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BoJo judged to have had his worst PMQs for a year – politicalbetting.com

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  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 81,439
    edited July 2021
    I don't know how much he is just BSing, but flare guy claims he got into the semi final as well without a ticket. Bent stewards and the forcing way through the turnstiles.

    Sounds like Wembley need some serious look at their security.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 32,156
    edited July 2021

    Andy_JS said:

    Should Labour be worried about this?

    Latest opinion poll, from Ipsos/Mori:

    Labour 31%
    LD+SNP+Greens+PC = 26%

    57%....Progressive alliance ;-)
    Only problem with this is assuming that most LDs would prefer Labour over the Conservatives.

    But when the LDs crashed from 24% to 8% in 2015 we were told by almost everyone that this was because most of the left-leaning LD supporters had decided to stop supporting the party in protest at the Con/LD coalition from 2010 to 2015. If that's true, most of the LD's remaining support today must be a lot less likely to prefer Lab over Con. Many of them may prefer neither, and in a ranking system would not preference either main party, (unless forced to do so as in Australia).
  • Pagan2Pagan2 Posts: 9,848

    I don't know how much he is just BSing, but flare guy claims he got into the semi final as well without a ticket. Bent stewards and the forcing way through the turnstiles.

    Sounds like Wembley need some serious look at their security.

    tbf if a man with a flare in his but tries forcing through do you plan to stop him?
  • gealbhangealbhan Posts: 2,362

    Andy_JS said:

    Should Labour be worried about this?

    Latest opinion poll, from Ipsos/Mori:

    Labour 31%
    LD+SNP+Greens+PC = 26%

    The figures at GE2019 were:

    Labour 33%
    LD+SNP+Greens+PC = 19%.

    Labour should worry but it is hard to quantify because you sum together things which cannot meaningfully be added, most obviously SNP & Plaid Cymru. But that is a criticism of the way polls are always reported.
    What we had during election 19 was Brexit total versus remain total. And as a great indicator the Conservatives/Brexit were ahead. Rather than your interesting calculation worry Labour, if during next GE the Conservatives Brexit coalition is smaller, the worry for them is the anti government vote transferring. Team Corbyn and their red print plans may have suppressed a lot of vote transfer last time.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 54,672
    Will South Africa be the first country to actually collapse, due to Covid?

    An astonishing, devastating video


    https://www.instagram.com/tv/CRUNfjGpKce/
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 27,575

    I don't know how much he is just BSing, but flare guy claims he got into the semi final as well without a ticket. Bent stewards and the forcing way through the turnstiles.

    Sounds like Wembley need some serious look at their security.

    First, Mail Online is getting harder and harder to read because of the number of pop-up adverts and videos that load slowly and block the text.

    Second, flare guy says he paid £100 to get in without a ticket, so it's not cheap to get in free.

    Third, one suspects he did not provide proof of a negative Covid test.
  • gealbhangealbhan Posts: 2,362
    Pagan2 said:

    I don't know how much he is just BSing, but flare guy claims he got into the semi final as well without a ticket. Bent stewards and the forcing way through the turnstiles.

    Sounds like Wembley need some serious look at their security.

    tbf if a man with a flare in his but tries forcing through do you plan to stop him?
    It’s hardly a stealthy manoeuvre. 🙂
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    Pagan2 said:

    Pagan2 said:

    Pagan2 said:

    Pagan2 said:

    Pagan2 said:

    Pagan2 said:

    Pagan2 said:

    Pagan2 said:

    eek said:

    Interesting tax story on the front page of the Telegraph

    image

    trying to work out how to replace fuel duty is proving as awkward as it always has.

    I don't understand why not just replace it by putting a small[ish] charge on electricity.

    I think from memory I worked out once that 0.5p per kWh would cover all of fuel duty and then some - and that's before considering that the amount of kWh consumed is going to jump up dramatically in the next few decades as we switch to electric cars, electric heating etc
    Because not all of us have cars, why the hell should I who gave up a car pay more to make up for fuel duty by people who didnt give up their car. Why wfh and therefore helping by not commuting should I be penalised tax wise for doing my bit having to pay more for the electric used for me to work from home. No just fuck off with your extra taxes on people who arent the problem to make up for taxes lost from people who are the problem
    How are drivers "the problem" just because you can't exploit us for taxes anymore?

