Starmer’s the one with most at stake in the May 5th elections – politicalbetting.com

Bonnie Raitt night on BBC4....

JohnLilburne said:

boulay said:

StillWaters said:

MattW said:

StillWaters said:

MattW said:

StillWaters said:

Nigelb said:

So the whole thing was about borscht ?
https://mobile.twitter.com/carlbildt/status/1512488818078887941

“They didn’t want every housewife to cook it in her own way… this is what we are talking about… nazism in its most extreme form.”

Well that escalated quickly…

Wot?

I have some beetroot in the fridge.

You Russophobe, you!

I just need the official recipe.

Ukrainian borscht has beetroot… Russian borscht uses cabbage…

There is no thing as Ukrainian borscht as there is no such country as Ukraine - all borscht is Russian as are all Ukrainians….

It's borshch in both languages. I think the Russians eat beetroot-based borshch too, cabbage soup is generally shchi.

"Eat cabbage in your soup
Like a Borscht
Put Beetroot in there too
Like a Borscht"

NEW / 2

White House asked why Rishi Sunak had a Green Card when the guidelines say you can't be a member of a foreign government

White House spox promises to speak to State Department

👁️👁️👁️👁️👁️ https://twitter.com/SamCoatesSky/status/1512522060844740614

Another very good Snyder article.

By denying a Ukrainian culture, Putin flattens his own
What is ‘Russia,’ with all creativity and dissent crushed and only conformity remaining?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2022/04/06/putin-culture-ukraine-mayakovsky-gogol/
… Matters are murkier in Putin’s Russia. A war based upon a big lie is also hard on its culture of origin. Everyone is looking at the Russian nation — or perhaps, rather, for it. What does it do to a society to invade a neighbor, which it claims to love, on the basis of bottomless self-deception? Americans have not yet recovered from the lies they told about Iraq two decades ago, and the Russian deception campaign runs far deeper. How are Russian parents altered when they deny to their children in Ukraine that any war is taking place? What sort of nation makes war and then forbids the use of the very word? …

Scott_xP said:

NEW / 2

White House asked why Rishi Sunak had a Green Card when the guidelines say you can't be a member of a foreign government

White House spox promises to speak to State Department

👁️👁️👁️👁️👁️ https://twitter.com/SamCoatesSky/status/1512522060844740614

As if it couldn't get any worse... oh wait Mr Modi is on the other line.

The moral of the story? Don't mess with BigDog.

Mexicanpete said:

Scott_xP said:

NEW / 2

White House asked why Rishi Sunak had a Green Card when the guidelines say you can't be a member of a foreign government

White House spox promises to speak to State Department

👁️👁️👁️👁️👁️ https://twitter.com/SamCoatesSky/status/1512522060844740614

As if it couldn't get any worse... oh wait Mr Modi is on the other line.

The moral of the story? Don't mess with BigDog.

Fishy Rishi!

Pour me a foaming pint of hasbeeno my good man.

Theuniondivvie said:

Pour me a foaming pint of hasbeeno my good man.

Yes that is Holly Valance - a long way from Ramsay Street and flogging collect calls… https://twitter.com/VinnyMcAv/status/1512439142407360513/photo/1

And on the left appears to be Nick Candy, Holly Valance's husband - a billionaire property mogul and property developer who bankrolled and was a “senior figure” in Shaun Bailey’s London mayoral campaign. https://twitter.com/VinnyMcAv/status/1512439142407360513

Rishi Sunak is swerving questions and switching tax codes even faster than bills are going up for the rest of us.

When the Chancellor can’t even honestly say which country he lives in how on earth can we trust him with our taxes?

https://twitter.com/AngelaRayner/status/1512525006701535236

Scott_xP said:

Theuniondivvie said:

Pour me a foaming pint of hasbeeno my good man.

Yes that is Holly Valance - a long way from Ramsay Street and flogging collect calls… https://twitter.com/VinnyMcAv/status/1512439142407360513/photo/1

And on the left appears to be Nick Candy, Holly Valance's husband - a billionaire property mogul and property developer who bankrolled and was a “senior figure” in Shaun Bailey’s London mayoral campaign. https://twitter.com/VinnyMcAv/status/1512439142407360513

And prospective purchaser of Chelsea FC.

