Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.

The Scottish leader ratings suggest that LAB might beat the Tories for second place – politicalbetti

1234579

Comments

  • MattWMattW Posts: 26,670

    Hope they'll all take their Brain Force before what is sure to be a scintillating discussion.
    (btw Fuck Belstaff and all who sale in her)

    https://twitter.com/NowIsTheTime21/status/1380104471779414018?s=20

    Who's this chap?

    Has he escaped from The Young Ones?
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,823
    Leon said:

    "all things being rational" is doing a lot of work there, and is probably not up to the onerous tasks assigned
    I think the point is that when it comes to vaccines the public are pretty rational. There might be a few excitable anti-vaxxers that like to spout bullshit but ultimately that's a small number and the vast majority aren't really going to be swayed too much. Additionally, almost all under 30s will want to go overseas at some point and getting vaccinated is literally going to be the only way to do that.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 44,812
    Nigelb said:

    Polling shows the field wide open, but Yang in the lead.
    And FWIW he's the short odds favourite on Betfair.
    Do you have a view on the very short Ron D price for the GOP nomination? Seems to be the flavour right now. Wondering whether to add him to my Trump centred lay book.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 44,812
    isam said:

    The self defined sensible Remainers could have ensured this problem didn't exist by voting for Mrs May's deal - they had been elected in 2017 on a pledge to respect the referendum result, why did they take a punt on getting it overturned?
    Hubris, a fractured agenda, poor political judgement.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 31,327
    kinabalu said:

    Hubris, a fractured agenda, poor political judgement.
    Hindsight. (What came next was far worse).
  • isamisam Posts: 41,342
    kinabalu said:

    Hubris, a fractured agenda, poor political judgement.
    And now the ringleader is LotO!
  • LeonLeon Posts: 59,824
    MaxPB said:

    I think the point is that when it comes to vaccines the public are pretty rational. There might be a few excitable anti-vaxxers that like to spout bullshit but ultimately that's a small number and the vast majority aren't really going to be swayed too much. Additionally, almost all under 30s will want to go overseas at some point and getting vaccinated is literally going to be the only way to do that.
    Yes, I am closely watching my nubile antivaxxer friends, to see what happens when their resolute theology collides with their oft-expressed desire to "get the fuck out of Britain for a bit of sun"

  • ParistondaParistonda Posts: 1,844
    Leon said:



    Yes, over-educated. Like hot house flowers

    Another problem is that they are all educated in the same high pressure and technocratical way, meaning they all think the same way. So they will all approach the same problem with the same solution. it is better to have a variety of opinion

    Absolutely. But ENA is just a symbol of that, and it's not unusual for the elite of a country to be dominated by a small school selection (UK and Eton for example). The real problem in France is how it afflicts the whole of French work culture private and public. Everything is based on your diplomas, no value placed on experience, transferable skills, or an outside perspective. Which makes it extremely difficult for a French person to change career even slightly - they have to start at the bottom again. The result is that people are railroaded into careers from a young age all coming at them from the same molded background and approaching problems the same way. Couple that with the reliance on 'who you know' to advance upwards being much worse than in the UK, and it is no surprise the French are the most miserable in Europe. It is better to be a foreigner and be completely outside the system rather than try and work your way up it. It's why French people like the freedom offered by the UK work culture.
  • CookieCookie Posts: 14,834
    kinabalu said:

    Do you have a view on the very short Ron D price for the GOP nomination? Seems to be the flavour right now. Wondering whether to add him to my Trump centred lay book.
    Yes, you're right.
    The second is often overlooked. Remainers weren't, and aren't, a single coherent block any more than Leavers were. It's no more rational to expect them to act as one consistent voice than it is to expect Leavers to.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 34,295
    AlistairM said:

    https://twitter.com/HugoGye/status/1380149681322397699

    This gives a good indication as to why case numbers are now in free fall. Combined with those who have already had Covid there are many people who have immunity. As soon as they get the doses to get through the 30 to 49s then the risk ought to be tiny and it will be very hard for the virus to spread.

