ThePoliticalParty said:

DavidL said:

Mexicanpete said:

ydoethur said:

Nigel_Foremain said:

Northern_Al said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Scott_xP said:

Young Tory chair Daniel Grainger has quit his role temporarily after calling Birmingham 'a dump'

I'm told he's stepped down pending an investigation..

@Young_Tories have distanced themselves from his remarks
https://twitter.com/alethaadu/status/1576937343348793344

This is why I never went into politics, you get into trouble for speaking the truth.

I suspect he's in trouble mainly because he suggested Birmingham's "dumpness" could be attributed to it having one of the highest Muslim population's in Britain, if you follow the thread.

Ouch. Well someone ought to tell the racist silly twat that Birmingham was even more of a dump before any Muslims settled there.

That is also true.

In fact, Birmingham is ugly as any city in the world and it's as badly planned as a Special Military Operation, but it does have it's good points as well. Some decent civic centres, great shops, and a bustle and energy that's quite uplifting in its own way. It feels very much better now than even thirty years ago.

The post war planners looked at Birmingham and thought how can we resolve to remove buildings of intrinsic historic architechtural beauty and replace them with, for decades a makeshift car park, before building something ugly, dreary and modern? Look no further than Snow Hill Station.

Birmingham has an excellent cricket ground at Edgebasten, where England usually win, and excellent curry shops in Broad street. Do English cities really need anything else?

Curry 'shops' in Broad Street?

Restaurants then. But Birmingham never struck me as posh.

Luckyguy1983 said:

TOPPING said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

TOPPING said:

Hey Brexit fuckers.

You have so cocked things up. Queues for non-Business class Eurostar stretching for literally hundreds of yards at St. Pancras and having to buy a "data passport" to use my mobile data allowance in France.

Utter, utter fuckers.

Tut tut, using 'yards' - you'll have your remoaner passport taken away, let alone your data passport.

Yes good point. Prior to our exit from the EU I was disallowed from using "yards". Now that we are free I can use yards, pints, furlongs and all the rest.

Phewee.

There you go look, the data passport even allows overblown sarcasm.

It was worth every penny of the £5.

Central Birmingham is getting a lot better now the 60s and 70s architectural abortions are being cleared, and the nicer old buildings are being cleaned up and rehabilitated.

Outer Birmingham (Selly Oak, Alum Rock, Erdington) is sadly still filthy and dreadful.

It's a real shame because Birmingham pre 1960s was brimming with civic pride, but it's been thoroughly stamped out through half a century of mismanagement.

Luckyguy1983 said:

noneoftheabove said:

Kwarteng making a big thing about the energy package handouts.

Basically what cost Sunak, who was in favour of the handouts, the election vs Truss who was against them.

They are a very weird party.

I think the assumption was definitely that Truss would cap energy in some way, though she refused to be drawn on how.

https://www.ft.com/content/0d4e8e8c-a9f5-409b-86b8-884304ce0568

“Of course I will look at what more can be done,” she said. “But the way I would do things is in a Conservative way of lowering the tax burden, not giving out handouts.”

Then £200bn handouts and she wants credit for it.

TOPPING said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

TOPPING said:

Hey Brexit fuckers.

You have so cocked things up. Queues for non-Business class Eurostar stretching for literally hundreds of yards at St. Pancras and having to buy a "data passport" to use my mobile data allowance in France.

Utter, utter fuckers.

Tut tut, using 'yards' - you'll have your remoaner passport taken away, let alone your data passport.

Yes good point. Prior to our exit from the EU I was disallowed from using "yards". Now that we are free I can use yards, pints, furlongs and all the rest.

Phewee.

It's absolutely blinking great. Pounds, ounces, yards and inches ... and lashings of ginger beer.

