The change in Johnson’s approval rating region by region – politicalbetting.com

isam said:

kinabalu said:

isam said:

Mexicanpete said:

isam said:

Mexicanpete said:

isam said:

The state of play Leader Ratings wise, between Boris and Sir Keir

Dark Blue is Boris Gross Positives, Light Blue his Net Satisfaction, and the same in Red for Sir Keir. As I have been saying, in Electoral Cycles there is ebb and flow - For a long while Sr Keir led on Net Satisfaction, then Boris was walking it, now it it is more level.

You'd never have guessed

I think I can explain Johnson's fluctuating net positives. Perception was, he invented and procured Covid busting vaccines that the rest of our former EU colleagues singularity and as an alliance failed so to do. There was more than a grain of truth in this statement and as the incumbent he rightly took the spoils. He needs something equally impressive to repeat the pattern. I can't imagine what that might be. I wait with bated breath. It's not beyond the realms of possibility that whatever it will be, it might come to pass.

On the other hand Starmer is dreary, but in the near future dreary might be of the moment.

"... in the near future dreary might be of the moment". That has been the hope all along.

I have actually missed out the last YouGov for Sir Keir there, where he scored -40 (20/60)

The women in Labour's Shad Cab have so much more zip and energy about them. I am amazed Labour went for an old, white, man again.

Less of the old. He's younger than me!

59, not that old actually I suppose. I thought he was in his early 60s

Would have thought you'd be all over that sort of core data on your specialist subject.

More of a hobby.

I didn't want to get to you like this, I thought you could be quite funny at times.

You're not a moderator are you. That wouldn't end well for me

What more can I do than apologise for calling Boris "Boris", and Sir Keir, "Sir Keir", and leave you to police those who refer to them as "Bozo", "Shagger" "Liar" "Worzel", "Keith" etc

kinabalu said:

maaarsh said:

kinabalu said:

maaarsh said:

isam said:

MattW said:

NickPalmer said:

Farooq said:

The beauty of the English language is it's a mongrel and there are several ways to say the same things.
It problem is it gives us different registers and people get judged unconsciously on the basis of which words they use. For example "to buy" / "to purchase".

That's an interesting point that I'd not consciously thought about but use all the time in my spare-time translation/revision work. I was revising someone's translation yesterday of an Austrian Government statement. The translation was fine, but it routinely used everyday language - abbreviations like "we're" and "it'd", "got" instead of "received", ""thought about" instead of "considered", etc. Without even thinking about it I changed it to the more formal usage everywhere, on the basis that this is what a government would want. Just being old-fashioned, perhaps actulaly making public statements less accessible, or bein gappropriate to the subject?

Perhaps they have a target value for maximum value of Fog Index . http://gunning-fog-index.com/

At least it wasn't "gotten".

The best subtle misuse of an apostrophe I have seen for ages was on France24 this week in a subtitle:
"France's lagging behind its environmental goals."
https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/france-in-focus/20211105-reaching-carbon-neutrality-why-france-lags-behind-on-its-environmental-goals

The Times article on Yorkshire CCC used "checkered" rather than "chequered" - First thing on a Sunday morning I had to "check" the correct spelling. Americanised

It also said that Gary Ballance and Azeem Rafiq often used unsvaoury language to address each other in a jokey way ("Zimbo" and "P-word" I would imagine). Apparently they were good friends and holidayed together at Ballance's place in South Africa. Not what I expected to read given what I had seen reported

The reporting on the Ballance 'apology' was amazing.

Actually reading it, what he really thinks is very clear.

And is ?? ...

https://yorkshireccc.com/news/view/9620/statement-by-gary-ballance

Doesn't read to me like someone who considers themselves justly bang to rights by an innocent injured party.

I see what you mean. Contrition isn't exactly shining out there, is it. Essentially saying the p*** stuff was all friendly banter between mates, he had no idea it was a problem, is surprised to discover now that it was. More than a hint that Rafiq is the one more in the wrong - having also dished out some edgy bantz and compounded this by turning grass years later.

Big_G_NorthWales said:

My daughter has just sent me a photo of David Jones MPs vandalised office in Colwyn Bay

It is inexcusable, but if any conservative thinks this has not cut through they are in denial

This is Boris's biggest crisis, and if the rank and file conservative mps have any sense

Sandpit said:

ping said:

malcolmg said:

Gallowgate said:

Fysics_Teacher said:

Gallowgate said:

rottenborough said:

(((Dan Hodges)))
@DPJHodges
·
16m
I don't know why people think this is so hard. Just ban second jobs. If it means MPs can't do shifts in A&E that's a shame. But there's a bigger issue at stake here.

My contract of employment forbids me from having a second job. That’s fairly normal I think.

Does your contract also include a provision that means you have to reapply for the job at unspecified intervals, but no more than five years apart?

Being an MP is NOT a job, it is an elected position.

No, but that’s why they’re paid 80-odd K a year.

Plus huge amounts of expenses and can claim anything , can employ their families , gold plated pensions and big pay offs when found out.

The pensions aren’t anything to write home about, as per Nick P’s comment upthread.

MP’s gold plated pensions are a myth.

An MP pension is astonishing, even by the standards of the most gold plated of the public sector pensions.

Ask how much you’d have to put into a private pension, to get a £10k index-linked annuity from 13 years’ contributions?

(NP makes very good points about having to give up a career for Parliament, if we want to find good people we do need to look at how they are rewarded for their service. The pension does reflect to some extent, the somewhat higher risk of getting fired, than for your average civil servant).

Mexicanpete said:

isam said:

kinabalu said:

isam said:

Mexicanpete said:

isam said:

Mexicanpete said:

isam said:

The state of play Leader Ratings wise, between Boris and Sir Keir

Dark Blue is Boris Gross Positives, Light Blue his Net Satisfaction, and the same in Red for Sir Keir. As I have been saying, in Electoral Cycles there is ebb and flow - For a long while Sr Keir led on Net Satisfaction, then Boris was walking it, now it it is more level.

You'd never have guessed

I think I can explain Johnson's fluctuating net positives. Perception was, he invented and procured Covid busting vaccines that the rest of our former EU colleagues singularity and as an alliance failed so to do. There was more than a grain of truth in this statement and as the incumbent he rightly took the spoils. He needs something equally impressive to repeat the pattern. I can't imagine what that might be. I wait with bated breath. It's not beyond the realms of possibility that whatever it will be, it might come to pass.

On the other hand Starmer is dreary, but in the near future dreary might be of the moment.

"... in the near future dreary might be of the moment". That has been the hope all along.

I have actually missed out the last YouGov for Sir Keir there, where he scored -40 (20/60)

The women in Labour's Shad Cab have so much more zip and energy about them. I am amazed Labour went for an old, white, man again.

Less of the old. He's younger than me!

59, not that old actually I suppose. I thought he was in his early 60s

Would have thought you'd be all over that sort of core data on your specialist subject.

More of a hobby.

I didn't want to get to you like this, I thought you could be quite funny at times.

