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Sunak gets the worst Ipsos opening ratings of any PM over 23 years – politicalbetting.com

SystemSystem Posts: 11,002
edited November 2022 in General
imageSunak gets the worst Ipsos opening ratings of any PM over 23 years – politicalbetting.com

Whenever there is a new Prime Minister the pollster, Ipsos, issues it’s updated version of the above chart showing the opening satisfaction ratings for the new man or woman at Number 10.

Read the full story here

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Comments

  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 24,585
    edited November 2022
    I don't understand why, even under the circumstances reported. Sunak comes across as very able and a serious guy. It is particularly baffling after the last two clowns

    First
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 53,770
    I love the vertical line for Ms Truss.
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 31,275

    I don't understand why. Sunak comes across as very able. Particularly after the last two clowns

    See Mike's header: "...the ratings were largely formed by the circumstances in which he took over from Liz Truss..."
  • pillsburypillsbury Posts: 373
    edited November 2022
    It seems Liz was too ephemeral to register.

    Edit sorry, she is there but below the line
  • pigeonpigeon Posts: 4,087
    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    One thing worse than an empty gesture: ditching the empty gesture at the first sign of even the tiniest bit of trouble. An ample display of the real strength and depth of support any Premier League player thinking of coming out can expect from both the FA and their colleagues.
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 31,275
    rcs1000 said:

    I love the vertical line for Ms Truss.

    Amazing to think that John Major was once more unpopular than Liz Truss at her exit.
  • pigeonpigeon Posts: 4,087

    I don't understand why, even under the circumstances reported. Sunak comes across as very able and a serious guy. It is particularly baffling after the last two clowns

    Dragged down by association with Johnson and, especially, with the Conservative Party itself.
  • Not at all surprising. Tories - come in, your time is up!
  • EPGEPG Posts: 5,996
    It does look like the job of a PM is to predictably disappoint the public.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 47,787
    It's interesting the John Major's ratings were steadily recovering.
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 60,002
    edited November 2022
    UK must wean itself off migrant labour

    Sunak maybe but no, Starmer headline in the Telegraph

    https://twitter.com/TmorrowsPapers/status/1594817089646497792?t=qWry-uEwaa9s3C-f-r97xg&s=19
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,392

    I don't understand why, even under the circumstances reported. Sunak comes across as very able and a serious guy. It is particularly baffling after the last two clowns

    First

    Ultimate example of party drag I suppose. I think he's a bit of a lightweight, but he's not that bad.

    What should worry him is they all broadly moved in the same direction, even if they started low they got lower. Only Major's is really different (though Cameron's was pretty flat for awhile) in trajectory, and not in a way which will make Sunak feel positive.
  • David Warburton failed to declare a loan given to him by Roman Joukovski via an off-shore trust while lobbying for the businessman.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-63706016.amp

    But it turns out it was all OK. Phew. No connection between loan and lobbying at all.

    The level of *unquestioned* corruption is just extraordinary. The UK feels like a minor West African failed state.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,392
    rcs1000 said:

    I love the vertical line for Ms Truss.

    My eyes skipped past it completely!
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 53,770

    It's interesting the John Major's ratings were steadily recovering.

    Peace in Northern Ireland, a recovering economy with both the budget and the current account close to balanced.

    Mr Major really did hand over a golden legacy.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,392
    EPG said:

    It does look like the job of a PM is to predictably disappoint the public.

    It's why I'm always wary of 'government doing well/badly' scores out of context as well, since I'm fairly confident the public would typically says the government is doing badly, or at least not very well.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 26,279

    UK must wean itself off migrant labour

    Sunak maybe but no, Starmer headline in the Telegraph

    https://twitter.com/TmorrowsPapers/status/1594817089646497792?t=qWry-uEwaa9s3C-f-r97xg&s=19

    Starmer trying to win over Red Wall voters.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,392
    pillsbury said:

    David Warburton failed to declare a loan given to him by Roman Joukovski via an off-shore trust while lobbying for the businessman.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-63706016.amp

    But it turns out it was all OK. Phew. No connection between loan and lobbying at all.

    The level of *unquestioned* corruption is just extraordinary. The UK feels like a minor West African failed state.

    What gets me is that when it comes to the exercise of power it is generally accepted things must not only be done right, but be seen to be done right, as the saying goes, and so it is not unfair (in my eyes) that politicians should avoid even the apperance of impropriety, since that undermines things quite badly in itself when there is little excuse for not avoiding it, but you get a suspicious amount of, shall we say, carelessness.
  • Andy_JS said:

    UK must wean itself off migrant labour

    Sunak maybe but no, Starmer headline in the Telegraph

    https://twitter.com/TmorrowsPapers/status/1594817089646497792?t=qWry-uEwaa9s3C-f-r97xg&s=19

    Starmer trying to win over Red Wall voters.
    I expect he is causing considerable despair with those who want to rejoin Europe
  • Andy_JS said:

    UK must wean itself off migrant labour

    Sunak maybe but no, Starmer headline in the Telegraph

    https://twitter.com/TmorrowsPapers/status/1594817089646497792?t=qWry-uEwaa9s3C-f-r97xg&s=19

    Starmer trying to win over Red Wall voters.
    Cheers for the tip. I owe you.
  • UK must wean itself off migrant labour

    Sunak maybe but no, Starmer headline in the Telegraph

    https://twitter.com/TmorrowsPapers/status/1594817089646497792?t=qWry-uEwaa9s3C-f-r97xg&s=19

    And yet...

    Tuesday's Independent: Labour pledges to relax UK immigration rules

    https://twitter.com/TmorrowsPapers/status/1594816254870622208

    A message that lets different papers take what they want from it? The lad's learning to have what it takes.

    It might even be the right thing for the country.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,392
    In answer to my own question from earlier, the government's website makes clear Gavin Williamson was not replaced and still has not been replaced as Minister of State without Portfolio.

    So he really was appointed solely because Sunak wanted to reward him with an 'attending Cabinet' post, as whatever work he was supposedly going to be doing can apparently be handled without needing an entire person for the role.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,392
    edited November 2022

    UK must wean itself off migrant labour

    Sunak maybe but no, Starmer headline in the Telegraph

    https://twitter.com/TmorrowsPapers/status/1594817089646497792?t=qWry-uEwaa9s3C-f-r97xg&s=19

    And yet...

    Tuesday's Independent: Labour pledges to relax UK immigration rules

    https://twitter.com/TmorrowsPapers/status/1594816254870622208

    A message that lets different papers take what they want from it? The lad's learning to have what it takes.

