If you are driving abroad then your GB plates have to be replaced by UK plates.
At first encounter, I imagined this was the EU playing silly buggers over Brexit but it turns out the government has told the UN we want to be called UK not GB. I had noticed and wondered why so many ministers kept saying UK instead of British recently, and apparently it is part of some grand scheme to do something or other.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "Changing the national identifier from GB to UK symbolises our unity as a nation and is part of a wider move towards using the UK signifier across government.
"We notified the UN of our intention to make these changes in July, and have been working with the sector to implement the change." https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58734265
Of course, we'll have to change back when NI buggers off.
And if Scotland goes too, we'll be left with the rather unappealling EW...........
Surely we are the UK, until Scotland buggers off? Neither Wales nor NI are kingdoms.
It gets very messy.
The Union of the Kingdoms predates the Union of the countries.
IIRC the Nats said they would keep the monarchy in the event of independence.
Though we would both be kingdoms under the same crown, surely that couldn't be a United Kingdom?
Just as we wouldn't be a United Kingdom with Canada or Fiji?
Confusingly, James VI and I called himself ‘King of Great Britain, France and Ireland’ even though ‘Great Britain’ was legally two separate countries (if you don’t believe me check the blurb of the King James Bible).
If you are driving abroad then your GB plates have to be replaced by UK plates.
At first encounter, I imagined this was the EU playing silly buggers over Brexit but it turns out the government has told the UN we want to be called UK not GB. I had noticed and wondered why so many ministers kept saying UK instead of British recently, and apparently it is part of some grand scheme to do something or other.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "Changing the national identifier from GB to UK symbolises our unity as a nation and is part of a wider move towards using the UK signifier across government.
"We notified the UN of our intention to make these changes in July, and have been working with the sector to implement the change." https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58734265
Of course, we'll have to change back when NI buggers off.
And if Scotland goes too, we'll be left with the rather unappealling EW...........
Surely we are the UK, until Scotland buggers off? Neither Wales nor NI are kingdoms.
We can call ourselves whatever we like. The United Kingdom (capital U, capital K) only came into existence at the Union with Ireland - immediately prior to that we were in the Kingdom of Great Britain. But the name survived the loss of most of Ireland nevertheless.
ITV leading with Sarah Everard. Presumably SKS would actually approve of that (and I mean that sincerely).
The mother's statement is heart-breaking. Hard to read. A reminder - if we needed it - that more than one life is destroyed when a murder is committed.
I find it hard to believe that this man went from indecent exposure to calculated rapist and killer in a few days. If the police are not looking at unsolved rapes, sexual assaults and murders in the places where he lived and worked to see if he did this before, then they bloody well ought to be.
The people who knew about his flashing, who knew his nickname was "The Rapist" ought to be asking themselves why they did not say anything, why they did not raise the alarm, why they did not "blow the whistle". And if they did, those who ignored them or did not take it seriously need to be asking themselves some hard questions too.
The clues were there. They were ignored. And a young woman is dead because of that.
Yes it was heartbreaking, and as a parent I can only guess the appalling pain the Mother is going through, particularly in the knowledge that Ms. Everard would have soon become aware of her fate.
There does seem to be rather a lot of police officers who have ulterior motives for joining the force. On a day when Starmer's keynote speech was quite rightly sidelined by Couzens' pre-sentencing appearance, it might dawn on Starmer that something he should be looking at for a future Labour Government is vastly more rigerous recruitment procedures for police officers.
And here's one to put the cat amongst the pigeons. The banning of police officers from joining secret organisations whilst in service. No secret dinners on a Tuesday night with Kenny Noye and no secret handshakes with Wally Virgo.
If you give Scottish police officers the choice of their job or their membership of the masons, there may be an imminent shortage of Scottish police officers.
Why would anyone who already knows how they're going to vote bother to watch any conference speech?
Why would anyone watch any conference speech? Back in the day, it was because there was nothing else on, apart from Programmes for Schools and Colleges. The only other daytime TV was live cricket, and what fool would schedule a cricket match in England at the end of September? The 70's were hell in many ways.
Starmer's speech looks like it will generate some positive soundbites for the minority of the electorate who watch the news. It will buy him some more time by hushing his party rivals and party enemies. It will nudge the pinball away from some paths that would be bad for him. It's done what it had to do, maybe all one speech could do. It's a positive step on a long road.
ITV leading with Sarah Everard. Presumably SKS would actually approve of that (and I mean that sincerely).
The mother's statement is heart-breaking. Hard to read. A reminder - if we needed it - that more than one life is destroyed when a murder is committed.
I find it hard to believe that this man went from indecent exposure to calculated rapist and killer in a few days. If the police are not looking at unsolved rapes, sexual assaults and murders in the places where he lived and worked to see if he did this before, then they bloody well ought to be.
The people who knew about his flashing, who knew his nickname was "The Rapist" ought to be asking themselves why they did not say anything, why they did not raise the alarm, why they did not "blow the whistle". And if they did, those who ignored them or did not take it seriously need to be asking themselves some hard questions too.
The clues were there. They were ignored. And a young woman is dead because of that.
Yes it was heartbreaking, and as a parent I can only guess the appalling pain the Mother is going through, particularly in the knowledge that Ms. Everard would have soon become aware of her fate.
There does seem to be rather a lot of police officers who have ulterior motives for joining the force. On a day when Starmer's keynote speech was quite rightly sidelined by Couzens' pre-sentencing appearance, it might dawn on Starmer that something he should be looking at for a future Labour Government is vastly more rigerous recruitment procedures for police officers.
And here's one to put the cat amongst the pigeons. The banning of police officers from joining secret organisations whilst in service. No secret dinners on a Tuesday night with Kenny Noye and no secret handshakes with Wally Virgo.
Recruitment is actually only a small part of it. Anyone can game a recruitment process.
The organisational culture in day-to-day operation is far more important.
If you are driving abroad then your GB plates have to be replaced by UK plates.
At first encounter, I imagined this was the EU playing silly buggers over Brexit but it turns out the government has told the UN we want to be called UK not GB. I had noticed and wondered why so many ministers kept saying UK instead of British recently, and apparently it is part of some grand scheme to do something or other.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "Changing the national identifier from GB to UK symbolises our unity as a nation and is part of a wider move towards using the UK signifier across government.
"We notified the UN of our intention to make these changes in July, and have been working with the sector to implement the change." https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58734265
Sounds like a wonderful way of reaffirming Tory commitment to the Union in symbolism, while continuing long-standing party tradition of trashing it in substance.
Italian cafes are a feature in Scotland. This is the best. A couple of miles from the city centre, but we are happy to travel from Ayrshire to Coia’s, even though we are only three miles from the most famous Scottish Italian cafe. You may want to book, especially at weekends.