You're not a moderator are you. That wouldn't end well for me

What more can I do than apologise for calling Boris "Boris", and Sir Keir, "Sir Keir", and leave you to police those who refer to them as "Bozo", "Shagger" "Liar" "Worzel", "Keith" etc

Worzel works, doesn't it? But if you don't mind I'll keep referring to the PM as Johnson.

kinabalu said:

isam said:

kinabalu said:

kjh said:

MaxPB said:

kjh said:

MaxPB said:

kjh said:

MaxPB said:

Leon said:

RochdalePioneers said:

Anabobazina said:

@RochdalePioneers FPT

Right, let me clarify your response.

You would mandate mask wearing in England now. Okay. You would introduce a law that makes it illegal to visit pubs, bars, theatres, clubs and shops without a mask. That’s a very significant imposition.

Would you then also mandate vaccination in England from today?

?

Where did I say ban visiting pubs etc? They aren't banned up here or in Germany or in the rest of the world that hasn't been as daft as England in dropping the requirement to wear masks. England - like the rest of the developed world - should have maintained a mask mandate.

You didn't. you can't put the genie back in the bottle. Politically any new restrictions will be difficult because so many people down there think its all over. Hence the need for Plan B, Plan C, "Jabbed or Christmas gets it" etc etc

You keep asking what I think. I don't think. But I listen to what Whitty, Vallance, Van-Tam, Taylor etc think. I know nothing on this subject, I am not a doctor or a virologist or someone qualified to disagree with them. Unlike you and many on here apparently.

Jesus Christ, Jonathan Van-Tam, the "qualified" man you revere on this issue, famously said "masks are useless, my friend in Hong Kong told me" (this despite everyone in Hong Kong wearing a mask. Odd that)

He's a fricking idiot. You are pathetically grovelling to establishment half-wits. Grow a spine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx4u3t4v8cA

Go to 0:54

You misunderstand RP, he wants the government to u-turn on plan b or c or masks regardless of what's actually happening on the ground. If England (and the rest of the UK) has hit herd immunity and we continue to see the current big drops in cases it will prove the UK government position was right (run hot in the summer and autumn, no restrictions) and that Europe was wrong (prevent spread, retain NPIs). In his small world the UK is always wrong and Europe always right. This would upend that as European countries head into lockdown 4 and the UK exits the pandemic entirely.

Just look at his bluster over the supposedly failing booster programme which has now done 10m doses. The facts don't matter to him, just that the UK is always wrong and Europe always right. Weirdly he voted leave. 🤷‍♂️

Max you are accusing RP of hating the UK and loving Europe just like you were with me. I think we can argue about stuff without resorting to people's lack of patriotism.

Re the 3rd jab it did start as a bit of a shambles but then got turned around pretty impressively. I saw the change in action as I was on the verge of my booster when it was all wrong and with in a couple of weeks they turned it around to become a very effective experience. The 1st two were very successful throughout I thought.

EU lovers do stick together!

The shambles was because the NHS management decided it would take complete control of the third jab rollout rather than leave it to the same people that did the initial roll out. About two weeks ago the Saj handed it all back to the private company and as if by magic people can book appointments easily and get provisioned a month in advance of their expected eligibility. If he hadn't done that we'd be relying on letters and phone calls to get appointments. Well I wouldn't because I'm not allowed one. 😭

I agree with your post, but just because we 'love' the EU doesn't mean we hate the UK. We don't.

I think it does, the EU is a hostile entity to the UK, it is no longer any kind of ally to us.

Well it doesn't because I don't hate the UK and I do like the EU. So by definition it isn't true. You really do need to stop thinking Remainers are all anti the UK. We are not. We just disagreed on leaving. Nothing more than that.

It's similar to the "Boris haters are rooting for lots of Covid deaths and a massive recession so as to bring him down" - ie the false association of disliking British government policy with traitorously rooting against Britain and its people. Arrant smeary nonsense.

Blimey the nerve was more than touched!

What do you want me to call Sir Keir? I'll do it, I'm sorry. I hate to be such a bad person, you can set the rules

You're being a touch 'hair trigger' there, isam. The 'arrant smeary nonsense' I was referencing is depressingly widespread.

But now you mention it, yes. Let's have a post from you - and why not make it the next one - where you write 'Johnson' for the beloved and 'Starmer' for the hate object.

Just the one, to show you can do it, then back to 'bau'.

Nigelb said:

Sandpit said:

ping said:

malcolmg said:

Gallowgate said:

Fysics_Teacher said:

Gallowgate said:

rottenborough said:

(((Dan Hodges)))
@DPJHodges
·
16m
I don't know why people think this is so hard. Just ban second jobs. If it means MPs can't do shifts in A&E that's a shame. But there's a bigger issue at stake here.

My contract of employment forbids me from having a second job. That’s fairly normal I think.

Does your contract also include a provision that means you have to reapply for the job at unspecified intervals, but no more than five years apart?

Being an MP is NOT a job, it is an elected position.

No, but that’s why they’re paid 80-odd K a year.

Plus huge amounts of expenses and can claim anything , can employ their families , gold plated pensions and big pay offs when found out.

The pensions aren’t anything to write home about, as per Nick P’s comment upthread.

MP’s gold plated pensions are a myth.

An MP pension is astonishing, even by the standards of the most gold plated of the public sector pensions.

Ask how much you’d have to put into a private pension, to get a £10k index-linked annuity from 13 years’ contributions?

(NP makes very good points about having to give up a career for Parliament, if we want to find good people we do need to look at how they are rewarded for their service. The pension does reflect to some extent, the somewhat higher risk of getting fired, than for your average civil servant).

For those in safe seats, the pensions are gold plated indeed.
For those like Nick, who interrupted a decent career to run for Parliament, and the got turfed out, it’s a little hyperbolic to describe them as such.

I would rather MPs receive decent remuneration than have them sell their souls to Randox et al.

alex_ said:

malcolmg said:

ping said:

malcolmg said:

Gallowgate said:

Fysics_Teacher said:

Gallowgate said:

rottenborough said:

(((Dan Hodges)))
@DPJHodges
·
16m
I don't know why people think this is so hard. Just ban second jobs. If it means MPs can't do shifts in A&E that's a shame. But there's a bigger issue at stake here.

My contract of employment forbids me from having a second job. That’s fairly normal I think.

Does your contract also include a provision that means you have to reapply for the job at unspecified intervals, but no more than five years apart?

Being an MP is NOT a job, it is an elected position.

No, but that’s why they’re paid 80-odd K a year.

Plus huge amounts of expenses and can claim anything , can employ their families , gold plated pensions and big pay offs when found out.

The pensions aren’t anything to write home about, as per Nick P’s comment upthread.

MP’s gold plated pensions are a myth.

10K after just 10 years is hugely more than your average person gets, would mean pot well over 200K. Most people have a fraction of that after full working life.

13 years. Your average person on £80k per year?

Of course it's similarly "gold plated" but LGPS would pay £21k (9.9% contribution p.a.)

