I just can't stand this attitude. It's literally no better than the Custard Conservatives who are failing to remove Boris. Country before party, people! Keeping Boris looks a lot to me like electoral seppuku for the Tories, but it's bad for the country too.
Those who want the country to suffer for relative party advantage are not the good guys whichever side they're on.
I agree with Farooq. We can’t have proper politics back until the Tories instil a leader prepared to put country before him/her/theirself, and put some sort of plan for governing the country and managing the economy together. We all should want what’s best for our country, no party games in this situation, just this pitiful attempt at a politician gone.
$150,000 broodmare might actually be male according to extraordinary lawsuit
A New York-bred stakes winner who sold for $150,000 at Keeneland as a broodmare prospect is actually a male, according to a lawsuit pending in Lexington, Kentucky.
Kept True went through the Keeneland January 2021 Horses of All Ages Sale, where she was purchased as a five-year-old broodmare prospect by Michelle and Albert Crawford's Crawford Farms near Lexington.
Over the course of the previous 27 months, Kept True compiled a record of five wins, two seconds, and two thirds from 14 starts and earnings of $323,659 running against females at Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga.
Crawford Farms took possession of Kept True without having the horse examined by its own vet, only to apparently find later, via a series of examinations and tests, that Kept True is a mare in outward appearance only.
According to the complaint filed by Crawford's attorney, Kept True was examined by Crawford's Dr Jeremy Whitman, who reported "obvious abnormalities in the horse's reproductive organs", primarily that the horse had no ovaries.
Nice of the BBC to remind us where we live, and nice of Number 10 to brief the Chancellor's announcement this afternoon in order to knock Sue Gray off the headlines.
Sunderland Ullapool Caithness Kilkeel Manchester Yeovil Derby Ipswich Camborne Kendal
Right...
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Sunderland - England Ullapool - Scotland Caithness - Scotland Kilkeel - Norther Ireland Manchester - England Yeovil - England Derby - England Ipswich - England Camborne - England Kendal - England
It contains only one major conurbation, despite the fact that tens of millions of the UK's denizens live in major cities - such as London, Birmingham, Edinburgh, etc. And contains nowhere from Wales.
Cabinet Ministers are understandably very angry at having to defend a lying asshole again and again and by acknowledging this in a tweet I’ve somehow contrived to draw a line under something that will never change and will remain unforgivable. https://twitter.com/sajidjavid/status/1529489291830824962
I see moving on to "tackle the big challenges" is the official line from Whips that all MPs must now tweet in next three hours.
"The Moray MP, who said in January that Johnson should resign before U-turning because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, accepts that Johnson should step down … but not until the war in Ukraine is over."
There was literally no benefit to him u-turning. Now he will be detested by No. 10 and not even have grudging respect for courage of his convictions.
It was one of the weirdest unforced errors in modern Scottish politics. At one fell swoop the SCon VI collapsed back into the teens.
By many measures the Scottish Government is useless, but it is also fortunate in its enemies.
What an interesting Freudian slip that is!
An admission that the Conservative & Unionist Party is an enemy of the democratically elected government of the Scottish people.
The problem for the Tories is not that they hate the Scottish National Party, but that they hate the Scottish nation.
That is excellent Liberal Democrat by-election campaign material. Not particularly original - social media is chock-a-block with similar imagery - but it’ll work. Not just by boosting the LD vote, but crucially by suppressing Con turnout. Who could in all honesty, with a clear conscience, vote in support of that shameless, arrogant, selfish, repulsive liar?
Sunderland Ullapool Caithness Kilkeel Manchester Yeovil Derby Ipswich Camborne Kendal
Right...
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Sunderland - England Ullapool - Scotland Caithness - Scotland Kilkeel - Norther Ireland Manchester - England Yeovil - England Derby - England Ipswich - England Camborne - England Kendal - England
It contains only one major conurbation, despite the fact that tens of millions of the UK's denizens live in major cities - such as London, Birmingham, Edinburgh, etc. And contains nowhere from Wales.
I wonder if you can get a wide range of lifestyles in one county?
Sinfin Moor, Derby. (high immigration area, poverty) Chatsworth (Posh, tourism) Castleton (tourism, with the Boris Johnson memorial cave above - the Devil's Arse) Brimington (working-class deprivation, ex-mining area) Rolls Royce, Sinfin (high-tech industry) Sutton-on-the-Hill (lowland arable and livestock farming). My uncle and aunt will make them a nice cup of tea. Earl Sterndale (upland farming) Hayfield (northern ex-mill town) Burton (industrial area, lots of beer for parties) Buxton (tourism; dormitory town) Derby University (higher education system) Swarkestone Bridge (history, and to remind our Scottish friends how far they got ). Litchurch Lane Works (heavy industry. Because, you know, railways...
I reckon I've captured a large proportion of lifestyles and occupations in that list. There are some things not covered, such as deep-sea fishing...
SNP 47% (-1) Lab 23% (+4) Con 18% (-3) LD 7% (nc) Grn 2% (nc) oth 3% (nc)
Holyrood voting intention - List vote
SNP 39% (+1) Lab 21% (+2) Con 18% (-1) Grn 10% (-1) LD 8% (+1) Alba 2% (+1) Ref 1% (-1) All for Unity 0 (-1) UKIP 0 (-1) oth 1% (nc)
Vaguely interesting but only as a baseline before two days that we would expect to move the needle — the Gray report yesterday and the cost of living help today (don't say "windfall tax").
“St Helens Abergavenny Matlock Spa Blackgang Chine Middlesbrough Portscatho Ashton-upon-Lyne Appledore Borth Isle of Ely Vatersay Pittenweem Grey Street Gosport Uttoxeter Coventry Chipping Camden Port Sunlight Old Radnor Preston Bus Station”
Your list is just as good as mine, and I haven’t been to at least half of yours
This is an oddly inspiring task. A reminder that the UK, despite being relatively small, contains a truly intense variation in landscape, cityscape, culture, history. Amazing. We are citizens of an amazing country
Vatersay. Home of the Vatersay Boys - the Scottish Pogues.
And yes, I have been.
My adds to the list:
South Gare, near Redcar Buxton The Forest of Dean Durham Fort George Park Hill housing estate, Sheffield
Sunderland Ullapool Caithness Kilkeel Manchester Yeovil Derby Ipswich Camborne Kendal
Right...
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Sunderland - England Ullapool - Scotland Caithness - Scotland Kilkeel - Norther Ireland Manchester - England Yeovil - England Derby - England Ipswich - England Camborne - England Kendal - England
It contains only one major conurbation, despite the fact that tens of millions of the UK's denizens live in major cities - such as London, Birmingham, Edinburgh, etc. And contains nowhere from Wales.
I wonder if you can get a wide range of lifestyles in one county?
Sinfin Moor, Derby. (high immigration area, poverty) Chatsworth (Posh, tourism) Castleton (tourism, with the Boris Johnson memorial cave above - the Devil's Arse) Brimington (working-class deprivation, ex-mining area) Rolls Royce, Sinfin (high-tech industry) Sutton-on-the-Hill (lowland arable and livestock farming). My uncle and aunt will make them a nice cup of tea. Earl Sterndale (upland farming) Hayfield (northern ex-mill town) Burton (industrial area, lots of beer for parties) Buxton (tourism; dormitory town) Derby University (higher education system) Swarkestone Bridge (history, and to remind our Scottish friends how far they got ). Litchurch Lane Works (heavy industry. Because, you know, railways...
I reckon I've captured a large proportion of lifestyles and occupations in that list. There are some things not covered, such as deep-sea fishing...
