It’s the economy again, stupid – politicalbetting.com

RochdalePioneers said:

Sandpit said:

EPG said:

Well. I remember the economic debate since 2011. Every lefty economist followed Paul Krugman into demands for high inflation, saying they wanted to bring down asset prices, encourage real wage growth through raising real demand, and informally default on debts. This was often linked to an anti-German narrative on Greek and Italian debt negotiations, and falsely-named "Keynesian" advocacy for permanent deficit spending in the manner of Gordon Brown. Now we have high inflation, we still have high asset prices, nominal wage growth can't keep up, demand is still suppressed, and just about their only success is that debt is spiralling upward. Those same folks do not seem to be happy with the outcomes nor do they have any new solution (considering tax-and-spend has always been in their preferred toolkit).

The next couple of years are going to be painful, as the world recovers from the pandemic and life gets back to normal.

UK is well placed to recover - the biggest issues at the moment are the supply chain slowdowns and high gas prices thanks to Russia, both of which are getting better. The inflation we are seeing is likely to be transient, and can be dealt with by reverse QE if it looks more persistent.

This is probably your usual distance thing but our supply chain problems are getting worse, not better. Dover was shut on Friday because the backlog of trucks was causing absolute pandemonium.

IshmaelZ said:

DavidL said:

IshmaelZ said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

The Boris Derangement Syndrome lot don't do themselves any favours blaming Boris for the Queen getting COVID.

There are a lots of things to attack Boris for, but for the millionth time everbody is going to get COVID at some point. With Omicron its too infectious. Unless you want to live like a hermit for the rest of your days, you are going to come into contact with people who have it and then its just a matter of probability.

Given Charles and Camilla have it, and they have been spending time with her, I think its pretty likely she got it off them, so any recent changes to rules is totally mute. Omicron household spread is huge, so unless Boris is going to go back to banning families from ever meeting, its going to happen.

The "derangement syndrome" thing was never that clever or funny, was it?

I think even Jimmy Carr would struggle to make a joke out of those who are utterly convinced that Boris can do nothing right and that the UK is responsible for every world problem that comes along. Although personally, I do find the Boris is just lucky in his opponents meme mildly amusing.

Very odd. Do you dispute that he is lazy and a liar, or just not mind? Would you employ him?

DecrepiterJohnL said:

LIVE: Storm Franklin at London Heathrow Airport
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-7TzJ1bO5w

HYUFD said:

Taz said:

pigeon said:

stodge said:

HYUFD said:

Inflation is a problem but Sunak's rebate for gas and electricity consumers in the autumn should help. Most of the swing voters who might go to Labour over the economy and NI rise have likely already gone, the 34% still voting Tory will generally do so regardless as they are conservative in the culture wars, ie almost all Leavers and anti Covid restrictions and sceptical of Wokeism.

As for MPs pay, other public sector workers have had a rise so no reason they should be exempt

I'm not wholly convinced - the elderly are also influenced by what their children and grandchildren tell them. If they start hearing real economic hardship within their families, it may yet count against Sunak and the Conservatives.

Up to now, the cash savings accumulated by many middle class households during the virus has cushioned the blow of inflation but those reserves will be consumed by overpriced holidays and a return to full-blooded consumption which in turn which help fuel more inflation.

My local Tesco's now at 143.9p for petrol - 4p off its all time high just before the 2008 financial crash when oil prices were much higher (but of course sterling hadn't had the post-Referendum devaluation).

The other problem is a 2% inflation and 5% wage rises keeps everyone happy - it doesn't work so well the other way and savings rates remain miserably low. Try seeing what an ISA or Premium Bonds will get you these days.

Well, the hardship of the young hasn't melted the hearts of the old yet, so we shall see.

The key factor for the Tory core vote is continual house price inflation: the middle class elderly accumulate asset wealth, which they (and the heirs) expect to be passed down the generations as close to intact as possible. If the Tories want to make sure that all the olds turn out to bolster their support at the next election, they should go into it with a headline promise to scrap inheritance tax, backed up by more bribes for pensioners.

Well the young seem to think the old have had everything handed them on a platter and have little concern for the hardships they have suffered so it’s cuts both ways. House price inflation in many parts of the country is negligible or only a recent phenomenon.

The Tories need to expand home ownership as far as they can. Their future depends on it.

As long as most of the country are home owners it doesn't.

North of Watford properties are much cheaper to buy anyway, even for those on average salaries, hence the Tories made almost all their gains in 2019 there.

In London and the South inheritance and parental assistance will continue to help the young on average salaries there get on the property ladder.

Building affordable homes in the brownbelt to buy (not buy to let) will help but building too much in the greenbelt will just turn off the Tory core vote and turn much of it LD.

Getting young people to buy property is also not a guarantee of a Tory win, Blair won most of those with mortgages for example

noneoftheabove said:

JosiasJessop said:

noneoftheabove said:

JosiasJessop said:

IshmaelZ said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

The Boris Derangement Syndrome lot don't do themselves any favours blaming Boris for the Queen getting COVID.

There are a lots of things to attack Boris for, but for the millionth time everbody is going to get COVID at some point. With Omicron its too infectious. Unless you want to live like a hermit for the rest of your days, you are going to come into contact with people who have it and then its just a matter of probability.

Given Charles and Camilla have it, and they have been spending time with her, I think its pretty likely she got it off them, so any recent changes to rules is totally mute. Omicron household spread is huge, so unless Boris is going to go back to banning families from ever meeting, its going to happen.

The "derangement syndrome" thing was never that clever or funny, was it?

I am no fan of Boris. I was one of the people on here who argued against him getting the top job, the discussions often getting heated with the Boris Fans. I didn't vote for him, and won't.

Having said that, there is a BDS. People who are driven so mad by Boris that they assert almost godly powers of malice to him, whilst also saying he is an incompetent buffoon. Sane people who lose all sense of reason whenever Boris is mentioned.

It's not complicated, he is a sociopath who is extremely competent at political tactics but extremely incompetent as at making the country better. Probably because he is interested in the former but not the latter.

What clinical evidence do you have that he is a "Sociopath"?

I mean, the guy's a joke, but if you say he is one, then I fear many politicians would fall under the same banner...

Not a professional but here is a list of characteristic traits:

https://www.health.com/condition/antisocial-personality-disorder/sociopath-traits

Lack of empathy: Smirks at Starmer death threats
Difficult Relationships: Not sure you need examples here but can provide many if you really want me to
Manipulativeness: See above
Deceitfulness: See above
Callousness: Let the bodies pile high
Hostility: Facial expressions at PMQ
Irresponsibility: Guppy
Impulsivity: Frequent affairs
Risky Behaviour: See above

Seems pretty clear cut to a layman.

Estimates are 3-4% of males are sociopaths, and they will definitely be drawn to politics and suited to it. So yes many of the top politicians will be sociopaths but far from all or even the majority.

DavidL said:

He is a natural salesman. I also don't think that he is particularly lazy.

HYUFD said:

pigeon said:

HYUFD said:

BartholomewRoberts said:

Taz said:

Scott_xP said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

The Boris Derangement Syndrome lot don't do themselves any favours blaming Boris for the Queen getting COVID.

You don't help yourself by being wilfully stupid. Nobody blamed BoZo. Here is a Tory MP


Commons Committee chair Caroline Nokes tells T&G the news that the Queen has Covid-19 “makes it tricky” for the Government to end all restrictions this week, "but we have to strike a balance"
@TimesRadio
https://twitter.com/tnewtondunn/status/1495388007653949442

You seem to spend a lot of time on Twitter. There are quite a few there blaming Boris.

As for Nokes comment I don’t see why one very wealthy, privileged, individual catching Covid changes anything with regards to ending restrictions. It’s the right thing to do, other nations are opening up. So should we.

There is utterly no reason whatsoever to postpone Covid changes.

I hope the Queen is OK but she's mortal and her card will be marked one day, whether it be Covid or anything else, we have to trust the vaccines.

If not now, post-three doses of vaccine, then when?

Indeed, then we have a month of national mourning, then prepare for King Charles' coronation in 6 months as he finally gets the role he has waited his life for at 73.

Hopefully however Her Majesty has a few years left in her but she is 95, she has had as much protection as she can get being double vaccinated and boosted

Point of order: we get about six hours of national mourning, after which viewers start to ring up the BBC complaining about EastEnders being replaced by Nick Witchell.

Tough. I want full Iranian style national mourning when the Queen dies.

I want sombre music on every radio station and wall to wall coverage on all the main freeview channels until her funeral is over. I also want shops shut throughout the day of her funeral.

