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This doesn’t look good for Truss – politicalbetting.com

SystemSystem Posts: 11,002
edited September 2022 in General
This doesn’t look good for Truss – politicalbetting.com

EXCLUSIVE: Liz Truss's chief of staff has been interviewed by FBI agents about an alleged criminal plot to bribe a politician and influence a US electionMark Fullbrook quizzed this year after detectives made secret request via Metropolitan Police and NCAhttps://t.co/o8aKIbIlvX

Read the full story here

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Comments

  • tlg86tlg86 Posts: 25,165
    First.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,751
    Just as there was a certain irony in Johnson being brought down by somebody else's sex scandal, there would be a certain irony in Truss getting hurt by somebody else's dodgy election process.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 32,739
    I am sure her ethics advisor has cleared it...
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830
    It doesn't. Catastrophe incoming.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,392
    The fun things is after seeing the headline I still had no idea what it would be about, it could have been so many things.
  • tlg86tlg86 Posts: 25,165
    ydoethur said:

    Just as there was a certain irony in Johnson being brought down by somebody else's sex scandal, there would be a certain irony in Truss getting hurt by somebody else's dodgy election process.

    Are you saying that she rigged the leadership ballot or something else?
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,751
    tlg86 said:

    ydoethur said:

    Just as there was a certain irony in Johnson being brought down by somebody else's sex scandal, there would be a certain irony in Truss getting hurt by somebody else's dodgy election process.

    Are you saying that she rigged the leadership ballot or something else?
    No, I'm saying the process was an unedifying shambles.
  • Why is FBI questioning Mark Fullbrook?

    BBC.com - Tory donor pleads not guilty to US bribery charges

    https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-62754148

    A major Tory donor has pleaded not guilty to charges including bribery in Puerto Rico.

    Julio Martin Herrera Velutini is accused of promising to help a former governor of the US territory to get re-elected if she dismissed an official investigating a bank he owned there.

    Mr Herrera has donated more than £500,000 to the Conservative Party through his London-based firm Britannia Financial Group Limited since 2019.

    His lawyers said he denies all the charges against him.

    According to the indictment, financial regulators in Puerto Rico began investigating an international bank Mr Herrera ran there in 2019.

    They went on to identify dozens of suspicious financial transactions which the bank did not report as required, including payments involving accounts and entities owned or controlled by Mr Herrera.

    Through intermediaries, the Venezuelan banker is alleged to have offered to help the then governor Wanda Vazquez Garced's re-election campaign in exchange for "terminating" the man in charge of the investigation, according to the US Department of Justice, and replacing him with someone of Mr Herrera's choosing.

    Prosecutors claim the former governor accepted the offer of a bribe and took action to demand the regulator's resignation and put a former consultant for Mr Herrera's bank in his place.

    In return, it is alleged that Mr Herrera paid more than £250,000 to political consultants to help the former governor's campaign.

    Although the political consultancy firm is not named in the indictment, it was identified as CT Group by Channel 4 News and the investigative blog the Sarawak Report earlier in August.

    The company, which was founded by the Australian political strategist Sir Lynton Crosby, has a long-standing association with the Conservative Party.

    Mark Fullbrook, who was CT Group's former Chief Global Projects Officer and is understood to be working on Liz Truss' campaign to become the next leader of the party, was one of those who worked on the Puerto Rico brief. He has been tipped by some to be Ms Truss's chief of staff if she becomes prime minister.

    There is no suggestion CT Group or Mr Fullbrook knew anything about the alleged bribery of the governor.

    A spokesperson for the company said: "CT was engaged only by Mr Herrera and only to conduct opinion research for him and no one else. It never did any work for, nor presented any research findings to, the Governor or her campaign. It has not been engaged by him since.

    "CT Group is committed to and complies with all laws and regulations in any jurisdiction in which it works and is confident that it has done so in this matter. . . ." . . . .
  • GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 20,695
    How many letters will finding their way to Sir Graham on Tuesday morning? :D
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 5,781
    edited September 2022
    The 1922 committee should have a rule that if any leader is deposed within 12 months of an election then the runner up gets in automatically.

    It would incentivise chronic civil war which would be deeply entertaining.
  • Lock her up!

    Lock him up!
  • And this is part of what Sarawakreport.com published in August, asking why Fullbrook's firm

    ". . . produced a presentation entitled ‘Campaign Support Proposal for Governor Wanda Vazquez’ if they thought they had merely been commissioned to provide election information for a foreign banker in Puerto Rico?

    Then, of course, there was the small point that no less than four members of the company were flown over from London, accompanied by Mr Herrera-Velutini himself, to present that proposal in person to the Governor and her political aides at a meeting in Puerto Rico before the contract to assist in her campaign was signed.

    They knew exactly who they were working on behalf of, if paid by Velutini.

    All this is in the court papers. Leading the delegation was the senior CT Group partner and Chief Global Projects Officer, Mark Fullbrook, who just happened to leave the company suddenly this March after the scandal broke in the USA.

    SSI - Also little matter of whether or not Fullbrook & etc. were aware that "campaign support proposals" bankrolled by THIS banker were ipso facto illegal under US law? Seems a tad ignorant for such high-flying professional politicos.
  • tlg86tlg86 Posts: 25,165

    Lock her up!

    Lock him up!

    Are you still a member of the party?
  • Pagan2Pagan2 Posts: 8,629
    Eabhal said:

    The 1922 committee should have a rule that if any leader is deposed within 12 months of an election then the runner up gets in automatically.

    It would incentivise chronic civil war which would be deeply entertaining.

    Would be better to have a cross party 1922 committee and if enough normal citizens write in we can flush a turd
  • tlg86 said:

    Lock her up!

    Lock him up!

    Are you still a member of the party?
    Yes, will be until the next election.

    I reckon there will be another leadership context before the GE.
  • tlg86 said:

    Lock her up!

    Lock him up!

    Are you still a member of the party?
    Yes, will be until the next election.

    I reckon there will be another leadership context before the GE.
    Yep! :+1:

    Summer 2023 leadership election. Last chance before GE.
  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 21,723
    edited September 2022

    tlg86 said:

    Lock her up!

    Lock him up!

    Are you still a member of the party?
    Yes, will be until the next election.

    I reckon there will be another leadership context before the GE.
    A context from CCHQ saying what
  • kyf_100kyf_100 Posts: 3,911
    No fan of truss but, who?

    Is this really going to register outside the westminster bubble?
  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 21,723
    kyf_100 said:

    No fan of truss but, who?

    Is this really going to register outside the westminster bubble?

    I dont think it will
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 27,836
    kyf_100 said:

    No fan of truss but, who?

    Is this really going to register outside the westminster bubble?

