Just watched it, it was a little strange reading sincerity straight off the autocue. He'll need to work on that. Boris is a hard act to follow on the comms side of the job.
Seriously? Did you not see the Peppa Pig episode?
I did. It was mad, but it wasn't boring.
Sunak set a similar tone to the voice on the tannoy that comes on after a concert telling you the party's over and it's time for everyone to go home. Maybe that is what he intended. :-)
I am quite happy with sensible and boring for politicians. If I want to see a clown I'll go to a circus.
Quite right on clowns, but national leaders can't afford to be completely boring if they want people to follow them.
Not impressed. If you’re tempted, I wouldn’t bother.
There is much better/tastier/healthier vegetarian/vegan food out there.
Not even worth the £1.39 I paid for it. Normal price nearer £4.
Processed shite.
Most 'plant based' stuff is heavily processed unhealthy shit. Its a massive con
Thing I don't understand is why a vegetarian/vegan would want to eat fake meat when there's so much proper vegetarian/vegan food available.
They might like the taste of meat but have moral issues with it.
Right, but fake meat doesn't taste like meat.
How would you know if you're a vegetarian ?
The Linda McCartney mozzarella burgers are surprisingly edible, and quite cheap. I occasionally join the vegetarians in my family in eating them. Ditto the sausages, which I actually prefer when ordering cooked breakfasts, as most greasy spoon sausages are crap.
My understanding is that Beyond sausages contain almost exactly the same amount of meat as Tesco values ones.
Imagine. Scientists spend years carefully replicating the texture and taste of real, prime meat and the product bombs because it tastes nothing like a 'real' sausage.
And yet quite unintelligent animals produce real, prime meat with no effort at all.
More high level calls between Russia and Western officials:
@DefenceHQ A statement on the Chief of the Defence Staff’s call with the Russian Chief of the General Staff, General of the Army Valery Vasilyevich Gerasimov
Interestingly I don't think Macron has spoken to Putin lately. Hopefully the Russian military is looking for a way out. They must surely know that Putin is the obstacle.
Just watched it, it was a little strange reading sincerity straight off the autocue. He'll need to work on that. Boris is a hard act to follow on the comms side of the job.
Seriously? Did you not see the Peppa Pig episode?
I did. It was mad, but it wasn't boring.
Sunak set a similar tone to the voice on the tannoy that comes on after a concert telling you the party's over and it's time for everyone to go home. Maybe that is what he intended. :-)
I am quite happy with sensible and boring for politicians. If I want to see a clown I'll go to a circus.
Quite right on clowns, but national leaders can't afford to be completely boring if they want people to follow them.
Starmer will be giving it a jolly good go from 2024.
Clement Attlee was pretty dull by all accounts. I believe Churchill described him as a humble man with much to be humble about
Not impressed. If you’re tempted, I wouldn’t bother.
There is much better/tastier/healthier vegetarian/vegan food out there.
Not even worth the £1.39 I paid for it. Normal price nearer £4.
Processed shite.
Most 'plant based' stuff is heavily processed unhealthy shit. Its a massive con
Thing I don't understand is why a vegetarian/vegan would want to eat fake meat when there's so much proper vegetarian/vegan food available.
They might like the taste of meat but have moral issues with it.
Right, but fake meat doesn't taste like meat.
How would you know if you're a vegetarian ?
The Linda McCartney mozzarella burgers are surprisingly edible, and quite cheap. I occasionally join the vegetarians in my family in eating them. Ditto the sausages, which I actually prefer when ordering cooked breakfasts, as most greasy spoon sausages are crap.
My understanding is that Beyond sausages contain almost exactly the same amount of meat as Tesco values ones.
Not impressed. If you’re tempted, I wouldn’t bother.
There is much better/tastier/healthier vegetarian/vegan food out there.
Not even worth the £1.39 I paid for it. Normal price nearer £4.
Processed shite.
Most 'plant based' stuff is heavily processed unhealthy shit. Its a massive con
Thing I don't understand is why a vegetarian/vegan would want to eat fake meat when there's so much proper vegetarian/vegan food available.
They might like the taste of meat but have moral issues with it.
Right, but fake meat doesn't taste like meat.
How would you know if you're a vegetarian ?
The Linda McCartney mozzarella burgers are surprisingly edible, and quite cheap. I occasionally join the vegetarians in my family in eating them. Ditto the sausages, which I actually prefer when ordering cooked breakfasts, as most greasy spoon sausages are crap.
My understanding is that Beyond sausages contain almost exactly the same amount of meat as Tesco values ones.
Imagine. Scientists spend years carefully replicating the texture and taste of real, prime meat and the product bombs because it tastes nothing like a 'real' sausage.
And yet quite unintelligent animals produce real, prime meat with no effort at all.
Anyone who has ever visited Stockholm will likely have seen the amazing Vasa warship, built 1626-28. An astonishing sight.
Well, marine archaeologists have just found her sister ship: Äpplet (’The Apple’). What are the chances?
Fabulous fact about Vasa
The use of different measuring systems on either side of the vessel caused its mass to be distributed asymmetrically, heavier to port. During construction both Swedish feet and Amsterdam feet were in use by different teams. Archaeologists have found four rulers used by the workmen who built the ship. Two were calibrated in Swedish feet, which had 12 inches, while the other two measured Amsterdam feet, which had 11 inches.[62]
Not impressed. If you’re tempted, I wouldn’t bother.
There is much better/tastier/healthier vegetarian/vegan food out there.
Not even worth the £1.39 I paid for it. Normal price nearer £4.
Processed shite.
Most 'plant based' stuff is heavily processed unhealthy shit. Its a massive con
Thing I don't understand is why a vegetarian/vegan would want to eat fake meat when there's so much proper vegetarian/vegan food available.
They might like the taste of meat but have moral issues with it.
Right, but fake meat doesn't taste like meat.
