evidence of deeper thinking and understanding informed by history.
Freedland the better by far. he is outstandingly good. But the fault they both share and don't recognise because it is built in, is that their favoured groups are known to be correct, and the Tory interlopers are in the wrong. The merits of the Tories' appeal to a massive spectrum in the middle, the middling aspirational sort, passes them by. The idea that this Tory government for all its faults is progressive too passes them by. That is the Guardian all over.
You won't hear someone who has worked in Parliament say this very often but I miss Bercow as Speaker. His willingness to ignore convention made Parliament (for good or ill) powerful during Brexit in a way that stands in stark contrast to how supine it's been over COVID.
Hoyle has his tantrums against the government but ultimately he's not willing to break any rules that might really piss them off. His fatal flaw is that he wants to be liked by his colleagues. He's a bit Michael Martin like in my opinion, although perhaps more intelligent.
Bercow really hated clerks because they told him that he couldn't do things because of precedent (that is largely their job) and his behaviour could be inexcusable. On the other hand he was wonderful with the other staff such as the security guards, guides, caterers. Always really helpful for things like organising school visits and he opened up Speaker's House to any staff grade for monthly lectures by other politicians.
The most revealing story I heard about Bercow was a few months ago.
At the school his kids are at there are 2 parents represented on the board.
Sally & John Bercow have occupied both of those seats having actively campaigned to win them.
And, I am told, favour their children’s interests over the broader school community
Of course this is all third hand gossip, but it does seem entirely plausible
I'd have to say he'd come very high on the list of 'defections' any sensible political party would wish to avoid. I struggle to see an obvious voting cohort that would be following him from blue to red. Other reasons why blues might move of course but in Bercow's wake? No.
As an aside it seems from reports in the press and elsewhere that there may be something of a local difficulty for Labour with the Muslim vote in B & S. Apparently the fact that his wife is half Jewish is not helping their cause. If so what an extraordinary indictment of the party for its courting of factionalism for too many years now.
The Labour candidate in B&S is female.
I was referring to Starmer's wife which was cited in the reports. Re-reading I can see the confusion. I've no knowledge of the Labour candidate beyond her being Jo Cox's sister. The reports i read were talking about the anti-Starmer rumblings. Hilarious that even in the wake of the C & A defeat it is the Labour leader under pressure.
Katy Balls: The north-south Tory parliamentary coalition has so far held together on the basis that all sides could win from the government’s message. The byelection result adds to the growing concern among Tory MPs in the south that this is no longer the case.
John Harris: But what has happened since [Cameron] has been a kind of counter-revolution within the [Tory] party: any anxieties about being seen as “the nasty party” have been blithely sidelined, and a nakedly populist, divisive agenda has been embraced, built on our departure from the EU. The purging of more centrist Conservatives has hardly helped. Not for the first time, what [Davey’s] party seems to have divined is an overlooked part of the electorate who may soon start to change the political weather. They do not like Boris Johnson, or what he is doing with power. Brexit is still uppermost in their minds. If they are watching GB News, it is only for the laughs. And as people like them now embrace home-working and move in ever-increasing numbers from London to its surrounding areas, they ought to be causing the Conservatives’ cleverer minds no end of concern.
Freedland: Plot it on a graph and the change stares right back at you. Fifty years ago, parties of the left fared best among those with the least education and the lowest income, while the right flourished among those with the most of both. These days, the right still does well among the affluent, but on education the two camps have swapped places: these days, and far too crudely put, if you’re a graduate you vote left; if you’re not, you don’t. [However…] The harder truth is that those who want change will have to speak to voters about the things they, the voters, care about, and in a way that makes sense to them. It will require discipline and coherence, even from those who think they’re doing noble work “widening the debate” or “raising awareness”, when in fact they’re just making progressives look weird. There is no short cut – via Chesham and Amersham or anywhere else.
As usual, it's Freedland who offers the real insights.
Really? I'd say Harris though I often find Freedland to be insightful
Is Freedland’s “insight” about graduates tending to vote Labour not in large part just ignoring the inverse correlation between age and university attendance?
And the converse that historically higher levels of education were the preserve of the middle classes and upwards.
Basically in both cases the link to voting patterns had nothing to do with how "educated" people were, or any sort of link to intelligence. Just a derivative from changing patterns of education provision.