    Doubt it.
    However, the Emergency Budget will. From everything we've heard it's going to be tin eared.
  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 21,723
    dixiedean said:

    kyf_100 said:

    No fan of truss but, who?

    Is this really going to register outside the westminster bubble?

    Doubt it.
    However, the Emergency Budget will. From everything we've heard it's going to be tin eared.
    Agreed
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 32,739
    kyf_100 said:

    No fan of truss but, who?

    Is this really going to register outside the westminster bubble?

    It's the Westminster bubble Truss needs to worry about. They are the only ones who can defenestrate her before the next election
  • Don't be too quick to pooh pooh Fullbrook matter.

    For one thing, reckon that most Brits have heard of the FBI, and will NOT think it's a plus for the Prime Minister's chief of staff to be questioned > grilled by US G-men.

    How much it goes beyond that, depends on developments. Which I'm guessing will NOT include the FBI or DOJ giving Fullbrook a clean bill of health any time soon.
  • kyf_100kyf_100 Posts: 3,911
    dixiedean said:

    kyf_100 said:

    No fan of truss but, who?

    Is this really going to register outside the westminster bubble?

    Doubt it.
    However, the Emergency Budget will. From everything we've heard it's going to be tin eared.
    Indeed. Bankers bonuses and tax cuts for the rich will go down like a cup of chunky vomit while people are choosing between heating and eating.

    Some bloke named fullbrook (who even I haven't heard of before today, as a nerd who posts on a political website) being interviewed by the FBI is not going to be the thing that brings the government down.
  • Wonder IF it's possible that Mark Fullbrook might "enjoy" as short a period working for Liz Truss, as Anthony Scaramucci did working for Donald Trump?

    AND if Fullbrook's days at No. Ten are strictly numbered, WHO will be the PM's equivalent to Hope Hicks?
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 39,145
    Pagan2 said:

    Eabhal said:

    The 1922 committee should have a rule that if any leader is deposed within 12 months of an election then the runner up gets in automatically.

    It would incentivise chronic civil war which would be deeply entertaining.

    Would be better to have a cross party 1922 committee and if enough normal citizens write in we can flush a turd
    Normal subjects of HMtK can be arsed to write in on such nerdish matters? Revolutionary if true.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 44,067
    dixiedean said:

    kyf_100 said:

    No fan of truss but, who?

    Is this really going to register outside the westminster bubble?

    Doubt it.
    However, the Emergency Budget will. From everything we've heard it's going to be tin eared.
    I am looking forward to my tax cuts.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 32,739

    Wonder IF it's possible that Mark Fullbrook might "enjoy" as short a period working for Liz Truss, as Anthony Scaramucci did working for Donald Trump?

    AND if Fullbrook's days at No. Ten are strictly numbered, WHO will be the PM's equivalent to Hope Hicks?

    NEW: Mr Fullbrook will not be joining Truss for the UN general assembly meeting in New York next week.

    Sources insist it is for workload reasons — related to forthcoming economic announcements — and entirely unrelated to FBI investigation.

    https://twitter.com/gabriel_pogrund/status/1571183835609534466
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 32,739
    The OBSERVER: “Truss faces bruising return to political fray after funeral”#TomorrowsPapersToday https://twitter.com/AllieHBNews/status/1571231029456666626/photo/1
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,392
    dixiedean said:

    kyf_100 said:

    No fan of truss but, who?

    Is this really going to register outside the westminster bubble?

    Doubt it.
    However, the Emergency Budget will. From everything we've heard it's going to be tin eared.
    Not sure a return to tin mining is what the country needs in fairness.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 32,739
    ...
  • Eabhal said:

    The 1922 committee should have a rule that if any leader is deposed within 12 months of an election then the runner up gets in automatically.

    It would incentivise chronic civil war which would be deeply entertaining.

    And if any MP requires a proxy to vote for them, the proxy should be the runner-up in their most recent general election.
  • DynamoDynamo Posts: 651
    edited September 2022
    kyf_100 said:

    dixiedean said:

    kyf_100 said:

    No fan of truss but, who?

    Is this really going to register outside the westminster bubble?

    Doubt it.
    However, the Emergency Budget will. From everything we've heard it's going to be tin eared.
    Indeed. Bankers bonuses and tax cuts for the rich will go down like a cup of chunky vomit while people are choosing between heating and eating.

    Some bloke named fullbrook (who even I haven't heard of before today, as a nerd who posts on a political website) being interviewed by the FBI is not going to be the thing that brings the government down.
    How many had heard of the Watergate hotel? (Joke.) It's interesting how Fullbrook was said last week (Guardian) to have brought figures from his own lobbying firm into posts at Downing Street. The chief of staff surely doesn't have such appointment power. If he does, why does he?

    Lobbyists in No10. What a great look. So sweet and innocent smelling.

    A story could be brewing about Unispace Global. The CT Group, where Fullbrook was a big figure, represented them. Unispace won government PPE contracts worth £680m.

    If any lazy journalists are reading this, try following the Plymouth Brethren angle.

    https://twitter.com/allthecitizens/status/1363903263452594177?lang=en

    https://www.openandcandid.com/covid-contracts.html

    As @Leon may know, Aleister Crowley's parents were Plymouth Brethren :smile:
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,709
    Sir Graham Brady to propose an amendment to the schools bill to allow new grammars and he believes the government will support it

    https://twitter.com/whazell/status/1571209105175465987?s=20&t=8dTPrgG4ALcvVXlKc_Qxmw
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,392
    HYUFD said:

    Sir Graham Brady to propose an amendment to the schools bill to allow new grammars and he believes the government will support it

    https://twitter.com/whazell/status/1571209105175465987?s=20&t=8dTPrgG4ALcvVXlKc_Qxmw

    Only the vital stuff then.
  • BigRichBigRich Posts: 3,489
    It seems as if something is going on in Kherson city, as in shooting, and it might be between 2 different Russian groups of fighters, link and a video below:

    https://twitter.com/euan_macdonald/status/1571218561091215363?s=49&t=zLB8GprVnnEM2rtZCDG9gw&fbclid=IwAR2wK7fzUQsc9pjkRrD55qfRJyAJpDslbjrkIgftWHmpQ2zt0Iw1CXJuTcM

    Potentially between some who wish to surrender and some who do not? in the area there are a variety of Russian fighters, including VDV airborne troops, Naval Infantry's, DPR, and regular Russian army, so space for inter unit rivalry to spill over in to something more serosa.

  • TimSTimS Posts: 9,160
    edited September 2022
    Among the tin eared announcements will be this little gem. Which may actually be a gamechanger.

    https://twitter.com/timsarson1/status/1571232634964951045?s=21&t=0eB2Ba_LhG5V9eBr0bIQyw

    Lower personal taxes in certain designated “left behind” areas. Add corporate taxes - much more important - and we’re away.

