I find it incredible Hancock has not jumped or been pushed. Also quite incredible that there are so many people, according to the two snap polls, who back him.
I was one who said he should stay in the yougov snap poll. I am not one to call for sackings without a proper investigation, particularly into how she got her posts and who else he did favours for.
Another PBer on opinion pollsters speed dial! What a representative sample
I don’t think there’s a need to over complicate this one - he told us not to kiss & hug our families at Christmas, he banned people from visiting dying loved ones, millions of sacrifices have been made and he has been caught at it with another mans wife, or more importantly risking disease with a contact from another household by breaking his own rules.
O-U-T spells out
The 'hypocrisy' point is strong - so's the 'jobs for mates' angle - but for me it really isn't the story. It's more about precisely what he was doing. It's incredibly crass and immature. That furtive peep to check the coast is clear, then the illicit little snog in an office corridor. From the Secretary of State for Health. I mean, c'mon. There's a lot of David Brent in there - never a good thing. It destroys his dignity and authority in a way that breaking distancing rules in another (less cringey) way would not have done. If he truly wants to ride this out and carry on he must have the skin of a rhino.
Matt Handsy is the highest-profile (maybe the only?) ex-Remainer left in the Cabinet, isn't he?
Going from backing Remain to accepting BoJo's approach to Brexit without a blink of those sad puppy eyes shows a definite excess of ambition over dignity.
I find it incredible Hancock has not jumped or been pushed. Also quite incredible that there are so many people, according to the two snap polls, who back him.
I was one who said he should stay in the yougov snap poll. I am not one to call for sackings without a proper investigation, particularly into how she got her posts and who else he did favours for.
Another PBer on opinion pollsters speed dial! What a representative sample
I don’t think there’s a need to over complicate this one - he told us not to kiss & hug our families at Christmas, he banned people from visiting dying loved ones, millions of sacrifices have been made and he has been caught at it with another mans wife, or more importantly risking disease with a contact from another household by breaking his own rules.
O-U-T spells out
The 'hypocrisy' point is strong - so's the 'jobs for mates' angle - but for me it really isn't the story. It's more about precisely what he was doing. It's incredibly crass and immature. That furtive peep to check the coast is clear, then the illicit little snog in an office corridor. From the Secretary of State for Health. I mean, c'mon. There's a lot of David Brent in there - never a good thing. It destroys his dignity and authority in a way that breaking distancing rules in another (less cringey) way would not have done. If he truly wants to ride this out and carry on he must have the skin of a rhino.
Did you see the vid w the Alan Partridge soundtrack?
Yes. It lends itself both to Brent and to Partridge. And I think that's why he'll struggle from now on, whether he goes or not.
I wonder why wouldn't Labour give an interview with Joe? The journalist is definitely left leaning, and i have seen him interview a whole range of people across the political spectrum and is always polite and reasonable.
I think @DavidL has hit the nail on the head with "inexperienced and possibly fragile candidate."
Agreed,
She is probably a wonderful person, I have no axe to grind here. but in the few clips I've seen of her, she is not a 'robust' candidate, dos not seem to do 'political confutation' well, and did not come across well in the hustings. Perhaps standing in a safe seat at a GE and we would not notice, and possibly has a lot of offer HoC, I don't know. But, I get the feeling she was adopted by Lab, because of who her sister was, and I have empathy for that chose and the people making it, but It does not look like a good chose at the moment.
I think the logic was she was absolutely everything the Labour's Hartlepool candidate wasn't.
And were it not for GG being such a ..... I thought she had a decent chance of getting elected.
I find it incredible Hancock has not jumped or been pushed. Also quite incredible that there are so many people, according to the two snap polls, who back him.
I was one who said he should stay in the yougov snap poll. I am not one to call for sackings without a proper investigation, particularly into how she got her posts and who else he did favours for.
Another PBer on opinion pollsters speed dial! What a representative sample
I don’t think there’s a need to over complicate this one - he told us not to kiss & hug our families at Christmas, he banned people from visiting dying loved ones, millions of sacrifices have been made and he has been caught at it with another mans wife, or more importantly risking disease with a contact from another household by breaking his own rules.
O-U-T spells out
The 'hypocrisy' point is strong - so's the 'jobs for mates' angle - but for me it really isn't the story. It's more about precisely what he was doing. It's incredibly crass and immature. That furtive peep to check the coast is clear, then the illicit little snog in an office corridor. From the Secretary of State for Health. I mean, c'mon. There's a lot of David Brent in there - never a good thing. It destroys his dignity and authority in a way that breaking distancing rules in another (less cringey) way would not have done. If he truly wants to ride this out and carry on he must have the skin of a rhino.
Matt Handsy is the highest-profile (maybe the only?) ex-Remainer left in the Cabinet, isn't he?
Going from backing Remain to accepting BoJo's approach to Brexit without a blink of those sad puppy eyes shows a definite excess of ambition over dignity.
I find it incredible Hancock has not jumped or been pushed. Also quite incredible that there are so many people, according to the two snap polls, who back him.
Sadly Johnson as PM has normalised adultery.
Well, adultery is not for me, but I dont think it is a sackable offence for any politician anymore - maybe that is a sign of standards slipping. But he should be sacked for the madness of doing what he did whilst telling Grandchildren not to hug Granny. The sickening propaganda we have swallowed is not compatible with the Health Secretary being seen anywhere near breaking the spirit of the rules
I've forgotten - what was your Cummings 'break the rules' position?
I couldn't get worked up about that, I was on his side - I thought people should be able to isolate in second homes if they had one, or in a house on their parents land in his case
I see. Although not really, since the 'hypocrisy' point is almost identical. But of course there IS a big difference between the 2 cases and it's the one that I intuit clinches things for you. Cummings is a Leaver and the Cock's Remain. Spooky, aren't I?
Ah! Your antennas on the blink again. Give it a thwack
Point of Order: antennae.
Unless you actually meant antenna`s, abbreviating the "is" and missing the apostrophe.
I find it incredible Hancock has not jumped or been pushed. Also quite incredible that there are so many people, according to the two snap polls, who back him.
I was one who said he should stay in the yougov snap poll. I am not one to call for sackings without a proper investigation, particularly into how she got her posts and who else he did favours for.
Another PBer on opinion pollsters speed dial! What a representative sample
I don’t think there’s a need to over complicate this one - he told us not to kiss & hug our families at Christmas, he banned people from visiting dying loved ones, millions of sacrifices have been made and he has been caught at it with another mans wife, or more importantly risking disease with a contact from another household by breaking his own rules.
O-U-T spells out
The 'hypocrisy' point is strong - so's the 'jobs for mates' angle - but for me it really isn't the story. It's more about precisely what he was doing. It's incredibly crass and immature. That furtive peep to check the coast is clear, then the illicit little snog in an office corridor. From the Secretary of State for Health. I mean, c'mon. There's a lot of David Brent in there - never a good thing. It destroys his dignity and authority in a way that breaking distancing rules in another (less cringey) way would not have done. If he truly wants to ride this out and carry on he must have the skin of a rhino.
Matt Handsy is the highest-profile (maybe the only?) ex-Remainer left in the Cabinet, isn't he?
Going from backing Remain to accepting BoJo's approach to Brexit without a blink of those sad puppy eyes shows a definite excess of ambition over dignity.
Yes, you need ambition in politics but it's best obscured - at least partially - and unfortunately for Matt he oozes it. You can imagine his armpits moist with ambition, his breath reeking of it.
Course if you're a 'born to rule' unit from Eton it's rather easier to look the part. We seem to prefer that.
We all know from the abundant polling evidence fed to us here over the last 5 years that us leavers are mostly racist skidmark sniffers who pick our noses and eat what comes out, and very few of us are educated beyond primary school level. Unlike the sophisticated and suave remainers who are all polyglot gastronomes of remarkable wit and intelligence.
But..
Which group do we think will end up with the highest proportion vaccinated?
The age profile of vaccine refusers doesn't appear to favour the sophistocats..
Think it is time for us to reverse Cameron's cowardice over Tibet. And recognize democratic Taiwan while we are at it.
Certainly the latter. There would be a nice symbolism of doing that with a UK carrier in their harbour.
You do realise that would involve cutting all diplomatic ties with the PRC? And probably putting an end to all but a tiny amount of trade? And no overseas students? Brave call.
I find it incredible Hancock has not jumped or been pushed. Also quite incredible that there are so many people, according to the two snap polls, who back him.
I have spoken to quite a few people who back him saying it looks like he has been set up. Whether this is a good reason to back him is not the point. None of these people are tories. Given where I live, that won’t be a surprise but I am flabbergasted that nobody I speak to in day to day life cares much about it.
Think it is time for us to reverse Cameron's cowardice over Tibet. And recognize democratic Taiwan while we are at it.
Certainly the latter. There would be a nice symbolism of doing that with a UK carrier in their harbour.
You do realise that would involve cutting all diplomatic ties with the PRC? And probably putting an end to all but a tiny amount of trade? And no overseas students? Brave call.
