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LAB YouGov lead down to 2% but Johnson trails Starmer by 7% as “best PM” – politicalbetting.com

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  • Nigel_ForemainNigel_Foremain Posts: 14,766
    MattW said:

    Make sure the latest lot of self-obsessed sociopaths who just crawled out from under the ER stone don't let your tyres down.
    https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/activists-target-hundreds-cars-across-23324148

    The best solution is probably a car-battery powered pump.
    What a bunch of tossers these people are. Another example for you @Beibheirli_C !
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 59,075
    edited March 2022

    I think it will depend on which countries. I was interested to see yesterday that whilst Germany takes some 50% of its gas from Russia, for some of he smaller Eastern European countries that is 100% . They may struggle to get the necessary infrastructure in place in a short time.
    It's hard to know for sure with a lot of this stuff, but one of the things I found absolutely fascinating about US gas pipelines was how quickly they were reversed as new fields popped up in places that were traditionally energy importers.

    It's far from impossible that Europe's gas network could be (relatively easily) rejigged to allow for gas to flow in from coastal LNG terminals to the East.

    However, there continues to be a shortage of LNG vessels - Europe simply could not supply itself today without Russia, even if the export capacity existed, because there are only something like 700 LNG carriers in the world, and we'd probably need another 3-400.

    I don't have Bloomberg, so I can't tell you exactly what LNG shipping day rates are, but I'd guess they are north of $200,000.
  • Beibheirli_CBeibheirli_C Posts: 8,192

    A little prejudiced. Have you not heard of Corbynistas or ever read any posts by some English hating SNP posters on here? Plenty of looney Tories, but plenty in other parties too.
    They are not in my social media feeds. I used to vote Conservative so that is where many people I knew where coming from. I used to stand on that side of the political spectrum but it has become really weird.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 44,550

    Do we know how much money Labour under Jezza received from Russian oligarchs? Is it comparable with the money received by the Tories?
    McDonnell as shadow CoE used to rail quite frequently against Russian oligarchal money corrupting business and politics here. There was a policy on it too, I think, not just rhetoric. In fact all this 'Corbyn era' talk is making me a teeny bit nostalgic for those days when, agree or not, it was all about principles & policy and who cares what the polls or the papers say!
  • Nigel_ForemainNigel_Foremain Posts: 14,766
    Pulpstar said:

    Do you have to pay for the leccy charging or is that still chucked in ?
    No, it isn't anymore, but still only about 30 -40% of cost of petrol per mile. As long as one isn't tempted to do the 0-60 in 3 seconds too often hehe.
  • Nigel_ForemainNigel_Foremain Posts: 14,766

    They are not in my social media feeds. I used to vote Conservative so that is where many people I knew where coming from. I used to stand on that side of the political spectrum but it has become really weird.
    The B-word rotted their brains.
  • biggles said:

    I have recently concluded that everything I thought I knew about energy generation is now completely old hat (solid nuclear supply for the core load and then coal/gas to switch on and off, with wind unreliable because you can’t either control or rely on it). Energy storage, dynamic grid management at supplier level, and the efficiency of some of the renewables is just game changing. Though I am a still a big fan of nuclear, but I increasingly find the small, modular reactors the most compelling.
    This is the future

    https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/rolls-royce-begins-search-for-small-nuclear-reactor-sites-17-02-2022/
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 59,075

    LNG import is the only way to even vaguely do this. It will have to be existing facilities - you can't build LNG facilities *that* fast. Unless they hire every welder in Boca Chica, to start with.... :-)

    Not sure how this would work.... You definitely can increase imports. I can't see enough for Europe though. Not enough regasification capacity, throughput at existing facilities etc.

    Regas isn't that complicated: natural gas will (on its own) warm up and change from liquid to... err... gas.