    The 28% figure for 16 to 49 year olds is much higher than I was expecting. Very encouraging.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 31,327
    isam said:

    And now the ringleader is LotO!
    I beat you to that one this morning. Do PB have a plagiarism policy?
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 23,795
    Better vax numbers today, but nothing particularly amazing, given the huge Second Dose Debt. We have quite a bit of catching up to do after a dismal Easter weekend.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,594
    Looks like great news, and hopefully a sign all supply issues are beyond much of the continent now (which we can hope will mean an end to the petty displacement activity).
    https://twitter.com/GermanEmbassy/status/1380113808883134466
  • Cue HYUFD to tell us that the Scottish Tories have got it wrong when it comes to Scotland.
  • FloaterFloater Posts: 14,207
    kinabalu said:

    Hubris, a fractured agenda, poor political judgement.
    And Labour chose one of those as their leader .... oh well, never mind.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 54,233
    Andy_JS said:

    The 28% figure for 16 to 49 year olds is much higher than I was expecting. Very encouraging.
    Using the NIMIS population growth numbers - which are based on ONS 2019 and then projected forward

    Under 50 25%
    50-54 81%
    55-59 85%
    60-64 88%
    65-69 91%
    70-74 93%
    75-79 94%
    80+ 94%

    The change on the previous weeks data

    Under 50 1.50%
    50-54 3.26%
    55-59 2.22%
    60-64 0.74%
    65-69 0.28%
    70-74 0.11%
    75-79 0.10%
    80+ 0.04%

  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 44,812
    Fishing said:

    I worked there for a year. I wanted to see my tax money at work. It feels Scottish rather than English or Irish.
    YOUR tax money? That sounds a bit off. It's all one big soup. All ladle. All sup.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 44,812
    Floater said:

    And Labour chose one of those as their leader .... oh well, never mind.
    Don't quite get you there.
  • isamisam Posts: 41,342
    edited April 2021

    I beat you to that one this morning. Do PB have a plagiarism policy?
    Sorry.

    I don’t know, but when everyone is calling Net Ratings “Red Herrings” I’ll be sure to find out!
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 43,344
    isam said:

    And now the ringleader is LotO!
    Nicola?
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,594
    edited April 2021
    The fool, don't they know that one in a million chances happen nine times out of ten!?
    https://twitter.com/NathaliaVasquez/status/1380114676537778176
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 54,233

    I think it's safe to say Phase I is complete.
    No - there's still a fair bit to do in the 50-60s groups. I don't think that 90%+ is unattainable there.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,095

    Cue HYUFD to tell us that the Scottish Tories have got it wrong when it comes to Scotland.
    No that is correct, if the Nationalists win a majority they will hold an illegal referendum.

    Unionists will boycott it and Boris will ignore the result of course and then Salmond and Sturgeon will tear each other apart over whether to declare UDI or not.

    A Unionist majority and Scottish Conservative gains however would mean Sturgeon could not even hold an illegal referendum
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,594
    Floater said:
    The lightest bit of googling on that chap will show him to be one of the oddest dictators out there at present. That clip counts as normal for him.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 44,812
    isam said:

    And now the ringleader is LotO!
    But it worked for shrewdie Starmer. Like you say, he's LotO.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 54,233
    kle4 said:

    The fool, don't they know that one in a million chances happen nine times out of ten!?
    https://twitter.com/NathaliaVasquez/status/1380114676537778176

    kle4 said:

    The fool, don't they know that one in a million chances happen nine times out of ten!?
    https://twitter.com/NathaliaVasquez/status/1380114676537778176

    But what if it is really a 1 in 999,999 chance? That would never happen.
  • HYUFD said:

    No that is correct, if the Nationalists win a majority they will hold an illegal referendum.

    Unionists will boycott it and Boris will ignore the result of course and then Salmond and Sturgeon will tear each other apart over whether to declare UDI or not.

    A Unionist majority and Scottish Conservative gains however would mean Sturgeon could not even hold an illegal referendum
    Its not about its legality. Its about a MANDATE. Your compatriots north of the border agree that an SNP majority is an electoral mandate for a referendum.

    Once they have that you can still denounce it as illegal. But they have a mandate, the will of the people. Which your party insists can never be ignored.
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826

    No - there's still a fair bit to do in the 50-60s groups. I don't think that 90%+ is unattainable there.
    How many more still to go to get to 90%?

    Those figures are 4 days out of date already. Any who weren't vaccinated already 4 days ago ought to have been offered a vaccine by now.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 59,824

    Cue HYUFD to tell us that the Scottish Tories have got it wrong when it comes to Scotland.
    Cue the actual Tories, and Scotland's Hunnish overlords


    https://twitter.com/Mij_Europe/status/1380141477884477445?s=20
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 54,856
    Dura_Ace said:

    The EU will just wait out the Johnson project at this point I think. They'll deal with whomever comes after on the basis that they almost certainly won't be a conceited shit surrendered by a coterie of brainfucked ball garglers.