I'm afraid that Johnson is hopeless on detail. He bluffs, blusters and blagues but has no grasp of facts, no attention to detail and no capacity to apply himself.
Fucking Hopeless is definitely on the receiving end of a blue-on-blue shock and awe briefing campaign at the moment.
Indeed, the spin is because he clearly he has to go soon, purely for the alliterative nickname that cannot be shaken off and shows up the PM as weak, rather than his merits or demerits as health secretary.
The most revealing story I heard about Bercow was a few months ago.
At the school his kids are at there are 2 parents represented on the board.
Sally & John Bercow have occupied both of those seats having actively campaigned to win them.
And, I am told, favour their children’s interests over the broader school community
Of course this is all third hand gossip, but it does seem entirely plausible
I'd have to say he'd come very high on the list of 'defections' any sensible political party would wish to avoid. I struggle to see an obvious voting cohort that would be following him from blue to red. Other reasons why blues might move of course but in Bercow's wake? No.
As an aside it seems from reports in the press and elsewhere that there may be something of a local difficulty for Labour with the Muslim vote in B & S. Apparently the fact that his wife is half Jewish is not helping their cause. If so what an extraordinary indictment of the party for its courting of factionalism for too many years now.
The Labour candidate in B&S is female.
I was referring to Starmer's wife which was cited in the reports.
I was just wondering if there's any sort of accepted standard of gift for Father's Day? Or is it just a card. Mother's Day is obviously flowers (at a minimum), and probably give her a break by cooking lunch or going out for a meal.
You won't hear someone who has worked in Parliament say this very often but I miss Bercow as Speaker. His willingness to ignore convention made Parliament (for good or ill) powerful during Brexit in a way that stands in stark contrast to how supine it's been over COVID.
Hoyle has his tantrums against the government but ultimately he's not willing to break any rules that might really piss them off. His fatal flaw is that he wants to be liked by his colleagues. He's a bit Michael Martin like in my opinion, although perhaps more intelligent.
Bercow really hated clerks because they told him that he couldn't do things because of precedent (that is largely their job) and his behaviour could be inexcusable. On the other hand he was wonderful with the other staff such as the security guards, guides, caterers. Always really helpful for things like organising school visits and he opened up Speaker's House to any staff grade for monthly lectures by other politicians.
Quite a few similarities with BoJo in there, disliking constraints and convention, thinking breaking them is fine because his side is good and it makes that side more powerful.
You won't hear someone who has worked in Parliament say this very often but I miss Bercow as Speaker. His willingness to ignore convention made Parliament (for good or ill) powerful during Brexit in a way that stands in stark contrast to how supine it's been over COVID.
Hoyle has his tantrums against the government but ultimately he's not willing to break any rules that might really piss them off. His fatal flaw is that he wants to be liked by his colleagues. He's a bit Michael Martin like in my opinion, although perhaps more intelligent.
Bercow really hated clerks because they told him that he couldn't do things because of precedent (that is largely their job) and his behaviour could be inexcusable. On the other hand he was wonderful with the other staff such as the security guards, guides, caterers. Always really helpful for things like organising school visits and he opened up Speaker's House to any staff grade for monthly lectures by other politicians.
Quite a few similarities with BoJo in there, disliking constraints and convention, thinking breaking them is fine because his side is good and it makes that side more powerful.
Yeah I can see what you mean although I do genuinely think that Bercow wanted to ensure Parliament's voice was heard over Brexit. If the government had it's way then they would have been ignored entirely. BoJo doesn't really love any institution with the possible exception of Eton.
You won't hear someone who has worked in Parliament say this very often but I miss Bercow as Speaker. His willingness to ignore convention made Parliament (for good or ill) powerful during Brexit in a way that stands in stark contrast to how supine it's been over COVID.
Hoyle has his tantrums against the government but ultimately he's not willing to break any rules that might really piss them off. His fatal flaw is that he wants to be liked by his colleagues. He's a bit Michael Martin like in my opinion, although perhaps more intelligent.
Bercow really hated clerks because they told him that he couldn't do things because of precedent (that is largely their job) and his behaviour could be inexcusable. On the other hand he was wonderful with the other staff such as the security guards, guides, caterers. Always really helpful for things like organising school visits and he opened up Speaker's House to any staff grade for monthly lectures by other politicians.
Parliament was "powerful" during Brexit because the Government had no majority. And no majority for no course of action. And ultimately what did it achieve with this "power"? An outcome far worse than Government opponents would have compromised for with hindsight.