    The biggest bottleneck is LNG vessels. And after that it's uncontracted LNG export capacity - the vast bulk of which is in the US.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 30,975

    I understand that on the 23rd March Rishi is to announce a 'Wartime' budget
    Rationing?
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 59,075
    MaxPB said:

    Which pipeline will Russia use to sell to China? Aiui most are still in the early phases of construction.
    There is one - relatively small - gas pipeline between China and Russia. There are plans for another, but I don't think it's going to be ready until well into the second half of this decade.
  • Rationing?
    It will be interesting to see just what he proposes but we have to accept that the west is going to have a reduced standard of living for quite a long time
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 59,075

    These photos of Macron are quite something. Would they have been released if it wasn't an election year?

    Maybe I'm reading more into them than is there, due to my own feelings about Putin, but they don't seem very diplomatic.

    https://twitter.com/visegrad24/status/1501203496716152841

    The effect of social media on politics, international diplomacy, is fascinating. Would these photos have been released without a decade's use of the Picard facepalm?

    One of the very worst things about Russia's invasion is that I've started to doubt my longstanding dislike of Macron.
  • tlg86tlg86 Posts: 26,504
    rcs1000 said:

    One of the very worst things about Russia's invasion is that I've started to doubt my longstanding dislike of Macron.
    How can you dislike a man that won us lots of money in 2017?
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 53,866
    rcs1000 said:

    Regas isn't that complicated: natural gas will (on its own) warm up and change from liquid to... err... gas.

    The biggest bottleneck is LNG vessels. And after that it's uncontracted LNG export capacity - the vast bulk of which is in the US.
    Regas trains are fairly complex bits of kit - you want a controlled expansion of the LNG. If nothing else the different fractions have different boiling points. Slugs of gas in liquid and visa versa can be fun fun fun. If you like bangs.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 65,154
    "It is unclear whether Russia will continue to pursue a plan to capture all of Ukraine, the top U.S. intelligence chief said Tuesday. A full military takeover would require more military resources than Russia has currently deployed, Avril D. Haines, the director of national intelligence, told a congressional hearing."

    NY Times

    LOL. They have feck all chance of doing so even if Putin wished to.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 59,075

    In February 2021, 1.85% of demand was met by solar, was 2.2% a year later, i.e. a big percent but not much change to the big picture.

    Compare wind:

    25.9% in February 2021 and 39.7% this year.
    February is not a notably good month for solar! (It's also important to note that a lot of solar simply shows up as declines in demand, as it is used where generated rather than being fed to the grid.)
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 30,975

    They are not in my social media feeds. I used to vote Conservative so that is where many people I knew where coming from. I used to stand on that side of the political spectrum but it has become really weird.
    Welcome...to the dark side!
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,245

    This is the future

    https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/rolls-royce-begins-search-for-small-nuclear-reactor-sites-17-02-2022/
    When it comes to NIMBYism, the Conservative MPs are going to leave the LibDems in their wake when it comes to having one in their constituency....
  • I may have to give up following the Premier League and Liverpool.

    Premier League close to agreeing huge NFT deal

    Exclusive: 20 clubs could launch officially branded digital assets within the year that could be worth hundreds of millions of pounds

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2022/03/08/premier-league-close-agreeing-huge-nft-deal/
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 59,075

    Regas trains are fairly complex bits of kit - you want a controlled expansion of the LNG. If nothing else the different fractions have different boiling points. Slugs of gas in liquid and visa versa can be fun fun fun. If you like bangs.
    Have you looked at floating LNG regas? I always thought that was a terrific idea.
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 45,127
    Looking at the picture in this article, does Boris have another child?

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-60661895
  • bigglesbiggles Posts: 6,735

    Rationing?
    A special operation to seize control of France, in order to prevent any chance of war.
  • Beibheirli_CBeibheirli_C Posts: 8,192

    I may have to give up following the Premier League and Liverpool.

    Premier League close to agreeing huge NFT deal

    Exclusive: 20 clubs could launch officially branded digital assets within the year that could be worth hundreds of millions of pounds

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2022/03/08/premier-league-close-agreeing-huge-nft-deal/

    NFT's are the most idiotic thing since Credit Default Swaps were seen as a money-making investment.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 79,096

    "It is unclear whether Russia will continue to pursue a plan to capture all of Ukraine, the top U.S. intelligence chief said Tuesday. A full military takeover would require more military resources than Russia has currently deployed, Avril D. Haines, the director of national intelligence, told a congressional hearing."