    I think this is a mistake based on a false analogy between Brexit and Trump.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 44,812
    edited April 2021
    Leon said:

    Yes, I am closely watching my nubile antivaxxer friends, to see what happens when their resolute theology collides with their oft-expressed desire to "get the fuck out of Britain for a bit of sun"
    The Camden centre was on the news yesterday. You could see the actual seat where both your cheeks and mine rested as we received the life protecting fluid into our arms.
  • Time_to_LeaveTime_to_Leave Posts: 2,547

    Perhaps Sputnik is an elaborate scam to sell saline solution.
    Nah, it’s all just Novichok. It does, after all, kill the virus and no promises were made about the patients.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,362
  • Time_to_LeaveTime_to_Leave Posts: 2,547

    I think this is a mistake based on a false analogy between Brexit and Trump.
    I agree. I don’t think the EU understands British politics and the impossibility of any Gvt being seen to yield to an outside force.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 59,824
    kinabalu said:

    The Camden centre was on the news yesterday. You could see the actual seat where both your bum and mine rested as we received the life protecting fluid into our arms.
    To be honest, the idea that my bottom was in close proximity to yours, albeit temporally separated, induces a painful anal puckering. Please desist
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 59,414
    kle4 said:

    The fool, don't they know that one in a million chances happen nine times out of ten!?
    https://twitter.com/NathaliaVasquez/status/1380114676537778176

    We should have a special Pratchett lovers subgroup on pb...
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 59,414
    On the topic of jabs and clots.

    It's clearly one-in-a-million for the population at large, but it may very well be a worse risk for women under the age of 30, who are on the pill. Especially given that this group has only a very small chance of dying of CV19.
  • tlg86tlg86 Posts: 26,538
    isam said:

    Have any of them admitted their strategy was a calamitous mistake yet? That they should have just accepted the public’s vote and made the best of it? The memoirs maybe
    Gloria De Piero.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 34,295
    Floater said:

    Pictures on twitter of Boris breaking lock down rules .......

    What was he doing?
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 59,414
    Floater said:
    That happens for me too.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 54,233
    rcs1000 said:

    We should have a special Pratchett lovers subgroup on pb...
    It is better to light a flamethrower than curse the darkness.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,095

    Its not about its legality. Its about a MANDATE. Your compatriots north of the border agree that an SNP majority is an electoral mandate for a referendum.

    Once they have that you can still denounce it as illegal. But they have a mandate, the will of the people. Which your party insists can never be ignored.
    No, they don't. They argue and I quote the SNP 'will hold another divisive independence referendum' if they win a majority at Holyrood and they will.

    At which point the UK Tory government would correctly follow the example of our Spanish conservative cousins the PP in 2017 and tell Unionists to boycott such a referendum and ignore the result.

    However Scottish Conservative gains from the SNP would mean a Unionist majority and avoid the hassle of us going full hardline Tory bastard Madrid style, which we would do if we had to but a Unionist majority would make it easier for us to be nice Scottish Tories instead
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 31,327
    Floater said:
    Reminiscent of a Boris Johnson campaign photo op, but without a hi viz coat.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 34,295
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,787
    rcs1000 said:

    On the topic of jabs and clots.

    It's clearly one-in-a-million for the population at large, but it may very well be a worse risk for women under the age of 30, who are on the pill. Especially given that this group has only a very small chance of dying of CV19.

    so just offer AZ to blokes under thirty.
  • eekeek Posts: 29,739

    so just offer AZ to blokes under thirty.
    Given other vaccines are available the plan seems to be youngsters won't be offered AZ..
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 83,531
    Floater said:
    I get that when I ride on Zwift.....

  • isamisam Posts: 41,342
    Andy_JS said:

    What was he doing?
    https://twitter.com/politicsforali/status/1380127489192771585?s=21
  • HYUFD said:

    No, they don't. They argue and I quote the SNP 'will hold another divisive independence referendum' if they win a majority at Holyrood and they will.

    At which point the UK Tory government would correctly follow the example of our Spanish conservative cousins the PP in 2017 and tell Unionists to boycott such a referendum and ignore the result.