How would you know if you're a vegetarian ?
The Linda McCartney mozzarella burgers are surprisingly edible, and quite cheap. I occasionally join the vegetarians in my family in eating them. Ditto the sausages, which I actually prefer when ordering cooked breakfasts, as most greasy spoon sausages are crap.
My understanding is that Beyond sausages contain almost exactly the same amount of meat as Tesco values ones.
Doubtless tomorrow we are to be subjected yet again to that ghastly lectern in Downing St as Truss departs and Sunak returns from the Palace. I don't understand why they now do this - it is a pretty recent thing. I particularly fail to see why Truss chose to face such a public humiliation at that lectern last Thurday. Until recently departing PMs simply issued a press statement - or said nothing at all. Wilson issued a statement announcing his retirement in mid-March 1976 but made no comments as he left for the Palace three weeks later. Callaghan said nothing in 1979 as he left No 10 to resign . In 1990 Thatcher announced her decision to withdraw from the Leadership ballot via a press statement and only addressed the cameras a week later as she departed for the last time. The arrival of a new PM was often followed by a broadcast to the nation - which is what Macmillan did in 1957, Alec Douglas-Home in 1963 and Wilson in 1964. In 1970 Ted Heath did give a statement from the steps of No 10 - but said nothing at all on leaving in March 1974. When Wilson returned there, he uttered just a few words before going inside. Callaghan said nothing on arriving at No 10 but did broadcast to the nation. Thatcher made her St Francis of Assisi remarks in May 1979. Others may see it differently, but to me the lectern comes across as somewhat false and contrived.
Short and sweet . I really don’t care he gave a one minute statement , we don’t need half an hour of vacuous guff , he’s not Bozo.
Still I’ll give him a chance unless he puts the stain on humanity as HS.
We so need a liberally minded, independent thinker at the Home Office which has not quite recovered from Theresa May's baleful influence. I would love to see what someone like Gove could do with it.
I can't think of any liberally minded, independent thinkers at the Home Office any time I've been following politics.
Straw and Blunkett etc were major authoritarians in the job too.
Who was the last liberally minded Home Secretary do you think?
Possibly Alan Johnson, although he wasn't there particularly long. The greatest of all, of course, was Roy Jenkins who changed this country so much for the better.
Whitelaw as well?
Yes, he definitely gets a pass mark. Not many though. It is an incredibly difficult department to run and prone to producing far more than the average level of cockups.
Clarke was Home Secretary as well of course for a time - just over a year.
Edit - and of course he initiated many changes at Justice in 2010 with the intent of liberalising the system.
Clarke was worse than Blunkett. IDcards, restrictive on trial by jury stuff etc Jacqui Smith with 42 day detention... Labour had some right nutters
Re; Clarke, Jacqui Smith and others, that was indeed the fag-end era of New Labour authoritarianism, as wooliedyed highlights, and I hope Starmer doesn't go too far back to that, as his Mail-pleasing comments today on jailing roads protestors today might be interpreted as indicating.
Not impressed. If you’re tempted, I wouldn’t bother.
There is much better/tastier/healthier vegetarian/vegan food out there.
Not even worth the £1.39 I paid for it. Normal price nearer £4.
Processed shite.
Most 'plant based' stuff is heavily processed unhealthy shit. Its a massive con
Thing I don't understand is why a vegetarian/vegan would want to eat fake meat when there's so much proper vegetarian/vegan food available.
They might like the taste of meat but have moral issues with it.
Right, but fake meat doesn't taste like meat.
How would you know if you're a vegetarian ?
The Linda McCartney mozzarella burgers are surprisingly edible, and quite cheap. I occasionally join the vegetarians in my family in eating them. Ditto the sausages, which I actually prefer when ordering cooked breakfasts, as most greasy spoon sausages are crap.
My understanding is that Beyond sausages contain almost exactly the same amount of meat as Tesco values ones.
Well, if 53% is "almost exactly the same" as zero, then yes...
Ummm...I think you missed what I was implying about the real content of 'vegetarian' sausages...
Ah, I see. I thought it was a Tesco Value joke... Sorry, long day, early start (the washing machine engineer took "8am to 1pm" more literally than I would have hoped), not enough caffeine.
Just watched it, it was a little strange reading sincerity straight off the autocue. He'll need to work on that. Boris is a hard act to follow on the comms side of the job.
Seriously? Did you not see the Peppa Pig episode?
I did. It was mad, but it wasn't boring.
Sunak set a similar tone to the voice on the tannoy that comes on after a concert telling you the party's over and it's time for everyone to go home. Maybe that is what he intended. :-)
I am quite happy with sensible and boring for politicians. If I want to see a clown I'll go to a circus.
Quite right on clowns, but national leaders can't afford to be completely boring if they want people to follow them.
Starmer will be giving it a jolly good go from 2024.
Clement Attlee was pretty dull by all accounts. I believe Churchill described him as a humble man with much to be humble about
Churchill was always rather indignant about that, because he didn't. In fact, he rated Attlee highly for all he could make silly remarks about Gestapos.
I think it was Duff Cooper who said however 'an empty taxi drew up and Clement Attlee got out.'
True statement - IF you substitute "Duff Cooper" for "Clement Attlee".
Just watched it, it was a little strange reading sincerity straight off the autocue. He'll need to work on that. Boris is a hard act to follow on the comms side of the job.
Also just watched. I guess he wanted carefully chosen words, but for something that short it would have been better to either do it off the cuff/from the heart or at least read the autocue in a way that made it look like it was.
Still, if the worst that we can say is that he's a bit wooden, he's not doing too badly. No spooking of the markets or breaking of his own laws just yet
'Wooden' when you're up against Starmer is not that big a problem anyway, to be fair.
Also unlike Truss, Sunak has done loads of interviews over the past few years and he usually comes off somewhere between fine and well. However, obviously its much easier when you are giving sweeties out rather than taking them away and Rishi problems have normally come when he has tried to go out into the real world and do a photo-op.