Big_G_NorthWales said:

My daughter has just sent me a photo of David Jones MPs vandalised office in Colwyn Bay

It is inexcusable, but if any conservative thinks this has not cut through they are in denial

This is Boris's biggest crisis, and if the rank and file conservative mps have any sense they will be issuing direct warnings to no 10 to clean up his act or go

maaarsh said:

Cases down 25% on last week again in England. Lowest reported figure since the 19th of September.

isam said:

Mexicanpete said:

isam said:

kinabalu said:

isam said:

Mexicanpete said:

isam said:

Mexicanpete said:

isam said:

The state of play Leader Ratings wise, between Boris and Sir Keir

Dark Blue is Boris Gross Positives, Light Blue his Net Satisfaction, and the same in Red for Sir Keir. As I have been saying, in Electoral Cycles there is ebb and flow - For a long while Sr Keir led on Net Satisfaction, then Boris was walking it, now it it is more level.

You'd never have guessed

I think I can explain Johnson's fluctuating net positives. Perception was, he invented and procured Covid busting vaccines that the rest of our former EU colleagues singularity and as an alliance failed so to do. There was more than a grain of truth in this statement and as the incumbent he rightly took the spoils. He needs something equally impressive to repeat the pattern. I can't imagine what that might be. I wait with bated breath. It's not beyond the realms of possibility that whatever it will be, it might come to pass.

On the other hand Starmer is dreary, but in the near future dreary might be of the moment.

"... in the near future dreary might be of the moment". That has been the hope all along.

I have actually missed out the last YouGov for Sir Keir there, where he scored -40 (20/60)

The women in Labour's Shad Cab have so much more zip and energy about them. I am amazed Labour went for an old, white, man again.

Less of the old. He's younger than me!

59, not that old actually I suppose. I thought he was in his early 60s

Would have thought you'd be all over that sort of core data on your specialist subject.

More of a hobby.

I didn't want to get to you like this, I thought you could be quite funny at times.

You're not a moderator are you. That wouldn't end well for me

What more can I do than apologise for calling Boris "Boris", and Sir Keir, "Sir Keir", and leave you to police those who refer to them as "Bozo", "Shagger" "Liar" "Worzel", "Keith" etc

Worzel works, doesn't it? But if you don't mind I'll keep referring to the PM as Johnson.

@Kinabalu makes the rules, not me

RochdalePioneers said:

Big_G_NorthWales said:

My daughter has just sent me a photo of David Jones MPs vandalised office in Colwyn Bay

It is inexcusable, but if any conservative thinks this has not cut through they are in denial

This is Boris's biggest crisis, and if the rank and file conservative mps have any sense they will be issuing direct warnings to no 10 to clean up his act or go

Its awful that he has been attacked - an attack on the MP's office is an attack on the MP.

I wholly agree with you about this cutting through and we've both been saying this since it started - this is *massive*. The reason why the apologists think it will just go away is that other things have gone away and anyway the story is over. Isn't it?

No, it isn't. If we had seen the last instance of Tory corruption then perhaps after a period of anger it would have faded. But we haven't. We've barely scratched the surface, and many of the things that have featured on here but barely registered are now coming back with a "they've done WHAT?" reaction. Like PPE contracts awarded without tender to donors who trouser our money and don't actually deliver.

How can Boris clean his act up? This is who he is?

kinabalu said:

isam said:

Mexicanpete said:

isam said:

kinabalu said:

isam said:

Mexicanpete said:

isam said:

Mexicanpete said:

isam said:

The state of play Leader Ratings wise, between Boris and Sir Keir

Dark Blue is Boris Gross Positives, Light Blue his Net Satisfaction, and the same in Red for Sir Keir. As I have been saying, in Electoral Cycles there is ebb and flow - For a long while Sr Keir led on Net Satisfaction, then Boris was walking it, now it it is more level.

You'd never have guessed

I think I can explain Johnson's fluctuating net positives. Perception was, he invented and procured Covid busting vaccines that the rest of our former EU colleagues singularity and as an alliance failed so to do. There was more than a grain of truth in this statement and as the incumbent he rightly took the spoils. He needs something equally impressive to repeat the pattern. I can't imagine what that might be. I wait with bated breath. It's not beyond the realms of possibility that whatever it will be, it might come to pass.

On the other hand Starmer is dreary, but in the near future dreary might be of the moment.

"... in the near future dreary might be of the moment". That has been the hope all along.

I have actually missed out the last YouGov for Sir Keir there, where he scored -40 (20/60)

The women in Labour's Shad Cab have so much more zip and energy about them. I am amazed Labour went for an old, white, man again.

Less of the old. He's younger than me!

59, not that old actually I suppose. I thought he was in his early 60s

Would have thought you'd be all over that sort of core data on your specialist subject.

More of a hobby.

I didn't want to get to you like this, I thought you could be quite funny at times.

You're not a moderator are you. That wouldn't end well for me

What more can I do than apologise for calling Boris "Boris", and Sir Keir, "Sir Keir", and leave you to police those who refer to them as "Bozo", "Shagger" "Liar" "Worzel", "Keith" etc

Worzel works, doesn't it? But if you don't mind I'll keep referring to the PM as Johnson.

@Kinabalu makes the rules, not me

If only. Then I wouldn't be reduced to pleading like this.

But c'mon, please and pretty please - just try a little "Johnson" and "Starmer" in one little post.

What's the worst that could happen?

maaarsh said:

and we're now over 10m boosters. Unless Pfizer have been cooking their studies, there's no way hospital usage doesn't move from moderate to tiny over the next 2 months.

Philip_Thompson said:

maaarsh said:

and we're now over 10m boosters. Unless Pfizer have been cooking their studies, there's no way hospital usage doesn't move from moderate to tiny over the next 2 months.

Apart from Darwin award nominated antivaxxers.

Once the boosters are done with the over 50s it should be expanded to all adults.

algarkirk said:

In betting terms a bit of caution is required. After all this stuff in recent times three facts stand out:
The Tories are still in the lead in the polls
Labour is not ahead in the public mind about who is competent to be the government.
Labour can't win the next election outright, and almost certainly can't win at all without the SNP.

All politics is relative. Just as important as how rubbish the Tories are being, is the issue of alternative governments. At the last election only one party was in the running to run the country after the Brexit referendum, and they won. It may be no different next time.

What Boris is good at is campaigning. At the next election either Boris will be doing what he does best - winning elections - or he will have been replaced by someone who isn't tarnished in the same way as Boris.

When Major hit his sleaze problems he faced formidable brilliance from Labour. Boris doesn't.

Anabobazina said:

I’m a big @kinabalu fan, but cannot see why @isam deserves censure for calling Boris and Sir Keir by their given names.

He always spells Keir’s name correctly, which is more than can be said for several other geniuses on here.

JohnLilburne said:

Anabobazina said:

I’m a big @kinabalu fan, but cannot see why @isam deserves censure for calling Boris and Sir Keir by their given names.

He always spells Keir’s name correctly, which is more than can be said for several other geniuses on here.

And indeed it is normal to refer to knights as Sir Firstname, even in formal contexts.

JBriskin3 said:

JohnLilburne said:

Anabobazina said:

I’m a big @kinabalu fan, but cannot see why @isam deserves censure for calling Boris and Sir Keir by their given names.

He always spells Keir’s name correctly, which is more than can be said for several other geniuses on here.