    However Scottish Conservative gains from the SNP would mean a Unionist majority and avoid the hassle of us going full hardline Tory bastard Madrid style, which we would do if we had to but a Unionist majority would make it easier for us to be nice Scottish Tories instead
    Yes. They will hold it because campaigning on a platform of "lets have another referendum" they will be given a mandate by the electorate.

    Thats how politics work. You propose a policy. If enough people vite for you then you get to enact it with their mandate.
  • Better vax numbers today, but nothing particularly amazing, given the huge Second Dose Debt. We have quite a bit of catching up to do after a dismal Easter weekend.

    Most people wanted to enjoy the Easter weekend, which they did.
  • Time_to_LeaveTime_to_Leave Posts: 2,547
    Andy_JS said:

    What was he doing?
    Sitting two metres apart from everyone else in a closed cafe that is due to reopen, drinking tea during a meeting. The horror.

    That’s why it’s not in the news.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 43,714
    edited April 2021
    rcs1000 said:

    On the topic of jabs and clots.

    It's clearly one-in-a-million for the population at large, but it may very well be a worse risk for women under the age of 30, who are on the pill. Especially given that this group has only a very small chance of dying of CV19.

    The stick I got here the other day when I said there was something questionable about a govt mandating such people to have the jab where there is a non-zero risk in order to participate in normal life.

    The govt has been sensible here and said no they don't have to have it.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 31,327
    edited April 2021
    Leon said:

    To be honest, the idea that my bottom was in close proximity to yours, albeit temporally separated, induces a painful anal puckering. Please desist
    Your casual usage of the English language makes that a very disturbing sentence.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 83,531
    rcs1000 said:

    Vaccination numbers are ticking up across the EU.

    Now, I'm going to put my cross hat on for a second. Back in January, the EU released a presentation of its vaccination strategy. It literally contains the line that large scale deliveries don't start until April.

    They are literally getting *exactly* what they paid for. Slower access to vaccines at lower prices. That was the choice they made.

    And yet they have bitched and moaned like a bitchy moany thing. About getting exactly what they asked for and paid for.
    A Cartman.....
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 83,531
    Crickey.....

    One of France's top colleges - the Ecole Nationale d'Administration - will be shut down, French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to announce, under plans to boost social mobility.

    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56674726
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 44,812
    Leon said:

    To be honest, the idea that my bottom was in close proximity to yours, albeit temporally separated, induces a painful anal puckering. Please desist
    Oh. I thought it was a nice thought. But ok - won't bother in future. Don't wish to cause discomfort with false intimacy. Keep my distance.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 54,233

    How many more still to go to get to 90%?

    Those figures are 4 days out of date already. Any who weren't vaccinated already 4 days ago ought to have been offered a vaccine by now.
    See below for whose left

    The first column is using the 94% achieved for the 75-79 group as the goal, the second column uses 90% as a goal

    to 94% to 90%
    Under 50 18,640,314 17,441,494
    50-54 564,069 376,769
    55-59 395,395 214,440
    60-64 233,415 79,908
    65-69 108,029 N/A
    70-74 29,842 N/A
    75-79 0 N/A
    80+ 16,238 N/A
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 31,327
    isam said:

    https://twitter.com/politicsforali/status/1380127489192771585?s=21
    Like I said, a scandalous under use of hi viz safety equipment.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 59,824
    isam said:

    https://twitter.com/politicsforali/status/1380127489192771585?s=21
    Lemon Street Market, Truro. Very pleasant place in a very pleasant city. Good choice
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 73,567
    Well, finally put the lock on. And it works!

    If there are any Surrey fans on there, I feel your pain.

    (No, not really, but I’m trying to be nice.)

    Incidentally, for the amusement of @justin124 and @Pagan2 I have just had a visit from a census collector. He asked if I had completed my census and when I said, rather startled, that I had, weeks ago, he sighed in exasperation and said that of 40 people he’d spoken to today, 38 had said the same and he was getting fed up with the system’s problems.

    Nice man, he called Gavin Williamson a ‘fucking prick,’ so he obviously is very bright.
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,822

    Crickey.....

    One of France's top colleges - the Ecole Nationale d'Administration - will be shut down, French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to announce, under plans to boost social mobility.