    A proper federalised tax system (which this won’t be, it’ll be all controlled from Westminster) might well be a step towards real levelling up.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,751
    HYUFD said:

    Sir Graham Brady to propose an amendment to the schools bill to allow new grammars and he believes the government will support it

    https://twitter.com/whazell/status/1571209105175465987?s=20&t=8dTPrgG4ALcvVXlKc_Qxmw

    If the government is able to open so much as a new kindergarten in the next five years I will be exceedingly surprised. Schools closing due to bankruptcy is far more likely.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,751
    Eabhal said:

    The 1922 committee should have a rule that if any leader is deposed within 12 months of an election then the runner up gets in automatically.

    It would incentivise chronic civil war which would be deeply entertaining.

    They don't need an incentive. Or an excuse. Or even an opportunity. They just need a pulse.
  • Scott_xP said:

    Wonder IF it's possible that Mark Fullbrook might "enjoy" as short a period working for Liz Truss, as Anthony Scaramucci did working for Donald Trump?

    AND if Fullbrook's days at No. Ten are strictly numbered, WHO will be the PM's equivalent to Hope Hicks?

    NEW: Mr Fullbrook will not be joining Truss for the UN general assembly meeting in New York next week.

    Sources insist it is for workload reasons — related to forthcoming economic announcements — and entirely unrelated to FBI investigation.

    https://twitter.com/gabriel_pogrund/status/1571183835609534466
    Would it be standard practice in UK, for PM's chief of staff to accompany PM on foreign trips? Or instead to stay home minding the store so to speak?
  • Scott_xP said:

    ...

    I really do believe some would rather people freeze to death than horror of horrors burn a little more fossil fuel as we transition to the greener future.
    Sir David King - as far as I know he led independent sage and is very much on the left
  • Pagan2Pagan2 Posts: 8,629
    Carnyx said:

    Pagan2 said:

    Eabhal said:

    The 1922 committee should have a rule that if any leader is deposed within 12 months of an election then the runner up gets in automatically.

    It would incentivise chronic civil war which would be deeply entertaining.

    Would be better to have a cross party 1922 committee and if enough normal citizens write in we can flush a turd
    Normal subjects of HMtK can be arsed to write in on such nerdish matters? Revolutionary if true.
    They might be arsed if they thought it made a difference...2 mill marched against the iraq war difference made absolutely bugger all
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,392
    BigRich said:

    It seems as if something is going on in Kherson city, as in shooting, and it might be between 2 different Russian groups of fighters, link and a video below:

    https://twitter.com/euan_macdonald/status/1571218561091215363?s=49&t=zLB8GprVnnEM2rtZCDG9gw&fbclid=IwAR2wK7fzUQsc9pjkRrD55qfRJyAJpDslbjrkIgftWHmpQ2zt0Iw1CXJuTcM

    Potentially between some who wish to surrender and some who do not? in the area there are a variety of Russian fighters, including VDV airborne troops, Naval Infantry's, DPR, and regular Russian army, so space for inter unit rivalry to spill over in to something more serosa.

    One video shows firing in the background, while a car moving toward it pulls off to a side road, and was so law abiding they used their indicator light.
  • WhisperingOracleWhisperingOracle Posts: 8,480
    edited September 2022

    Scott_xP said:

    Wonder IF it's possible that Mark Fullbrook might "enjoy" as short a period working for Liz Truss, as Anthony Scaramucci did working for Donald Trump?

    AND if Fullbrook's days at No. Ten are strictly numbered, WHO will be the PM's equivalent to Hope Hicks?

    NEW: Mr Fullbrook will not be joining Truss for the UN general assembly meeting in New York next week.

    Sources insist it is for workload reasons — related to forthcoming economic announcements — and entirely unrelated to FBI investigation.

    https://twitter.com/gabriel_pogrund/status/1571183835609534466
    Would it be standard practice in UK, for PM's chief of staff to accompany PM on foreign trips? Or instead to stay home minding the store so to speak?
    She wouldn't want him to be arrested in the UN Headquarters, one supposes..

    Or does the UN territory grant diplomatic immunity to whoever's on site ?
  • TimSTimS Posts: 9,160

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    I really do believe some would rather people freeze to death than horror of horrors burn a little more fossil fuel as we transition to the greener future.
    Except that’s a strawman isn’t it? All the fossil fuel proposals are long term, of marginal benefit and largely in there to make some questionable culture war points. Playground policy when what we need is an actual strategy.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 39,145
    HYUFD said:

    Sir Graham Brady to propose an amendment to the schools bill to allow new grammars and he believes the government will support it

    https://twitter.com/whazell/status/1571209105175465987?s=20&t=8dTPrgG4ALcvVXlKc_Qxmw

    About as useful as lifting the tax on wig powder.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 39,145
    edited September 2022

    Scott_xP said:

    Wonder IF it's possible that Mark Fullbrook might "enjoy" as short a period working for Liz Truss, as Anthony Scaramucci did working for Donald Trump?

    AND if Fullbrook's days at No. Ten are strictly numbered, WHO will be the PM's equivalent to Hope Hicks?

    NEW: Mr Fullbrook will not be joining Truss for the UN general assembly meeting in New York next week.

    Sources insist it is for workload reasons — related to forthcoming economic announcements — and entirely unrelated to FBI investigation.

    https://twitter.com/gabriel_pogrund/status/1571183835609534466
    Would it be standard practice in UK, for PM's chief of staff to accompany PM on foreign trips? Or instead to stay home minding the store so to speak?
    She wouldn't want him to be arrested in the UN Headquarters, one supposes..

    Or does the UN territory grant diplomatic immunity to whoever is there ?
    It's getting there that is the problem, unless he has diplomatic immunity from UK. But that doesn't look good, any more than that US person who had a fatal RTA in the UK did.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,751
    Carnyx said:

    HYUFD said:

    Sir Graham Brady to propose an amendment to the schools bill to allow new grammars and he believes the government will support it

    https://twitter.com/whazell/status/1571209105175465987?s=20&t=8dTPrgG4ALcvVXlKc_Qxmw

    About as useful as lifting the tax on wig powder.
    You can see why a tax on powdery old Whigs would be of personal salience to him though.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,751
    Carnyx said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Wonder IF it's possible that Mark Fullbrook might "enjoy" as short a period working for Liz Truss, as Anthony Scaramucci did working for Donald Trump?

    AND if Fullbrook's days at No. Ten are strictly numbered, WHO will be the PM's equivalent to Hope Hicks?