Leon said:

Mexicanpete said:

Leon said:

Birmingham City Centre




Honestly, the best thing they could do is level the entire thing and start again. And get King Charles to pick the architects

This may be one upside of the impending nuclear war. Radical improvements to British urbanism

I don't have a problem with anything in that picture other than the Selfridges carbunkle. Most German Cities successfully mix the old with the post war austere.

It does look like a bombed German toilet. Like Düsseldorf or Cologne (minus the cathedral)

The modern towers are so pathetically STUMPY

At least crap American and Asian cities have properly tall skyscrapers. British towers are so apologetic and weedy. Outside London

We were very proud of the Rotunda in the 1970s, but that Selfridges building looks like someone has dropped a massive moist silver coloured t*** from an aircraft and it landed in Moor Street, and that is where it has remained, untouched, ever since.

Alistair said:

Pulpstar said:

Deutsche liabilities 1.2T

Wow, that loan to Trump was larger than I thought.

A loan to Trump is (technically) an asset, not a liability.

Banks' liabilities are the money they owe their depositors.

Remember the huge efforts Russia went through to win Lysychansk and Severodonetsk?

BREAKING:

After taking Borova, the Ukrainian Army is now heading full-speed head for Svatove.

Looks like Lysychansk and Severodonetsk will get outflanked from the north.

https://twitter.com/visegrad24/status/1576951372657750017

Well that was a f**king bad speech

nico679 said:

Delusional from Kwarteng . Does he really think this reversal of the corporation tax increase will see the alleged 19 billion pounds plowed back into the economy . It will just go to bigger shareholder dividends.

Now he has the cheek to slag off Labour on economic competence after the last weeks drama caused by his own government !

I am not one for defending Kami-Kwasi but lower rates of Corp tax generally create better inward investment. You are right in the sense that those already here might do as you say, but it might also keep some of those that are thinking of relocating HQs to Eurozone and it might encourage some more inward investment. Lots of "mights"

Leon said:

“Major advances happening simultaneously for Ukraine on two fronts 100s of kms apart. Russian military Telegram channels are increasingly in total panic. Starting to feel like the wheels are coming off for the Russian military.”

“Others have noted this, but it bears repeating: these offensives don't enjoy the surprise that the Kharkiv one last month did. Here, the Russians know what is coming, and the Ukrainian army is solidly defeating them day after day. Hard to see how the bleeding stops.”

https://twitter.com/neilphauer/status/1576946172609953794?s=46&t=1pS0_ubk1S__VRnngjQo6A

"Hard to see how the bleeding stops.”

Ukrainian exhaustion. They'll run out of energy from all the laughing and meme creation chasing and fighting.

I don't think the Ukrainian internal supply lines are too stretched atm: they control too much of the surrounding area, and seem to have civilian goodwill in the area. Russia's supply lines are. But people and machines cannot fight forever, and there will come a time when the pushes need to pause for a while. I expect the 'plan' is to capture a large area - hopefully including Kherson or Severodonetsk/Lysychansk, then have an operational pause to rest, replenish and see where the Russians are weakest next.

nico679 said:

This speech felt like a tooth extraction for Kwarteng . He wanted it over as quickly as possible .

I'd that why it didn't have much filling?

.

noneoftheabove said:

Kwarteng making a big thing about the energy package handouts.

Basically what cost Sunak, who was in favour of the handouts, the election vs Truss who was against them.

They are a very weird party.

Truss said all along she'd offer support for energy, but it would "just" be handouts.

What cost Sunak was putting up National Insurance.

DavidL said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

noneoftheabove said:

Kwarteng making a big thing about the energy package handouts.

Basically what cost Sunak, who was in favour of the handouts, the election vs Truss who was against them.

They are a very weird party.

I think the assumption was definitely that Truss would cap energy in some way, though she refused to be drawn on how.