SeaShantyIrish2 said:

Nine US House members who voted AGAINST Russian oil ban

https://www.politico.com/minutes/congress/04-8-2022/9-nays-on-russian-oil-ban/

Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA)

Thomas Massie (R-KY)

Matt Gaetz (R-FL)

Dan Bishop (R-NC)

Andy Biggs (R-AZ)

Chip Roy (R-TX)

Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.): We've reached out to Rep. Gosar's office but haven't heard back. We will update if we receive a comment.

Cori Bush (D-MO)

Ilhan Omar (D-MN)

Note that 8 Republicans did NOT vote on this key roll call:

Rick Allen (R-GA)

Michael Burgess (R-TX)

Drew Ferguson (R-GA)

Michael Guest (R-MS)

Clay Higgins (R-LA)

Blake Moore (R-UT)

Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA)

Robert Wittman (R-VA)

No idea what excuses they have for being AWOL; maybe "profiles in cowardice"?

So is that a split in the Boebart-MTG axis ?

And is Madison Cawthorn now trying to save his job ?

Lyme and Charmouth (Dorset) council by-election result:

GRN: 43.8% (+27.0)
CON: 26.5% (-13.7)
IND: 23.6% (-6.7)
LAB: 6.1% (-6.6)

Votes cast: 1,355

Green GAIN from Conservative.

Alistair said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Somebody leaking again...

Documents seen by The Independent show trusts linked to Ms Murty, her family and companies linked to their businesses. In a number of them, Mr Sunak was listed as a beneficiary.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/rishi-sunak-akshata-murty-tax-haven-b2054179.html

Wow, when her tax affairs first were reported I (a frothing at the mouth tax the rich until their pips squeak left-winger) didn't see what the issue was and felt that the "anger" totally confected.

Now.... now Sunak is showing all the sure foot of a blind arthritic elephant in a over crowded china shop.

The sad thing about this story is the emnity towards wealthy and successful people. There is no smoking gun here at all. Everything they have done is entirely legal. Being listed as a 'beneficiary' in a Cayman Islands trust.... so what.

If you don't like non dom status.... then scrap it. But if it is there, you cannot blame people for using it. And the expectation that she has somehow a greater obligation to Britain than anyone elses wife, is laughable. There are lots of international marriages going on; it is an inevitable consequence of globalisation. People are just projecting their own ideas about marriage - largely from a different age.... on to the Sunaks.

We have a shortage of sane and competent people going in to politics. These are the people that we elect to run the country. Why not have someone who is has been successful and is independently wealthy.... I don't see the problem. I have never been a particular fan of Sunak, but if he is hounded out over this it would be a bad loss.

The end point, is that no one successful, goes in to politics.... and we are nearly there already. We will just get a bunch of activists. We end up with Jared O'Mara 2; over and over again.

MattW said:

Malmesbury said:

MattW said:

Sunil_Prasannan said:

MattW said:

No_Offence_Alan said:

Foxy said:

noneoftheabove said:

rottenborough said:

Less than a month after South Carolina authorities said they were ready to carry out executions by firing squad after transitioning away from lethal injection, the state has scheduled its first execution.

The Hill

I am strongly against the death penalty but not quite sure why firing squad is worth than lethal injection etc?

Isn't it because pharmaceutical companies and health professionals are increasingly restricting lethal injections for executions? Hence shooting, which loads of yanks can do.

Where's a vat of Malmsey wine when you need it?

Hanging is fine.

Except when the Yanks used an inexperienced hangman at Nuremburg, who had bungled quite a lot previously.

Good job that Goring topped himself; the trapdoor was too small and he may have stuck.

/dark sense of humour

You mean he would have been Hermanated?

I don't know "Hermanated".

But his profile was like a bastard child of Clown-Shoes Clarkson and the Fat Controller.

Ironically, the Americans got Fat Herman off the morphine and put him on prison rations, which dropped his weight a fair bit. As a result he was fairly alert, mentally, at his trial - by the end of the war he'd been a wreck....



As a nice touch, they refused to allow him new clothes - so he stood trial in his old tents...

That's actually correct, and I had forgotten.

I think he lost 60lb.

It was justice.

They got him pretty fit, well, and mentally all there.

They gave him a good lawyer and a fair trial.

And condemned the bastard based on the mountain of evidence.

Theuniondivvie said:

Leon said:

Theuniondivvie said:

Pour me a foaming pint of hasbeeno my good man.