Anyone who complains gets sent to the Tower., that would also help weed out republicans. After all, what else did we elect a Tory government for?

Scott_xP said:

JosiasJessop said:

they assert almost godly powers of malice to him, whilst also saying he is an incompetent buffoon.

He is malicious. There is no evidence to the contrary.

He is an incompetent buffoon. There is no evidence to the contrary.

The fact he is PM is due to his buffoonery, not his competence.

Scott_xP said:

JosiasJessop said:

they assert almost godly powers of malice to him, whilst also saying he is an incompetent buffoon.

He is malicious. There is no evidence to the contrary.

He is an incompetent buffoon. There is no evidence to the contrary.

The fact he is PM is due to his buffoonery, not his competence.

Sandpit said:

Scott_xP said:

JosiasJessop said:

they assert almost godly powers of malice to him, whilst also saying he is an incompetent buffoon.

He is malicious. There is no evidence to the contrary.

He is an incompetent buffoon. There is no evidence to the contrary.

The fact he is PM is due to his buffoonery, not his competence.

The fact he is PM, is entirely down to the Remoaner mob in Parliament who wouldn’t accept Mrs May’s deal.

JosiasJessop said:

noneoftheabove said:

JosiasJessop said:

noneoftheabove said:

JosiasJessop said:

IshmaelZ said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

The Boris Derangement Syndrome lot don't do themselves any favours blaming Boris for the Queen getting COVID.

There are a lots of things to attack Boris for, but for the millionth time everbody is going to get COVID at some point. With Omicron its too infectious. Unless you want to live like a hermit for the rest of your days, you are going to come into contact with people who have it and then its just a matter of probability.

Given Charles and Camilla have it, and they have been spending time with her, I think its pretty likely she got it off them, so any recent changes to rules is totally mute. Omicron household spread is huge, so unless Boris is going to go back to banning families from ever meeting, its going to happen.

The "derangement syndrome" thing was never that clever or funny, was it?

I am no fan of Boris. I was one of the people on here who argued against him getting the top job, the discussions often getting heated with the Boris Fans. I didn't vote for him, and won't.

Having said that, there is a BDS. People who are driven so mad by Boris that they assert almost godly powers of malice to him, whilst also saying he is an incompetent buffoon. Sane people who lose all sense of reason whenever Boris is mentioned.

It's not complicated, he is a sociopath who is extremely competent at political tactics but extremely incompetent as at making the country better. Probably because he is interested in the former but not the latter.

What clinical evidence do you have that he is a "Sociopath"?

I mean, the guy's a joke, but if you say he is one, then I fear many politicians would fall under the same banner...

Not a professional but here is a list of characteristic traits:

https://www.health.com/condition/antisocial-personality-disorder/sociopath-traits

Lack of empathy: Smirks at Starmer death threats
Difficult Relationships: Not sure you need examples here but can provide many if you really want me to
Manipulativeness: See above
Deceitfulness: See above
Callousness: Let the bodies pile high
Hostility: Facial expressions at PMQ
Irresponsibility: Guppy
Impulsivity: Frequent affairs
Risky Behaviour: See above

Seems pretty clear cut to a layman.

Estimates are 3-4% of males are sociopaths, and they will definitely be drawn to politics and suited to it. So yes many of the top politicians will be sociopaths but far from all or even the majority.

I have great issues with people (even experts) making medical diagnoses over t'Internet - especially when they are negative and about someone that they dislike.

I'd also argue that some of those traits are almost part of the job description for a top politician, who has to trade off many factors in making a decision. It does not necessarily mean that they are a sociopath.

HYUFD said:

pigeon said:

HYUFD said:

BartholomewRoberts said:

Taz said:

Scott_xP said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

The Boris Derangement Syndrome lot don't do themselves any favours blaming Boris for the Queen getting COVID.

You don't help yourself by being wilfully stupid. Nobody blamed BoZo. Here is a Tory MP


Commons Committee chair Caroline Nokes tells T&G the news that the Queen has Covid-19 “makes it tricky” for the Government to end all restrictions this week, "but we have to strike a balance"
@TimesRadio
https://twitter.com/tnewtondunn/status/1495388007653949442

You seem to spend a lot of time on Twitter. There are quite a few there blaming Boris.

As for Nokes comment I don’t see why one very wealthy, privileged, individual catching Covid changes anything with regards to ending restrictions. It’s the right thing to do, other nations are opening up. So should we.

There is utterly no reason whatsoever to postpone Covid changes.

I hope the Queen is OK but she's mortal and her card will be marked one day, whether it be Covid or anything else, we have to trust the vaccines.

If not now, post-three doses of vaccine, then when?

Indeed, then we have a month of national mourning, then prepare for King Charles' coronation in 6 months as he finally gets the role he has waited his life for at 73.

Hopefully however Her Majesty has a few years left in her but she is 95, she has had as much protection as she can get being double vaccinated and boosted

Point of order: we get about six hours of national mourning, after which viewers start to ring up the BBC complaining about EastEnders being replaced by Nick Witchell.

Tough. I want full Iranian style national mourning when the Queen dies.

I want sombre music on every radio station and wall to wall coverage on all the main freeview channels until her funeral is over. I also want shops shut throughout the day of her funeral.

Anyone who complains gets sent to the Tower., that would also help weed out republicans. After all, what else did we elect a Tory government for?

DavidL said:

IshmaelZ said:

DavidL said:

IshmaelZ said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

The Boris Derangement Syndrome lot don't do themselves any favours blaming Boris for the Queen getting COVID.

There are a lots of things to attack Boris for, but for the millionth time everbody is going to get COVID at some point. With Omicron its too infectious. Unless you want to live like a hermit for the rest of your days, you are going to come into contact with people who have it and then its just a matter of probability.

Given Charles and Camilla have it, and they have been spending time with her, I think its pretty likely she got it off them, so any recent changes to rules is totally mute. Omicron household spread is huge, so unless Boris is going to go back to banning families from ever meeting, its going to happen.

The "derangement syndrome" thing was never that clever or funny, was it?

I think even Jimmy Carr would struggle to make a joke out of those who are utterly convinced that Boris can do nothing right and that the UK is responsible for every world problem that comes along. Although personally, I do find the Boris is just lucky in his opponents meme mildly amusing.

Very odd. Do you dispute that he is lazy and a liar, or just not mind? Would you employ him?

To do what? He is a natural salesman. I also don't think that he is particularly lazy. As a PM, probably not.

JosiasJessop said:

noneoftheabove said:

JosiasJessop said:

noneoftheabove said:

JosiasJessop said:

IshmaelZ said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

The Boris Derangement Syndrome lot don't do themselves any favours blaming Boris for the Queen getting COVID.

There are a lots of things to attack Boris for, but for the millionth time everbody is going to get COVID at some point. With Omicron its too infectious. Unless you want to live like a hermit for the rest of your days, you are going to come into contact with people who have it and then its just a matter of probability.

Given Charles and Camilla have it, and they have been spending time with her, I think its pretty likely she got it off them, so any recent changes to rules is totally mute. Omicron household spread is huge, so unless Boris is going to go back to banning families from ever meeting, its going to happen.

The "derangement syndrome" thing was never that clever or funny, was it?

I am no fan of Boris. I was one of the people on here who argued against him getting the top job, the discussions often getting heated with the Boris Fans. I didn't vote for him, and won't.

Having said that, there is a BDS. People who are driven so mad by Boris that they assert almost godly powers of malice to him, whilst also saying he is an incompetent buffoon. Sane people who lose all sense of reason whenever Boris is mentioned.

It's not complicated, he is a sociopath who is extremely competent at political tactics but extremely incompetent as at making the country better. Probably because he is interested in the former but not the latter.

What clinical evidence do you have that he is a "Sociopath"?

I mean, the guy's a joke, but if you say he is one, then I fear many politicians would fall under the same banner...

Not a professional but here is a list of characteristic traits:

https://www.health.com/condition/antisocial-personality-disorder/sociopath-traits

Lack of empathy: Smirks at Starmer death threats
Difficult Relationships: Not sure you need examples here but can provide many if you really want me to
Manipulativeness: See above
Deceitfulness: See above
Callousness: Let the bodies pile high
Hostility: Facial expressions at PMQ
Irresponsibility: Guppy
Impulsivity: Frequent affairs
Risky Behaviour: See above

Seems pretty clear cut to a layman.

Estimates are 3-4% of males are sociopaths, and they will definitely be drawn to politics and suited to it. So yes many of the top politicians will be sociopaths but far from all or even the majority.

I have great issues with people (even experts) making medical diagnoses over t'Internet - especially when they are negative and about someone that they dislike.