    NY Times

    LOL. They have feck all chance of doing so even if Putin wished to.

    Shelling and bombardment of the big cities whilst aiming to hold territory claimed by Luhansk and Donestk republics looks to be the plan to me ?
  • Nigel_ForemainNigel_Foremain Posts: 14,766

    When it comes to NIMBYism, the Conservative MPs are going to leave the LibDems in their wake when it comes to having one in their constituency....
    Depends on the localised incentives I guess. If people were offered significantly discounted electricity for supporting it, it might easily tilt the balance. That has been the big misjudgement IMO with a lot of infrastructure improvements.

    Imagine if someone said , hey you can have free electricity or 50% off if you support the local windfarm or nuclear plant. NIMBYism would evaporate like the moral of an invading Russian conscript
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 53,866

    When it comes to NIMBYism, the Conservative MPs are going to leave the LibDems in their wake when it comes to having one in their constituency....
    They are, nearly certainly, going to go on the sites of existing nuclear power stations.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 44,617

    Where have you been? He has his own program on RT, or maybe you missed that? Along with Corbyn, Farage and a few other idiots. They knew how it looked, but they took the money and carried on participating in the propaganda nonetheless.

    They, and the fools who took money from the oligarchs have blood on their hands, but no doubt you will make the exception for the person who is the prime architect of Scottish exceptionalism.
    A chat show about UK politics, with the likes of D. Davis as guests?



  • Nigel_ForemainNigel_Foremain Posts: 14,766
    biggles said:

    A special operation to seize control of France, in order to prevent any chance of war.
    Can I have the Alps please. If not, Nice would be nice
  • Sky breaking

    US and UK to announce a joint ban on Russian oil imports to conclude by December 22
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 45,127

    What support would that be?

    Do toddle off, you passive agressive twerp.
    Nah, I'll stay thanks.

    "Passive aggressive?" I think you and Malc do enough of the aggressive on here. The rest of us don't get a look in.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 30,975

    When it comes to NIMBYism, the Conservative MPs are going to leave the LibDems in their wake when it comes to having one in their constituency....
    Are you planning on resurrecting your Swansea Bay Barrage/ Tidal Lagoon scheme? Canning it on the basis of poor "value for money" was a shameful decision by Greg Clark.
  • Nigel_ForemainNigel_Foremain Posts: 14,766
    Carnyx said:

    A chat show about UK politics, with the likes of D. Davis as guests?



    Ah, you are defending him. Shame on you, and David Davis.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 54,519
    Heat pump installations will soar this summer.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 44,617

    Ah, you are defending him. Shame on you, and David Davis.
    Not defending him - but just checking exactly what you mean by 'propaganda'.
  • bigglesbiggles Posts: 6,735

    Sky breaking

    US and UK to announce a joint ban on Russian oil imports to conclude by December 22

    This is existential for Russia. In the context of net zero by 2050, any move away from their gas and oil will pretty much be irreversible. That’s their economy gone.
  • SelebianSelebian Posts: 9,225

    The B-word rotted their brains.
    'Boris'?
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 53,866
    rcs1000 said:

    Have you looked at floating LNG regas? I always thought that was a terrific idea.
    Capacity is one question. Another is wastage - methane triple bad for the environment. What happens with excess boil off, if it happens - flaring? - on the land plants, you can have (and do) big buffer tanks..
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 83,131
    edited March 2022
    Former Commons Speaker calls bullying inquiry a 'kangaroo court'

    The former Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow has described the inquiry which found him guilty of bullying a 'kangaroo court'. He said it was 'unjust' and 'hyperbolic' which relied on 'hearsay'.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV5OcXmnNKs

    Total car crash....no no no....no...no....no....