    It might even be the right thing for the country.
    My general position has long been I don't think the country really cares, on the whole, what the level of immigrfation is, so long as they feel it is under control. That's why the boats issue plays so badly.
  • It's interesting the John Major's ratings were steadily recovering.

    Britain was Booming.
  • Northern_AlNorthern_Al Posts: 7,459
    edited November 2022
    I reckon Sunak is vastly overrated, actually. Yes, he's able and competent, and quite slick. But what does he believe in? He's been around a while now, and was a good Chancellor as long as he was doling out lots of money. But as PM, what does he want to achieve (other than riding out the current economic storm)? What's he passionate about? I haven't got a clue, and I'm not sure anybody has.

    Conclusion: Sunak's a highly ambitious empty vessel.
  • Northern_AlNorthern_Al Posts: 7,459

    It's interesting the John Major's ratings were steadily recovering.

    Britain was Booming.
    Are you sure that wasn't just Brian Blessed?
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 26,279
    pillsbury said:

    Andy_JS said:

    UK must wean itself off migrant labour

    Sunak maybe but no, Starmer headline in the Telegraph

    https://twitter.com/TmorrowsPapers/status/1594817089646497792?t=qWry-uEwaa9s3C-f-r97xg&s=19

    Starmer trying to win over Red Wall voters.
    Cheers for the tip. I owe you.
    You mean more than 1.5 goals in the Wales match? There was a lot of luck in that forecast.
  • I reckon Sunak is vastly overrated, actually. Yes, he's able and competent, and quite slick. But what does he believe in? He's been around a while now, and was a good Chancellor as long as he was doling out lots of money. But as PM, what does he want to achieve (other than riding out the current economic storm)? What's he passionate about? I haven't got a clue, and I'm not sure anybody has.

    Conclusion: Sunak's a highly ambitious empty vessel.

    He is very passionate about education
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,392
    edited November 2022

    I reckon Sunak is vastly overrated, actually. Yes, he's able and competent, and quite slick. But what does he believe in? He's been around a while now, and was a good Chancellor as long as he was doling out lots of money. But as PM, what does he want to achieve (other than rising out the current storm)? I haven't got a clue, and I'm not sure anybody has.

    Conclusion: Sunak's a highly ambitious empty vessel.

    I don't disagree entirely that he may lack substance, but I do question what any of the PMs listed really 'believed in' in that sense. I was too young to pay attention but I can believe Blair, coming in after 18 years of Tory government and a massive electoral mandate, may have had some genuine ideas of transforming the country, but the rest?

    They didn't have coherent ideologies to achieve, more a mixture of policies, probably half of which were included after focus testing or political necessity only, and desperate to survive. May and Johnson at least had a major idea in Brexit to achieve, even if they had no clue how to achieve it or what that meant.
  • Andy_JS said:

    pillsbury said:

    Andy_JS said:

    UK must wean itself off migrant labour

    Sunak maybe but no, Starmer headline in the Telegraph

    https://twitter.com/TmorrowsPapers/status/1594817089646497792?t=qWry-uEwaa9s3C-f-r97xg&s=19

    Starmer trying to win over Red Wall voters.
    Cheers for the tip. I owe you.
    You mean more than 1.5 goals in the Wales match? There was a lot of luck in that forecast.
    Sure. A win is a win though.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,392
    kle4 said:

    In answer to my own question from earlier, the government's website makes clear Gavin Williamson was not replaced and still has not been replaced as Minister of State without Portfolio.

    So he really was appointed solely because Sunak wanted to reward him with an 'attending Cabinet' post, as whatever work he was supposedly going to be doing can apparently be handled without needing an entire person for the role.

    To be clear, Zahawi is also a Minister without Portfolio, but that's a proper Cabinet position for the Party Chair.
  • I reckon Sunak is vastly overrated, actually. Yes, he's able and competent, and quite slick. But what does he believe in? He's been around a while now, and was a good Chancellor as long as he was doling out lots of money. But as PM, what does he want to achieve (other than riding out the current economic storm)? What's he passionate about? I haven't got a clue, and I'm not sure anybody has.

    Conclusion: Sunak's a highly ambitious empty vessel.

    He is very passionate about education
    Education education education. Didn't someone else say that once?
  • kle4 said:

    UK must wean itself off migrant labour

    Sunak maybe but no, Starmer headline in the Telegraph

    https://twitter.com/TmorrowsPapers/status/1594817089646497792?t=qWry-uEwaa9s3C-f-r97xg&s=19

    And yet...

    Tuesday's Independent: Labour pledges to relax UK immigration rules

    https://twitter.com/TmorrowsPapers/status/1594816254870622208

    A message that lets different papers take what they want from it? The lad's learning to have what it takes.

    It might even be the right thing for the country.
    My general position has long been I don't think the country really cares, on the whole, what the level of immigrfation is, so long as they feel it is under control. That's why the boats issue plays so badly.
    The pressure on infrastructure and housing is real, but that's at least in part about not building, which is a problem anyway.

    As for pressure on wages... I can't shake the doubt that, if the government tries to make businesses go cold turkey on immigrant staff, many firms will respond by closing down or moving abroad. A variant of "things cost what they cost".

    The trouble with boats is that they're so visible, whereas people overstaying visas isn't.
  • Northern_AlNorthern_Al Posts: 7,459
    kle4 said:

    I reckon Sunak is vastly overrated, actually. Yes, he's able and competent, and quite slick. But what does he believe in? He's been around a while now, and was a good Chancellor as long as he was doling out lots of money. But as PM, what does he want to achieve (other than rising out the current storm)? I haven't got a clue, and I'm not sure anybody has.

    Conclusion: Sunak's a highly ambitious empty vessel.

    I don't disagree entirely that he may lack substance, but I do question what any of the PMs listed really 'believed in' in that sense. I was too young to pay attention but I can believe Blair, coming in after 18 years of Tory government and a massive electoral mandate, may have had some genuine ideas of transforming the country, but the rest?

    They didn't have coherent ideologies to achieve, more a mixture of policies, probably half of which were included after focus testing or political necessity only, and desperate to survive. May and Johnson at least had a major idea in Brexit to achieve, even if they had no clue how to achieve it or what that meant.
    Well, both Johnson and Truss painted a vivid picture of what they wanted to achieve, albeit much of it was ridiculous. Boris was fizzing with ideas, from levelling up to airports in the Thames to bridges across the Atlantic or whatever. Yes, most were absurd. But Sunak? I've never heard an interesting idea from him.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 61,574
    Russians accused of burning bodies at Kherson landfill
    Residents and workers say occupying forces used site to burn bodies of fallen Russian soldiers
    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/21/russians-accused-of-burning-bodies-at-kherson-landfill
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 27,835
    Shambles here. There are savings to be made by HMRC pursuing rugger bugger charlatans.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/63690352
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 43,620

    kle4 said:

    UK must wean itself off migrant labour

    Sunak maybe but no, Starmer headline in the Telegraph

    https://twitter.com/TmorrowsPapers/status/1594817089646497792?t=qWry-uEwaa9s3C-f-r97xg&s=19

    And yet...