    NEW: Mr Fullbrook will not be joining Truss for the UN general assembly meeting in New York next week.

    Sources insist it is for workload reasons — related to forthcoming economic announcements — and entirely unrelated to FBI investigation.

    https://twitter.com/gabriel_pogrund/status/1571183835609534466
    Would it be standard practice in UK, for PM's chief of staff to accompany PM on foreign trips? Or instead to stay home minding the store so to speak?
    She wouldn't want him to be arrested in the UN Headquarters, one supposes..

    Or does the UN territory grant diplomatic immunity to whoever is there ?
    It's getting there that is the problem, unless he has diplomatic immunity from UK.
    Surely the US, as the host country? We apply for it, they grant it.

    Which I am fairly sure they wouldn't.
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 14,878
    TimS said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    I really do believe some would rather people freeze to death than horror of horrors burn a little more fossil fuel as we transition to the greener future.
    Except that’s a strawman isn’t it? All the fossil fuel proposals are long term, of marginal benefit and largely in there to make some questionable culture war points. Playground policy when what we need is an actual strategy.
    I think we need to be realistic about getting to the end state. Sadly current events have shown us the fragility of relying on the global energy market. Becoming a bit less exposed while still working to net zero is not necessarily the wrong thing to do. We have chosen not to burn the vast amounts of coal left in the U.K. We wish to avoid putting any more CO2 into the atmosphere than necessary. But we face a real prospect of people dying through freezing weather because of the war in Ukraine.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 39,145
    ydoethur said:

    Carnyx said:

    HYUFD said:

    Sir Graham Brady to propose an amendment to the schools bill to allow new grammars and he believes the government will support it

    https://twitter.com/whazell/status/1571209105175465987?s=20&t=8dTPrgG4ALcvVXlKc_Qxmw

    About as useful as lifting the tax on wig powder.
    You can see why a tax on powdery old Whigs would be of personal salience to him though.
    Tories surely?
  • Truss going to UN on Wednesday and also a meeting with Biden before returning for Kwarteng's statement on Monday

    Assume if will be Coffey v Rayner for PMQs on Wednesday
  • WhisperingOracleWhisperingOracle Posts: 8,480
    edited September 2022

    Don't be too quick to pooh pooh Fullbrook matter.

    For one thing, reckon that most Brits have heard of the FBI, and will NOT think it's a plus for the Prime Minister's chief of staff to be questioned > grilled by US G-men.

    How much it goes beyond that, depends on developments. Which I'm guessing will NOT include the FBI or DOJ giving Fullbrook a clean bill of health any time soon.

    Yes, the FBI has a kind of global mythology, like the CIA. One of the first pop songs I ever heard on my brother's record player was the 1970's or end of the '60s funk song, "I Spy for the FBI".
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,709
    Carnyx said:

    HYUFD said:

    Sir Graham Brady to propose an amendment to the schools bill to allow new grammars and he believes the government will support it

    https://twitter.com/whazell/status/1571209105175465987?s=20&t=8dTPrgG4ALcvVXlKc_Qxmw

    About as useful as lifting the tax on wig powder.
    For Tory voters who want to have a chance to send their kids to a grammar school very useful actually
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 31,281
    New PM, same old sleaze.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,751
    Carnyx said:

    ydoethur said:

    Carnyx said:

    HYUFD said:

    Sir Graham Brady to propose an amendment to the schools bill to allow new grammars and he believes the government will support it

    https://twitter.com/whazell/status/1571209105175465987?s=20&t=8dTPrgG4ALcvVXlKc_Qxmw

    About as useful as lifting the tax on wig powder.
    You can see why a tax on powdery old Whigs would be of personal salience to him though.
    Tories surely?
    The last remaining block of Whigs left the Liberals in the 1880s under the leadership of Lord Hartington and joined the Tories.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,751
    HYUFD said:

    Carnyx said:

    HYUFD said:

    Sir Graham Brady to propose an amendment to the schools bill to allow new grammars and he believes the government will support it

    https://twitter.com/whazell/status/1571209105175465987?s=20&t=8dTPrgG4ALcvVXlKc_Qxmw

    About as useful as lifting the tax on wig powder.
    For Tory voters who want to have a chance to send their kids to a grammar school very useful actually
    Don't you mean grandchildren?
  • solarflaresolarflare Posts: 3,623

    New PM, same old sleaze.

    At least they've not wasted any time getting right down to it.
  • Why is FBI questioning Mark Fullbrook?

    [snip]

    There is no suggestion CT Group or Mr Fullbrook knew anything about the alleged bribery of the governor.

    A spokesperson for the company said: "CT was engaged only by Mr Herrera and only to conduct opinion research for him and no one else. It never did any work for, nor presented any research findings to, the Governor or her campaign. It has not been engaged by him since.

    "CT Group is committed to and complies with all laws and regulations in any jurisdiction in which it works and is confident that it has done so in this matter. . . ." . . . .

    I get its a slow news week with nothing to talk about but MournHub but unless there's more to the story than this, its really scraping the barrel.
  • glwglw Posts: 9,535
    I think I may have to reinstate my Liz Truss is dangerously stupid evaluation, after retracting it last week due to the energy bailout.
  • DynamoDynamo Posts: 651
    "Liz Truss's Chief of Staff Turned Witness By The FBI Under Threat Of Prosecution Over Illegal Funding Of US Campaign":

    https://www.sarawakreport.org/2022/09/liz-trusss-chief-of-staff-turned-witness-by-the-fbi-under-threat-of-prosecution-over-illegal-funding-of-us-campaign/

    "Hauled up for questioning in April at the offices of their London lawyers were the UK founding partner and former Global Projects Officer, Mark Fullbrook, who is now the chief of staff in Downing Street; the former intelligence officer Eugene Curley and managing director, Sam Lyon"

    "Prior to joining CT Group, Eugene Curley hit the headlines as the CEO of the 3G Group that was caught up in the defence company expenses scandal that forced the resignation of the Conservative Secretary of State for Defence, Liam Fox."

    That's not the only time Mr Curley has had his name in the newspapers either. Search on him and Paris 1997 for more.

    Love it.


  • TimSTimS Posts: 9,160
    edited September 2022

    TimS said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    I really do believe some would rather people freeze to death than horror of horrors burn a little more fossil fuel as we transition to the greener future.
    Except that’s a strawman isn’t it? All the fossil fuel proposals are long term, of marginal benefit and largely in there to make some questionable culture war points. Playground policy when what we need is an actual strategy.
    I think we need to be realistic about getting to the end state. Sadly current events have shown us the fragility of relying on the global energy market. Becoming a bit less exposed while still working to net zero is not necessarily the wrong thing to do. We have chosen not to burn the vast amounts of coal left in the U.K. We wish to avoid putting any more CO2 into the atmosphere than necessary. But we face a real prospect of people dying through freezing weather because of the war in Ukraine.
    I agree with all of that (or almost all - we’ll be burning a bit of coal this winter but we don’t need much). But it ain’t where Truss is going. She’s putting her fingers in her ears and shouting la la la. Her fracking policy is irrelevant to the current energy crisis.