I'd also argue that some of those traits are almost part of the job description for a top politician, who has to trade off many factors in making a decision. It does not necessarily mean that they are a sociopath.

HYUFD said:

pigeon said:

HYUFD said:

BartholomewRoberts said:

Taz said:

Scott_xP said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

The Boris Derangement Syndrome lot don't do themselves any favours blaming Boris for the Queen getting COVID.

You don't help yourself by being wilfully stupid. Nobody blamed BoZo. Here is a Tory MP


Commons Committee chair Caroline Nokes tells T&G the news that the Queen has Covid-19 “makes it tricky” for the Government to end all restrictions this week, "but we have to strike a balance"
@TimesRadio
https://twitter.com/tnewtondunn/status/1495388007653949442

You seem to spend a lot of time on Twitter. There are quite a few there blaming Boris.

As for Nokes comment I don’t see why one very wealthy, privileged, individual catching Covid changes anything with regards to ending restrictions. It’s the right thing to do, other nations are opening up. So should we.

There is utterly no reason whatsoever to postpone Covid changes.

I hope the Queen is OK but she's mortal and her card will be marked one day, whether it be Covid or anything else, we have to trust the vaccines.

If not now, post-three doses of vaccine, then when?

Indeed, then we have a month of national mourning, then prepare for King Charles' coronation in 6 months as he finally gets the role he has waited his life for at 73.

Hopefully however Her Majesty has a few years left in her but she is 95, she has had as much protection as she can get being double vaccinated and boosted

Point of order: we get about six hours of national mourning, after which viewers start to ring up the BBC complaining about EastEnders being replaced by Nick Witchell.

Tough. I want full Iranian style national mourning when the Queen dies.

I want sombre music on every radio station and wall to wall coverage on all the main freeview channels until her funeral is over. I also want shops shut throughout the day of her funeral.

Anyone who complains gets sent to the Tower., that would also help weed out republicans. After all, what else did we elect a Tory government for?

Sandpit said:

Scott_xP said:

JosiasJessop said:

they assert almost godly powers of malice to him, whilst also saying he is an incompetent buffoon.

He is malicious. There is no evidence to the contrary.

He is an incompetent buffoon. There is no evidence to the contrary.

The fact he is PM is due to his buffoonery, not his competence.

The fact he is PM, is entirely down to the Remoaner mob in Parliament who wouldn’t accept Mrs May’s deal.

kle4 said:

HYUFD said:

pigeon said:

HYUFD said:

BartholomewRoberts said:

Taz said:

Scott_xP said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

The Boris Derangement Syndrome lot don't do themselves any favours blaming Boris for the Queen getting COVID.

You don't help yourself by being wilfully stupid. Nobody blamed BoZo. Here is a Tory MP


Commons Committee chair Caroline Nokes tells T&G the news that the Queen has Covid-19 “makes it tricky” for the Government to end all restrictions this week, "but we have to strike a balance"
@TimesRadio
https://twitter.com/tnewtondunn/status/1495388007653949442

You seem to spend a lot of time on Twitter. There are quite a few there blaming Boris.

As for Nokes comment I don’t see why one very wealthy, privileged, individual catching Covid changes anything with regards to ending restrictions. It’s the right thing to do, other nations are opening up. So should we.

There is utterly no reason whatsoever to postpone Covid changes.

I hope the Queen is OK but she's mortal and her card will be marked one day, whether it be Covid or anything else, we have to trust the vaccines.

If not now, post-three doses of vaccine, then when?

Indeed, then we have a month of national mourning, then prepare for King Charles' coronation in 6 months as he finally gets the role he has waited his life for at 73.

Hopefully however Her Majesty has a few years left in her but she is 95, she has had as much protection as she can get being double vaccinated and boosted

Point of order: we get about six hours of national mourning, after which viewers start to ring up the BBC complaining about EastEnders being replaced by Nick Witchell.

Tough. I want full Iranian style national mourning when the Queen dies.

I want sombre music on every radio station and wall to wall coverage on all the main freeview channels until her funeral is over. I also want shops shut throughout the day of her funeral.

Anyone who complains gets sent to the Tower., that would also help weed out republicans. After all, what else did we elect a Tory government for?

Good japes!

It's going to be wall to wall for at least a week, and yes, people will complain about it, but it's a one off so I am sure people will manage.

kle4 said:

Sandpit said:

Scott_xP said:

JosiasJessop said:

they assert almost godly powers of malice to him, whilst also saying he is an incompetent buffoon.

He is malicious. There is no evidence to the contrary.

He is an incompetent buffoon. There is no evidence to the contrary.

The fact he is PM is due to his buffoonery, not his competence.

The fact he is PM, is entirely down to the Remoaner mob in Parliament who wouldn’t accept Mrs May’s deal.

Entirely is a stretch, but it was definitely a major factor in the circumstances that gave him the opportunity.

rottenborough said:

another_richard said:

DavidL said:

IshmaelZ said:

DavidL said:

IshmaelZ said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

The Boris Derangement Syndrome lot don't do themselves any favours blaming Boris for the Queen getting COVID.

There are a lots of things to attack Boris for, but for the millionth time everbody is going to get COVID at some point. With Omicron its too infectious. Unless you want to live like a hermit for the rest of your days, you are going to come into contact with people who have it and then its just a matter of probability.

Given Charles and Camilla have it, and they have been spending time with her, I think its pretty likely she got it off them, so any recent changes to rules is totally mute. Omicron household spread is huge, so unless Boris is going to go back to banning families from ever meeting, its going to happen.

The "derangement syndrome" thing was never that clever or funny, was it?

I think even Jimmy Carr would struggle to make a joke out of those who are utterly convinced that Boris can do nothing right and that the UK is responsible for every world problem that comes along. Although personally, I do find the Boris is just lucky in his opponents meme mildly amusing.

Very odd. Do you dispute that he is lazy and a liar, or just not mind? Would you employ him?

To do what? He is a natural salesman. I also don't think that he is particularly lazy. As a PM, probably not.

Boris is pretty energetic when it comes to doing things he likes doing, less so when its things he's not interested in.

Now we're all like that to varying extents but our failings aren't as important or visible as those of Boris.

Which is why Boris needed to surround himself with capable people capable of doing the things he wasn't interested in and also, as much as possible, keep him on the 'straight and narrow'.

Personally, i think it's pretty scary that Johnson may soon be in charge of the UK's end of war in Ukraine. His lack of focus and attention detail and avoidance of work will really show in a fast moving, complex theatre of war.

Sandpit said:

Scott_xP said:

JosiasJessop said:

they assert almost godly powers of malice to him, whilst also saying he is an incompetent buffoon.

He is malicious. There is no evidence to the contrary.

He is an incompetent buffoon. There is no evidence to the contrary.

The fact he is PM is due to his buffoonery, not his competence.

The fact he is PM, is entirely down to the Remoaner mob in Parliament who wouldn’t accept Mrs May’s deal.

MaxPB said:

In other news, Camden's night life is back. Been out there Friday last week with my friends and then again yesterday with my wife's friends. Bars and pubs are all packed, not many people milling about outdoors but everywhere had queues to get in, The Underworld has been refurbished and you can wear canvas shoes risk free and use the gents.

Londoners have got their confidence back. What I don't see as much is out of towners like people from Essex heading into Liverpool Street on Fridays for a night in one of Leicester Square's more commercial bars/clubs. Hopefully as we head into the summer this crowd will be back too, despite the fights/piss/rowdiness London needs the two sizes too small polo shirt wearing crowd.

Taz said:

Heathener said:

Taz said:

pigeon said:

stodge said:

HYUFD said:

Inflation is a problem but Sunak's rebate for gas and electricity consumers in the autumn should help. Most of the swing voters who might go to Labour over the economy and NI rise have likely already gone, the 34% still voting Tory will generally do so regardless as they are conservative in the culture wars, ie almost all Leavers and anti Covid restrictions and sceptical of Wokeism.

As for MPs pay, other public sector workers have had a rise so no reason they should be exempt

I'm not wholly convinced - the elderly are also influenced by what their children and grandchildren tell them. If they start hearing real economic hardship within their families, it may yet count against Sunak and the Conservatives.

Up to now, the cash savings accumulated by many middle class households during the virus has cushioned the blow of inflation but those reserves will be consumed by overpriced holidays and a return to full-blooded consumption which in turn which help fuel more inflation.

My local Tesco's now at 143.9p for petrol - 4p off its all time high just before the 2008 financial crash when oil prices were much higher (but of course sterling hadn't had the post-Referendum devaluation).

