With just eight campaigning days to go – Tories still strong favourites to take Batley & Spen – poli

I spent a small portion of my C&A winnings on Labour to hold Batley & Spen.

Not exactly confident.

O/T - What the feck are Scotland doing? I hope they get knocked out tonight.

England have two players in isolation because they briefly came into contact with Billy Gilmour but no Scotland player or coaching staff have been in close contact with Billy Gilmour.

An absolute disgrace.

TheScreamingEagles said:

O/T - What the feck are Scotland doing? I hope they get knocked out tonight.

England have two players in isolation because they briefly came into contact with Billy Gilmour but no Scotland player or coaching staff have been in close contact with Billy Gilmour.

An absolute disgrace.

Have a heart! They've haven't got much going for them. One lucky break. Let them have it

TheScreamingEagles said:

O/T - What the feck are Scotland doing? I hope they get knocked out tonight.

England have two players in isolation because they briefly came into contact with Billy Gilmour but no Scotland player or coaching staff have been in close contact with Billy Gilmour.

An absolute disgrace.

It just seems incredible that most everyone with Scotland were not in contact with Gilmour but two England players were

It is inexplicable and frankly absurd

TheScreamingEagles said:

O/T - What the feck are Scotland doing? I hope they get knocked out tonight.

England have two players in isolation because they briefly came into contact with Billy Gilmour but no Scotland player or coaching staff have been in close contact with Billy Gilmour.

An absolute disgrace.

The whole approach by football as an industry to COVID has been a disaster and totally inconsistent.

Big_G_NorthWales said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

O/T - What the feck are Scotland doing? I hope they get knocked out tonight.

England have two players in isolation because they briefly came into contact with Billy Gilmour but no Scotland player or coaching staff have been in close contact with Billy Gilmour.

An absolute disgrace.

It just seems incredible that most everyone with Scotland were not in contact with Gilmour but two England players were

It is inexplicable and frankly absurd

I some how doubt that the footballers simply train or in their hotel rooms alone, never interacting with one another other than on the training pitch.....about as likely as finding out they aren't spending their downtime asking for nudes from Instagram "models", instead reading the works of Nietzsche.

TheScreamingEagles said:

FPT

O/T - Can someone explain to me why discussions of white privilege which really only started in the UK in the last few years is the reason why white working class children have had poor educational outcomes for decades?

Am I missing something major or are people talking shite?

The latter. Big time.

I've read the SC report - absolutely no evidence on the 'white privilege' thing, and as you say white w/c poor/FSM children have had the poorest educational outcomes of all social groups (except those in care) ever since meaningful data started being collected about 30 years ago.

Meanwhile in "I don't know what this means, but it doesn't look good" news,

YouGov: Do Britons think the process of Brexit complete?

ALL BRITONS
Yes - 9% / No - 72%

REMAIN VOTERS
Yes - 6% / No - 81%

LEAVE VOTERS
Yes - 13% / No - 71%

https://t.co/R96KVhVMVE

TheScreamingEagles said:

FPT

O/T - Can someone explain to me why discussions of white privilege which really only started in the UK in the last few years is the reason why white working class children have had poor educational outcomes for decades?

Am I missing something major or are people talking shite?

What the report is saying, is that class rather than race is the better determinant of educational outcomes (as you’d know, from experience), and that modern US-imported Crititcal Race Theory is only throwing fuel on that fire.

I think if the Tories don't win Batley it's more likely to be Galloway than Labour.

Malmesbury said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

FPT

O/T - Can someone explain to me why discussions of white privilege which really only started in the UK in the last few years is the reason why white working class children have had poor educational outcomes for decades?

Am I missing something major or are people talking shite?

The phrase "white privilege" is newish.

The attitude of aggressive disparagement towards the working class is not. As is the recognition that this disparagement is not applied to the same behaviours when evinced by members of protected minority groups.

I suggest you try this book by a noted right wing, reactionary extremist (Owen Jones) - https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=9781781683989

Owen Jones always talks shite.

If you look at the stats you can tell roughly where most people will end up in an educational outcome by their class and the occupation of their parents, which is why you see so many black and other non white children at the bottom of the education league tables.

My life outcome was largely determined by the fact my father was a doctor from Dore, if my father had been a bus driver from Darnall I know my life outcomes would be so much different for the worse.

Cookie said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

I spent a small portion of my C&A winnings on Labour to hold Batley & Spen.

Not exactly confident.

I expected Labour to win this from the start, and thought they were excellent value at 3.5. George Galloway's lot have complicated things however. I still think Labour are the value bet, but what I expect to happen is a Con gain with a lot of the Muslim vote pealing off to Galloway.