And indeed it is normal to refer to knights as Sir Firstname, even in formal contexts.

Indeed - A point I've been making for a while. Why doesn't Linsay Hoyle?

JBriskin3 said:

I came here for Pakistan V Scotland talk

And all I got was Palmer Pension talk

isam said:

kinabalu said:

isam said:

kinabalu said:

kjh said:

MaxPB said:

kjh said:

MaxPB said:

kjh said:

MaxPB said:

Leon said:

RochdalePioneers said:

Anabobazina said:

@RochdalePioneers FPT

Right, let me clarify your response.

You would mandate mask wearing in England now. Okay. You would introduce a law that makes it illegal to visit pubs, bars, theatres, clubs and shops without a mask. That’s a very significant imposition.

Would you then also mandate vaccination in England from today?

?

Where did I say ban visiting pubs etc? They aren't banned up here or in Germany or in the rest of the world that hasn't been as daft as England in dropping the requirement to wear masks. England - like the rest of the developed world - should have maintained a mask mandate.

You didn't. you can't put the genie back in the bottle. Politically any new restrictions will be difficult because so many people down there think its all over. Hence the need for Plan B, Plan C, "Jabbed or Christmas gets it" etc etc

You keep asking what I think. I don't think. But I listen to what Whitty, Vallance, Van-Tam, Taylor etc think. I know nothing on this subject, I am not a doctor or a virologist or someone qualified to disagree with them. Unlike you and many on here apparently.

Jesus Christ, Jonathan Van-Tam, the "qualified" man you revere on this issue, famously said "masks are useless, my friend in Hong Kong told me" (this despite everyone in Hong Kong wearing a mask. Odd that)

He's a fricking idiot. You are pathetically grovelling to establishment half-wits. Grow a spine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx4u3t4v8cA

Go to 0:54

You misunderstand RP, he wants the government to u-turn on plan b or c or masks regardless of what's actually happening on the ground. If England (and the rest of the UK) has hit herd immunity and we continue to see the current big drops in cases it will prove the UK government position was right (run hot in the summer and autumn, no restrictions) and that Europe was wrong (prevent spread, retain NPIs). In his small world the UK is always wrong and Europe always right. This would upend that as European countries head into lockdown 4 and the UK exits the pandemic entirely.

Just look at his bluster over the supposedly failing booster programme which has now done 10m doses. The facts don't matter to him, just that the UK is always wrong and Europe always right. Weirdly he voted leave. 🤷‍♂️

Max you are accusing RP of hating the UK and loving Europe just like you were with me. I think we can argue about stuff without resorting to people's lack of patriotism.

Re the 3rd jab it did start as a bit of a shambles but then got turned around pretty impressively. I saw the change in action as I was on the verge of my booster when it was all wrong and with in a couple of weeks they turned it around to become a very effective experience. The 1st two were very successful throughout I thought.

EU lovers do stick together!

The shambles was because the NHS management decided it would take complete control of the third jab rollout rather than leave it to the same people that did the initial roll out. About two weeks ago the Saj handed it all back to the private company and as if by magic people can book appointments easily and get provisioned a month in advance of their expected eligibility. If he hadn't done that we'd be relying on letters and phone calls to get appointments. Well I wouldn't because I'm not allowed one. 😭

I agree with your post, but just because we 'love' the EU doesn't mean we hate the UK. We don't.

I think it does, the EU is a hostile entity to the UK, it is no longer any kind of ally to us.

Well it doesn't because I don't hate the UK and I do like the EU. So by definition it isn't true. You really do need to stop thinking Remainers are all anti the UK. We are not. We just disagreed on leaving. Nothing more than that.

It's similar to the "Boris haters are rooting for lots of Covid deaths and a massive recession so as to bring him down" - ie the false association of disliking British government policy with traitorously rooting against Britain and its people. Arrant smeary nonsense.

Blimey the nerve was more than touched!

What do you want me to call Sir Keir? I'll do it, I'm sorry. I hate to be such a bad person, you can set the rules

You're being a touch 'hair trigger' there, isam. The 'arrant smeary nonsense' I was referencing is depressingly widespread.

But now you mention it, yes. Let's have a post from you - and why not make it the next one - where you write 'Johnson' for the beloved and 'Starmer' for the hate object.

Just the one, to show you can do it, then back to 'bau'.

Listen I know you despise passive aggressive behaviour, but, as they are both playing this afternoon, just want to confirm I support Arsenal not West Ham, and am not a particular fan of Ray Winstone. Thanks for the compliment on my use of a long word yesterday too

kinabalu said:

isam said:

kinabalu said:

isam said:

kinabalu said:

kjh said:

MaxPB said:

kjh said:

MaxPB said:

kjh said:

MaxPB said:

Leon said:

RochdalePioneers said:

Anabobazina said:

@RochdalePioneers FPT

Right, let me clarify your response.

You would mandate mask wearing in England now. Okay. You would introduce a law that makes it illegal to visit pubs, bars, theatres, clubs and shops without a mask. That’s a very significant imposition.

Would you then also mandate vaccination in England from today?

?

Where did I say ban visiting pubs etc? They aren't banned up here or in Germany or in the rest of the world that hasn't been as daft as England in dropping the requirement to wear masks. England - like the rest of the developed world - should have maintained a mask mandate.

You didn't. you can't put the genie back in the bottle. Politically any new restrictions will be difficult because so many people down there think its all over. Hence the need for Plan B, Plan C, "Jabbed or Christmas gets it" etc etc

You keep asking what I think. I don't think. But I listen to what Whitty, Vallance, Van-Tam, Taylor etc think. I know nothing on this subject, I am not a doctor or a virologist or someone qualified to disagree with them. Unlike you and many on here apparently.

Jesus Christ, Jonathan Van-Tam, the "qualified" man you revere on this issue, famously said "masks are useless, my friend in Hong Kong told me" (this despite everyone in Hong Kong wearing a mask. Odd that)

He's a fricking idiot. You are pathetically grovelling to establishment half-wits. Grow a spine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx4u3t4v8cA

Go to 0:54

You misunderstand RP, he wants the government to u-turn on plan b or c or masks regardless of what's actually happening on the ground. If England (and the rest of the UK) has hit herd immunity and we continue to see the current big drops in cases it will prove the UK government position was right (run hot in the summer and autumn, no restrictions) and that Europe was wrong (prevent spread, retain NPIs). In his small world the UK is always wrong and Europe always right. This would upend that as European countries head into lockdown 4 and the UK exits the pandemic entirely.

Just look at his bluster over the supposedly failing booster programme which has now done 10m doses. The facts don't matter to him, just that the UK is always wrong and Europe always right. Weirdly he voted leave. 🤷‍♂️

Max you are accusing RP of hating the UK and loving Europe just like you were with me. I think we can argue about stuff without resorting to people's lack of patriotism.

Re the 3rd jab it did start as a bit of a shambles but then got turned around pretty impressively. I saw the change in action as I was on the verge of my booster when it was all wrong and with in a couple of weeks they turned it around to become a very effective experience. The 1st two were very successful throughout I thought.