These people are not our friends. And we would not cut ties. It would be a matter for PRC. It would help if the US did the same of course. And I wouldn’t rule that out.
Isabel Oakeshott @IsabelOakeshott · 1h Here’s how the Freedom March crowds look from the sky. We are hovering above Oxford St, aerial footage courtesy of @reformparty_uk
Isabel Oakeshott @IsabelOakeshott · 1h Here’s how the Freedom March crowds look from the sky. We are hovering above Oxford St, aerial footage courtesy of @reformparty_uk
Think it is time for us to reverse Cameron's cowardice over Tibet. And recognize democratic Taiwan while we are at it.
Certainly the latter. There would be a nice symbolism of doing that with a UK carrier in their harbour.
You do realise that would involve cutting all diplomatic ties with the PRC? And probably putting an end to all but a tiny amount of trade? And no overseas students? Brave call.
Yes, it’s a stupid move.
It would have to be multilateral for it to have the desired effect.
Tbh, if it comes down to it (and I hope it doesn’t) - I don’t think Taiwan is our battle to fight.
FFS, this is ridiculous about not being able to pick up the cricket ball. We know there is basically 0% chance of picking up COVID and just have hand sanitizer once you thrown the ball back in if it really worries you.
I wonder why wouldn't Labour give an interview with Joe? The journalist is definitely left leaning, and i have seen him interview a whole range of people across the political spectrum and is always polite and reasonable.
I think @DavidL has hit the nail on the head with "inexperienced and possibly fragile candidate."
Agreed,
She is probably a wonderful person, I have no axe to grind here. but in the few clips I've seen of her, she is not a 'robust' candidate, dos not seem to do 'political confutation' well, and did not come across well in the hustings. Perhaps standing in a safe seat at a GE and we would not notice, and possibly has a lot of offer HoC, I don't know. But, I get the feeling she was adopted by Lab, because of who her sister was, and I have empathy for that chose and the people making it, but It does not look like a good chose at the moment.
I think the logic was she was absolutely everything the Labour's Hartlepool candidate wasn't.
And were it not for GG being such a ..... I thought she had a decent chance of getting elected.
Those were some pretty weakly put questions. I feel like I could have run rings around them, albeit not with the same level of articulation and assurance.
I would lose my cool when pressed to provide a simple yes or no to questions which are more complex to answer than that, since people usually only demnd it to make your answer misleading.
Think it is time for us to reverse Cameron's cowardice over Tibet. And recognize democratic Taiwan while we are at it.
Certainly the latter. There would be a nice symbolism of doing that with a UK carrier in their harbour.
You do realise that would involve cutting all diplomatic ties with the PRC? And probably putting an end to all but a tiny amount of trade? And no overseas students? Brave call.
These people are not our friends. And we would not cut ties. It would be a matter for PRC. It would help if the US did the same of course. And I wouldn’t rule that out.
No one is saying they are. Although plenty did for decades when they thought they could make a few Bob. But it is not so simple. It is much, much more sensitive than Palestine Israel. The last thing it needs is an overtly undiplomatic gesture. There is no way the UK will do this. And even less chance of the US.
Think it is time for us to reverse Cameron's cowardice over Tibet. And recognize democratic Taiwan while we are at it.
Certainly the latter. There would be a nice symbolism of doing that with a UK carrier in their harbour.
You do realise that would involve cutting all diplomatic ties with the PRC? And probably putting an end to all but a tiny amount of trade? And no overseas students? Brave call.
Yes, it’s a stupid move.
It would have to be multilateral for it to have the desired effect.
Tbh, if it comes down to it (and I hope it doesn’t) - I don’t think Taiwan is our battle to fight.
Is it news worth a response that China has not changed its position?
The confrontation Ledbetter got yesterday was a disgrace, and if Starmer had anything about him he'd be out supporting Leadbetter in BS perhaps even knocking a few doors for her. He's been quiet about it if he has supported her
Why was it though?
She was challenged in the street by someone. Something that will happen to politicians across the divide in all elections. An experienced, or savvy, campaigner would be able to shut it down quite Easily.
She showed her inexperience and lack of political nous.
Doubt that, there's a teacher who fears for his life because of these goons. I haven't seen anyone "shut them down" because the chief rabble rousers are surrounded by like minded homophobes egging them on. Most politicians just avoid them in the first place, perhaps that was her error expecting any sort of rational debate from the cretins.
I find it incredible Hancock has not jumped or been pushed. Also quite incredible that there are so many people, according to the two snap polls, who back him.
Sadly Johnson as PM has normalised adultery.
Well, adultery is not for me, but I dont think it is a sackable offence for any politician anymore - maybe that is a sign of standards slipping. But he should be sacked for the madness of doing what he did whilst telling Grandchildren not to hug Granny. The sickening propaganda we have swallowed is not compatible with the Health Secretary being seen anywhere near breaking the spirit of the rules
I've forgotten - what was your Cummings 'break the rules' position?
I couldn't get worked up about that, I was on his side - I thought people should be able to isolate in second homes if they had one, or in a house on their parents land in his case
I see. Although not really, since the 'hypocrisy' point is almost identical. But of course there IS a big difference between the 2 cases and it's the one that I intuit clinches things for you. Cummings is a Leaver and the Cock's Remain. Spooky, aren't I?
Ah! Your antennas on the blink again. Give it a thwack
Nobody expects you to admit it.
Which Nobody? There are hundreds on here
All of them nobodies. We just need a suitable collective noun. A carpet. The carpet of PB nobodies. None of them expect you to fess up to judging all English politicians, even 5 years after the referendum, by the metric of whether they were Leave or Remain.
I find it incredible Hancock has not jumped or been pushed. Also quite incredible that there are so many people, according to the two snap polls, who back him.
I was one who said he should stay in the yougov snap poll. I am not one to call for sackings without a proper investigation, particularly into how she got her posts and who else he did favours for.
Another PBer on opinion pollsters speed dial! What a representative sample
I don’t think there’s a need to over complicate this one - he told us not to kiss & hug our families at Christmas, he banned people from visiting dying loved ones, millions of sacrifices have been made and he has been caught at it with another mans wife, or more importantly risking disease with a contact from another household by breaking his own rules.
O-U-T spells out
The 'hypocrisy' point is strong - so's the 'jobs for mates' angle - but for me it really isn't the story. It's more about precisely what he was doing. It's incredibly crass and immature. That furtive peep to check the coast is clear, then the illicit little snog in an office corridor. From the Secretary of State for Health. I mean, c'mon. There's a lot of David Brent in there - never a good thing. It destroys his dignity and authority in a way that breaking distancing rules in another (less cringey) way would not have done. If he truly wants to ride this out and carry on he must have the skin of a rhino.
Matt Handsy is the highest-profile (maybe the only?) ex-Remainer left in the Cabinet, isn't he?
Going from backing Remain to accepting BoJo's approach to Brexit without a blink of those sad puppy eyes shows a definite excess of ambition over dignity.
Plenty of others were Remain supporters - Buckland, Wallace, Williamson, Sharma, Truss, Cofffey, Jenrick, Lewis, Shapps, Hart, Dowden, Milling and probably Jack as well.
So over half the cabinet even if none of the top jobs.
Isabel Oakeshott @IsabelOakeshott · 1h Here’s how the Freedom March crowds look from the sky. We are hovering above Oxford St, aerial footage courtesy of @reformparty_uk
Look forward to seeing the helicopter rental in their returns to the Electoral Commission!
£300 to hire a drone plus pilot for a day?
Not in central London! Anything but the smallest of toy drones needs a filming permit, and can only be flown 400’ high. This looks higher than that. Small helicopters are also banned in London, you have to have a twin-engined bird unless you stay over the river, which is closer to £10k an hour to rent with a pilot.
I’m assuming that Mr Tice has access to it, but his girlfriend’s Tweet suggests it’s being used by a political party, in which case it has to be registered as a donation in kind.
I find it incredible Hancock has not jumped or been pushed. Also quite incredible that there are so many people, according to the two snap polls, who back him.
I find it incredible Hancock has not jumped or been pushed. Also quite incredible that there are so many people, according to the two snap polls, who back him.
Sadly Johnson as PM has normalised adultery.
Well, adultery is not for me, but I dont think it is a sackable offence for any politician anymore - maybe that is a sign of standards slipping. But he should be sacked for the madness of doing what he did whilst telling Grandchildren not to hug Granny. The sickening propaganda we have swallowed is not compatible with the Health Secretary being seen anywhere near breaking the spirit of the rules
I've forgotten - what was your Cummings 'break the rules' position?
I couldn't get worked up about that, I was on his side - I thought people should be able to isolate in second homes if they had one, or in a house on their parents land in his case
I see. Although not really, since the 'hypocrisy' point is almost identical. But of course there IS a big difference between the 2 cases and it's the one that I intuit clinches things for you. Cummings is a Leaver and the Cock's Remain. Spooky, aren't I?
Ah! Your antennas on the blink again. Give it a thwack
Nobody expects you to admit it.
