Rayner vs Starmer briefing war in full flow now...
Shadow Cabinet source: "This is all very curious. Angela has been telling us she would sort a reshuffle for months and that Keir couldn't do it without her. And now it happens she's saying she knew nothing about it."
Oh goody, Rayner making a nuisance again and undermining the leader.
Here's where I damn myself with the PB northern contigent for linguo-geographical inconsistencies...but if I were Angela Rayner I would be hoping very much that AJ Odudu wins Strictly. I am already mellowing to that otherwise quite harsh, dare I say unlovely accent. Coming from AJ however it is sweeter than the Fab Four's best.
Congratulations to Barbados who shrug the yoke of imperialism and become a republic from midnight tonight. Australia next, I reckon.
It is also black majority while the majority of people who live in the remaining Commonwealth realms are of white British origin.
So no, Australia is not likely next either.
Er what?
It's a good point. How far would Oliver Cromwell have got without an indigenous black majority?
Black people aren't indigenous to Barbados either.
IIRC there are some Barbadians with Carib in their ancestry. Went to a very interesting u3a talk on Barbados and it's people some years ago. Given by the Vicar of Canvey Island, who himself has very mixed ancestry.
I'm not sure that's right. Barbados was unoccupied when the English showed up, probably owing to exposure to disease from previous European visitors. Indigenous populations have contributed to the gene pool in other parts of the Eastern Caribbean though. Most Barbadians have a mixture of African and European ancestry, the latter both as a result of plantation rape as well as intermarriage with the relatively large white population (mostly Irish and Scottish indentured workers). There's also a small number of wealthy white families who own much of the private sector economy. It's a pretty interesting country, quite messed up in some ways but a lot to like about it. It's probably my favourite place west of Ireland.
Agree with your second paragraph, but wikipedia suggests some indigenes were brought in from other islands.
That's interesting, I never heard that when I lived there. The Caribbean is a beautiful part of the world but their societies were forged in evil and that has cast a long shadow.
I love Barbados. Probably more than nearly any other island around there. I always do a quick check for any potential danger (I use the word very broadly) by doing a per capital GDP check. The lower it is the greater the problem for tourists might be. Barbados I believe has a relatively high per capital GDP certainly vs many of the other caribbean islands.
How long did you live there?
Three years, in my early-mid 20s which is a pretty good age to enjoy it too. I absolutely love the place, had three of the best years of my life there.
Time to privatise and stop subsidising TFL then @HYUFD?
To stop subsidising the large pay packets of striking tube drivers certainly as strikes will certainly not help it back into a healthy financial position post lockdown
The ability to take collective action and to have collective bargaining has certainly helped to enhance the pay and conditions of the drivers.
Unity is strength.
They also got TfL to agree to not advertise driver jobs outside of TfL.
This is the problem I have. Loads of money. But people like me can’t apply for the jobs.
You can, you just need to start at a Station.
Hey that's no different from the current career path for a policeman. You start as a Special or as a Community support officer.
We do have an entry route called ‘Detective Career Pathway, where a candidate can apply as a direct entrant to become a Detective. This route provides individuals with the opportunity to come into the role directly as a trainee detective constable with no prior policing experience, and without having to join as a PC first.
I’ve just signed a groundbreaking international agreement with my Singaporean counterpart, Minister @mpjoteo .
This is great news for our two countries. An agreement that will speed up trade, boost cyber security and reduce costs for businesses. Global Britain in action Flag of United KingdomFlag of Singapore https://twitter.com/NadineDorries/status/1465303634560925698?s=20
Just wondering has anybody tried a sneaky booster jab bookage today i.e. have they done what they often do and update the backend before an announcement so that under 40s and 5 monthers can book?
Am asking for a friend as I have already had my third and they are wondering if they could cancel their 6 month booster and rebook for 5.
I tried on Friday. Saturday was available, then Dec 17th next. So not sure about availability.
Someone should explain this to the (checks notes) Brexit Minister...
If Conservatives want to understand why tax as a %age of GDP is predicted to remain high, Brexit is a big factor - bigger, long-term, than COVID. The cake is smaller, so the state has to take a bigger share to maintain public services https://twitter.com/JohnSpringford/status/1465296399344586757
No10 spox: "We have been successful in securing a diverse supply and stock of vaccines throughout this process and our expectation is that we don't require that centre producing, sort of, 'state vaccinations'...
Just wondering has anybody tried a sneaky booster jab bookage today i.e. have they done what they often do and update the backend before an announcement so that under 40s and 5 monthers can book?
Am asking for a friend as I have already had my third and they are wondering if they could cancel their 6 month booster and rebook for 5.
No. I just tried it and nothing has changed.
Cheers. Will pass it on. I presume come the middle of the night tonight the site will be updated, on the presumption that the JCVI don't have a temper tantrum and come up with some ridiculous stupid fudge of you can be 5 months but only if you haven't already booked for a 6 month and there are people in your household over the age of 50, you have blue eyes and a cat named Fred.
TfL is the perfect example of strong unions representing their workers.
And the result is a strong career path with good pay, running the finest public network in the UK. People that actually use the Underground think it's good on the whole, just needs some work - but the Tories aren't going to help with that
Not necessarily, the drivers have made themselves prime automation targets because paying them is now a huge expense so the potential saving is now high enough to warrant a big investment in self driving trains.
Yes but unless the vaccines prove completely ineffective in protecting against hospitalisation or death from it there is no need for more lockdowns even if more people catch it.
Otherwise there will be riots if hasty lockdowns are imposed again
I'd say the impact on us here in the UK depends on the extent to which Omicron evades the vaccines. This is the most important metric. If it's projected to cause a take-off in hospitalizations we'll be having to enact measures to mitigate this while we wait for evolved vaccines and antivirals. So not really a new pandemic, since we'd be in better shape than we were when this started, and also when Delta hit, but certainly a prolonging of the pandemic beyond next Feb which was when we were otherwise on track for it to be over.