    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56674726

    Cunning. The existing band of Macron's fellow Enarques get job security for life.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 79,235
    edited April 2021
    AlistairM said:

    https://twitter.com/HugoGye/status/1380149681322397699

    This gives a good indication as to why case numbers are now in free fall. Combined with those who have already had Covid there are many people who have immunity. As soon as they get the doses to get through the 30 to 49s then the risk ought to be tiny and it will be very hard for the virus to spread.

    We are ready and waiting.
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,787
    eek said:

    Given other vaccines are available the plan seems to be youngsters won't be offered AZ..
    which simply raises the question whats all the fuss about ? Pfizer and AZ have bridged a gap until other vaccines come on stream and the UK has benefitted tremendously as we can see from falling deaths. By about July well be exporting most of what we make elsewhere to combat CV in other countries.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 59,824
    rcs1000 said:

    Vaccination numbers are ticking up across the EU.

    Now, I'm going to put my cross hat on for a second. Back in January, the EU released a presentation of its vaccination strategy. It literally contains the line that large scale deliveries don't start until April.

    They are literally getting *exactly* what they paid for. Slower access to vaccines at lower prices. That was the choice they made.

    And yet they have bitched and moaned like a bitchy moany thing. About getting exactly what they asked for and paid for.
    Germany's problem, and the problem across Europe, is soon going to be demand not supply: when they hit the ceiling of the vaccine hesitant. This ceiling will be lower after events yesterday
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,095

    Yes. They will hold it because campaigning on a platform of "lets have another referendum" they will be given a mandate by the electorate.

    Thats how politics work. You propose a policy. If enough people vite for you then you get to enact it with their mandate.
    They can hold it, the Union is a matter reserved to Westminster under the Scotland Act 1998 however.

    So as long as we have a Tory government at Westminster we will ignore the result of any such referendum, refuse to implement the result and tell Unionists to boycott it
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,822
    ydoethur said:

    ...

    Incidentally, for the amusement of @justin124 and @Pagan2 I have just had a visit from a census collector. He asked if I had completed my census and when I said, rather startled, that I had, weeks ago, he sighed in exasperation and said that of 40 people he’d spoken to today, 38 had said the same and he was getting fed up with the system’s problems.

    Nice man, he called Gavin Williamson a ‘fucking prick,’ so he obviously is very bright.

    I had exactly the same experience with a (very pleasant and polite) census official, but without the Gavin Williamson bonus.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 31,327
  • BluestBlueBluestBlue Posts: 4,556
    edited April 2021
    Leon said:

    To be honest, the idea that my bottom was in close proximity to yours, albeit temporally separated, induces a painful anal puckering. Please desist
    Lol. No analogies intended, but it made me think of this:
    https://twitter.com/suedepyjamas/status/1261684082284662787
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 83,531
    edited April 2021
    Fry Magazine announce 50 best fish and chip shops for 2021

    https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/19218058.fry-magazine-announce-50-best-fish-chip-shops-2021---see-won-region/

    But do they all do mushy pea, gravy and curry sauce? "Eh? Has tha nowt moist?" should be the first question the inspectors ask.
  • isamisam Posts: 41,342
    John Rentoul - exactly

    “ Swinson was responsible for delivering a Conservative majority government, but it was Labour MPs who gave us Johnson as prime minister and his Brexit.

    If they had voted for Theresa May’s deal, she would still be prime minister now, the weak leader of a divided party. And the Labour Party would be a potential party of government, instead of facing the prospect of another decade out of power.”

    https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/labour-corbyn-defeat-support-may-brexit-deal-a9246871.html
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,822



    Yes. They will hold it because campaigning on a platform of "lets have another referendum" they will be given a mandate by the electorate.

    Thats how politics work. You propose a policy. If enough people vite for you then you get to enact it with their mandate.

    Not quite right, I'm afraid. You only get to enact it if it's within your power.
  • isamisam Posts: 41,342
    Leon said:

    Lemon Street Market, Truro. Very pleasant place in a very pleasant city. Good choice
    How to be snapped whilst dining - watch and learn Sir Keir
  • LeonLeon Posts: 59,824
    HYUFD said:

    They can hold it, the Union is a matter reserved to Westminster under the Scotland Act 1998 however.

    So as long as we have a Tory government at Westminster we will ignore the result of any such referendum, refuse to implement the result and tell Unionists to boycott it
    I'm not sure Sturgeon will hold it. She knows that a botched wildcat referendum is a probable and potential disaster. It will be boycotted by unionists, ignored by Westminster, and then what? Her party looks inept and clueless and the idea of a THIRD referendum recedes further into the distance

    If Salmond holds the balance of power, however, he might be able to force her. But the polls show Alba is cratering

  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,095

    Crickey.....