If you are driving abroad then your GB plates have to be replaced by UK plates.
At first encounter, I imagined this was the EU playing silly buggers over Brexit but it turns out the government has told the UN we want to be called UK not GB. I had noticed and wondered why so many ministers kept saying UK instead of British recently, and apparently it is part of some grand scheme to do something or other.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "Changing the national identifier from GB to UK symbolises our unity as a nation and is part of a wider move towards using the UK signifier across government.
"We notified the UN of our intention to make these changes in July, and have been working with the sector to implement the change." https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58734265
Sounds like a wonderful way of reaffirming Tory commitment to the Union in symbolism, while continuing long-standing party tradition of trashing it in substance.
Meh. No country lasts forever. The UK’s been disintegrating for 100 years. It’s done well to last this long.
What they did is show highlights to a sample of 1330, and compared it with previous similar experiments with first-time leader speeches - he did better (5.9/10) than Corbyn 2015 (5.1), who in turn did better than Johnson 2019 (4.1).
Which shows the limitations, since Johnson actually won. But although most people won't have seen this speech, it does suggest that he comes across well when people listen to him - and there will be plenty more opportunities for that as we emerge from lockdown. The key finding is probably that 63% agreed with what he had to say, vs. 29% who didn't.
Italian cafes are a feature in Scotland. This is the best. A couple of miles from the city centre, but we are happy to travel from Ayrshire to Coia’s, even though we are only three miles from the most famous Scottish Italian cafe. You may want to book, especially at weekends.
Sounds like a wonderful way of reaffirming Tory commitment to the Union in symbolism, while continuing long-standing party tradition of trashing it in substance.
The most vocal opponents appear to be gammons who drive 'classic' cars with permanent GB plates
Sounds like a wonderful way of reaffirming Tory commitment to the Union in symbolism, while continuing long-standing party tradition of trashing it in substance.
The most vocal opponents appear to be gammons who drive 'classic' cars with permanent GB plates
How much is a sticker going to cost from Halfords?
Seems an utterly pointless change, but its not exactly going to be the end of the world to slap a sticker on the back of the car.
What they did is show highlights to a sample of 1330, and compared it with previous similar experiments with first-time leader speeches - he did better (5.9/10) than Corbyn 2015 (5.1), who in turn did better than Johnson 2019 (4.1).
Which shows the limitations, since Johnson actually won. But although most people won't have seen this speech, it does suggest that he comes across well when people listen to him - and there will be plenty more opportunities for that as we emerge from lockdown. The key finding is probably that 63% agreed with what he had to say, vs. 29% who didn't.
Worth remembering that, for all his real talents, BoJo is a surprisingly poor live public speaker. He's not done the mythical 10 000 hours of slogging away trying to convince a hostile (and sober) audience.
Italian cafes are a feature in Scotland. This is the best. A couple of miles from the city centre, but we are happy to travel from Ayrshire to Coia’s, even though we are only three miles from the most famous Scottish Italian cafe. You may want to book, especially at weekends.
Any decent restaurant recommendations for central Glasgow?
Last time I was there I nearly incited a riot after describing the local food as tasting like deep fried shavings from a ped egg.
You could take Sarah Vine's recommendation of the Ubiquitous Fish? More seriously the Ubiquitous Chip has been providing decent scran in the west end since the 70s and is only a 10 minute cab ride from the centre (call it the U.B. Chip if you want to sound local). The same family also have Stravaigin which is a bit more youth orientated and adventurous, and a bit closer to the centre.
Edit: checked Stravaigin online and it seems they occasionally have grey squirrel on the menu..
Italian cafes are a feature in Scotland. This is the best. A couple of miles from the city centre, but we are happy to travel from Ayrshire to Coia’s, even though we are only three miles from the most famous Scottish Italian cafe. You may want to book, especially at weekends.
Any decent restaurant recommendations for central Glasgow?
Last time I was there I nearly incited a riot after describing the local food as tasting like deep fried shavings from a ped egg.
You could take Sarah Vine's recommendation of the Ubiquitous Fish? More seriously the Ubiquitous Chip has been providing decent scran in the west end since the 70s and is only a 10 minute cab ride from the centre (call it the U.B. Chip if you want to sound local). The same family also have Stravaigin which is a bit more youth orientated and adventurous, and a bit closer to the centre.
Edit: checked Stravaigin online and it seems they occasionally have grey squirrel on the menu..
Thanks, will check that out.
Obsession of India if you like Indian.
Asian restaurants are a bit of a busman's holiday for me.
Italian cafes are a feature in Scotland. This is the best. A couple of miles from the city centre, but we are happy to travel from Ayrshire to Coia’s, even though we are only three miles from the most famous Scottish Italian cafe. You may want to book, especially at weekends.
If you are driving abroad then your GB plates have to be replaced by UK plates.
At first encounter, I imagined this was the EU playing silly buggers over Brexit but it turns out the government has told the UN we want to be called UK not GB. I had noticed and wondered why so many ministers kept saying UK instead of British recently, and apparently it is part of some grand scheme to do something or other.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "Changing the national identifier from GB to UK symbolises our unity as a nation and is part of a wider move towards using the UK signifier across government.
"We notified the UN of our intention to make these changes in July, and have been working with the sector to implement the change." https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58734265
Of course, we'll have to change back when NI buggers off.
And if Scotland goes too, we'll be left with the rather unappealling EW...........
Surely we are the UK, until Scotland buggers off? Neither Wales nor NI are kingdoms.
It gets very messy.
The Union of the Kingdoms predates the Union of the countries.
IIRC the Nats said they would keep the monarchy in the event of independence.
Though we would both be kingdoms under the same crown, surely that couldn't be a United Kingdom?
Just as we wouldn't be a United Kingdom with Canada or Fiji?
Fiji’s been a republic since the 1987 coup.
As for Aus, Canada, NZ etc, prior to the Statute of Westminster in 1931 they were technically still “colonies” of the UK (the Colonial Laws Validity Act still applied). The Statute specifically stated that the “dominions” as then called, “Queen’s realms” today, were under separate Crowns from that of the UK. So in historic terms, CANZUK+ are all in personal unions under a common monarch, which is constitutionally, if not practically, is the same as the situation betwixt England and Scotland between 1603 and 1707.
NB, although the entity created by the acts of Union in 1707 was often referred to as “the United Kingdom”, 18th century usage of capitalization was very much a personal choice of the writer, and the concept of an “official name” for a country wasn’t really a thing as those usually get defined in written constitutions which didn’t really get started until the Americans wrote one (though there were earlier ones, such as for the short-lived Corsican state).
The term “United Kingdom” for the country that today is made up of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was not officially adopted until the Act of Union of 1801.