    Drivers are ripped off as it stands and drivers are carrying much more than their share of the burden in taxes in the name of "greenery", well sorry but we're reaching the end of the road for that. Why should drivers continue to be exploited by the taxman so you can sit at home and get the benefits of our taxes for money that is not hypothecated to go back to the roads?

    If we spent £40bn per annum on the roads this country would have much better roads to drive upon.
    Cars don't just cost for roads though as you very well know, the pollution and lowered air quality they cause has a knock on effect on health costs. I would be surprised if car owners paid even half of what they cost the country. Yet you want people like me that did the right thing and dont have a car or use public transport to pay more so you dont have to. Fuck off you so called libertarian as you show your socialist credentials
    Socialist because I don't want to be overly taxed for driving?

    What pollution and air quality are electric vehicles that do not have any emissions responsible for?

    You are just a socialist wanting to tax people you think you can exploit for the money. There's no ethical or externality reason to tax electric vehicles in the future. The golden goose you've been exploiting is going away.
    Socialist because you want me to be taxed for your driving even though I dont anymore
    Nope.

    My driving is a money earner for the Treasury, not a money drain. Happy to pay the cost of my driving, not happy to pay tens of billions more which is what the Treasury currently exploits drivers for.
    Big deal so is a lot of things people do, smokers for example contribute about twice as much tax as they cost. The governement which remember you support has decided the right to drive is going to cost drivers x billion. Shut up an either pay it or stop driving that after all is the free market solution
    Are you high?

    The free market solution is to abolish the market interference and let people decide what they want to do with their own free choice - it is not to build your system based upon a starting point of wanting to generate tens of billions in taxes to provide for unrelated services and then work from there.

    That is socialism and it is what you are unadulteratedly supporting. At least have the self-respect to own your own socialism. I'm happy to pay at market rates the cost of my driving.
    You support the conservative governement I dont think that is in any doubt. They havent changed the amount of tax raised from motorists therefore you support that. Not my socialism. You are now however saying you should be charged less for driving and I should be charged more for not driving. That is socialising your costs. Show me figures including health costs, road degradation and lost time due to congestion that is less than the tax you pay. Then agree all the other things people pay more tax like as I said smoking should be reduced to only cost....oh you probably cant do the showing figures and don't want to do the second because you would be shouting about them socialising their costs.
    I support this government as the least worst option.

    I disagree with them on many issues. The extortionate amount of road taxes is just another to throw on the list - I agree with them though on having stopped escalating those taxes for the past 11 years at least.

    I am not saying I should be charged less for driving and you more for not driving, I am saying that the Treasury should plug its black holes for issues that have nothing to do with driving by taxing everyone.

    Road degredation is already budgetted for that's part of road maintenance which is ~£10bn per annum. I'm happy for drivers to pay for that, then drivers are shouldering their own burdens.

    The rest though? That's nothing to do with driving.

    PS smokers actually cost the health service more than the Treasury raises in smoking duties. You're right that perversely smokers are good for the Treasury but that's not due to taxes, that's because of the fact that smokers die younger saving the Treasury money in pensions and other old-age costs it no longer needs to pay. But that's not a tax, if people die younger they die and the state doesn't give a refund for dying young.
    Talking bollocks as usual. It is accepted even by the health service that smokers pay almost twice as much tax as they cost the health service. Stop making shit up
    quote
    "The government spends £3.6 billion treating smoking-attributable diseases on the NHS and up to £1 billion collecting cigarette butts and extinguishing smoking-related house fires. But these costs are covered more than four times over by early death savings and tobacco duty revenue. • In the absence of smoking"
    source https://www.evidence.nhs.uk/document?id=1877152&returnUrl=search?q=cost+to+the+nhs+of+smoking+related+diseases

    revenue from smoking
    https://www.statista.com/statistics/284329/tobacco-duty-united-kingdom-hmrc-tax-receipts/#:~:text=Tobacco duty tax receipts in the UK 2000-2021&text=In 2020/21, tobacco duty,in the previous financial year