Cromford - home of the industrial revolution might be worth a mention. And the Blue John mines (although the boat trip on the Speedwell caverns is perhaps more fun) And Mam Tor, for a walk. And Lathkill Dale. Then Bakewell, for a pudding. And Crich, for the tramway museum - and on inshore lighthouse, to the memory of the Sherwood Foresters
“St Helens Abergavenny Matlock Spa Blackgang Chine Middlesbrough Portscatho Ashton-upon-Lyne Appledore Borth Isle of Ely Vatersay Pittenweem Grey Street Gosport Uttoxeter Coventry Chipping Camden Port Sunlight Old Radnor Preston Bus Station”
Your list is just as good as mine, and I haven’t been to at least half of yours
This is an oddly inspiring task. A reminder that the UK, despite being relatively small, contains a truly intense variation in landscape, cityscape, culture, history. Amazing. We are citizens of an amazing country
Vatersay. Home of the Vatersay Boys - the Scottish Pogues.
And yes, I have been.
My adds to the list:
South Gare, near Redcar Buxton The Forest of Dean Durham Fort George Park Hill housing estate, Sheffield
I think any *national* list must include a constituency in the Scottish islands - perhaps Hebrides or the Western Isles. I fear some of the inner-city MPs would get nosebleeds from encountering the different lifestyle.
Re places for new MPs to visit. I am reminded by Kuper's book Chums that there was a long period in the 20th Century up to Ted Heath and maybe Jim Callaghan when posh Prime Ministers will have served on the front line in the First and Second World Wars, leading working class soldiers.
(Is it odd that Mrs Thatcher was not called up but went straight from school to Oxford in 1943? Come to think of it, was there conscription for women or were there enough volunteers for the land army, army, WRENs and WAAFs? The Queen did her bit and they are the same age.)
Re places for new MPs to visit. I am reminded by Kuper's book Chums that there was a long period in the 20th Century up to Ted Heath and maybe Jim Callaghan when posh Prime Ministers will have served on the front line in the First and Second World Wars, leading working class soldiers.
(Is it odd that Mrs Thatcher was not called up but went straight from school to Oxford in 1943? Come to think of it, was there conscription for women or were there enough volunteers for the land army, army, WRENs and WAAFs? The Queen did her bit and they are the same age.)
Lots of people went to uni during the war. They did not close down, although from memory numbers were reduced. So not particularly odd.
As an aside, I'd forgotten this little story:
" In 1938, before the Second World War, the Roberts family briefly gave sanctuary to a teenage Jewish girl who had escaped Nazi Germany. With her pen-friending elder sister Muriel, Margaret saved pocket money to help pay for the teenager's journey."
Ben Bradshaw wins sanctimonious tweet of the day award
'Apologies to my constituents who may have wished me to be in the chamber today. But I couldn’t be in the same physical space as that man & the craven Tory MPs keeping him there. I have full confidence in the decency of the British people to correct that at the next election.'
Ben Bradshaw wins sanctimonious tweet of the day award
'Apologies to my constituents who may have wished me to be in the chamber today. But I couldn’t be in the same physical space as that man & the craven Tory MPs keeping him there. I have full confidence in the decency of the British people to correct that at the next election.'
Give him a break. He has been a brilliant constituency MP and I've a Conservative friend who votes for him. He's standing down at the next election and I don't blame him for not wanting to sit through more Johnson.
SNP 47% (-1) Lab 23% (+4) Con 18% (-3) LD 7% (nc) Grn 2% (nc) oth 3% (nc)
Holyrood voting intention - List vote
SNP 39% (+1) Lab 21% (+2) Con 18% (-1) Grn 10% (-1) LD 8% (+1) Alba 2% (+1) Ref 1% (-1) All for Unity 0 (-1) UKIP 0 (-1) oth 1% (nc)
Vaguely interesting but only as a baseline before two days that we would expect to move the needle — the Gray report yesterday and the cost of living help today (don't say "windfall tax").
Apt that you say “move the needle”, because, apart from a tiny uptick in SLab VI, the Scottish electoral needle is MoE unchanged since November. Quite remarkable when you consider what has happened in those six months.
At one point that will change, but the next two days? Nah.
I wonder if they will now summons her, to teach her a sharp lesson about who she does, in fact answer to?
They should do. She is not the President of Scotland and whatever her private fantasies she is answerable to Westminster as well as Holyrood. Even Drakeford understands that.
Moreover, suggesting she is far too important to meet with little people like them is Boris Johnson level of rudeness.
$150,000 broodmare might actually be male according to extraordinary lawsuit
A New York-bred stakes winner who sold for $150,000 at Keeneland as a broodmare prospect is actually a male, according to a lawsuit pending in Lexington, Kentucky.
Kept True went through the Keeneland January 2021 Horses of All Ages Sale, where she was purchased as a five-year-old broodmare prospect by Michelle and Albert Crawford's Crawford Farms near Lexington.
Over the course of the previous 27 months, Kept True compiled a record of five wins, two seconds, and two thirds from 14 starts and earnings of $323,659 running against females at Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga.
Crawford Farms took possession of Kept True without having the horse examined by its own vet, only to apparently find later, via a series of examinations and tests, that Kept True is a mare in outward appearance only.
According to the complaint filed by Crawford's attorney, Kept True was examined by Crawford's Dr Jeremy Whitman, who reported "obvious abnormalities in the horse's reproductive organs", primarily that the horse had no ovaries.
On topic, the LibDem poster is hard-hitting and effective.
The Conservatives are consigning themselves to a landslide defeat in two years.
Why do we not see that in the opinion polls?
Arguably, we are: the combined Labour + LibDem + Green number in all polls is now almost always at 55%+ and is sometimes now getting close to 60%. The Tories, meanwhile, have on occasions been as low as 31%, their 1997 election result.
Anyone under the age of 50 doesn't get support with cost of living, pensioners and the elderly get a bung. Students and young people working have to support these parasites.
?? According to the stories, everyone is going to get money off their bill in October.
I just can't stand this attitude. It's literally no better than the Custard Conservatives who are failing to remove Boris. Country before party, people! Keeping Boris looks a lot to me like electoral seppuku for the Tories, but it's bad for the country too.
Those who want the country to suffer for relative party advantage are not the good guys whichever side they're on.
I agree with Farooq. We can’t have proper politics back until the Tories instil a leader prepared to put country before him/her/theirself, and put some sort of plan for governing the country and managing the economy together. We all should want what’s best for our country, no party games in this situation, just this pitiful attempt at a politician gone.
That the Tories do not believe they have anyone better than Boris Johnson to lead them is a damning reflection of a pitifully weak talent pool.
I just can't stand this attitude. It's literally no better than the Custard Conservatives who are failing to remove Boris. Country before party, people! Keeping Boris looks a lot to me like electoral seppuku for the Tories, but it's bad for the country too.
Those who want the country to suffer for relative party advantage are not the good guys whichever side they're on.
Correct. And as people keep saying he is awfully good at winning elections. The bollocks about All the better if he is still in place in 2024, is bollocks. Because the thought of him with another 5 year mandate is Hitler level frightening.
Boris Derangement Syndrome rears its ugly head.
Our Prime Minister, whose vaccine programme saved thousands of lives, is as frightening as a man who caused 30 million deaths, because he had a couple of drinks jn his own house and then shaved the truth about it. Apparently.
For those of us with Johnson Derangement Syndrome, some of whom crossed that line yesterday, there is a disbelief at the unquestioning support of this odious creature, and the acceptance that his cock and bull defence must be true, and we have to move on.
The idea that Johnson overcame the Ministerial Code with another lie, upon lie, upon lie, with the story growing more absurd with each denial is really rather frightening. It's Trumpesque, it's plain wrong! Justice has not been served.
Your assertion, that we should allow Johnson's misbehaviour and outrageous defence of it because he oversaw a (credit where it is due) successful and slightly quicker than elsewhere vaccine rollout is an odd one. It's like suggesting Harold Shipman's pleasant bedside manner made him an excellent GP, or we should mitigate Fred West's crimes because he was a first class plasterer.
"A New York-bred stakes winner who sold for $150,000 at Keeneland as a broodmare prospect is actually a male, according to a lawsuit pending in Lexington, Kentucky."