That said, Northern Ireland may not be itself a kingdom, but the Queen’s right over it devolves from that of the former Kingdom of Ireland, and that’s why the Irish harp still appears in the royal arms. If that basis had changed, the royal arms would show the arms of Northern Ireland, themselves based on those of the province of Ulster. Mind you, the royal arms and style claimed France until 1802 as well!
What they did is show highlights to a sample of 1330, and compared it with previous similar experiments with first-time leader speeches - he did better (5.9/10) than Corbyn 2015 (5.1), who in turn did better than Johnson 2019 (4.1).
Which shows the limitations, since Johnson actually won. But although most people won't have seen this speech, it does suggest that he comes across well when people listen to him - and there will be plenty more opportunities for that as we emerge from lockdown. The key finding is probably that 63% agreed with what he had to say, vs. 29% who didn't.
The key finding for me is that it’s yet another poll that a PB person was asked to take part in.
If you are driving abroad then your GB plates have to be replaced by UK plates.
At first encounter, I imagined this was the EU playing silly buggers over Brexit but it turns out the government has told the UN we want to be called UK not GB. I had noticed and wondered why so many ministers kept saying UK instead of British recently, and apparently it is part of some grand scheme to do something or other.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "Changing the national identifier from GB to UK symbolises our unity as a nation and is part of a wider move towards using the UK signifier across government.
"We notified the UN of our intention to make these changes in July, and have been working with the sector to implement the change." https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58734265
Of course, we'll have to change back when NI buggers off.
And if Scotland goes too, we'll be left with the rather unappealling EW...........
ITV leading with Sarah Everard. Presumably SKS would actually approve of that (and I mean that sincerely).
The mother's statement is heart-breaking. Hard to read. A reminder - if we needed it - that more than one life is destroyed when a murder is committed.
I find it hard to believe that this man went from indecent exposure to calculated rapist and killer in a few days. If the police are not looking at unsolved rapes, sexual assaults and murders in the places where he lived and worked to see if he did this before, then they bloody well ought to be.
The people who knew about his flashing, who knew his nickname was "The Rapist" ought to be asking themselves why they did not say anything, why they did not raise the alarm, why they did not "blow the whistle". And if they did, those who ignored them or did not take it seriously need to be asking themselves some hard questions too.
The clues were there. They were ignored. And a young woman is dead because of that.
Yes it was heartbreaking, and as a parent I can only guess the appalling pain the Mother is going through, particularly in the knowledge that Ms. Everard would have soon become aware of her fate.
There does seem to be rather a lot of police officers who have ulterior motives for joining the force. On a day when Starmer's keynote speech was quite rightly sidelined by Couzens' pre-sentencing appearance, it might dawn on Starmer that something he should be looking at for a future Labour Government is vastly more rigerous recruitment procedures for police officers.
And here's one to put the cat amongst the pigeons. The banning of police officers from joining secret organisations whilst in service. No secret dinners on a Tuesday night with Kenny Noye and no secret handshakes with Wally Virgo.
If you give Scottish police officers the choice of their job or their membership of the masons, there may be an imminent shortage of Scottish police officers.
Quite possibly not just Scotland. It seems a conflict of interest to me, so in that case so be it.
Kenny Noye is my poster boy for why such an arrangement is a very bad idea.
News Flash - In Seattle, King Co Elections has confirmed that petition calling for recall of Socialist Alternative city councilmember Kshama Sawant have sufficient valid voter signatures to qualify for a special election.
Date will not be set until the petition is officially certified, but under state law a recall election must be called 45 to 90 days after certification. King Co Elections says they a tentatively planning for a December 7, 2021 special recall election.
Note that sponsors of the recall deliberately waited to submit signatures until AFTER the deadline for qualifying for the November 2 general election ballot.
Recall petition access Sawant, who currently represents City Council District 3 of "using city resources to promote a “Tax Amazon” ballot initiative and letting demonstrators into City Hall during protests last June when the building was closed to the public due to COVID-19. Sawant and her supporters have described the recall effort as a conservative attempt to combat her work at City Hall for workers and renters." (Seattle Times)
Kshama Sawant has been THE stormy petrel of Seattle politics for over a decade, first winning election to the council by defeating an incumbent in 2013.
BTW, her Socialist Alternative party is a successor to Militant Tendency. Always bugs me when Seattle media call her a Socialist when she is REALLY a Communist of the Trotskyite (or -ist if you prefer) persuasion.
Italian cafes are a feature in Scotland. This is the best. A couple of miles from the city centre, but we are happy to travel from Ayrshire to Coia’s, even though we are only three miles from the most famous Scottish Italian cafe. You may want to book, especially at weekends.
What they did is show highlights to a sample of 1330, and compared it with previous similar experiments with first-time leader speeches - he did better (5.9/10) than Corbyn 2015 (5.1), who in turn did better than Johnson 2019 (4.1).
Which shows the limitations, since Johnson actually won. But although most people won't have seen this speech, it does suggest that he comes across well when people listen to him - and there will be plenty more opportunities for that as we emerge from lockdown. The key finding is probably that 63% agreed with what he had to say, vs. 29% who didn't.
The key finding for me is that it’s yet another poll that a PB person was asked to take part in.
If you are driving abroad then your GB plates have to be replaced by UK plates.
At first encounter, I imagined this was the EU playing silly buggers over Brexit but it turns out the government has told the UN we want to be called UK not GB. I had noticed and wondered why so many ministers kept saying UK instead of British recently, and apparently it is part of some grand scheme to do something or other.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "Changing the national identifier from GB to UK symbolises our unity as a nation and is part of a wider move towards using the UK signifier across government.
"We notified the UN of our intention to make these changes in July, and have been working with the sector to implement the change." https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58734265
Of course, we'll have to change back when NI buggers off.
And if Scotland goes too, we'll be left with the rather unappealling EW...........
That’s why we are changing the brand. If they do then we have the UK & they can’t take it from us 😁😂
Italian cafes are a feature in Scotland. This is the best. A couple of miles from the city centre, but we are happy to travel from Ayrshire to Coia’s, even though we are only three miles from the most famous Scottish Italian cafe. You may want to book, especially at weekends.
Italian cafes are a feature in Scotland. This is the best. A couple of miles from the city centre, but we are happy to travel from Ayrshire to Coia’s, even though we are only three miles from the most famous Scottish Italian cafe. You may want to book, especially at weekends.
Gone off Coia’s partly due to the flock of customers’ large, tinted window 4x4s parked up on double yellows on a Thurs-Saturday. Much as I’d like to, not inclined to make sarky remarks to the large, tattooed owners. Tend to go to Celino’s on the Parade now if feeling that way inclined.
What they did is show highlights to a sample of 1330, and compared it with previous similar experiments with first-time leader speeches - he did better (5.9/10) than Corbyn 2015 (5.1), who in turn did better than Johnson 2019 (4.1).