Parliament could easily be powerful over Covid, even with the large Government majority. That it's not is because the key to limiting Government power is to oppose it on lockdown - because that is where any rebellion from within its own ranks is going to come from. But that won't happen whilst the main opposition is unwilling to exploit this to get its aims. Even if just threatening to vote with rebels to give the Govt the dilemma between following the agenda of the rebels - or following the opposition agenda of increasing financial support for workers and businesses.
Hoyle os a much better speaker...see how he handled the international aid amendment and also the government not making announcements first in parliament...he quietly but firmly talked to.those involved and found a way forward. No showboating.
Dreamer , Boris just ignores him , he is a wimp and a useless lickspittle that the Tories just ignore.
I was just wondering if there's any sort of accepted standard of gift for Father's Day? Or is it just a card. Mother's Day is obviously flowers (at a minimum), and probably give her a break by cooking lunch or going out for a meal.
But Father's Day? Bottle of Scotch? Just because.
The fish merchants in Newlyn are out of lobsters because (they say) of father's day. I shall tell my sons this as a hint for 2022.
F1: one of those weekends when it's hard to find much of anything. Backed Sainz at 3 for best of the rest. If I didn't blog every race weekend I suspect I would've skipped this one.
I was just wondering if there's any sort of accepted standard of gift for Father's Day? Or is it just a card. Mother's Day is obviously flowers (at a minimum), and probably give her a break by cooking lunch or going out for a meal.
But Father's Day? Bottle of Scotch? Just because.
I have 3 kids and I love a bottle of single malt. But Fathers Day has never interested me. My kids love me. They don't need to be guilt tripped into having one random day where the card industry makes a bundle of profit for something they made up.
The most revealing story I heard about Bercow was a few months ago.
At the school his kids are at there are 2 parents represented on the board.
Sally & John Bercow have occupied both of those seats having actively campaigned to win them.
And, I am told, favour their children’s interests over the broader school community
Of course this is all third hand gossip, but it does seem entirely plausible
It is certainly true that Holland Park School has two elected parent governors and the Bercows occupy those positions, with Mrs Bercow having responsibility for SEND and safeguarding. See https://www.hollandparkschool.co.uk/about/governance
I was just wondering if there's any sort of accepted standard of gift for Father's Day? Or is it just a card. Mother's Day is obviously flowers (at a minimum), and probably give her a break by cooking lunch or going out for a meal.
But Father's Day? Bottle of Scotch? Just because.
For some reason, the basis for which escapes me, most of my presents these days...... Birthday, Christmas, Fathers Day....... seem to involve alcoholic drinks.
Comments
Smokey Robinson
Happy birthday !
This is the best interview of him I’ve seen.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/nov/10/john-bercow-interview-i-may-be-pompous-but-i-am-completely-authentic
It looks like a bona Fido 3rd wave on the infections table. Probably too soon from uptick to show on hospitalisation chart yet?
The trouble isn’t being 40, but the wishing that you still were as each subsequent year takes you further away from so being….
John Harris: But what has happened since [Cameron] has been a kind of counter-revolution within the [Tory] party: any anxieties about being seen as “the nasty party” have been blithely sidelined, and a nakedly populist, divisive agenda has been embraced, built on our departure from the EU. The purging of more centrist Conservatives has hardly helped. Not for the first time, what [Davey’s] party seems to have divined is an overlooked part of the electorate who may soon start to change the political weather. They do not like Boris Johnson, or what he is doing with power. Brexit is still uppermost in their minds. If they are watching GB News, it is only for the laughs. And as people like them now embrace home-working and move in ever-increasing numbers from London to its surrounding areas, they ought to be causing the Conservatives’ cleverer minds no end of concern.
Freedland: Plot it on a graph and the change stares right back at you. Fifty years ago, parties of the left fared best among those with the least education and the lowest income, while the right flourished among those with the most of both. These days, the right still does well among the affluent, but on education the two camps have swapped places: these days, and far too crudely put, if you’re a graduate you vote left; if you’re not, you don’t. [However…] The harder truth is that those who want change will have to speak to voters about the things they, the voters, care about, and in a way that makes sense to them. It will require discipline and coherence, even from those who think they’re doing noble work “widening the debate” or “raising awareness”, when in fact they’re just making progressives look weird. There is no short cut – via Chesham and Amersham or anywhere else.