    If he wanted to come across as the opposite of a nasty piece of work, he couldn't have done a worse job.
  • TheWhiteRabbitTheWhiteRabbit Posts: 12,454
    edited March 2022
    rcs1000 said:

    February is not a notably good month for solar! (It's also important to note that a lot of solar simply shows up as declines in demand, as it is used where generated rather than being fed to the grid.)
    It's the decline in CCGT I'm more interested in. For a brief window on 5 January 2022, supported by imports, we hit a low-point of 6% from UK oil-gas-coal combined. Would have been unthinkable not so long ago.
  • biggles said:

    This is existential for Russia. In the context of net zero by 2050, any move away from their gas and oil will pretty much be irreversible. That’s their economy gone.
    I expect HMG will announce new oil and gas licences in the North Sea and Cambo needs revisiting
  • Beibheirli_CBeibheirli_C Posts: 8,192

    Sky breaking

    No.. it is just the weather. The sky will be fine.....
  • tlg86tlg86 Posts: 26,504

    NFT's are the most idiotic thing since Credit Default Swaps were seen as a money-making investment.
    I think you mean CDOs.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 30,975

    No.. it is just the weather. The sky will be fine.....
    With all these fossil fuel projects BigG. is resurrecting I am not so sure.

    More renewable technologies please!
  • Beibheirli_CBeibheirli_C Posts: 8,192
    tlg86 said:

    I think you mean CDOs.
    Whatever. CDO, CDS...... in the words of the song "2 outta 3 ain't bad" :D
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 65,154
    Ragıp Soylu
    @ragipsoylu
    ·
    5h
    China says China, Germany and France should jointly support peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, per Jinping’s statement to Chinese state media

    https://twitter.com/ragipsoylu
  • eekeek Posts: 29,554

    They are, nearly certainly, going to go on the sites of existing nuclear power stations.
    +1 - literally zero point putting them elsewhere when the security and infrastructure to connect them to the national grid already exists.
  • Nigel_ForemainNigel_Foremain Posts: 14,766
    Carnyx said:

    Not defending him - but just checking exactly what you mean by 'propaganda'.
    Have you ever tuned in to RT news? One of the things about media generally, whether mass media or social media, is to legitimise the content. This is why people who think that Putin has not tried to influence our politics are so fecking stupid.

    Salmond, Corbyn et al must have known that at some time before or after his "chat show" there would be fake news being propagated. Even if his own content was wonderfully balanced (unlikely) and not propaganda he has managed to assist with the propaganda effort. Much as I despise the fat little toad, I don't think he is stupid. He knew. People who defend him are defending the indefensible.
  • TheValiantTheValiant Posts: 1,932
    Aslan said:
    Bastards.
    No way you could mistake that car for anything other than a civilian vehicle.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,886
    Biden to speak soon.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 65,154
    edited March 2022
    biggles said:

    This is existential for Russia. In the context of net zero by 2050, any move away from their gas and oil will pretty much be irreversible. That’s their economy gone.
    Not sure UK and US use much RU oil?

    Seems like though rest of West will follow now. Poland pushing hard for this.
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 64,928
    edited March 2022

    With all these fossil fuel projects BigG. is resurrecting I am not so sure.

    More renewable technologies please!
    Transition becomes essential to addressing the cost of living and energy crisis in the coming years

    Otherwise we import from Russia and elsewhere rather than being self sufficient
  • SeaShantyIrish2SeaShantyIrish2 Posts: 17,559
    edited March 2022
    Nigelb said:

    We’re outside the UK visa application centre in Rzezsow, Poland.

    It’s -3 degrees. People have been waiting in this queue for 3 hours.

    There are children here. An 84 year old woman.

    And plenty of room inside, but they won’t open the door.

    https://twitter.com/mattuthompson/status/1501175179329916930

    Surely this can NOT be true, Shirley? Not from "world-beating" Britain.

    Personally suspect that "world-beating" will soon enter the historical lexicon next to "missed the bus".

    Whenever you get situations like this, the useful idiots always show themselves up. Lembit Opik has appeared, claiming its the west's fault, his carefully considered position based upon watching an Oliver Stone film about Putin.
    I pity Putin (not really) for the caliber of his peanut gallery.