Which Nobody? There are hundreds on here
All of them nobodies. We just need a suitable collective noun. A carpet. The carpet of PB nobodies. None of them expect you to fess up to judging all English politicians, even 5 years after the referendum, by the metric of whether they were Leave or Remain.
Think it is time for us to reverse Cameron's cowardice over Tibet. And recognize democratic Taiwan while we are at it.
Certainly the latter. There would be a nice symbolism of doing that with a UK carrier in their harbour.
You do realise that would involve cutting all diplomatic ties with the PRC? And probably putting an end to all but a tiny amount of trade? And no overseas students? Brave call.
No, It would mean, China cutting ties with us, which may amount to the same thing.
However it is the right things to do. China has a horrible track record for decades: in Tibet, the Uiga people, now Hon-King, then there is the corruption and debt, she is inflicting on many developing nations, destroying much of the globes fishery's, and her deceitfulness' over COVID.
Trade would be disrupted, but it would still get though, just vier 3rd coutarys which would add something to the price.
It will be hard, but it is the right thing to do, and it will only get harder over time.
I wonder why wouldn't Labour give an interview with Joe? The journalist is definitely left leaning, and i have seen him interview a whole range of people across the political spectrum and is always polite and reasonable.
I think @DavidL has hit the nail on the head with "inexperienced and possibly fragile candidate."
Agreed,
She is probably a wonderful person, I have no axe to grind here. but in the few clips I've seen of her, she is not a 'robust' candidate, dos not seem to do 'political confutation' well, and did not come across well in the hustings. Perhaps standing in a safe seat at a GE and we would not notice, and possibly has a lot of offer HoC, I don't know. But, I get the feeling she was adopted by Lab, because of who her sister was, and I have empathy for that chose and the people making it, but It does not look like a good chose at the moment.
I think the logic was she was absolutely everything the Labour's Hartlepool candidate wasn't.
And were it not for GG being such a ..... I thought she had a decent chance of getting elected.
These people are not our friends. And we would not cut ties. It would be a matter for PRC. It would help if the US did the same of course. And I wouldn’t rule that out.
Winston Churchill once offered the following: "Diplomacy is the art of telling people to go to hell in such a way that they ask for directions". Recognising Taiwan and alienating the PRC does the former without the latter.
I understand the revulsion against China and how it conducts its internal affairs but ultimately what are we trying to achieve - what is the policy? Do we seriously think anything we do will be seen as other than an empty gesture which will make us feel good but do the sum total of nothing for Tibet, the Uighurs, Taiwan or anyone else?
That's not to argue we should do nothing either but diplomacy by gesture gets you nowhere slowly. Where do we want to be with China in 2040, 2080, 2120? We need to think the long-term because that's what the Chinese do.
Is there, for example, a historical or societal inevitability that as prosperity spreads through the Chinese economy, it will lead to greater demands for political and economic change. If you give people more money, they will want to send it the way they want not the way the State tells them. Capitalism ultimately begets liberalisation because prosperity and opportunity will follow.
The heat wave that’s now underway in the Pacific Northwest is unlike anything the region has ever experienced. Some places are expected to break their all-time temperature records before noon, for multiple days in a row. That’s just unheard of.
The confrontation Ledbetter got yesterday was a disgrace, and if Starmer had anything about him he'd be out supporting Leadbetter in BS perhaps even knocking a few doors for her. He's been quiet about it if he has supported her
Well quite. Half the shadow cabinet should be there knocking doors with her today, but they appear to be more worried about upsetting what now appear to be an outside group of Islamic activists working with the GG campaign.
The problem for them is not the outside group. It is that most B&S Muslims agree with them and they make up 25% of the constituency. Labour can't win in this constituency without not offending the religious bigots. And yet they want to keep on letting in more of them. Just look at how they want to scrap the income requirement for marriage visas.
The heat wave that’s now underway in the Pacific Northwest is unlike anything the region has ever experienced. Some places are expected to break their all-time temperature records before noon, for multiple days in a row. That’s just unheard of.
Think it is time for us to reverse Cameron's cowardice over Tibet. And recognize democratic Taiwan while we are at it.
Certainly the latter. There would be a nice symbolism of doing that with a UK carrier in their harbour.
You do realise that would involve cutting all diplomatic ties with the PRC? And probably putting an end to all but a tiny amount of trade? And no overseas students? Brave call.
No, It would mean, China cutting ties with us, which may amount to the same thing.
However it is the right things to do. China has a horrible track record for decades: in Tibet, the Uiga people, now Hon-King, then there is the corruption and debt, she is inflicting on many developing nations, destroying much of the globes fishery's, and her deceitfulness' over COVID.
Trade would be disrupted, but it would still get though, just vier 3rd coutarys which would add something to the price.
It will be hard, but it is the right thing to do, and it will only get harder over time.
I recall a piece several years ago, asking what would Islamic State look like 20 years later if it won the civil war? Answer, Saudi Arabia.
We can ask the same of Nazi Germany. And the most appropriate answer is probably CCP run China.
Osborne and Cameron were a disgrace for their behaviour towards communist China.
It would be nice to brand Russia Today's Galloway as the man who gave the seat to the Tories
SKS is the man that gives all Lab seats to the Tories though.
Corbyn made a fantastic start to reach that goal. Jezza really didn't leave a great deal for Starmer to do on that score did he? Although he has his helpers in place to finish the job. If Corbynista candidates stand against the official Labour candidate in all Labour held constituencies, as one has done in B and S, Corbyn's work is complete.
The heat wave that’s now underway in the Pacific Northwest is unlike anything the region has ever experienced. Some places are expected to break their all-time temperature records before noon, for multiple days in a row. That’s just unheard of.
Think it is time for us to reverse Cameron's cowardice over Tibet. And recognize democratic Taiwan while we are at it.
Certainly the latter. There would be a nice symbolism of doing that with a UK carrier in their harbour.
You do realise that would involve cutting all diplomatic ties with the PRC? And probably putting an end to all but a tiny amount of trade? And no overseas students? Brave call.
No, It would mean, China cutting ties with us, which may amount to the same thing.
However it is the right things to do. China has a horrible track record for decades: in Tibet, the Uiga people, now Hon-King, then there is the corruption and debt, she is inflicting on many developing nations, destroying much of the globes fishery's, and her deceitfulness' over COVID.
Trade would be disrupted, but it would still get though, just vier 3rd coutarys which would add something to the price.
It will be hard, but it is the right thing to do, and it will only get harder over time.
There is only one China. The PRC and Taiwan have agreed on this for 70+ years. Therefore you can only recognise one government. We would therefore need to sever relations with the PRC before recognising Taiwan. If we didn't, the Taiwanese wouldn't accept. Because that would mean recognising 2 Chinas.
The confrontation Ledbetter got yesterday was a disgrace, and if Starmer had anything about him he'd be out supporting Leadbetter in BS perhaps even knocking a few doors for her. He's been quiet about it if he has supported her
Well quite. Half the shadow cabinet should be there knocking doors with her today, but they appear to be more worried about upsetting what now appear to be an outside group of Islamic activists working with the GG campaign.
The problem for them is not the outside group. It is that most B&S Muslims agree with them and they make up 25% of the constituency. Labour can't win in this constituency without not offending the religious bigots. And yet they want to keep on letting in more of them. Just look at how they want to scrap the income requirement for marriage visas.
Think it is time for us to reverse Cameron's cowardice over Tibet. And recognize democratic Taiwan while we are at it.
The current Chinese government believes the correct response to every crisis is to escalate, because they are One China and the West is divided and weak.
The heat wave that’s now underway in the Pacific Northwest is unlike anything the region has ever experienced. Some places are expected to break their all-time temperature records before noon, for multiple days in a row. That’s just unheard of.
It would be nice to brand Russia Today's Galloway as the man who gave the seat to the Tories
SKS is the man that gives all Lab seats to the Tories though.
Corbyn made a fantastic start to reach that goal. Jezza really didn't leave a great deal for Starmer to do on that score did he? Although he has his helpers in place to finish the job. If Corbynista candidates stand against the official Labour candidate in all Labour held constituencies, as one has done in B and S, Corbyn's work is complete.
SKS is in charge and done worse than Corbyn in every single electoral test
The confrontation Ledbetter got yesterday was a disgrace, and if Starmer had anything about him he'd be out supporting Leadbetter in BS perhaps even knocking a few doors for her. He's been quiet about it if he has supported her
Well quite. Half the shadow cabinet should be there knocking doors with her today, but they appear to be more worried about upsetting what now appear to be an outside group of Islamic activists working with the GG campaign.
The problem for them is not the outside group. It is that most B&S Muslims agree with them and they make up 25% of the constituency. Labour can't win in this constituency without not offending the religious bigots. And yet they want to keep on letting in more of them. Just look at how they want to scrap the income requirement for marriage visas.
The US should probably do ok for the next two months, as schools are out. When they return, and if Delta is properly seeded, then some parts with high vaccine hesitancy will have big problems.
It would be nice to brand Russia Today's Galloway as the man who gave the seat to the Tories
SKS is the man that gives all Lab seats to the Tories though.