Yes. I’m laying Labour in this one. GG has done it before, making certain ‘communities’ angry and turning out, in an otherwise low turnout by-election.

Evening all

UK Polls all over the place currently - for every ComRes, there's a Delta Poll showing the Conservatives ahead 41-35 with the LDs on 10 so perhaps we need some time for the latest events to settle, percolate or not.

Elsewhere, the latest INSA poll in Germany as follows:

CDU/CSU-EPP: 28.5% (-4.5)
GRÜNE-G/EFA: 19% (+10)
SPD-S&D: 15.5% (-5)
FDP-RE: 14% (+3)
AfD-ID: 10.5% (-2)
LINKE-LEFT: 7% (-2)

Changes from the 2017 Bundestag election shown.

Better for the Union than the mid-20s of a month ago but all still very much to play for with the FDP continuing to edge up towards their 2009 result when, under Westerwelle, they won 93 seats and 14.8% of the vote. Both the Union and the SPD are staring at their worst results since 1945 by quite some way and of course for the Greens their best by a very long way.

By the way, if you want to see how wrong polls can be, last Sunday's Armenia result is one for the records. A remarkable "win" for Civil Contract and the supposedly unpopular Pashinyan, who, despite presiding over a humiliating military defeat, lost only 16 seats in the Parliament and still won 72 of 101. One wonders what he would have to do to lose his majority (or perhaps one shouldn't).

FrancisUrquhart said:

Big_G_NorthWales said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

O/T - What the feck are Scotland doing? I hope they get knocked out tonight.

England have two players in isolation because they briefly came into contact with Billy Gilmour but no Scotland player or coaching staff have been in close contact with Billy Gilmour.

An absolute disgrace.

It just seems incredible that most everyone with Scotland were not in contact with Gilmour but two England players were

It is inexplicable and frankly absurd

I some how doubt that the footballers simply train or in their hotel rooms alone, never interacting with one another other than on the training pitch.....about as likely as finding out they aren't spending their downtime asking for nudes from Instagram "models", instead reading the works of Nietzsche.

I guess the problem is that the 'coach' visiting the hotel rooms might visit a few.

stodge said:

Evening all

UK Polls all over the place currently - for every ComRes, there's a Delta Poll showing the Conservatives ahead 41-35 with the LDs on 10 so perhaps we need some time for the latest events to settle, percolate or not.

Elsewhere, the latest INSA poll in Germany as follows:

CDU/CSU-EPP: 28.5% (-4.5)
GRÜNE-G/EFA: 19% (+10)
SPD-S&D: 15.5% (-5)
FDP-RE: 14% (+3)
AfD-ID: 10.5% (-2)
LINKE-LEFT: 7% (-2)

Changes from the 2017 Bundestag election shown.

Better for the Union than the mid-20s of a month ago but all still very much to play for with the FDP continuing to edge up towards their 2009 result when, under Westerwelle, they won 93 seats and 14.8% of the vote. Both the Union and the SPD are staring at their worst results since 1945 by quite some way and of course for the Greens their best by a very long way.

By the way, if you want to see how wrong polls can be, last Sunday's Armenia result is one for the records. A remarkable "win" for Civil Contract and the supposedly unpopular Pashinyan, who, despite presiding over a humiliating military defeat, lost only 16 seats in the Parliament and still won 72 of 101. One wonders what he would have to do to lose his majority (or perhaps one shouldn't).

The polls really aren't all other the place. They are very consistent and have been for ages, Tories ~43, roughly consistent average 10% ahead. The Labour number is the really the only things that swings around in the range 30-36.

TheScreamingEagles said:

Malmesbury said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

FPT

O/T - Can someone explain to me why discussions of white privilege which really only started in the UK in the last few years is the reason why white working class children have had poor educational outcomes for decades?

Am I missing something major or are people talking shite?

The phrase "white privilege" is newish.

The attitude of aggressive disparagement towards the working class is not. As is the recognition that this disparagement is not applied to the same behaviours when evinced by members of protected minority groups.

I suggest you try this book by a noted right wing, reactionary extremist (Owen Jones) - https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=9781781683989

Owen Jones always talks shite.

If you look at the stats you can tell roughly where most people will end up in an educational outcome by their class and the occupation of their parents, which is why you see so many black and other non white children at the bottom of the education league tables.

My life outcome was largely determined by the fact my father was a doctor from Dore, if my father had been a bus driver from Darnall I know my life outcomes would be so much different for the worse.

Said Javid says hello.

Though obviously I accept you are talking in generalisations and what you say is generally true.

Though being working poor is not such a disadvantage if you are lucky enough to be from a stable family which values education.The real killer of chances is a poor and chaotic background.

How George Galloway is described on the George Galloway website.