    Tuesday's Independent: Labour pledges to relax UK immigration rules

    https://twitter.com/TmorrowsPapers/status/1594816254870622208

    A message that lets different papers take what they want from it? The lad's learning to have what it takes.

    It might even be the right thing for the country.
    My general position has long been I don't think the country really cares, on the whole, what the level of immigrfation is, so long as they feel it is under control. That's why the boats issue plays so badly.
    The pressure on infrastructure and housing is real, but that's at least in part about not building, which is a problem anyway.

    As for pressure on wages... I can't shake the doubt that, if the government tries to make businesses go cold turkey on immigrant staff, many firms will respond by closing down or moving abroad. A variant of "things cost what they cost".

    The trouble with boats is that they're so visible, whereas people overstaying visas isn't.
    You’re falling for a mythology - migrants were/are not the majority of nearly any work force groups. A small number of things in Central London, maybe. What business wanted, at the low skill end, was the *pressure on wages* to be downward.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 27,835
    Beginning to suspect I may have COVID again. Rather than a reaction to my booster. Still running a temperature after 36 hours.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 43,620
    dixiedean said:

    Shambles here. There are savings to be made by HMRC pursuing rugger bugger charlatans.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/63690352

    What about the comic payments at Saracens?
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 27,835

    dixiedean said:

    Shambles here. There are savings to be made by HMRC pursuing rugger bugger charlatans.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/63690352

    What about the comic payments at Saracens?
    Not to mention Wasps.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 27,835
    kle4 said:

    kle4 said:

    In answer to my own question from earlier, the government's website makes clear Gavin Williamson was not replaced and still has not been replaced as Minister of State without Portfolio.

    So he really was appointed solely because Sunak wanted to reward him with an 'attending Cabinet' post, as whatever work he was supposedly going to be doing can apparently be handled without needing an entire person for the role.

    To be clear, Zahawi is also a Minister without Portfolio, but that's a proper Cabinet position for the Party Chair.
    That title Minister without Portfolio can be neatly merged with the Minister for Brexit Opportunities.
    You're welcome.
    Always willing to point out wasteful duplicate roles in the Public Sector.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 26,279
    FPT

    Andy_JS said:

    Andy_JS said:

    The best bet on this match is probably on more than 1.5 goals which is currently 1.48. DYOR.

    https://www.betfair.com/exchange/plus/football/market/1.200449183

    How do you "research" that?
    Because all the other bets on the match looked even less appetising.
    I've stopped betting on sport.

    I never win, except the Grand National which is usually luck rather than judgement.
    I'm not a big football fan but I've found it's the only game worth betting on, because you can often cover yourself by betting on a draw to break even when backing a particular team, if that makes sense.
  • FrankBoothFrankBooth Posts: 9,005
    rcs1000 said:

    It's interesting the John Major's ratings were steadily recovering.

    Peace in Northern Ireland, a recovering economy with both the budget and the current account close to balanced.

    Mr Major really did hand over a golden legacy.
    Public services were looking pretty ropey and the ERM was ultimately his error but I've never believed he was a terrible PM.

    The only chance for Sunak is the economy surprising on the upside. I actually don't think that is impossible. I mean statistically it's 50/50. The oil price has come down. The gas price has reduced from its peak. Wheat prices are now no higher than a year ago. It's not all that bad.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 43,620
    dixiedean said:

    dixiedean said:

    Shambles here. There are savings to be made by HMRC pursuing rugger bugger charlatans.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/63690352

    What about the comic payments at Saracens?
    Not to mention Wasps.
    I would like to see how HMRC deals with - “I just gave one of my employees a pile of cash. No, of course that isn’t earnings.”
  • Paging @TSE urgently...

    "Go to any major pizza restaurant in the world and you’ll find pineapple on pizza. This is because customers eat pineapple on pizza in droves. Thousands and thousands are sold and consumed every single day. The market has dictated that pineapple objectively belongs on pizza. "



    Baked beans on pizza? That’s worse than pineapple!

    https://www.theguardian.com/food/2022/nov/21/baked-beans-on-pizza-thats-worse-than-pineapple
  • Jim_MillerJim_Miller Posts: 2,396
    Off topic, but I think a good problem for those interested in election betting odds: "Treasurer Kimberly Yee, a Chinese American, was the only winning GOP candidate for statewide office [in Arizona]".
    source$: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/11/21/biden-xi-china-cold-war-not-hot/

    And, if you had asked me a month before the election what the odds were that would happen, I would have guessed 1 in a 100, or higher. Your guesstimates?

    (If either of us were betting actual money, I would have done some quick research on Yee.

    And the Arizona treasurer's office. In some states, Washington for example, the secretary of state gets to put their name on all kinds of official documents, which gives incumbents a signficant advantage. That might be true for the treasurer's office in Arizona. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimberly_Yee )
  • dixiedean said:

    Beginning to suspect I may have COVID again. Rather than a reaction to my booster. Still running a temperature after 36 hours.

    Take a test. It could also be flu, or something that needs diagnosis by an actual doctor. If you have just had a booster, surely that makes Covid less likely?
  • Nigelb said:

    Russians accused of burning bodies at Kherson landfill
    Residents and workers say occupying forces used site to burn bodies of fallen Russian soldiers
    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/21/russians-accused-of-burning-bodies-at-kherson-landfill

    Won't those fabled Russian mums notice that their sons do not come home, ever?
  • FrankBoothFrankBooth Posts: 9,005

    dixiedean said:

    dixiedean said:

    Shambles here. There are savings to be made by HMRC pursuing rugger bugger charlatans.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/63690352

    What about the comic payments at Saracens?
    Not to mention Wasps.
    I would like to see how HMRC deals with - “I just gave one of my employees a pile of cash. No, of course that isn’t earnings.”
    What normally happens is they take the PAYE off the wages and just never send it to HMRC.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 46,247
    edited November 2022
    I hate to say it - coz I 'ates FIFA and Qatar - but this World Cup is already absolutely compelling drama

    The last four awful years have somehow made it more significant. This is a wounded world coming together, to share every nation's scars

    Apart from Russia, but fuck them
  • kle4 said:

    kle4 said:

    In answer to my own question from earlier, the government's website makes clear Gavin Williamson was not replaced and still has not been replaced as Minister of State without Portfolio.