    9.96 billion
    I said that early death savings made the difference. You contradict that by quoting that early death savings make the difference. 🤦‍♂️

    Anyway costs of smoking once you add in various factors range around over £12 BN.
    https://ash.org.uk/media-and-news/press-releases-media-and-news/true-cost-of-smoking-revealed-in-advance-of-world-no-tobacco-day/#:~:text=The figures show the additional,social care needs [1].
    No I disputed it by nice saying treating it cost 3.6 billion and the cost of house fires and cleaning butts up was 1 billion. Against a revenue of 9.96 billion almost double as I said. 4 times comes in if you count in reductions in pensions and social care. It did say that in the link but I guess you failed to learn to read.

    If I suggested smokers taxes were reduced to actual costs and peoples taxes should be raised to cover costs you would be arguing no its their choice to smoke which is totally correct

    You are arguing however motorists taxes should be reduced to cost and the rest of us should be taxed to make up for it.

    Personally I say both are personal choice and both can fuck off. You don't need to smoke. You don't need to drive.
    I'm not arguing motorist taxes should be reduced. Keep fuel duty and vehicle excise duty for high emission vehicles going indefinitely if you want. The issue you face though is that those taxes will raise no revenues in the future since people are quitting using fuel and quitting emissions vehicles and going for zero rated ones instead.

    What you're proposing is that drivers should keep paying fuel duty even if they become ex fuel users.

    That's like saying that even if smokers become ex smokers they should keep paying cigarette taxes.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 81,439
    edited July 2021

    I don't know how much he is just BSing, but flare guy claims he got into the semi final as well without a ticket. Bent stewards and the forcing way through the turnstiles.

    Sounds like Wembley need some serious look at their security.

    First, Mail Online is getting harder and harder to read because of the number of pop-up adverts and videos that load slowly and block the text.

    Second, flare guy says he paid £100 to get in without a ticket, so it's not cheap to get in free.

    Third, one suspects he did not provide proof of a negative Covid test.
    Adblocker.....

    Actually, according to the Currant Bun, it was £250...£100 to bribe the steward, £150 to piggy back off a genuine ticket. Plus this 20 pints and all the cheap coke....quite an expensive day out.
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    Leon said:

    Will South Africa be the first country to actually collapse, due to Covid?

    An astonishing, devastating video


    https://www.instagram.com/tv/CRUNfjGpKce/

    QTWAIN.

    The rioting promoted by Zuma is not due to Covid.

    That's like pinning rioting in DC last year on Covid rather than Trump or Police Violence or BLM or whatever else you choose to blame.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 81,439
    edited July 2021
    In the Sun article, flare yobbo is wearing a t-shirt brand that go for £200 a pop....no idea if it fake or not, but reminds me of Hackett brand getting trashed by yobs wearing the knock off shirts.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 22,703
    edited July 2021
    dixiedean said:

    Pagan2 said:

    eek said:

    Interesting tax story on the front page of the Telegraph

    image

    trying to work out how to replace fuel duty is proving as awkward as it always has.

    I don't understand why not just replace it by putting a small[ish] charge on electricity.

    I think from memory I worked out once that 0.5p per kWh would cover all of fuel duty and then some - and that's before considering that the amount of kWh consumed is going to jump up dramatically in the next few decades as we switch to electric cars, electric heating etc
    Because not all of us have cars, why the hell should I who gave up a car pay more to make up for fuel duty by people who didnt give up their car. Why wfh and therefore helping by not commuting should I be penalised tax wise for doing my bit having to pay more for the electric used for me to work from home. No just fuck off with your extra taxes on people who arent the problem to make up for taxes lost from people who are the problem
    I don't have a car either. Seconded.
    It s very possible that your increased occupancy of your house will generate as much emissions as have been saved by not having your car :smile:. Seriously.

    Run the numbers and let us know.

    The fairest way is probably a carbon tax on everything, linked to emissions - as that would also incentivise clean investment.

    Short of that, an increase in energy cost.

    Or abolishing tax breaks on houses.