"There’s only one George Galloway. Six-term Parliamentarian, freedom fighter, man of the world. Writer, broadcaster, film-maker. Football and boxing enthusiast, movie-goer, box-set binger. Husband, father of five children, Scottish of Irish background, honorary Palestinian, Iraqi, Syrian, Egyptian… Friend of Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez, Benazir Bhutto, Yasser Arafat, Tariq Aziz. Trembling with indignation at any injustice, anywhere."

https://www.georgegalloway.com

Scott_xP said:

Stuartinromford said:

YouGov: Do Britons think the process of Brexit complete?

ALL BRITONS
Yes - 9% / No - 72%

REMAIN VOTERS
Yes - 6% / No - 81%

LEAVE VOTERS
Yes - 13% / No - 71%

https://t.co/R96KVhVMVE

PB TORIES
Yes - 110% / No - Shut Up!!!

You are so immature

Of course it is nowhere near complete and this poll does not surprise me at all

I doubt I would be even at 10%

Andy_JS said:

How George Galloway is described on the George Galloway website.

"There’s only one George Galloway. Six-term Parliamentarian, freedom fighter, man of the world. Writer, broadcaster, film-maker. Football and boxing enthusiast, movie-goer, box-set binger. Husband, father of five children, Scottish of Irish background, honorary Palestinian, Iraqi, Syrian, Egyptian… Friend of Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez, Benazir Bhutto, Yasser Arafat, Tariq Aziz. Trembling with indignation at any injustice, anywhere."

https://www.georgegalloway.com

But does he have as many honorary degrees as John Bercow?

williamglenn said:

Andy_JS said:

How George Galloway is described on the George Galloway website.

"There’s only one George Galloway. Six-term Parliamentarian, freedom fighter, man of the world. Writer, broadcaster, film-maker. Football and boxing enthusiast, movie-goer, box-set binger. Husband, father of five children, Scottish of Irish background, honorary Palestinian, Iraqi, Syrian, Egyptian… Friend of Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez, Benazir Bhutto, Yasser Arafat, Tariq Aziz. Trembling with indignation at any injustice, anywhere."

https://www.georgegalloway.com

But does he have as many honorary degrees as John Bercow?

That's odd. I'm sure he told Owen Jones in a vid this week from B&S that he had six children.

FrancisUrquhart said:

Big_G_NorthWales said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

O/T - What the feck are Scotland doing? I hope they get knocked out tonight.

England have two players in isolation because they briefly came into contact with Billy Gilmour but no Scotland player or coaching staff have been in close contact with Billy Gilmour.

An absolute disgrace.

It just seems incredible that most everyone with Scotland were not in contact with Gilmour but two England players were

It is inexplicable and frankly absurd

I some how doubt that the footballers simply train or in their hotel rooms alone, never interacting with one another other than on the training pitch.....about as likely as finding out they aren't spending their downtime asking for nudes from Instagram "models", instead reading the works of Nietzsche.

"The true man wants 2 things:danger and play. For that reason he wants woman as the most dangerous plaything."

Not for me, Clive.

Nemtynakht said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

FPT

O/T - Can someone explain to me why discussions of white privilege which really only started in the UK in the last few years is the reason why white working class children have had poor educational outcomes for decades?

Am I missing something major or are people talking shite?

I don't think it is the recent concept and discussion but the 'lived experience' of people in those areas. For example in the push to get a more diverse entry of students to oxbridge, white working class boys got lumped in with those at Eton and ignored.

Years ago I lived in Bradford and I would have been much more confident that someone who was gifted in the Muslim community would have a better chance of social mobility than someone from the large sink estate of white people

Some years ago, when Brown was PM, Michael Gove was lambasted when he pointed out that the apparent increase in attainment among black children was due to an increase in the number of black children attending private schools and getting the grades to match.

BWC kids were in fact doing slightly worse than before, IIRC

Malmesbury said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Malmesbury said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

FPT

O/T - Can someone explain to me why discussions of white privilege which really only started in the UK in the last few years is the reason why white working class children have had poor educational outcomes for decades?

Am I missing something major or are people talking shite?

The phrase "white privilege" is newish.

The attitude of aggressive disparagement towards the working class is not. As is the recognition that this disparagement is not applied to the same behaviours when evinced by members of protected minority groups.

I suggest you try this book by a noted right wing, reactionary extremist (Owen Jones) - https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=9781781683989

Owen Jones always talks shite.

If you look at the stats you can tell roughly where most people will end up in an educational outcome by their class and the occupation of their parents, which is why you see so many black and other non white children at the bottom of the education league tables.

My life outcome was largely determined by the fact my father was a doctor from Dore, if my father had been a bus driver from Darnall I know my life outcomes would be so much different.