TfL is the perfect example of strong unions representing their workers.
And the result is a strong career path with good pay, running the finest public network in the UK. People that actually use the Underground think it's good on the whole, just needs some work - but the Tories aren't going to help with that
Not necessarily, the drivers have made themselves prime automation targets because paying them is now a huge expense so the potential saving is now high enough to warrant a big investment in self driving trains.
You can't fully automate the Tube without proper investment which now can't go ahead as the cuts mean TfL have been unable to finance it.
No10 spox: "We have been successful in securing a diverse supply and stock of vaccines throughout this process and our expectation is that we don't require that centre producing, sort of, 'state vaccinations'...
I have always assumed that the government would forget the lessons of the pandemic, but I had also assumed that that would only happen once the pandemic was over, not whilst it was still raging.
They seem to subsist entirely on dry buttered toast and Riesling.
5 minutes would be too long for me. In my very controversial humble opinion they were a good band, but the most overrated of all time.
Sorry, you’re wrong about that.
They remind me of Dylan, and indeed Shakespeare, in that the more you look into the work, the more there is to look at.
One problem they have is their ridiculous ubiquity in the culture, rendering all their stuff like wallpaper.
I have actually tried not to listen for them for the past 20 years, but rediscovered them during lockdown, thus resulting in sheer jubilation and excitement once more.
It’s possible I will try to ignore them again for 20 years.
They're brilliant. By definition overrated simply because you can't be rated that high without being overrated. But brilliant.
Bizarre
do you like the Grateful Dead? They are the closest stab I can have at a guess as to what the beatles would have been like if they'd been any good. Try the "Best Of" album.
I do but I don't place that much above the Beatles last 4 or 5 years. Bob's my uber alles.
You could retire to a desert island with a playlist of Dylan covers, and never get bored. the only Beatles cover I can think of is hendrix doing Sgt pepper on one occasion, and he covered Wild Thing, so not much of an accolade. let's ponder the reasons for the discrepancy.
Probably because Dylan was a first rate songwriter but a second rate singer. Far easier to listen to a Dylan song and think "this is a great song but it would sound better sung in tune". When you listen to a Beatles song it's usually hard to think of how it could be improved. Many people have covered their songs, of course, notably Yesterday, but the originals are always the standards, with good reason.
Always on the look out for a good Beatles cover to add to my playlist. Not saying they’re all better than the original. But a great way of hearing the songs semi fresh again.
Al Green - I wanna hold your hand Joe Cocker - She came in through the bathroom window Joe Cocker - With a little help from my friends Paul Weller - Sexy Sadie Stevie Wonder - We can work it out Jonny Cash - In my life Prince et al - While my guitar gently weeps Fats Domino - Lady Madonna Elbow - Golden Slumbers Bristol Love - Strawberry Fields Forever Billy Preston - Eight Days a Week Scary Pockets - Rocky Racoon Wilson Picket - hey Jude Oasis - I am the walrus David Bowie - across the universe Hendrix - sgt pepper / day tripper
John Farnham - Help!
First concert I ever went to with friends instead of family, while I was living down under, and this was part of the setlist. It seems like he's always had it in his setlist, he did it really well, found this on YouTube (it isn't the concert I went to). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv54giOSRKs
Since you've all been talking about The Beatles and covers, why has no one mentioned the greatest cover of all time, Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds by William Shatner?
TfL is the perfect example of strong unions representing their workers.
And the result is a strong career path with good pay, running the finest public network in the UK. People that actually use the Underground think it's good on the whole, just needs some work - but the Tories aren't going to help with that
Not necessarily, the drivers have made themselves prime automation targets because paying them is now a huge expense so the potential saving is now high enough to warrant a big investment in self driving trains.
It's a classic example of if you want to do that - you don't want to start from here...
The underground will be one of the last networks in the world to be automated for there are an awful, awful lot of dragons in the bits that aren't already automated.
I find it curiously entertaining how much time PBers waste arguing with HYUFD.
He won't change his mind, however wrong he is shown to be.
Changed his mind on Brexit. That's massive.
Have you not read any of his posts?
He accepted the result of the referendum.
Ignore. It's not meant for you. It is elaborate bait for @HYUFD.
It will go something along the lines of:
KB: you changed your mind on Brexit HY: no I didn't KB: you mean you still believe it was wrong HY: I voted Remain but I respect the vote KB: So you support someone whose policy you disagree with HY: It is a democratic decision KB: So would Lab winning the next GE be but you wouldn't support them after, would you.
I’ve just signed a groundbreaking international agreement with my Singaporean counterpart, Minister @mpjoteo .
This is great news for our two countries. An agreement that will speed up trade, boost cyber security and reduce costs for businesses. Global Britain in action Flag of United KingdomFlag of Singapore https://twitter.com/NadineDorries/status/1465303634560925698?s=20
I'm sure Singapore will happily offer Nadine lots of tips on how to maintain a healthy free and uncensored media landscape.
TfL is the perfect example of strong unions representing their workers.
And the result is a strong career path with good pay, running the finest public network in the UK. People that actually use the Underground think it's good on the whole, just needs some work - but the Tories aren't going to help with that
Not necessarily, the drivers have made themselves prime automation targets because paying them is now a huge expense so the potential saving is now high enough to warrant a big investment in self driving trains.
It's a classic example of if you want to do that - you don't want to start from here...
The underground will be one of the last networks in the world to be automated for there are an awful, awful lot of dragons in the bits that aren't already automated.
The conclusion is that the Tube will never be automated, not least the District line which is still in part managed by Network Rail. Perhaps the Tories would like to fund it and not cut it.
Congratulations to Barbados who shrug the yoke of imperialism and become a republic from midnight tonight. Australia next, I reckon.
It is also black majority while the majority of people who live in the remaining Commonwealth realms are of white British origin.