No problem. Assuming it's a complete defect in the androgen receptor (equivalent to CAIS in humans), it will have no 'testosterone benefit' so all's well. Anyway, don't be so transphobic. It's the 'lived' experience that counts, and gender not sex is what matters nowadays.
On topic, the LibDem poster is hard-hitting and effective.
The Conservatives are consigning themselves to a landslide defeat in two years.
Why do we not see that in the opinion polls?
Arguably, we are: the combined Labour + LibDem + Green number in all polls is now almost always at 55%+ and is sometimes now getting close to 60%. The Tories, meanwhile, have on occasions been as low as 31%, their 1997 election result.
The Tories polled lower than now during the 2010-2015 Parliament. Suffice it to say that they did not suffer a landslide defeat in GE2015.
I just can't stand this attitude. It's literally no better than the Custard Conservatives who are failing to remove Boris. Country before party, people! Keeping Boris looks a lot to me like electoral seppuku for the Tories, but it's bad for the country too.
Those who want the country to suffer for relative party advantage are not the good guys whichever side they're on.
Correct. And as people keep saying he is awfully good at winning elections. The bollocks about All the better if he is still in place in 2024, is bollocks. Because the thought of him with another 5 year mandate is Hitler level frightening.
Boris Derangement Syndrome rears its ugly head.
Our Prime Minister, whose vaccine programme saved thousands of lives, is as frightening as a man who caused 30 million deaths, because he had a couple of drinks jn his own house and then shaved the truth about it. Apparently.
For those of us with Johnson Derangement Syndrome, some of whom crossed that line yesterday, there is a disbelief at the unquestioning support of this odious creature, and the acceptance that his cock and bull defence must be true, and we have to move on.
The idea that Johnson overcame the Ministerial Code with another lie, upon lie, upon lie, with the story growing more absurd with each denial is really rather frightening. It's Trumpesque, it's plain wrong! Justice has not been served.
Your assertion, that we should allow Johnson's misbehaviour and outrageous defence of it because he oversaw a (credit where it is due) successful and slightly quicker than elsewhere vaccine rollout is an odd one. It's like suggesting Harold Shipman's pleasant bedside manner made him an excellent GP, or we should mitigate Fred West's crimes because he was a first class plasterer.
Yesterday was a bad day for democracy.
iirc it really was remarked of Harold Shipman that, apart from murdering his patients, everyone agreed he was a bloody good doctor.
I just can't stand this attitude. It's literally no better than the Custard Conservatives who are failing to remove Boris. Country before party, people! Keeping Boris looks a lot to me like electoral seppuku for the Tories, but it's bad for the country too.
Those who want the country to suffer for relative party advantage are not the good guys whichever side they're on.
Correct. And as people keep saying he is awfully good at winning elections. The bollocks about All the better if he is still in place in 2024, is bollocks. Because the thought of him with another 5 year mandate is Hitler level frightening.
Boris Derangement Syndrome rears its ugly head.
Our Prime Minister, whose vaccine programme saved thousands of lives, is as frightening as a man who caused 30 million deaths, because he had a couple of drinks jn his own house and then shaved the truth about it. Apparently.
For those of us with Johnson Derangement Syndrome, some of whom crossed that line yesterday, there is a disbelief at the unquestioning support of this odious creature, and the acceptance that his cock and bull defence must be true, and we have to move on.
The idea that Johnson overcame the Ministerial Code with another lie, upon lie, upon lie, with the story growing more absurd with each denial is really rather frightening. It's Trumpesque, it's plain wrong! Justice has not been served.
Your assertion, that we should allow Johnson's misbehaviour and outrageous defence of it because he oversaw a (credit where it is due) successful and slightly quicker than elsewhere vaccine rollout is an odd one. It's like suggesting Harold Shipman's pleasant bedside manner made him an excellent GP, or we should mitigate Fred West's crimes because he was a first class plasterer.
Yesterday was a bad day for democracy.
The shot of his grinning mug as, passing by with a gaggle of sycophants, he called out rubbish over the Newsnight presenter's piece in the Commons corridor last night, was particularly odious.
I just can't stand this attitude. It's literally no better than the Custard Conservatives who are failing to remove Boris. Country before party, people! Keeping Boris looks a lot to me like electoral seppuku for the Tories, but it's bad for the country too.
Those who want the country to suffer for relative party advantage are not the good guys whichever side they're on.
Correct. And as people keep saying he is awfully good at winning elections. The bollocks about All the better if he is still in place in 2024, is bollocks. Because the thought of him with another 5 year mandate is Hitler level frightening.
Boris Derangement Syndrome rears its ugly head.
Our Prime Minister, whose vaccine programme saved thousands of lives, is as frightening as a man who caused 30 million deaths, because he had a couple of drinks jn his own house and then shaved the truth about it. Apparently.
For those of us with Johnson Derangement Syndrome, some of whom crossed that line yesterday, there is a disbelief at the unquestioning support of this odious creature, and the acceptance that his cock and bull defence must be true, and we have to move on.
The idea that Johnson overcame the Ministerial Code with another lie, upon lie, upon lie, with the story growing more absurd with each denial is really rather frightening. It's Trumpesque, it's plain wrong! Justice has not been served.
Your assertion, that we should allow Johnson's misbehaviour and outrageous defence of it because he oversaw a (credit where it is due) successful and slightly quicker than elsewhere vaccine rollout is an odd one. It's like suggesting Harold Shipman's pleasant bedside manner made him an excellent GP, or we should mitigate Fred West's crimes because he was a first class plasterer.
Yesterday was a bad day for democracy.
The shot of his grinning mug as, passing by with a gaggle of sycophants, he called out rubbish over the Newsnight presenter's piece in the Commons corridor last night, was particularly odious.
Portugal has implemented e gates for British Tourist (excellent news, Portugal encouraging tourist) yet you are recommended to then queue up for a passport stamp to ensure you don't get caught out by the 90 day rule. Great.
Pet passports have gone now we have left, but getting a health certificate to travel is a nightmare. Many Vets aren't trained and the requirements onerous. You have to get one within 10 days of travel yet we can't book one for 6 weeks so no popping over to France for a last minute trip. Cost £150 per animal for every trip so cost is ridiculous if you make multiple trips. @IanB2 you take your dog abroad I think. Advice would be appreciated.
On topic, the LibDem poster is hard-hitting and effective.
The Conservatives are consigning themselves to a landslide defeat in two years.
Why do we not see that in the opinion polls?
Arguably, we are: the combined Labour + LibDem + Green number in all polls is now almost always at 55%+ and is sometimes now getting close to 60%. The Tories, meanwhile, have on occasions been as low as 31%, their 1997 election result.
The Tories polled lower than now during the 2010-2015 Parliament. Suffice it to say that they did not suffer a landslide defeat in GE2015.
The combined opposition was not polling as high, neither was the LOTO regularly leading on best PM, neither was there any doubt which party led on the economy.
I assumed BoJo would ride this out when it first cropped up but now I'm amazed he has the brass neck to hang on. As someone, who in his seventies voted Tory for the first time at the last GE to get Brexit done, I never claimed to be a true-blue. But as Monty Python often said, "Stop this, it's getting silly now."
I don't mind them getting rat-arsed on my taxes, although having such a lax regime is irritating. I quite approve of him not doing much, but he has committed two major sins recently. He is too idle even to finish a sentence, and he put canine welfare ahead of human welfare during the Afghan rout.
Even though Starmer has the pzazz of a wet week in Barrow, I might end up voting for his party again. Unless Corbyn rides to the rescue, my Tory GE vote will never be repeated.
Re places for new MPs to visit. I am reminded by Kuper's book Chums that there was a long period in the 20th Century up to Ted Heath and maybe Jim Callaghan when posh Prime Ministers will have served on the front line in the First and Second World Wars, leading working class soldiers.