That looks very much like a photo of Trump with the North Korean president right behind him

Remarkable. Is he still trolling the world?

I think he only sees it as a photo of Trump.
Trump looks disgustingly and worryingly healthy though.

Either he's been on a diet or something has caused him to lose weight.

Sunil_Prasannan said:

MattW said:

I've just been listening to the Boris / Scholz press conference, and it's really quite excellent on both sides, though Scholz is being rather cautious on the timescale for a German pivot away from fossil fuels and Russian gas.

If BJ had been this good throughout, we'd be a hell of a lot further forward on Brexit without much of the acrimony, and Macron would be safely locked away somewhere.

I can only conclude that someone has a remote-controlled crushing-on-demand device on BJ's testicles.

Has someone appointed a real dominatrix to BJ's private office?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2NProLxhEs

"Berlin is the testicles of the West. When I want the West to scream, I squeeze on Berlin!" - Krushchev.

They asked Chairman Mao what he thought would have happened if Kruschev had been assassinated, not Kennedy. Mao thought for a second, and replied
“I’m sure Aristotle Onassis wouldn’t have married Mrs Kruschev.”

tlg86 said:

SandyRentool said:

Whoever replaces Rishi Rich will be a bit miffed that half of the Treasury has moved to Darlo.

Not so convenient if your constituency is in Surrey.

Dahenna for CotE!

Perhaps more realistically Sunak's Chief Secretary of the Treasury is Simon Clarke MP for Middlesbrough South.

And being a sufferer of agoraphobia would probably rule him out from being a leadership contender.

ydoethur said:

IshmaelZ said:

ydoethur said:

tlg86 said:

SandyRentool said:

Whoever replaces Rishi Rich will be a bit miffed that half of the Treasury has moved to Darlo.

Not so convenient if your constituency is in Surrey.

Dahenna for CotE!

I find that an incredibly confusing abbreviation. I keep wondering why people are so anxious to put these various failures in the Church of England.

I canon ly assume it is deaned to be a case of vicarious responsibility.

May I precent you with your coat, sir?

Priest can you stop this!

another_richard said:

tlg86 said:

SandyRentool said:

Whoever replaces Rishi Rich will be a bit miffed that half of the Treasury has moved to Darlo.

Not so convenient if your constituency is in Surrey.

Dahenna for CotE!

Perhaps more realistically Sunak's Chief Secretary of the Treasury is Simon Clarke MP for Middlesbrough South.

And being a sufferer of agoraphobia would probably rule him out from being a leadership contender.

Surely a fear of market places is particularly problematic in a financial minister.

Sunil_Prasannan said:

ydoethur said:

IshmaelZ said:

ydoethur said:

tlg86 said:

SandyRentool said:

Whoever replaces Rishi Rich will be a bit miffed that half of the Treasury has moved to Darlo.

Not so convenient if your constituency is in Surrey.

Dahenna for CotE!

I find that an incredibly confusing abbreviation. I keep wondering why people are so anxious to put these various failures in the Church of England.

I canon ly assume it is deaned to be a case of vicarious responsibility.

May I precent you with your coat, sir?

Priest can you stop this!

Have I rect your peace of mind? If so, I shall try to curate.

Will Smith will not be allowed to attend the Academy Awards for the next 10 years, as a result of his slapping comedian Chris Rock on stage during this year's Oscar ceremony, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences announced in a statement obtained by CNN.

Foxy said:

Theuniondivvie said:

Much gnashing of teeth at BJ Towers

Twisted and broken dawn, no days with sunlight
The dying spark, you left your mark on me
The promise of your kiss, but with someone else
For the bitterest pill is mine to swallow
The love I gave hangs in sad coloured, mocking shadows
The bitterest pill is mine to take
If I took if for a hundred years, I couldn't feel anymore ill!

Just dispense the flipping things Doc. It’s not rag mag week.

MoonRabbit said:

Sunil_Prasannan said:

MattW said:

I've just been listening to the Boris / Scholz press conference, and it's really quite excellent on both sides, though Scholz is being rather cautious on the timescale for a German pivot away from fossil fuels and Russian gas.

If BJ had been this good throughout, we'd be a hell of a lot further forward on Brexit without much of the acrimony, and Macron would be safely locked away somewhere.