I think we are looking at this a little bit backwards.
Having a dull technocrat on the Tory benches, while in the national interest, makes it *easier* for Starmer.
The "who has the biggest clown shoes" argument has flipped and it is now Labour's to lose. So the Tories need to offer something compelling even though they are "technically" (and with a substantial majority) in government.
"Looking similar to Starmer" plays into Labour's hands.
Doubtless tomorrow we are to be subjected yet again to that ghastly lectern in Downing St as Truss departs and Sunak returns from the Palace. I don't understand why they now do this - it is a pretty recent thing. I particularly fail to see why Truss chose to face such a public humiliation at that lectern last Thurday. Until recently departing PMs simply issued a press statement - or said nothing at all. Wilson issued a statement announcing his retirement in mid-March 1976 but made no comments as he left for the Palace three weeks later. Callaghan said nothing in 1979 as he left No 10 to resign . In 1990 Thatcher announced her decision to withdraw from the Leadership ballot via a press statement and only addressed the cameras a week later as she departed for the last time. The arrival of a new PM was often followed by a broadcast to the nation - which is what Macmillan did in 1957, Alec Douglas-Home in 1963 and Wilson in 1964. In 1970 Ted Heath did give a statement from the steps of No 10 - but said nothing at all on leaving in March 1974. When Wilson returned there, he uttered just a few words before going inside. Callaghan said nothing on arriving at No 10 but did broadcast to the nation. Thatcher made her St Francis of Assisi remarks in May 1979. Others may see it differently, but to me the lectern comes across as somewhat false and contrived.
I wonder if they have brought in the downing street carpenter to reduce the size of the lectern?
Short and sweet . I really don’t care he gave a one minute statement , we don’t need half an hour of vacuous guff , he’s not Bozo.
Still I’ll give him a chance unless he puts the stain on humanity as HS.
We so need a liberally minded, independent thinker at the Home Office which has not quite recovered from Theresa May's baleful influence. I would love to see what someone like Gove could do with it.
I can't think of any liberally minded, independent thinkers at the Home Office any time I've been following politics.
Straw and Blunkett etc were major authoritarians in the job too.
Who was the last liberally minded Home Secretary do you think?
Possibly Alan Johnson, although he wasn't there particularly long. The greatest of all, of course, was Roy Jenkins who changed this country so much for the better.
Whitelaw as well?
Yes, he definitely gets a pass mark. Not many though. It is an incredibly difficult department to run and prone to producing far more than the average level of cockups.
Clarke was Home Secretary as well of course for a time - just over a year.
Edit - and of course he initiated many changes at Justice in 2010 with the intent of liberalising the system.
Clarke was worse than Blunkett. IDcards, restrictive on trial by jury stuff etc Jacqui Smith with 42 day detention... Labour had some right nutters
I personally think the last 3 months have been a wonderful demonstration of how our democracy works well. We have had 2 successive Prime Ministers who were not up to the job and the country was able to remove them. If we had a Presidential system then we would be stuck with them. We should be celebrating this!
A learning to be taken is that it is silly having a system which allows a membership to put in a leader who does not have support of MPs. If the Tory party is sensible then they will prevent this happening in future.
Short and sweet . I really don’t care he gave a one minute statement , we don’t need half an hour of vacuous guff , he’s not Bozo.
Still I’ll give him a chance unless he puts the stain on humanity as HS.
We so need a liberally minded, independent thinker at the Home Office which has not quite recovered from Theresa May's baleful influence. I would love to see what someone like Gove could do with it.
I can't think of any liberally minded, independent thinkers at the Home Office any time I've been following politics.
Straw and Blunkett etc were major authoritarians in the job too.
Who was the last liberally minded Home Secretary do you think?
Possibly Alan Johnson, although he wasn't there particularly long. The greatest of all, of course, was Roy Jenkins who changed this country so much for the better.
The Binyam Mohammed affair/MI5 stuff says no for me
I thought that was more a Foreign Office mess than Home Office. Did not reflect well on us, that is for sure but I don't know what Alan Johnson had to do with it.
Doubtless tomorrow we are to be subjected yet again to that ghastly lectern in Downing St as Truss departs and Sunak returns from the Palace. I don't understand why they now do this - it is a pretty recent thing. I particularly fail to see why Truss chose to face such a public humiliation at that lectern last Thurday. Until recently departing PMs simply issued a press statement - or said nothing at all. Wilson issued a statement announcing his retirement in mid-March 1976 but made no comments as he left for the Palace three weeks later. Callaghan said nothing in 1979 as he left No 10 to resign . In 1990 Thatcher announced her decision to withdraw from the Leadership ballot via a press statement and only addressed the cameras a week later as she departed for the last time. The arrival of a new PM was often followed by a broadcast to the nation - which is what Macmillan did in 1957, Alec Douglas-Home in 1963 and Wilson in 1964. In 1970 Ted Heath did give a statement from the steps of No 10 - but said nothing at all on leaving in March 1974. When Wilson returned there, he uttered just a few words before going inside. Callaghan said nothing on arriving at No 10 but did broadcast to the nation. Thatcher made her St Francis of Assisi remarks in May 1979. Others may see it differently, but to me the lectern comes across as somewhat false and contrived.
I wonder if they have brought in the downing street carpenter to reduce the size of the lectern?
Huge congratulations @RishiSunak on becoming PM to lead us through challenging times. I predicted a decade ago that @Conservatives would select our first Brit Indian PM & proud today that comes to be. I wish Rishi the v best, he has my wholehearted support
More high level calls between Russia and Western officials:
@DefenceHQ A statement on the Chief of the Defence Staff’s call with the Russian Chief of the General Staff, General of the Army Valery Vasilyevich Gerasimov
Interestingly I don't think Macron has spoken to Putin lately. Hopefully the Russian military is looking for a way out. They must surely know that Putin is the obstacle.