So no, Australia is not likely next either.
Er what?
It's a good point. How far would Oliver Cromwell have got without an indigenous black majority?
Black people aren't indigenous to Barbados either.
IIRC there are some Barbadians with Carib in their ancestry. Went to a very interesting u3a talk on Barbados and it's people some years ago. Given by the Vicar of Canvey Island, who himself has very mixed ancestry.
I'm not sure that's right. Barbados was unoccupied when the English showed up, probably owing to exposure to disease from previous European visitors. Indigenous populations have contributed to the gene pool in other parts of the Eastern Caribbean though. Most Barbadians have a mixture of African and European ancestry, the latter both as a result of plantation rape as well as intermarriage with the relatively large white population (mostly Irish and Scottish indentured workers). There's also a small number of wealthy white families who own much of the private sector economy. It's a pretty interesting country, quite messed up in some ways but a lot to like about it. It's probably my favourite place west of Ireland.
Agree with your second paragraph, but wikipedia suggests some indigenes were brought in from other islands.
That's interesting, I never heard that when I lived there. The Caribbean is a beautiful part of the world but their societies were forged in evil and that has cast a long shadow.
I love Barbados. Probably more than nearly any other island around there. I always do a quick check for any potential danger (I use the word very broadly) by doing a per capital GDP check. The lower it is the greater the problem for tourists might be. Barbados I believe has a relatively high per capital GDP certainly vs many of the other caribbean islands.
How long did you live there?
Three years, in my early-mid 20s which is a pretty good age to enjoy it too. I absolutely love the place, had three of the best years of my life there.
No10 spox: "We have been successful in securing a diverse supply and stock of vaccines throughout this process and our expectation is that we don't require that centre producing, sort of, 'state vaccinations'...
I have always assumed that the government would forget the lessons of the pandemic, but I had also assumed that that would only happen once the pandemic was over, not whilst it was still raging.
It also doesn't really fit with the whole "levelling up more state involvement" agenda. Also if I remember correctly this centre had been planned well before COVID, precisely for the UK to regain a foothold in vaccine production shielded a bit from ultimate globalisation pressures that result in basically India and China ruling the world when it comes to these things, and capable of doing world leading research.
Day 3 without power or water for many in sub zero temperatures. Doesn't seem to be an important issue for any bugger else though.
I was very surprised when I heard there were still lots of people unconnected after 24 hours.
I wonder whether it's the combination of the high winds with the cold weather that is causing difficulties. Such a strong storm from the north is unusual. Polar lows are normally weaker, and our strong storms are normally south-westers.
Or it could be that the county's infrastructure is creaking and more vulnerable.
No phone lines either in an area with little to no mobile coverage. Still. I suppose it will be said it's their own fault for living there. Most people who want to mitigate a storm will own a JCB.
Really was the worst storm I remember in this country. Far worse than the London one in the 80's. And we only caught the edge.
There were a large number of trees down around Windermere, completely uprooted (though that’s as much because this soil over bedrock makes for very shallow roots), and very little mobile phone signal in the area.
No10 spox: "We have been successful in securing a diverse supply and stock of vaccines throughout this process and our expectation is that we don't require that centre producing, sort of, 'state vaccinations'...
Since you've all been talking about The Beatles and covers, why has no one mentioned the greatest cover of all time, Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds by William Shatner?
Great news - where are the bodies? Genuinely if there is that much of it around, without the huge increase in hospitals and deaths, then its good news,
Since you've all been talking about The Beatles and covers, why has no one mentioned the greatest cover of all time, Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds by William Shatner?
No10 spox: "We have been successful in securing a diverse supply and stock of vaccines throughout this process and our expectation is that we don't require that centre producing, sort of, 'state vaccinations'...
The thing that really pisses me off about that is “Things are tight and so they’re looking for a way to recoup some of the [£215m] cost.”
Given how much we spaffed up the wall on Test, Trace, and Isolate or to Tory donors are we really quibbling about £215 million?
Even without test and trace wastage, £215 million isn't a very large sum of money for having a world class vaccine research and production facility.
My understanding was the whole reason for building it in the first place was the worry that the UK was far too reliant on foreign manufacture and meaning advanced research could be supported.
No10 spox: "We have been successful in securing a diverse supply and stock of vaccines throughout this process and our expectation is that we don't require that centre producing, sort of, 'state vaccinations'...
Since you've all been talking about The Beatles and covers, why has no one mentioned the greatest cover of all time, Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds by William Shatner?
No10 spox: "We have been successful in securing a diverse supply and stock of vaccines throughout this process and our expectation is that we don't require that centre producing, sort of, 'state vaccinations'...
I have always assumed that the government would forget the lessons of the pandemic, but I had also assumed that that would only happen once the pandemic was over, not whilst it was still raging.
If we really don't need the output ourselves why are we not pumping out vaccines for the rest of the world on the aid budget? Southern Africa looks a really excellent place to start right now.
They seem to subsist entirely on dry buttered toast and Riesling.
5 minutes would be too long for me. In my very controversial humble opinion they were a good band, but the most overrated of all time.
Sorry, you’re wrong about that.
They remind me of Dylan, and indeed Shakespeare, in that the more you look into the work, the more there is to look at.
One problem they have is their ridiculous ubiquity in the culture, rendering all their stuff like wallpaper.
I have actually tried not to listen for them for the past 20 years, but rediscovered them during lockdown, thus resulting in sheer jubilation and excitement once more.
It’s possible I will try to ignore them again for 20 years.
They're brilliant. By definition overrated simply because you can't be rated that high without being overrated. But brilliant.
Bizarre
do you like the Grateful Dead? They are the closest stab I can have at a guess as to what the beatles would have been like if they'd been any good. Try the "Best Of" album.
I do but I don't place that much above the Beatles last 4 or 5 years. Bob's my uber alles.