The other problem is a 2% inflation and 5% wage rises keeps everyone happy - it doesn't work so well the other way and savings rates remain miserably low. Try seeing what an ISA or Premium Bonds will get you these days.

Well, the hardship of the young hasn't melted the hearts of the old yet, so we shall see.

The key factor for the Tory core vote is continual house price inflation: the middle class elderly accumulate asset wealth, which they (and the heirs) expect to be passed down the generations as close to intact as possible. If the Tories want to make sure that all the olds turn out to bolster their support at the next election, they should go into it with a headline promise to scrap inheritance tax, backed up by more bribes for pensioners.

The Tories need to expand home ownership as far as they can. Their future depends on it.

Would be a huge vote winner with an entire disenfranchised generation.

Trouble is, it means massive building and that means in places where NIMBY tories don't want them. I don't see a solution without going onto brownfield AND greenfield sites.

Too many people chasing too few goods is basic A level economics but it holds good for an island which is small and over-populated.

The other solution is to turn Britain into such a shitshow that people won't want to live here anymore. Oh wait ...

One of the big vote winners for the Lib Dems in Chesham was opposing housing development. There are plenty of homes available for reasonable prices but they are not where the people want to make a,life.

tlg86 said:

MaxPB said:

In other news, Camden's night life is back. Been out there Friday last week with my friends and then again yesterday with my wife's friends. Bars and pubs are all packed, not many people milling about outdoors but everywhere had queues to get in, The Underworld has been refurbished and you can wear canvas shoes risk free and use the gents.

Londoners have got their confidence back. What I don't see as much is out of towners like people from Essex heading into Liverpool Street on Fridays for a night in one of Leicester Square's more commercial bars/clubs. Hopefully as we head into the summer this crowd will be back too, despite the fights/piss/rowdiness London needs the two sizes too small polo shirt wearing crowd.

Having travelled into London from Woking yesterday, I don't think it's a surprise people from out of town weren't in London in big numbers yesterday!

But I caught the Vic line from Highbury and Islington to Oxford Circus long after the football crowd had gone and it was rammed.

JohnLilburne said:

tlg86 said:

MaxPB said:

In other news, Camden's night life is back. Been out there Friday last week with my friends and then again yesterday with my wife's friends. Bars and pubs are all packed, not many people milling about outdoors but everywhere had queues to get in, The Underworld has been refurbished and you can wear canvas shoes risk free and use the gents.

Londoners have got their confidence back. What I don't see as much is out of towners like people from Essex heading into Liverpool Street on Fridays for a night in one of Leicester Square's more commercial bars/clubs. Hopefully as we head into the summer this crowd will be back too, despite the fights/piss/rowdiness London needs the two sizes too small polo shirt wearing crowd.

Having travelled into London from Woking yesterday, I don't think it's a surprise people from out of town weren't in London in big numbers yesterday!

But I caught the Vic line from Highbury and Islington to Oxford Circus long after the football crowd had gone and it was rammed.

Yesterday the trains were stuffed. I had no trains to Woking (or Waterloo) until at least 1:30 and then decided to do something else. I presume they were back running some time in the afternoon/evening but I imagine a lot of people would have decided not to risk it.

JosiasJessop said:

FF43 said:

JosiasJessop said:

noneoftheabove said:

JosiasJessop said:

noneoftheabove said:

JosiasJessop said:

IshmaelZ said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

The Boris Derangement Syndrome lot don't do themselves any favours blaming Boris for the Queen getting COVID.

There are a lots of things to attack Boris for, but for the millionth time everbody is going to get COVID at some point. With Omicron its too infectious. Unless you want to live like a hermit for the rest of your days, you are going to come into contact with people who have it and then its just a matter of probability.

Given Charles and Camilla have it, and they have been spending time with her, I think its pretty likely she got it off them, so any recent changes to rules is totally mute. Omicron household spread is huge, so unless Boris is going to go back to banning families from ever meeting, its going to happen.

The "derangement syndrome" thing was never that clever or funny, was it?

I am no fan of Boris. I was one of the people on here who argued against him getting the top job, the discussions often getting heated with the Boris Fans. I didn't vote for him, and won't.

Having said that, there is a BDS. People who are driven so mad by Boris that they assert almost godly powers of malice to him, whilst also saying he is an incompetent buffoon. Sane people who lose all sense of reason whenever Boris is mentioned.

It's not complicated, he is a sociopath who is extremely competent at political tactics but extremely incompetent as at making the country better. Probably because he is interested in the former but not the latter.

What clinical evidence do you have that he is a "Sociopath"?

I mean, the guy's a joke, but if you say he is one, then I fear many politicians would fall under the same banner...

Not a professional but here is a list of characteristic traits:

https://www.health.com/condition/antisocial-personality-disorder/sociopath-traits

Lack of empathy: Smirks at Starmer death threats
Difficult Relationships: Not sure you need examples here but can provide many if you really want me to
Manipulativeness: See above
Deceitfulness: See above
Callousness: Let the bodies pile high
Hostility: Facial expressions at PMQ
Irresponsibility: Guppy
Impulsivity: Frequent affairs
Risky Behaviour: See above

Seems pretty clear cut to a layman.

Estimates are 3-4% of males are sociopaths, and they will definitely be drawn to politics and suited to it. So yes many of the top politicians will be sociopaths but far from all or even the majority.

I have great issues with people (even experts) making medical diagnoses over t'Internet - especially when they are negative and about someone that they dislike.

I'd also argue that some of those traits are almost part of the job description for a top politician, who has to trade off many factors in making a decision. It does not necessarily mean that they are a sociopath.

Disagree with your second point. Other politicians (except Trump) are not like Johnson in his sociopathic characteristics, if that's what they are. That's why Johnson is unfit for office whereas the main alternatives to Johnson would be OK.

So Johnson lacks empathy, makes no distinction between right and wrong, takes no responsibility for his actions, is an impulsive liar, can be aggressive and indulges in risky behaviour. Those are characteristics of a sociopath. We don't need to diagnose his clinical condition. We can simply say those characteristics make him uniquely unfit for office.

Okay, I'll go there: any Communist is psychopathic.

Anybody who supports a system that has bought so much evil to the world exhibits exactly the same traits, with added self-delusion that they're making the world a better place, and it'll all work out 'next time' ...

MoonRabbit said:

Taz said:

MoonRabbit said:

Malmesbury said:

MoonRabbit said:

Malmesbury said:

MoonRabbit said:

MoonRabbit said:

CarlottaVance said:

Vice President Kamala Harris, echoing President Joe Biden's comments Friday, tells CNN's @NatashaBertrand in Munich "We believe that Putin has made his decision, period," to invade Ukraine, adding "nothing's being held back" in sharing intelligence with allies.

https://twitter.com/DJJudd/status/1495356066854547456

*off topic, though great to have a TSE thread again

Is it really all down to Putin making his mind up? If it was London or Washington and rest of war bunker said no, it wouldn’t matter what the leaders preference was? Why would it be different in Moscow? What I’m practically saying is, if Putin, and those agreeing with him were asked by the generals, what’s the clarity of the mission we can achieve and withdraw without it being open ended or creeping into something else, and Putin and his allies can’t convincingly define that, then surely it won’t happen?

If at some point the Ukraine leadership want a face to face with Russian counterpart’s, what would the Ukrainians hope to get from that? They would use it just to emphasise how belligerent their position is, like how Liz Truss used her Moscow trip?

These are two good questions for this latest Sunday in pre war build up?

Although Igor the Incinerator (Putin’s likely successor if the worst happened to Putin this week) is no doubt on side with sabre rattling to get Donetsk up everyone’s agenda, and dialogue on it not kicked into long grass like any criminal investigation into Boris Johnson, I’m not convinced Igor is on side with invasion, because Surely there’s internal politics and factions on things within Moscow government too, and Igors already allowed unease of generals to seep like a message into world news?

Why do I think Igor as successor? Is this not the same path which brought Putin into the job? What do we know about Igor? His take on pursuing Greater Russian Nationalism from behind his desk at GRU has been brazen, merciless and blood thirsty, like a dalek, he’s likely to be far worse than Putin to deal with especially if he’s been courting the military these past years. ☹️

Ukrainians - "emphasise how belligerent their position is" ???? Since when is "Don't invaded my country" belligerent?

Like Napoleon, Putin has to manage a coalition of power brokers behind him. He is riding a tiger, which can eat him at any time.

A successor to Putin is not predictable. Putin himself was supposed to be a puppet figurehead, who got out of control.

In Paraguay, General Rodríguez overthrew Stroessner. Rodríguez was corrupt and a fully paid up member of the goose-stepping military.