Multiplied by culture - some very poor groups value education above all other things as a way out for their children.

The effects of parents from portions of the Hindu Indian community ramming their children through medical school, accountancy (and now IT) are very evident, for example.

Recently, in New York, the more liberal types were fighting a battle to stop all the places at certain high achieving state schools going to members of the Chinese community. Because the poor people in that community were doing things like spending literally half their income on tutors for little Johnny.

Thirty or so years back I was told by a Labour councillor on the education committee that the borough's exam results had shot up, due largely to increased immigration.

Andy_JS said:

How George Galloway is described on the George Galloway website.

"There’s only one George Galloway. Six-term Parliamentarian, freedom fighter, man of the world. Writer, broadcaster, film-maker. Football and boxing enthusiast, movie-goer, box-set binger. Husband, father of five children, Scottish of Irish background, honorary Palestinian, Iraqi, Syrian, Egyptian… Friend of Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez, Benazir Bhutto, Yasser Arafat, Tariq Aziz. Trembling with indignation at any injustice, anywhere."

https://www.georgegalloway.com

It's good but it's no "My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions and loyal servant to the TRUE emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next."

Malmesbury said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Malmesbury said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

FPT

O/T - Can someone explain to me why discussions of white privilege which really only started in the UK in the last few years is the reason why white working class children have had poor educational outcomes for decades?

Am I missing something major or are people talking shite?

The phrase "white privilege" is newish.

The attitude of aggressive disparagement towards the working class is not. As is the recognition that this disparagement is not applied to the same behaviours when evinced by members of protected minority groups.

I suggest you try this book by a noted right wing, reactionary extremist (Owen Jones) - https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=9781781683989

Owen Jones always talks shite.

If you look at the stats you can tell roughly where most people will end up in an educational outcome by their class and the occupation of their parents, which is why you see so many black and other non white children at the bottom of the education league tables.

My life outcome was largely determined by the fact my father was a doctor from Dore, if my father had been a bus driver from Darnall I know my life outcomes would be so much different.

Multiplied by culture - some very poor groups value education above all other things as a way out for their children.

The effects of parents from portions of the Hindu Indian community ramming their children through medical school, accountancy (and now IT) are very evident, for example.

Recently, in New York, the more liberal types were fighting a battle to stop all the places at certain high achieving state schools going to members of the Chinese community. Because the poor people in that community were doing things like spending literally half their income on tutors for little Johnny.

My father was something similar.

Anything other than A was seen as a failure (well apart from art, I can't draw stick men, my father gave me a pass on that),

I was lucky in the respect that every good grade I usually received a nice reward from my parents which they could more than afford.

Although I had to wait until after my GCSEs to get Sky because my father was worried getting Sky would impact my grades.

solarflare said:

Andy_JS said:

How George Galloway is described on the George Galloway website.

"There’s only one George Galloway. Six-term Parliamentarian, freedom fighter, man of the world. Writer, broadcaster, film-maker. Football and boxing enthusiast, movie-goer, box-set binger. Husband, father of five children, Scottish of Irish background, honorary Palestinian, Iraqi, Syrian, Egyptian… Friend of Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez, Benazir Bhutto, Yasser Arafat, Tariq Aziz. Trembling with indignation at any injustice, anywhere."

https://www.georgegalloway.com

It's good but it's no "My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions and loyal servant to the TRUE emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next."

The arse in a silly hat visual rather undermines the website anyway.

solarflare said:

Andy_JS said:

How George Galloway is described on the George Galloway website.

"There’s only one George Galloway. Six-term Parliamentarian, freedom fighter, man of the world. Writer, broadcaster, film-maker. Football and boxing enthusiast, movie-goer, box-set binger. Husband, father of five children, Scottish of Irish background, honorary Palestinian, Iraqi, Syrian, Egyptian… Friend of Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez, Benazir Bhutto, Yasser Arafat, Tariq Aziz. Trembling with indignation at any injustice, anywhere."

https://www.georgegalloway.com

It's good but it's no "My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions and loyal servant to the TRUE emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next."

Too wordy

"Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die."

RochdalePioneers said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

O/T - What the feck are Scotland doing? I hope they get knocked out tonight.

England have two players in isolation because they briefly came into contact with Billy Gilmour but no Scotland player or coaching staff have been in close contact with Billy Gilmour.

An absolute disgrace.

Do we know Mr G actually has Covid? Or is it just a ruse to take some England players out after he's picked up a knock?

He tested positive.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57551368

Malmesbury said:

solarflare said:

Andy_JS said:

How George Galloway is described on the George Galloway website.