You could retire to a desert island with a playlist of Dylan covers, and never get bored. the only Beatles cover I can think of is hendrix doing Sgt pepper on one occasion, and he covered Wild Thing, so not much of an accolade. let's ponder the reasons for the discrepancy.
Probably because Dylan was a first rate songwriter but a second rate singer. Far easier to listen to a Dylan song and think "this is a great song but it would sound better sung in tune". When you listen to a Beatles song it's usually hard to think of how it could be improved. Many people have covered their songs, of course, notably Yesterday, but the originals are always the standards, with good reason.
Disagree. I prefer the dylan versions of Mr Tambourine Man, Mighty Quinn, bitw, you ain't going nowhere. Ambivalent about aatwt.
I still think the Dylan version of All Along the Watchtower is superior to that of Hendrix. There is a depth in the former that sounds like it comes from some ancient time, whereas the latter seems superficial.
Me too. Although it is such a great cover it is almost pointless comparing with the original. Best to treat as a completely different song
Yes, different songs really. Which is what the best covers manage to do and especially the best Dylan covers.
Angela Rayner wants the expected outcome of the reshuffle (ie more competence on the front bench), but refuses to be associated with the some of the dirty work involved (ie, sacking people).
I like her a lot, but she hasn’t really understood that the number one requirement for deputy is loyalty. Her public antics risk a progressive majority at the next election.
(I write this as someone who think Keir should be rolled at the next election).
No10 spox: "We have been successful in securing a diverse supply and stock of vaccines throughout this process and our expectation is that we don't require that centre producing, sort of, 'state vaccinations'...
No10 spox: "We have been successful in securing a diverse supply and stock of vaccines throughout this process and our expectation is that we don't require that centre producing, sort of, 'state vaccinations'...
I have always assumed that the government would forget the lessons of the pandemic, but I had also assumed that that would only happen once the pandemic was over, not whilst it was still raging.
If we really don't need the output ourselves why are we not pumping out vaccines for the rest of the world on the aid budget? Southern Africa looks a really excellent place to start right now.
It was pointed out to me (on here) that that is not the issue with SA's vax status.
No10 spox: "We have been successful in securing a diverse supply and stock of vaccines throughout this process and our expectation is that we don't require that centre producing, sort of, 'state vaccinations'...
The thing that really pisses me off about that is “Things are tight and so they’re looking for a way to recoup some of the [£215m] cost.”
Given how much we spaffed up the wall on Test, Trace, and Isolate or to Tory donors are we really quibbling about £215 million?
Even without test and trace wastage, £215 million isn't a very large sum of money for having a world class vaccine research and production facility.
My understanding was the whole reason for building it in the first place was the worry that the UK was far too reliant on foreign manufacture and meaning advanced research could be done.
Maybe, but if they sell it to, say, Pfizer who turn it into a new research and manufacturing hub of vaccines in the UK the ROI would be potentially huge. Selling it isn't a bad idea, it just depends on who buys it, if it's a PE or VC fund then yes, it will be a waste of everyone's time. If it's a medium sized or larger pharmaceutical company it could provide the small push needed to get a big private investment in manufacturing and development of vaccines in the UK.
Since you've all been talking about The Beatles and covers, why has no one mentioned the greatest cover of all time, Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds by William Shatner?
Love The Shat, his Columbo Episode is just magnificent. Fade into Murder. Genius. He played the killer who was an actor in a tv detective show and he ends up getting so into character he helps Columbo solve the case.
His Rocket man Is also terrific. Parodied quite well by family guy. He did an album with Leonard Nimoy whose voice isn’t great but better than Shatners.
I think it’s a shame that Barbados is now a republic.
At its best, the monarchy can be a symbol of, and force for, multi-cultural kinship and constitutional sobriety.
I tend to agree, though, that apres elle, le deluge.
38 out of 54 Commonwealth nations became republics or (or in the case of Tonga have their own monarch) in the reign of the Queen or her father George VIth. Barbados becoming a republic this month makes that 39 out of 54.
So the deluge already happened and it happened mainly in the reign of the current Queen with India and Ireland for example going in the reign of her father.
The only Commonwealth realms left when the Queen dies of any significance will be nations with primarily populations of mainly white British Isles heritage eg Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
So it may have been correct to say when King George Vth died in 1936, apres il le deluge, it would not be true on the death of the current Queen
Great news - where are the bodies? Genuinely if there is that much of it around, without the huge increase in hospitals and deaths, then its good news,
Covid seems to hospitalise people after 7 to 10 days and kills them 7 days after that.
We haven't got to those time frames yet with Omicron
No10 spox: "We have been successful in securing a diverse supply and stock of vaccines throughout this process and our expectation is that we don't require that centre producing, sort of, 'state vaccinations'...
The thing that really pisses me off about that is “Things are tight and so they’re looking for a way to recoup some of the [£215m] cost.”
Given how much we spaffed up the wall on Test, Trace, and Isolate or to Tory donors are we really quibbling about £215 million?
It's not about the money, it's about ensuring that vaccines continue to get investment in the UK. The state isn't going to keep putting taxpayer money in and then watch as AZ and Pfizer make billions of dollars in revenue.
The knee jerk reaction is to say it's a poor decision, yet I'm not sure it is, the manufacturing capacity now exists where it didn't previously and we have a strategic manufacturing reserve for many types of vaccine in the UK including viral vector, mRNA and viral protein, having a state owned company involved may not make sense any more and getting private investment in from Pfizer, AZ, GSK or even a mid-sized biotech makes a lot of sense. Think of this as the government overcoming the inertia stage of the investment decision and then recouping all of the cost of that.
Personally, I think with the right buyer it could be a really good move, if we got GSK or Pfizer to buy it with a guarantee of further investment in production capacity it's exactly the outcome we would want from this sort of project.
No10 spox: "We have been successful in securing a diverse supply and stock of vaccines throughout this process and our expectation is that we don't require that centre producing, sort of, 'state vaccinations'...