And then she went for something far more extravagent and unaffordable than Sunak was proposing. But the utter incoherence of signing what amounts to a blank cheque (since we have no real idea what the energy policy is going to cost since we don't know what the market price will be) and combining that with a range of tax cuts is so economically illiterate that all credibility has gone. The fact that he sought to blame the turmoil in the markets that inevitably ensued on a strong dollar and a weak BoE is merely the icing on the cake.

For a really clever guy he can be incredibly stupid.

The price of energy is a constant. If Sunak's proposal was cheaper for the taxpayer, it would have been more expensive for the consumer, and vice versa. Truss and her team have been clear that recession is more dangerous than inflation, and they have acted accordingly.

paulyork64 said:

nico679 said:

This speech felt like a tooth extraction for Kwarteng . He wanted it over as quickly as possible .

I'd that why it didn't have much filling?

It appears not, particularly if you drill down into it

https://twitter.com/biz_ukraine_mag/status/1576866894560169985?s=46&t=UlTUln3tzz-beZDOObKhVw


“Unedited footage from Putin’s recent war rally in Moscow appears to show complete indifference among the captive crowd of bussed-in state workers. It seems propagandists added cheers and chants in the editing room. Is anything in Russia not faked?”

JosiasJessop said:

AlistairM said:

Remember the huge efforts Russia went through to win Lysychansk and Severodonetsk?

BREAKING:

After taking Borova, the Ukrainian Army is now heading full-speed head for Svatove.

Looks like Lysychansk and Severodonetsk will get outflanked from the north.

https://twitter.com/visegrad24/status/1576951372657750017

That's one thing to note: many (not all) of the gains the Ukrainians are making is over territory they have lost just three months ago or less. They still have a long way to go.

I don't think that's true, in the main.

Borova was captured in March, for example.

You can’t shout “growth growth growth” when people look around their high streets, and households, and after 12 years of conservatives and conclude nothing has been done.

They have a narrow 2 year window to
somehow get monumental growth and for people to feel that on the ground. Instead they’ve tarnished their perception for economic competence and have nothing left

"Markets did not crash. There was no collapse in the pound" - @EdConwaySky redefines success for the chancellor's speech
https://twitter.com/Rob_Merrick/status/1576961307831672837

Luckyguy1983 said:

DavidL said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

noneoftheabove said:

Kwarteng making a big thing about the energy package handouts.

Basically what cost Sunak, who was in favour of the handouts, the election vs Truss who was against them.

They are a very weird party.

I think the assumption was definitely that Truss would cap energy in some way, though she refused to be drawn on how.

And then she went for something far more extravagent and unaffordable than Sunak was proposing. But the utter incoherence of signing what amounts to a blank cheque (since we have no real idea what the energy policy is going to cost since we don't know what the market price will be) and combining that with a range of tax cuts is so economically illiterate that all credibility has gone. The fact that he sought to blame the turmoil in the markets that inevitably ensued on a strong dollar and a weak BoE is merely the icing on the cake.

For a really clever guy he can be incredibly stupid.

The price of energy is a constant. If Sunak's proposal was cheaper for the taxpayer, it would have been more expensive for the consumer, and vice versa. Truss and her team have been clear that recession is more dangerous than inflation, and they have acted accordingly.

Not sure that that is absolutely true, the subsidy of gas will probably mean that we will consume more of it than we would otherwise have done.

But the idea that rapid increases in interest rates (because of the increased borrowing) is compatible with more rapid economic growth is just a fantasy. The direct consequence of our increased borrowing is more likely to be an interest rate induced recession.

JosiasJessop said:

Leon said:

“Major advances happening simultaneously for Ukraine on two fronts 100s of kms apart. Russian military Telegram channels are increasingly in total panic. Starting to feel like the wheels are coming off for the Russian military.”

“Others have noted this, but it bears repeating: these offensives don't enjoy the surprise that the Kharkiv one last month did. Here, the Russians know what is coming, and the Ukrainian army is solidly defeating them day after day. Hard to see how the bleeding stops.”

https://twitter.com/neilphauer/status/1576946172609953794?s=46&t=1pS0_ubk1S__VRnngjQo6A

"Hard to see how the bleeding stops.”