"There’s only one George Galloway. Six-term Parliamentarian, freedom fighter, man of the world. Writer, broadcaster, film-maker. Football and boxing enthusiast, movie-goer, box-set binger. Husband, father of five children, Scottish of Irish background, honorary Palestinian, Iraqi, Syrian, Egyptian… Friend of Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez, Benazir Bhutto, Yasser Arafat, Tariq Aziz. Trembling with indignation at any injustice, anywhere."

https://www.georgegalloway.com

It's good but it's no "My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions and loyal servant to the TRUE emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next."

Too wordy

"Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die."

"Do you feel lucky, punk?"

Currently England are most likely to face Germany, at home, in the second round if they win the group while Spain are the most likely opposition, in Copenhagen, should England finish second.

Who could England get if they come 3rd? Because it sounds like a good idea to throw this one..

DecrepiterJohnL said:

Sandpit said:

Cookie said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

I spent a small portion of my C&A winnings on Labour to hold Batley & Spen.

Not exactly confident.

I expected Labour to win this from the start, and thought they were excellent value at 3.5. George Galloway's lot have complicated things however. I still think Labour are the value bet, but what I expect to happen is a Con gain with a lot of the Muslim vote pealing off to Galloway.

Yes. I’m laying Labour in this one. GG has done it before, making certain ‘communities’ angry and turning out, in an otherwise low turnout by-election.

Galloway has just been laid from 34 to 50 in the last couple of minutes. Still only 25 to back in a thin market.

I've been laying GG heavily at 40s.

I can see him damaging Labour big time but I don't think he has a hope in hell of actually winning, even with a low turn out. The Tories will hold around 40%, many LDs and Greens will vote tactically for Labour. Where does GG get his majority from?

I can see Tory 40, Lab 40+10 (LD and Green) - say 20 to GG. So Lab 30 and GG 20.

What scenario gives GG a majority? I cannot see it.

I think the spectacular 2012 Bradford West by-election with a 36% swing is colouring views. But GG is not the fresh exciting breath of fresh air that he was. He's well past his sell by date.

TheScreamingEagles said:

dixiedean said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Northern_Al said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

FPT

O/T - Can someone explain to me why discussions of white privilege which really only started in the UK in the last few years is the reason why white working class children have had poor educational outcomes for decades?

Am I missing something major or are people talking shite?

The latter. Big time.

I've read the SC report - absolutely no evidence on the 'white privilege' thing, and as you say white w/c poor/FSM children have had the poorest educational outcomes of all social groups (except those in care) ever since meaningful data started being collected about 30 years ago.

Did they mention anything about class sizes?

As someone who was educated in class sizes of around 10-14 pupils I maintain that is one of the major reasons public schools have such good outcomes.

Even if you're the best teacher in the world you won't be able to help pupils when class sizes are approaching the mid 20s.

Approaching the mid 20s. Hmm.

Sorry, I should have said, approaching the mid 20s on average, which means class sizes of 30 might not be uncommon?

Standard at my children's school. Have taught 37. But that was many years ago.

There were also strong suggestions from Gareth Southgate that Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell will be unavailable for the last-16 tie due to their self-isolation.

Obviously nothing confirmed yet but Southgate didn't seem too convinced. Big blow to lose Mount in particular?

----

Madness.....just test him every day. Its a week until the last 16 match.

Barnesian said:

DecrepiterJohnL said:

Sandpit said:

Cookie said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

I spent a small portion of my C&A winnings on Labour to hold Batley & Spen.

Not exactly confident.

I expected Labour to win this from the start, and thought they were excellent value at 3.5. George Galloway's lot have complicated things however. I still think Labour are the value bet, but what I expect to happen is a Con gain with a lot of the Muslim vote pealing off to Galloway.

Yes. I’m laying Labour in this one. GG has done it before, making certain ‘communities’ angry and turning out, in an otherwise low turnout by-election.

Galloway has just been laid from 34 to 50 in the last couple of minutes. Still only 25 to back in a thin market.

I've been laying GG heavily at 40s.

I can see him damaging Labour big time but I don't think he has a hope in hell of actually winning, even with a low turn out. The Tories will hold around 40%, many LDs and Greens will vote tactically for Labour. Where does GG get his majority from?

I can see Tory 40, Lab 40+10 (LD and Green) - say 20 to GG. So Lab 30 and GG 20.

What scenario gives GG a majority? I cannot see it.

I think the spectacular 2012 Bradford West by-election with a 36% swing is colouring views. But GG is not the fresh exciting breath of fresh air that he was. He's well past his sell by date.

No Green standing.

dixiedean said:

Barnesian said:

DecrepiterJohnL said:

Sandpit said:

Cookie said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

I spent a small portion of my C&A winnings on Labour to hold Batley & Spen.