He freed the political prisoners, unbanned the opposition, introduced real democracy, and stepped down after one term as elected (genuinely) president. Then died. People are still going WTF??

*off topic because of world war three

“ People are still going WTF?” I love that example because it is so optimistic.

I’m not so convinced though Malmsy. These people that come out the CHECKA, KGB, you can’t reason with them. You can’t think, what puts pressure on me we will apply to them. I don’t want to come over all neecher but They are like Daleks, they have had pityand mercy removed. They can’t see the bigger picture like we can. Can’t say to them, your people like my people, they want security, they want a decent home, decent job, come in from work the kids are doing the homework, someone cutting carrots at window, decent infrastructure, decent education, decent hospitals - you can’t say this to them, they haven’t clue what you are babbling about, they have spent their life in a basement shooting intelligentsia like you in the head with a bullet, playing tinker tailor solider spy.

Is it like you sez we know how Putin ticks he’s a greater Russian nationalist. Or is he less emotional than that, a Dalek that only cares bout legacy? Because on his watch his legacy of greater Russia has shrunk, the autonomous bits of old Soviet Union, led by leaders who are not conditioned by being checka their whole life, look westerwards for investment, commerce, wealth and comfort and security for their people.

I do apologise for this gonzo, I have been polishing off the wine box. We normally go out Sunday afternoon, but I said I would do a beef bourguigiynionnon. So you got me all after noon. 😦

Not all ex-KGB are arseholes. Remember that 98% of them are office drones, as well.

"they want security, they want a decent home, decent job, come in from work the kids are doing the homework, someone cutting carrots at window, decent infrastructure, decent education, decent hospitals" - that is what drove the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the creation of Putin. Someone who can deliver....

If Putinism stops delivering.... well the next chap might try real reform....

Or be a merciless dalek nationalist job. It can go two ways can’t it?

The Daleks are, of course, a metaphor for Nazism.

The cyber men are communists.

Occasionally a post comes along that shakes my very understanding of all I’ve ever understood 😟

Omnium said:

MoonRabbit said:

Taz said:

MoonRabbit said:

Malmesbury said:

MoonRabbit said:

Malmesbury said:

MoonRabbit said:

MoonRabbit said:

CarlottaVance said:

Vice President Kamala Harris, echoing President Joe Biden's comments Friday, tells CNN's @NatashaBertrand in Munich "We believe that Putin has made his decision, period," to invade Ukraine, adding "nothing's being held back" in sharing intelligence with allies.

https://twitter.com/DJJudd/status/1495356066854547456

*off topic, though great to have a TSE thread again

Is it really all down to Putin making his mind up? If it was London or Washington and rest of war bunker said no, it wouldn’t matter what the leaders preference was? Why would it be different in Moscow? What I’m practically saying is, if Putin, and those agreeing with him were asked by the generals, what’s the clarity of the mission we can achieve and withdraw without it being open ended or creeping into something else, and Putin and his allies can’t convincingly define that, then surely it won’t happen?

If at some point the Ukraine leadership want a face to face with Russian counterpart’s, what would the Ukrainians hope to get from that? They would use it just to emphasise how belligerent their position is, like how Liz Truss used her Moscow trip?

These are two good questions for this latest Sunday in pre war build up?

Although Igor the Incinerator (Putin’s likely successor if the worst happened to Putin this week) is no doubt on side with sabre rattling to get Donetsk up everyone’s agenda, and dialogue on it not kicked into long grass like any criminal investigation into Boris Johnson, I’m not convinced Igor is on side with invasion, because Surely there’s internal politics and factions on things within Moscow government too, and Igors already allowed unease of generals to seep like a message into world news?

Why do I think Igor as successor? Is this not the same path which brought Putin into the job? What do we know about Igor? His take on pursuing Greater Russian Nationalism from behind his desk at GRU has been brazen, merciless and blood thirsty, like a dalek, he’s likely to be far worse than Putin to deal with especially if he’s been courting the military these past years. ☹️

Ukrainians - "emphasise how belligerent their position is" ???? Since when is "Don't invaded my country" belligerent?

Like Napoleon, Putin has to manage a coalition of power brokers behind him. He is riding a tiger, which can eat him at any time.

A successor to Putin is not predictable. Putin himself was supposed to be a puppet figurehead, who got out of control.

In Paraguay, General Rodríguez overthrew Stroessner. Rodríguez was corrupt and a fully paid up member of the goose-stepping military.

He freed the political prisoners, unbanned the opposition, introduced real democracy, and stepped down after one term as elected (genuinely) president. Then died. People are still going WTF??

*off topic because of world war three

“ People are still going WTF?” I love that example because it is so optimistic.

I’m not so convinced though Malmsy. These people that come out the CHECKA, KGB, you can’t reason with them. You can’t think, what puts pressure on me we will apply to them. I don’t want to come over all neecher but They are like Daleks, they have had pityand mercy removed. They can’t see the bigger picture like we can. Can’t say to them, your people like my people, they want security, they want a decent home, decent job, come in from work the kids are doing the homework, someone cutting carrots at window, decent infrastructure, decent education, decent hospitals - you can’t say this to them, they haven’t clue what you are babbling about, they have spent their life in a basement shooting intelligentsia like you in the head with a bullet, playing tinker tailor solider spy.

Is it like you sez we know how Putin ticks he’s a greater Russian nationalist. Or is he less emotional than that, a Dalek that only cares bout legacy? Because on his watch his legacy of greater Russia has shrunk, the autonomous bits of old Soviet Union, led by leaders who are not conditioned by being checka their whole life, look westerwards for investment, commerce, wealth and comfort and security for their people.

I do apologise for this gonzo, I have been polishing off the wine box. We normally go out Sunday afternoon, but I said I would do a beef bourguigiynionnon. So you got me all after noon. 😦

Not all ex-KGB are arseholes. Remember that 98% of them are office drones, as well.

"they want security, they want a decent home, decent job, come in from work the kids are doing the homework, someone cutting carrots at window, decent infrastructure, decent education, decent hospitals" - that is what drove the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the creation of Putin. Someone who can deliver....

If Putinism stops delivering.... well the next chap might try real reform....

Or be a merciless dalek nationalist job. It can go two ways can’t it?

The Daleks are, of course, a metaphor for Nazism.

The cyber men are communists.

Occasionally a post comes along that shakes my very understanding of all I’ve ever understood 😟

Is it the Green Death?

kyf_100 said:

Serious question, how high do we think interest rates can go? Surely at this point a raise of more than, say, 1%, is going to put a lot of people in pain when their mortgages are up for renewal. Also it increases the cost of debt servicing for the government.

But while a 1% or even a 2% raise in interest rates is going to cause enormous financial pain, it doesn't seem like it will make a dent in 7% inflation. So what's the end game? Keeping interest rates low and inflating the debt away?

MoonRabbit said:

Omnium said:

MoonRabbit said:

Taz said:

MoonRabbit said:

Malmesbury said:

MoonRabbit said:

Malmesbury said:

MoonRabbit said:

MoonRabbit said:

CarlottaVance said:

Vice President Kamala Harris, echoing President Joe Biden's comments Friday, tells CNN's @NatashaBertrand in Munich "We believe that Putin has made his decision, period," to invade Ukraine, adding "nothing's being held back" in sharing intelligence with allies.

https://twitter.com/DJJudd/status/1495356066854547456

*off topic, though great to have a TSE thread again

Is it really all down to Putin making his mind up? If it was London or Washington and rest of war bunker said no, it wouldn’t matter what the leaders preference was? Why would it be different in Moscow? What I’m practically saying is, if Putin, and those agreeing with him were asked by the generals, what’s the clarity of the mission we can achieve and withdraw without it being open ended or creeping into something else, and Putin and his allies can’t convincingly define that, then surely it won’t happen?

If at some point the Ukraine leadership want a face to face with Russian counterpart’s, what would the Ukrainians hope to get from that? They would use it just to emphasise how belligerent their position is, like how Liz Truss used her Moscow trip?

These are two good questions for this latest Sunday in pre war build up?

Although Igor the Incinerator (Putin’s likely successor if the worst happened to Putin this week) is no doubt on side with sabre rattling to get Donetsk up everyone’s agenda, and dialogue on it not kicked into long grass like any criminal investigation into Boris Johnson, I’m not convinced Igor is on side with invasion, because Surely there’s internal politics and factions on things within Moscow government too, and Igors already allowed unease of generals to seep like a message into world news?