Ukrainian exhaustion. They'll run out of energy from all the laughing and meme creation chasing and fighting.

I don't think the Ukrainian internal supply lines are too stretched atm: they control too much of the surrounding area, and seem to have civilian goodwill in the area. Russia's supply lines are. But people and machines cannot fight forever, and there will come a time when the pushes need to pause for a while. I expect the 'plan' is to capture a large area - hopefully including Kherson or Severodonetsk/Lysychansk, then have an operational pause to rest, replenish and see where the Russians are weakest next.

I suspect also the aim is to make these quick gains and then consolidate when the bad weather arrives and a Russian counter offensive becomes far more difficult. It is always as well not to underestimate an enemy and keeping them off balance until bad weather prevents, or at least limits, a response seems a sound strategy.

Nigel_Foremain said:

Cookie said:

numbertwelve said:

Cookie said:

IshmaelZ said:

NorthofStoke said:

PeterM said:

Leon said:

Is Birmingham really as ugly as “any city in the world”?

Brum is a shocker (like too many British cities) but I suggest there are worse in the ex-USSR, China, Korea, sub Saharan Africa

eg Almost any town in Armenia is uglier than Birmingham

That could be Birmingham’s new motto. “Better than many places in Armenia”

strange place Birmingham. Supposed to be our 2nd city yet i always find the vibe in Manchester much better and to me Manchester always feels like our 2nd city.

Manchester has a vibe like it thinks it is actually number one which often grates. Some parts of Brum are interesting/pleasant. Near the exhibition centre canal area and near the University are two that spring to mind. I prefer Liverpool, Glasgow and particularly Edinburgh to Manchester.

All the best cities think they are actually number one. Without that self confidence you are nowhere.

Many cities think they are rather more brilliant than might objectively be the case. I'd cite Newcastle and Nottingham in this respect. Manchester's certainty of its own brilliance is something else again though. (I say this as a suburban Mancunian with a great deal of affection for the place. But modest we are not in Manchester.)

Manchester is cosmopolitan, energetic and packed full of culture but god does it know it.

Newcastle is a great and friendly little place (again, not backwards about letting you know this) but for better or for worse it does retain a small town vibe to it.

Birmingham I’ve always just found - fine. Not great, not terrible, just - there.

Another one to add to the shortlist for Birmingham's slogans.

I always liked Viz's slogan for Skegness:


Skegness. It's fucking shit

Gibraltar Point is well worth a visit.

Razedabode said:

You can’t shout “growth growth growth” when people look around their high streets, and households, and after 12 years of conservatives and conclude nothing has been done.

They have a narrow 2 year window to
somehow get monumental growth and for people to feel that on the ground. Instead they’ve tarnished their perception for economic competence and have nothing left

That was the thinking behind putting everything on the number 13. Unfortunately, it was a big gamble at poorish odds.

And it didn't work.

Even if they do kindle some growth, it will be like "Britain is Booming" in 1997- they won't get the credit.

Richard_Tyndall said:

JosiasJessop said:

Leon said:

“Major advances happening simultaneously for Ukraine on two fronts 100s of kms apart. Russian military Telegram channels are increasingly in total panic. Starting to feel like the wheels are coming off for the Russian military.”

“Others have noted this, but it bears repeating: these offensives don't enjoy the surprise that the Kharkiv one last month did. Here, the Russians know what is coming, and the Ukrainian army is solidly defeating them day after day. Hard to see how the bleeding stops.”

https://twitter.com/neilphauer/status/1576946172609953794?s=46&t=1pS0_ubk1S__VRnngjQo6A

"Hard to see how the bleeding stops.”

Ukrainian exhaustion. They'll run out of energy from all the laughing and meme creation chasing and fighting.