Which shows the limitations, since Johnson actually won. But although most people won't have seen this speech, it does suggest that he comes across well when people listen to him - and there will be plenty more opportunities for that as we emerge from lockdown. The key finding is probably that 63% agreed with what he had to say, vs. 29% who didn't.
The key finding for me is that it’s yet another poll that a PB person was asked to take part in.
As the pollsters will all tell you I tick the boxes of several hard to reach demographics.
Opinium also downweight the politically engaged.
One of the things why Opinium get things right like GE2019 is that they downweight people who say they will vote for a party but disapprove of its leader.
What they did is show highlights to a sample of 1330, and compared it with previous similar experiments with first-time leader speeches - he did better (5.9/10) than Corbyn 2015 (5.1), who in turn did better than Johnson 2019 (4.1).
Which shows the limitations, since Johnson actually won. But although most people won't have seen this speech, it does suggest that he comes across well when people listen to him - and there will be plenty more opportunities for that as we emerge from lockdown. The key finding is probably that 63% agreed with what he had to say, vs. 29% who didn't.
The key finding for me is that it’s yet another poll that a PB person was asked to take part in.
You sayin' they're not randoms from the internet?
Though that doesn't stop polling being accurate. For example @isam always quotes Internet polls on leader qualities.
Italian cafes are a feature in Scotland. This is the best. A couple of miles from the city centre, but we are happy to travel from Ayrshire to Coia’s, even though we are only three miles from the most famous Scottish Italian cafe. You may want to book, especially at weekends.
What they did is show highlights to a sample of 1330, and compared it with previous similar experiments with first-time leader speeches - he did better (5.9/10) than Corbyn 2015 (5.1), who in turn did better than Johnson 2019 (4.1).
Which shows the limitations, since Johnson actually won. But although most people won't have seen this speech, it does suggest that he comes across well when people listen to him - and there will be plenty more opportunities for that as we emerge from lockdown. The key finding is probably that 63% agreed with what he had to say, vs. 29% who didn't.
The key finding for me is that it’s yet another poll that a PB person was asked to take part in.
You sayin' they're not randoms from the internet?
Though that doesn't stop polling being accurate. For example @isam always quotes Internet polls on leader qualities.
What they did is show highlights to a sample of 1330, and compared it with previous similar experiments with first-time leader speeches - he did better (5.9/10) than Corbyn 2015 (5.1), who in turn did better than Johnson 2019 (4.1).
Which shows the limitations, since Johnson actually won. But although most people won't have seen this speech, it does suggest that he comes across well when people listen to him - and there will be plenty more opportunities for that as we emerge from lockdown. The key finding is probably that 63% agreed with what he had to say, vs. 29% who didn't.
Worth remembering that, for all his real talents, BoJo is a surprisingly poor live public speaker. He's not done the mythical 10 000 hours of slogging away trying to convince a hostile (and sober) audience.
Overall, it works for him, but it's noticeable.
Yes, indeed
When I was compiling my "conference speeches I remember" list (see below for more excitement!) it struck me that I can't remember a single line of a Boris conference speech, not even a joke, I don't think - and he tells pretty good jokes
What I do remember is the PR and the stunts and the TV shows
The TV Love Actually rip off advert - superb, one of the best electoral ads I've ever seen
The interview where he speaks Ancient Greek from the Iliad for five minutes
HIGNFYou
Driving through a wall
Donnez moi un break
He's often good at the "impromptu" stuff and he can be absolutely brilliant at staged TV, but in general he's a poor speaker, especially at conferences
What they did is show highlights to a sample of 1330, and compared it with previous similar experiments with first-time leader speeches - he did better (5.9/10) than Corbyn 2015 (5.1), who in turn did better than Johnson 2019 (4.1).
Which shows the limitations, since Johnson actually won. But although most people won't have seen this speech, it does suggest that he comes across well when people listen to him - and there will be plenty more opportunities for that as we emerge from lockdown. The key finding is probably that 63% agreed with what he had to say, vs. 29% who didn't.
The key finding for me is that it’s yet another poll that a PB person was asked to take part in.
Yes, probably the online polling panels are contaminated by political partisans, who might also have lied about their demographics in order to be accepted.
He's often good at the "impromptu" stuff and he can be absolutely brilliant at staged TV, but in general he's a poor speaker, especially at conferences
He's often good at the "impromptu" stuff and he can be absolutely brilliant at staged TV, but in general he's a poor speaker, especially at conferences
I remember him waving a brick.
I don't remember why
Likewise
With Boris it's a series of vivid images that stick in the mind, like a 30 year long cartoon
What they did is show highlights to a sample of 1330, and compared it with previous similar experiments with first-time leader speeches - he did better (5.9/10) than Corbyn 2015 (5.1), who in turn did better than Johnson 2019 (4.1).
Which shows the limitations, since Johnson actually won. But although most people won't have seen this speech, it does suggest that he comes across well when people listen to him - and there will be plenty more opportunities for that as we emerge from lockdown. The key finding is probably that 63% agreed with what he had to say, vs. 29% who didn't.
The key finding for me is that it’s yet another poll that a PB person was asked to take part in.
Yes, probably the online polling panels are contaminated by political partisans, who might also have lied about their demographics in order to be accepted.
Any decent restaurant recommendations for central Glasgow?
Last time I was there I nearly incited a riot after describing the local food as tasting like deep fried shavings from a ped egg.
It looks like the Italian place on West George Street is closed. That's a shame.
I did Roganos a while back, but that is shut for the rest of the year.
There is this chain called Greggs which has bistro tables outside. The vegan sausage rolls are particularly admired by the food writers.
Are you sure?
I think that was mainly London media wazzocks looking for a line they thought humorous about not-London.
No, the vegan s.r. were welcomed.
Is it possibly the deep fried Mars bars you have in mind? (not Greggs) - but they are Scots cuisine for the tourists [edited], not the locals.
I know, but I still think it was I think that was mainly London media wazzocks looking for a line they thought humorous about not-London. Greggs being amusing in the same way the Midlands would find vagina-steaming treatments in Chelsea amusing.
I would not mention deep-fried Mars Bars. Though I did slightly enjoy the way OTT version on the Grand Tour.
Oh, the v.s.rs sold well - much better than the Graun so it wasn't that.
What they did is show highlights to a sample of 1330, and compared it with previous similar experiments with first-time leader speeches - he did better (5.9/10) than Corbyn 2015 (5.1), who in turn did better than Johnson 2019 (4.1).
Which shows the limitations, since Johnson actually won. But although most people won't have seen this speech, it does suggest that he comes across well when people listen to him - and there will be plenty more opportunities for that as we emerge from lockdown. The key finding is probably that 63% agreed with what he had to say, vs. 29% who didn't.