    Though having Optik backing you is IMHO far LES embarrassing that being supported by one of our usual PB suspect.

    Including those who (out of deliberate policy or personality disorder) calling on PB for genocidal action against the Russian people. Talk about yer "useful idots!" As suchlike are clearly playing into Putin's game.

    EDIT - Yes, thank God that NEITHER Corbyn OR 45 are heading UK & US governments at this juncture.

    Indeed, will go so far as to say the Lard Ball currently infesting No. 10 is SUPERIOR to the Yard Gnome. Albeit a VERY low standard.
  • BurgessianBurgessian Posts: 2,951
    Quite an interesting in the Speccy on the position of Turkey in all of this.

    https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/could-turkey-rejoin-the-west-

    However I was struck by this:

    "For now, Turkey is proving one of Nato’s biggest assets. Ankara has sent multiple shipments of its sophisticated Bayraktar attack drone to Kiev, effectively handing over the capability to destroy Russian armour from the air. In the Armenian conflict, the unmanned aerial vehicle swung the fighting in favour of Turkey’s close ally, Azerbaijan, and was responsible for devastating Armenia’s armed forces."

    Is it really the case that Turkey has unique ownership of this tank-busting wonder weapon? No equivalents anywhere? Does the UK possess drones like these?
  • MattWMattW Posts: 26,243
    edited March 2022
    biggles said:

    I have recently concluded that everything I thought I knew about energy generation is now completely old hat (solid nuclear supply for the core load and then coal/gas to switch on and off, with wind unreliable because you can’t either control or rely on it). Energy storage, dynamic grid management at supplier level, and the efficiency of some of the renewables is just game changing. Though I am a still a big fan of nuclear, but I increasingly find the small, modular reactors the most compelling.
    There's a really huge jump coming this year in offshore wind - I was wondering about doing a piece, but it would be quite data heavy.

    In 2022 three new fields (Triton Knoll, Hornsea 1 and Moray East) will bring about 2.8 GW of new capacity onstream, which equates to just over half that of power delivered ie say ~1.5GW.

    The average demand for electricity in the UK is something like 35GW, so that is 4-5% extra of total elec demand coming on stream in one year.

    The other very major investment programme at present is that there are a large number of interconnectors being created from UK to mainland Europe over the past and next year or two.

    Quite how that plays into the whole thing is a bit complex.

    France will do well on the trade balances - they export 10% or so of their generation. Not sure how much extra capacity they have, though.

    Unfortunately the Govt are stupid about the way they deal with the pricing issue, and insist on buggering about with the demand side.

    It's a good time to be getting into solar; I'll be giving my panels a good clean early this year.


  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 30,975

    Transition becomes essential to addressing the cost of living and energy crisis in the coming years

    Otherwise we import from Russia and elsewhere rather than being self sufficient
    Hmmm, maybe. But no fracking licences in Llandow please.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 65,154
    Maria Tadeo
    @mariatad
    Official tells me USA ban doesn’t change much in real terms, but puts Germany in a very uncomfortable position. Optics bad.

    - European leaders begin a two-day summit on Thursday in Paris

    https://twitter.com/mariatad/status/1501195847081644042
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 45,127
    biggles said:

    This is existential for Russia. In the context of net zero by 2050, any move away from their gas and oil will pretty much be irreversible. That’s their economy gone.
    And it is a tragedy. Russia has wasted at least twenty years when it could have leveraged its massive human, industrial and environmental resources to build a world-beating industrial and economic base. Instead a few people got very, very rich. Their GDP per capita is well under a half of ours.

    And it will get worse. Putin spent billions on the Olympics to improve Russia's image. All of that image was destroyed when he attacked Ukraine.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 59,324
    More unspeakable horror in Ukraine today

    And I fear Russia is now advancing swiftly in the south, meaning they can take the whole Black Sea coast, and largely win the war that way
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 65,154
    1/3 of German oil comes from RU.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,245

    It looks like the Moscow Exchange is still expected to open tomorrow.