    One of France's top colleges - the Ecole Nationale d'Administration - will be shut down, French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to announce, under plans to boost social mobility.

    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56674726

    To be replaced by a new "public administration school”.

    French media reported that a new school would aim to attract a more socially diverse range of students, who would follow a course more in touch with modern life that included subjects such as laîcité – France’s version of secularism – poverty, ecology and sciences.

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/08/macron-close-france-elite-finishing-school-ena-elite-presidents
  • FloaterFloater Posts: 14,207

    Not quite the terminology I would use, but you are spot-on. Quite apart from anything else, Boris has rubbished and reneged on both agreements he's signed, within weeks of signing and hailing them as triumphs, so they'd have to be out of their minds to want to deal with him any further if they can avoid it.
    Whereas the EU has proved to be totally trustworthy ... oh
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 44,812
    edited April 2021
    isam said:

    John Rentoul - exactly

    “ Swinson was responsible for delivering a Conservative majority government, but it was Labour MPs who gave us Johnson as prime minister and his Brexit.

    If they had voted for Theresa May’s deal, she would still be prime minister now, the weak leader of a divided party. And the Labour Party would be a potential party of government, instead of facing the prospect of another decade out of power.”

    https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/labour-corbyn-defeat-support-may-brexit-deal-a9246871.html

    For the Blairite wing of Labour Remainers it was more important to get rid of Corbyn than to avoid a Hard Brexit.

    So mission accomplished in their case.
  • LennonLennon Posts: 1,797
    edited April 2021
    ydoethur said:


    If there are any Surrey fans on there, I feel your pain.

    (No, not really, but I’m trying to be nice.)

    Thanks. Clearly our batsmen are suffering from Englanditis... hopefully the youngsters that haven't yet been got at can get us up to 250+ or so...
  • Alphabet_SoupAlphabet_Soup Posts: 3,591
    ydoethur said:

    Well, finally put the lock on. And it works!

    If there are any Surrey fans on there, I feel your pain.

    (No, not really, but I’m trying to be nice.)

    Incidentally, for the amusement of @justin124 and @Pagan2 I have just had a visit from a census collector. He asked if I had completed my census and when I said, rather startled, that I had, weeks ago, he sighed in exasperation and said that of 40 people he’d spoken to today, 38 had said the same and he was getting fed up with the system’s problems.

    Nice man, he called Gavin Williamson a ‘fucking prick,’ so he obviously is very bright.

    Unprompted? Or did you offer him a multiple choice in which FP was the most complimentary option? Such fine distinctions matter when a reputation is as fragile as Williamson's.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,594
    ydoethur said:


    Nice man, he called Gavin Williamson a ‘fucking prick,’ so he obviously is very bright.

    Not really, I think it has replaced Hello as a form of greeting in many places.

    "Good Morning, Gavin Williamson is a 'f*cking prick', I'm Dennis"
    "Nice to meet you Dennis, Gavin Williamson is a 'f*cking prick'"
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 73,567
    HYUFD said:

    To be replaced by a new "public administration school”.

    French media reported that a new school would aim to attract a more socially diverse range of students, who would follow a course more in touch with modern life that included subjects such as laîcité – France’s version of secularism – poverty, ecology and sciences.

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/08/macron-close-france-elite-finishing-school-ena-elite-presidents
    Honestly, the man’s such an empty suit. First out-Islamaphobing Le Pen, now trying to out-woke BLM. What would be wrong with ordering the ENA to change its admission policies, as we have with the OFA?

    He doesn’t deserve another term and I hope somebody emerges to thwart both him and Le Pen.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,559
    Cookie said:

    The fury on the remain side about the slogan on a bus is, from outside the Remainy bubble, a bit odd. As I understand it it went like this:
    Leave: "We spend £350m on the EU - let's spend it on the NHS instead"
    Remain: "But we get a rebate of £100m - so actually the figure is only £250m a week"
    Leave: - silence -
    Remain: "I said, net, we spend £250m a week on the EU."
    Voters, suddenly noticing the argument [sotto voce]: "That sounds quite a lot"
    Remain: "We spend £250m a week on the EU"
    Remain: "It's £250m a week!"
    Remain: "TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY MILLION A WEEK! ON THE EU!"
    Remain: "Why are people voting leave?"
    Even weirder they get bent out of shape when Theresa May went on to commit more to the NHS than £350 million a week......
  • FloaterFloater Posts: 14,207
    https://twitter.com/RusEmbJakarta/status/1380106540363915267

    How they kept a straight face is beyond me
  • LeonLeon Posts: 59,824
    kinabalu said:

    For most of the Blairite tendency amongst Labour Remainers it was more important to get rid of Corbyn than to avoid a Hard Brexit.