I don't think the Ukrainian internal supply lines are too stretched atm: they control too much of the surrounding area, and seem to have civilian goodwill in the area. Russia's supply lines are. But people and machines cannot fight forever, and there will come a time when the pushes need to pause for a while. I expect the 'plan' is to capture a large area - hopefully including Kherson or Severodonetsk/Lysychansk, then have an operational pause to rest, replenish and see where the Russians are weakest next.

I suspect also the aim is to make these quick gains and then consolidate when the bad weather arrives and a Russian counter offensive becomes far more difficult. It is always as well not to underestimate an enemy and keeping them off balance until bad weather prevents, or at least limits, a response seems a sound strategy.

And look at the shite condition of Russian logistics. Conscripts sleeping rough in freezing fields


https://twitter.com/mrkovalenko/status/1576748568404074498?s=46&t=UlTUln3tzz-beZDOObKhVw

Bournville said:

Central Birmingham is getting a lot better now the 60s and 70s architectural abortions are being cleared, and the nicer old buildings are being cleaned up and rehabilitated.

Outer Birmingham (Selly Oak, Alum Rock, Erdington) is sadly still filthy and dreadful.

It's a real shame because Birmingham pre 1960s was brimming with civic pride, but it's been thoroughly stamped out through half a century of mismanagement.

I think the key thing in most cities has been civic pride. My birthplace of Wigan is not a great place, but does have some rather lovely Victorian gothic civic buildings, as did many northern towns.

One problem of our over centralised system is the degrading of that civic pride and autonomy. The replacement of city fathers rooted locally, by citizens of nowhere, whether civil servants, transient capitalists or national politicians has not been a good thing.

Westminster Voting Intention (2 Oct):

Labour 52% (+6)
Conservative 24% (-5)
Liberal Democrat 10% (-3)
Green 5% (+1)
SNP 5% (+2)
Reform UK 3% (-1)
Other 1% (–)

Changes +/- 28-29 Sept

redfieldandwiltonstrategies.com/latest-gb-voti…

Whoops

rcs1000 said:

Leon said:

Bristol is underrated

A strange and fascinating city, with tons of history, and a genuine world class burb in Clifton

Underrated by who?

Everybody knows Bristol is an attractive, fascinating and prosperous city, with an excellent university attached.

All the best people go to Bristol *cough*

Labour TWENTY EIGHT points ahead with @RedfieldWilton

🌹LAB: 52%
🌳CON: 24%
🔶LDM: 10% https://twitter.com/willgeorgelloyd/status/1576965643995271168/photo/1

DavidL said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

DavidL said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

noneoftheabove said:

Kwarteng making a big thing about the energy package handouts.

Basically what cost Sunak, who was in favour of the handouts, the election vs Truss who was against them.

They are a very weird party.

I think the assumption was definitely that Truss would cap energy in some way, though she refused to be drawn on how.

And then she went for something far more extravagent and unaffordable than Sunak was proposing. But the utter incoherence of signing what amounts to a blank cheque (since we have no real idea what the energy policy is going to cost since we don't know what the market price will be) and combining that with a range of tax cuts is so economically illiterate that all credibility has gone. The fact that he sought to blame the turmoil in the markets that inevitably ensued on a strong dollar and a weak BoE is merely the icing on the cake.

For a really clever guy he can be incredibly stupid.

The price of energy is a constant. If Sunak's proposal was cheaper for the taxpayer, it would have been more expensive for the consumer, and vice versa. Truss and her team have been clear that recession is more dangerous than inflation, and they have acted accordingly.

Not sure that that is absolutely true, the subsidy of gas will probably mean that we will consume more of it than we would otherwise have done.

But the idea that rapid increases in interest rates (because of the increased borrowing) is compatible with more rapid economic growth is just a fantasy. The direct consequence of our increased borrowing is more likely to be an interest rate induced recession.