The thing that really pisses me off about that is “Things are tight and so they’re looking for a way to recoup some of the [£215m] cost.”
Given how much we spaffed up the wall on Test, Trace, and Isolate or to Tory donors are we really quibbling about £215 million?
Even without test and trace wastage, £215 million isn't a very large sum of money for having a world class vaccine research and production facility.
My understanding was the whole reason for building it in the first place was the worry that the UK was far too reliant on foreign manufacture and meaning advanced research could be done.
Maybe, but if they sell it to, say, Pfizer who turn it into a new research and manufacturing hub of vaccines in the UK the ROI would be potentially huge. Selling it isn't a bad idea, it just depends on who buys it, if it's a PE or VC fund then yes, it will be a waste of everyone's time. If it's a medium sized or larger pharmaceutical company it could provide the small push needed to get a big private investment in manufacturing and development of vaccines in the UK.
My understanding from the very beginning (pre COVID) was that it was supposed to be a not for profit, essentially an academic venture, to enable R&D in conjunction with a number of leading universities, so basically enabling them to do world leading stuff shielded from immediate commercial pressures.
TfL is the perfect example of strong unions representing their workers.
And the result is a strong career path with good pay, running the finest public network in the UK. People that actually use the Underground think it's good on the whole, just needs some work - but the Tories aren't going to help with that
Not necessarily, the drivers have made themselves prime automation targets because paying them is now a huge expense so the potential saving is now high enough to warrant a big investment in self driving trains.
It's a classic example of if you want to do that - you don't want to start from here...
The underground will be one of the last networks in the world to be automated for there are an awful, awful lot of dragons in the bits that aren't already automated.
The conclusion is that the Tube will never be automated, not least the District line which is still in part managed by Network Rail. Perhaps the Tories would like to fund it and not cut it.
It's really not as difficult as the LR article makes out, just requires a bucketload of cash and some political will. So not happening anytime soon, admittedly.
The two major issues would be the need to fit platform edge doors and create level access. This is a civil engineering issue, and can be solved but will require significant disruption.
The other challenge is the psychological issue around having up to 1000 people deep underground on an unattended train, with (unlike other systems) no emergency escape route. Not a dealbreaker but would require significant political commitment at all levels.
The unions have done a great job for their members interests at the expense of the capital as a whole, and TfL that devotes significant time and resources to dealing with the whole pseudo-1970s obstructive bureaucracy around it. It's great for CorrectBattery and others to hold this up as socialism in action, but at the end of the day its the passengers who are paying for it. If it were up to me I'd abolish them tomorrow
They seem to subsist entirely on dry buttered toast and Riesling.
5 minutes would be too long for me. In my very controversial humble opinion they were a good band, but the most overrated of all time.
Sorry, you’re wrong about that.
They remind me of Dylan, and indeed Shakespeare, in that the more you look into the work, the more there is to look at.
One problem they have is their ridiculous ubiquity in the culture, rendering all their stuff like wallpaper.
I have actually tried not to listen for them for the past 20 years, but rediscovered them during lockdown, thus resulting in sheer jubilation and excitement once more.
It’s possible I will try to ignore them again for 20 years.
They're brilliant. By definition overrated simply because you can't be rated that high without being overrated. But brilliant.
Bizarre
do you like the Grateful Dead? They are the closest stab I can have at a guess as to what the beatles would have been like if they'd been any good. Try the "Best Of" album.
I do but I don't place that much above the Beatles last 4 or 5 years. Bob's my uber alles.
You could retire to a desert island with a playlist of Dylan covers, and never get bored. the only Beatles cover I can think of is hendrix doing Sgt pepper on one occasion, and he covered Wild Thing, so not much of an accolade. let's ponder the reasons for the discrepancy.
Probably because Dylan was a first rate songwriter but a second rate singer. Far easier to listen to a Dylan song and think "this is a great song but it would sound better sung in tune". When you listen to a Beatles song it's usually hard to think of how it could be improved. Many people have covered their songs, of course, notably Yesterday, but the originals are always the standards, with good reason.
Disagree. I prefer the dylan versions of Mr Tambourine Man, Mighty Quinn, bitw, you ain't going nowhere. Ambivalent about aatwt.
I still think the Dylan version of All Along the Watchtower is superior to that of Hendrix. There is a depth in the former that sounds like it comes from some ancient time, whereas the latter seems superficial.
Me too. Although it is such a great cover it is almost pointless comparing with the original. Best to treat as a completely different song
Yes, different songs really. Which is what the best covers manage to do and especially the best Dylan covers.
No10 spox: "We have been successful in securing a diverse supply and stock of vaccines throughout this process and our expectation is that we don't require that centre producing, sort of, 'state vaccinations'...
The thing that really pisses me off about that is “Things are tight and so they’re looking for a way to recoup some of the [£215m] cost.”
Given how much we spaffed up the wall on Test, Trace, and Isolate or to Tory donors are we really quibbling about £215 million?
Even without test and trace wastage, £215 million isn't a very large sum of money for having a world class vaccine research and production facility.
My understanding was the whole reason for building it in the first place was the worry that the UK was far too reliant on foreign manufacture and meaning advanced research could be done.
Maybe, but if they sell it to, say, Pfizer who turn it into a new research and manufacturing hub of vaccines in the UK the ROI would be potentially huge. Selling it isn't a bad idea, it just depends on who buys it, if it's a PE or VC fund then yes, it will be a waste of everyone's time. If it's a medium sized or larger pharmaceutical company it could provide the small push needed to get a big private investment in manufacturing and development of vaccines in the UK.
My understanding was that it was supposed to be a not for profit, essentially an academic venture, to enable R&D in conjunction with a number of leading universities, so basically enabling them to do world leading stuff shielded from immediate commercial pressures.