    Anyway, pedestrians and people with bikes also use roads. As do all the deliveries you now have as you do not use a car.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 81,439
    edited July 2021
    Leon said:

    Will South Africa be the first country to actually collapse, due to Covid?

    An astonishing, devastating video


    https://www.instagram.com/tv/CRUNfjGpKce/

    Social Media is filled full of scenes that could be straight out of the Purge movie. There was a clip I saw of a traffic jam on the highway over 1km long of cars all parked up just to empty the warehouses.

    Apparently food such as milk and bread supplies will be effected for the foreseeable future in the areas badly hit because of the scale of the destruction.

    Big brand employers like LG and Samsung facilities total destroyed. How many 1000s of jobs will have gone.

    Then you have the racial elements. Apparently the asians and whites have been forming protection vigilantes to protect their property and plenty of scenes on social media meeting out incredible violence on anybody they catch.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 22,703
    Andy_JS said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Should Labour be worried about this?

    Latest opinion poll, from Ipsos/Mori:

    Labour 31%
    LD+SNP+Greens+PC = 26%

    57%....Progressive alliance ;-)
    Only problem with this is assuming that most LDs would prefer Labour over the Conservatives.

    But when the LDs crashed from 24% to 8% in 2015 we were told by almost everyone that this was because most of the left-leaning LD supporters had decided to stop supporting the party in protest at the Con/LD coalition from 2010 to 2015. If that's true, most of the LD's remaining support today must be a lot less likely to prefer Lab over Con. Many of them may prefer neither, and in a ranking system would not preference either main party, (unless forced to do so as in Australia).
    Left Liberal LDs are still around afaics. And Left Liberal is not 'progressive' - except in their own tropes :smile: .

    Nor is Labour, mainly. TU Baron Len? Give me a break.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 51,313

    Leon said:

    Will South Africa be the first country to actually collapse, due to Covid?

    An astonishing, devastating video


    https://www.instagram.com/tv/CRUNfjGpKce/

    Social Media is filled full of scenes that could be straight out of the Purge movie. There was a clip I saw of a traffic jam on the highway over 1km long of cars all parked up just to empty the warehouses.

    Apparently food such as milk and bread supplies will be effected for the foreseeable future in the areas badly hit because of the scale of the destruction.

    Big brand employers like LG and Samsung facilities total destroyed. How many 1000s of jobs will have gone.

    Then you have the racial elements. Apparently the asians and whites have been forming protection vigilantes to protect their property and plenty of scenes on social media meeting out incredible violence on anybody they catch.
    They’ve just called up all members of the army reserve.

    image
  • LeonLeon Posts: 54,672

    Leon said:

    Will South Africa be the first country to actually collapse, due to Covid?

    An astonishing, devastating video


    https://www.instagram.com/tv/CRUNfjGpKce/

    QTWAIN.

    The rioting promoted by Zuma is not due to Covid.

    That's like pinning rioting in DC last year on Covid rather than Trump or Police Violence or BLM or whatever else you choose to blame.
    Oh good grief. Of course it’s covid
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 81,439
    edited July 2021
    Coronavirus cases are rising in every U.S. state

    NEW: Number of Americans hospitalized with COVID-19 tops 21,000, highest since June 3

    Los Angeles County reports 1,315 new coronavirus cases, up 155% from last week and the biggest one-day increase since March 11
  • LeonLeon Posts: 54,672

    Leon said:

    Will South Africa be the first country to actually collapse, due to Covid?

    An astonishing, devastating video


    https://www.instagram.com/tv/CRUNfjGpKce/

    Social Media is filled full of scenes that could be straight out of the Purge movie. There was a clip I saw of a traffic jam on the highway over 1km long of cars all parked up just to empty the warehouses.

    Apparently food such as milk and bread supplies will be effected for the foreseeable future in the areas badly hit because of the scale of the destruction.

    Big brand employers like LG and Samsung facilities total destroyed. How many 1000s of jobs will have gone.

    Then you have the racial elements. Apparently the asians and whites have been forming protection vigilantes to protect their property and plenty of scenes on social media meeting out incredible violence on anybody they catch.
    They’ve just called up all members of the army reserve.

    image
    The videos are mind-numbing. Vigilantes shooting people on sight, and burning down entire burbs. Meanwhile the looting extends for miles

    Pretty much anarchy
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 81,439
    edited July 2021
    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    Will South Africa be the first country to actually collapse, due to Covid?