I can only conclude that someone has a remote-controlled crushing-on-demand device on BJ's testicles.

Has someone appointed a real dominatrix to BJ's private office?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2NProLxhEs

"Berlin is the testicles of the West. When I want the West to scream, I squeeze on Berlin!" - Krushchev.

They asked Chairman Mao what he thought would have happened if Kruschev had been assassinated, not Kennedy. Mao thought for a second, and replied
“I’m sure Aristotle Onassis wouldn’t have married Mrs Kruschev.”

Since they were not officially married in 1963 (only in 1965 when he needed to make sure the Kremlin couldn't do her out of his pension when he died) it would have been impossible.

I would add though that Nina Khrushchev was a very remarkable woman. Fluent in five languages, a shrewd political tactician and with a knack for extremely hard work. So maybe that's Onassis' loss...

Theuniondivvie said:

Pour me a foaming pint of hasbeeno my good man.

I don't see what Trump gets out of hanging out with Farage, so I'm left to conclude he actually genuinely likes the man.

FrancisUrquhart said:

Will Smith will not be allowed to attend the Academy Awards for the next 10 years, as a result of his slapping comedian Chris Rock on stage during this year's Oscar ceremony, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences announced in a statement obtained by CNN.

He doesn't need to go ever again, he's finally got the Oscar he's been after for years (and deserved, in fairness).

ydoethur said:

Malmesbury said:

MattW said:

Malmesbury said:

MattW said:

Sunil_Prasannan said:

MattW said:

No_Offence_Alan said:

Foxy said:

noneoftheabove said:

rottenborough said:

Less than a month after South Carolina authorities said they were ready to carry out executions by firing squad after transitioning away from lethal injection, the state has scheduled its first execution.

The Hill

I am strongly against the death penalty but not quite sure why firing squad is worth than lethal injection etc?

Isn't it because pharmaceutical companies and health professionals are increasingly restricting lethal injections for executions? Hence shooting, which loads of yanks can do.

Where's a vat of Malmsey wine when you need it?

Hanging is fine.

Except when the Yanks used an inexperienced hangman at Nuremburg, who had bungled quite a lot previously.

Good job that Goring topped himself; the trapdoor was too small and he may have stuck.

/dark sense of humour

You mean he would have been Hermanated?

I don't know "Hermanated".

But his profile was like a bastard child of Clown-Shoes Clarkson and the Fat Controller.

Ironically, the Americans got Fat Herman off the morphine and put him on prison rations, which dropped his weight a fair bit. As a result he was fairly alert, mentally, at his trial - by the end of the war he'd been a wreck....



As a nice touch, they refused to allow him new clothes - so he stood trial in his old tents...

That's actually correct, and I had forgotten.

I think he lost 60lb.

It was justice.

They got him pretty fit, well, and mentally all there.

They gave him a good lawyer and a fair trial.

And condemned the bastard based on the mountain of evidence.

Albeit he unfortunately had the last laugh in two ways:

1) When they read the verdict, the translation went wrong so he had to stop proceedings and tell them they were talking gibberish, leading the court to dissolve in uproar;

2) He managed to top himself before they could hang him.

Neither of those is really a victory. Dead is dead.

...

tlg86 said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Will Smith will not be allowed to attend the Academy Awards for the next 10 years, as a result of his slapping comedian Chris Rock on stage during this year's Oscar ceremony, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences announced in a statement obtained by CNN.

Is that supposed to be a punishment?

The first time the Oscars have ever banned a slapper from attending.

Scott_xP said:

...

Sunak has been sacrificed. More help for Cost of Living Crisis incoming as Rishi is outgoing

https://twitter.com/TmorrowsPapers/status/1512532799743565824

Fishing said:

Scott_xP said:

The EU has allocated 1 billion euro to support the Ukrainian armed forces with weapons.

And more will come. We will now propose another €500 million to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces. 

Ukrainian people are holding up the torch of freedom for all of us. https://twitter.com/vonderleyen/status/1512525016910471170/photo/1

What is that as a proportion of the money the EU spends on weapons for the Russians through Russian oil and gas? 2%? 1%?

A million euros is a trifle. An oligarch has to pay more than that for a seat in the Lords.

How does Sunaks wife stay as a non-dom and pay UK tax on foreign earnings . Can you just offer to pay them money even though legally you don’t need to !