    So he really was appointed solely because Sunak wanted to reward him with an 'attending Cabinet' post, as whatever work he was supposedly going to be doing can apparently be handled without needing an entire person for the role.

    To be clear, Zahawi is also a Minister without Portfolio, but that's a proper Cabinet position for the Party Chair.
    The taxpayer is paying for the Tory party chair? That seems a bit off.
  • FrankBoothFrankBooth Posts: 9,005
    Obviously global commodities are priced in dollars and the dollar has been very strong this year.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 58,941

    kle4 said:

    kle4 said:

    In answer to my own question from earlier, the government's website makes clear Gavin Williamson was not replaced and still has not been replaced as Minister of State without Portfolio.

    So he really was appointed solely because Sunak wanted to reward him with an 'attending Cabinet' post, as whatever work he was supposedly going to be doing can apparently be handled without needing an entire person for the role.

    To be clear, Zahawi is also a Minister without Portfolio, but that's a proper Cabinet position for the Party Chair.
    The taxpayer is paying for the Tory party chair? That seems a bit off.
    I think that’s done by Labour as well.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,392
    edited November 2022

    kle4 said:

    kle4 said:

    In answer to my own question from earlier, the government's website makes clear Gavin Williamson was not replaced and still has not been replaced as Minister of State without Portfolio.

    So he really was appointed solely because Sunak wanted to reward him with an 'attending Cabinet' post, as whatever work he was supposedly going to be doing can apparently be handled without needing an entire person for the role.

    To be clear, Zahawi is also a Minister without Portfolio, but that's a proper Cabinet position for the Party Chair.
    The taxpayer is paying for the Tory party chair? That seems a bit off.
    Seems to be fairly common practice for Labour and the Tories in the 21 century at least, though not continuously for either.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minister_without_portfolio_(United_Kingdom)#21st_century
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 26,279
    "Matt Goodwin
    @GoodwinMJ

    CBI demand more immigration. CEOs like Lord Wolfson demand more immigration. Economic forecasts demand more immigration. Both Labour & the Conservatives clearly want more immigration. It appears the only ppl who don't want more immigration are the British voters ... #PoliticsLive

    12:40 PM · Nov 21, 2022"

    https://twitter.com/GoodwinMJ/status/1594672012248612867
  • StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 6,762
    pigeon said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    One thing worse than an empty gesture: ditching the empty gesture at the first sign of even the tiniest bit of trouble. An ample display of the real strength and depth of support any Premier League player thinking of coming out can expect from both the FA and their colleagues.
    I think they should have worn black mourning armbands.

    Mourning the death of free speech of anyone asked
  • FrankBoothFrankBooth Posts: 9,005
    Andy_JS said:

    "Matt Goodwin
    @GoodwinMJ

    CBI demand more immigration. CEOs like Lord Wolfson demand more immigration. Economic forecasts demand more immigration. Both Labour & the Conservatives clearly want more immigration. It appears the only ppl who don't want more immigration are the British voters ... #PoliticsLive

    12:40 PM · Nov 21, 2022"

    https://twitter.com/GoodwinMJ/status/1594672012248612867

    Are we uniquely incapable of raising productivity?

    What's the plan to boost automation to the level of our peers?
  • Leon said:

    I hate to say it - coz I 'ates FIFA and Qatar - but this World Cup is already absolutely compelling drama

    The last four awful years have somehow made it more significant. This is a wounded world coming together, to share every nation's scars

    Apart from Russia, but fuck them

    There is certainly some Russian style tractor stat-age going on....

    Qatar announce attendance figures higher than the actual capacity of the stadium TWICE, despite plenty of empty seats being seen at World Cup matches

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11454227/Qatar-announce-attendance-figures-higher-capacity-stadiums-TWICE-despite-seats.html
  • StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 6,762

    UK must wean itself off migrant labour

    Sunak maybe but no, Starmer headline in the Telegraph

    https://twitter.com/TmorrowsPapers/status/1594817089646497792?t=qWry-uEwaa9s3C-f-r97xg&s=19

    And yet...

    Tuesday's Independent: Labour pledges to relax UK immigration rules

    https://twitter.com/TmorrowsPapers/status/1594816254870622208

    A message that lets different papers take what they want from it? The lad's learning to have what it takes.

    It might even be the right thing for the country.
    It’s not contradictory - it’s the Augustine strategy. “God make me good… but not yet”
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 43,620

    Andy_JS said:

    "Matt Goodwin
    @GoodwinMJ

    CBI demand more immigration. CEOs like Lord Wolfson demand more immigration. Economic forecasts demand more immigration. Both Labour & the Conservatives clearly want more immigration. It appears the only ppl who don't want more immigration are the British voters ... #PoliticsLive

    12:40 PM · Nov 21, 2022"

    https://twitter.com/GoodwinMJ/status/1594672012248612867

    Are we uniquely incapable of raising productivity?

    What's the plan to boost automation to the level of our peers?
    We are going to import these robots. Made by unskilled labour. Takes only nine months to build each one….
  • EPGEPG Posts: 5,996
    Andy_JS said:

    "Matt Goodwin
    @GoodwinMJ

    CBI demand more immigration. CEOs like Lord Wolfson demand more immigration. Economic forecasts demand more immigration. Both Labour & the Conservatives clearly want more immigration. It appears the only ppl who don't want more immigration are the British voters ... #PoliticsLive

    12:40 PM · Nov 21, 2022"

    https://twitter.com/GoodwinMJ/status/1594672012248612867

    Yes, but voters also want 15% more social spending and a 5% tax cut paid for by an extra 2% tax for some other guy. That is to say, voters don't see the whole board when they say what they want.
  • StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 6,762
    edited November 2022

    Andy_JS said:

    "Matt Goodwin
    @GoodwinMJ

    CBI demand more immigration. CEOs like Lord Wolfson demand more immigration. Economic forecasts demand more immigration. Both Labour & the Conservatives clearly want more immigration. It appears the only ppl who don't want more immigration are the British voters ... #PoliticsLive

    12:40 PM · Nov 21, 2022"

    https://twitter.com/GoodwinMJ/status/1594672012248612867

    Are we uniquely incapable of raising productivity?

    What's the plan to boost automation to the level of our peers?
    We are going to import these robots. Made by unskilled labour. Takes only nine months to build each one….
    And 25 years to train them?