    Will it? I guess we'll find out.

    Buy red ink, there is gonna be a world shortage....
  • MattWMattW Posts: 26,243
    edited March 2022

    Quite an interesting in the Speccy on the position of Turkey in all of this.

    https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/could-turkey-rejoin-the-west-

    However I was struck by this:

    "For now, Turkey is proving one of Nato’s biggest assets. Ankara has sent multiple shipments of its sophisticated Bayraktar attack drone to Kiev, effectively handing over the capability to destroy Russian armour from the air. In the Armenian conflict, the unmanned aerial vehicle swung the fighting in favour of Turkey’s close ally, Azerbaijan, and was responsible for devastating Armenia’s armed forces."

    Is it really the case that Turkey has unique ownership of this tank-busting wonder weapon? No equivalents anywhere? Does the UK possess drones like these?

    They deliver somewhat less performance than the first line version from 'premier' countries, but at a considerably lower cost.

    I think we've had US drones that do a better job, but at 3 (?) times the cost - 5m vs 15-20m. Not sure if we have developed any of our own to reach service yet that actually carry weapons.
  • Former Commons Speaker calls bullying inquiry a 'kangaroo court'

    The former Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow has described the inquiry which found him guilty of bullying a 'kangaroo court'. He said it was 'unjust' and 'hyperbolic' which relied on 'hearsay'.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV5OcXmnNKs

    Total car crash....no no no....no...no....no....

    If he wanted to come across as the opposite of a nasty piece of work, he couldn't have done a worse job.

    John Bercow and Owen Paterson were separated at birth, it can be the only explanation.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 53,415

    United Nations bans staff from using ‘war’ or ‘invasion’ regarding Ukraine

    Email on communications policy reminds staff of their responsibility to ‘be impartial’


    https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/united-nations-bans-staff-from-using-war-or-invasion-regarding-ukraine-1.4821438

    WTF?
  • Nigel_ForemainNigel_Foremain Posts: 14,766
    Leon said:

    More unspeakable horror in Ukraine today

    And I fear Russia is now advancing swiftly in the south, meaning they can take the whole Black Sea coast, and largely win the war that way

    Your optimism is inspirational as ever.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 37,657
    BREAKING: Former Conservative MP Richard Harrington has been given a peerage and appointed Minister for Refugees across the Home Office and DLUHC.

    He was previously minister for Syrian refugees under David Cameron and Theresa May

    https://twitter.com/hzeffman/status/1501231041667006464
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 65,154

    Maria Tadeo
    @mariatad
    ·
    41m
    Russia says it has 400 huge buses ready to take people out but Ukraine isn’t helping. The Ukrainian government says reason why buses are empty is people don’t want to go to Russia, they want to go West. Yesterday, Macron said Kremlin could not reroute people like that.

    https://twitter.com/mariatad

    ===

    Who can blame them? Seems a death sentence now to be transported to Russia.
  • Beibheirli_CBeibheirli_C Posts: 8,192

    Surely this can NOT be true, Shirley? Not from "world-beating" Britain.
    We elected a govt on the basis of "Keep Forriners Out". Look at the Home Secretary' attempts to have migrants and refugees turned back out to sea in violation of International Law.

    The govt are doing what they were elected to do
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 45,127

    Quite an interesting in the Speccy on the position of Turkey in all of this.

    https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/could-turkey-rejoin-the-west-

    However I was struck by this:

    "For now, Turkey is proving one of Nato’s biggest assets. Ankara has sent multiple shipments of its sophisticated Bayraktar attack drone to Kiev, effectively handing over the capability to destroy Russian armour from the air. In the Armenian conflict, the unmanned aerial vehicle swung the fighting in favour of Turkey’s close ally, Azerbaijan, and was responsible for devastating Armenia’s armed forces."

    Is it really the case that Turkey has unique ownership of this tank-busting wonder weapon? No equivalents anywhere? Does the UK possess drones like these?