Why do I think Igor as successor? Is this not the same path which brought Putin into the job? What do we know about Igor? His take on pursuing Greater Russian Nationalism from behind his desk at GRU has been brazen, merciless and blood thirsty, like a dalek, he’s likely to be far worse than Putin to deal with especially if he’s been courting the military these past years. ☹️

Ukrainians - "emphasise how belligerent their position is" ???? Since when is "Don't invaded my country" belligerent?

Like Napoleon, Putin has to manage a coalition of power brokers behind him. He is riding a tiger, which can eat him at any time.

A successor to Putin is not predictable. Putin himself was supposed to be a puppet figurehead, who got out of control.

In Paraguay, General Rodríguez overthrew Stroessner. Rodríguez was corrupt and a fully paid up member of the goose-stepping military.

He freed the political prisoners, unbanned the opposition, introduced real democracy, and stepped down after one term as elected (genuinely) president. Then died. People are still going WTF??

*off topic because of world war three

“ People are still going WTF?” I love that example because it is so optimistic.

I’m not so convinced though Malmsy. These people that come out the CHECKA, KGB, you can’t reason with them. You can’t think, what puts pressure on me we will apply to them. I don’t want to come over all neecher but They are like Daleks, they have had pityand mercy removed. They can’t see the bigger picture like we can. Can’t say to them, your people like my people, they want security, they want a decent home, decent job, come in from work the kids are doing the homework, someone cutting carrots at window, decent infrastructure, decent education, decent hospitals - you can’t say this to them, they haven’t clue what you are babbling about, they have spent their life in a basement shooting intelligentsia like you in the head with a bullet, playing tinker tailor solider spy.

Is it like you sez we know how Putin ticks he’s a greater Russian nationalist. Or is he less emotional than that, a Dalek that only cares bout legacy? Because on his watch his legacy of greater Russia has shrunk, the autonomous bits of old Soviet Union, led by leaders who are not conditioned by being checka their whole life, look westerwards for investment, commerce, wealth and comfort and security for their people.

I do apologise for this gonzo, I have been polishing off the wine box. We normally go out Sunday afternoon, but I said I would do a beef bourguigiynionnon. So you got me all after noon. 😦

Not all ex-KGB are arseholes. Remember that 98% of them are office drones, as well.

"they want security, they want a decent home, decent job, come in from work the kids are doing the homework, someone cutting carrots at window, decent infrastructure, decent education, decent hospitals" - that is what drove the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the creation of Putin. Someone who can deliver....

If Putinism stops delivering.... well the next chap might try real reform....

Or be a merciless dalek nationalist job. It can go two ways can’t it?

The Daleks are, of course, a metaphor for Nazism.

The cyber men are communists.

Occasionally a post comes along that shakes my very understanding of all I’ve ever understood 😟

Is it the Green Death?

I had to look that up 😃

HYUFD said:

pigeon said:

HYUFD said:

BartholomewRoberts said:

Taz said:

Scott_xP said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

The Boris Derangement Syndrome lot don't do themselves any favours blaming Boris for the Queen getting COVID.

You don't help yourself by being wilfully stupid. Nobody blamed BoZo. Here is a Tory MP


Commons Committee chair Caroline Nokes tells T&G the news that the Queen has Covid-19 “makes it tricky” for the Government to end all restrictions this week, "but we have to strike a balance"
@TimesRadio
https://twitter.com/tnewtondunn/status/1495388007653949442

You seem to spend a lot of time on Twitter. There are quite a few there blaming Boris.

As for Nokes comment I don’t see why one very wealthy, privileged, individual catching Covid changes anything with regards to ending restrictions. It’s the right thing to do, other nations are opening up. So should we.

There is utterly no reason whatsoever to postpone Covid changes.

I hope the Queen is OK but she's mortal and her card will be marked one day, whether it be Covid or anything else, we have to trust the vaccines.

If not now, post-three doses of vaccine, then when?

Indeed, then we have a month of national mourning, then prepare for King Charles' coronation in 6 months as he finally gets the role he has waited his life for at 73.

Hopefully however Her Majesty has a few years left in her but she is 95, she has had as much protection as she can get being double vaccinated and boosted

Point of order: we get about six hours of national mourning, after which viewers start to ring up the BBC complaining about EastEnders being replaced by Nick Witchell.

Tough. I want full Iranian style national mourning when the Queen dies.

I want sombre music on every radio station and wall to wall coverage on all the main freeview channels until her funeral is over. I also want shops shut throughout the day of her funeral.

Anyone who complains gets sent to the Tower., that would also help weed out republicans. After all, what else did we elect a Tory government for?

HYUFD said:

pigeon said:

HYUFD said:

BartholomewRoberts said:

Taz said:

Scott_xP said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

The Boris Derangement Syndrome lot don't do themselves any favours blaming Boris for the Queen getting COVID.

You don't help yourself by being wilfully stupid. Nobody blamed BoZo. Here is a Tory MP


Commons Committee chair Caroline Nokes tells T&G the news that the Queen has Covid-19 “makes it tricky” for the Government to end all restrictions this week, "but we have to strike a balance"
@TimesRadio
https://twitter.com/tnewtondunn/status/1495388007653949442

You seem to spend a lot of time on Twitter. There are quite a few there blaming Boris.

As for Nokes comment I don’t see why one very wealthy, privileged, individual catching Covid changes anything with regards to ending restrictions. It’s the right thing to do, other nations are opening up. So should we.

There is utterly no reason whatsoever to postpone Covid changes.

I hope the Queen is OK but she's mortal and her card will be marked one day, whether it be Covid or anything else, we have to trust the vaccines.

If not now, post-three doses of vaccine, then when?

Indeed, then we have a month of national mourning, then prepare for King Charles' coronation in 6 months as he finally gets the role he has waited his life for at 73.

Hopefully however Her Majesty has a few years left in her but she is 95, she has had as much protection as she can get being double vaccinated and boosted

Point of order: we get about six hours of national mourning, after which viewers start to ring up the BBC complaining about EastEnders being replaced by Nick Witchell.

Tough. I want full Iranian style national mourning when the Queen dies.

I want sombre music on every radio station and wall to wall coverage on all the main freeview channels until her funeral is over. I also want shops shut throughout the day of her funeral.

Anyone who complains gets sent to the Tower., that would also help weed out republicans. After all, what else did we elect a Tory government for?

MoonRabbit said:

Andy_JS said:

Hope we get some more opinion polls tonight. It'll be interesting to see if the narrowing between the parties continues.

The conservatives haven’t broken 35 for a long while. Concept of narrowing is shaving off the Labour lead, partly offset by greens being a tad high in polls, but more importantly, shaving bits off labour share is disguising what progress they are making at the moment convincing everyday people they are ready for government.

MaxPB said:

In other news, Camden's night life is back. Been out there Friday last week with my friends and then again yesterday with my wife's friends. Bars and pubs are all packed, not many people milling about outdoors but everywhere had queues to get in, The Underworld has been refurbished and you can wear canvas shoes risk free and use the gents.

Londoners have got their confidence back. What I don't see as much is out of towners like people from Essex heading into Liverpool Street on Fridays for a night in one of Leicester Square's more commercial bars/clubs. Hopefully as we head into the summer this crowd will be back too, despite the fights/piss/rowdiness London needs the two sizes too small polo shirt wearing crowd.

BartholomewRoberts said:

Taz said:

Heathener said:

Taz said:

pigeon said:

stodge said:

HYUFD said:

Inflation is a problem but Sunak's rebate for gas and electricity consumers in the autumn should help. Most of the swing voters who might go to Labour over the economy and NI rise have likely already gone, the 34% still voting Tory will generally do so regardless as they are conservative in the culture wars, ie almost all Leavers and anti Covid restrictions and sceptical of Wokeism.

As for MPs pay, other public sector workers have had a rise so no reason they should be exempt

I'm not wholly convinced - the elderly are also influenced by what their children and grandchildren tell them. If they start hearing real economic hardship within their families, it may yet count against Sunak and the Conservatives.

Up to now, the cash savings accumulated by many middle class households during the virus has cushioned the blow of inflation but those reserves will be consumed by overpriced holidays and a return to full-blooded consumption which in turn which help fuel more inflation.

My local Tesco's now at 143.9p for petrol - 4p off its all time high just before the 2008 financial crash when oil prices were much higher (but of course sterling hadn't had the post-Referendum devaluation).

The other problem is a 2% inflation and 5% wage rises keeps everyone happy - it doesn't work so well the other way and savings rates remain miserably low. Try seeing what an ISA or Premium Bonds will get you these days.

Well, the hardship of the young hasn't melted the hearts of the old yet, so we shall see.