IshmaelZ said:

MoonRabbit said:

Foxy said:

Theuniondivvie said:

Much gnashing of teeth at BJ Towers

Twisted and broken dawn, no days with sunlight
The dying spark, you left your mark on me
The promise of your kiss, but with someone else
For the bitterest pill is mine to swallow
The love I gave hangs in sad coloured, mocking shadows
The bitterest pill is mine to take
If I took if for a hundred years, I couldn't feel anymore ill!

Just dispense the flipping things Doc. It’s not rag mag week.

So what about the GN tomorrow?

I thought I would be professional and wait for the going stick, check the non runners (they might wake up with a cough) and post shortly after 9am Saturday.

MarqueeMark said:

tlg86 said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Will Smith will not be allowed to attend the Academy Awards for the next 10 years, as a result of his slapping comedian Chris Rock on stage during this year's Oscar ceremony, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences announced in a statement obtained by CNN.

Is that supposed to be a punishment?

There's now going to be a John Wayne-style fistfight next year. Chairs smashed over heads, people thrown through windows.....

Would be better to have the fight scene from Blazing Saddles where they end up in the canteen.

stodge said:

Evening all

As someone might have said, you wait ages for a 35% swing and two come along at once.

A very good of local by-election results for the Greens and for the LDs - probably means nothing but I do wonder if we'll see a big anti-duopoly vote in a month's time. That's the thing with anger - it can lash out in all directions.

The expectations management game is under way, it seems, ahead of the local elections. The problem for Labour in London is how well they did last time. The vote split was (roughly) LAB 44, CON 29, LD 13. In councillors that meant 1,128 for Labour, 508 for the Conservatives and 152 for the LDs.

Obviously, we have boundary changes as OGH has noted so Labour, for example, will move up 6 simply because Newham is increasing from 60 to 66 due to rising population whereas other areas will see fewer councillors so councillor numbers may not tell the whole story.

The key is often when councils change hands as we know - can the LDs hold all three of their councils, will the Conservatives hold their seven? We've already some Conservative-inclined claim holding on to Kensington & Chelsea would represent success but if Labour said they'd have a good night if they held Lambeth, no one would be convinced.

There's also the complexity of turnout - last time only Richmond saw a turnout above 50% while in Barking & Dagenham turnout was 29.5%.

Now that we can’t vote in European elections, the local elections will be the best opportunity for people to cast a protest vote.

ydoethur said:

MarqueeMark said:

tlg86 said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Will Smith will not be allowed to attend the Academy Awards for the next 10 years, as a result of his slapping comedian Chris Rock on stage during this year's Oscar ceremony, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences announced in a statement obtained by CNN.

Is that supposed to be a punishment?

There's now going to be a John Wayne-style fistfight next year. Chairs smashed over heads, people thrown through windows.....

Would be better to have the fight scene from Blazing Saddles where they end up in the canteen.

And we go live to the 2023 Oscars ceremony....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMK6lzmSk2o

nico679 said:

How does Sunaks wife stay as a non-dom and pay UK tax on foreign earnings . Can you just offer to pay them money even though legally you don’t need to !

Yes. You don't tick the box on the tax return claiming non-dom status.

Fairliered said:

stodge said:

Evening all

As someone might have said, you wait ages for a 35% swing and two come along at once.

A very good of local by-election results for the Greens and for the LDs - probably means nothing but I do wonder if we'll see a big anti-duopoly vote in a month's time. That's the thing with anger - it can lash out in all directions.

The expectations management game is under way, it seems, ahead of the local elections. The problem for Labour in London is how well they did last time. The vote split was (roughly) LAB 44, CON 29, LD 13. In councillors that meant 1,128 for Labour, 508 for the Conservatives and 152 for the LDs.

Obviously, we have boundary changes as OGH has noted so Labour, for example, will move up 6 simply because Newham is increasing from 60 to 66 due to rising population whereas other areas will see fewer councillors so councillor numbers may not tell the whole story.

The key is often when councils change hands as we know - can the LDs hold all three of their councils, will the Conservatives hold their seven? We've already some Conservative-inclined claim holding on to Kensington & Chelsea would represent success but if Labour said they'd have a good night if they held Lambeth, no one would be convinced.

There's also the complexity of turnout - last time only Richmond saw a turnout above 50% while in Barking & Dagenham turnout was 29.5%.