Worth remembering that, for all his real talents, BoJo is a surprisingly poor live public speaker. He's not done the mythical 10 000 hours of slogging away trying to convince a hostile (and sober) audience.
Overall, it works for him, but it's noticeable.
Yes, indeed
When I was compiling my "conference speeches I remember" list (see below for more excitement!) it struck me that I can't remember a single line of a Boris conference speech, not even a joke, I don't think - and he tells pretty good jokes
What I do remember is the PR and the stunts and the TV shows
The TV Love Actually rip off advert - superb, one of the best electoral ads I've ever seen
The interview where he speaks Ancient Greek from the Iliad for five minutes
HIGNFYou
Driving through a wall
Donnez moi un break
He's often good at the "impromptu" stuff and he can be absolutely brilliant at staged TV, but in general he's a poor speaker, especially at conferences
The bit I remember from last year (I think?) was when he made fun of people who used to say wind farms were so bad they "couldn't pull the skin of a rice pudding".
And of course who said that . . . it could only be one person he was quoting! And then of course every FBPE 🤡 felt they had to share Boris's remarks as a result.
What they did is show highlights to a sample of 1330, and compared it with previous similar experiments with first-time leader speeches - he did better (5.9/10) than Corbyn 2015 (5.1), who in turn did better than Johnson 2019 (4.1).
Which shows the limitations, since Johnson actually won. But although most people won't have seen this speech, it does suggest that he comes across well when people listen to him - and there will be plenty more opportunities for that as we emerge from lockdown. The key finding is probably that 63% agreed with what he had to say, vs. 29% who didn't.
Worth remembering that, for all his real talents, BoJo is a surprisingly poor live public speaker. He's not done the mythical 10 000 hours of slogging away trying to convince a hostile (and sober) audience.
Overall, it works for him, but it's noticeable.
Yes, indeed
When I was compiling my "conference speeches I remember" list (see below for more excitement!) it struck me that I can't remember a single line of a Boris conference speech, not even a joke, I don't think - and he tells pretty good jokes
What I do remember is the PR and the stunts and the TV shows
The TV Love Actually rip off advert - superb, one of the best electoral ads I've ever seen
The interview where he speaks Ancient Greek from the Iliad for five minutes
HIGNFYou
Driving through a wall
Donnez moi un break
He's often good at the "impromptu" stuff and he can be absolutely brilliant at staged TV, but in general he's a poor speaker, especially at conferences
I remember Boris tripping up as he walked to the mike stand when he won the London mayoralty and saying, 'Ah... Ken's final booby trap!' (or something alike that). I thought it was quite a good ad-lib at the time, but it was probably all completely planned.
What they did is show highlights to a sample of 1330, and compared it with previous similar experiments with first-time leader speeches - he did better (5.9/10) than Corbyn 2015 (5.1), who in turn did better than Johnson 2019 (4.1).
Which shows the limitations, since Johnson actually won. But although most people won't have seen this speech, it does suggest that he comes across well when people listen to him - and there will be plenty more opportunities for that as we emerge from lockdown. The key finding is probably that 63% agreed with what he had to say, vs. 29% who didn't.
The key finding for me is that it’s yet another poll that a PB person was asked to take part in.
Yes, probably the online polling panels are contaminated by political partisans, who might also have lied about their demographics in order to be accepted.
So which polls do you follow?
I am suspicious of all polls. Online panels are gamed by parties and partisans. Phone polls are badly randomised (see rants passim). Aggressive weighting is used to (attempt to) mask sampling errors. I've some regard for unweighted results, and am intrigued by occasional mass-sampling polls.
"Despite reassurances things were improving"? Things are improving. Most stations are already back to normal which is precisely why there was never any reason to panic buy.
What they did is show highlights to a sample of 1330, and compared it with previous similar experiments with first-time leader speeches - he did better (5.9/10) than Corbyn 2015 (5.1), who in turn did better than Johnson 2019 (4.1).
Which shows the limitations, since Johnson actually won. But although most people won't have seen this speech, it does suggest that he comes across well when people listen to him - and there will be plenty more opportunities for that as we emerge from lockdown. The key finding is probably that 63% agreed with what he had to say, vs. 29% who didn't.
The key finding for me is that it’s yet another poll that a PB person was asked to take part in.
Yes, probably the online polling panels are contaminated by political partisans, who might also have lied about their demographics in order to be accepted.
So which polls do you follow?
I am suspicious of all polls. Online panels are gamed by parties and partisans. Phone polls are badly randomised (see rants passim). Aggressive weighting is used to (attempt to) mask sampling errors. I've some regard for unweighted results, and am intrigued by occasional mass-sampling polls.
What they did is show highlights to a sample of 1330, and compared it with previous similar experiments with first-time leader speeches - he did better (5.9/10) than Corbyn 2015 (5.1), who in turn did better than Johnson 2019 (4.1).
Which shows the limitations, since Johnson actually won. But although most people won't have seen this speech, it does suggest that he comes across well when people listen to him - and there will be plenty more opportunities for that as we emerge from lockdown. The key finding is probably that 63% agreed with what he had to say, vs. 29% who didn't.
Worth remembering that, for all his real talents, BoJo is a surprisingly poor live public speaker. He's not done the mythical 10 000 hours of slogging away trying to convince a hostile (and sober) audience.
Overall, it works for him, but it's noticeable.
Yes, indeed
When I was compiling my "conference speeches I remember" list (see below for more excitement!) it struck me that I can't remember a single line of a Boris conference speech, not even a joke, I don't think - and he tells pretty good jokes
What I do remember is the PR and the stunts and the TV shows
The TV Love Actually rip off advert - superb, one of the best electoral ads I've ever seen
The interview where he speaks Ancient Greek from the Iliad for five minutes
HIGNFYou
Driving through a wall
Donnez moi un break
He's often good at the "impromptu" stuff and he can be absolutely brilliant at staged TV, but in general he's a poor speaker, especially at conferences
I remembering Boris tripping up as he walked to the mike stand when he won the London mayoralty and saying, 'Ah... Ken's final booby trap!' (or something alike that). I thought it was quite a good ad-lib at the time, but it was probably all completely planned.
Yes, again, it is little images and vignettes
Boris throwing the basketball and somehow scoring from miles away
Boris stuck on the zipline with the flags
Boris doing that hand up Feel the Force thing and the cameraman falling over
Boris in absurd shorts and shirt combo on holiday
Cartoon images. But in an instagram age, this visual memorability may be a key asset
"Despite reassurances things were improving"? Things are improving. Most stations are already back to normal which is precisely why there was never any reason to panic buy.
I heard the independents had around a quarter they had no fuel, when yesterday it was more than a third. So yes, improving.