    Boris could have fast-tracked significant wind installations from February this year that would be on stream now, through tax reliefs and grants. He didn’t because he was asleep on the job. He could also have subsidised insulation and energy efficient boiler replacements for a fraction of the energy price freeze and probably as a result reduced the cost of that freeze. Now Truss is talking about policies for several years hence.

  • TomsToms Posts: 2,478
    edited September 2022
    Truss & Trump
    I'm sure Tom Lehrer in his prime could have done something with that.

    And get a barrage of threats.
  • Scott_xP said:

    ...

    I really do believe some would rather people freeze to death than horror of horrors burn a little more fossil fuel as we transition to the greener future.
    Sir David King - as far as I know he led independent sage and is very much on the left
    Yes the way that the media refers to Sir David King as "the government's former chief scientific advisor" is quite misleading. Most people don't normally consider Tony Blair's government to be the same government as we have now.

    Sir David King has been a left wing extreme talking head for hire for decades now. Him criticising the Tory Government is a real bear shits in the woods story.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 46,248
    Just landed on Gatwick. On the Gatwick Express speeding to London…

    … and there are all these posters and digital billboards with pictures of Her Maj and suddenly I am enclosed in proper sadness. Coming back to my Queenless country for the first time in my life. I don’t like it. A great forest has been felled. The hill is ugly and bare

    Quite choked
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,392
    kle4 said:

    BigRich said:

    It seems as if something is going on in Kherson city, as in shooting, and it might be between 2 different Russian groups of fighters, link and a video below:

    https://twitter.com/euan_macdonald/status/1571218561091215363?s=49&t=zLB8GprVnnEM2rtZCDG9gw&fbclid=IwAR2wK7fzUQsc9pjkRrD55qfRJyAJpDslbjrkIgftWHmpQ2zt0Iw1CXJuTcM

    Potentially between some who wish to surrender and some who do not? in the area there are a variety of Russian fighters, including VDV airborne troops, Naval Infantry's, DPR, and regular Russian army, so space for inter unit rivalry to spill over in to something more serosa.

    One video shows firing in the background, while a car moving toward it pulls off to a side road, and was so law abiding they used their indicator light.
    The three logical explanations for what is happening in Kherson centre.
    Staged videos for propaganda
    UA Partisans or SOF engaging Russian forces
    Infighting between Russian soldiers

    UPDATE:
    Local sources are indicating that recent footage from central Kherson is fabricated.

    I cannot be completely sure but I would say this is a correct assessment.


    https://twitter.com/WarMonitor3/status/1571235120530456576?cxt=HHwWgICwnY6Bk84rAAAA
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 14,878
    TimS said:

    TimS said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    I really do believe some would rather people freeze to death than horror of horrors burn a little more fossil fuel as we transition to the greener future.
    Except that’s a strawman isn’t it? All the fossil fuel proposals are long term, of marginal benefit and largely in there to make some questionable culture war points. Playground policy when what we need is an actual strategy.
    I think we need to be realistic about getting to the end state. Sadly current events have shown us the fragility of relying on the global energy market. Becoming a bit less exposed while still working to net zero is not necessarily the wrong thing to do. We have chosen not to burn the vast amounts of coal left in the U.K. We wish to avoid putting any more CO2 into the atmosphere than necessary. But we face a real prospect of people dying through freezing weather because of the war in Ukraine.
    I agree with all of that (or almost all - we’ll be burning a bit of coal this winter but we don’t need much). But it ain’t where Truss is going. She’s putting her fingers in her ears and shouting la la la. Her fracking policy is irrelevant to the current energy crisis.

    Boris could have fast-tracked significant wind installations from February this year that would be on stream now, through tax reliefs and grants. He didn’t because he was asleep on the job. He could also have subsidised insulation and energy efficient boiler replacements for a fraction of the energy price freeze and probably as a result reduced the cost of that freeze. Now Truss is talking about policies for several years hence.

    I’m not convinced you can install that much extra insulation and fit new boilers that quickly. All good things to do, for sure. My boiler guy is snowed under with work.

    Re Truss, can we at least wait for the policies? I know government has got leakier and leakier, but we’ve already seen that stuff we think we know (‘Truss will do nothing about the energy crisis’) can be very wrong indeed. I understand that fracking won’t work for this winter and probably not at all but I have no issue with trying to be more self reliant, at least while Putin is still around.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 32,739
    ...
  • glwglw Posts: 9,535
    TimS said:

    I agree with all of that (or almost all - we’ll be burning a bit of coal this winter but we don’t need much). But it ain’t where Truss is going. She’s putting her fingers in her ears and shouting la la la. Her fracking policy is irrelevant to the current energy crisis.

    If Richard_Tyndall is correct, and I see no reason to question his knowledge, it's irrelevant full stop. But you can just imagine the spivs who have the ear of the Tory Party loving the idea of making a quick buck, or many, from foolish investors.
  • TimS said:

    TimS said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    I really do believe some would rather people freeze to death than horror of horrors burn a little more fossil fuel as we transition to the greener future.
    Except that’s a strawman isn’t it? All the fossil fuel proposals are long term, of marginal benefit and largely in there to make some questionable culture war points. Playground policy when what we need is an actual strategy.
    I think we need to be realistic about getting to the end state. Sadly current events have shown us the fragility of relying on the global energy market. Becoming a bit less exposed while still working to net zero is not necessarily the wrong thing to do. We have chosen not to burn the vast amounts of coal left in the U.K. We wish to avoid putting any more CO2 into the atmosphere than necessary. But we face a real prospect of people dying through freezing weather because of the war in Ukraine.
    I agree with all of that (or almost all - we’ll be burning a bit of coal this winter but we don’t need much). But it ain’t where Truss is going. She’s putting her fingers in her ears and shouting la la la. Her fracking policy is irrelevant to the current energy crisis.

    Boris could have fast-tracked significant wind installations from February this year that would be on stream now, through tax reliefs and grants. He didn’t because he was asleep on the job. He could also have subsidised insulation and energy efficient boiler replacements for a fraction of the energy price freeze and probably as a result reduced the cost of that freeze. Now Truss is talking about policies for several years hence.