    AIUI, no. We've been developing them, but they're trapped in typical military-development Hell. It's annoying, as we've been frittering around the edges of UCAVs for years. Allegedly.

    https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/uks-unmanned-mosquito-on-track-for-2023-first-flight/145486.article
  • rcs1000 said:

    February is not a notably good month for solar! (It's also important to note that a lot of solar simply shows up as declines in demand, as it is used where generated rather than being fed to the grid.)
    The first point is precisely why solar is a red herring for the UK!

    We aren't California or Sydney using electricity to power air conditioning, we need our power for central heating in the middle of winter - and that's only going to get worse as more people switch from gas to electric heating.

    Our electricity demand peaks when solar supply dims. Its completely countercyclical to what we actually need.
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 22,623
    rcs1000 said:

    Have you looked at floating LNG regas? I always thought that was a terrific idea.
    The lead process engineer on one of the UK's LNG import terminals says "Hello!"
  • BurgessianBurgessian Posts: 2,951
    MattW said:

    They deliver somewhat less performance than the first line version from 'premier' countries, but at a considerably lower cost.

    I think we've had US drones that do a better job, but at 3 (?) times the cost - 5m vs 15-20m. Not sure if we have developed any of our own yet.
    Thanks, interesting. There's always someone on PB who has an insight, no matter the subject!
  • SeaShantyIrish2SeaShantyIrish2 Posts: 17,559
    Nigelb said:

    When you're pwned by Anneliese Dodds, it's time to recognise the faux Thatcher act is over.
    Was appointing Liz Truss to as Foreign Secretary is the Prime Ministers way of demonstrating that he was NOT the most pathetic holder of that high office under a Conservative government?
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,245

    Are you planning on resurrecting your Swansea Bay Barrage/ Tidal Lagoon scheme? Canning it on the basis of poor "value for money" was a shameful decision by Greg Clark.
    It's all there, ready to go.

    Just needs Boris to deliver on his words in the leadership hustings in Wales that he was a big fan.

    Yeah, right.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 53,866

    Bastards.
    No way you could mistake that car for anything other than a civilian vehicle.
    During the German invasion of Belgium in WWI, civilians were often massacred as a result of panicked troops believing that everyone was a secret sniper (franc-tireur). German troop started by shooting at everything they met....
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 53,415
    Is it just me, or are the Russians all of a sudden making big gains in Lugansk Region in the Donbass?

    https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4f/2022_Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine.svg
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 65,154
    Leon said:

    More unspeakable horror in Ukraine today

    And I fear Russia is now advancing swiftly in the south, meaning they can take the whole Black Sea coast, and largely win the war that way

    Not sure how that "wins" the war?
  • BurgessianBurgessian Posts: 2,951
    Scott_xP said:

    BREAKING: Former Conservative MP Richard Harrington has been given a peerage and appointed Minister for Refugees across the Home Office and DLUHC.

    He was previously minister for Syrian refugees under David Cameron and Theresa May

    https://twitter.com/hzeffman/status/1501231041667006464

    That sounds like hopeful news. I believe Harrington had a reputation as an effective minister. Had whip withdrawn over Brexit, so shows Boris capable of reaching out to bring in talent. Let's hope so, anyway.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 65,154
    Biden now speaking on RU oil ban.

  • tlg86tlg86 Posts: 26,504

    John Bercow and Owen Paterson were separated at birth, it can be the only explanation.
    I hate to break it to you, but you're the second person to have made that comment today.
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,794
    rcs1000 said:

    There is one - relatively small - gas pipeline between China and Russia. There are plans for another, but I don't think it's going to be ready until well into the second half of this decade.
    Which was my point, there's no way for Russia to sell China the gas in enough quantity to make up for turning off NS1.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,886

    WTF?
    It's fake news.
    UN denies it. No staff have received such an email.
    Quite how it got past the Irish Times I dunno.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 54,519

    Ragıp Soylu
    @ragipsoylu
    ·
    5h
    China says China, Germany and France should jointly support peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, per Jinping’s statement to Chinese state media

    https://twitter.com/ragipsoylu

    It's interesting that China is trying to divide the West.
  • SeaShantyIrish2SeaShantyIrish2 Posts: 17,559
    MISTY said:

    Nah Hampstead.
    Epping! With HYFUD as head of the Welcoming Committee.