Now that we can’t vote in European elections, the local elections will be the best opportunity for people to cast a protest vote.

No, that's the Police and Crime Commissioner elections, for those unfortunate enough to have them. The ultimate 'cock and balls' voting opportunity.

MoonRabbit said:

I thought I would be professional and wait for the going stick, check the non runners (they might wake up with a cough) and post shortly after 9am Saturday.

It's not a race from a punting point of view which I enjoy.

I can count the number of times I've backed the winner in the last 30 years on the fingers of one hand - my last big win was PINEAU DE RE in 2014 who I backed at 33s after I overheard Brendan Powell Senior telling some people at Plumpton Leighton Aspell had told him the horse had a big chance.

So much for hours of detailed form analysis.

It's a different race now from what it was - arguably more competitive and at the same time less. There's much less complete dead wood in the race but the overall rise in quality means the winner is often well fancied - the last four have been 14/1, 10/1, 4/1 and 11/1.

Foss said:

nico679 said:

How does Sunaks wife stay as a non-dom and pay UK tax on foreign earnings . Can you just offer to pay them money even though legally you don’t need to !

Voluntary payments / donations to government

Thanks for the link . I never realized you could that !

Farooq said:

Andy_JS said:

williamglenn said:

Warsaw summons French ambassador after Macron calls Polish PM ‘anti-Semite'

https://www.ft.com/content/c279ba21-35a0-4a7e-a8a8-5128527c55e0

Anything to do with electioneering? (Innocent face).

Yes. But also to do with the Polish PM's antisemitism.

In the context of Russia invading its neighbours to 'denazify' them, it might not be a wise narrative to promote.

@SamRamani2
The Russian Foreign Ministry transfers its "denazification" rhetoric on Ukraine to Latvia:

"The ruling regime in Latvia has long been well known for its neo-Nazi preferences and attempts to whitewash the atrocities of Nazi Germany 's henchmen"

https://twitter.com/SamRamani2/status/1512491275630559244

O.T

Fearne Cotton is playing some great 90 hits on her Radio 2 show. KLF — 3AM Eternal atm.

williamglenn said:

Farooq said:

Andy_JS said:

williamglenn said:

Warsaw summons French ambassador after Macron calls Polish PM ‘anti-Semite'

https://www.ft.com/content/c279ba21-35a0-4a7e-a8a8-5128527c55e0

Anything to do with electioneering? (Innocent face).

Yes. But also to do with the Polish PM's antisemitism.

In the context of Russia invading its neighbours to 'denazify' them, it might not be a wise narrative to promote.

@SamRamani2
The Russian Foreign Ministry transfers its "denazification" rhetoric on Ukraine to Latvia:

"The ruling regime in Latvia has long been well known for its neo-Nazi preferences and attempts to whitewash the atrocities of Nazi Germany 's henchmen"

https://twitter.com/SamRamani2/status/1512491275630559244

Are we allowed to mention Russia being an ally of Nazi Germany and sending it war matériel for two years? Or is that something Russians seek to whitewash?

SandyRentool said:

Fairliered said:

stodge said:

Evening all

As someone might have said, you wait ages for a 35% swing and two come along at once.

A very good of local by-election results for the Greens and for the LDs - probably means nothing but I do wonder if we'll see a big anti-duopoly vote in a month's time. That's the thing with anger - it can lash out in all directions.

The expectations management game is under way, it seems, ahead of the local elections. The problem for Labour in London is how well they did last time. The vote split was (roughly) LAB 44, CON 29, LD 13. In councillors that meant 1,128 for Labour, 508 for the Conservatives and 152 for the LDs.

Obviously, we have boundary changes as OGH has noted so Labour, for example, will move up 6 simply because Newham is increasing from 60 to 66 due to rising population whereas other areas will see fewer councillors so councillor numbers may not tell the whole story.

The key is often when councils change hands as we know - can the LDs hold all three of their councils, will the Conservatives hold their seven? We've already some Conservative-inclined claim holding on to Kensington & Chelsea would represent success but if Labour said they'd have a good night if they held Lambeth, no one would be convinced.

There's also the complexity of turnout - last time only Richmond saw a turnout above 50% while in Barking & Dagenham turnout was 29.5%.