    But wind installations have been fast tracked, we have I believe the worlds largest ever wind installations coming online this year and next year. Everyone I've heard from that works in that sector says they are fully booked and developing things as fast as is possible.

    Now maybe its possible to do more, it might always be possible to do more, but it is coming online. But we need hydrocarbons as well as renewables while we transition. Suggesting we should only be doing renewables is the real putting fingers in ears and shouting la la la and leaves us exposed to the volatility of the global market and unsavoury characters.
  • Scott_xP said:

    ...

    I really do believe some would rather people freeze to death than horror of horrors burn a little more fossil fuel as we transition to the greener future.
    Sir David King - as far as I know he led independent sage and is very much on the left
    Yes the way that the media refers to Sir David King as "the government's former chief scientific advisor" is quite misleading. Most people don't normally consider Tony Blair's government to be the same government as we have now.

    Sir David King has been a left wing extreme talking head for hire for decades now. Him criticising the Tory Government is a real bear shits in the woods story.
    Tony Blair was PM between 2010 and 2013?

    Sir David King was the permanent Special Representative for Climate Change from September 2013 until March 2017.

    IIRC Boris Johnson as FCO Secretary reappointed him.
  • FrankBoothFrankBooth Posts: 9,005

    Don't be too quick to pooh pooh Fullbrook matter.

    For one thing, reckon that most Brits have heard of the FBI, and will NOT think it's a plus for the Prime Minister's chief of staff to be questioned > grilled by US G-men.

    How much it goes beyond that, depends on developments. Which I'm guessing will NOT include the FBI or DOJ giving Fullbrook a clean bill of health any time soon.

    What does being questioned by the FBI actually mean though? Helping them with their enquiries or under suspicion?
  • Leon said:

    Just landed on Gatwick. On the Gatwick Express speeding to London…

    … and there are all these posters and digital billboards with pictures of Her Maj and suddenly I am enclosed in proper sadness. Coming back to my Queenless country for the first time in my life. I don’t like it. A great forest has been felled. The hill is ugly and bare

    Quite choked

    Get in that queue. You will regret it if you don't.
  • Scott_xP said:

    ...

    I really do believe some would rather people freeze to death than horror of horrors burn a little more fossil fuel as we transition to the greener future.
    Sir David King - as far as I know he led independent sage and is very much on the left
    Yes the way that the media refers to Sir David King as "the government's former chief scientific advisor" is quite misleading. Most people don't normally consider Tony Blair's government to be the same government as we have now.

    Sir David King has been a left wing extreme talking head for hire for decades now. Him criticising the Tory Government is a real bear shits in the woods story.
    Tony Blair was PM between 2010 and 2013?

    Sir David King was the permanent Special Representative for Climate Change from September 2013 until March 2017.

    IIRC Boris Johnson as FCO Secretary reappointed him.
    He was "the government's chief scientific advisor" which is the title I quoted from the newspaper front page between 2000 and 2007.

    Who was PM between 2000 and 2007? I don't believe it was Boris Johnson.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 39,145
    HYUFD said:

    Carnyx said:

    HYUFD said:

    Sir Graham Brady to propose an amendment to the schools bill to allow new grammars and he believes the government will support it

    https://twitter.com/whazell/status/1571209105175465987?s=20&t=8dTPrgG4ALcvVXlKc_Qxmw

    About as useful as lifting the tax on wig powder.
    For Tory voters who want to have a chance to send their kids to a grammar school very useful actually
    Only if the schools aren't heated at all. One of the many details which your party has sort of ignored for several months.

    https://www.theguardian.com/education/2022/sep/17/schools-urge-parents-to-help-plug-funding-gaps-as-costs-soar
  • Scott_xP said:

    ...

    I really do believe some would rather people freeze to death than horror of horrors burn a little more fossil fuel as we transition to the greener future.
    Sir David King - as far as I know he led independent sage and is very much on the left
    Yes the way that the media refers to Sir David King as "the government's former chief scientific advisor" is quite misleading. Most people don't normally consider Tony Blair's government to be the same government as we have now.

    Sir David King has been a left wing extreme talking head for hire for decades now. Him criticising the Tory Government is a real bear shits in the woods story.
    Tony Blair was PM between 2010 and 2013?

    Sir David King was the permanent Special Representative for Climate Change from September 2013 until March 2017.

    IIRC Boris Johnson as FCO Secretary reappointed him.
    He was "the government's chief scientific advisor" which is the title I quoted from the newspaper front page between 2000 and 2007.

    Who was PM between 2000 and 2007? I don't believe it was Boris Johnson.
    But he's talking about climate change which he's an expert, a certain Boris Johnson reappointed him.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 46,248

    Leon said:

    Just landed on Gatwick. On the Gatwick Express speeding to London…

    … and there are all these posters and digital billboards with pictures of Her Maj and suddenly I am enclosed in proper sadness. Coming back to my Queenless country for the first time in my life. I don’t like it. A great forest has been felled. The hill is ugly and bare

    Quite choked

    Get in that queue. You will regret it if you don't.
    Don’t know about the queue but I’m glad I came back even if I am sad. I had to experience this before the funeral. Not that my feelings matter an iota but you know what I mean

    For my own psychic health I have to do a bit of grieving. I’ve been avoiding it in foreign parts
  • eekeek Posts: 24,797

    Truss going to UN on Wednesday and also a meeting with Biden before returning for Kwarteng's statement on Monday

    Assume if will be Coffey v Rayner for PMQs on Wednesday

    No PMQs on Wednesday - it’s swearing in for any MPs who wish to do so (in 1952) all MPs had to be sworn in again, this time round it looks like it’s optional
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 24,585
    ...
    HYUFD said:

    Sir Graham Brady to propose an amendment to the schools bill to allow new grammars and he believes the government will support it

    https://twitter.com/whazell/status/1571209105175465987?s=20&t=8dTPrgG4ALcvVXlKc_Qxmw

    Taking the nation back 50 years. Utter s***e!
  • Scott_xP said:

    ...

    I really do believe some would rather people freeze to death than horror of horrors burn a little more fossil fuel as we transition to the greener future.
    Sir David King - as far as I know he led independent sage and is very much on the left
    Yes the way that the media refers to Sir David King as "the government's former chief scientific advisor" is quite misleading. Most people don't normally consider Tony Blair's government to be the same government as we have now.

    Sir David King has been a left wing extreme talking head for hire for decades now. Him criticising the Tory Government is a real bear shits in the woods story.
    Tony Blair was PM between 2010 and 2013?

    Sir David King was the permanent Special Representative for Climate Change from September 2013 until March 2017.

    IIRC Boris Johnson as FCO Secretary reappointed him.
    He was "the government's chief scientific advisor" which is the title I quoted from the newspaper front page between 2000 and 2007.