EU lovers do stick together!

The shambles was because the NHS management decided it would take complete control of the third jab rollout rather than leave it to the same people that did the initial roll out. About two weeks ago the Saj handed it all back to the private company and as if by magic people can book appointments easily and get provisioned a month in advance of their expected eligibility. If he hadn't done that we'd be relying on letters and phone calls to get appointments. Well I wouldn't because I'm not allowed one. 😭

I agree with your post, but just because we 'love' the EU doesn't mean we hate the UK. We don't.

I think it does, the EU is a hostile entity to the UK, it is no longer any kind of ally to us.

Well it doesn't because I don't hate the UK and I do like the EU. So by definition it isn't true. You really do need to stop thinking Remainers are all anti the UK. We are not. We just disagreed on leaving. Nothing more than that.

It's similar to the "Boris haters are rooting for lots of Covid deaths and a massive recession so as to bring him down" - ie the false association of disliking British government policy with traitorously rooting against Britain and its people. Arrant smeary nonsense.

Blimey the nerve was more than touched!

What do you want me to call Sir Keir? I'll do it, I'm sorry. I hate to be such a bad person, you can set the rules

You're being a touch 'hair trigger' there, isam. The 'arrant smeary nonsense' I was referencing is depressingly widespread.

But now you mention it, yes. Let's have a post from you - and why not make it the next one - where you write 'Johnson' for the beloved and 'Starmer' for the hate object.

Just the one, to show you can do it, then back to 'bau'.

Listen I know you despise passive aggressive behaviour, but, as they are both playing this afternoon, just want to confirm I support Arsenal not West Ham, and am not a particular fan of Ray Winstone. Thanks for the compliment on my use of a long word yesterday too

Yes, the Arse, with West Ham as your 2nd favs, I know. I don't forget things. And if you now say you're no fan of Winstone and in fact wouldn't like him as London Mayor instead of Khan, then I'll accept that as the truth.

But I truly don't understand why you won't do just the one quick post using Johnson/Starmer syntax. I hate all this "Boris" and "Sir Keir" - make no bones about that - but I am able to do it. Look,

Boris is imo more charismatic than Sir Keir. See? And I'm still alive.

All you need to do is the opposite, type "Johnson is imo more charismatic than Starmer" and press 'post' on that. If you do, that's it, this thing is over and you won't hear another word about it, least from me.

JohnLilburne said:

kinabalu said:

isam said:

kinabalu said:

isam said:

kinabalu said:

kjh said:

MaxPB said:

kjh said:

MaxPB said:

kjh said:

MaxPB said:

Leon said:

RochdalePioneers said:

Anabobazina said:

@RochdalePioneers FPT

Right, let me clarify your response.

You would mandate mask wearing in England now. Okay. You would introduce a law that makes it illegal to visit pubs, bars, theatres, clubs and shops without a mask. That’s a very significant imposition.

Would you then also mandate vaccination in England from today?

?

Where did I say ban visiting pubs etc? They aren't banned up here or in Germany or in the rest of the world that hasn't been as daft as England in dropping the requirement to wear masks. England - like the rest of the developed world - should have maintained a mask mandate.

You didn't. you can't put the genie back in the bottle. Politically any new restrictions will be difficult because so many people down there think its all over. Hence the need for Plan B, Plan C, "Jabbed or Christmas gets it" etc etc

You keep asking what I think. I don't think. But I listen to what Whitty, Vallance, Van-Tam, Taylor etc think. I know nothing on this subject, I am not a doctor or a virologist or someone qualified to disagree with them. Unlike you and many on here apparently.

Jesus Christ, Jonathan Van-Tam, the "qualified" man you revere on this issue, famously said "masks are useless, my friend in Hong Kong told me" (this despite everyone in Hong Kong wearing a mask. Odd that)

He's a fricking idiot. You are pathetically grovelling to establishment half-wits. Grow a spine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx4u3t4v8cA

Go to 0:54

You misunderstand RP, he wants the government to u-turn on plan b or c or masks regardless of what's actually happening on the ground. If England (and the rest of the UK) has hit herd immunity and we continue to see the current big drops in cases it will prove the UK government position was right (run hot in the summer and autumn, no restrictions) and that Europe was wrong (prevent spread, retain NPIs). In his small world the UK is always wrong and Europe always right. This would upend that as European countries head into lockdown 4 and the UK exits the pandemic entirely.

Just look at his bluster over the supposedly failing booster programme which has now done 10m doses. The facts don't matter to him, just that the UK is always wrong and Europe always right. Weirdly he voted leave. 🤷‍♂️

Max you are accusing RP of hating the UK and loving Europe just like you were with me. I think we can argue about stuff without resorting to people's lack of patriotism.

Re the 3rd jab it did start as a bit of a shambles but then got turned around pretty impressively. I saw the change in action as I was on the verge of my booster when it was all wrong and with in a couple of weeks they turned it around to become a very effective experience. The 1st two were very successful throughout I thought.

EU lovers do stick together!

The shambles was because the NHS management decided it would take complete control of the third jab rollout rather than leave it to the same people that did the initial roll out. About two weeks ago the Saj handed it all back to the private company and as if by magic people can book appointments easily and get provisioned a month in advance of their expected eligibility. If he hadn't done that we'd be relying on letters and phone calls to get appointments. Well I wouldn't because I'm not allowed one. 😭

I agree with your post, but just because we 'love' the EU doesn't mean we hate the UK. We don't.

I think it does, the EU is a hostile entity to the UK, it is no longer any kind of ally to us.

Well it doesn't because I don't hate the UK and I do like the EU. So by definition it isn't true. You really do need to stop thinking Remainers are all anti the UK. We are not. We just disagreed on leaving. Nothing more than that.

It's similar to the "Boris haters are rooting for lots of Covid deaths and a massive recession so as to bring him down" - ie the false association of disliking British government policy with traitorously rooting against Britain and its people. Arrant smeary nonsense.

Blimey the nerve was more than touched!

What do you want me to call Sir Keir? I'll do it, I'm sorry. I hate to be such a bad person, you can set the rules

You're being a touch 'hair trigger' there, isam. The 'arrant smeary nonsense' I was referencing is depressingly widespread.

But now you mention it, yes. Let's have a post from you - and why not make it the next one - where you write 'Johnson' for the beloved and 'Starmer' for the hate object.

Just the one, to show you can do it, then back to 'bau'.

Listen I know you despise passive aggressive behaviour, but, as they are both playing this afternoon, just want to confirm I support Arsenal not West Ham, and am not a particular fan of Ray Winstone. Thanks for the compliment on my use of a long word yesterday too

Yes, the Arse, with West Ham as your 2nd favs, I know. I don't forget things. And if you now say you're no fan of Winstone and in fact wouldn't like him as London Mayor instead of Khan, then I'll accept that as the truth.

But I truly don't understand why you won't do just the one quick post using Johnson/Starmer syntax. I hate all this "Boris" and "Sir Keir" - make no bones about that - but I am able to do it. Look,

Boris is imo more charismatic than Sir Keir. See? And I'm still alive.