The key factor for the Tory core vote is continual house price inflation: the middle class elderly accumulate asset wealth, which they (and the heirs) expect to be passed down the generations as close to intact as possible. If the Tories want to make sure that all the olds turn out to bolster their support at the next election, they should go into it with a headline promise to scrap inheritance tax, backed up by more bribes for pensioners.

The Tories need to expand home ownership as far as they can. Their future depends on it.

Would be a huge vote winner with an entire disenfranchised generation.

Trouble is, it means massive building and that means in places where NIMBY tories don't want them. I don't see a solution without going onto brownfield AND greenfield sites.

Too many people chasing too few goods is basic A level economics but it holds good for an island which is small and over-populated.

The other solution is to turn Britain into such a shitshow that people won't want to live here anymore. Oh wait ...

One of the big vote winners for the Lib Dems in Chesham was opposing housing development. There are plenty of homes available for reasonable prices but they are not where the people want to make a,life.

There aren't that many homes available at reasonable prices. The population of the UK has increased by nearly 20% in recent years but the housing supply hasn't. The idea of plenty of spare houses being available is a very bad joke.

Morris_Dancer said:

Mr. Omnium, I remember seeing that as a repeat in my childhood. Pertwee and Baker were good Doctors.

A whle ago, the Horror channel was showing old Who episodes/serials (rather good to see some I'd never seen before).

Omnium said:

MoonRabbit said:

Taz said:

MoonRabbit said:

Malmesbury said:

MoonRabbit said:

Malmesbury said:

MoonRabbit said:

MoonRabbit said:

CarlottaVance said:

Vice President Kamala Harris, echoing President Joe Biden's comments Friday, tells CNN's @NatashaBertrand in Munich "We believe that Putin has made his decision, period," to invade Ukraine, adding "nothing's being held back" in sharing intelligence with allies.

https://twitter.com/DJJudd/status/1495356066854547456

*off topic, though great to have a TSE thread again

Is it really all down to Putin making his mind up? If it was London or Washington and rest of war bunker said no, it wouldn’t matter what the leaders preference was? Why would it be different in Moscow? What I’m practically saying is, if Putin, and those agreeing with him were asked by the generals, what’s the clarity of the mission we can achieve and withdraw without it being open ended or creeping into something else, and Putin and his allies can’t convincingly define that, then surely it won’t happen?

If at some point the Ukraine leadership want a face to face with Russian counterpart’s, what would the Ukrainians hope to get from that? They would use it just to emphasise how belligerent their position is, like how Liz Truss used her Moscow trip?

These are two good questions for this latest Sunday in pre war build up?

Although Igor the Incinerator (Putin’s likely successor if the worst happened to Putin this week) is no doubt on side with sabre rattling to get Donetsk up everyone’s agenda, and dialogue on it not kicked into long grass like any criminal investigation into Boris Johnson, I’m not convinced Igor is on side with invasion, because Surely there’s internal politics and factions on things within Moscow government too, and Igors already allowed unease of generals to seep like a message into world news?

Why do I think Igor as successor? Is this not the same path which brought Putin into the job? What do we know about Igor? His take on pursuing Greater Russian Nationalism from behind his desk at GRU has been brazen, merciless and blood thirsty, like a dalek, he’s likely to be far worse than Putin to deal with especially if he’s been courting the military these past years. ☹️

Ukrainians - "emphasise how belligerent their position is" ???? Since when is "Don't invaded my country" belligerent?

Like Napoleon, Putin has to manage a coalition of power brokers behind him. He is riding a tiger, which can eat him at any time.

A successor to Putin is not predictable. Putin himself was supposed to be a puppet figurehead, who got out of control.

In Paraguay, General Rodríguez overthrew Stroessner. Rodríguez was corrupt and a fully paid up member of the goose-stepping military.

He freed the political prisoners, unbanned the opposition, introduced real democracy, and stepped down after one term as elected (genuinely) president. Then died. People are still going WTF??

*off topic because of world war three

“ People are still going WTF?” I love that example because it is so optimistic.

I’m not so convinced though Malmsy. These people that come out the CHECKA, KGB, you can’t reason with them. You can’t think, what puts pressure on me we will apply to them. I don’t want to come over all neecher but They are like Daleks, they have had pityand mercy removed. They can’t see the bigger picture like we can. Can’t say to them, your people like my people, they want security, they want a decent home, decent job, come in from work the kids are doing the homework, someone cutting carrots at window, decent infrastructure, decent education, decent hospitals - you can’t say this to them, they haven’t clue what you are babbling about, they have spent their life in a basement shooting intelligentsia like you in the head with a bullet, playing tinker tailor solider spy.

Is it like you sez we know how Putin ticks he’s a greater Russian nationalist. Or is he less emotional than that, a Dalek that only cares bout legacy? Because on his watch his legacy of greater Russia has shrunk, the autonomous bits of old Soviet Union, led by leaders who are not conditioned by being checka their whole life, look westerwards for investment, commerce, wealth and comfort and security for their people.

I do apologise for this gonzo, I have been polishing off the wine box. We normally go out Sunday afternoon, but I said I would do a beef bourguigiynionnon. So you got me all after noon. 😦

Not all ex-KGB are arseholes. Remember that 98% of them are office drones, as well.

"they want security, they want a decent home, decent job, come in from work the kids are doing the homework, someone cutting carrots at window, decent infrastructure, decent education, decent hospitals" - that is what drove the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the creation of Putin. Someone who can deliver....

If Putinism stops delivering.... well the next chap might try real reform....

Or be a merciless dalek nationalist job. It can go two ways can’t it?

The Daleks are, of course, a metaphor for Nazism.

The cyber men are communists.

Occasionally a post comes along that shakes my very understanding of all I’ve ever understood 😟

Is it the Green Death?

tlg86 said:

JohnLilburne said:

tlg86 said:

MaxPB said:

In other news, Camden's night life is back. Been out there Friday last week with my friends and then again yesterday with my wife's friends. Bars and pubs are all packed, not many people milling about outdoors but everywhere had queues to get in, The Underworld has been refurbished and you can wear canvas shoes risk free and use the gents.

Londoners have got their confidence back. What I don't see as much is out of towners like people from Essex heading into Liverpool Street on Fridays for a night in one of Leicester Square's more commercial bars/clubs. Hopefully as we head into the summer this crowd will be back too, despite the fights/piss/rowdiness London needs the two sizes too small polo shirt wearing crowd.

Having travelled into London from Woking yesterday, I don't think it's a surprise people from out of town weren't in London in big numbers yesterday!

But I caught the Vic line from Highbury and Islington to Oxford Circus long after the football crowd had gone and it was rammed.

Yesterday the trains were stuffed. I had no trains to Woking (or Waterloo) until at least 1:30 and then decided to do something else. I presume they were back running some time in the afternoon/evening but I imagine a lot of people would have decided not to risk it.

Trains were running between Woking and Waterloo, so we decided to go that way. My friends got to Woking station before the rest of us to say that SWR were refusing to sell tickets and let people on the station as "they couldn't guarantee that we'd get home", which I thought was utterly stupid.

So we all made our way to the Piccadilly Line but the car parks at Hatton Cross, Hounslow West and Osterley were full. My friends did well to find street parking at Boston Manor, but we ended up at Acton East. I was in my seat at the Emirates for 15:02.

Oh, and the trains were running out of Waterloo last night.

Tres said:

tlg86 said:

JohnLilburne said:

tlg86 said:

MaxPB said:

In other news, Camden's night life is back. Been out there Friday last week with my friends and then again yesterday with my wife's friends. Bars and pubs are all packed, not many people milling about outdoors but everywhere had queues to get in, The Underworld has been refurbished and you can wear canvas shoes risk free and use the gents.

Londoners have got their confidence back. What I don't see as much is out of towners like people from Essex heading into Liverpool Street on Fridays for a night in one of Leicester Square's more commercial bars/clubs. Hopefully as we head into the summer this crowd will be back too, despite the fights/piss/rowdiness London needs the two sizes too small polo shirt wearing crowd.

Having travelled into London from Woking yesterday, I don't think it's a surprise people from out of town weren't in London in big numbers yesterday!

But I caught the Vic line from Highbury and Islington to Oxford Circus long after the football crowd had gone and it was rammed.

Yesterday the trains were stuffed. I had no trains to Woking (or Waterloo) until at least 1:30 and then decided to do something else. I presume they were back running some time in the afternoon/evening but I imagine a lot of people would have decided not to risk it.

Trains were running between Woking and Waterloo, so we decided to go that way. My friends got to Woking station before the rest of us to say that SWR were refusing to sell tickets and let people on the station as "they couldn't guarantee that we'd get home", which I thought was utterly stupid.