There seems to be a blithe assumption that whatever follows VVP will be more favourable.
Just watched it, it was a little strange reading sincerity straight off the autocue. He'll need to work on that. Boris is a hard act to follow on the comms side of the job.
Also just watched. I guess he wanted carefully chosen words, but for something that short it would have been better to either do it off the cuff/from the heart or at least read the autocue in a way that made it look like it was.
Still, if the worst that we can say is that he's a bit wooden, he's not doing too badly. No spooking of the markets or breaking of his own laws just yet
'Wooden' when you're up against Starmer is not that big a problem anyway, to be fair.
Also unlike Truss, Sunak has done loads of interviews over the past few years and he usually comes off somewhere between fine and well. However, obviously its much easier when you are giving sweeties out rather than taking them away and Rishi problems have normally come when he has tried to go out into the real world and do a photo-op.
I think we are looking at this a little bit backwards.
Having a dull technocrat on the Tory benches, while in the national interest, makes it *easier* for Starmer.
The "who has the biggest clown shoes" argument has flipped and it is now Labour's to lose. So the Tories need to offer something compelling even though they are "technically" (and with a substantial majority) in government.
"Looking similar to Starmer" plays into Labour's hands.
I am not sure it does. Starmer's only real USP is that he is "sensible". He is now a "sensible" person who has no experience of governmental office
Interesting comments abound on European twitter that Varadkar was half-Irish. So Sunak is in fact indeed the first ethnic minority leader of any european country.
Leo Varadkar is 100% Irish = Irish born & bred. Of mixed ethnic heritage, like Obama.
Only racists claim that Barack Obama is "half-American". Same with this "half-Irish" skunk-shit.
More high level calls between Russia and Western officials:
@DefenceHQ A statement on the Chief of the Defence Staff’s call with the Russian Chief of the General Staff, General of the Army Valery Vasilyevich Gerasimov
We really, really want a negotiated way out of this disaster but we are struggling for ideas that are not insane. Can you help? was my rather freehand translation.
Doubtless tomorrow we are to be subjected yet again to that ghastly lectern in Downing St as Truss departs and Sunak returns from the Palace. I don't understand why they now do this - it is a pretty recent thing. I particularly fail to see why Truss chose to face such a public humiliation at that lectern last Thurday. Until recently departing PMs simply issued a press statement - or said nothing at all. Wilson issued a statement announcing his retirement in mid-March 1976 but made no comments as he left for the Palace three weeks later. Callaghan said nothing in 1979 as he left No 10 to resign . In 1990 Thatcher announced her decision to withdraw from the Leadership ballot via a press statement and only addressed the cameras a week later as she departed for the last time. The arrival of a new PM was often followed by a broadcast to the nation - which is what Macmillan did in 1957, Alec Douglas-Home in 1963 and Wilson in 1964. In 1970 Ted Heath did give a statement from the steps of No 10 - but said nothing at all on leaving in March 1974. When Wilson returned there, he uttered just a few words before going inside. Callaghan said nothing on arriving at No 10 but did broadcast to the nation. Thatcher made her St Francis of Assisi remarks in May 1979. Others may see it differently, but to me the lectern comes across as somewhat false and contrived.
I wonder if they have brought in the downing street carpenter to reduce the size of the lectern?
I would suggest he would be better off saying very little at all followed by a later Ministerial broadcast.
More high level calls between Russia and Western officials:
@DefenceHQ A statement on the Chief of the Defence Staff’s call with the Russian Chief of the General Staff, General of the Army Valery Vasilyevich Gerasimov
Interestingly I don't think Macron has spoken to Putin lately. Hopefully the Russian military is looking for a way out. They must surely know that Putin is the obstacle.
He did give another speech where he started talking about Russia's humiliation after the fall of the USSR again.
Meanwhile, Microsoft Teams hasn't got any better...
It has been meetings Monday and Teams has twatted up successive meetings in entirely different ways. It (sadly) is now entirely integrated into the infrastructure I use - I just wish it would work consistently.
I find it's pretty good once you actually get into the meeting. It's all the dross that they've superimposed on top of it which is a disaster, such as account management.
We have been using it for years and find it extremely reliable - far more so than the hardware infrastructure within companies that are using it.
Just watched it, it was a little strange reading sincerity straight off the autocue. He'll need to work on that. Boris is a hard act to follow on the comms side of the job.
Also just watched. I guess he wanted carefully chosen words, but for something that short it would have been better to either do it off the cuff/from the heart or at least read the autocue in a way that made it look like it was.
Still, if the worst that we can say is that he's a bit wooden, he's not doing too badly. No spooking of the markets or breaking of his own laws just yet
'Wooden' when you're up against Starmer is not that big a problem anyway, to be fair.
Also unlike Truss, Sunak has done loads of interviews over the past few years and he usually comes off somewhere between fine and well. However, obviously its much easier when you are giving sweeties out rather than taking them away and Rishi problems have normally come when he has tried to go out into the real world and do a photo-op.
I think we are looking at this a little bit backwards.
Having a dull technocrat on the Tory benches, while in the national interest, makes it *easier* for Starmer.
The "who has the biggest clown shoes" argument has flipped and it is now Labour's to lose. So the Tories need to offer something compelling even though they are "technically" (and with a substantial majority) in government.
"Looking similar to Starmer" plays into Labour's hands.
I am not sure it does. Starmer's only real USP is that he is "sensible". He is now a "sensible" person who has no experience of governmental office
Certainly, if things are still to heck, "no experience" is the best card to play, and hope it beats out the mood of "we've had quite enough experience of Conservative government."
It's a golden legacy actually. Impossible to go anywhere but up. This is the absolute best state to take over something. Johnson had similar in July 2019 of course and, boy, did he ride it.