That potentially makes more sense in a UK where no real vaccine manufacturing capacity exists and there is little expertise. That's no longer the case and if anything this move will bring more investment in capacity and expertise. As I said, with the right buyer it could be a really great move, all of the pieces of the puzzle already exist now for a private company to come and turn that into a world leading fully integrated vaccine research and manufacturing site. I think that's what the government will be looking for, it's not the £215m so much as it is the £500-800m in further investment that will come over time to upgrade the facility and in recruitment of vaccine manufacturing expertise into the UK, an area we struggle with.
TfL is the perfect example of strong unions representing their workers.
And the result is a strong career path with good pay, running the finest public network in the UK. People that actually use the Underground think it's good on the whole, just needs some work - but the Tories aren't going to help with that
Not necessarily, the drivers have made themselves prime automation targets because paying them is now a huge expense so the potential saving is now high enough to warrant a big investment in self driving trains.
It's a classic example of if you want to do that - you don't want to start from here...
The underground will be one of the last networks in the world to be automated for there are an awful, awful lot of dragons in the bits that aren't already automated.
The conclusion is that the Tube will never be automated, not least the District line which is still in part managed by Network Rail. Perhaps the Tories would like to fund it and not cut it.
It's really not as difficult as the LR article makes out, just requires a bucketload of cash and some political will. So not happening anytime soon, admittedly.
The two major issues would be the need to fit platform edge doors and create level access. This is a civil engineering issue, and can be solved but will require significant disruption.
The other challenge is the psychological issue around having up to 1000 people deep underground on an unattended train, with (unlike other systems) no emergency escape route. Not a dealbreaker but would require significant political commitment at all levels.
The unions have done a great job for their members interests at the expense of the capital as a whole, and TfL that devotes significant time and resources to dealing with the whole pseudo-1970s obstructive bureaucracy around it. It's great for CorrectBattery and others to hold this up as socialism in action, but at the end of the day its the passengers who are paying for it. If it were up to me I'd abolish them tomorrow
It is a massive civil engineering task, and also massively disruptive. The savings are not that much - at least for 'driverless' as opposed to 'staffless' trains.
TfL is the perfect example of strong unions representing their workers.
And the result is a strong career path with good pay, running the finest public network in the UK. People that actually use the Underground think it's good on the whole, just needs some work - but the Tories aren't going to help with that
Not necessarily, the drivers have made themselves prime automation targets because paying them is now a huge expense so the potential saving is now high enough to warrant a big investment in self driving trains.
It's a classic example of if you want to do that - you don't want to start from here...
The underground will be one of the last networks in the world to be automated for there are an awful, awful lot of dragons in the bits that aren't already automated.
The conclusion is that the Tube will never be automated, not least the District line which is still in part managed by Network Rail. Perhaps the Tories would like to fund it and not cut it.
It's really not as difficult as the LR article makes out, just requires a bucketload of cash and some political will. So not happening anytime soon, admittedly.
The two major issues would be the need to fit platform edge doors and create level access. This is a civil engineering issue, and can be solved but will require significant disruption.
The other challenge is the psychological issue around having up to 1000 people deep underground on an unattended train, with (unlike other systems) no emergency escape route. Not a dealbreaker but would require significant political commitment at all levels.
The unions have done a great job for their members interests at the expense of the capital as a whole, and TfL that devotes significant time and resources to dealing with the whole pseudo-1970s obstructive bureaucracy around it. It's great for CorrectBattery and others to hold this up as socialism in action, but at the end of the day its the passengers who are paying for it. If it were up to me I'd abolish them tomorrow
Abolish the passengers? That would certainly resolve the issue.
Great news - where are the bodies? Genuinely if there is that much of it around, without the huge increase in hospitals and deaths, then its good news,
Covid seems to hospitalise people after 7 to 10 days and kills them 7 days after that.
We haven't got to those time frames yet with Omicron
TfL is the perfect example of strong unions representing their workers.
And the result is a strong career path with good pay, running the finest public network in the UK. People that actually use the Underground think it's good on the whole, just needs some work - but the Tories aren't going to help with that
Not necessarily, the drivers have made themselves prime automation targets because paying them is now a huge expense so the potential saving is now high enough to warrant a big investment in self driving trains.
It's a classic example of if you want to do that - you don't want to start from here...
The underground will be one of the last networks in the world to be automated for there are an awful, awful lot of dragons in the bits that aren't already automated.
The conclusion is that the Tube will never be automated, not least the District line which is still in part managed by Network Rail. Perhaps the Tories would like to fund it and not cut it.
It's really not as difficult as the LR article makes out, just requires a bucketload of cash and some political will. So not happening anytime soon, admittedly.
The two major issues would be the need to fit platform edge doors and create level access. This is a civil engineering issue, and can be solved but will require significant disruption.
The other challenge is the psychological issue around having up to 1000 people deep underground on an unattended train, with (unlike other systems) no emergency escape route. Not a dealbreaker but would require significant political commitment at all levels.
The unions have done a great job for their members interests at the expense of the capital as a whole, and TfL that devotes significant time and resources to dealing with the whole pseudo-1970s obstructive bureaucracy around it. It's great for CorrectBattery and others to hold this up as socialism in action, but at the end of the day its the passengers who are paying for it. If it were up to me I'd abolish them tomorrow
And replace it with what? And who would drive the trains?
Once again, the Tories want TfL to spend less money, so how on Earth do they do what you propose?
TfL is the perfect example of strong unions representing their workers.
And the result is a strong career path with good pay, running the finest public network in the UK. People that actually use the Underground think it's good on the whole, just needs some work - but the Tories aren't going to help with that
Not necessarily, the drivers have made themselves prime automation targets because paying them is now a huge expense so the potential saving is now high enough to warrant a big investment in self driving trains.
It's a classic example of if you want to do that - you don't want to start from here...
The underground will be one of the last networks in the world to be automated for there are an awful, awful lot of dragons in the bits that aren't already automated.