Corbyn made a fantastic start to reach that goal. Jezza really didn't leave a great deal for Starmer to do on that score did he? Although he has his helpers in place to finish the job. If Corbynista candidates stand against the official Labour candidate in all Labour held constituencies, as one has done in B and S, Corbyn's work is complete.
SKS is in charge and done worse than Corbyn in every single electoral test
He has to resign by Monday otherwise Boris needs to sack him
And he may find tomorrow's papers make his resignation inevitable, though of course I am speculating
He did offer his resignation and it wasn’t accepted I understood. Maybe a, tough it out till Monday and we will see where we are old bean, I’ll give you my backing till then.
The tricky thing for him is wether to stay with the family or choose to pack a bag and go to his other love.
She’s been booted out of the house. Where would they go?
I wonder why wouldn't Labour give an interview with Joe? The journalist is definitely left leaning, and i have seen him interview a whole range of people across the political spectrum and is always polite and reasonable.
I think @DavidL has hit the nail on the head with "inexperienced and possibly fragile candidate."
Agreed,
She is probably a wonderful person, I have no axe to grind here. but in the few clips I've seen of her, she is not a 'robust' candidate, dos not seem to do 'political confutation' well, and did not come across well in the hustings. Perhaps standing in a safe seat at a GE and we would not notice, and possibly has a lot of offer HoC, I don't know. But, I get the feeling she was adopted by Lab, because of who her sister was, and I have empathy for that chose and the people making it, but It does not look like a good chose at the moment.
I think the logic was she was absolutely everything the Labour's Hartlepool candidate wasn't.
And were it not for GG being such a ..... I thought she had a decent chance of getting elected.
These people are not our friends. And we would not cut ties. It would be a matter for PRC. It would help if the US did the same of course. And I wouldn’t rule that out.
Winston Churchill once offered the following: "Diplomacy is the art of telling people to go to hell in such a way that they ask for directions". Recognising Taiwan and alienating the PRC does the former without the latter.
I understand the revulsion against China and how it conducts its internal affairs but ultimately what are we trying to achieve - what is the policy? Do we seriously think anything we do will be seen as other than an empty gesture which will make us feel good but do the sum total of nothing for Tibet, the Uighurs, Taiwan or anyone else?
That's not to argue we should do nothing either but diplomacy by gesture gets you nowhere slowly. Where do we want to be with China in 2040, 2080, 2120? We need to think the long-term because that's what the Chinese do.
Is there, for example, a historical or societal inevitability that as prosperity spreads through the Chinese economy, it will lead to greater demands for political and economic change. If you give people more money, they will want to send it the way they want not the way the State tells them. Capitalism ultimately begets liberalisation because prosperity and opportunity will follow.
Well, that was Obama's policy with the TPP. Provide an alternative regional economic system, that China did not dominate.
I wonder why wouldn't Labour give an interview with Joe? The journalist is definitely left leaning, and i have seen him interview a whole range of people across the political spectrum and is always polite and reasonable.
I think @DavidL has hit the nail on the head with "inexperienced and possibly fragile candidate."
Agreed,
She is probably a wonderful person, I have no axe to grind here. but in the few clips I've seen of her, she is not a 'robust' candidate, dos not seem to do 'political confutation' well, and did not come across well in the hustings. Perhaps standing in a safe seat at a GE and we would not notice, and possibly has a lot of offer HoC, I don't know. But, I get the feeling she was adopted by Lab, because of who her sister was, and I have empathy for that chose and the people making it, but It does not look like a good chose at the moment.
I think the logic was she was absolutely everything the Labour's Hartlepool candidate wasn't.
And were it not for GG being such a ..... I thought she had a decent chance of getting elected.
It would be interesting to get his take on what is happening on B&S
From that clip, I fear for Kim. She looked out of her depth.
GG looked every bit the cunning wolf, waiting to devour her alive.
For all his nonsense Galloway is not an easy person to debate. He's articulate and self-assured and impossible to embarrass.
If Galloway had been English, perhaps he'd have been able to lead a Corbynite populist movement to power.
Being Scottish didn't help him to lead any kind of populist movement, Corbynite or otherwise, in Scotland. I think it's more a personality than a nationality thing.
Though just to enrage the Unionists, unlike in Scotland he still seems able to get numbers of English people to vote for him.
We all know from the abundant polling evidence fed to us here over the last 5 years that us leavers are mostly racist skidmark sniffers who pick our noses and eat what comes out, and very few of us are educated beyond primary school level. Unlike the sophisticated and suave remainers who are all polyglot gastronomes of remarkable wit and intelligence.
But..
Which group do we think will end up with the highest proportion vaccinated?
The age profile of vaccine refusers doesn't appear to favour the sophistocats..
I suspect that will be correct,
It may be that the ranks of pro Brexit included a few more of the 'tin foil hat' types who are also more likely to be Anti-Vax, but that is offset by the vaccine campaign being a Boris Government thing, and don separately to EU, especially with the arguments in Feb/march form the EU tying to critics it. So it's likely to be an age thing, the young are more likely to say no to vaccines and yes to EU
I don't know if anybody is doing any poling, probably un-nessasrally devises,
It would be nice to brand Russia Today's Galloway as the man who gave the seat to the Tories
SKS is the man that gives all Lab seats to the Tories though.
Corbyn made a fantastic start to reach that goal. Jezza really didn't leave a great deal for Starmer to do on that score did he? Although he has his helpers in place to finish the job. If Corbynista candidates stand against the official Labour candidate in all Labour held constituencies, as one has done in B and S, Corbyn's work is complete.
Agree. Corbyn's election as leader is 100% responsible for Labour's current woes. Now only Johnson's crapness can save them
I find it incredible Hancock has not jumped or been pushed. Also quite incredible that there are so many people, according to the two snap polls, who back him.
I was one who said he should stay in the yougov snap poll. I am not one to call for sackings without a proper investigation, particularly into how she got her posts and who else he did favours for.
Another PBer on opinion pollsters speed dial! What a representative sample
I don’t think there’s a need to over complicate this one - he told us not to kiss & hug our families at Christmas, he banned people from visiting dying loved ones, millions of sacrifices have been made and he has been caught at it with another mans wife, or more importantly risking disease with a contact from another household by breaking his own rules.
O-U-T spells out
The 'hypocrisy' point is strong - so's the 'jobs for mates' angle - but for me it really isn't the story. It's more about precisely what he was doing. It's incredibly crass and immature. That furtive peep to check the coast is clear, then the illicit little snog in an office corridor. From the Secretary of State for Health. I mean, c'mon. There's a lot of David Brent in there - never a good thing. It destroys his dignity and authority in a way that breaking distancing rules in another (less cringey) way would not have done. If he truly wants to ride this out and carry on he must have the skin of a rhino.
Matt Handsy is the highest-profile (maybe the only?) ex-Remainer left in the Cabinet, isn't he?
Going from backing Remain to accepting BoJo's approach to Brexit without a blink of those sad puppy eyes shows a definite excess of ambition over dignity.
I wonder why wouldn't Labour give an interview with Joe? The journalist is definitely left leaning, and i have seen him interview a whole range of people across the political spectrum and is always polite and reasonable.
I think @DavidL has hit the nail on the head with "inexperienced and possibly fragile candidate."
Agreed,
She is probably a wonderful person, I have no axe to grind here. but in the few clips I've seen of her, she is not a 'robust' candidate, dos not seem to do 'political confutation' well, and did not come across well in the hustings. Perhaps standing in a safe seat at a GE and we would not notice, and possibly has a lot of offer HoC, I don't know. But, I get the feeling she was adopted by Lab, because of who her sister was, and I have empathy for that chose and the people making it, but It does not look like a good chose at the moment.
I think the logic was she was absolutely everything the Labour's Hartlepool candidate wasn't.
And were it not for GG being such a ..... I thought she had a decent chance of getting elected.
It would be interesting to get his take on what is happening on B&S
From that clip, I fear for Kim. She looked out of her depth.
GG looked every bit the cunning wolf, waiting to devour her alive.
For all his nonsense Galloway is not an easy person to debate. He's articulate and self-assured and impossible to embarrass.
If Galloway had been English, perhaps he'd have been able to lead a Corbynite populist movement to power.
Not a great thought - but, yes, maybe. Nothing 'cuddly' about GG though. Corbyn had that plus a certain other worldiness, the Magic Grandpa aura which although coined as an insult was actually key to his appeal.
The confrontation Ledbetter got yesterday was a disgrace, and if Starmer had anything about him he'd be out supporting Leadbetter in BS perhaps even knocking a few doors for her. He's been quiet about it if he has supported her
Why was it though?
She was challenged in the street by someone. Something that will happen to politicians across the divide in all elections. An experienced, or savvy, campaigner would be able to shut it down quite Easily.
She showed her inexperience and lack of political nous.
Doubt that, there's a teacher who fears for his life because of these goons. I haven't seen anyone "shut them down" because the chief rabble rousers are surrounded by like minded homophobes egging them on. Most politicians just avoid them in the first place, perhaps that was her error expecting any sort of rational debate from the cretins.