(Is it odd that Mrs Thatcher was not called up but went straight from school to Oxford in 1943? Come to think of it, was there conscription for women or were there enough volunteers for the land army, army, WRENs and WAAFs? The Queen did her bit and they are the same age.)
Lots of people went to uni during the war. They did not close down, although from memory numbers were reduced. So not particularly odd.
As an aside, I'd forgotten this little story:
" In 1938, before the Second World War, the Roberts family briefly gave sanctuary to a teenage Jewish girl who had escaped Nazi Germany. With her pen-friending elder sister Muriel, Margaret saved pocket money to help pay for the teenager's journey."
From memory, some of the space at unis was handed over to services training, government depts etc, but the authorities tried to maintain admittedly telescoped courses in subjects of priority to the war effort - medicine for instance (in which case they would not be conscripted into the armed services and the women's auxiliaries). There were also short courses basically to give officer cadets to be something to do and something to learn. As a chemist, Miss Roberts would have been an entirely appropriate person to be left alone to get on with her course rather than sent off into the forces.
ISTR reading the memoir of a deaf MP who was free of conscription and an undergrad at Oxford during the war - very much in demand, vast oversurplus of nubile females.
Sunderland Ullapool Caithness Kilkeel Manchester Yeovil Derby Ipswich Camborne Kendal
Right...
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Sunderland - England Ullapool - Scotland Caithness - Scotland Kilkeel - Norther Ireland Manchester - England Yeovil - England Derby - England Ipswich - England Camborne - England Kendal - England
It contains only one major conurbation, despite the fact that tens of millions of the UK's denizens live in major cities - such as London, Birmingham, Edinburgh, etc. And contains nowhere from Wales.
I apologise for making my list hard to swallow. How about
Sunderland - England Ullapool - Scotland Caithness - Scotland Kilkeel - Northern Ireland Manchester - England Yeovil - England Cardiff - Wales Orpington - England Camborne - England Kendal - England
On topic, the LibDem poster is hard-hitting and effective.
The Conservatives are consigning themselves to a landslide defeat in two years.
Why do we not see that in the opinion polls?
Arguably, we are: the combined Labour + LibDem + Green number in all polls is now almost always at 55%+ and is sometimes now getting close to 60%. The Tories, meanwhile, have on occasions been as low as 31%, their 1997 election result.
The Tories polled lower than now during the 2010-2015 Parliament. Suffice it to say that they did not suffer a landslide defeat in GE2015.
The combined opposition was not polling as high, neither was the LOTO regularly leading on best PM, neither was there any doubt which party led on the economy.
All good points, and yet we see very large numbers of 2019 Tory voters saying "Don't Know" to pollsters - 28% are don't know/would not vote/refused in the latest YouGov, compared to 17% in a random May 2013 YouGov poll. I'd suggest that these voters will be easier to tempt back, as they haven't made the step of saying they will vote for another party.
There's a lot that needs to happen between now and the GE for Labour to win that election, let alone by a landslide.
"A New York-bred stakes winner who sold for $150,000 at Keeneland as a broodmare prospect is actually a male, according to a lawsuit pending in Lexington, Kentucky."
No problem. Assuming it's a complete defect in the androgen receptor (equivalent to CAIS in humans), it will have no 'testosterone benefit' so all's well. Anyway, don't be so transphobic. It's the 'lived' experience that counts, and gender not sex is what matters nowadays.
I didn’t comment on the horse! Just on the fact that the vet should have identified a lack of ovaries before certifying it was in breeding condition…
On topic @geoffw and I debated the use by the Conservatives of Boris in their literature a few days ago. The disagreement was very amicable and just down to whether he is a vote winner or not. I think that the LDs are using this leaflet shows they think he isn't. I would have thought most people would have agreed with this.
On topic, the LibDem poster is hard-hitting and effective.
The Conservatives are consigning themselves to a landslide defeat in two years.
Why do we not see that in the opinion polls?
Arguably, we are: the combined Labour + LibDem + Green number in all polls is now almost always at 55%+ and is sometimes now getting close to 60%. The Tories, meanwhile, have on occasions been as low as 31%, their 1997 election result.
The Tories polled lower than now during the 2010-2015 Parliament. Suffice it to say that they did not suffer a landslide defeat in GE2015.
The combined opposition was not polling as high, neither was the LOTO regularly leading on best PM, neither was there any doubt which party led on the economy.
All good points, and yet we see very large numbers of 2019 Tory voters saying "Don't Know" to pollsters - 28% are don't know/would not vote/refused in the latest YouGov, compared to 17% in a random May 2013 YouGov poll. I'd suggest that these voters will be easier to tempt back, as they haven't made the step of saying they will vote for another party.
There's a lot that needs to happen between now and the GE for Labour to win that election, let alone by a landslide.
I don’t think Labour will get an overall majority. But that doesn’t mean the Tories will not get an absolute hammering.
On topic, the LibDem poster is hard-hitting and effective.
The Conservatives are consigning themselves to a landslide defeat in two years.
Why do we not see that in the opinion polls?
Arguably, we are: the combined Labour + LibDem + Green number in all polls is now almost always at 55%+ and is sometimes now getting close to 60%. The Tories, meanwhile, have on occasions been as low as 31%, their 1997 election result.
The Tories polled lower than now during the 2010-2015 Parliament. Suffice it to say that they did not suffer a landslide defeat in GE2015.
The combined opposition was not polling as high, neither was the LOTO regularly leading on best PM, neither was there any doubt which party led on the economy.
All good points, and yet we see very large numbers of 2019 Tory voters saying "Don't Know" to pollsters - 28% are don't know/would not vote/refused in the latest YouGov, compared to 17% in a random May 2013 YouGov poll. I'd suggest that these voters will be easier to tempt back, as they haven't made the step of saying they will vote for another party.
There's a lot that needs to happen between now and the GE for Labour to win that election, let alone by a landslide.
And Boris is a “lucky general”, as we have seen time and again. He’s used to winning, and he’s good at winning. That is significant
You can see the terror in the eyes of Lefties, as they contemplate him. It is one reason they desperately want him gone, because he unnerves them; a lot of the hysterical hatred and moral disapproval of him is just badly-disguised fear
And even though I get some satisfaction at detecting this fear, I agree that he is a shoddy PM
In candid, private moments, Conservative MPs, in northern as well as southern seats, will admit to being shaken at the scale of their constituents’ fury, even before the cost of living crisis runs its course. By 2024, in the absence of a seismic change to the Government’s performance and style, impoverished swing voters will surely find a “time for change after 14 years in office” message all too irresistible.
Sunderland Ullapool Caithness Kilkeel Manchester Yeovil Derby Ipswich Camborne Kendal
Right...
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Sunderland - England Ullapool - Scotland Caithness - Scotland Kilkeel - Norther Ireland Manchester - England Yeovil - England Derby - England Ipswich - England Camborne - England Kendal - England
It contains only one major conurbation, despite the fact that tens of millions of the UK's denizens live in major cities - such as London, Birmingham, Edinburgh, etc. And contains nowhere from Wales.
I apologise for making my list hard to swallow. How about
Sunderland - England Ullapool - Scotland Caithness - Scotland Kilkeel - Northern Ireland Manchester - England Yeovil - England Cardiff - Wales Orpington - England Camborne - England Kendal - England
On topic @geoffw and I debated the use by the Conservatives of Boris in their literature a few days ago. The disagreement was very amicable and just down to whether he is a vote winner or not. I think that the LDs are using this leaflet shows they think he isn't. I would have thought most people would have agreed with this.
It seems the LDs think he very much is a vote winner . . . For them.
I see Guildford MP has said it is all unacceptable and had that report been about her she would have resigned.
SE Tory MPs starting to feel the steely cold edge of the executioner's sword as the LibDems prepare to take their seats?
All of these protestations are utterly meaningless unless they do something concrete about the problem.
As I posted earlier, this is Starmer's best ever day as leader.
Johnson remains. His party hasn't the guts to ditch the lying cad and the public increasingly loathe him and all his lies.