I doubt that. The BOE are forecasting 2% inflation next year; I don't really think that calls for radical interest rate hikes.

rcs1000 said:

Leon said:

Bristol is underrated

A strange and fascinating city, with tons of history, and a genuine world class burb in Clifton

Underrated by who?

Everybody knows Bristol is an attractive, fascinating and prosperous city, with an excellent university attached.

It is, yes. A truly world beating uni.

And it's got a second university as well, right in the centre by the Cathedral.

Starmer leads 43 29 best PM with Redield and Truss is minus 33 approval, lower than basement Bozo

Luckyguy1983 said:

DavidL said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

DavidL said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

noneoftheabove said:

Kwarteng making a big thing about the energy package handouts.

Basically what cost Sunak, who was in favour of the handouts, the election vs Truss who was against them.

They are a very weird party.

I think the assumption was definitely that Truss would cap energy in some way, though she refused to be drawn on how.

And then she went for something far more extravagent and unaffordable than Sunak was proposing. But the utter incoherence of signing what amounts to a blank cheque (since we have no real idea what the energy policy is going to cost since we don't know what the market price will be) and combining that with a range of tax cuts is so economically illiterate that all credibility has gone. The fact that he sought to blame the turmoil in the markets that inevitably ensued on a strong dollar and a weak BoE is merely the icing on the cake.

For a really clever guy he can be incredibly stupid.

The price of energy is a constant. If Sunak's proposal was cheaper for the taxpayer, it would have been more expensive for the consumer, and vice versa. Truss and her team have been clear that recession is more dangerous than inflation, and they have acted accordingly.

Not sure that that is absolutely true, the subsidy of gas will probably mean that we will consume more of it than we would otherwise have done.

But the idea that rapid increases in interest rates (because of the increased borrowing) is compatible with more rapid economic growth is just a fantasy. The direct consequence of our increased borrowing is more likely to be an interest rate induced recession.

I doubt that. The BOE are forecasting 2% inflation next year; I don't really think that calls for radical interest rate hikes.

No they aren't. Not that their recent inflation forecasts have been notable for their accuracy in any case.

IshmaelZ said:

turbotubbs said:

mr-claypole said:

a little turbulance reminds me of the green shoots of recovery - Callaghan never actually said 'crisis what crisis'

I used to carshare with a prof at the Uni who was convinced he had seen Callaghan get of the plane and say 'Crisis? What crisis?' to the waiting media. Total false memory syndrome.

The damage was done of course.

Not total, it was a pretty fair headline length summary of

Callaghan was then asked (by a reporter from the Evening Standard) "What is your general approach, in view of the mounting chaos in the country at the moment?" and replied:

Well, that's a judgment that you are making. I promise you that if you look at it from outside, and perhaps you're taking rather a parochial view at the moment, I don't think that other people in the world would share the view that there is mounting chaos.

My point was he remembered him saying 'crisis? What crisis?', which he didn't do. Not the interview as he came off the plane.

wooliedyed said:

Westminster Voting Intention (2 Oct):

Labour 52% (+6)
Conservative 24% (-5)
Liberal Democrat 10% (-3)
Green 5% (+1)
SNP 5% (+2)
Reform UK 3% (-1)
Other 1% (–)

Changes +/- 28-29 Sept

redfieldandwiltonstrategies.com/latest-gb-voti…

Whoops

Lead below 30 points.

Conference bounce for Truss?

Anabobazina said:

Cookie said:

IshmaelZ said:

NorthofStoke said:

PeterM said:

Leon said:

Is Birmingham really as ugly as “any city in the world”?

Brum is a shocker (like too many British cities) but I suggest there are worse in the ex-USSR, China, Korea, sub Saharan Africa

eg Almost any town in Armenia is uglier than Birmingham

That could be Birmingham’s new motto. “Better than many places in Armenia”

strange place Birmingham. Supposed to be our 2nd city yet i always find the vibe in Manchester much better and to me Manchester always feels like our 2nd city.