Also he's bound to shine cf his immediate predecessor. For starters he'll get rave reviews just for a fiscal statement that isn't crazy and doesn't push the gilt markets into pandemonium.
And he married into billions. Lucky lucky Rishi Sunak.
More high level calls between Russia and Western officials:
@DefenceHQ A statement on the Chief of the Defence Staff’s call with the Russian Chief of the General Staff, General of the Army Valery Vasilyevich Gerasimov
We really, really want a negotiated way out of this disaster but we are struggling for ideas that are not insane. Can you help? was my rather freehand translation.
How about:
They shoot Putin and his cabal
They withdraw from all of Ukraine, including Crimea.
They return all the people they've kidnapped to their homes
They pay reparations for all the damage done and compensation to the families of the dead.
When they have done that, Zelensky's government will agree to fair, free and democratic referendums in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Kharkiv, Crimea and Zaporizhzhia, supervised by the EU and UN, on whether to join Russia or not, with a full pledge that if they do vote to join Russia, they will be free to do so.
Meanwhile, Microsoft Teams hasn't got any better...
It has been meetings Monday and Teams has twatted up successive meetings in entirely different ways. It (sadly) is now entirely integrated into the infrastructure I use - I just wish it would work consistently.
Word of advice: don't use the app, do it all through the browser. You'll have a significantly better experience.
Interesting comments abound on European twitter that Varadkar was half-Irish. So Sunak is in fact indeed the first ethnic minority leader of any european country.
What about Benjamin Disraeli?
Benjamin Disraeli opens a whole can of worms around whether Judaism is an ethnicity or a religion. Fwiw, in religious terms, Disraeli was Christian.
Not impressed. If you’re tempted, I wouldn’t bother.
There is much better/tastier/healthier vegetarian/vegan food out there.
Not even worth the £1.39 I paid for it. Normal price nearer £4.
Processed shite.
Most 'plant based' stuff is heavily processed unhealthy shit. Its a massive con
Thing I don't understand is why a vegetarian/vegan would want to eat fake meat when there's so much proper vegetarian/vegan food available.
They might like the taste of meat but have moral issues with it.
Right, but fake meat doesn't taste like meat.
How would you know if you're a vegetarian ?
The Linda McCartney mozzarella burgers are surprisingly edible, and quite cheap. I occasionally join the vegetarians in my family in eating them. Ditto the sausages, which I actually prefer when ordering cooked breakfasts, as most greasy spoon sausages are crap.
My understanding is that Beyond sausages contain almost exactly the same amount of meat as Tesco values ones.
I do like the idea of a 'Tesco values' range though, or maybe several.
Good old British values range: every product wrapped in the fleg, with a smiling (white, male, gammony) farmer on the cover and a statement that, where animal based, all the animals were cisgender. Flagship product: "Aberdeen North British Angus burgers" that are all bull with verified balls, not cows that call themselves 'Angus'. Marked in lbs and ozs and priced in £/s/d
Woke/stop oil values range: every product fronted by a non-binary countryside stewardex of colour; pronouns of any dead animals involved provided on packaging. Nutrition info replaced by detailed GHG emissions info - including induced flatulence, plus the number of socially disadvantaged persons exploited in manufacture. Every product sold in a catapult for launching at oil-based items around the world. Flagship Rainbow Warrior product, "Black puddings matter" (vegan product)
Prediction: Sunak will surprise on the downside. He’s looked good when compared to Johnson and when compared to Truss, but it’s easy to look good compared to those two. Many are assuming Sunak wants to win from the centre, but he was a Leaver, he supported Johnson. He was too timid to desert Johnson until very late. His main accomplishments are furlough and other COVID support (which any CoE would’ve done and his model was full of fraud), Eat Out to Help Out (which increased COVID spread) and increasing NI (there would’ve been better tax changes to make). I am HUGELY grateful we don’t have Johnson back, that Truss is gone, that we don’t have a Braverman, Badenoch or Baker, but I don’t think Sunak is some Wunderkind who will turn the Tories’ fortunes around.
Interesting comments abound on European twitter that Varadkar was half-Irish. So Sunak is in fact indeed the first ethnic minority leader of any european country.
What about Benjamin Disraeli?
Benjamin Disraeli opens a whole can of worms around whether Judaism is an ethnicity or a religion. Fwiw, in religious terms, Disraeli was Christian.
It is obviously an ethnicity linked to a religion. No can of worms at all unless your name is Jeremy Corbyn
More high level calls between Russia and Western officials:
@DefenceHQ A statement on the Chief of the Defence Staff’s call with the Russian Chief of the General Staff, General of the Army Valery Vasilyevich Gerasimov
Interestingly I don't think Macron has spoken to Putin lately. Hopefully the Russian military is looking for a way out. They must surely know that Putin is the obstacle.
There seems to be a blithe assumption that whatever follows VVP will be more favourable.
I don't see a blithe assumption about that all. Lots of people accept that what follows the little fascist might be worse.
However: Russia is in a bind, and I cannot see its economy - or the state of the war - getting better as time goes on. If Putin was replaced, his replacement would have to deal with the fallout of all this mess - and it is easier for a new person to deal with the realities of the situation, and blame that reality on Putin.
Whoever replaces Putin would have to have lots of support from other influential people. And selling: "Let's try to get out of this hideous war and sort out the economy and military" is an easier sell to a crowd than: "Let's double down and nuke everyone!" Especially when those people like their foreign houses and yachts.
I cannot see any Putin replacement forcing the war harder - because if they wanted that, they'd just keep Putin in place. I really don't see Putin being as a roadblock in Russian barbarity.