Game on for jan 2025.
Good grief can he stretch it out into 2025 now?
It’s always been an option, although winter elections are still rare.
There was a PB discussion earlier about Jan 2025 sparked by a tweet from a strategist or focus group guru. That is last possible date.
January is a grim month. The jollity of Christmas but a memory, bills to pay, tax returns to complete, poor weather, diets and dry January. Not the time for Johnsonion puffery.
It would very much be an indication he expects to lose, and I think he very much would and lose badly. Maybe not 1997, but they could lose 100 seats or so.
On topic, the LibDem poster is hard-hitting and effective.
The Conservatives are consigning themselves to a landslide defeat in two years.
Why do we not see that in the opinion polls?
Arguably, we are: the combined Labour + LibDem + Green number in all polls is now almost always at 55%+ and is sometimes now getting close to 60%. The Tories, meanwhile, have on occasions been as low as 31%, their 1997 election result.
The Tories polled lower than now during the 2010-2015 Parliament. Suffice it to say that they did not suffer a landslide defeat in GE2015.
The combined opposition was not polling as high, neither was the LOTO regularly leading on best PM, neither was there any doubt which party led on the economy.
All good points, and yet we see very large numbers of 2019 Tory voters saying "Don't Know" to pollsters - 28% are don't know/would not vote/refused in the latest YouGov, compared to 17% in a random May 2013 YouGov poll. I'd suggest that these voters will be easier to tempt back, as they haven't made the step of saying they will vote for another party.
There's a lot that needs to happen between now and the GE for Labour to win that election, let alone by a landslide.
And Boris is a “lucky general”, as we have seen time and again. He’s used to winning, and he’s good at winning. That is significant
You can see the terror in the eyes of Lefties, as they contemplate him. It is one reason they desperately want him gone, because he unnerves them; a lot of the hysterical hatred and moral disapproval of him is just badly-disguised fear
And even though I get some satisfaction at detecting this fear, I agree that he is a shoddy PM
There it is. The sado-populism at the heart of this whole project. "I don't like him, but I like the other side suffering enough to relish it." He is Britain Trump, and you are Britain Maga Hat.
I see the Tories are going down still, not helped by their local branch manager going round in circles over Mr Johnson. If they get much worse they'll be at risk of underlapping the LDs (especially as any votes they lose will go to the LDs in particular).
On topic, the LibDem poster is hard-hitting and effective.
The Conservatives are consigning themselves to a landslide defeat in two years.
Why do we not see that in the opinion polls?
Arguably, we are: the combined Labour + LibDem + Green number in all polls is now almost always at 55%+ and is sometimes now getting close to 60%. The Tories, meanwhile, have on occasions been as low as 31%, their 1997 election result.
The Tories polled lower than now during the 2010-2015 Parliament. Suffice it to say that they did not suffer a landslide defeat in GE2015.
The combined opposition was not polling as high, neither was the LOTO regularly leading on best PM, neither was there any doubt which party led on the economy.
All good points, and yet we see very large numbers of 2019 Tory voters saying "Don't Know" to pollsters - 28% are don't know/would not vote/refused in the latest YouGov, compared to 17% in a random May 2013 YouGov poll. I'd suggest that these voters will be easier to tempt back, as they haven't made the step of saying they will vote for another party.
There's a lot that needs to happen between now and the GE for Labour to win that election, let alone by a landslide.
And Boris is a “lucky general”, as we have seen time and again. He’s used to winning, and he’s good at winning. That is significant
You can see the terror in the eyes of Lefties, as they contemplate him. It is one reason they desperately want him gone, because he unnerves them; a lot of the hysterical hatred and moral disapproval of him is just badly-disguised fear
And even though I get some satisfaction at detecting this fear, I agree that he is a shoddy PM
And for what it's worth, yes, I am genuinely afraid of Boris.
The good news from Rentoul's tweets is that we might only have another 85 years to go before the politicians of Scotland stop wrangling about constitutional questions and start addressing Scotland's multiple difficulties. You might even be able to make the argument that this sad obsession really took hold as early as 1979 which would put us more than 40 years through this nonsense.
I just can't stand this attitude. It's literally no better than the Custard Conservatives who are failing to remove Boris. Country before party, people! Keeping Boris looks a lot to me like electoral seppuku for the Tories, but it's bad for the country too.
Those who want the country to suffer for relative party advantage are not the good guys whichever side they're on.
Correct. And as people keep saying he is awfully good at winning elections. The bollocks about All the better if he is still in place in 2024, is bollocks. Because the thought of him with another 5 year mandate is Hitler level frightening.
Boris Derangement Syndrome rears its ugly head.
Our Prime Minister, whose vaccine programme saved thousands of lives, is as frightening as a man who caused 30 million deaths, because he had a couple of drinks jn his own house and then shaved the truth about it. Apparently.
For those of us with Johnson Derangement Syndrome, some of whom crossed that line yesterday, there is a disbelief at the unquestioning support of this odious creature, and the acceptance that his cock and bull defence must be true, and we have to move on.
The idea that Johnson overcame the Ministerial Code with another lie, upon lie, upon lie, with the story growing more absurd with each denial is really rather frightening. It's Trumpesque, it's plain wrong! Justice has not been served.
Your assertion, that we should allow Johnson's misbehaviour and outrageous defence of it because he oversaw a (credit where it is due) successful and slightly quicker than elsewhere vaccine rollout is an odd one. It's like suggesting Harold Shipman's pleasant bedside manner made him an excellent GP, or we should mitigate Fred West's crimes because he was a first class plasterer.
Yesterday was a bad day for democracy.
The shot of his grinning mug as, passing by with a gaggle of sycophants, he called out rubbish over the Newsnight presenter's piece in the Commons corridor last night, was particularly odious.
Humble indeed.
His defence is just absurd.
"Officer, I simply didn't realise I was driving at 140mph, I could have sworn it was 70" or " I can't believe I'm over the drink drive limit, I was sure I only had a swift half"."In that case, on your way sir and have a nice day".
On topic, the LibDem poster is hard-hitting and effective.
The Conservatives are consigning themselves to a landslide defeat in two years.
Why do we not see that in the opinion polls?
Arguably, we are: the combined Labour + LibDem + Green number in all polls is now almost always at 55%+ and is sometimes now getting close to 60%. The Tories, meanwhile, have on occasions been as low as 31%, their 1997 election result.
The Tories polled lower than now during the 2010-2015 Parliament. Suffice it to say that they did not suffer a landslide defeat in GE2015.
The combined opposition was not polling as high, neither was the LOTO regularly leading on best PM, neither was there any doubt which party led on the economy.
All good points, and yet we see very large numbers of 2019 Tory voters saying "Don't Know" to pollsters - 28% are don't know/would not vote/refused in the latest YouGov, compared to 17% in a random May 2013 YouGov poll. I'd suggest that these voters will be easier to tempt back, as they haven't made the step of saying they will vote for another party.
There's a lot that needs to happen between now and the GE for Labour to win that election, let alone by a landslide.
And Boris is a “lucky general”, as we have seen time and again. He’s used to winning, and he’s good at winning. That is significant
You can see the terror in the eyes of Lefties, as they contemplate him. It is one reason they desperately want him gone, because he unnerves them; a lot of the hysterical hatred and moral disapproval of him is just badly-disguised fear
And even though I get some satisfaction at detecting this fear, I agree that he is a shoddy PM
There it is. The sado-populism at the heart of this whole project. "I don't like him, but I like the other side suffering enough to relish it." He is Britain Trump, and you are Britain Maga Hat.
But this is not true. You’ve just proved my point. The hysteria about Boris is overdone. Earlier on this thread an apparently sane PB-er seriously compared Boris to Hitler.