I have to say I find the emphasis that the Metropolitan Police are putting on Couzens being an “ex” police officer pretty sickening. He was a police officer when he murdered Sarah Everard. More than that, he used that as a key part of his crime.
If you are driving abroad then your GB plates have to be replaced by UK plates.
At first encounter, I imagined this was the EU playing silly buggers over Brexit but it turns out the government has told the UN we want to be called UK not GB. I had noticed and wondered why so many ministers kept saying UK instead of British recently, and apparently it is part of some grand scheme to do something or other.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "Changing the national identifier from GB to UK symbolises our unity as a nation and is part of a wider move towards using the UK signifier across government.
"We notified the UN of our intention to make these changes in July, and have been working with the sector to implement the change." https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58734265
I'm glad this government is so against gesture politics.
What they did is show highlights to a sample of 1330, and compared it with previous similar experiments with first-time leader speeches - he did better (5.9/10) than Corbyn 2015 (5.1), who in turn did better than Johnson 2019 (4.1).
Which shows the limitations, since Johnson actually won. But although most people won't have seen this speech, it does suggest that he comes across well when people listen to him - and there will be plenty more opportunities for that as we emerge from lockdown. The key finding is probably that 63% agreed with what he had to say, vs. 29% who didn't.
Worth remembering that, for all his real talents, BoJo is a surprisingly poor live public speaker. He's not done the mythical 10 000 hours of slogging away trying to convince a hostile (and sober) audience.
Overall, it works for him, but it's noticeable.
Yes, indeed
When I was compiling my "conference speeches I remember" list (see below for more excitement!) it struck me that I can't remember a single line of a Boris conference speech, not even a joke, I don't think - and he tells pretty good jokes
What I do remember is the PR and the stunts and the TV shows
The TV Love Actually rip off advert - superb, one of the best electoral ads I've ever seen
The interview where he speaks Ancient Greek from the Iliad for five minutes
HIGNFYou
Driving through a wall
Donnez moi un break
He's often good at the "impromptu" stuff and he can be absolutely brilliant at staged TV, but in general he's a poor speaker, especially at conferences
I remembering Boris tripping up as he walked to the mike stand when he won the London mayoralty and saying, 'Ah... Ken's final booby trap!' (or something alike that). I thought it was quite a good ad-lib at the time, but it was probably all completely planned.
Yes, again, it is little images and vignettes
Boris throwing the basketball and somehow scoring from miles away
Boris stuck on the zipline with the flags
Boris doing that hand up Feel the Force thing and the cameraman falling over
Boris in absurd shorts and shirt combo on holiday
Cartoon images. But in an instagram age, this visual memorability may be a key asset
ITV leading with Sarah Everard. Presumably SKS would actually approve of that (and I mean that sincerely).
The mother's statement is heart-breaking. Hard to read. A reminder - if we needed it - that more than one life is destroyed when a murder is committed.
I find it hard to believe that this man went from indecent exposure to calculated rapist and killer in a few days. If the police are not looking at unsolved rapes, sexual assaults and murders in the places where he lived and worked to see if he did this before, then they bloody well ought to be.
The people who knew about his flashing, who knew his nickname was "The Rapist" ought to be asking themselves why they did not say anything, why they did not raise the alarm, why they did not "blow the whistle". And if they did, those who ignored them or did not take it seriously need to be asking themselves some hard questions too.
The clues were there. They were ignored. And a young woman is dead because of that.
Yes it was heartbreaking, and as a parent I can only guess the appalling pain the Mother is going through, particularly in the knowledge that Ms. Everard would have soon become aware of her fate.
There does seem to be rather a lot of police officers who have ulterior motives for joining the force. On a day when Starmer's keynote speech was quite rightly sidelined by Couzens' pre-sentencing appearance, it might dawn on Starmer that something he should be looking at for a future Labour Government is vastly more rigerous recruitment procedures for police officers.
And here's one to put the cat amongst the pigeons. The banning of police officers from joining secret organisations whilst in service. No secret dinners on a Tuesday night with Kenny Noye and no secret handshakes with Wally Virgo.
Recruitment is actually only a small part of it. Anyone can game a recruitment process.
The organisational culture in day-to-day operation is far more important.
Are you saying that the vaccinated can't infect the unvaccinated who have tested negative?
No, but like masks it is a significant partial mitigation. Very little is 100%.
No, for the vaccinated its not any mitigation whatsoever that they're not going to infect others - which is what the mask is supposedly about.
You're mitigating against the risk of the unvaccinated infecting others (since they've tested negative) but you've not remotely adjusted the risk of the vaccinated infecting others.
So the vaccinated wearing masks normally is pure theatre isn't it?
Not true.
We know that the risk of a double vaxxed individual catching covid is markedly reduced, and when they do the condition is both shorter in duration and less severe. Together this is probably a reduction of infectivity of perhaps 80%, a figure comparable or better than masking.
You're missing my point.
Yes we know the risk of a double-vaxxed individual is markedly reduced, but the double-vaxxed individuals can be infected anyway and can infect the unvaxxed which is supposedly why according to the mask theatre individuals even vaxxed people need to wear a mask.
So if the mask is to help others why does the people the vaxxed are mingling with the negative reduce the risk of the vaxxed infecting the negative?
Otherwise why shouldn't the vaxxed never wear masks in the first place?
It really is simple.
Double vaxxed people catch it less often, thereby reducing the risk to others. They get it for shorter periods, so are less risk to others, and are have milder symptoms, so less likely to transmit (less sneezing, coughing etc).
If you cannot understand that, then I cannot explain it to you further.
The question isn't why double-vaxxed people are at less risk . . . I 100% agree that the vaccinated are low risk which is why as a double-vaxxed individual I don't wear a mask. However these people while being double-vaxxed do normally every Wednesday.
So the question is why double-vaxxed people are so high risk to others they supposedly need to wear masks while in the Commons?
But they're so low risk to others they're not required to wear masks while around the unvaccinated who aren't infected?
🤦♂️
Because the effects are compounded. Masks reduce the risk of transmission even further.
Yes but then why are masks needed while in Parliament - but not needed around uninfected negative tested people they could infect?
Any situation needs risk assessment on its merits. Different situations have different risk and different mitigations.
Exactly. Let’s tell it as it is.
There’s far more risk the camera pans and loiters on you front row of leaders conference than in HoC, so got to look your best - not look like a bogroll banditeer.
What they did is show highlights to a sample of 1330, and compared it with previous similar experiments with first-time leader speeches - he did better (5.9/10) than Corbyn 2015 (5.1), who in turn did better than Johnson 2019 (4.1).
Which shows the limitations, since Johnson actually won. But although most people won't have seen this speech, it does suggest that he comes across well when people listen to him - and there will be plenty more opportunities for that as we emerge from lockdown. The key finding is probably that 63% agreed with what he had to say, vs. 29% who didn't.