The conclusion is that the Tube will never be automated, not least the District line which is still in part managed by Network Rail. Perhaps the Tories would like to fund it and not cut it.
It's really not as difficult as the LR article makes out, just requires a bucketload of cash and some political will. So not happening anytime soon, admittedly.
The two major issues would be the need to fit platform edge doors and create level access. This is a civil engineering issue, and can be solved but will require significant disruption.
The other challenge is the psychological issue around having up to 1000 people deep underground on an unattended train, with (unlike other systems) no emergency escape route. Not a dealbreaker but would require significant political commitment at all levels.
The unions have done a great job for their members interests at the expense of the capital as a whole, and TfL that devotes significant time and resources to dealing with the whole pseudo-1970s obstructive bureaucracy around it. It's great for CorrectBattery and others to hold this up as socialism in action, but at the end of the day its the passengers who are paying for it. If it were up to me I'd abolish them tomorrow
I think you seriously underestimate the cost of those two major issues..
You should note that all places that currently have driverless trains also have platforms that are vastly bigger than older platforms. As an example within London take the Jubilee line from Green Park to Westminster / London Bridge and witness the scale of the difference (Green Park built almost manually, Westminster built post using modern methods).
TfL is the perfect example of strong unions representing their workers.
And the result is a strong career path with good pay, running the finest public network in the UK. People that actually use the Underground think it's good on the whole, just needs some work - but the Tories aren't going to help with that
Not necessarily, the drivers have made themselves prime automation targets because paying them is now a huge expense so the potential saving is now high enough to warrant a big investment in self driving trains.
It's a classic example of if you want to do that - you don't want to start from here...
The underground will be one of the last networks in the world to be automated for there are an awful, awful lot of dragons in the bits that aren't already automated.
The conclusion is that the Tube will never be automated, not least the District line which is still in part managed by Network Rail. Perhaps the Tories would like to fund it and not cut it.
It's really not as difficult as the LR article makes out, just requires a bucketload of cash and some political will. So not happening anytime soon, admittedly.
The two major issues would be the need to fit platform edge doors and create level access. This is a civil engineering issue, and can be solved but will require significant disruption.
The other challenge is the psychological issue around having up to 1000 people deep underground on an unattended train, with (unlike other systems) no emergency escape route. Not a dealbreaker but would require significant political commitment at all levels.
The unions have done a great job for their members interests at the expense of the capital as a whole, and TfL that devotes significant time and resources to dealing with the whole pseudo-1970s obstructive bureaucracy around it. It's great for CorrectBattery and others to hold this up as socialism in action, but at the end of the day its the passengers who are paying for it. If it were up to me I'd abolish them tomorrow
I think you seriously underestimate the cost of those two major issues..
You should note that all places that currently have driverless trains also have platforms that are vastly bigger than older platforms. As an example within London take the Jubilee line from Green Park to Westminster / London Bridge and witness the scale of the difference (Green Park built almost manually, Westminster built post using modern methods).
There's phone signal at Westminster, it's brilliant!
Since you've all been talking about The Beatles and covers, why has no one mentioned the greatest cover of all time, Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds by William Shatner?
Congratulations to Barbados who shrug the yoke of imperialism and become a republic from midnight tonight. Australia next, I reckon.
Given they've said they would do it for bloody years now I'd assume Jamaica, cant see what the hold up is when they appear to have consensus.
Waiting for the change of monarchs, I expect. Tactful.
What's the protocol wrt countries that have the Queen as Head of State? Is it that they have her specifically as HoS or the UK HoS as HoS? I mean, when Charles is King, would they have to take an active decision to remove him as their HoS or could they just passively never make Charles HoS? The latter is obviously a great deal easier and the obvious outcome of apathy.
I suspect it may be a mix? For some, specifically QE2 as HoS, for others the UK HoS? For the Commonwealth, wasn't it specifically Elizabeth, but Charles was confirmed as successor a couple of years back?
I think it’s a shame that Barbados is now a republic.
At its best, the monarchy can be a symbol of, and force for, multi-cultural kinship and constitutional sobriety.
I tend to agree, though, that apres elle, le deluge.
I agree with you in principle but in practice, while I think HMQ herself has good instincts in this area, the performance of the Royal family as an institution and the broader British establishment makes it hard to sustain that kind of narrative. Things like the Windrush scandal and Meghan Markle's experience will I think have made a big impression in Barbados. I remember talking to people when I lived there, many of them had experience living or studying in the UK and while they were mostly pretty Anglophile (eg loving English football and pubs) most would have some story of a slight or mis-treatment they had experienced here, which was generally perceived as being racist in origin. And the older people had memories of being treated as second class citizens even in their own country, pre-independence. I think it's sadly not surprising they want shot of the British monarchy.
Starmer is the leader, he needs to assert himself. She’s his deputy.
He can't sack her though as she was elected. Makes no sense why you would have a separately elected deputy leader in a political party which must be why Labour do it.
Ella Fitzgerald does a very groovy “Savoy Truffle”.
The best Beatles covers are to be found in the jazz/soul/reggae world.
For me one of the very best Dylan covers comes from there too. Richie Havens and Just Like a Woman.
Not sure that I prefer it, but Bryan Ferry's version of "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" is quite an upbeat take on what was originally a pretty downbeat and brooding delivery by Bob.
Comments
Shadow Cabinet source: "This is all very curious. Angela has been telling us she would sort a reshuffle for months and that Keir couldn't do it without her. And now it happens she's saying she knew nothing about it."
https://twitter.com/REWearmouth/status/1465302260855021568?s=20
https://www.met.police.uk/foi-ai/metropolitan-police/disclosure-2019/august/direct-entry-detective/
We do have an entry route called ‘Detective Career Pathway, where a candidate can apply as a direct entrant to become a Detective. This route provides individuals with the opportunity to come into the role directly as a trainee detective constable with no prior policing experience, and without having to join as a PC first.