Hitler? Really?? Boris has many faults, but he isn’t about to set up gas chambers
Likewise, I find Bozza alarmingly lax and depressingly bereft of good ideas, but I have no fear that he might try to overturn democracy and cancel an election (it’s the Remoaners that did that). Boris is not Trump, either
Calm the F down. This knicker-wetting will be a handicap for the Left if it continues. This is where Boris DOES use Trumpite tactics (tho many politicians use this tactic) - he does and says things which he knows will provoke his thin-skinned foes, so they lose it, and focus on the naughty words, and forget their real target
And who doesn’t enjoy the lamentations of their enemies? It is one of the modest joys of being a politics geek
Sunderland Ullapool Caithness Kilkeel Manchester Yeovil Derby Ipswich Camborne Kendal
Right...
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Sunderland - England Ullapool - Scotland Caithness - Scotland Kilkeel - Norther Ireland Manchester - England Yeovil - England Derby - England Ipswich - England Camborne - England Kendal - England
It contains only one major conurbation, despite the fact that tens of millions of the UK's denizens live in major cities - such as London, Birmingham, Edinburgh, etc. And contains nowhere from Wales.
I apologise for making my list hard to swallow. How about
Sunderland - England Ullapool - Scotland Caithness - Scotland Kilkeel - Northern Ireland Manchester - England Yeovil - England Cardiff - Wales Orpington - England Camborne - England Kendal - England
You’re not as funny as you think you are
Hey, an appreciative audience is still an appreciative audience, even if it's just me.
Unless I missed it, nowhere in Cumbria was deemed worthy of inclusion in the list of places MPs had to visit.
Tsk .......
Well worth a visit… just impossible to get there 😂
3.5 hours by train to Kendal from central London? There are harder places to reach.
I am going to Kendal for a week's holiday next week. Very much looking forward to it and open to suggestions of good days out. Its about 3.5 hours drive from Dundee.
The good news from Rentoul's tweets is that we might only have another 85 years to go before the politicians of Scotland stop wrangling about constitutional questions and start addressing Scotland's multiple difficulties. You might even be able to make the argument that this sad obsession really took hold as early as 1979 which would put us more than 40 years through this nonsense.
All you need to do is to persuade the party which you support relentlessly to come up with a vision and policies that Scots might vote for. Even one policy would be a start.
Unless I missed it, nowhere in Cumbria was deemed worthy of inclusion in the list of places MPs had to visit.
Tsk .......
Well worth a visit… just impossible to get there 😂
3.5 hours by train to Kendal from central London? There are harder places to reach.
I am going to Kendal for a week's holiday next week. Very much looking forward to it and open to suggestions of good days out. Its about 3.5 hours drive from Dundee.
Of course, Kendal is as near as one can get to the geographical centre of the UK. It's the perception of Londoners, stuck out on the periphery, that is wildly out. I mean, Wick is vastly closer to the centre of things than London is.
Implementing Labour policy again. Why not just have a Labour government and cut out the middle man?
On a personal level I'll be glad for the support, but on a political and economical level its utterly pathetic. If you're going to do this, it could have been done months ago, but it wasn't and for good reason because it was a bad idea. It was a bad idea then, its still a bad idea now, but they're doing it anyway.
The good news from Rentoul's tweets is that we might only have another 85 years to go before the politicians of Scotland stop wrangling about constitutional questions and start addressing Scotland's multiple difficulties. You might even be able to make the argument that this sad obsession really took hold as early as 1979 which would put us more than 40 years through this nonsense.
All you need to do is to persuade the party which you support relentlessly to come up with a vision and policies that Scots might vote for. Even one policy would be a start.
I completely agree Divvie. No to independence is not a policy for government. Nor is laughing at the stunning incompetence of Nicola's coterie. That joke wore out a long time ago. Scotland needs an alternative government. It is looking more likely that will come from Labour than the Tories.
The good news from Rentoul's tweets is that we might only have another 85 years to go before the politicians of Scotland stop wrangling about constitutional questions and start addressing Scotland's multiple difficulties. You might even be able to make the argument that this sad obsession really took hold as early as 1979 which would put us more than 40 years through this nonsense.
All you need to do is to persuade the party which you support relentlessly to come up with a vision and policies that Scots might vote for. Even one policy would be a start.
Its vote is also disappearing at a rather high rate of knots. 18% is pretty thin, though, so perhaps the reduction will bottom out soon, and start bouncing along the sea floor. Though that depends on how long Mr Johnson remains PM, given his distinctive vote-winning ability in Scotland.
Wrong, wrong, wrong. £10bn on UC could have made a real difference for those suffering genuine hardship as opposed to wondering if they can afford a second ski trip.
I have no fear that he might try to overturn democracy and cancel an election
Oddly, people said the same thing about Trump until he did. And a lot of people who are addicted to the pain still can't admit that he did. Boris is ruining British politics and turning it into what you prefer, car-crash entertainment.
Overnight reflection on the Gray Report. How stupid am I, and how devious is BJ. It was him who persuaded Gray to insert the asinine photos at the end, for three reasons: a) they were distinctly underwhelming b) the press would lead with the photos the next day, and journos wouldn't have to read the report, and c) nobody else would bother to read the report, having been distracted by the photos. Brilliant - job done.
Unless I missed it, nowhere in Cumbria was deemed worthy of inclusion in the list of places MPs had to visit.
Tsk .......
Well worth a visit… just impossible to get there 😂
3.5 hours by train to Kendal from central London? There are harder places to reach.
I am going to Kendal for a week's holiday next week. Very much looking forward to it and open to suggestions of good days out. Its about 3.5 hours drive from Dundee.
Of course, Kendal is as near as one can get to the geographical centre of the UK. It's the perception of Londoners, stuck out on the periphery, that is wildly out. I mean, Wick is vastly closer to the centre of things than London is.
Wick isn't close to anywhere and even further from anywhere you would want to go.
Wrong, wrong, wrong. £10bn on UC could have made a real difference for those suffering genuine hardship as opposed to wondering if they can afford a second ski trip.
I have no fear that he might try to overturn democracy and cancel an election
He illegally shutdown Parliament when they wouldn't vote the way he wanted.
To be exact, he tried to get parliament prorogued.
Then a court case was brought. Which said it it wasn't allowed. So he didn't.
Incidentally, I have one for the Putin-Must-Have-A-Way out types...
1) Boris Johnson apparently is the next Hitler 2) Which means he must be worse than Putin 3) If he is worse than Putin, if the Western side loses in Ukraine... 4) ... won't he use nuclear weapons? 5) Surely this means that everyone on the planet needs to appease Boris Johnson?
I have no fear that he might try to overturn democracy and cancel an election
He illegally shutdown Parliament when they wouldn't vote the way he wanted.
And the Supreme Court slapped him down. He didn’t then organise a million strong march on parliament to menace MPs (it was the Remoaners that did that)
In your heart of hearts you know that Boris isn’t Hitler or Trump or any of this nonsense (well maybe you do, but you’ve been driven insane by Brexit).
If lefties want Boris gone they need to get a grip and stop over-reacting. And maybe get a better leader than Sir Beer Korma, if he is turfed out by the cops
Unless I missed it, nowhere in Cumbria was deemed worthy of inclusion in the list of places MPs had to visit.
Tsk .......
Looking at the lot in show in recent days, I'd be grateful.
True enough.
I can get from Millom to North London in under 5 hours by car while sticking to the speed limits. One of the delights of doing so is just to drive over the fells from Gawthwaite down to Beanthwaite and Grizebeck. The view across the fells and down over the Duddon Estuary is magnificent. It is one of the most beautiful stretches of road anywhere in England, no matter what the time of year or day.
There are fast trains to Kendal which is the start of the Lakes. And you can get a train to my village too, changing at Lancaster and Barrow. We have to hail it. It's a delightful 2 carriage train which goes all the way round the coast and I can see it and hear it tootling its way round the estuary from my living-room window. The train is the easiest and much less expensive of course if you book sensibly.
Getting around Cumbria when you are here is more of a problem. A lot of railway lines were closed and as for buses, pah!