Prediction: Sunak will surprise on the downside. He’s looked good when compared to Johnson and when compared to Truss, but it’s easy to look good compared to those two. Many are assuming Sunak wants to win from the centre, but he was a Leaver, he supported Johnson. He was too timid to desert Johnson until very late. His main accomplishments are furlough and other COVID support (which any CoE would’ve done and his model was full of fraud), Eat Out to Help Out (which increased COVID spread) and increasing NI (there would’ve been better tax changes to make). I am HUGELY grateful we don’t have Johnson back, that Truss is gone, that we don’t have a Braverman, Badenoch or Baker, but I don’t think Sunak is some Wunderkind who will turn the Tories’ fortunes around.
You are trying to raise money for a health-related item - what tax would be a better one to raise - given that wealth / property taxes are definitely not in the tory party playbook.
More high level calls between Russia and Western officials:
@DefenceHQ A statement on the Chief of the Defence Staff’s call with the Russian Chief of the General Staff, General of the Army Valery Vasilyevich Gerasimov
Interestingly I don't think Macron has spoken to Putin lately. Hopefully the Russian military is looking for a way out. They must surely know that Putin is the obstacle.
There seems to be a blithe assumption that whatever follows VVP will be more favourable.
If you ignore the many times people have not assumed that.
Betfair have already got a new next Conservative Leader market up.
Lol.
When the Tories lose the General Election will Rishi stand down? I don't believe any Tory has stayed in post when they have lost an election for 50 years. History would suggest he would go. Penny I'm sure will be chomping at the bit but it will be at least 5 years in opposition.
Doubtless tomorrow we are to be subjected yet again to that ghastly lectern in Downing St as Truss departs and Sunak returns from the Palace. I don't understand why they now do this - it is a pretty recent thing. I particularly fail to see why Truss chose to face such a public humiliation at that lectern last Thurday. Until recently departing PMs simply issued a press statement - or said nothing at all. Wilson issued a statement announcing his retirement in mid-March 1976 but made no comments as he left for the Palace three weeks later. Callaghan said nothing in 1979 as he left No 10 to resign . In 1990 Thatcher announced her decision to withdraw from the Leadership ballot via a press statement and only addressed the cameras a week later as she departed for the last time. The arrival of a new PM was often followed by a broadcast to the nation - which is what Macmillan did in 1957, Alec Douglas-Home in 1963 and Wilson in 1964. In 1970 Ted Heath did give a statement from the steps of No 10 - but said nothing at all on leaving in March 1974. When Wilson returned there, he uttered just a few words before going inside. Callaghan said nothing on arriving at No 10 but did broadcast to the nation. Thatcher made her St Francis of Assisi remarks in May 1979. Others may see it differently, but to me the lectern comes across as somewhat false and contrived.
Downing Street awash with spin-quacks, many of dubious credentials as well as associations, who have constant, continual need to demonstrate their "skills" even when totally lacking, or outright unhelpful to their alleged bosses.
More high level calls between Russia and Western officials:
@DefenceHQ A statement on the Chief of the Defence Staff’s call with the Russian Chief of the General Staff, General of the Army Valery Vasilyevich Gerasimov
We really, really want a negotiated way out of this disaster but we are struggling for ideas that are not insane. Can you help? was my rather freehand translation.
How about:
They shoot Putin and his cabal
They withdraw from all of Ukraine, including Crimea.
They return all the people they've kidnapped to their homes
They pay reparations for all the damage done and compensation to the families of the dead.
When they have done that, Zelensky's government will agree to fair, free and democratic referendums in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Kharkiv, Crimea and Zaporizhzhia, supervised by the EU and UN, on whether to join Russia or not, with a full pledge that if they do vote to join Russia, they will be free to do so.
So in accelerating growth, I have three priorities. Priorities that I believe will foster a new culture of enterprise and deliver a higher growth rate. The first is to encourage greater levels of capital investment by our businesses. Second, we need to improve the technical skills of the tens of millions of people already in work. And third, we want to make this the most innovative economy in the world by driving up business investment in research and development.
Capital. People. Ideas. Three priorities to deliver higher productivity, tied with one golden thread: that what government does is far less important than creating the conditions for private businesses and individuals to thrive. Let me take each priority in turn.
Interesting comments abound on European twitter that Varadkar was half-Irish. So Sunak is in fact indeed the first ethnic minority leader of any european country.
What about Benjamin Disraeli?
Benjamin Disraeli opens a whole can of worms around whether Judaism is an ethnicity or a religion. Fwiw, in religious terms, Disraeli was Christian.
It is obviously an ethnicity linked to a religion. No can of worms at all unless your name is Jeremy Corbyn
As someone married into that ethnicity/religion, I would say it is indeed incredibly complex. Some Jews identify as an ethnicity, others as a religion, others almost only as some sort of cultural or intellectual affiliation or worldview. The European-Jewish inheritance.
On purely the ethnic front alone as per the discussion below, the average European component mix for European Jews is actually around 75%, from the DNA figures, IIRC.
Betfair have already got a new next Conservative Leader market up.
Lol.
When the Tories lose the General Election will Rishi stand down? I don't believe any Tory has stayed in post when they have lost an election for 50 years. History would suggest he would go. Penny I'm sure will be chomping at the bit but it will be at least 5 years in opposition.
Heath stayed on for 4 months after losing the October 1974 general election until Thatcher ousted him (having also stayed on after losing the 1966 general election, winning in 1970). Wilson too stayed on as Labour leader after losing power in 1970, winning in 1974
Redfields final 'best PM' for Truss shows 59 - 8 in favour of Starmer, a simply eye watering stat. Hunt has taken a dive too on approval, only 19% positive. More i think a product of the government's paltry 8% approval.
I cannot see any Putin replacement forcing the war harder - because if they wanted that, they'd just keep Putin in place. I really don't see Putin being as a roadblock in Russian barbarity.
The only significant political pressure on VVP inside Russia with regard to the SMO is from those who consider that it's being executed incompetently and with insufficient aggression.
If there is regime change he'll be replaced by somebody prepared to act with less restraint. Unless the whole Russian Federation gets tipped into civil war which is not impossible and also not ideal.