The wheels are coming off this regime much faster than I thought they would.
Mike, if you are around, thank you again. You made me smile on Friday morning having taken up your C&A tip twice over. Brilliant betting tip. Thank you.
I'm afraid that Johnson is hopeless on detail. He bluffs, blusters and blagues but has no grasp of facts, no attention to detail and no capacity to apply himself.
Congratulations on your survival (so far), Mr. Pulpstar.
I see the cantankerous gnome has proved it was a rare correct decision by the PM to deny the umpire-who-would-be-a-player a seat in the Lords.
Great politicians are secure enough not to be petty.
Boris Johnson is neither great nor secure.
Still slightly annoyed over the Gasly bet not coming off last time. Ah well. Good for Vettel to put in a performance like that.
Forty sounds very old, until you hit 50...
And a couple of cards, including one for father-in-law. Which was nice.
Betting PostF1: one of those weekends when it's hard to find much of anything. Backed Sainz at 3 for best of the rest. If I didn't blog every race weekend I suspect I would've skipped this one.
https://enormo-haddock.blogspot.com/2021/06/france-pre-race-2021.html
You don’t have to be a raging pro-Israeli to agree with much of what is said here:
Iran election: Israel voices 'grave concern' over Ebrahim Raisi
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-57541346
Only a rain dance, will make it anything other than a terrible place to race F1 cars.
At the school his kids are at there are 2 parents represented on the board.
Sally & John Bercow have occupied both of those seats having actively campaigned to win them.
And, I am told, favour their children’s interests over the broader school community
Of course this is all third hand gossip, but it does seem entirely plausible
As an aside it seems from reports in the press and elsewhere that there may be something of a local difficulty for Labour with the Muslim vote in B & S. Apparently the fact that his wife is half Jewish is not helping their cause. If so what an extraordinary indictment of the party for its courting of factionalism for too many years now.
More likely this is Galloway’s campaign making up BS again. Remember how in the Bradford by-election he pretended to be a Muslim?
I would have thought that her being a lesbian would depress the Muslim vote more her partner being half Jewish (presumably non practicing), but being realistic I can't imagine either aspect working in her favour in that particular community.
Still a a baby though. Probably one of the youngest on the site looking at the political bias of PB!
Adrian Boyle, the vice-president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said the problem was largely being driven by the NHS 111 algorithm that is "too risk-averse".
"What we find is that NHS 111 is more likely to send people to either the emergency department, or to the GP, or call for an ambulance, where they don't have a condition, where it's just some call handler following an algorithm," he told The Telegraph.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/06/19/exclusive-risk-averse-nhs-111-algorithm-piling-pressure-ambulances/ (£££)
Cue the PB Burleys who will now come to defend the disingenuous racist fat fornicator!
Williamson makes Humza Yusuf look almost competent.
Find out in the next episode of SOAP!
Hoyle has his tantrums against the government but ultimately he's not willing to break any rules that might really piss them off. His fatal flaw is that he wants to be liked by his colleagues. He's a bit Michael Martin like in my opinion, although perhaps more intelligent.
Bercow really hated clerks because they told him that he couldn't do things because of precedent (that is largely their job) and his behaviour could be inexcusable. On the other hand he was wonderful with the other staff such as the security guards, guides, caterers. Always really helpful for things like organising school visits and he opened up Speaker's House to any staff grade for monthly lectures by other politicians.
Basically in both cases the link to voting patterns had nothing to do with how "educated" people were, or any sort of link to intelligence. Just a derivative from changing patterns of education provision.
I was just wondering if there's any sort of accepted standard of gift for Father's Day? Or is it just a card. Mother's Day is obviously flowers (at a minimum), and probably give her a break by cooking lunch or going out for a meal.
But Father's Day? Bottle of Scotch? Just because.
Parliament could easily be powerful over Covid, even with the large Government majority. That it's not is because the key to limiting Government power is to oppose it on lockdown - because that is where any rebellion from within its own ranks is going to come from. But that won't happen whilst the main opposition is unwilling to exploit this to get its aims. Even if just threatening to vote with rebels to give the Govt the dilemma between following the agenda of the rebels - or following the opposition agenda of increasing financial support for workers and businesses.
He is now 4.1.
Lowest matched price is 50 so would query that he ever was 4.1, that was merely a sign of no market at the time.