I have been watching petrol prices like a hawk. A few weeks back they were down to 161p a litre. Yesterday - 173p. Eek!
Wrong, wrong, wrong. £10bn on UC could have made a real difference for those suffering genuine hardship as opposed to wondering if they can afford a second ski trip.
It will include those on UC with additional support for those on low incomes
Wrong, wrong, wrong. £10bn on UC could have made a real difference for those suffering genuine hardship as opposed to wondering if they can afford a second ski trip.
UC receivers don't vote Tory. Pensioners do...
So? We need a government that is focused on the real needs of the country, not simply getting itself elected again. Boris is not providing it.
I have no fear that he might try to overturn democracy and cancel an election
He illegally shutdown Parliament when they wouldn't vote the way he wanted.
To be exact, he tried to get parliament prorogued.
Then a court case was brought. Which said it it wasn't allowed. So he didn't.
Incidentally, I have one for the Putin-Must-Have-A-Way out types...
1) Boris Johnson apparently is the next Hitler 2) Which means he must be worse than Putin 3) If he is worse than Putin, if the Western side loses in Ukraine... 4) ... won't he use nuclear weapons? 5) Surely this means that everyone on the planet needs to appease Boris Johnson?
On topic, the LibDem poster is hard-hitting and effective.
The Conservatives are consigning themselves to a landslide defeat in two years.
Why do we not see that in the opinion polls?
I think we will ...
What is going to change that will see a change in the opinion polls?
1. That parties of the left be able to define “Woman”, in a way that 3/4 of the population doesn’t think is barmy?
As we have seen in the US, so much political polarisation is now down to social, rather than economic, issues.
2. The same parties not to give the impression that they will try and tie the UK to the EU, were they to come to power.
This government have tied the UK to the EU. Having declared that implementation of the oven-ready deal would be "self-harm", the Moggster has scrapped indefinitely all plans to have UK product standards. The EU standards - which we share as we largely created them - will remain our standards.
Only we're killing export by having one-way only costs to check that the same standards are still the same. Some people are too cleverstupid and think either rhetoric or indoctrinated theory trumps the real world. So they keep saying how marvellous it is, or that export only costs are an EU imposed tax on the EU.
So yes, perhaps your line may be an issue in late 24. Doubt it though. Even the Heil will be full of expose stories about how stuff in the UK costs more than in the EU.
Do we have to rename Captain Hindsight as Captain Foresight for predicting this at last weeks PMQs?
Opetation Reverse Ferret in full swing. Why do the Cabinet Ministers set themselves up for this humiliation so readily?
It's things like Captain Hindsight and Sir Beer Korma that Labour should and does fear with Boris. Most Brits don't take any politicians seriously and one that can make you laugh has a huge advantage. SKS is very much the Ernie Wise of these 2 and they know it.
Someone on the news talking about "turning the thermostat down".
Er no. It's May. Turn the heating off. It goes back on in October, or November if you can get away with it.
Turning the thermostat down is what I did last winter.
I think the thermostat is a red herring here. We have just had our May statement. No heating on, hot water on now and again, electric light in relevant rooms, TV usage, cooking at the usual times. The net effect with added standing charges was £168
Comments
$150,000 broodmare might actually be male according to extraordinary lawsuit
A New York-bred stakes winner who sold for $150,000 at Keeneland as a broodmare prospect is actually a male, according to a lawsuit pending in Lexington, Kentucky.
Kept True went through the Keeneland January 2021 Horses of All Ages Sale, where she was purchased as a five-year-old broodmare prospect by Michelle and Albert Crawford's Crawford Farms near Lexington.
Over the course of the previous 27 months, Kept True compiled a record of five wins, two seconds, and two thirds from 14 starts and earnings of $323,659 running against females at Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga.
Crawford Farms took possession of Kept True without having the horse examined by its own vet, only to apparently find later, via a series of examinations and tests, that Kept True is a mare in outward appearance only.
According to the complaint filed by Crawford's attorney, Kept True was examined by Crawford's Dr Jeremy Whitman, who reported "obvious abnormalities in the horse's reproductive organs", primarily that the horse had no ovaries.
A test report from Texas A&M University revealed a genetic condition that gives Kept True the "appearance of a female horse, but the chromosomes of a male horse".
https://www.racingpost.com/news/international/stakes-winner-sold-as-150000-broodmare-is-actually-male-lawsuit-alleges/558311
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-61584546
Nice of the BBC to remind us where we live, and nice of Number 10 to brief the Chancellor's announcement this afternoon in order to knock Sue Gray off the headlines.
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Sunderland - England
Ullapool - Scotland
Caithness - Scotland
Kilkeel - Norther Ireland
Manchester - England
Yeovil - England
Derby - England
Ipswich - England
Camborne - England
Kendal - England
It contains only one major conurbation, despite the fact that tens of millions of the UK's denizens live in major cities - such as London, Birmingham, Edinburgh, etc. And contains nowhere from Wales.
An admission that the Conservative & Unionist Party is an enemy of the democratically elected government of the Scottish people.
The problem for the Tories is not that they hate the Scottish National Party, but that they hate the Scottish nation.
Sinfin Moor, Derby. (high immigration area, poverty)
Chatsworth (Posh, tourism)
Castleton (tourism, with the Boris Johnson memorial cave above - the Devil's Arse)
Brimington (working-class deprivation, ex-mining area)
Rolls Royce, Sinfin (high-tech industry)
Sutton-on-the-Hill (lowland arable and livestock farming). My uncle and aunt will make them a nice cup of tea.
Earl Sterndale (upland farming)
Hayfield (northern ex-mill town)
Burton (industrial area, lots of beer for parties)
Buxton (tourism; dormitory town)
Derby University (higher education system)
Swarkestone Bridge (history, and to remind our Scottish friends how far they got
Litchurch Lane Works (heavy industry. Because, you know, railways...
I reckon I've captured a large proportion of lifestyles and occupations in that list. There are some things not covered, such as deep-sea fishing...
Sample Size: 1,115
Fieldwork: 18-23 May 2022
(+/- change from 18-22 November 2021)
Westminster voting intention
SNP 46% (-2)
Lab 22% (+4)
Con 19% (-1)
LD 6% (nc)
Grn 3% (nc)
Ref 1% (-1)
oth 2% (nc)
Holyrood voting intention - FPTP constituency vote
SNP 47% (-1)
Lab 23% (+4)
Con 18% (-3)
LD 7% (nc)
Grn 2% (nc)
oth 3% (nc)
Holyrood voting intention - List vote
SNP 39% (+1)
Lab 21% (+2)
Con 18% (-1)
Grn 10% (-1)
LD 8% (+1)
Alba 2% (+1)
Ref 1% (-1)
All for Unity 0 (-1)
UKIP 0 (-1)
oth 1% (nc)
And yes, I have been.
My adds to the list:
South Gare, near Redcar
Buxton
The Forest of Dean
Durham
Fort George
Park Hill housing estate, Sheffield
And the Blue John mines (although the boat trip on the Speedwell caverns is perhaps more fun)
And Mam Tor, for a walk.
And Lathkill Dale.
Then Bakewell, for a pudding.
And Crich, for the tramway museum - and on inshore lighthouse, to the memory of the Sherwood Foresters
https://3quarksdaily.com/3quarksdaily/2022/05/bertrand-russell-on-his-meeting-with-vladimir-lenin-in-1920.html
The bit at the end where he imitates Lenin chuckling at the idea of hanging the peasants is nice.
(Is it odd that Mrs Thatcher was not called up but went straight from school to Oxford in 1943? Come to think of it, was there conscription for women or were there enough volunteers for the land army, army, WRENs and WAAFs? The Queen did her bit and they are the same age.)
As an aside, I'd forgotten this little story:
" In 1938, before the Second World War, the Roberts family briefly gave sanctuary to a teenage Jewish girl who had escaped Nazi Germany. With her pen-friending elder sister Muriel, Margaret saved pocket money to help pay for the teenager's journey."