For me, one of the most interesting longer-term consequences of this by-election is how it may change the metropolitan middle class left’s view of the Muslim community. For most of the former, dealings with the latter tend to be superficial limited ones, usually in a service capacity and accompanied by the frequent comment “I had a nice Muslim Uber driver / delivery man / corner shop owner.” Certainly in the woker parts of North London, there are very few Muslim residents (that obviously changes as you get to gentrifying areas). The issue of different cultural values doesn’t really touch them on a day to day basis.
However, if Kim Leadbitter, a white middle class lesbian professional from a public service occupation, the type of person that the metropolitan class can easily identify with, gets defeated in large part due to a homophobic religiously-driven campaign, that may change the perception of just how friendly the Muslim community really is
Re Mr Hancock, a thought: Covid regulations have created a dystopian world of denunciation, finger-wagging & hypocrisy. Let us be freed from this tyranny of diktat and arbitrary rule. As we shall inevitably see with this sad example, the revolution always consumes its own. 1:50 pm · 26 Jun 2021"
I find it incredible Hancock has not jumped or been pushed. Also quite incredible that there are so many people, according to the two snap polls, who back him.
I have spoken to quite a few people who back him saying it looks like he has been set up. Whether this is a good reason to back him is not the point. None of these people are tories. Given where I live, that won’t be a surprise but I am flabbergasted that nobody I speak to in day to day life cares much about it.
In the outside world, my brother seems to have spent all of lockdown shagging many and various girlfriends in the South Wales Valleys.
He is probably single-handedly responsible for the failure of Drakeford's Autumn 'firebreak'.
And the most incredible thing is ... the NHS categorised him as extremely clinically vulnerable.
He was meant to be shielding, as he shagged.
During lockdown, he was getting food parcels to prevent him catching COVID in the supermarkets. And help him keep his strength up due to the demands on his physiology from all his girlfriends.
Still on pb.com, Matt's snog is a matter of great concern. People have written to their MPs And posted about it
Oh yeah, I remember why. Matt makes the rules up.
Actually he doesn't.
The virus sets the rules of the game.
And, you follow your own rules, depending on your appetite for risk. And on whether -- like my brother -- you are a selfish arse.
The heat wave that’s now underway in the Pacific Northwest is unlike anything the region has ever experienced. Some places are expected to break their all-time temperature records before noon, for multiple days in a row. That’s just unheard of.
I'm currently in Redding, CA. The high today is forecast to be 46 degrees.
It is extraordinary to see the levels of heat over the western United States and parts of western Canada in the next 7-10 days. It's the kind of heat we see over North Africa or the Middle East.
The heat seems to get trapped as the jet is forced north well into Canada forming an omega block - to the east, as the jet crashes back south, plenty of showers and storms.
Think it is time for us to reverse Cameron's cowardice over Tibet. And recognize democratic Taiwan while we are at it.
Certainly the latter. There would be a nice symbolism of doing that with a UK carrier in their harbour.
You do realise that would involve cutting all diplomatic ties with the PRC? And probably putting an end to all but a tiny amount of trade? And no overseas students? Brave call.
No, It would mean, China cutting ties with us, which may amount to the same thing.
However it is the right things to do. China has a horrible track record for decades: in Tibet, the Uiga people, now Hon-King, then there is the corruption and debt, she is inflicting on many developing nations, destroying much of the globes fishery's, and her deceitfulness' over COVID.
Trade would be disrupted, but it would still get though, just vier 3rd coutarys which would add something to the price.
It will be hard, but it is the right thing to do, and it will only get harder over time.
I recall a piece several years ago, asking what would Islamic State look like 20 years later if it won the civil war? Answer, Saudi Arabia.
We can ask the same of Nazi Germany. And the most appropriate answer is probably CCP run China.
Osborne and Cameron were a disgrace for their behaviour towards communist China.
It is worth remembering, though, that China under the Hu Jintao was much more conciliatory towards the rest of the World. Was it perfect? No, far from it. It even followed the principle of love-bombing Taiwan, allowing direct flights, and trying to improve relations. It's broad foreign policy was (except over Taiwan where it might have gentle words) never publicly oppose the US. And during the GFC, the Chinese government made it very clear that it would not rock the boat, and would continue to buy US Government bonds.
At this time, China was not a friend, but it was merely an economic competitor to the West.
Since Xi Jinping took over, things have changed - both internally and externally. Under Jintao, there were tentative attempts to create some local democracy in China. These are being dismantled. The press, which had grown loud and independent, has been reigned in. Oligarchs have been brought to heel.
And China has sought to assert its dominance over its neighbours, and has sought to challenge the West everywhere. This, it should be noted, preceded Trump coming to power. But it was also probably accelerated by it.
The West got itself into a really stupid place: it was rude to China, while offering no alternative. What's the old saying: talk softly, but carry a big stick. Well, the US did the opposite, it appearerd weak and unwilling to take action. And when it did do things - like tariffs - they were poorly thought out, and then were quietly removed, emboldening China that there was nothing the US or the West could do.
I don't know what the solution is. It would be great if the US could rejoin the TPP, and provide an instiutional framework for trade in the Pacific. The US also needs to decide if Taiwan is a hill it wants to die on.
I wonder why wouldn't Labour give an interview with Joe? The journalist is definitely left leaning, and i have seen him interview a whole range of people across the political spectrum and is always polite and reasonable.
I think @DavidL has hit the nail on the head with "inexperienced and possibly fragile candidate."
Agreed,
She is probably a wonderful person, I have no axe to grind here. but in the few clips I've seen of her, she is not a 'robust' candidate, dos not seem to do 'political confutation' well, and did not come across well in the hustings. Perhaps standing in a safe seat at a GE and we would not notice, and possibly has a lot of offer HoC, I don't know. But, I get the feeling she was adopted by Lab, because of who her sister was, and I have empathy for that chose and the people making it, but It does not look like a good chose at the moment.
I think the logic was she was absolutely everything the Labour's Hartlepool candidate wasn't.
And were it not for GG being such a ..... I thought she had a decent chance of getting elected.
It would be interesting to get his take on what is happening on B&S
From that clip, I fear for Kim. She looked out of her depth.
GG looked every bit the cunning wolf, waiting to devour her alive.
For all his nonsense Galloway is not an easy person to debate. He's articulate and self-assured and impossible to embarrass.
If Galloway had been English, perhaps he'd have been able to lead a Corbynite populist movement to power.
Being Scottish didn't help him to lead any kind of populist movement, Corbynite or otherwise, in Scotland. I think it's more a personality than a nationality thing.
Though just to enrage the Unionists, unlike in Scotland he still seems able to get numbers of English people to vote for him.
Does he really come over as Scottish? He seems to be so cosmopolitan as to defy any such specificity.
Think it is time for us to reverse Cameron's cowardice over Tibet. And recognize democratic Taiwan while we are at it.
Certainly the latter. There would be a nice symbolism of doing that with a UK carrier in their harbour.
You do realise that would involve cutting all diplomatic ties with the PRC? And probably putting an end to all but a tiny amount of trade? And no overseas students? Brave call.
No, It would mean, China cutting ties with us, which may amount to the same thing.
However it is the right things to do. China has a horrible track record for decades: in Tibet, the Uiga people, now Hon-King, then there is the corruption and debt, she is inflicting on many developing nations, destroying much of the globes fishery's, and her deceitfulness' over COVID.
Trade would be disrupted, but it would still get though, just vier 3rd coutarys which would add something to the price.
It will be hard, but it is the right thing to do, and it will only get harder over time.
I recall a piece several years ago, asking what would Islamic State look like 20 years later if it won the civil war? Answer, Saudi Arabia.
We can ask the same of Nazi Germany. And the most appropriate answer is probably CCP run China.
Osborne and Cameron were a disgrace for their behaviour towards communist China.
It is worth remembering, though, that China under the Hu Jintao was much more conciliatory towards the rest of the World. Was it perfect? No, far from it. It even followed the principle of love-bombing Taiwan, allowing direct flights, and trying to improve relations. It's broad foreign policy was (except over Taiwan where it might have gentle words) never publicly oppose the US. And during the GFC, the Chinese government made it very clear that it would not rock the boat, and would continue to buy US Government bonds.
At this time, China was not a friend, but it was merely an economic competitor to the West.
Since Xi Jinping took over, things have changed - both internally and externally. Under Jintao, there were tentative attempts to create some local democracy in China. These are being dismantled. The press, which had grown loud and independent, has been reigned in. Oligarchs have been brought to heel.
And China has sought to assert its dominance over its neighbours, and has sought to challenge the West everywhere. This, it should be noted, preceded Trump coming to power. But it was also probably accelerated by it.
The West got itself into a really stupid place: it was rude to China, while offering no alternative. What's the old saying: talk softly, but carry a big stick. Well, the US did the opposite, it appearerd weak and unwilling to take action. And when it did do things - like tariffs - they were poorly thought out, and then were quietly removed, emboldening China that there was nothing the US or the West could do.