Not exactly confident.

I expected Labour to win this from the start, and thought they were excellent value at 3.5. George Galloway's lot have complicated things however. I still think Labour are the value bet, but what I expect to happen is a Con gain with a lot of the Muslim vote pealing off to Galloway.

Yes. I’m laying Labour in this one. GG has done it before, making certain ‘communities’ angry and turning out, in an otherwise low turnout by-election.

Galloway has just been laid from 34 to 50 in the last couple of minutes. Still only 25 to back in a thin market.

I've been laying GG heavily at 40s.

I can see him damaging Labour big time but I don't think he has a hope in hell of actually winning, even with a low turn out. The Tories will hold around 40%, many LDs and Greens will vote tactically for Labour. Where does GG get his majority from?

I can see Tory 40, Lab 40+10 (LD and Green) - say 20 to GG. So Lab 30 and GG 20.

What scenario gives GG a majority? I cannot see it.

I think the spectacular 2012 Bradford West by-election with a 36% swing is colouring views. But GG is not the fresh exciting breath of fresh air that he was. He's well past his sell by date.

No Green standing.

Even better for Labour. Most Greens will transfer to Labour not GG.

TheScreamingEagles said:

Sandpit said:

Philip_Thompson said:

Nunu3 said:

Philip_Thompson said:

Incidentally when we went to the Disneystore last week absolutely everything we looked at had a discount price sticker on it. 30% to 70% off everything.

Figured that was just because the store had been closed for so long that they had lots of stock to clear, but perhaps its an unofficial closing down sale?

No Chinese or Arab tourists.

I've never noticed many Chinese or Arab tourists in the Disney Store whenever I've been there. A lot of families with kids, and a lot of push chairs. But not many tourists.

But the parents with kids are probably shopping online much more at the minute.

Probably doesn’t make too much of a difference at the Trafford Centre. Biscester Village, on the other hand...

The Disney store in Meadowhall is always rammed.

There's going to be a lot of gutted kids, so long as the Lego store remains open then I'll be happy, oops, the kids will be hapy.

I’m not the only one looking in my study at a Saturn V, a Porsche 911 RSR, and an International Space Station then?

They've dropped the requirement to have had a negative (LFT) Covid Test in order to attend the final (sixth) day at the World Test Championship Final tomorrow, so if anyone wants to go, it's only £25, could be an exciting finish, and no worries if you don't have LFT kits hanging around at home.

dixiedean said:

Barnesian said:

DecrepiterJohnL said:

Sandpit said:

Cookie said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

I spent a small portion of my C&A winnings on Labour to hold Batley & Spen.

Not exactly confident.

I expected Labour to win this from the start, and thought they were excellent value at 3.5. George Galloway's lot have complicated things however. I still think Labour are the value bet, but what I expect to happen is a Con gain with a lot of the Muslim vote pealing off to Galloway.

Yes. I’m laying Labour in this one. GG has done it before, making certain ‘communities’ angry and turning out, in an otherwise low turnout by-election.

Galloway has just been laid from 34 to 50 in the last couple of minutes. Still only 25 to back in a thin market.

I've been laying GG heavily at 40s.

I can see him damaging Labour big time but I don't think he has a hope in hell of actually winning, even with a low turn out. The Tories will hold around 40%, many LDs and Greens will vote tactically for Labour. Where does GG get his majority from?

I can see Tory 40, Lab 40+10 (LD and Green) - say 20 to GG. So Lab 30 and GG 20.

What scenario gives GG a majority? I cannot see it.

I think the spectacular 2012 Bradford West by-election with a 36% swing is colouring views. But GG is not the fresh exciting breath of fresh air that he was. He's well past his sell by date.

No Green standing.

I have some friends in Batley & Spen who are Labour activists and they are worried that the candidate who has labelled himself as the Alliance for Green Socialism will damage Labour.

FrancisUrquhart said:

There were also strong suggestions from Gareth Southgate that Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell will be unavailable for the last-16 tie due to their self-isolation.

Obviously nothing confirmed yet but Southgate didn't seem too convinced. Big blow to lose Mount in particular?

----

Madness.....just test him every day. Its a week until the last 16 match.

AIUI depends on the game day. If we win its a day later and he is all clear, if we lose or draw he is not available for the next one. He couldnt train with the squad until the day of the match though (probably would still be picked?).

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has received a dose of Moderna as her second shot of coronavirus vaccine having had Oxford-AstraZeneca as her first, a government spokesman said.

dixiedean said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Currently England are most likely to face Germany, at home, in the second round if they win the group while Spain are the most likely opposition, in Copenhagen, should England finish second.