Manchester has a vibe like it thinks it is actually number one which often grates. Some parts of Brum are interesting/pleasant. Near the exhibition centre canal area and near the University are two that spring to mind. I prefer Liverpool, Glasgow and particularly Edinburgh to Manchester.

All the best cities think they are actually number one. Without that self confidence you are nowhere.

Many cities think they are rather more brilliant than might objectively be the case. I'd cite Newcastle and Nottingham in this respect. Manchester's certainty of its own brilliance is something else again though. (I say this as a suburban Mancunian with a great deal of affection for the place. But modest we are not in Manchester.)

England's best major cities in order:

London
Manchester
Liverpool
Newcastle
Bristol
Nottingham
Sheffield
Leeds
Birmingham


That is not to say Brum is a bad city – it is far better than the rogue's gallery you posted earlier (Leics, Walsall etc).

Probably not a bad order - would place Leeds above Sheffield and probably even Bristol but a lot of this list will depend on when you last visited those cities....

Scott_xP said:

Labour TWENTY EIGHT points ahead with @RedfieldWilton

🌹LAB: 52%
🌳CON: 24%
🔶LDM: 10% https://twitter.com/willgeorgelloyd/status/1576965643995271168/photo/1

This isn’t really recoverable under Truss, is it? She can’t come out and do a barnstorming speech like Cameron or Johnson, because she’s useless at it

Cookie said:

Nigel_Foremain said:

Cookie said:

numbertwelve said:

Cookie said:

IshmaelZ said:

NorthofStoke said:

PeterM said:

Leon said:

Is Birmingham really as ugly as “any city in the world”?

Brum is a shocker (like too many British cities) but I suggest there are worse in the ex-USSR, China, Korea, sub Saharan Africa

eg Almost any town in Armenia is uglier than Birmingham

That could be Birmingham’s new motto. “Better than many places in Armenia”

strange place Birmingham. Supposed to be our 2nd city yet i always find the vibe in Manchester much better and to me Manchester always feels like our 2nd city.

Manchester has a vibe like it thinks it is actually number one which often grates. Some parts of Brum are interesting/pleasant. Near the exhibition centre canal area and near the University are two that spring to mind. I prefer Liverpool, Glasgow and particularly Edinburgh to Manchester.

All the best cities think they are actually number one. Without that self confidence you are nowhere.

Many cities think they are rather more brilliant than might objectively be the case. I'd cite Newcastle and Nottingham in this respect. Manchester's certainty of its own brilliance is something else again though. (I say this as a suburban Mancunian with a great deal of affection for the place. But modest we are not in Manchester.)

Manchester is cosmopolitan, energetic and packed full of culture but god does it know it.

Newcastle is a great and friendly little place (again, not backwards about letting you know this) but for better or for worse it does retain a small town vibe to it.

Birmingham I’ve always just found - fine. Not great, not terrible, just - there.

Another one to add to the shortlist for Birmingham's slogans.

I always liked Viz's slogan for Skegness:


Skegness. It's fucking shit

On the subject of half-hearted municipal slogans, this is perhaps the least ambitious I have come across:

I liked a joke example of such a slogan being 'A capital city', being the adjective, and not, in any way, a Capital city.

Flatlander said:

Nigel_Foremain said:

Cookie said:

numbertwelve said:

Cookie said:

IshmaelZ said:

NorthofStoke said:

PeterM said:

Leon said:

Is Birmingham really as ugly as “any city in the world”?

Brum is a shocker (like too many British cities) but I suggest there are worse in the ex-USSR, China, Korea, sub Saharan Africa

eg Almost any town in Armenia is uglier than Birmingham

That could be Birmingham’s new motto. “Better than many places in Armenia”

strange place Birmingham. Supposed to be our 2nd city yet i always find the vibe in Manchester much better and to me Manchester always feels like our 2nd city.