I don't know what the solution is. It would be great if the US could rejoin the TPP, and provide an instiutional framework for trade in the Pacific. The US also needs to decide if Taiwan is a hill it wants to die on.
It was incredibly naive. Autocratic regimes always return to form sooner or later. They know they have no real legitimacy and so when they are challenged, they resort to suppression for regime survival.
Taiwan is a thriving democratic regime and can be a beacon to people across China over what is possible if the CPC collapses. It would be immoral and geopolitically foolish if we let the CPC swallow it up. The equivalent of not doing anything over Poland in the 1930s.
Re: Batley and Spen by-election, article below in local Batley & Birstall News is from a few weeks ago, but still worth perusing. Esp. if you either remember Denis Healey or are a political groupie
Also note that other stories in this website about the by-election reference the Labour candidate as "Kim". Which may (or may not) be interesting in & of itself, as indicator of high degree of familiarity in the locality? Sorta like how when you see "Boris" in a headline, you know which Boris they're talking about. Though Kim is much more common a moniker than Boris!
I'm indebted to @another_richard for pointing out the daily vaccination dashboard and some sobering numbers.
In England, 83.5% of adults have had the first vaccination, 61.3% have had both.
In Newham, 52% of adults have had the first vaccination, 30% have had both.
Having been out for a pleasant lunch in Barking, or as it is now to be known apparently, "Tornado Alley UK", I noticed on the way back three separate groups of evangelical Christians haranguing us constantly with the news Lord Jesus Christ loves us and all we need to do is to repent our sins for the life everlasting.
None of these groups wore masks or practiced social distancing and I was left to muse on whether, among those with such evangelical faith, there was a very low take-up of vaccination because, apparently, God is going to take care of them. I noticed such sentiment in America as well.
I was left to consider whether there was a correlation between the high level of religious belief in Newham (lowest percentage of agnostics and atheists in the UK according to the 2010 census) and the low level of vaccination take-up as mentioned above.
I find it incredible Hancock has not jumped or been pushed. Also quite incredible that there are so many people, according to the two snap polls, who back him.
I was one who said he should stay in the yougov snap poll. I am not one to call for sackings without a proper investigation, particularly into how she got her posts and who else he did favours for.
Another PBer on opinion pollsters speed dial! What a representative sample
I don’t think there’s a need to over complicate this one - he told us not to kiss & hug our families at Christmas, he banned people from visiting dying loved ones, millions of sacrifices have been made and he has been caught at it with another mans wife, or more importantly risking disease with a contact from another household by breaking his own rules.
O-U-T spells out
The 'hypocrisy' point is strong - so's the 'jobs for mates' angle - but for me it really isn't the story. It's more about precisely what he was doing. It's incredibly crass and immature. That furtive peep to check the coast is clear, then the illicit little snog in an office corridor. From the Secretary of State for Health. I mean, c'mon. There's a lot of David Brent in there - never a good thing. It destroys his dignity and authority in a way that breaking distancing rules in another (less cringey) way would not have done. If he truly wants to ride this out and carry on he must have the skin of a rhino.
Matt Handsy is the highest-profile (maybe the only?) ex-Remainer left in the Cabinet, isn't he?
Going from backing Remain to accepting BoJo's approach to Brexit without a blink of those sad puppy eyes shows a definite excess of ambition over dignity.
Liz Truss was a remainer in 2016
Indeed she was, and now doing a brilliant job over at Trade that was only enabled by the vote to leave.
The heat wave that’s now underway in the Pacific Northwest is unlike anything the region has ever experienced. Some places are expected to break their all-time temperature records before noon, for multiple days in a row. That’s just unheard of.
Think it is time for us to reverse Cameron's cowardice over Tibet. And recognize democratic Taiwan while we are at it.
Certainly the latter. There would be a nice symbolism of doing that with a UK carrier in their harbour.
You do realise that would involve cutting all diplomatic ties with the PRC? And probably putting an end to all but a tiny amount of trade? And no overseas students? Brave call.
No, It would mean, China cutting ties with us, which may amount to the same thing.
However it is the right things to do. China has a horrible track record for decades: in Tibet, the Uiga people, now Hon-King, then there is the corruption and debt, she is inflicting on many developing nations, destroying much of the globes fishery's, and her deceitfulness' over COVID.
Trade would be disrupted, but it would still get though, just vier 3rd coutarys which would add something to the price.
It will be hard, but it is the right thing to do, and it will only get harder over time.
I recall a piece several years ago, asking what would Islamic State look like 20 years later if it won the civil war? Answer, Saudi Arabia.
We can ask the same of Nazi Germany. And the most appropriate answer is probably CCP run China.
Osborne and Cameron were a disgrace for their behaviour towards communist China.
It is worth remembering, though, that China under the Hu Jintao was much more conciliatory towards the rest of the World. Was it perfect? No, far from it. It even followed the principle of love-bombing Taiwan, allowing direct flights, and trying to improve relations. It's broad foreign policy was (except over Taiwan where it might have gentle words) never publicly oppose the US. And during the GFC, the Chinese government made it very clear that it would not rock the boat, and would continue to buy US Government bonds.
At this time, China was not a friend, but it was merely an economic competitor to the West.
Since Xi Jinping took over, things have changed - both internally and externally. Under Jintao, there were tentative attempts to create some local democracy in China. These are being dismantled. The press, which had grown loud and independent, has been reigned in. Oligarchs have been brought to heel.
And China has sought to assert its dominance over its neighbours, and has sought to challenge the West everywhere. This, it should be noted, preceded Trump coming to power. But it was also probably accelerated by it.
The West got itself into a really stupid place: it was rude to China, while offering no alternative. What's the old saying: talk softly, but carry a big stick. Well, the US did the opposite, it appearerd weak and unwilling to take action. And when it did do things - like tariffs - they were poorly thought out, and then were quietly removed, emboldening China that there was nothing the US or the West could do.
I don't know what the solution is. It would be great if the US could rejoin the TPP, and provide an instiutional framework for trade in the Pacific. The US also needs to decide if Taiwan is a hill it wants to die on.
At a pre covid conference in Asia, condi rice apologised for letting China into the WTO. That was a big mistake with hindsight, with the goal of hugging China tightly and hoping economic growth would lead to democratisation. The opposite has happened. It was ok to try and fail. It’s not ok to pretend it hasn’t failed, as Xi fights a Cold War against a protagonist which pretends it is not in conflict.
The 2015 visit to London by Xi was the real low point and ridiculed in polite circles in Asia. I was asked more than once why the government of such a proud nation was humiliating itself in front of a bully and an autocrat. The writing had been on the wall since the 2012 purge of Bo Xilai and his circle, to anyone I spoke to in commercial circles. I have no idea whether the Foreign Office has been so squeezed of funds that it’s no longer fit for purpose, or whether Cameron was too glib and arrogant to listen to them.
Yes, TPP would have been useful, especially if allied with the antagonistic approach of Trump.
The confrontation Ledbetter got yesterday was a disgrace, and if Starmer had anything about him he'd be out supporting Leadbetter in BS perhaps even knocking a few doors for her. He's been quiet about it if he has supported her
Why was it though?
She was challenged in the street by someone. Something that will happen to politicians across the divide in all elections. An experienced, or savvy, campaigner would be able to shut it down quite Easily.
She showed her inexperience and lack of political nous.
Doubt that, there's a teacher who fears for his life because of these goons. I haven't seen anyone "shut them down" because the chief rabble rousers are surrounded by like minded homophobes egging them on. Most politicians just avoid them in the first place, perhaps that was her error expecting any sort of rational debate from the cretins.
For me, one of the most interesting longer-term consequences of this by-election is how it may change the metropolitan middle class left’s view of the Muslim community. For most of the former, dealings with the latter tend to be superficial limited ones, usually in a service capacity and accompanied by the frequent comment “I had a nice Muslim Uber driver / delivery man / corner shop owner.” Certainly in the woker parts of North London, there are very few Muslim residents (that obviously changes as you get to gentrifying areas). The issue of different cultural values doesn’t really touch them on a day to day basis.
However, if Kim Leadbitter, a white middle class lesbian professional from a public service occupation, the type of person that the metropolitan class can easily identify with, gets defeated in large part due to a homophobic religiously-driven campaign, that may change the perception of just how friendly the Muslim community really is
There is another interesting long term possibility. It is arguable that Labour has done a good job for the rest of us by keeping the Islamic vote mostly within mainstream secular(ish) political life.
To observers it has been obvious for years that this has a cost: Labour has to face various ways on wokeish issues, has to consort with some less than optimal people, has to been seen to affirm Islam more than it does the Christian heritage and so on.
At some point the price gets high. Like if SKS's party is unelectable in places because of his wife's religion and culture - something which all normal people would find abhorrent. Or if facing both ways on being pro a liberal society and pro a theocratic one becomes too obvious.