Who could England get if they come 3rd? Because it sounds like a good idea to throw this one..

Will be one not to miss if the Czechs decide the same!

A draw is best for England, but the Czechs will come top unless they lose. So the Czechs have either to persuade England to put the ball in their net or contrive between them to score an og. England just have to miss all their chances.

TheScreamingEagles said:

Sandpit said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Sandpit said:

Philip_Thompson said:

Nunu3 said:

Philip_Thompson said:

Incidentally when we went to the Disneystore last week absolutely everything we looked at had a discount price sticker on it. 30% to 70% off everything.

Figured that was just because the store had been closed for so long that they had lots of stock to clear, but perhaps its an unofficial closing down sale?

No Chinese or Arab tourists.

I've never noticed many Chinese or Arab tourists in the Disney Store whenever I've been there. A lot of families with kids, and a lot of push chairs. But not many tourists.

But the parents with kids are probably shopping online much more at the minute.

Probably doesn’t make too much of a difference at the Trafford Centre. Biscester Village, on the other hand...

The Disney store in Meadowhall is always rammed.

There's going to be a lot of gutted kids, so long as the Lego store remains open then I'll be happy, oops, the kids will be hapy.

I’m not the only one looking in my study at a Saturn V, a Porsche 911 RSR, and an International Space Station then?

Nope.

Have to say building epic Lego sets kept me sane during lockdown.

My wife bought me a Porsche for Christmas. And was disappointed that I’d finished it by the end of Boxing Day!

Leon said:

dixiedean said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Big_G_NorthWales said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

O/T - What the feck are Scotland doing? I hope they get knocked out tonight.

England have two players in isolation because they briefly came into contact with Billy Gilmour but no Scotland player or coaching staff have been in close contact with Billy Gilmour.

An absolute disgrace.

It just seems incredible that most everyone with Scotland were not in contact with Gilmour but two England players were

It is inexplicable and frankly absurd

I some how doubt that the footballers simply train or in their hotel rooms alone, never interacting with one another other than on the training pitch.....about as likely as finding out they aren't spending their downtime asking for nudes from Instagram "models", instead reading the works of Nietzsche.

"The true man wants 2 things:danger and play. For that reason he wants woman as the most dangerous plaything."

Not for me, Clive.

Is that Nietzsche? So true, and especially insightful from a man who had sex maybe twice

I’ve been held at gunpoint in the Lebanon, strafed by Israelis in the mountains, and attacked with a knife in Marseilles, I’ve been slammed in jail as an innocent man. I’ve overdosed on heroin multiple times, I’ve been trapped on a troop train in Siberia, I’ve been lost in the murderous desert of Sechura next a puma rape room. I’ve climbed the high lava lakes of Ethiopia, I’ve lingered in the deathliest place on earth (Yungay, Chile), I’ve broken down in Death Valley, I’ve kayaked in Antarctica with the inventor of Antarctic kayaking (who got scared by the conditions), I’ve jumped off the Dolomites with the world champion paraglider, I’ve had near-fatal heatstroke in Namibia, I’ve smoked dope through the thighbone of a springbok with the last San bushmen, and I once scored crack in Alphabet City, NYC, IN THE 80S - but nothing has fucked with my head so much as a woman. They are brutal

Quite a list of adventures for a humble flint knapper....

TheScreamingEagles said:

Malmesbury said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

FPT

O/T - Can someone explain to me why discussions of white privilege which really only started in the UK in the last few years is the reason why white working class children have had poor educational outcomes for decades?

Am I missing something major or are people talking shite?

The phrase "white privilege" is newish.

The attitude of aggressive disparagement towards the working class is not. As is the recognition that this disparagement is not applied to the same behaviours when evinced by members of protected minority groups.

I suggest you try this book by a noted right wing, reactionary extremist (Owen Jones) - https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=9781781683989

Owen Jones always talks shite.

If you look at the stats you can tell roughly where most people will end up in an educational outcome by their class and the occupation of their parents, which is why you see so many black and other non white children at the bottom of the education league tables.

My life outcome was largely determined by the fact my father was a doctor from Dore, if my father had been a bus driver from Darnall I know my life outcomes would be so much different for the worse.

Otoh a bus driver from S.London and you could be mayor of that great metropolis.
And we all know what comes after that.

Andy_JS said:

I think if the Tories don't win Batley it's more likely to be Galloway than Labour.

I think the Conservative vote is very solid in B&S, and for Galloway to win, he'd need to dominate the non-Con vote. And I just don't see that right now.

I think the most likely scenario is that Galloway takes enough from Labour to hand the seat to the Conservatives, albeit with the Conservative vote share barely changing from 2019.