All you need to do is the opposite, type "Johnson is imo more charismatic than Starmer" and press 'post' on that. If you do, that's it, this thing is over and you won't hear another word about it, least from me.

Actually it should be "Mr Johnson is more charismatic than Sir Keir".

JBriskin3 said:

I came here for Pakistan V Scotland talk

And all I got was Palmer Pension talk

kle4 said:

RochdalePioneers said:

Big_G_NorthWales said:

My daughter has just sent me a photo of David Jones MPs vandalised office in Colwyn Bay

It is inexcusable, but if any conservative thinks this has not cut through they are in denial

This is Boris's biggest crisis, and if the rank and file conservative mps have any sense they will be issuing direct warnings to no 10 to clean up his act or go

Its awful that he has been attacked - an attack on the MP's office is an attack on the MP.

I wholly agree with you about this cutting through and we've both been saying this since it started - this is *massive*. The reason why the apologists think it will just go away is that other things have gone away and anyway the story is over. Isn't it?

No, it isn't. If we had seen the last instance of Tory corruption then perhaps after a period of anger it would have faded. But we haven't. We've barely scratched the surface, and many of the things that have featured on here but barely registered are now coming back with a "they've done WHAT?" reaction. Like PPE contracts awarded without tender to donors who trouser our money and don't actually deliver.

How can Boris clean his act up? This is who he is?

In a way its cut through a bit precisely as it's so petty, much like some of the stupider expenses scandals. Despite false words to the contrary the timing and urgency showed it was about protecting a chum. That takes the piss and has no proper justification.

Anabobazina said:

CarlottaVance said:

7 day avg for kids cases now lower than it was on September 6th, & down 49% from its peak. I guess that's the reason they've just started masking loads of kids, cancelling their schools discoes, nativity plays, etc?

https://twitter.com/andrew_lilico/status/1457382224119189506?s=20

If this is occurring (and I have no reason to doubt Lilico, although I suspect his evidence is largely anecdotal), it is scandalous. At some stage, the DfE will surely be asked to step in: my sense is that nobody is sense-checking LEAs. Perhaps @ydoethur can illuminate us, as I believe he teaches just this side of Offa’s Dyke?

CarlottaVance said:

Anabobazina said:

CarlottaVance said:

7 day avg for kids cases now lower than it was on September 6th, & down 49% from its peak. I guess that's the reason they've just started masking loads of kids, cancelling their schools discoes, nativity plays, etc?

https://twitter.com/andrew_lilico/status/1457382224119189506?s=20

If this is occurring (and I have no reason to doubt Lilico, although I suspect his evidence is largely anecdotal), it is scandalous. At some stage, the DfE will surely be asked to step in: my sense is that nobody is sense-checking LEAs. Perhaps @ydoethur can illuminate us, as I believe he teaches just this side of Offa’s Dyke?

I think and certainly hope he's being sarcastic and taking a dig at iSage...

JohnLilburne said:

kinabalu said:

maaarsh said:

kinabalu said:

maaarsh said:

isam said:

MattW said:

NickPalmer said:

Farooq said:

The beauty of the English language is it's a mongrel and there are several ways to say the same things.
It problem is it gives us different registers and people get judged unconsciously on the basis of which words they use. For example "to buy" / "to purchase".

That's an interesting point that I'd not consciously thought about but use all the time in my spare-time translation/revision work. I was revising someone's translation yesterday of an Austrian Government statement. The translation was fine, but it routinely used everyday language - abbreviations like "we're" and "it'd", "got" instead of "received", ""thought about" instead of "considered", etc. Without even thinking about it I changed it to the more formal usage everywhere, on the basis that this is what a government would want. Just being old-fashioned, perhaps actulaly making public statements less accessible, or bein gappropriate to the subject?

Perhaps they have a target value for maximum value of Fog Index . http://gunning-fog-index.com/

At least it wasn't "gotten".

The best subtle misuse of an apostrophe I have seen for ages was on France24 this week in a subtitle:
"France's lagging behind its environmental goals."
https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/france-in-focus/20211105-reaching-carbon-neutrality-why-france-lags-behind-on-its-environmental-goals

The Times article on Yorkshire CCC used "checkered" rather than "chequered" - First thing on a Sunday morning I had to "check" the correct spelling. Americanised

It also said that Gary Ballance and Azeem Rafiq often used unsvaoury language to address each other in a jokey way ("Zimbo" and "P-word" I would imagine). Apparently they were good friends and holidayed together at Ballance's place in South Africa. Not what I expected to read given what I had seen reported

The reporting on the Ballance 'apology' was amazing.

Actually reading it, what he really thinks is very clear.

And is ?? ...

https://yorkshireccc.com/news/view/9620/statement-by-gary-ballance

Doesn't read to me like someone who considers themselves justly bang to rights by an innocent injured party.

I see what you mean. Contrition isn't exactly shining out there, is it. Essentially saying the p*** stuff was all friendly banter between mates, he had no idea it was a problem, is surprised to discover now that it was. More than a hint that Rafiq is the one more in the wrong - having also dished out some edgy bantz and compounded this by turning grass years later.

I note he twice mentions that he and Rafiq - a Muslim - often drank together. Which is odd, if you are trying to be conciliatory.

kinabalu said:

isam said:

kinabalu said:

isam said:

kinabalu said:

kjh said:

MaxPB said:

kjh said:

MaxPB said:

kjh said:

MaxPB said:

Leon said:

RochdalePioneers said:

Anabobazina said:

@RochdalePioneers FPT

Right, let me clarify your response.

You would mandate mask wearing in England now. Okay. You would introduce a law that makes it illegal to visit pubs, bars, theatres, clubs and shops without a mask. That’s a very significant imposition.

Would you then also mandate vaccination in England from today?

?

Where did I say ban visiting pubs etc? They aren't banned up here or in Germany or in the rest of the world that hasn't been as daft as England in dropping the requirement to wear masks. England - like the rest of the developed world - should have maintained a mask mandate.

You didn't. you can't put the genie back in the bottle. Politically any new restrictions will be difficult because so many people down there think its all over. Hence the need for Plan B, Plan C, "Jabbed or Christmas gets it" etc etc

You keep asking what I think. I don't think. But I listen to what Whitty, Vallance, Van-Tam, Taylor etc think. I know nothing on this subject, I am not a doctor or a virologist or someone qualified to disagree with them. Unlike you and many on here apparently.

Jesus Christ, Jonathan Van-Tam, the "qualified" man you revere on this issue, famously said "masks are useless, my friend in Hong Kong told me" (this despite everyone in Hong Kong wearing a mask. Odd that)

He's a fricking idiot. You are pathetically grovelling to establishment half-wits. Grow a spine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx4u3t4v8cA

Go to 0:54

You misunderstand RP, he wants the government to u-turn on plan b or c or masks regardless of what's actually happening on the ground. If England (and the rest of the UK) has hit herd immunity and we continue to see the current big drops in cases it will prove the UK government position was right (run hot in the summer and autumn, no restrictions) and that Europe was wrong (prevent spread, retain NPIs). In his small world the UK is always wrong and Europe always right. This would upend that as European countries head into lockdown 4 and the UK exits the pandemic entirely.