    An astonishing, devastating video


    https://www.instagram.com/tv/CRUNfjGpKce/

    Social Media is filled full of scenes that could be straight out of the Purge movie. There was a clip I saw of a traffic jam on the highway over 1km long of cars all parked up just to empty the warehouses.

    Apparently food such as milk and bread supplies will be effected for the foreseeable future in the areas badly hit because of the scale of the destruction.

    Big brand employers like LG and Samsung facilities total destroyed. How many 1000s of jobs will have gone.

    Then you have the racial elements. Apparently the asians and whites have been forming protection vigilantes to protect their property and plenty of scenes on social media meeting out incredible violence on anybody they catch.
    They’ve just called up all members of the army reserve.

    image
    The videos are mind-numbing. Vigilantes shooting people on sight, and burning down entire burbs. Meanwhile the looting extends for miles

    Pretty much anarchy
    Not pretty much...total anarchy.....and of course plenty of videos of the police themselves involved in the looting.

    And yet it is only getting passing coverage in the UK. Not on the front page of the BBC News, instead important stories like music streaming, Britney Spears conservatorship case and Bolsonaro having hiccups.

    And also basically no coverage of Cuba.
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 27,575

    Leon said:

    Will South Africa be the first country to actually collapse, due to Covid?

    An astonishing, devastating video


    https://www.instagram.com/tv/CRUNfjGpKce/

    Social Media is filled full of scenes that could be straight out of the Purge movie. There was a clip I saw of a traffic jam on the highway over 1km long of cars all parked up just to empty the warehouses.

    Apparently food such as milk and bread supplies will be effected for the foreseeable future in the areas badly hit because of the scale of the destruction.

    Big brand employers like LG and Samsung facilities total destroyed. How many 1000s of jobs will have gone.

    Then you have the racial elements. Apparently the asians and whites have been forming protection vigilantes to protect their property and plenty of scenes on social media meeting out incredible violence on anybody they catch.
    They’ve just called up all members of the army reserve.

    image
    Missing the point but... Now the press release has "gone viral" the good Colonel will need a new phone number.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 56,903
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 56,903
    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    Will South Africa be the first country to actually collapse, due to Covid?

    An astonishing, devastating video


    https://www.instagram.com/tv/CRUNfjGpKce/

    QTWAIN.

    The rioting promoted by Zuma is not due to Covid.

    That's like pinning rioting in DC last year on Covid rather than Trump or Police Violence or BLM or whatever else you choose to blame.
    Oh good grief. Of course it’s covid
    I'm sure Covid's contributing, but this is because Zuma has been arrested and he (and his coterie) have called for insurrection until he's released.
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 27,575
    rcs1000 said:
    Tennessee is dropping vaccination of schoolchildren. That sounds more British than French, since we are not jabbing young people either.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 81,439
    Plans for a “mission critical” electric car battery plant in Coventry have accelerated in a drive to keep automotive production at the heart of the West Midlands region.

    Coventry city council has put forward a blueprint for a 5.7m square feet “gigafactory”, which could create up to 6,000 new jobs, in partnership with Coventry airport where the plant would be located.

    https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/jul/15/coventry-puts-forward-mission-critical-plan-for-electric-car-battery-plant
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 56,903

    rcs1000 said:
    Tennessee is dropping vaccination of schoolchildren. That sounds more British than French, since we are not jabbing young people either.
    This isn't Covid - this is all vaccinations:

    Tennessee Department of Health halts all vaccine outreach to kids – not just for COVID-19, but all diseases – amid pressure from GOP. Staff ordered to remove the agency logo from any documents providing vaccine info to the public, per internal dox.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 32,156
    edited July 2021
    Leon said:

    Will South Africa be the first country to actually collapse, due to Covid?