The key finding for me is that it’s yet another poll that a PB person was asked to take part in.
Yes, probably the online polling panels are contaminated by political partisans, who might also have lied about their demographics in order to be accepted.
So which polls do you follow?
I am suspicious of all polls. Online panels are gamed by parties and partisans. Phone polls are badly randomised (see rants passim). Aggressive weighting is used to (attempt to) mask sampling errors. I've some regard for unweighted results, and am intrigued by occasional mass-sampling polls.
Polling companies know respondents previous responses, so know shifts in opinion.
I too am dubious about weighting as a compensator for unrandomised samples, but polls are too often correct to invalidate the methodology.
Are you saying that the vaccinated can't infect the unvaccinated who have tested negative?
No, but like masks it is a significant partial mitigation. Very little is 100%.
No, for the vaccinated its not any mitigation whatsoever that they're not going to infect others - which is what the mask is supposedly about.
You're mitigating against the risk of the unvaccinated infecting others (since they've tested negative) but you've not remotely adjusted the risk of the vaccinated infecting others.
So the vaccinated wearing masks normally is pure theatre isn't it?
Not true.
We know that the risk of a double vaxxed individual catching covid is markedly reduced, and when they do the condition is both shorter in duration and less severe. Together this is probably a reduction of infectivity of perhaps 80%, a figure comparable or better than masking.
You're missing my point.
Yes we know the risk of a double-vaxxed individual is markedly reduced, but the double-vaxxed individuals can be infected anyway and can infect the unvaxxed which is supposedly why according to the mask theatre individuals even vaxxed people need to wear a mask.
So if the mask is to help others why does the people the vaxxed are mingling with the negative reduce the risk of the vaxxed infecting the negative?
Otherwise why shouldn't the vaxxed never wear masks in the first place?
It really is simple.
Double vaxxed people catch it less often, thereby reducing the risk to others. They get it for shorter periods, so are less risk to others, and are have milder symptoms, so less likely to transmit (less sneezing, coughing etc).
If you cannot understand that, then I cannot explain it to you further.
The question isn't why double-vaxxed people are at less risk . . . I 100% agree that the vaccinated are low risk which is why as a double-vaxxed individual I don't wear a mask. However these people while being double-vaxxed do normally every Wednesday.
So the question is why double-vaxxed people are so high risk to others they supposedly need to wear masks while in the Commons?
But they're so low risk to others they're not required to wear masks while around the unvaccinated who aren't infected?
🤦♂️
Because the effects are compounded. Masks reduce the risk of transmission even further.
Yes but then why are masks needed while in Parliament - but not needed around uninfected negative tested people they could infect?
Any situation needs risk assessment on its merits. Different situations have different risk and different mitigations.
Exactly. Let’s tell it as it is.
There’s far more risk the camera pans and loiters on you front row of leaders conference than in HoC, so got to look your best - not look like a bogroll banditeer.
Tell me I’m calling it wrong.
PS I blame Trinny and Susannah for all this bare leg, what exactly was wrong with hose and stockings? And, risk of showing my age, frilly gussets.
I have to say I find the emphasis that the Metropolitan Police are putting on Couzens being an “ex” police officer pretty sickening. He was a police officer when he murdered Sarah Everard. More than that, he used that as a key part of his crime.
While people are mildly praising Starmer today, remember that, as Shadow Brexit Minister, he wanted to cancel British democracy and call a 2nd referendum , before we'd even enacted the first
That shows astonishing lack of judgement, and political morals. He was happy, indeed eager to ignore the votes of 17.4m people - the largest vote in British history - just because he didn't like what they said. Because he knew better
"We need to ask the public whether they are prepared to leave with the best deal that can be negotiated or whether they wouldn’t rather stay in the EU. There is no other way to break the Brexit cycle and for the country to move on."
Starmer is an absolute fucking fraud. Posing as the decent honest common sense guy. He wanted to destroy democracy
Fuck him. I hope the Tories use this "minor detail" properly and ruthlessly, and destroy him. It must not ever be forgotten: what Remoaners like Starmer proposed to do. It is no better than what Trumpites wanted to do at the Capitol
"Despite reassurances things were improving"? Things are improving. Most stations are already back to normal which is precisely why there was never any reason to panic buy.
Oh dear! The media are going to have to find something else to scare the gullible with.
It's interesting about policing, unfortunately it really is a few bad apples, to use that awful phrase. The MET are universally disliked by pretty much every other force, their institutional arrogance (a feature of larger metropolitan forces seemingly) causes many of these problems. Strip them of many national focussed roles and either move them to the NCA or regional hubs, possibly. How do we change, is a particularly challenging issue, I'd probably give the IOPC greater powers, funding and increase their scrutiny around corruption, I'd wager it would only take 1 or 2 cases to massively move things towards a better place, but keep the pressure on. Politicians need to stop being either for or against and work for positive change, listen to the rank and file (not the Federation, a union which fights for its members, as it should, but by definition a very conservative organisation) they have good ideas and recognise where they need to change and how best to achieve it. Force forces to adopt best practice, if they don't hold them to account. Promote less conservative leaders. Fund the criminal justice system at all levels properly. That's how I'd start anyway.
Any decent restaurant recommendations for central Glasgow?
Last time I was there I nearly incited a riot after describing the local food as tasting like deep fried shavings from a ped egg.
You could take Sarah Vine's recommendation of the Ubiquitous Fish? More seriously the Ubiquitous Chip has been providing decent scran in the west end since the 70s and is only a 10 minute cab ride from the centre (call it the U.B. Chip if you want to sound local). The same family also have Stravaigin which is a bit more youth orientated and adventurous, and a bit closer to the centre.
Edit: checked Stravaigin online and it seems they occasionally have grey squirrel on the menu..
Comments
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/fraudster-who-splashed-437-000-she-stole-ordered-to-pay-back-120-000/ar-AAOXOYV?ocid=msedgntp
Same reason I'll watch Manchester United v Manchester City or Tottenham v Arsenal despite not being a fan of either, because I enjoy football.
https://www.brianmaule.com/
Starmer's speech looks like it will generate some positive soundbites for the minority of the electorate who watch the news. It will buy him some more time by hushing his party rivals and party enemies. It will nudge the pinball away from some paths that would be bad for him. It's done what it had to do, maybe all one speech could do. It's a positive step on a long road.
The organisational culture in day-to-day operation is far more important.
The charity has paid for a stall at the event, igniting a row within the party.
https://www.itv.com/news/2021-09-29/row-over-lgb-alliance-stand-at-conservative-party-conference
https://coiascafe.co.uk/
https://www.nardinis.co.uk/
Which shows the limitations, since Johnson actually won. But although most people won't have seen this speech, it does suggest that he comes across well when people listen to him - and there will be plenty more opportunities for that as we emerge from lockdown. The key finding is probably that 63% agreed with what he had to say, vs. 29% who didn't.