At that point we welcome into the fold some ghastly combination of Galloway and Islamist party, actually winning 15-20 seats, firstly because they won't vote Labour, and secondly Labour no longer wants that vote because it alienates the centre ground. Eg people like me. Tricky.
I'm indebted to @another_richard for pointing out the daily vaccination dashboard and some sobering numbers.
In England, 83.5% of adults have had the first vaccination, 61.3% have had both.
In Newham, 52% of adults have had the first vaccination, 30% have had both.
Having been out for a pleasant lunch in Barking, or as it is now to be known apparently, "Tornado Alley UK", I noticed on the way back three separate groups of evangelical Christians haranguing us constantly with the news Lord Jesus Christ loves us and all we need to do is to repent our sins for the life everlasting.
None of these groups wore masks or practiced social distancing and I was left to muse on whether, among those with such evangelical faith, there was a very low take-up of vaccination because, apparently, God is going to take care of them. I noticed such sentiment in America as well.
I was left to consider whether there was a correlation between the high level of religious belief in Newham (lowest percentage of agnostics and atheists in the UK according to the 2010 census) and the low level of vaccination take-up as mentioned above.
I reckon the last paragraph is bang right, but the two preceding it make it make it a colder take
The confrontation Ledbetter got yesterday was a disgrace, and if Starmer had anything about him he'd be out supporting Leadbetter in BS perhaps even knocking a few doors for her. He's been quiet about it if he has supported her
Why was it though?
She was challenged in the street by someone. Something that will happen to politicians across the divide in all elections. An experienced, or savvy, campaigner would be able to shut it down quite Easily.
She showed her inexperience and lack of political nous.
Doubt that, there's a teacher who fears for his life because of these goons. I haven't seen anyone "shut them down" because the chief rabble rousers are surrounded by like minded homophobes egging them on. Most politicians just avoid them in the first place, perhaps that was her error expecting any sort of rational debate from the cretins.
For me, one of the most interesting longer-term consequences of this by-election is how it may change the metropolitan middle class left’s view of the Muslim community. For most of the former, dealings with the latter tend to be superficial limited ones, usually in a service capacity and accompanied by the frequent comment “I had a nice Muslim Uber driver / delivery man / corner shop owner.” Certainly in the woker parts of North London, there are very few Muslim residents (that obviously changes as you get to gentrifying areas). The issue of different cultural values doesn’t really touch them on a day to day basis.
However, if Kim Leadbitter, a white middle class lesbian professional from a public service occupation, the type of person that the metropolitan class can easily identify with, gets defeated in large part due to a homophobic religiously-driven campaign, that may change the perception of just how friendly the Muslim community really is
If Labour lose Batley due to a big Muslim vote for George Galloway it won't be fair or valid to attribute it to homophobia. The fact is, Galloway has strong appeal to Muslims here - has twice won a seat off the back of this - and it's in large part due to his long and loud campaigning for Palestine. And it's also a fact that Labour under Starmer is not as overtly pro-Palestine as it was under Corbyn. Plus there's been far more focus on antisemitism under Starmer than on islamophobia. These are all reasons why Muslims might desert the party and lodge a by-election protest vote for GG. Anybody who ignores this and instead homes in purely on Muslim homophobia (and/or antisemitism) as the reason for the result will be showing a bit of islamophobic leg.
The confrontation Ledbetter got yesterday was a disgrace, and if Starmer had anything about him he'd be out supporting Leadbetter in BS perhaps even knocking a few doors for her. He's been quiet about it if he has supported her
Why was it though?
She was challenged in the street by someone. Something that will happen to politicians across the divide in all elections. An experienced, or savvy, campaigner would be able to shut it down quite Easily.
She showed her inexperience and lack of political nous.
Doubt that, there's a teacher who fears for his life because of these goons. I haven't seen anyone "shut them down" because the chief rabble rousers are surrounded by like minded homophobes egging them on. Most politicians just avoid them in the first place, perhaps that was her error expecting any sort of rational debate from the cretins.
For me, one of the most interesting longer-term consequences of this by-election is how it may change the metropolitan middle class left’s view of the Muslim community. For most of the former, dealings with the latter tend to be superficial limited ones, usually in a service capacity and accompanied by the frequent comment “I had a nice Muslim Uber driver / delivery man / corner shop owner.” Certainly in the woker parts of North London, there are very few Muslim residents (that obviously changes as you get to gentrifying areas). The issue of different cultural values doesn’t really touch them on a day to day basis.
However, if Kim Leadbitter, a white middle class lesbian professional from a public service occupation, the type of person that the metropolitan class can easily identify with, gets defeated in large part due to a homophobic religiously-driven campaign, that may change the perception of just how friendly the Muslim community really is
If Labour lose due to a big Muslim vote for George Galloway it won't be fair or valid to attribute it to homophobia. The fact is, Galloway has strong appeal to Muslims here - has twice won a seat off the back of this - and it's in large part due to his long and loud campaigning for Palestine. And it's also a fact that Labour under Starmer is not as overtly pro-Palestine as it was under Corbyn. Plus there's been far more focus on antisemitism under Starmer than on islamophobia. These are all reasons why Muslims might desert the party and lodge a by-election protest vote for GG. Anybody who ignores this and instead homes in purely on Muslim homophobia (and/or antisemitism) as the reason for the result will be showing a bit of islamophobic leg.
Palestine really isn't an issue for day to day British Politics. Granted it's a mess this country is partly responsible for creating but for the past 73 years the Israelis have governed themselves.
As PBers may or may not know (or care) the western USA is in the grips of a major heat wave. Here in the Great Pacific Northwest, on the seaward slide of the Cascade Mountains, we've mostly escaped due to our marine climate,specifically another weather system in the North Pacific that's been holding the massive blob of hot air at bay.
Until now, that is. Yesterday was hot for Seattle, got to 87F at SeaTac Airport. AND last night's low temperature was in the low 70Fs just outside my own personal shanty. High today is expected to be mid-90Fs. And Sunday's forecast to be even hotter, possibly beating the all-time high-temp record for June in Seattle, which is 103F.
Seattle is a city that, rather unique for America, does NOT have a high level of air conditioning, esp. for houses and apartments. Indeed, has always been something we're proud of. Until now!
Am now going to water the plants - they're really gonna need it today.
It would be nice to brand Russia Today's Galloway as the man who gave the seat to the Tories
SKS is the man that gives all Lab seats to the Tories though.
Corbyn made a fantastic start to reach that goal. Jezza really didn't leave a great deal for Starmer to do on that score did he? Although he has his helpers in place to finish the job. If Corbynista candidates stand against the official Labour candidate in all Labour held constituencies, as one has done in B and S, Corbyn's work is complete.
SKS is in charge and done worse than Corbyn in every single electoral test
Excuses Excuses Pete will get you nowhere
I agree with you that Starmer is a grave disappointment. However your solution is to return to a Corbynista leader (remember you can't have Burnham as he is otherwise occupied) so you are lumbered with Rayner, Long- Bailey, or Burgon. And what did a Corbynista leader return in 2019? A Johnson landslide!
So what would I propose? No idea really, perhaps time travel back to 2015 and warn idiot Labour MPs not to nominate Corbyn for leader. That way you would have got Burnham too.
It would be nice to brand Russia Today's Galloway as the man who gave the seat to the Tories
SKS is the man that gives all Lab seats to the Tories though.
Corbyn made a fantastic start to reach that goal. Jezza really didn't leave a great deal for Starmer to do on that score did he? Although he has his helpers in place to finish the job. If Corbynista candidates stand against the official Labour candidate in all Labour held constituencies, as one has done in B and S, Corbyn's work is complete.
SKS is in charge and done worse than Corbyn in every single electoral test
Excuses Excuses Pete will get you nowhere
I agree with you that Starmer is a grave disappointment. However your solution is to return to a Corbynista leader (remember you can't have Burnham as he is otherwise occupied) so you are lumbered with Rayner, Long- Bailey, or Burgon. And what did a Corbynista leader return in 2019? A Johnson landslide!
So what would I propose? No idea really, perhaps time travel back to 2015 and warn idiot Labour MPs not to nominate Corbyn for leader. That way you would have got Burnham too.
Starmer will have my support as long as he stops the cult taking over
Comments
Going from backing Remain to accepting BoJo's approach to Brexit without a blink of those sad puppy eyes shows a definite excess of ambition over dignity.
Drips in comparison, aren’t they, these modern Labour politicians.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tpzyi_pX2L8
Unless you actually meant antenna`s, abbreviating the "is" and missing the apostrophe.
(Blockquotes may be broken.)
Course if you're a 'born to rule' unit from Eton it's rather easier to look the part. We seem to prefer that.
But..
Which group do we think will end up with the highest proportion vaccinated?
The age profile of vaccine refusers doesn't appear to favour the sophistocats..
And probably putting an end to all but a tiny amount of trade? And no overseas students?
Brave call.
It would have to be multilateral for it to have the desired effect.
Tbh, if it comes down to it (and I hope it doesn’t) - I don’t think Taiwan is our battle to fight.
I would lose my cool when pressed to provide a simple yes or no to questions which are more complex to answer than that, since people usually only demnd it to make your answer misleading.