I cannot see any Putin replacement forcing the war harder - because if they wanted that, they'd just keep Putin in place. I really don't see Putin being as a roadblock in Russian barbarity.
The only significant political pressure on VVP inside Russia with regard to the SMO is from those who consider that it's being executed incompetently and with insufficient aggression.
If there is regime change he'll be replaced by somebody prepared to act with less restraint. Unless the whole Russian Federation gets tipped into civil war which is not impossible and also not ideal.
It would probably increase gas prices quite substantially.
Interesting comments abound on European twitter that Varadkar was half-Irish. So Sunak is in fact indeed the first ethnic minority leader of any european country.
What about Benjamin Disraeli?
Benjamin Disraeli opens a whole can of worms around whether Judaism is an ethnicity or a religion. Fwiw, in religious terms, Disraeli was Christian.
Being of Jewish heritage was most certainly regarded as an "ethnicity" in Disraeli's day, and for many days thereafter. Not just in UK, but across Europe and North America.
Just as Catholicism was part and parcel of the Irish Catholic ethnic identity. As Protestantism was integral to Scots-Irish identity.
Am I supposed to know who these people are. I click on it to be presented by a scream mask avatar, with bugger all followers and I diatribe of retw@tters on their timeline.
Betfair have already got a new next Conservative Leader market up.
Lol.
When the Tories lose the General Election will Rishi stand down? I don't believe any Tory has stayed in post when they have lost an election for 50 years. History would suggest he would go. Penny I'm sure will be chomping at the bit but it will be at least 5 years in opposition.
Heath hung on from October 74 to Feb 75 when he was narrowly defeated by Thatcher.
Now, there's a man who needs to get his shift key checked. It seems to be engaging at random points. Then, after that, the apostrophe and exclamation mark keys. But shift key first, I'd say.
Meanwhile, Microsoft Teams hasn't got any better...
It has been meetings Monday and Teams has twatted up successive meetings in entirely different ways. It (sadly) is now entirely integrated into the infrastructure I use - I just wish it would work consistently.
Word of advice: don't use the app, do it all through the browser. You'll have a significantly better experience.
Very much this. In particular the native app is completely unreliable on Intel Macs. Running it within Chrome is much less bug-infested. (It’s the only thing I keep Chrome around for, tbh.)
I cannot see any Putin replacement forcing the war harder - because if they wanted that, they'd just keep Putin in place. I really don't see Putin being as a roadblock in Russian barbarity.
The only significant political pressure on VVP inside Russia with regard to the SMO is from those who consider that it's being executed incompetently and with insufficient aggression.
If there is regime change he'll be replaced by somebody prepared to act with less restraint. Unless the whole Russian Federation gets tipped into civil war which is not impossible and also not ideal.
It’s easily possible Putin will be followed by ultra-Putin
And while it’s encouraging that western officials are talking to Russian officials, there’s also this:
“Ukraine war heading for ‘uncontrolled escalation’, says Russia Moscow appears to be preparing ground for further escalation with discredited claims that Kyiv may use ‘dirty’ bomb”
Betfair have already got a new next Conservative Leader market up.
Lol.
When the Tories lose the General Election will Rishi stand down? I don't believe any Tory has stayed in post when they have lost an election for 50 years. History would suggest he would go. Penny I'm sure will be chomping at the bit but it will be at least 5 years in opposition.
Heath hung on from October 74 to Feb 75 when he was narrowly defeated by Thatcher.
That was complicated by the fact that the Tories were redrawing their rules for electing a leader, and everyone agreed to wait until after that had been done and then Heath would call the first of a new, annual series of leadership elections.
Anyway, I suspect for each one that leaves, two of us will bounce back to the party to replace him.
Yep, I am thinking of rejoining. They might refuse me, because when they last sent me a begging letter (as I was a one time doner) I drew a big cock and balls on the letter and sent it back in the prepaid envelope.
Anyway, I suspect for each one that leaves, two of us will bounce back to the party to replace him.
Yep, I am thinking of rejoining. They might refuse me, because when they last sent me a begging letter (as I was a one time doner) I drew a big cock and balls on the letter and sent it back in the prepaid envelope.
So the question is whether they're over their adicktion?
Comments
The use of different measuring systems on either side of the vessel caused its mass to be distributed asymmetrically, heavier to port. During construction both Swedish feet and Amsterdam feet were in use by different teams. Archaeologists have found four rulers used by the workmen who built the ship. Two were calibrated in Swedish feet, which had 12 inches, while the other two measured Amsterdam feet, which had 11 inches.[62]
I think we can write of Handycock getting back at Health.
The arrival of a new PM was often followed by a broadcast to the nation - which is what Macmillan did in 1957, Alec Douglas-Home in 1963 and Wilson in 1964. In 1970 Ted Heath did give a statement from the steps of No 10 - but said nothing at all on leaving in March 1974. When Wilson returned there, he uttered just a few words before going inside. Callaghan said nothing on arriving at No 10 but did broadcast to the nation. Thatcher made her St Francis of Assisi remarks in May 1979.
Others may see it differently, but to me the lectern comes across as somewhat false and contrived.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/oct/17/prisonsandprobation.ukcrime1
Having a dull technocrat on the Tory benches, while in the national interest, makes it *easier* for Starmer.
The "who has the biggest clown shoes" argument has flipped and it is now Labour's to lose. So the Tories need to offer something compelling even though they are "technically" (and with a substantial majority) in government.
"Looking similar to Starmer" plays into Labour's hands.
A learning to be taken is that it is silly having a system which allows a membership to put in a leader who does not have support of MPs. If the Tory party is sensible then they will prevent this happening in future.