Just look at his bluster over the supposedly failing booster programme which has now done 10m doses. The facts don't matter to him, just that the UK is always wrong and Europe always right. Weirdly he voted leave. 🤷‍♂️

Max you are accusing RP of hating the UK and loving Europe just like you were with me. I think we can argue about stuff without resorting to people's lack of patriotism.

Re the 3rd jab it did start as a bit of a shambles but then got turned around pretty impressively. I saw the change in action as I was on the verge of my booster when it was all wrong and with in a couple of weeks they turned it around to become a very effective experience. The 1st two were very successful throughout I thought.

EU lovers do stick together!

The shambles was because the NHS management decided it would take complete control of the third jab rollout rather than leave it to the same people that did the initial roll out. About two weeks ago the Saj handed it all back to the private company and as if by magic people can book appointments easily and get provisioned a month in advance of their expected eligibility. If he hadn't done that we'd be relying on letters and phone calls to get appointments. Well I wouldn't because I'm not allowed one. 😭

I agree with your post, but just because we 'love' the EU doesn't mean we hate the UK. We don't.

I think it does, the EU is a hostile entity to the UK, it is no longer any kind of ally to us.

Well it doesn't because I don't hate the UK and I do like the EU. So by definition it isn't true. You really do need to stop thinking Remainers are all anti the UK. We are not. We just disagreed on leaving. Nothing more than that.

It's similar to the "Boris haters are rooting for lots of Covid deaths and a massive recession so as to bring him down" - ie the false association of disliking British government policy with traitorously rooting against Britain and its people. Arrant smeary nonsense.

Blimey the nerve was more than touched!

What do you want me to call Sir Keir? I'll do it, I'm sorry. I hate to be such a bad person, you can set the rules

You're being a touch 'hair trigger' there, isam. The 'arrant smeary nonsense' I was referencing is depressingly widespread.

But now you mention it, yes. Let's have a post from you - and why not make it the next one - where you write 'Johnson' for the beloved and 'Starmer' for the hate object.

Just the one, to show you can do it, then back to 'bau'.

Listen I know you despise passive aggressive behaviour, but, as they are both playing this afternoon, just want to confirm I support Arsenal not West Ham, and am not a particular fan of Ray Winstone. Thanks for the compliment on my use of a long word yesterday too

Yes, the Arse, with West Ham as your 2nd favs, I know. I don't forget things. And if you now say you're no fan of Winstone and in fact wouldn't like him as London Mayor instead of Khan, then I'll accept that as the truth.

But I truly don't understand why you won't do just the one quick post using Johnson/Starmer syntax. I hate all this "Boris" and "Sir Keir" - make no bones about that - but I am able to do it. Look,

Boris is imo more charismatic than Sir Keir. See? And I'm still alive.

All you need to do is the opposite, type "Johnson is imo more charismatic than Starmer" and press 'post' on that. If you do, that's it, this thing is over and you won't hear another word about it, least from me.

alex_ said:

Philip_Thompson said:

maaarsh said:

and we're now over 10m boosters. Unless Pfizer have been cooking their studies, there's no way hospital usage doesn't move from moderate to tiny over the next 2 months.

Apart from Darwin award nominated antivaxxers.

Once the boosters are done with the over 50s it should be expanded to all adults.

Wouldn't have much impact on hospitalisations.

JBriskin3 said:

isam said:

kinabalu said:

isam said:

Mexicanpete said:

isam said:

kinabalu said:

isam said:

Mexicanpete said:

isam said:

Mexicanpete said:

isam said:

The state of play Leader Ratings wise, between Boris and Sir Keir

Dark Blue is Boris Gross Positives, Light Blue his Net Satisfaction, and the same in Red for Sir Keir. As I have been saying, in Electoral Cycles there is ebb and flow - For a long while Sr Keir led on Net Satisfaction, then Boris was walking it, now it it is more level.

You'd never have guessed

I think I can explain Johnson's fluctuating net positives. Perception was, he invented and procured Covid busting vaccines that the rest of our former EU colleagues singularity and as an alliance failed so to do. There was more than a grain of truth in this statement and as the incumbent he rightly took the spoils. He needs something equally impressive to repeat the pattern. I can't imagine what that might be. I wait with bated breath. It's not beyond the realms of possibility that whatever it will be, it might come to pass.

On the other hand Starmer is dreary, but in the near future dreary might be of the moment.

"... in the near future dreary might be of the moment". That has been the hope all along.

I have actually missed out the last YouGov for Sir Keir there, where he scored -40 (20/60)

The women in Labour's Shad Cab have so much more zip and energy about them. I am amazed Labour went for an old, white, man again.

Less of the old. He's younger than me!

59, not that old actually I suppose. I thought he was in his early 60s

Would have thought you'd be all over that sort of core data on your specialist subject.

More of a hobby.

I didn't want to get to you like this, I thought you could be quite funny at times.

You're not a moderator are you. That wouldn't end well for me

What more can I do than apologise for calling Boris "Boris", and Sir Keir, "Sir Keir", and leave you to police those who refer to them as "Bozo", "Shagger" "Liar" "Worzel", "Keith" etc

Worzel works, doesn't it? But if you don't mind I'll keep referring to the PM as Johnson.

@Kinabalu makes the rules, not me

If only. Then I wouldn't be reduced to pleading like this.

But c'mon, please and pretty please - just try a little "Johnson" and "Starmer" in one little post.

What's the worst that could happen?

No, I've decided to stick with my own words, but thanks for the offer

Police the others who use derogatory terms by all means, I'm with you all the way

Daily Star (Scottish edition anyway) regularly refer to Johnson as Bozo.

George Galloway on his Sunday Youtube talk show has referred to Sir Keir as Sir Keith.

I believe both Memes started here.

alex_ said:

ydoethur said:

Anabobazina said:

CarlottaVance said:

7 day avg for kids cases now lower than it was on September 6th, & down 49% from its peak. I guess that's the reason they've just started masking loads of kids, cancelling their schools discoes, nativity plays, etc?

https://twitter.com/andrew_lilico/status/1457382224119189506?s=20

If this is occurring (and I have no reason to doubt Lilico, although I suspect his evidence is largely anecdotal), it is scandalous. At some stage, the DfE will surely be asked to step in: my sense is that nobody is sense-checking LEAs. Perhaps @ydoethur can illuminate us, as I believe he teaches just this side of Offa’s Dyke?

I do teach this side of Offa's Dyke, yes. LEAs have been pushing for a return to masking and bubbles, but whether that is coming straight from them or the DfE I don't know.

Contrary to what you believe, it was the DfE that was causing the majority of these issues last year, although they preferred to let LEAs get the blame. Equally, it's easy to get carried away and have silly ideas from the top 'normalised' so you try to do them without waiting for orders.

As for 'sense' and 'DfE' the only way those go in the same sentence is when 'non' is tacked in front of 'sense.'