    Edit: also, don’t know about you, but there is a degree of skill involved in doing it well…
  • LeonLeon Posts: 46,247
    I missed this. Coz I was getting drunk in the Groucho

    One of the most eloquent and interesting comments I have ever read on PB. By @northern_monkey

    "It would be a boring world if we were all the same…

    FWIW I hate working. I’ve hated working since my first Saturday job. I’ve done shitty jobs and cushy jobs. I’ve worked at height on scaffolding through cold winters. I’ve worked in supermarkets, stacking shelves and on the tills. I’ve had public facing jobs and back office jobs. I’ve worked with dangerous chemicals. I’ve topped frozen pizzas. I made the metal plates that go in record presses and press the groove into vinyl records. I’ve sorted mail. I’ve worked with politicians. I’ve washed pots. I’ve led teams and had to do appraisals. I’ve worked in pubs. I signed people on for their dole and benefits. I’ve been in the public and private sector. I got some degrees and now I largely work from home, a couple of days a week in an office, in a job where I have to use my brain.

    They’ve all been shit in different ways.

    In shitty jobs you often work with nicer, funnier people.

    In offices you often work with brittle. status obsessed wankers.

    They’re all, in my inconsequential opinion, terrible ways of spending the limited time I have on this planet.

    Bring on UBI! Or a nice inheritance. I have no kids. As soon as I can stop, I’m done.

    I think the least worst job was working in the warehouse of an international drivetrain company, packing and dispatching gearbox parts around the globe. No one bothered me, i wasn’t responsible for anyone, I could listen to whatever music I liked, I was chatting to different people all day long, having a laugh. Great job. Shame the pay was shite."

    Bravo, Bravo
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 43,620

    Andy_JS said:

    "Matt Goodwin
    @GoodwinMJ

    CBI demand more immigration. CEOs like Lord Wolfson demand more immigration. Economic forecasts demand more immigration. Both Labour & the Conservatives clearly want more immigration. It appears the only ppl who don't want more immigration are the British voters ... #PoliticsLive

    12:40 PM · Nov 21, 2022"

    https://twitter.com/GoodwinMJ/status/1594672012248612867

    Are we uniquely incapable of raising productivity?

    What's the plan to boost automation to the level of our peers?
    We are going to import these robots. Made by unskilled labour. Takes only nine months to build each one….
    And 25 years to train them?

    Edit: also, don’t know about you, but there is a degree of skill involved in doing it well…
    It’s an old joke.

    Having watched young men old before their with fucked up bodies from too much heavy lifting on building sites, it’s not very funny. They often drink heavily and take drugs to numb the pain.
  • I wonder what Elon has George Hotz doing at twitter?

    Is @tiktok_us actually online training a custom model for each user? Wild if they are, that sort of stuff is the future.
    https://twitter.com/realGeorgeHotz/status/1594825854327980033
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 76,274
    edited November 2022
    An Albanian alleged double murderer faces being extradited from Britain for the second time after sneaking into the UK twice and even gaining citizenship under a false name.

    https://twitter.com/CrimeLdn/status/1594818534852403206
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,392

    An Albanian alleged double murderer faces being extradited from Britain for the second time after sneaking into the UK twice and even gaining citizenship under a false name.

    https://twitter.com/CrimeLdn/status/1594818534852403206

    Sounds like a real go getter.
  • Giving Russia a run for their money....

    So far this year 17 athletes from the ( Kenya) East African country have been suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for a range of violations. A further eight Kenyans have been provisionally suspended, with the outcomes of their cases pending.

    https://www.bbc.com/sport/africa/63400004
  • NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,263
    Leon said:

    I missed this. Coz I was getting drunk in the Groucho

    One of the most eloquent and interesting comments I have ever read on PB. By @northern_monkey

    "It would be a boring world if we were all the same…

    FWIW I hate working. I’ve hated working since my first Saturday job. I’ve done shitty jobs and cushy jobs. I’ve worked at height on scaffolding through cold winters. I’ve worked in supermarkets, stacking shelves and on the tills. I’ve had public facing jobs and back office jobs. I’ve worked with dangerous chemicals. I’ve topped frozen pizzas. I made the metal plates that go in record presses and press the groove into vinyl records. I’ve sorted mail. I’ve worked with politicians. I’ve washed pots. I’ve led teams and had to do appraisals. I’ve worked in pubs. I signed people on for their dole and benefits. I’ve been in the public and private sector. I got some degrees and now I largely work from home, a couple of days a week in an office, in a job where I have to use my brain.

    They’ve all been shit in different ways.

    In shitty jobs you often work with nicer, funnier people.

    In offices you often work with brittle. status obsessed wankers.

    They’re all, in my inconsequential opinion, terrible ways of spending the limited time I have on this planet.

    Bring on UBI! Or a nice inheritance. I have no kids. As soon as I can stop, I’m done.

    I think the least worst job was working in the warehouse of an international drivetrain company, packing and dispatching gearbox parts around the globe. No one bothered me, i wasn’t responsible for anyone, I could listen to whatever music I liked, I was chatting to different people all day long, having a laugh. Great job. Shame the pay was shite."

    Bravo, Bravo

    It's a great post. But FWIW I have the opposite problem - I've had a series of enjoyable jobs, and have become so invested in them that I don't know how to stop. I'm 72, with three paid jobs (charity management, council executive, translation) and an unpaid joblet (CLP chair), all interesting and stimulating. I'm in good health and in principle could do them all for another 5-10 years. I feel they're worthwhile and they enable me to give away lots of money. But at some point they'll stop, I'll be in worse health, and what then? Outside the jobs, I've not really developed any major cultural interests. Do I start taking up walking, theatre, music when I'm 80?

    Enjoying your work is a drug if you feel you're doing it well - every day you get another shot of endorphins. The obvious answer is to start cutting back and explore the non-work world, and I'm doing a bit of that. But it's honestly hard.
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 3,054

    kle4 said:

    UK must wean itself off migrant labour

    Sunak maybe but no, Starmer headline in the Telegraph

    https://twitter.com/TmorrowsPapers/status/1594817089646497792?t=qWry-uEwaa9s3C-f-r97xg&s=19

    And yet...

    Tuesday's Independent: Labour pledges to relax UK immigration rules

    https://twitter.com/TmorrowsPapers/status/1594816254870622208

    A message that lets different papers take what they want from it? The lad's learning to have what it takes.

    It might even be the right thing for the country.
    My general position has long been I don't think the country really cares, on the whole, what the level of immigrfation is, so long as they feel it is under control. That's why the boats issue plays so badly.
    The pressure on infrastructure and housing is real, but that's at least in part about not building, which is a problem anyway.