I’ve just signed a groundbreaking international agreement with my Singaporean counterpart, Minister
@mpjoteo
.
This is great news for our two countries. An agreement that will speed up trade, boost cyber security and reduce costs for businesses. Global Britain in action Flag of United KingdomFlag of Singapore
https://twitter.com/NadineDorries/status/1465303634560925698?s=20
If Conservatives want to understand why tax as a %age of GDP is predicted to remain high, Brexit is a big factor - bigger, long-term, than COVID. The cake is smaller, so the state has to take a bigger share to maintain public services https://twitter.com/JohnSpringford/status/1465296399344586757
No10 spox: "We have been successful in securing a diverse supply and stock of vaccines throughout this process and our expectation is that we don't require that centre producing, sort of, 'state vaccinations'...
https://twitter.com/HugoGye/status/1465304392589099013?s=20
So bravo also.
At its best, the monarchy can be a symbol of, and force for, multi-cultural kinship and constitutional sobriety.
I tend to agree, though, that apres elle, le deluge.
First concert I ever went to with friends instead of family, while I was living down under, and this was part of the setlist. It seems like he's always had it in his setlist, he did it really well, found this on YouTube (it isn't the concert I went to).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv54giOSRKs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oH06aNXWb8U
Mind you The Shat is awesome at covers, I'm still awestruck by this cover.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J648lr8cjuw
It's a classic example of if you want to do that - you don't want to start from here...
The underground will be one of the last networks in the world to be automated for there are an awful, awful lot of dragons in the bits that aren't already automated.
A memorable name.
It will go something along the lines of:
KB: you changed your mind on Brexit
HY: no I didn't
KB: you mean you still believe it was wrong
HY: I voted Remain but I respect the vote
KB: So you support someone whose policy you disagree with
HY: It is a democratic decision
KB: So would Lab winning the next GE be but you wouldn't support them after, would you.
And mate to KB.
Isn't that extreme multitasking even for a lady?
Given how much we spaffed up the wall on Test, Trace, and Isolate or to Tory donors are we really quibbling about £215 million?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ainyK6fXku0
My understanding was the whole reason for building it in the first place was the worry that the UK was far too reliant on foreign manufacture and meaning advanced research could be supported.
And that last question may make selling it off to someone a better than doing it ourselves?
Abolish this useless position
Someone please shoot me the next time I think about going to London during the Black Friday weekend.
Even though I don't use the tube, it messed up Uber and general taxis as well.
I like her a lot, but she hasn’t really understood that the number one requirement for deputy is loyalty. Her public antics risk a progressive majority at the next election.
(I write this as someone who think Keir should be rolled at the next election).
The best Beatles covers are to be found in the jazz/soul/reggae world.
That will be the cause of much of your woe.
Rayner is a liar.
His Rocket man Is also terrific. Parodied quite well by family guy. He did an album with Leonard Nimoy whose voice isn’t great but better than Shatners.
https://youtu.be/Awn_qRWFFsI
So the deluge already happened and it happened mainly in the reign of the current Queen with India and Ireland for example going in the reign of her father.
The only Commonwealth realms left when the Queen dies of any significance will be nations with primarily populations of mainly white British Isles heritage eg Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
So it may have been correct to say when King George Vth died in 1936, apres il le deluge, it would not be true on the death of the current Queen
Timing of Nicola Sturgeon's conference speech today isn't ideal for the SNP.
At 10.30am, she warned Scots over a new covid variant.
At 12.45pm, she pledged to party members the campaign for independence will resume next year - "covid permitting".
https://twitter.com/Dennynews/status/1465301165265072130
We haven't got to those time frames yet with Omicron
This time four days and three nights.
The knee jerk reaction is to say it's a poor decision, yet I'm not sure it is, the manufacturing capacity now exists where it didn't previously and we have a strategic manufacturing reserve for many types of vaccine in the UK including viral vector, mRNA and viral protein, having a state owned company involved may not make sense any more and getting private investment in from Pfizer, AZ, GSK or even a mid-sized biotech makes a lot of sense. Think of this as the government overcoming the inertia stage of the investment decision and then recouping all of the cost of that.
Personally, I think with the right buyer it could be a really good move, if we got GSK or Pfizer to buy it with a guarantee of further investment in production capacity it's exactly the outcome we would want from this sort of project.
Who?
The two major issues would be the need to fit platform edge doors and create level access. This is a civil engineering issue, and can be solved but will require significant disruption.
The other challenge is the psychological issue around having up to 1000 people deep underground on an unattended train, with (unlike other systems) no emergency escape route. Not a dealbreaker but would require significant political commitment at all levels.
The unions have done a great job for their members interests at the expense of the capital as a whole, and TfL that devotes significant time and resources to dealing with the whole pseudo-1970s obstructive bureaucracy around it. It's great for CorrectBattery and others to hold this up as socialism in action, but at the end of the day its the passengers who are paying for it. If it were up to me I'd abolish them tomorrow
Starmer has a proven track record of lying so lets see what the truth turns out to be.
Once again, the Tories want TfL to spend less money, so how on Earth do they do what you propose?
You should note that all places that currently have driverless trains also have platforms that are vastly bigger than older platforms. As an example within London take the Jubilee line from Green Park to Westminster / London Bridge and witness the scale of the difference (Green Park built almost manually, Westminster built post using modern methods).
I suspect it may be a mix? For some, specifically QE2 as HoS, for others the UK HoS? For the Commonwealth, wasn't it specifically Elizabeth, but Charles was confirmed as successor a couple of years back?
I remember talking to people when I lived there, many of them had experience living or studying in the UK and while they were mostly pretty Anglophile (eg loving English football and pubs) most would have some story of a slight or mis-treatment they had experienced here, which was generally perceived as being racist in origin. And the older people had memories of being treated as second class citizens even in their own country, pre-independence. I think it's sadly not surprising they want shot of the British monarchy.