    So main mission accomplished in their case.
    Is that true? Most of them were maniacal Remoaners desperate for a "People's vote" - look at Alistair Campbell (if we must). Or indeed Blair himself, secretly negotiating with the EU to get exactly that

    I reckon they'd have tolerated a Corbyn govt if it meant reversing Brexit
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 38,137
    Cookie said:

    As I understand it it went like this:

    Nah, more like this.

    LEAVE: Let's put a giant lie on the side of a bus.

    REMAIN: It's a lie. BoZo is a liar. Any idiot that votes for this is going to be disappointed.

    And here we are...

    https://twitter.com/BestForBritain/status/1380147703846428672
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,594
    ydoethur said:

    Honestly, the man’s such an empty suit. First out-Islamaphobing Le Pen, now trying to out-woke BLM. What would be wrong with ordering the ENA to change its admission policies, as we have with the OFA?

    He doesn’t deserve another term and I hope somebody emerges to thwart both him and Le Pen.
    Beat him to the second round, which only requires 20-25% depending on how well Macron does, and Le Pen should be taken care of.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 43,714
    isam said:

    How to be snapped whilst dining - watch and learn Sir Keir
    Yep it's definitely going to be him giving his support to a children's cancer charity and that's the committee.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,559
    Floater said:

    https://twitter.com/RusEmbJakarta/status/1380106540363915267

    How they kept a straight face is beyond me

    If you don't, it gets straightened.....
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 73,567
    Lennon said:

    Thanks. Clearly our batsmen are suffering from Englanditis... hopefully the youngsters that haven't yet been got at can get us up to 250+ or so...
    Ooof. It just got worse for you, didn’t it?

    I think Smith was surprised Josh Shaw bowled a straight one, tbh. I know I am...
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,823
    rcs1000 said:

    On the topic of jabs and clots.

    It's clearly one-in-a-million for the population at large, but it may very well be a worse risk for women under the age of 30, who are on the pill. Especially given that this group has only a very small chance of dying of CV19.

    This is the differential risk factor, for most groups the risk of dying from this is far, far smaller than the risk of dying from COVID but for a small number of people (mostly younger women) it isn't so it makes sense to offer them other vaccines that don't carry the same level of risk. I don't think it's a very controversial issue and the regulator has handled it just fine. People are getting overly concerned about it for no reason. The only time it would matter is of those groups were offered no alternative, but that's not the case as we have got Moderna, Pfizer and Novavax which will form the vast majority of doses given in Phase 2.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 73,567
    kle4 said:

    Not really, I think it has replaced Hello as a form of greeting in many places.

    "Good Morning, Gavin Williamson is a 'f*cking prick', I'm Dennis"
    "Nice to meet you Dennis, Gavin Williamson is a 'f*cking prick'"
    Well, he asked me why I was knocking a hole in my door (it needed enlarging). So I explained, and said that I found I hit the chisel much harder and more accurately if I imagined it was Williamson’s face.

    Although I do like your idea...
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 44,812
    isam said:

    How to be snapped whilst dining - watch and learn Sir Keir
    I've noticed you increasingly flirting with Borisaphilia - step back from the precipice if you can.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 83,531
    ydoethur said:

    Honestly, the man’s such an empty suit. First out-Islamaphobing Le Pen, now trying to out-woke BLM. What would be wrong with ordering the ENA to change its admission policies, as we have with the OFA?

    He doesn’t deserve another term and I hope somebody emerges to thwart both him and Le Pen.
    He is quasi-effective....
  • CookieCookie Posts: 14,834

    Unprompted? Or did you offer him a multiple choice in which FP was the most complimentary option? Such fine distinctions matter when a reputation is as fragile as Williamson's.
    I'd like to think the government are killing two birds with one stone here: chasing up on old census forms, and confirming to each voter, individually and in person, that Gavin Williamson is a fucking prick.
This discussion has been closed.