    As for pressure on wages... I can't shake the doubt that, if the government tries to make businesses go cold turkey on immigrant staff, many firms will respond by closing down or moving abroad. A variant of "things cost what they cost".

    The trouble with boats is that they're so visible, whereas people overstaying visas isn't.
    There is another important difference: a visa overstayer has obtained a visa. This means that, in many categories such as Tier 2, they have provided a criminal records check from their home country. With FoM there was some guarantee due to european records-sharing (but it was far from bulletproof).

    With the boats there is no such guarantee.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 46,247
    edited November 2022

    Leon said:

    I missed this. Coz I was getting drunk in the Groucho

    One of the most eloquent and interesting comments I have ever read on PB. By @northern_monkey

    "It would be a boring world if we were all the same…

    FWIW I hate working. I’ve hated working since my first Saturday job. I’ve done shitty jobs and cushy jobs. I’ve worked at height on scaffolding through cold winters. I’ve worked in supermarkets, stacking shelves and on the tills. I’ve had public facing jobs and back office jobs. I’ve worked with dangerous chemicals. I’ve topped frozen pizzas. I made the metal plates that go in record presses and press the groove into vinyl records. I’ve sorted mail. I’ve worked with politicians. I’ve washed pots. I’ve led teams and had to do appraisals. I’ve worked in pubs. I signed people on for their dole and benefits. I’ve been in the public and private sector. I got some degrees and now I largely work from home, a couple of days a week in an office, in a job where I have to use my brain.

    They’ve all been shit in different ways.

    In shitty jobs you often work with nicer, funnier people.

    In offices you often work with brittle. status obsessed wankers.

    They’re all, in my inconsequential opinion, terrible ways of spending the limited time I have on this planet.

    Bring on UBI! Or a nice inheritance. I have no kids. As soon as I can stop, I’m done.

    I think the least worst job was working in the warehouse of an international drivetrain company, packing and dispatching gearbox parts around the globe. No one bothered me, i wasn’t responsible for anyone, I could listen to whatever music I liked, I was chatting to different people all day long, having a laugh. Great job. Shame the pay was shite."

    Bravo, Bravo

    It's a great post. But FWIW I have the opposite problem - I've had a series of enjoyable jobs, and have become so invested in them that I don't know how to stop. I'm 72, with three paid jobs (charity management, council executive, translation) and an unpaid joblet (CLP chair), all interesting and stimulating. I'm in good health and in principle could do them all for another 5-10 years. I feel they're worthwhile and they enable me to give away lots of money. But at some point they'll stop, I'll be in worse health, and what then? Outside the jobs, I've not really developed any major cultural interests. Do I start taking up walking, theatre, music when I'm 80?

    Enjoying your work is a drug if you feel you're doing it well - every day you get another shot of endorphins. The obvious answer is to start cutting back and explore the non-work world, and I'm doing a bit of that. But it's honestly hard.
    I agree entirely/ I love my work. The flints and the travel. It is creative, fascinating and well paid - and I am really pretty good at it. What more can you ask from life?

    The day I stop enjoying it will be the day I stop doing it, because I am forced to stop by circumstances/health/etc

    I feel terrible pity for the many many people who deeply dislike their work. I know a lot of people like that. It is just luck. A lottery

    FWIW it sounds to me like you are sorted. You CAN carry on working and doing what you want until you basically drop dead. Enjoy. You too are lucky (as you accept)

  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,709
    Sunak may start with bad numbers but he is still doing better than every recent PM ended up with and also better than Truss was rated when she resigned and he took over
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 43,620

    Leon said:

    I missed this. Coz I was getting drunk in the Groucho

    One of the most eloquent and interesting comments I have ever read on PB. By @northern_monkey

    "It would be a boring world if we were all the same…

    FWIW I hate working. I’ve hated working since my first Saturday job. I’ve done shitty jobs and cushy jobs. I’ve worked at height on scaffolding through cold winters. I’ve worked in supermarkets, stacking shelves and on the tills. I’ve had public facing jobs and back office jobs. I’ve worked with dangerous chemicals. I’ve topped frozen pizzas. I made the metal plates that go in record presses and press the groove into vinyl records. I’ve sorted mail. I’ve worked with politicians. I’ve washed pots. I’ve led teams and had to do appraisals. I’ve worked in pubs. I signed people on for their dole and benefits. I’ve been in the public and private sector. I got some degrees and now I largely work from home, a couple of days a week in an office, in a job where I have to use my brain.

    They’ve all been shit in different ways.

    In shitty jobs you often work with nicer, funnier people.

    In offices you often work with brittle. status obsessed wankers.

    They’re all, in my inconsequential opinion, terrible ways of spending the limited time I have on this planet.

    Bring on UBI! Or a nice inheritance. I have no kids. As soon as I can stop, I’m done.

    I think the least worst job was working in the warehouse of an international drivetrain company, packing and dispatching gearbox parts around the globe. No one bothered me, i wasn’t responsible for anyone, I could listen to whatever music I liked, I was chatting to different people all day long, having a laugh. Great job. Shame the pay was shite."

    Bravo, Bravo

    It's a great post. But FWIW I have the opposite problem - I've had a series of enjoyable jobs, and have become so invested in them that I don't know how to stop. I'm 72, with three paid jobs (charity management, council executive, translation) and an unpaid joblet (CLP chair), all interesting and stimulating. I'm in good health and in principle could do them all for another 5-10 years. I feel they're worthwhile and they enable me to give away lots of money. But at some point they'll stop, I'll be in worse health, and what then? Outside the jobs, I've not really developed any major cultural interests. Do I start taking up walking, theatre, music when I'm 80?

    Enjoying your work is a drug if you feel you're doing it well - every day you get another shot of endorphins. The obvious answer is to start cutting back and explore the non-work world, and I'm doing a bit of that. But it's honestly hard.
    Did you know that in rowing, there is a handicapping category for boats where the *average* age of the crew is 89?