Manchester has a vibe like it thinks it is actually number one which often grates. Some parts of Brum are interesting/pleasant. Near the exhibition centre canal area and near the University are two that spring to mind. I prefer Liverpool, Glasgow and particularly Edinburgh to Manchester.

All the best cities think they are actually number one. Without that self confidence you are nowhere.

Many cities think they are rather more brilliant than might objectively be the case. I'd cite Newcastle and Nottingham in this respect. Manchester's certainty of its own brilliance is something else again though. (I say this as a suburban Mancunian with a great deal of affection for the place. But modest we are not in Manchester.)

Manchester is cosmopolitan, energetic and packed full of culture but god does it know it.

Newcastle is a great and friendly little place (again, not backwards about letting you know this) but for better or for worse it does retain a small town vibe to it.

Birmingham I’ve always just found - fine. Not great, not terrible, just - there.

Another one to add to the shortlist for Birmingham's slogans.

I always liked Viz's slogan for Skegness:


Skegness. It's fucking shit

Gibraltar Point is well worth a visit.

It is lovely, like the North Norfok coast across the Wash. The town is pretty bracing though, even when the wind doesn't blow.

NEW THREAD

Government economic policy over the last 48 hours (I think the timescale is right, I'm finding it hard to keep up):

1. We want to lower taxes for really wealthy people. This is a great thing because it will more than pay for itself through economic growth.
2. We want to lower taxes for really wealthy people. This is a great thing because it will generate economic growth. However, it won't pay for itself so we shall be asking the rest of you proles to pay for it through cuts to social security and public services.
3. We no longer want to lower taxes for really wealthy people. At least not for another few weeks. It was a terrible idea for which we apologise wholeheartedly, honest. But we shall still be asking the rest of you proles to put up with cuts to social security and public services, so that we can afford lower taxes for really wealthy people next year. Or something.

Am I on the right page, or have they already moved on to stage 4?

Foxy said:

Flatlander said:

Nigel_Foremain said:

Cookie said:

numbertwelve said:

Cookie said:

IshmaelZ said:

NorthofStoke said:

PeterM said:

Leon said:

Is Birmingham really as ugly as “any city in the world”?

Brum is a shocker (like too many British cities) but I suggest there are worse in the ex-USSR, China, Korea, sub Saharan Africa

eg Almost any town in Armenia is uglier than Birmingham

That could be Birmingham’s new motto. “Better than many places in Armenia”

strange place Birmingham. Supposed to be our 2nd city yet i always find the vibe in Manchester much better and to me Manchester always feels like our 2nd city.

Manchester has a vibe like it thinks it is actually number one which often grates. Some parts of Brum are interesting/pleasant. Near the exhibition centre canal area and near the University are two that spring to mind. I prefer Liverpool, Glasgow and particularly Edinburgh to Manchester.

All the best cities think they are actually number one. Without that self confidence you are nowhere.

Many cities think they are rather more brilliant than might objectively be the case. I'd cite Newcastle and Nottingham in this respect. Manchester's certainty of its own brilliance is something else again though. (I say this as a suburban Mancunian with a great deal of affection for the place. But modest we are not in Manchester.)

Manchester is cosmopolitan, energetic and packed full of culture but god does it know it.

Newcastle is a great and friendly little place (again, not backwards about letting you know this) but for better or for worse it does retain a small town vibe to it.

Birmingham I’ve always just found - fine. Not great, not terrible, just - there.

Another one to add to the shortlist for Birmingham's slogans.

I always liked Viz's slogan for Skegness:


Skegness. It's fucking shit

Gibraltar Point is well worth a visit.

It is lovely, like the North Norfok coast across the Wash. The town is pretty bracing though, even when the wind doesn't blow.

The town was extremely busy last time I passed through, so at least some people like it. I can't say I do, but I don't like writing places off.

A lot of places that people see as 'holes' have redeeming features. I mean, even London has some parks...