But it is not so simple. It is much, much more sensitive than Palestine Israel. The last thing it needs is an overtly undiplomatic gesture.
There is no way the UK will do this.
And even less chance of the US.
I haven't seen anyone "shut them down" because the chief rabble rousers are surrounded by like minded homophobes egging them on.
Most politicians just avoid them in the first place, perhaps that was her error expecting any sort of rational debate from the cretins.
So over half the cabinet even if none of the top jobs.
I’m assuming that Mr Tice has access to it, but his girlfriend’s Tweet suggests it’s being used by a political party, in which case it has to be registered as a donation in kind.
However it is the right things to do. China has a horrible track record for decades: in Tibet, the Uiga people, now Hon-King, then there is the corruption and debt, she is inflicting on many developing nations, destroying much of the globes fishery's, and her deceitfulness' over COVID.
Trade would be disrupted, but it would still get though, just vier 3rd coutarys which would add something to the price.
It will be hard, but it is the right thing to do, and it will only get harder over time.
I understand the revulsion against China and how it conducts its internal affairs but ultimately what are we trying to achieve - what is the policy? Do we seriously think anything we do will be seen as other than an empty gesture which will make us feel good but do the sum total of nothing for Tibet, the Uighurs, Taiwan or anyone else?
That's not to argue we should do nothing either but diplomacy by gesture gets you nowhere slowly. Where do we want to be with China in 2040, 2080, 2120? We need to think the long-term because that's what the Chinese do.
Is there, for example, a historical or societal inevitability that as prosperity spreads through the Chinese economy, it will lead to greater demands for political and economic change. If you give people more money, they will want to send it the way they want not the way the State tells them. Capitalism ultimately begets liberalisation because prosperity and opportunity will follow.
Norris and Gasly doing very well, again.
Of course, it's possible that things have significantly changed since the 2011 census.
We can ask the same of Nazi Germany. And the most appropriate answer is probably CCP run China.
Osborne and Cameron were a disgrace for their behaviour towards communist China.
Therefore you can only recognise one government. We would therefore need to sever relations with the PRC before recognising Taiwan.
If we didn't, the Taiwanese wouldn't accept. Because that would mean recognising 2 Chinas.
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/
A state by state analysis might be interesting.
Also, welcome to PB.
Excuses Excuses Pete will get you nowhere
What a dick move
https://mobile.twitter.com/SiClancy/status/1408791118335074308
Though just to enrage the Unionists, unlike in Scotland he still seems able to get numbers of English people to vote for him.
It may be that the ranks of pro Brexit included a few more of the 'tin foil hat' types who are also more likely to be Anti-Vax, but that is offset by the vaccine campaign being a Boris Government thing, and don separately to EU, especially with the arguments in Feb/march form the EU tying to critics it. So it's likely to be an age thing, the young are more likely to say no to vaccines and yes to EU
I don't know if anybody is doing any poling, probably un-nessasrally devises,
However, if Kim Leadbitter, a white middle class lesbian professional from a public service occupation, the type of person that the metropolitan class can easily identify with, gets defeated in large part due to a homophobic religiously-driven campaign, that may change the perception of just how friendly the Muslim community really is
@William_Wragg
Re Mr Hancock, a thought: Covid regulations have created a dystopian world of denunciation, finger-wagging & hypocrisy. Let us be freed from this tyranny of diktat and arbitrary rule. As we shall inevitably see with this sad example, the revolution always consumes its own.
1:50 pm · 26 Jun 2021"
https://twitter.com/William_Wragg/status/1408769675954200577
The man, who was not identified, opened the plane's door and fled via the emergency slide on Friday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said.
He is probably single-handedly responsible for the failure of Drakeford's Autumn 'firebreak'.
And the most incredible thing is ... the NHS categorised him as extremely clinically vulnerable.
He was meant to be shielding, as he shagged.
During lockdown, he was getting food parcels to prevent him catching COVID in the supermarkets. And help him keep his strength up due to the demands on his physiology from all his girlfriends.
Still on pb.com, Matt's snog is a matter of great concern. People have written to their MPs
Oh yeah, I remember why. Matt makes the rules up.
Actually he doesn't.
The virus sets the rules of the game.
And, you follow your own rules, depending on your appetite for risk. And on whether -- like my brother -- you are a selfish arse.
There is pb.com. And there is the world outside.
The heat seems to get trapped as the jet is forced north well into Canada forming an omega block - to the east, as the jet crashes back south, plenty of showers and storms.
At this time, China was not a friend, but it was merely an economic competitor to the West.
Since Xi Jinping took over, things have changed - both internally and externally. Under Jintao, there were tentative attempts to create some local democracy in China. These are being dismantled. The press, which had grown loud and independent, has been reigned in. Oligarchs have been brought to heel.
And China has sought to assert its dominance over its neighbours, and has sought to challenge the West everywhere. This, it should be noted, preceded Trump coming to power. But it was also probably accelerated by it.
The West got itself into a really stupid place: it was rude to China, while offering no alternative. What's the old saying: talk softly, but carry a big stick. Well, the US did the opposite, it appearerd weak and unwilling to take action. And when it did do things - like tariffs - they were poorly thought out, and then were quietly removed, emboldening China that there was nothing the US or the West could do.
I don't know what the solution is. It would be great if the US could rejoin the TPP, and provide an instiutional framework for trade in the Pacific. The US also needs to decide if Taiwan is a hill it wants to die on.
Taiwan is a thriving democratic regime and can be a beacon to people across China over what is possible if the CPC collapses. It would be immoral and geopolitically foolish if we let the CPC swallow it up. The equivalent of not doing anything over Poland in the 1930s.
https://www.batleynews.co.uk/news/politics/how-kim-leadbeater-could-defy-the-slope-and-be-sir-keirs-saviour-3269015
Also note that other stories in this website about the by-election reference the Labour candidate as "Kim". Which may (or may not) be interesting in & of itself, as indicator of high degree of familiarity in the locality? Sorta like how when you see "Boris" in a headline, you know which Boris they're talking about. Though Kim is much more common a moniker than Boris!
I'm indebted to @another_richard for pointing out the daily vaccination dashboard and some sobering numbers.
In England, 83.5% of adults have had the first vaccination, 61.3% have had both.
In Newham, 52% of adults have had the first vaccination, 30% have had both.
Having been out for a pleasant lunch in Barking, or as it is now to be known apparently, "Tornado Alley UK", I noticed on the way back three separate groups of evangelical Christians haranguing us constantly with the news Lord Jesus Christ loves us and all we need to do is to repent our sins for the life everlasting.
None of these groups wore masks or practiced social distancing and I was left to muse on whether, among those with such evangelical faith, there was a very low take-up of vaccination because, apparently, God is going to take care of them. I noticed such sentiment in America as well.
I was left to consider whether there was a correlation between the high level of religious belief in Newham (lowest percentage of agnostics and atheists in the UK according to the 2010 census) and the low level of vaccination take-up as mentioned above.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/06/26/keir-starmer-facing-hard-left-leadership-challenge-corbyn-ally/
That is the first bit of really good news for Sir Keir in a long time.
And then watching the few British and European transfers being treated way better than the Indian arrivals.
The 2015 visit to London by Xi was the real low point and ridiculed in polite circles in Asia. I was asked more than once why the government of such a proud nation was humiliating itself in front of a bully and an autocrat. The writing had been on the wall since the 2012 purge of Bo Xilai and his circle, to anyone I spoke to in commercial circles. I have no idea whether the Foreign Office has been so squeezed of funds that it’s no longer fit for purpose, or whether Cameron was too glib and arrogant to listen to them.
Yes, TPP would have been useful, especially if allied with the antagonistic approach of Trump.
To observers it has been obvious for years that this has a cost: Labour has to face various ways on wokeish issues, has to consort with some less than optimal people, has to been seen to affirm Islam more than it does the Christian heritage and so on.
At some point the price gets high. Like if SKS's party is unelectable in places because of his wife's religion and culture - something which all normal people would find abhorrent. Or if facing both ways on being pro a liberal society and pro a theocratic one becomes too obvious.
At that point we welcome into the fold some ghastly combination of Galloway and Islamist party, actually winning 15-20 seats, firstly because they won't vote Labour, and secondly Labour no longer wants that vote because it alienates the centre ground. Eg people like me. Tricky.
Until now, that is. Yesterday was hot for Seattle, got to 87F at SeaTac Airport. AND last night's low temperature was in the low 70Fs just outside my own personal shanty. High today is expected to be mid-90Fs. And Sunday's forecast to be even hotter, possibly beating the all-time high-temp record for June in Seattle, which is 103F.
Seattle is a city that, rather unique for America, does NOT have a high level of air conditioning, esp. for houses and apartments. Indeed, has always been something we're proud of. Until now!
Am now going to water the plants - they're really gonna need it today.
So what would I propose? No idea really, perhaps time travel back to 2015 and warn idiot Labour MPs not to nominate Corbyn for leader. That way you would have got Burnham too.