    You’re not done until you are scratching on the inside of a coffins lid. And even then…
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 76,274
    edited November 2022
    Here is the topline from Musk’s internal Q&A with Twitter employees today:
    - Company is hiring again and wanting employee referrals.
    - Musk was clear that layoffs are over
    - Twitter has about 2,700 employees left out of nearly 7,500 pre Musk

    https://twitter.com/alexeheath/status/1594826034280820737

    Given just few years ago they operated quite happily with 3000-3500, they aren't down that much from numbers when nobody questioned if the company had enough manpower.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 26,279
    "First Edition
    @FirstEdition

    "Perhaps we need to look at a bespoke scheme for them." Tory MP Caroline Nokes says the Home Office "has to be ready" for the possibility of asylum claims from Iranian players at the World Cup after their "brave stance.""

    https://twitter.com/FirstEdition/status/1594821665145475072
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 44,065
    edited November 2022

    Leon said:

    I missed this. Coz I was getting drunk in the Groucho

    One of the most eloquent and interesting comments I have ever read on PB. By @northern_monkey

    "It would be a boring world if we were all the same…

    FWIW I hate working. I’ve hated working since my first Saturday job. I’ve done shitty jobs and cushy jobs. I’ve worked at height on scaffolding through cold winters. I’ve worked in supermarkets, stacking shelves and on the tills. I’ve had public facing jobs and back office jobs. I’ve worked with dangerous chemicals. I’ve topped frozen pizzas. I made the metal plates that go in record presses and press the groove into vinyl records. I’ve sorted mail. I’ve worked with politicians. I’ve washed pots. I’ve led teams and had to do appraisals. I’ve worked in pubs. I signed people on for their dole and benefits. I’ve been in the public and private sector. I got some degrees and now I largely work from home, a couple of days a week in an office, in a job where I have to use my brain.

    They’ve all been shit in different ways.

    In shitty jobs you often work with nicer, funnier people.

    In offices you often work with brittle. status obsessed wankers.

    They’re all, in my inconsequential opinion, terrible ways of spending the limited time I have on this planet.

    Bring on UBI! Or a nice inheritance. I have no kids. As soon as I can stop, I’m done.

    I think the least worst job was working in the warehouse of an international drivetrain company, packing and dispatching gearbox parts around the globe. No one bothered me, i wasn’t responsible for anyone, I could listen to whatever music I liked, I was chatting to different people all day long, having a laugh. Great job. Shame the pay was shite."

    Bravo, Bravo

    It's a great post. But FWIW I have the opposite problem - I've had a series of enjoyable jobs, and have become so invested in them that I don't know how to stop. I'm 72, with three paid jobs (charity management, council executive, translation) and an unpaid joblet (CLP chair), all interesting and stimulating. I'm in good health and in principle could do them all for another 5-10 years. I feel they're worthwhile and they enable me to give away lots of money. But at some point they'll stop, I'll be in worse health, and what then? Outside the jobs, I've not really developed any major cultural interests. Do I start taking up walking, theatre, music when I'm 80?

    Enjoying your work is a drug if you feel you're doing it well - every day you get another shot of endorphins. The obvious answer is to start cutting back and explore the non-work world, and I'm doing a bit of that. But it's honestly hard.
    Yes, I know the feeling. I love my job. The clinical stuff is great, patients are endlessly fascinating, I meet everyone from landed gentry to murderers serving time. I enjoy managing my team, who are in general a great and happy bunch. I teach, dabble in research and always have demanding problems to solve. I am well paid. I am not keen to retire (though likely to "retire and return" to lock in my pension next year or so).

    I do have hobbies, from PB to football, to hiking and natural history. I love to travel both in this country and out. I am active in my church. I don't think that retirement would be empty, but that is for the future, not for now.

    A farmer patient of mine, still working in his Eighties said to me once "I would rather wear out than rust out" and I intend to go the same way.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 44,065
    Andy_JS said:

    "First Edition
    @FirstEdition

    "Perhaps we need to look at a bespoke scheme for them." Tory MP Caroline Nokes says the Home Office "has to be ready" for the possibility of asylum claims from Iranian players at the World Cup after their "brave stance.""

    https://twitter.com/FirstEdition/status/1594821665145475072

    Why Iranian footballers but not others fleeing persecution by the same regime?
  • Jim_MillerJim_Miller Posts: 2,396
    NickPalmer said: " Outside the jobs, I've not really developed any major cultural interests. Do I start taking up walking, theatre, music when I'm 80?"

    Cross country skiing in the winter, Nick, to begin with. It's about as good an exercise as there is.
  • I wonder what Elon has George Hotz doing at twitter?

    Is @tiktok_us actually online training a custom model for each user? Wild if they are, that sort of stuff is the future.
    https://twitter.com/realGeorgeHotz/status/1594825854327980033

    Whatever Hotz is doing, he'd better be quick. He is only at Twitter for three months.
  • HeathenerHeathener Posts: 5,096
    edited November 2022
    Leon said:

    I hate to say it - coz I 'ates FIFA and Qatar - but this World Cup is already absolutely compelling drama

    The last four awful years have somehow made it more significant. This is a wounded world coming together, to share every nation's scars.

    I want this to be true but it somehow isn't. I've watched every game so far but there's a definite 'meh' factor. I'm not sure it's altogether because of the human rights issues. More to do with a winter world cup which is taking people time to get into. It just feels all wrong. Silly, I know, but it's not the same. Yet. It may change.

    And England played very well.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 47,081
    Few people die regretting that they hadn’t spent more time at the office…
  • UK must wean itself off migrant labour

    Sunak maybe but no, Starmer headline in the Telegraph

    https://twitter.com/TmorrowsPapers/status/1594817089646497792?t=qWry-uEwaa9s3C-f-r97xg&s=19

    And yet...

    Tuesday's Independent: Labour pledges to relax UK immigration rules

    https://twitter.com/TmorrowsPapers/status/1594816254870622208

    A message that lets different papers take what they want from it? The lad's learning to have what it takes.

    It might even be the right thing for the country.
    Very Blairite.
  • Andy_JS said:

    "Matt Goodwin
    @GoodwinMJ

    CBI demand more immigration. CEOs like Lord Wolfson demand more immigration. Economic forecasts demand more immigration. Both Labour & the Conservatives clearly want more immigration. It appears the only ppl who don't want more immigration are the British voters ... #PoliticsLive

    12:40 PM · Nov 21, 2022"

    https://twitter.com/GoodwinMJ/status/1594672012248612867

    Are we uniquely incapable of raising productivity?

    What's the plan to boost automation to the level of our peers?
    We are going to import these robots. Made by unskilled labour. Takes only nine months to build each one….
    And 25 years to train them?

    Edit: also, don’t know about you, but there is a degree of skill involved in doing it well…
    It’s an old joke.

    Having watched young men old before their with fucked up bodies from too much heavy lifting on building sites, it’s not very funny. They often drink heavily and take drugs to numb the pain.
    You sort of start to understand why the middle-classes don't do manual labour.

    Such jobs are physically exhausting - every day is hard, much harder than being in an office - and it wears you out. And, you don't get paid very much.
  • pigeon said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    One thing worse than an empty gesture: ditching the empty gesture at the first sign of even the tiniest bit of trouble. An ample display of the real strength and depth of support any Premier League player thinking of coming out can expect from both the FA and their colleagues.
    I think they should have worn black mourning armbands.