    Who was PM between 2000 and 2007? I don't believe it was Boris Johnson.
    But he's talking about climate change which he's an expert, a certain Boris Johnson reappointed him.
    A certain Boris Johnson is no longer PM, a decision we both called for before he resigned, and that isn't the expertise he is riding on in the newspaper article. Again, it specifically quotes him as being the government's former chief scientific adviser. Omitting the fact that he was the chief scientific adviser to Tony Blair's government, not this government.

    He may know something about climate change, but sometimes a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing, as it prevents people seeing the woods for the trees. Climate change needs to be tackled in the round, along with tackling reliance upon Russia and so on and so forth which may be beyond Sir David King's "expertise".

    That's why we have elected governments, not governments of self-appointed "experts". The advice of "experts" needs to be balanced between different priorities, ensuring people don't freeze or are wallets aren't held ransom by Sheikhs and Oligarchs is another priority on top of the priorities related to Climate Change.
  • TimSTimS Posts: 9,160
    edited September 2022

    TimS said:

    TimS said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    I really do believe some would rather people freeze to death than horror of horrors burn a little more fossil fuel as we transition to the greener future.
    Except that’s a strawman isn’t it? All the fossil fuel proposals are long term, of marginal benefit and largely in there to make some questionable culture war points. Playground policy when what we need is an actual strategy.
    I think we need to be realistic about getting to the end state. Sadly current events have shown us the fragility of relying on the global energy market. Becoming a bit less exposed while still working to net zero is not necessarily the wrong thing to do. We have chosen not to burn the vast amounts of coal left in the U.K. We wish to avoid putting any more CO2 into the atmosphere than necessary. But we face a real prospect of people dying through freezing weather because of the war in Ukraine.
    I agree with all of that (or almost all - we’ll be burning a bit of coal this winter but we don’t need much). But it ain’t where Truss is going. She’s putting her fingers in her ears and shouting la la la. Her fracking policy is irrelevant to the current energy crisis.

    Boris could have fast-tracked significant wind installations from February this year that would be on stream now, through tax reliefs and grants. He didn’t because he was asleep on the job. He could also have subsidised insulation and energy efficient boiler replacements for a fraction of the energy price freeze and probably as a result reduced the cost of that freeze. Now Truss is talking about policies for several years hence.

    But wind installations have been fast tracked, we have I believe the worlds largest ever wind installations coming online this year and next year. Everyone I've heard from that works in that sector says they are fully booked and developing things as fast as is possible.

    Now maybe its possible to do more, it might always be possible to do more, but it is coming online. But we need hydrocarbons
    as well as renewables while we transition.

    Suggesting we should only be doing renewables is the real putting fingers in ears
    and shouting la la la and leaves us exposed to
    the volatility of the global market and
    unsavoury characters.
    The thing is, installing new renewables generation gives Britain additional cheap energy, under our control. Developing new fossil fuel sources in Britain adds minute amounts to a global market where British generators pay global market prices. Unless we nationalise power generation, the only way to reduce energy prices during a gas price bubble is to reduce our dependency on gas.

    I mean it’s like there’s an olive oil shortage and our answer is to plant olive trees in Sussex, rather than growing a load more oilseed rape and sunflowers.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 46,248
    HYUFD said:

    Leon said:

    Just landed on Gatwick. On the Gatwick Express speeding to London…

    … and there are all these posters and digital billboards with pictures of Her Maj and suddenly I am enclosed in proper sadness. Coming back to my Queenless country for the first time in my life. I don’t like it. A great forest has been felled. The hill is ugly and bare

    Quite choked

    Get in that queue. You will regret it if you don't.
    I am in it, just gone past London Bridge
    Say goodbye for me. Seriously. 👍🍺
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,709

    ...

    HYUFD said:

    Sir Graham Brady to propose an amendment to the schools bill to allow new grammars and he believes the government will support it

    https://twitter.com/whazell/status/1571209105175465987?s=20&t=8dTPrgG4ALcvVXlKc_Qxmw

    Taking the nation back 50 years. Utter s***e!
    Will be popular with the Tory core vote though and Truss desperately needs to shore up her core support
  • TomsToms Posts: 2,478
    Is it possible to grieve privately? Or must one be seen formally? Would talking to friends and family do? I suppose all those ways must be adequate.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,709
    Leon said:

    HYUFD said:

    Leon said:

    Just landed on Gatwick. On the Gatwick Express speeding to London…

    … and there are all these posters and digital billboards with pictures of Her Maj and suddenly I am enclosed in proper sadness. Coming back to my Queenless country for the first time in my life. I don’t like it. A great forest has been felled. The hill is ugly and bare

    Quite choked

    Get in that queue. You will regret it if you don't.
    I am in it, just gone past London Bridge
    Say goodbye for me. Seriously. 👍🍺
    Will do
  • HYUFD said:

    Leon said:

    Just landed on Gatwick. On the Gatwick Express speeding to London…

    … and there are all these posters and digital billboards with pictures of Her Maj and suddenly I am enclosed in proper sadness. Coming back to my Queenless country for the first time in my life. I don’t like it. A great forest has been felled. The hill is ugly and bare

    Quite choked

    Get in that queue. You will regret it if you don't.
    I am in it, just gone past London Bridge
    Keep warm, fed and hydrated. I'm sure you will have a moment that will stay with you for the rest of your life.
  • For all you Monarchists and Scot Nats.

    Tomorrow's piece, should Prince William renounce being Prince of Wales and become Prince of Scotland to save the Union.
  • TimS said:

    TimS said:

    TimS said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    I really do believe some would rather people freeze to death than horror of horrors burn a little more fossil fuel as we transition to the greener future.
    Except that’s a strawman isn’t it? All the fossil fuel proposals are long term, of marginal benefit and largely in there to make some questionable culture war points. Playground policy when what we need is an actual strategy.
    I think we need to be realistic about getting to the end state. Sadly current events have shown us the fragility of relying on the global energy market. Becoming a bit less exposed while still working to net zero is not necessarily the wrong thing to do. We have chosen not to burn the vast amounts of coal left in the U.K. We wish to avoid putting any more CO2 into the atmosphere than necessary. But we face a real prospect of people dying through freezing weather because of the war in Ukraine.
    I agree with all of that (or almost all - we’ll be burning a bit of coal this winter but we don’t need much). But it ain’t where Truss is going. She’s putting her fingers in her ears and shouting la la la. Her fracking policy is irrelevant to the current energy crisis.

    Boris could have fast-tracked significant wind installations from February this year that would be on stream now, through tax reliefs and grants. He didn’t because he was asleep on the job. He could also have subsidised insulation and energy efficient boiler replacements for a fraction of the energy price freeze and probably as a result reduced the cost of that freeze. Now Truss is talking about policies for several years hence.