At one point that will change, but the next two days? Nah.
The Conservatives are consigning themselves to a landslide defeat in two years.
They should do. She is not the President of Scotland and whatever her private fantasies she is answerable to Westminster as well as Holyrood. Even Drakeford understands that.
Moreover, suggesting she is far too important to meet with little people like them is Boris Johnson level of rudeness.
Er no. It's May. Turn the heating off. It goes back on in October, or November if you can get away with it.
Turning the thermostat down is what I did last winter.
Thread.
https://mobile.twitter.com/paleofuture/status/1529652093354536961
The idea that Johnson overcame the Ministerial Code with another lie, upon lie, upon lie, with the story growing more absurd with each denial is really rather frightening. It's Trumpesque, it's plain wrong! Justice has not been served.
Your assertion, that we should allow Johnson's misbehaviour and outrageous defence of it because he oversaw a (credit where it is due) successful and slightly quicker than elsewhere vaccine rollout is an odd one. It's like suggesting Harold Shipman's pleasant bedside manner made him an excellent GP, or we should mitigate Fred West's crimes because he was a first class plasterer.
Yesterday was a bad day for democracy.
"A New York-bred stakes winner who sold for $150,000 at Keeneland as a broodmare prospect is actually a male, according to a lawsuit pending in Lexington, Kentucky."
No problem. Assuming it's a complete defect in the androgen receptor (equivalent to CAIS in humans), it will have no 'testosterone benefit' so all's well. Anyway, don't be so transphobic. It's the 'lived' experience that counts, and gender not sex is what matters nowadays.
https://google.co.uk/search?q=westworld+arrival+station&client=safari&hl=en-gb&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjn6_6hxfz3AhW1olwKHSIsAccQ_AUoAnoECAEQBA&biw=1121&bih=728&dpr=2#imgrc=9MMAq2rb9u5pXM
Tsk .......
Humble indeed.
As we have seen in the US, so much political polarisation is now down to social, rather than economic, issues.
2. The same parties not to give the impression that they will try and tie the UK to the EU, were they to come to power.
Portugal has implemented e gates for British Tourist (excellent news, Portugal encouraging tourist) yet you are recommended to then queue up for a passport stamp to ensure you don't get caught out by the 90 day rule. Great.
Pet passports have gone now we have left, but getting a health certificate to travel is a nightmare. Many Vets aren't trained and the requirements onerous. You have to get one within 10 days of travel yet we can't book one for 6 weeks so no popping over to France for a last minute trip. Cost £150 per animal for every trip so cost is ridiculous if you make multiple trips. @IanB2 you take your dog abroad I think. Advice would be appreciated.
https://mobile.twitter.com/BeschlossDC/status/1529673177802096641
I don't mind them getting rat-arsed on my taxes, although having such a lax regime is irritating. I quite approve of him not doing much, but he has committed two major sins recently. He is too idle even to finish a sentence, and he put canine welfare ahead of human welfare during the Afghan rout.
Even though Starmer has the pzazz of a wet week in Barrow, I might end up voting for his party again. Unless Corbyn rides to the rescue, my Tory GE vote will never be repeated.
ISTR reading the memoir of a deaf MP who was free of conscription and an undergrad at Oxford during the war - very much in demand, vast oversurplus of nubile females.
Sunderland - England
Ullapool - Scotland
Caithness - Scotland
Kilkeel - Northern Ireland
Manchester - England
Yeovil - England
Cardiff - Wales
Orpington - England
Camborne - England
Kendal - England
There's a lot that needs to happen between now and the GE for Labour to win that election, let alone by a landslide.
https://twitter.com/JohnRentoul/status/1529397583776464896?s=20&t=GzBpx5_5UYR31Se1J5mDZQ
😉
You can see the terror in the eyes of Lefties, as they contemplate him. It is one reason they desperately want him gone, because he unnerves them; a lot of the hysterical hatred and moral disapproval of him is just badly-disguised fear
And even though I get some satisfaction at detecting this fear, I agree that he is a shoddy PM
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/05/25/tory-britain-faces-extinction-hands-radical-hard-left-alliance/
Maybe not 1997, but they could lose 100 seats or so.
Interesting that his "boss" seems to have had enough.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-61584546
"Officer, I simply didn't realise I was driving at 140mph, I could have sworn it was 70" or " I can't believe I'm over the drink drive limit, I was sure I only had a swift half"."In that case, on your way sir and have a nice day".
Lies, damned lies and even more damned lies.
Hitler? Really?? Boris has many faults, but he isn’t about to set up gas chambers
Likewise, I find Bozza alarmingly lax and depressingly bereft of good ideas, but I have no fear that he might try to overturn democracy and cancel an election (it’s the Remoaners that did that). Boris is not Trump, either
Calm the F down. This knicker-wetting will be a handicap for the Left if it continues. This is where Boris DOES use Trumpite tactics (tho many politicians use this tactic) - he does and says things which he knows will provoke his thin-skinned foes, so they lose it, and focus on the naughty words, and forget their real target
And who doesn’t enjoy the lamentations of their enemies? It is one of the modest joys of being a politics geek
On a personal level I'll be glad for the support, but on a political and economical level its utterly pathetic. If you're going to do this, it could have been done months ago, but it wasn't and for good reason because it was a bad idea. It was a bad idea then, its still a bad idea now, but they're doing it anyway.
Pathetic. Utterly pathetic.
a) they were distinctly underwhelming
b) the press would lead with the photos the next day, and journos wouldn't have to read the report, and
c) nobody else would bother to read the report, having been distracted by the photos.
Brilliant - job done.
Opetation Reverse Ferret in full swing. Why do the Cabinet Ministers set themselves up for this humiliation so readily?
Then a court case was brought. Which said it it wasn't allowed. So he didn't.
Incidentally, I have one for the Putin-Must-Have-A-Way out types...
1) Boris Johnson apparently is the next Hitler
2) Which means he must be worse than Putin
3) If he is worse than Putin, if the Western side loses in Ukraine...
4) ... won't he use nuclear weapons?
5) Surely this means that everyone on the planet needs to appease Boris Johnson?
In your heart of hearts you know that Boris isn’t Hitler or Trump or any of this nonsense (well maybe you do, but you’ve been driven insane by Brexit).
If lefties want Boris gone they need to get a grip and stop over-reacting. And maybe get a better leader than Sir Beer Korma, if he is turfed out by the cops
I can get from Millom to North London in under 5 hours by car while sticking to the speed limits. One of the delights of doing so is just to drive over the fells from Gawthwaite down to Beanthwaite and Grizebeck. The view across the fells and down over the Duddon Estuary is magnificent. It is one of the most beautiful stretches of road anywhere in England, no matter what the time of year or day.
There are fast trains to Kendal which is the start of the Lakes. And you can get a train to my village too, changing at Lancaster and Barrow. We have to hail it. It's a delightful 2 carriage train which goes all the way round the coast and I can see it and hear it tootling its way round the estuary from my living-room window. The train is the easiest and much less expensive of course if you book sensibly.
Getting around Cumbria when you are here is more of a problem. A lot of railway lines were closed and as for buses, pah!
I have been watching petrol prices like a hawk. A few weeks back they were down to 161p a litre. Yesterday - 173p. Eek!
Thank God for bicycles!
(How's that "relentless support" going @Theuniondivvie ?)
Then the Supreme Court invented new rules and new case law and precedent that reversed that, and their ruling was respected, not ignored.
Only we're killing export by having one-way only costs to check that the same standards are still the same. Some people are too cleverstupid and think either rhetoric or indoctrinated theory trumps the real world. So they keep saying how marvellous it is, or that export only costs are an EU imposed tax on the EU.
So yes, perhaps your line may be an issue in late 24. Doubt it though. Even the Heil will be full of expose stories about how stuff in the UK costs more than in the EU.
For a summer month that is horrendous.