TheScreamingEagles said:

dixiedean said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

dixiedean said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Northern_Al said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

FPT

O/T - Can someone explain to me why discussions of white privilege which really only started in the UK in the last few years is the reason why white working class children have had poor educational outcomes for decades?

Am I missing something major or are people talking shite?

The latter. Big time.

I've read the SC report - absolutely no evidence on the 'white privilege' thing, and as you say white w/c poor/FSM children have had the poorest educational outcomes of all social groups (except those in care) ever since meaningful data started being collected about 30 years ago.

Did they mention anything about class sizes?

As someone who was educated in class sizes of around 10-14 pupils I maintain that is one of the major reasons public schools have such good outcomes.

Even if you're the best teacher in the world you won't be able to help pupils when class sizes are approaching the mid 20s.

Approaching the mid 20s. Hmm.

Sorry, I should have said, approaching the mid 20s on average, which means class sizes of 30 might not be uncommon?

Standard at my children's school. Have taught 37. But that was many years ago.

I cannot comprehend that. I just cannot.

Taking attendance of 37 must have taken up most of the lesson.

Taking attendance? Were you in borstal? We never had that, apart from registration at the start of each day.

Sandpit said:

Leon said:

dixiedean said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Big_G_NorthWales said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

O/T - What the feck are Scotland doing? I hope they get knocked out tonight.

England have two players in isolation because they briefly came into contact with Billy Gilmour but no Scotland player or coaching staff have been in close contact with Billy Gilmour.

An absolute disgrace.

It just seems incredible that most everyone with Scotland were not in contact with Gilmour but two England players were

It is inexplicable and frankly absurd

I some how doubt that the footballers simply train or in their hotel rooms alone, never interacting with one another other than on the training pitch.....about as likely as finding out they aren't spending their downtime asking for nudes from Instagram "models", instead reading the works of Nietzsche.

"The true man wants 2 things:danger and play. For that reason he wants woman as the most dangerous plaything."

Not for me, Clive.

Is that Nietzsche? So true, and especially insightful from a man who had sex maybe twice

I’ve been held at gunpoint in the Lebanon, strafed by Israelis in the mountains, and attacked with a knife in Marseilles, I’ve been slammed in jail as an innocent man. I’ve overdosed on heroin multiple times, I’ve been trapped on a troop train in Siberia, I’ve been lost in the murderous desert of Sechura next a puma rape room. I’ve climbed the high lava lakes of Ethiopia, I’ve lingered in the deathliest place on earth (Yungay, Chile), I’ve broken down in Death Valley, I’ve kayaked in Antarctica with the inventor of Antarctic kayaking (who got scared by the conditions), I’ve jumped off the Dolomites with the world champion paraglider, I’ve had near-fatal heatstroke in Namibia, I’ve smoked dope through the thighbone of a springbok with the last San bushmen, and I once scored crack in Alphabet City, NYC, IN THE 80S - but nothing has fucked with my head so much as a woman. They are brutal

Bloody Hell, glad I don’t have the life of a flint knapper.

I could have added a dozen more

When I was about 14 and screaming from boredom in a provinicial English city, I swore to myself I would not have a boring life, and I would have loads of stories

I managed all that. But at some cost. Risk comes at a cost. To others as much as oneself

TheScreamingEagles said:

Sandpit said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Sandpit said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Sandpit said:

Philip_Thompson said:

Nunu3 said:

Philip_Thompson said:

Incidentally when we went to the Disneystore last week absolutely everything we looked at had a discount price sticker on it. 30% to 70% off everything.

Figured that was just because the store had been closed for so long that they had lots of stock to clear, but perhaps its an unofficial closing down sale?

No Chinese or Arab tourists.

I've never noticed many Chinese or Arab tourists in the Disney Store whenever I've been there. A lot of families with kids, and a lot of push chairs. But not many tourists.

But the parents with kids are probably shopping online much more at the minute.

Probably doesn’t make too much of a difference at the Trafford Centre. Biscester Village, on the other hand...

The Disney store in Meadowhall is always rammed.

There's going to be a lot of gutted kids, so long as the Lego store remains open then I'll be happy, oops, the kids will be hapy.

I’m not the only one looking in my study at a Saturn V, a Porsche 911 RSR, and an International Space Station then?

Nope.

Have to say building epic Lego sets kept me sane during lockdown.

My wife bought me a Porsche for Christmas. And was disappointed that I’d finished it by the end of Boxing Day!

Heh.

My kids lost interest in Lego around the time I bought them a Playstation, which was back in 2016.

Curiously the family spend on Lego has gone up since 2016.

Can you get a PS5 retail in the U.K. yet? Still no sign of them out here, except for a few scalpers