Now that we can’t vote in European elections, the local elections will be the best opportunity for people to cast a protest vote.

No, that's the Police and Crime Commissioner elections, for those unfortunate enough to have them. The ultimate 'cock and balls' voting opportunity.

That's indeed no joke, I've come across more scrawled penises in those than any other type (still not all that many, but more than the usual one or two).

Cyclefree said:

williamglenn said:

Farooq said:

Andy_JS said:

williamglenn said:

Warsaw summons French ambassador after Macron calls Polish PM ‘anti-Semite'

https://www.ft.com/content/c279ba21-35a0-4a7e-a8a8-5128527c55e0

Anything to do with electioneering? (Innocent face).

Yes. But also to do with the Polish PM's antisemitism.

In the context of Russia invading its neighbours to 'denazify' them, it might not be a wise narrative to promote.

@SamRamani2
The Russian Foreign Ministry transfers its "denazification" rhetoric on Ukraine to Latvia:

"The ruling regime in Latvia has long been well known for its neo-Nazi preferences and attempts to whitewash the atrocities of Nazi Germany 's henchmen"

https://twitter.com/SamRamani2/status/1512491275630559244

Are we allowed to mention Russia being an ally of Nazi Germany and sending it war matériel for two years? Or is that something Russians seek to whitewash?

If I were talking to the Russian government right now, my only questions would be what are they smoking and where do I get some?

Not for personal use, you understand. Twelve ounces of whatever it is they're on sold in the right market would clear the national debt.

Andy_JS said:

O.T

Fearne Cotton is playing some great 90 hits on her Radio 2 show. KLF — 3AM Eternal atm.

If that sort of thing is your cup of tea, have you been watching the BBC series on Top of the Pops? Very watchable. They're up to 1993. The thing I like best about it is all the songs which I remember but which didn't really move me at all at the time, and where the individuals involved turn out to be gratifyingly articulate and likeable.
We watched TOTP despite 80% of it leaving us cold for the odd occasion when someone from our tribe would be on. And as a consequence we were exposed to everyone else's stuff too. I slightly miss that.

Theuniondivvie said:

If the EU doesn't pull out every stop on EU membership for Ukraine there's going to have to be a helluva lot of backtracking.

Does Orban have a veto?

Andy_JS said:

O.T

Fearne Cotton is playing some great 90 hits on her Radio 2 show. KLF — 3AM Eternal atm.

Caught Bjork - Big Time Sensuality earlier. One of my 90s favs.

Just crawling into the 90's - late 99 - was another of my all time desert island discs - James with "Just Like Fred Astaire".

darkage said:

Alistair said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Somebody leaking again...

Documents seen by The Independent show trusts linked to Ms Murty, her family and companies linked to their businesses. In a number of them, Mr Sunak was listed as a beneficiary.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/rishi-sunak-akshata-murty-tax-haven-b2054179.html

Wow, when her tax affairs first were reported I (a frothing at the mouth tax the rich until their pips squeak left-winger) didn't see what the issue was and felt that the "anger" totally confected.

Now.... now Sunak is showing all the sure foot of a blind arthritic elephant in a over crowded china shop.

The sad thing about this story is the emnity towards wealthy and successful people. There is no smoking gun here at all. Everything they have done is entirely legal. Being listed as a 'beneficiary' in a Cayman Islands trust.... so what.

If you don't like non dom status.... then scrap it. But if it is there, you cannot blame people for using it. And the expectation that she has somehow a greater obligation to Britain than anyone elses wife, is laughable. There are lots of international marriages going on; it is an inevitable consequence of globalisation. People are just projecting their own ideas about marriage - largely from a different age.... on to the Sunaks.

We have a shortage of sane and competent people going in to politics. These are the people that we elect to run the country. Why not have someone who is has been successful and is independently wealthy.... I don't see the problem. I have never been a particular fan of Sunak, but if he is hounded out over this it would be a bad loss.

The end point, is that no one successful, goes in to politics.... and we are nearly there already. We will just get a bunch of activists. We end up with Jared O'Mara 2; over and over again.

I mostly agree. From my left-wing position I think that frothing over individuals taking advantage of a deliberately-created loophole is a distraction and unfair as well. Change the system so that it rewards people for doing what we want - making nondom status vastly more expensive would be a start, so that in the end it's usually more sensible just to pay tax in the country where you live..