Seems an utterly pointless change, but its not exactly going to be the end of the world to slap a sticker on the back of the car.
Overall, it works for him, but it's noticeable.
As for Aus, Canada, NZ etc, prior to the Statute of Westminster in 1931 they were technically still “colonies” of the UK (the Colonial Laws Validity Act still applied). The Statute specifically stated that the “dominions” as then called, “Queen’s realms” today, were under separate Crowns from that of the UK. So in historic terms, CANZUK+ are all in personal unions under a common monarch, which is constitutionally, if not practically, is the same as the situation betwixt England and Scotland between 1603 and 1707.
NB, although the entity created by the acts of Union in 1707 was often referred to as “the United Kingdom”, 18th century usage of capitalization was very much a personal choice of the writer, and the concept of an “official name” for a country wasn’t really a thing as those usually get defined in written constitutions which didn’t really get started until the Americans wrote one (though there were earlier ones, such as for the short-lived Corsican state).
The term “United Kingdom” for the country that today is made up of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was not officially adopted until the Act of Union of 1801.
That said, Northern Ireland may not be itself a kingdom, but the Queen’s right over it devolves from that of the former Kingdom of Ireland, and that’s why the Irish harp still appears in the royal arms. If that basis had changed, the royal arms would show the arms of Northern Ireland, themselves based on those of the province of Ulster. Mind you, the royal arms and style claimed France until 1802 as well!
Kenny Noye is my poster boy for why such an arrangement is a very bad idea.
Date will not be set until the petition is officially certified, but under state law a recall election must be called 45 to 90 days after certification. King Co Elections says they a tentatively planning for a December 7, 2021 special recall election.
Note that sponsors of the recall deliberately waited to submit signatures until AFTER the deadline for qualifying for the November 2 general election ballot.
Recall petition access Sawant, who currently represents City Council District 3 of "using city resources to promote a “Tax Amazon” ballot initiative and letting demonstrators into City Hall during protests last June when the building was closed to the public due to COVID-19. Sawant and her supporters have described the recall effort as a conservative attempt to combat her work at City Hall for workers and renters." (Seattle Times)
Kshama Sawant has been THE stormy petrel of Seattle politics for over a decade, first winning election to the council by defeating an incumbent in 2013.
BTW, her Socialist Alternative party is a successor to Militant Tendency. Always bugs me when Seattle media call her a Socialist when she is REALLY a Communist of the Trotskyite (or -ist if you prefer) persuasion.
Debbie Harry moves well for a pensioner.
Opinium also downweight the politically engaged.
One of the things why Opinium get things right like GE2019 is that they downweight people who say they will vote for a party but disapprove of its leader.
Shirley Manson was my first love.
When I was compiling my "conference speeches I remember" list (see below for more excitement!) it struck me that I can't remember a single line of a Boris conference speech, not even a joke, I don't think - and he tells pretty good jokes
What I do remember is the PR and the stunts and the TV shows
The TV Love Actually rip off advert - superb, one of the best electoral ads I've ever seen
The interview where he speaks Ancient Greek from the Iliad for five minutes
HIGNFYou
Driving through a wall
Donnez moi un break
He's often good at the "impromptu" stuff and he can be absolutely brilliant at staged TV, but in general he's a poor speaker, especially at conferences
I don't remember why
With Boris it's a series of vivid images that stick in the mind, like a 30 year long cartoon
Very interesting.
And of course who said that . . . it could only be one person he was quoting! And then of course every FBPE 🤡 felt they had to share Boris's remarks as a result.
https://reut.rs/3oxyXiH https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1443313381352644608/video/1
A floating voter friend of mine - soft Remain, but hates Remoaners - has texted me
"Watched a bit of Keir. I like him. He's honest. I'm bored of Boris. I will vote for Keir next time"
He's in a quasi-marginal and voted Tory in 2019.....
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/sep/29/real-madrid-can-spend-eight-times-as-much-as-barcelona
Boris throwing the basketball and somehow scoring from miles away
Boris stuck on the zipline with the flags
Boris doing that hand up Feel the Force thing and the cameraman falling over
Boris in absurd shorts and shirt combo on holiday
Cartoon images. But in an instagram age, this visual memorability may be a key asset
I have to say I find the emphasis that the Metropolitan Police are putting on Couzens being an “ex” police officer pretty sickening. He was a police officer when he murdered Sarah Everard. More than that, he used that as a key part of his crime.
https://twitter.com/IsabelHardman/status/1443292190277570569
He wrote the speech!
Hats off to United Airlines who are in the process of firing nearly 600 vaccine dodgers.
The penultimate paragraph is particularly relevant.
There’s far more risk the camera pans and loiters on you front row of leaders conference than in HoC, so got to look your best - not look like a bogroll banditeer.
Tell me I’m calling it wrong.
I too am dubious about weighting as a compensator for unrandomised samples, but polls are too often correct to invalidate the methodology.
Alive - 44%
Fragrant - 38%
Strange haircut - 56%
Pregnant - 51%
And Cressida Dick gets a contract extension?
That shows astonishing lack of judgement, and political morals. He was happy, indeed eager to ignore the votes of 17.4m people - the largest vote in British history - just because he didn't like what they said. Because he knew better
"We need to ask the public whether they are prepared to leave with the best deal that can be negotiated or whether they wouldn’t rather stay in the EU. There is no other way to break the Brexit cycle and for the country to move on."
https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/comment/keir-starmer-labour-is-committed-to-a-second-referendum-a4243906.html
Starmer is an absolute fucking fraud. Posing as the decent honest common sense guy. He wanted to destroy democracy
Fuck him. I hope the Tories use this "minor detail" properly and ruthlessly, and destroy him. It must not ever be forgotten: what Remoaners like Starmer proposed to do. It is no better than what Trumpites wanted to do at the Capitol
Next Dr Who - 73%
The MET are universally disliked by pretty much every other force, their institutional arrogance (a feature of larger metropolitan forces seemingly) causes many of these problems. Strip them of many national focussed roles and either move them to the NCA or regional hubs, possibly.
How do we change, is a particularly challenging issue, I'd probably give the IOPC greater powers, funding and increase their scrutiny around corruption, I'd wager it would only take 1 or 2 cases to massively move things towards a better place, but keep the pressure on.
Politicians need to stop being either for or against and work for positive change, listen to the rank and file (not the Federation, a union which fights for its members, as it should, but by definition a very conservative organisation) they have good ideas and recognise where they need to change and how best to achieve it.
Force forces to adopt best practice, if they don't hold them to account.
Promote less conservative leaders.
Fund the criminal justice system at all levels properly.
That's how I'd start anyway.
Stravaigan is superb