So we all made our way to the Piccadilly Line but the car parks at Hatton Cross, Hounslow West and Osterley were full. My friends did well to find street parking at Boston Manor, but we ended up at Acton East. I was in my seat at the Emirates for 15:02.

Oh, and the trains were running out of Waterloo last night.

My wife's friend and her daughter had gone into London yesterday to see a show, had to end up booking a hotel to stay overnight as they couldn't get home again via rail.

tlg86 said:

kyf_100 said:

Serious question, how high do we think interest rates can go? Surely at this point a raise of more than, say, 1%, is going to put a lot of people in pain when their mortgages are up for renewal. Also it increases the cost of debt servicing for the government.

But while a 1% or even a 2% raise in interest rates is going to cause enormous financial pain, it doesn't seem like it will make a dent in 7% inflation. So what's the end game? Keeping interest rates low and inflating the debt away?

Hence why I think an election with inflation as a big issue would be rather curious. The last PM to successfully tackle inflation isn't particularly liked by Labour.

Malmesbury said:

MoonRabbit said:

kyf_100 said:

Serious question, how high do we think interest rates can go? Surely at this point a raise of more than, say, 1%, is going to put a lot of people in pain when their mortgages are up for renewal. Also it increases the cost of debt servicing for the government.

But while a 1% or even a 2% raise in interest rates is going to cause enormous financial pain, it doesn't seem like it will make a dent in 7% inflation. So what's the end game? Keeping interest rates low and inflating the debt away?

I’ll have a go. The rates will rise very slowly, and by then inflation will drop like a stone. It’s predicted like the Omicron wave, shoot up fadt, drop just as fast. The bit they don’t know, will it linger about 3 or 4 before dropping further. But even so, would rates need to move up quickly?

A follow up question would be, what’s the best way to get value for money for our money in this situation, hold on to it or spend. I’m in the spend it camp and going out tomorrow to follow that belief 😀

Historically, inflation has never come down fast.

tlg86 said:

Tres said:

tlg86 said:

JohnLilburne said:

tlg86 said:

MaxPB said:

In other news, Camden's night life is back. Been out there Friday last week with my friends and then again yesterday with my wife's friends. Bars and pubs are all packed, not many people milling about outdoors but everywhere had queues to get in, The Underworld has been refurbished and you can wear canvas shoes risk free and use the gents.

Londoners have got their confidence back. What I don't see as much is out of towners like people from Essex heading into Liverpool Street on Fridays for a night in one of Leicester Square's more commercial bars/clubs. Hopefully as we head into the summer this crowd will be back too, despite the fights/piss/rowdiness London needs the two sizes too small polo shirt wearing crowd.

Having travelled into London from Woking yesterday, I don't think it's a surprise people from out of town weren't in London in big numbers yesterday!

But I caught the Vic line from Highbury and Islington to Oxford Circus long after the football crowd had gone and it was rammed.

Yesterday the trains were stuffed. I had no trains to Woking (or Waterloo) until at least 1:30 and then decided to do something else. I presume they were back running some time in the afternoon/evening but I imagine a lot of people would have decided not to risk it.

Trains were running between Woking and Waterloo, so we decided to go that way. My friends got to Woking station before the rest of us to say that SWR were refusing to sell tickets and let people on the station as "they couldn't guarantee that we'd get home", which I thought was utterly stupid.

So we all made our way to the Piccadilly Line but the car parks at Hatton Cross, Hounslow West and Osterley were full. My friends did well to find street parking at Boston Manor, but we ended up at Acton East. I was in my seat at the Emirates for 15:02.

Oh, and the trains were running out of Waterloo last night.

My wife's friend and her daughter had gone into London yesterday to see a show, had to end up booking a hotel to stay overnight as they couldn't get home again via rail.

Where had they travelled from?

Taz said:

Omnium said:

MoonRabbit said:

Taz said:

MoonRabbit said:

Malmesbury said:

MoonRabbit said:

Malmesbury said:

MoonRabbit said:

MoonRabbit said:

CarlottaVance said:

Vice President Kamala Harris, echoing President Joe Biden's comments Friday, tells CNN's @NatashaBertrand in Munich "We believe that Putin has made his decision, period," to invade Ukraine, adding "nothing's being held back" in sharing intelligence with allies.

https://twitter.com/DJJudd/status/1495356066854547456

*off topic, though great to have a TSE thread again

Is it really all down to Putin making his mind up? If it was London or Washington and rest of war bunker said no, it wouldn’t matter what the leaders preference was? Why would it be different in Moscow? What I’m practically saying is, if Putin, and those agreeing with him were asked by the generals, what’s the clarity of the mission we can achieve and withdraw without it being open ended or creeping into something else, and Putin and his allies can’t convincingly define that, then surely it won’t happen?

If at some point the Ukraine leadership want a face to face with Russian counterpart’s, what would the Ukrainians hope to get from that? They would use it just to emphasise how belligerent their position is, like how Liz Truss used her Moscow trip?

These are two good questions for this latest Sunday in pre war build up?

Although Igor the Incinerator (Putin’s likely successor if the worst happened to Putin this week) is no doubt on side with sabre rattling to get Donetsk up everyone’s agenda, and dialogue on it not kicked into long grass like any criminal investigation into Boris Johnson, I’m not convinced Igor is on side with invasion, because Surely there’s internal politics and factions on things within Moscow government too, and Igors already allowed unease of generals to seep like a message into world news?

Why do I think Igor as successor? Is this not the same path which brought Putin into the job? What do we know about Igor? His take on pursuing Greater Russian Nationalism from behind his desk at GRU has been brazen, merciless and blood thirsty, like a dalek, he’s likely to be far worse than Putin to deal with especially if he’s been courting the military these past years. ☹️

Ukrainians - "emphasise how belligerent their position is" ???? Since when is "Don't invaded my country" belligerent?

Like Napoleon, Putin has to manage a coalition of power brokers behind him. He is riding a tiger, which can eat him at any time.

A successor to Putin is not predictable. Putin himself was supposed to be a puppet figurehead, who got out of control.

In Paraguay, General Rodríguez overthrew Stroessner. Rodríguez was corrupt and a fully paid up member of the goose-stepping military.

He freed the political prisoners, unbanned the opposition, introduced real democracy, and stepped down after one term as elected (genuinely) president. Then died. People are still going WTF??

*off topic because of world war three

“ People are still going WTF?” I love that example because it is so optimistic.

I’m not so convinced though Malmsy. These people that come out the CHECKA, KGB, you can’t reason with them. You can’t think, what puts pressure on me we will apply to them. I don’t want to come over all neecher but They are like Daleks, they have had pityand mercy removed. They can’t see the bigger picture like we can. Can’t say to them, your people like my people, they want security, they want a decent home, decent job, come in from work the kids are doing the homework, someone cutting carrots at window, decent infrastructure, decent education, decent hospitals - you can’t say this to them, they haven’t clue what you are babbling about, they have spent their life in a basement shooting intelligentsia like you in the head with a bullet, playing tinker tailor solider spy.

Is it like you sez we know how Putin ticks he’s a greater Russian nationalist. Or is he less emotional than that, a Dalek that only cares bout legacy? Because on his watch his legacy of greater Russia has shrunk, the autonomous bits of old Soviet Union, led by leaders who are not conditioned by being checka their whole life, look westerwards for investment, commerce, wealth and comfort and security for their people.

I do apologise for this gonzo, I have been polishing off the wine box. We normally go out Sunday afternoon, but I said I would do a beef bourguigiynionnon. So you got me all after noon. 😦

Not all ex-KGB are arseholes. Remember that 98% of them are office drones, as well.

"they want security, they want a decent home, decent job, come in from work the kids are doing the homework, someone cutting carrots at window, decent infrastructure, decent education, decent hospitals" - that is what drove the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the creation of Putin. Someone who can deliver....

If Putinism stops delivering.... well the next chap might try real reform....

Or be a merciless dalek nationalist job. It can go two ways can’t it?

The Daleks are, of course, a metaphor for Nazism.

The cyber men are communists.

Occasionally a post comes along that shakes my very understanding of all I’ve ever understood 😟

Is it the Green Death?

The Green Death. Unfettered capitalism is bad. With giant maggots made from blown up condoms

another_richard said:

It will be interesting seeing what happens to pay rises during the next few months.

Anecdotally people I know have been getting the biggest pay rises they've had for decades - though in some cases this might not match their cost of living increases.

For those who live within their means and save plentifully each month a significant pay rise is perhaps nice psychologically.