    Would LOVE to be there, when he explains to Ukrainian refugees that the war is THEIR fault! Rather doubt his renowned skill at repetitive "rebuttal" would be of much (read any) utility.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,886
    Scott_xP said:

    BREAKING: Former Conservative MP Richard Harrington has been given a peerage and appointed Minister for Refugees across the Home Office and DLUHC.

    He was previously minister for Syrian refugees under David Cameron and Theresa May

    https://twitter.com/hzeffman/status/1501231041667006464

    Well.
    At least they didn't give the job to Sir Gavin.
  • Nigel_ForemainNigel_Foremain Posts: 14,766
    tlg86 said:

    I hate to break it to you, but you're the second person to have made that comment today.
    Was it the person he was separated at birth from perhaps?
  • NorthofStokeNorthofStoke Posts: 1,758

    Transition becomes essential to addressing the cost of living and energy crisis in the coming years

    Otherwise we import from Russia and elsewhere rather than being self sufficient
    I completely agree. Unfortunately many are far too optimistic about renewables. We also need some flexibility if (when) Net Zero falters. Very few (any?) innovative large scale engineering projects are completed on schedule and to estimated costs. Net Zero is dozens of them with interconnections and dependencies. People who should know better are ignoring their own experience and education to promote reckless optimistic scenarios.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 53,866

    Thanks, interesting. There's always someone on PB who has an insight, no matter the subject!
    Even more interesting, perhaps, are the claims associated with mini-drones.

    https://uadynamics.com

    These things are essentially largish model aircraft, dropping payloads of 3Kg - few grenades worth.

    There are claims that they have been successfully attacking fuel trains etc at a range of 15 miles+

    The chaps at your local remote control flying club could build one....

    image

    I've no idea of the truth of these claims....
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,794

    It's interesting that China is trying to divide the West.
    They see Macron and Scholz as not having the resolve to see it through, IMO. Macron specifically seems to have been sounding Putin out with various peace deals that go way further than the settled NATO position of full withdrawal.
  • Biden can't say "united"

    He says "unined"
  • SeaShantyIrish2SeaShantyIrish2 Posts: 17,559

    We elected a govt on the basis of "Keep Forriners Out". Look at the Home Secretary' attempts to have migrants and refugees turned back out to sea in violation of International Law.

    The govt are doing what they were elected to do
    And lying about what they are doing, and why.
  • MaxPB said:

    They see Macron and Scholz as not having the resolve to see it through, IMO. Macron specifically seems to have been sounding Putin out with various peace deals that go way further than the settled NATO position of full withdrawal.
    Putin is losing this war and must be seen to lose it.

    No peace without full withdrawal, including from the Donbass and potentially Crimea, and reparations.

    No face saving or partial victory for Biden. He must be seen to be humiliated so nobody does this again.
  • Northern_AlNorthern_Al Posts: 8,748

    Biden can't say "united"

    He says "unined"

    Fascinating.
  • Stark_DawningStark_Dawning Posts: 9,954
    dixiedean said:

    It's fake news.
    UN denies it. No staff have received such an email.
    Quite how it got past the Irish Times I dunno.
    Taken in by some spoofery on social media I imagine.
  • Fascinating.
    He's President of the Unined States.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 44,550

    Whilst UK Conservatives are nowhere near as loony as US / Canadian Conservatives, it is getting to the point that I am starting to block people self-described as Conservatives on my social media accounts.

    I have had all I can take of bigots, xenophobes, apologists, people obsessed with labelling everything "woke", Qanon, lizard people, Trudeau, Biden, Boris, conspiracies, mask freedom, vaccine freedom, etc, etc, etc....

    I mean WTF is going on in these people's heads?

    I'm sick and tired of hearing things from alt-right, blockheaded, gaslighting, keyboard soldiers ... wtf won't they stop, man? ... oh wtf won't they stop?
This discussion has been closed.