The "anecdotal" stories suggest it's being driven by local DoPHs, not DfE.

kinabalu said:

isam said:

kinabalu said:

isam said:

Mexicanpete said:

isam said:

Mexicanpete said:

isam said:

The state of play Leader Ratings wise, between Boris and Sir Keir

Dark Blue is Boris Gross Positives, Light Blue his Net Satisfaction, and the same in Red for Sir Keir. As I have been saying, in Electoral Cycles there is ebb and flow - For a long while Sr Keir led on Net Satisfaction, then Boris was walking it, now it it is more level.

You'd never have guessed

I think I can explain Johnson's fluctuating net positives. Perception was, he invented and procured Covid busting vaccines that the rest of our former EU colleagues singularity and as an alliance failed so to do. There was more than a grain of truth in this statement and as the incumbent he rightly took the spoils. He needs something equally impressive to repeat the pattern. I can't imagine what that might be. I wait with bated breath. It's not beyond the realms of possibility that whatever it will be, it might come to pass.

On the other hand Starmer is dreary, but in the near future dreary might be of the moment.

"... in the near future dreary might be of the moment". That has been the hope all along.

I have actually missed out the last YouGov for Sir Keir there, where he scored -40 (20/60)

The women in Labour's Shad Cab have so much more zip and energy about them. I am amazed Labour went for an old, white, man again.

Less of the old. He's younger than me!

59, not that old actually I suppose. I thought he was in his early 60s

Would have thought you'd be all over that sort of core data on your specialist subject.

More of a hobby.

I didn't want to get to you like this, I thought you could be quite funny at times.

You're not a moderator are you. That wouldn't end well for me

What more can I do than apologise for calling Boris "Boris", and Sir Keir, "Sir Keir", and leave you to police those who refer to them as "Bozo", "Shagger" "Liar" "Worzel", "Keith" etc

When I fall out of your good books you always say I "used to be funny at times", like I'm some aging comic now scrubbing around in panto. Such a sad and pathetic vibe, that creates!

kinabalu said:

isam said:

kinabalu said:

isam said:

Mexicanpete said:

isam said:

Mexicanpete said:

isam said:

The state of play Leader Ratings wise, between Boris and Sir Keir

Dark Blue is Boris Gross Positives, Light Blue his Net Satisfaction, and the same in Red for Sir Keir. As I have been saying, in Electoral Cycles there is ebb and flow - For a long while Sr Keir led on Net Satisfaction, then Boris was walking it, now it it is more level.

You'd never have guessed

I think I can explain Johnson's fluctuating net positives. Perception was, he invented and procured Covid busting vaccines that the rest of our former EU colleagues singularity and as an alliance failed so to do. There was more than a grain of truth in this statement and as the incumbent he rightly took the spoils. He needs something equally impressive to repeat the pattern. I can't imagine what that might be. I wait with bated breath. It's not beyond the realms of possibility that whatever it will be, it might come to pass.

On the other hand Starmer is dreary, but in the near future dreary might be of the moment.

"... in the near future dreary might be of the moment". That has been the hope all along.

I have actually missed out the last YouGov for Sir Keir there, where he scored -40 (20/60)

The women in Labour's Shad Cab have so much more zip and energy about them. I am amazed Labour went for an old, white, man again.

Less of the old. He's younger than me!

59, not that old actually I suppose. I thought he was in his early 60s

Would have thought you'd be all over that sort of core data on your specialist subject.

More of a hobby.

I didn't want to get to you like this, I thought you could be quite funny at times.

You're not a moderator are you. That wouldn't end well for me

What more can I do than apologise for calling Boris "Boris", and Sir Keir, "Sir Keir", and leave you to police those who refer to them as "Bozo", "Shagger" "Liar" "Worzel", "Keith" etc

When I fall out of your good books you always say I "used to be quite funny at times", like I'm some aging mid-rank comic now scrubbing around in panto. Such a sad and pathetic vibe, that creates!

ydoethur said:

alex_ said:

ydoethur said:

Anabobazina said:

CarlottaVance said:

7 day avg for kids cases now lower than it was on September 6th, & down 49% from its peak. I guess that's the reason they've just started masking loads of kids, cancelling their schools discoes, nativity plays, etc?

https://twitter.com/andrew_lilico/status/1457382224119189506?s=20

If this is occurring (and I have no reason to doubt Lilico, although I suspect his evidence is largely anecdotal), it is scandalous. At some stage, the DfE will surely be asked to step in: my sense is that nobody is sense-checking LEAs. Perhaps @ydoethur can illuminate us, as I believe he teaches just this side of Offa’s Dyke?

I do teach this side of Offa's Dyke, yes. LEAs have been pushing for a return to masking and bubbles, but whether that is coming straight from them or the DfE I don't know.

Contrary to what you believe, it was the DfE that was causing the majority of these issues last year, although they preferred to let LEAs get the blame. Equally, it's easy to get carried away and have silly ideas from the top 'normalised' so you try to do them without waiting for orders.

As for 'sense' and 'DfE' the only way those go in the same sentence is when 'non' is tacked in front of 'sense.'

The "anecdotal" stories suggest it's being driven by local DoPHs, not DfE.

Entirely possible.

I think too many otherwise unemployable jobsworths have got a little too fond of the taste of power Covid gave them. They're making decisions to feel they are in control rather than because they would be of benefit.

And that could certainly apply to the DoPH in the average LA as it does to the DfE.

JBriskin3 said:

Sandpit said:

JBriskin3 said:

Sandpit said:

JBriskin3 said:

I came here for Pakistan V Scotland talk

And all I got was Palmer Pension talk

You *really* want to talk about Pakistan v Scotland?

Pak 189/4 (20 ovs), Sco 43/4 (11 ovs)

…says it all.

Thanks - cricket updated via PB proxy is a much more fun way of keeping updated than bbc.co.uk

C'mon Scotland!

65/4 now, putting on some quick runs. They’re going to run out of overs though.

I’m not in the ground tonight, watching it on TV with everyone else!

Yeah well I can't afford Sky Sports so I appreciate the updates

Intel for other poor PBers like me - Mexican GP is live on Radio 5 live from 6.45.

Sandpit said:

JBriskin3 said:

Sandpit said:

JBriskin3 said:

Sandpit said:

JBriskin3 said:

I came here for Pakistan V Scotland talk

And all I got was Palmer Pension talk

You *really* want to talk about Pakistan v Scotland?

Pak 189/4 (20 ovs), Sco 43/4 (11 ovs)

…says it all.

Thanks - cricket updated via PB proxy is a much more fun way of keeping updated than bbc.co.uk

C'mon Scotland!

65/4 now, putting on some quick runs. They’re going to run out of overs though.

I’m not in the ground tonight, watching it on TV with everyone else!

Yeah well I can't afford Sky Sports so I appreciate the updates

Intel for other poor PBers like me - Mexican GP is live on Radio 5 live from 6.45.

Text commentary at https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-men-s-t20-world-cup-2021-22-1267897/pakistan-vs-scotland-41st-match-group-2-1273752/live-cricket-score

Scotland recovering well, but not enough time to make the runs. Pakistan will win the group now.

ping said:

Stocky said:

23 (BF and Smarkets) is maybe a bit big for a 0-0 WH v Liverpool?

Worth a tenner!

I love the strange feeling of cheering on the injuries.