Rishi will provide the calm, competent, pragmatic leadership our country needs at this deeply challenging time. He has my full support.
https://twitter.com/theresa_may/status/1584550840450404352
Huge congratulations @RishiSunak on becoming PM to lead us through challenging times. I predicted a decade ago that @Conservatives would select our first Brit Indian PM & proud today that comes to be. I wish Rishi the v best, he has my wholehearted support
https://twitter.com/David_Cameron/status/1584532175122489345
Boris……..?
He loses an imminent election very badly - possibly.
He later leads his party to an enormous majority - unlikely
He is leader for 20 years - not happening.
Only racists claim that Barack Obama is "half-American". Same with this "half-Irish" skunk-shit.
However his rise to be PM is a really great thing. Skin colour will hopefully never be an issue in the UK ever again.
Also he's bound to shine cf his immediate predecessor. For starters he'll get rave reviews just for a fiscal statement that isn't crazy and doesn't push the gilt markets into pandemonium.
And he married into billions. Lucky lucky Rishi Sunak.
Ukrainian forces have now pushed Russian forces from the eastern outskirts of Bakhmut completely.
Confirmed.
That is 2 months of progress gone in a couple days for Russian forces.
https://twitter.com/WarMonitor3/status/1584576065397493761
They shoot Putin and his cabal
They withdraw from all of Ukraine, including Crimea.
They return all the people they've kidnapped to their homes
They pay reparations for all the damage done and compensation to the families of the dead.
When they have done that, Zelensky's government will agree to fair, free and democratic referendums in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Kharkiv, Crimea and Zaporizhzhia, supervised by the EU and UN, on whether to join Russia or not, with a full pledge that if they do vote to join Russia, they will be free to do so.
That could work.
Good old British values range: every product wrapped in the fleg, with a smiling (white, male, gammony) farmer on the cover and a statement that, where animal based, all the animals were cisgender. Flagship product: "Aberdeen North British Angus burgers" that are all bull with verified balls, not cows that call themselves 'Angus'. Marked in lbs and ozs and priced in £/s/d
Woke/stop oil values range: every product fronted by a non-binary countryside stewardex of colour; pronouns of any dead animals involved provided on packaging. Nutrition info replaced by detailed GHG emissions info - including induced flatulence, plus the number of socially disadvantaged persons exploited in manufacture. Every product sold in a catapult for launching at oil-based items around the world. Flagship Rainbow Warrior product, "Black puddings matter" (vegan product)
He needs to loosen up.
Hopefully he’ll grow into the role.
https://euromaidanpress.com/2022/10/24/israel-destroys-iranian-drone-factory-in-syria-human-rights-activists/
Westminster Voting Intention (23 October):
Labour 54% (-1)
Conservative 21% (+2)
Liberal Democrat 11% (-1)
Green 4% (–)
Reform UK 4% (–)
Scottish National Party 3% (-1)
Other 2% (+1)
Changes +/- 19 October
https://redfieldandwiltonstrategies.com/latest-gb-voting-intention-23-october-2022 https://twitter.com/RedfieldWilton/status/1584575446217330691/photo/1
Lol.
Wild guess says Johnson...
However: Russia is in a bind, and I cannot see its economy - or the state of the war - getting better as time goes on. If Putin was replaced, his replacement would have to deal with the fallout of all this mess - and it is easier for a new person to deal with the realities of the situation, and blame that reality on Putin.
Whoever replaces Putin would have to have lots of support from other influential people. And selling: "Let's try to get out of this hideous war and sort out the economy and military" is an easier sell to a crowd than: "Let's double down and nuke everyone!" Especially when those people like their foreign houses and yachts.
I cannot see any Putin replacement forcing the war harder - because if they wanted that, they'd just keep Putin in place. I really don't see Putin being as a roadblock in Russian barbarity.
Although 7/1 (or the current lay price 15/1) ain’t tempting.
I’ll give the market a miss, for now.
So in accelerating growth, I have three priorities. Priorities that I believe will foster a new culture of enterprise and deliver a higher growth rate. The first is to encourage greater levels of capital investment by our businesses. Second, we need to improve the technical skills of the tens of millions of people already in work. And third, we want to make this the most innovative economy in the world by driving up business investment in research and development.
Capital. People. Ideas. Three priorities to deliver higher productivity, tied with one golden thread: that what government does is far less important than creating the conditions for private businesses and individuals to thrive. Let me take each priority in turn.
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/chancellor-rishi-sunaks-mais-lecture-2022
Excoriates unfunded tax cuts “which DON’T pay for themselves”.
Worth a read.
I have now resigned my membership, the party is Finished.
#StitchUp https://twitter.com/ItsJamesPowers/status/1584531007176253440/photo/1
On purely the ethnic front alone as per the discussion below, the average European component mix for European Jews is actually around 75%, from the DNA figures, IIRC.
You can imagine a commentator saying "when the allies overran Belsen the troops really did make quite a fuss about it"
Hunt has taken a dive too on approval, only 19% positive. More i think a product of the government's paltry 8% approval.
If there is regime change he'll be replaced by somebody prepared to act with less restraint. Unless the whole Russian Federation gets tipped into civil war which is not impossible and also not ideal.
Just as Catholicism was part and parcel of the Irish Catholic ethnic identity. As Protestantism was integral to Scots-Irish identity.
Anyway, I suspect for each one that leaves, two of us will bounce back to the party to replace him.
He is the first Prime Minister of the UK to be of Asiatic ethnicity.
Which is altogether different.
And while it’s encouraging that western officials are talking to Russian officials, there’s also this:
“Ukraine war heading for ‘uncontrolled escalation’, says Russia
Moscow appears to be preparing ground for further escalation with discredited claims that Kyiv may use ‘dirty’ bomb”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/24/ukraine-war-heading-for-uncontrolled-escalation-says-russia
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/24/russian-tv-presenter-anton-krasovsky-accused-of-inciting-genocide-in-ukraine
His remarks were pure Hitler. Perhaps sane Russia is pushing back, at last