    An astonishing, devastating video


    https://www.instagram.com/tv/CRUNfjGpKce/

    One of the facts of life as far as the British mainstream media is concerned is that they simply won't report on bad news from South Africa in a way that is in any sort of proportion to the events taking place. Things have to get really bad for them to allocate time for a relatively short report from the country. Maybe it's because they had such high hopes for the country when it became fully democratic in 1994, as did most people.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 56,903
    Andy_JS said:

    Leon said:

    Will South Africa be the first country to actually collapse, due to Covid?

    An astonishing, devastating video


    https://www.instagram.com/tv/CRUNfjGpKce/

    One of the facts of life as far as the British mainstream media is concerned is that they simply won't report on bad news from South Africa in a way that is in any sort of proportion to the events taking place. Things have to get really bad for them to allocate time for a relatively short report from the country. Maybe it's because they had such high hopes for the country when it became fully democratic in 1994, as did most people.
    The terrible irony here is that the South African judiciary is attempting to exert itself and act as a brake on corruption. No longer, they are saying, can Leaders loot.

    Zuma is attempting to force the judiciary to back down, and therefore to relegate South Africa to being another African country you wouldn't want to do business in.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 54,672
    Andy_JS said:

    Leon said:

    Will South Africa be the first country to actually collapse, due to Covid?

    An astonishing, devastating video


    https://www.instagram.com/tv/CRUNfjGpKce/

    One of the facts of life as far as the British mainstream media is concerned is that they simply won't report on bad news from South Africa in a way that is in any sort of proportion to the events taking place. Things have to get really bad for them to allocate time for a relatively short report from the country. Maybe it's because they had such high hopes for the country when it became fully democratic in 1994, as did most people.
    The videos strongly suggest an outright race-war, in the making. Ghastly and tragic, on all sides
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 81,439
    rcs1000 said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Leon said:

    Will South Africa be the first country to actually collapse, due to Covid?

    An astonishing, devastating video


    https://www.instagram.com/tv/CRUNfjGpKce/

    One of the facts of life as far as the British mainstream media is concerned is that they simply won't report on bad news from South Africa in a way that is in any sort of proportion to the events taking place. Things have to get really bad for them to allocate time for a relatively short report from the country. Maybe it's because they had such high hopes for the country when it became fully democratic in 1994, as did most people.
    The terrible irony here is that the South African judiciary is attempting to exert itself and act as a brake on corruption. No longer, they are saying, can Leaders loot.

    Zuma is attempting to force the judiciary to back down, and therefore to relegate South Africa to being another African country you wouldn't want to do business in.
    I read 7% of all employment in south africa is now private security.....thats a huge cost of doing business.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 54,672
    edited July 2021
    This is why people NEED opinionated TV news. A black South African woman journalist fires a broadside

    God speed her

    https://twitter.com/buhlejafta_/status/1415358089402933249?s=21
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 81,439
    Andy_JS said:

    Leon said:

    Will South Africa be the first country to actually collapse, due to Covid?

    An astonishing, devastating video


    https://www.instagram.com/tv/CRUNfjGpKce/

    One of the facts of life as far as the British mainstream media is concerned is that they simply won't report on bad news from South Africa in a way that is in any sort of proportion to the events taking place. Things have to get really bad for them to allocate time for a relatively short report from the country. Maybe it's because they had such high hopes for the country when it became fully democratic in 1994, as did most people.
    So much for their role to inform and educate.....
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 56,903

    Andy_JS said:

    Leon said:

    Will South Africa be the first country to actually collapse, due to Covid?

    An astonishing, devastating video


    https://www.instagram.com/tv/CRUNfjGpKce/

    One of the facts of life as far as the British mainstream media is concerned is that they simply won't report on bad news from South Africa in a way that is in any sort of proportion to the events taking place. Things have to get really bad for them to allocate time for a relatively short report from the country. Maybe it's because they had such high hopes for the country when it became fully democratic in 1994, as did most people.
    So much for their role to inform and educate.....
    People aren't interested in being informed and educated, they are interested in having their prejudices reinforced.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,817
    rcs1000 said:

    rcs1000 said:
    Tennessee is dropping vaccination of schoolchildren. That sounds more British than French, since we are not jabbing young people either.
    This isn't Covid - this is all vaccinations:

    Tennessee Department of Health halts all vaccine outreach to kids – not just for COVID-19, but all diseases – amid pressure from GOP. Staff ordered to remove the agency logo from any documents providing vaccine info to the public, per internal dox.
    Insanity.
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830
    Andy_JS said:

    Leon said:

    Will South Africa be the first country to actually collapse, due to Covid?