    But wind installations have been fast tracked, we have I believe the worlds largest ever wind installations coming online this year and next year. Everyone I've heard from that works in that sector says they are fully booked and developing things as fast as is possible.

    Now maybe its possible to do more, it might always be possible to do more, but it is coming online. But we need hydrocarbons
    as well as renewables while we transition.

    Suggesting we should only be doing renewables is the real putting fingers in ears
    and shouting la la la and leaves us exposed to
    the volatility of the global market and
    unsavoury characters.
    The thing is, installing new renewables generation gives Britain additional cheap energy, under our control. Developing new fossil fuel sources in Britain adds minute amounts to a global market where British generators pay global market prices. Unless we nationalise power generation, the only way to reduce energy prices during a gas price bubble is to reduce our dependency on gas.

    Which is why we should do the renewables and invest in new domestic gas supplies. Its not either/or, its both.

    Yes we need to reduce our dependency on gas, but that can't be done by clicking your heels three times. Ensuring we have more domestic resources as well as getting renewables done, not instead of it, is a rational solution.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 39,145

    For all you Monarchists and Scot Nats.

    Tomorrow's piece, should Prince William renounce being Prince of Wales and become Prince of Scotland to save the Union.

    Won't work. The Welsh will be deeply upset, we're told all the time how important it is that someone is PoW.
  • WhisperingOracleWhisperingOracle Posts: 8,480
    edited September 2022
    HYUFD said:

    Leon said:

    Just landed on Gatwick. On the Gatwick Express speeding to London…

    … and there are all these posters and digital billboards with pictures of Her Maj and suddenly I am enclosed in proper sadness. Coming back to my Queenless country for the first time in my life. I don’t like it. A great forest has been felled. The hill is ugly and bare

    Quite choked

    Get in that queue. You will regret it if you don't.
    I am in it, just gone past London Bridge
    Have you got enough battery power to issue a few updates on your progress for a while ? I always actually find the Queue phenomenon interesting.
  • kjhkjh Posts: 10,458
    HYUFD said:

    Carnyx said:

    HYUFD said:

    Sir Graham Brady to propose an amendment to the schools bill to allow new grammars and he believes the government will support it

    https://twitter.com/whazell/status/1571209105175465987?s=20&t=8dTPrgG4ALcvVXlKc_Qxmw

    About as useful as lifting the tax on wig powder.
    For Tory voters who want to have a chance to send their kids to a grammar school very useful actually
    Lol. None are going to be built.
  • TimSTimS Posts: 9,160

    TimS said:

    TimS said:

    TimS said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    I really do believe some would rather people freeze to death than horror of horrors burn a little more fossil fuel as we transition to the greener future.
    Except that’s a strawman isn’t it? All the fossil fuel proposals are long term, of marginal benefit and largely in there to make some questionable culture war points. Playground policy when what we need is an actual strategy.
    I think we need to be realistic about getting to the end state. Sadly current events have shown us the fragility of relying on the global energy market. Becoming a bit less exposed while still working to net zero is not necessarily the wrong thing to do. We have chosen not to burn the vast amounts of coal left in the U.K. We wish to avoid putting any more CO2 into the atmosphere than necessary. But we face a real prospect of people dying through freezing weather because of the war in Ukraine.
    I agree with all of that (or almost all - we’ll be burning a bit of coal this winter but we don’t need much). But it ain’t where Truss is going. She’s putting her fingers in her ears and shouting la la la. Her fracking policy is irrelevant to the current energy crisis.

    Boris could have fast-tracked significant wind installations from February this year that would be on stream now, through tax reliefs and grants. He didn’t because he was asleep on the job. He could also have subsidised insulation and energy efficient boiler replacements for a fraction of the energy price freeze and probably as a result reduced the cost of that freeze. Now Truss is talking about policies for several years hence.

    But wind installations have been fast tracked, we have I believe the worlds largest ever wind installations coming online this year and next year. Everyone I've heard from that works in that sector says they are fully booked and developing things as fast as is possible.

    Now maybe its possible to do more, it might always be possible to do more, but it is coming online. But we need hydrocarbons
    as well as renewables while we transition.

    Suggesting we should only be doing renewables is the real putting fingers in ears
    and shouting la la la and leaves us exposed to
    the volatility of the global market and
    unsavoury characters.
    The thing is, installing new renewables generation gives Britain additional cheap energy, under our control. Developing new fossil fuel sources in Britain adds minute amounts to a global market where British generators pay global market prices. Unless we nationalise power generation, the only way to reduce energy prices during a gas price bubble is to reduce our dependency on gas.

    Which is why we should do the renewables and invest in new domestic gas supplies. Its not either/or, its both.


    Yes we need to reduce our dependency on
    gas, but that can't be done by clicking your heels three times. Ensuring we have more domestic resources as well as getting renewables done, not instead of it, is a rational solution.
    If that’s going to make any difference then it needs to be “ours”. I.e. nationalised. Otherwise it’s just adding a few drops into a global market. Whereas power generation itself is domestic, for the domestic market.
  • Will any thread ever written on the site ever be good for Truss....
  • Toms said:

    Is it possible to grieve privately? Or must one be seen formally? Would talking to friends and family do? I suppose all those ways must be adequate.

    Seems be signalling of some sort..
  • Will any thread ever written on the site ever be good for Truss....

    Will she ever make any good decisions, I wonder ? ....
  • kjhkjh Posts: 10,458
    Leon said:

    Just landed on Gatwick. On the Gatwick Express speeding to London…

    … and there are all these posters and digital billboards with pictures of Her Maj and suddenly I am enclosed in proper sadness. Coming back to my Queenless country for the first time in my life. I don’t like it. A great forest has been felled. The hill is ugly and bare

    Quite choked

    Big girl's blouse.
  • TimSTimS Posts: 9,160

    Will any thread ever written on the site ever be good for Truss....

    I believe the regional tax rate proposal is a potential vote winner. She and Kwazi should go for it.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 24,585
    HYUFD said:

    ...

    HYUFD said:

    Sir Graham Brady to propose an amendment to the schools bill to allow new grammars and he believes the government will support it

    https://twitter.com/whazell/status/1571209105175465987?s=20&t=8dTPrgG4ALcvVXlKc_Qxmw

    Taking the nation back 50 years. Utter s***e!
    Will be popular with the Tory core vote though and Truss desperately needs to shore up her core support
    Fortunately I live in Wales so no such bollocks for me to worry about. But nonetheless your Government is an utter vacuum. A tragedy. What a shame.
This discussion has been closed.