    An astonishing, devastating video


    https://www.instagram.com/tv/CRUNfjGpKce/

    One of the facts of life as far as the British mainstream media is concerned is that they simply won't report on bad news from South Africa in a way that is in any sort of proportion to the events taking place. Things have to get really bad for them to allocate time for a relatively short report from the country. Maybe it's because they had such high hopes for the country when it became fully democratic in 1994, as did most people.
    It's because the people in charge invested a certain amount of energy in their youth in dorkish cost free gesture politics voting for the JCR to disinvest in Barclays and not buy South African wine, and they don't now want to spoil the narrative that their struggle created a rainbow paradise. Job done, move on to Palestine, lads.
  • DougSealDougSeal Posts: 12,541

    Coronavirus cases are rising in every U.S. state

    NEW: Number of Americans hospitalized with COVID-19 tops 21,000, highest since June 3

    Los Angeles County reports 1,315 new coronavirus cases, up 155% from last week and the biggest one-day increase since March 11

    Covid cases are rising everywhere. Delta variant. They just started rising here a bit earlier than the rest of the industrialised world because Johnson let it in first. Or we have the strongest familial connections to India. Delete according to your political preference.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 41,947
    Foxy said:

    kinabalu said:

    TOPPING said:

    HYUFD said:

    TOPPING said:

    HYUFD said:

    Starmer may be right that taking the knee is fully supported on his side of the political divide, 78% of Labour voters back it. Personally I believe it is a matter of personal choice.

    On the Tory side however only 38% of Tory voters back taking the knee, so it makes sense for Boris and Patel in terms of their base not to push taking the knee too hard.
    https://twitter.com/GoodwinMJ/status/1414951623437193224?s=20

    Do those Conservatives who do not support taking the knee also support BOOING those taking the knee? I very much doubt most do.

    That's the big danger for Johnson. In pandering to the base (an activity of which I know you are a huge fan) he's allowed himself to be cast in a bad light even for those in his base. This issue could have been closed down pre-tournament, but Patel's comments weren't corrected, and headbanger Tory MPs weren't disciplined.

    I'd also note that 38% is a heck of a lot of Tories. Not saying at all that this issue will do it on its own, but Major only needed to lose around a quarter of voters in his 1992 triumph to go down in flames in 1997. Indeed, it's that 38% that Conservatives need to pander to most of all as they are the ones most likely to shop elsewhere for their political leaders.

    This is what Cameron understood with his "hug a hoody" and "hug a huskie" messaging, the 0.7% of GDP stuff etc. None of that was about the base - the Tory base varies from agnostic to hostile on such things. It's about the Blair voters and soggy centre.
    Good post. The base aren't going anywhere else, now post-Brexit.

    They need to worry about me. An ex-Cons voter now thoroughly disaffected by the make up of the Party and is looking around to see what's on offer. So far SKS ain't it but I thought he had a good PMQs today and there will be some for whom a sustained good run by him will do much to sway their vote.
    Did you vote Tory in 2019? If not then no, we don't need to worry about you
    Yes me old mucker, I voted Tory in 2019.

    Now, how can you help me...
    I think you're a little bit like JackW, actually.

    You're a core and loyal Conservative - you always vote that way, and even campaign that way at times - but adopt a more critical persona on here because you like to test your own thinking and challenge others too.

    I understand that.
    Main thing I recall about "JackW" is a complete inability to spot Trumpian bullshit. Bit of a 'nicebutdim' character.
    Very much not. He got POTUS 2016 wrong (not the only one) but did call 2015 better than the PB consensus.

    @JACK_W is a very astute pundit, but no-one gets everything right. Well except @SeanT, who flips opinions so frequently that he can cite predicting everything, provided he is selective.
    Ah ok sounds like I've got that a bit wrong then.

    You're alright Jack - 🙂
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