    Mourning the death of free speech of anyone asked
    I think they started taking the knee again because it was something they could "do" in the absence of anything else being permitted.

    If you think about it it's almost completely irrelevant to this tournament, but makes them feel slightly better about themselves- so they do it.
  • Leon said:

    I hate to say it - coz I 'ates FIFA and Qatar - but this World Cup is already absolutely compelling drama

    The last four awful years have somehow made it more significant. This is a wounded world coming together, to share every nation's scars

    Apart from Russia, but fuck them

    I haven't got the slightest bit of interest in it, and haven't watched any of it.

    That will get increasingly harder to sustain as England progress but, for now, I'm blissfully ignoring it.
  • HeathenerHeathener Posts: 5,096
    edited November 2022
    Del. Duplicated.
  • HeathenerHeathener Posts: 5,096

    Leon said:

    I hate to say it - coz I 'ates FIFA and Qatar - but this World Cup is already absolutely compelling drama

    The last four awful years have somehow made it more significant. This is a wounded world coming together, to share every nation's scars

    Apart from Russia, but fuck them

    I haven't got the slightest bit of interest in it, and haven't watched any of it.

    That will get increasingly harder to sustain as England progress but, for now, I'm blissfully ignoring it.
    For this to have significance (albeit significance on a minor betting forum in a far flung outpost of the world wide web) do you normally get very interested in football world cup tournaments? Are you the kind of fan who avidly watches every game normally?

    Or is this just, for you, de rigueur?
  • Heathener said:

    Leon said:

    I hate to say it - coz I 'ates FIFA and Qatar - but this World Cup is already absolutely compelling drama

    The last four awful years have somehow made it more significant. This is a wounded world coming together, to share every nation's scars

    Apart from Russia, but fuck them

    I haven't got the slightest bit of interest in it, and haven't watched any of it.

    That will get increasingly harder to sustain as England progress but, for now, I'm blissfully ignoring it.
    For this to have significance (albeit significance on a minor betting forum in a far flung outpost of the world wide web) do you normally get very interested in football world cup tournaments? Are you the kind of fan who avidly watches every game normally?

    Or is this just, for you, de rigueur?
    No. I don't care for football, to be honest.
  • StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 6,762
    rcs1000 said:

    I hate working too. It's why I went into management.

    Weren’t you in the City?

    Everyone knows that’s just an endless circuit of pub crawls and frat boy parties…

  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,751

    I reckon Sunak is vastly overrated, actually. Yes, he's able and competent, and quite slick. But what does he believe in? He's been around a while now, and was a good Chancellor as long as he was doling out lots of money. But as PM, what does he want to achieve (other than riding out the current economic storm)? What's he passionate about? I haven't got a clue, and I'm not sure anybody has.

    Conclusion: Sunak's a highly ambitious empty vessel.

    Worked for Blair.

    He was a shocking judge of people as well.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,751

    Heathener said:

    Leon said:

    I hate to say it - coz I 'ates FIFA and Qatar - but this World Cup is already absolutely compelling drama

    The last four awful years have somehow made it more significant. This is a wounded world coming together, to share every nation's scars

    Apart from Russia, but fuck them

    I haven't got the slightest bit of interest in it, and haven't watched any of it.

    That will get increasingly harder to sustain as England progress but, for now, I'm blissfully ignoring it.
    For this to have significance (albeit significance on a minor betting forum in a far flung outpost of the world wide web) do you normally get very interested in football world cup tournaments? Are you the kind of fan who avidly watches every game normally?

    Or is this just, for you, de rigueur?
    No. I don't care for football, to be honest.
    Nor do I. I think it’s a load of balls, although I gather some people get net satisfaction from it.
  • StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 6,762
    Foxy said:

    Andy_JS said:

    "First Edition
    @FirstEdition

    "Perhaps we need to look at a bespoke scheme for them." Tory MP Caroline Nokes says the Home Office "has to be ready" for the possibility of asylum claims from Iranian players at the World Cup after their "brave stance.""

    https://twitter.com/FirstEdition/status/1594821665145475072

    Why Iranian footballers but not others fleeing persecution by the same regime?
    Because they are on the front page of the Daily Mail?*

    * figuratively speaking. I have no idea. Add, to state the obvious, you asked for a reason, not a *good* reason
  • StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 6,762

    NickPalmer said: " Outside the jobs, I've not really developed any major cultural interests. Do I start taking up walking, theatre, music when I'm 80?"

    Cross country skiing in the winter, Nick, to begin with. It's about as good an exercise as there is.

    Harder in Surrey than WA though!
  • pigeonpigeon Posts: 4,087

    Leon said:

    I hate to say it - coz I 'ates FIFA and Qatar - but this World Cup is already absolutely compelling drama

    The last four awful years have somehow made it more significant. This is a wounded world coming together, to share every nation's scars

    Apart from Russia, but fuck them

    I haven't got the slightest bit of interest in it, and haven't watched any of it.

    That will get increasingly harder to sustain as England progress but, for now, I'm blissfully ignoring it.
    I imagine my lot at work will be striving to win an Olympic gold medal in boring my arse off, going on and on and on and on and on about it every day until it's finally over. Football talk is a bit of a bore at the best of times, and these are very far from the best of times.

    Expecting a gay bloke to sit quietly and listen to hours of mindless pontificating about the wind kicking action in somewhere like Qatar is, frankly, a bit of a stretch. They might just as well have given the gig to Iran, Afghanistan or Saudi Arabia. Medieval religious bullshit and fun don't sit well together.
  • HeathenerHeathener Posts: 5,096

    Heathener said:

    Leon said:

    I hate to say it - coz I 'ates FIFA and Qatar - but this World Cup is already absolutely compelling drama

    The last four awful years have somehow made it more significant. This is a wounded world coming together, to share every nation's scars

    Apart from Russia, but fuck them

    I haven't got the slightest bit of interest in it, and haven't watched any of it.

    That will get increasingly harder to sustain as England progress but, for now, I'm blissfully ignoring it.
    For this to have significance (albeit significance on a minor betting forum in a far flung outpost of the world wide web) do you normally get very interested in football world cup tournaments? Are you the kind of fan who avidly watches every game normally?

    Or is this just, for you, de rigueur?
    No. I don't care for football, to be honest.
    Maybe, just maybe, in the context of Leon's post it might have been good to have pointed that out. But it's a very minor quibble.

    What does interest me are those fans who are normally really into all things footy but can't engage with this one, either for ethical reasons or for others such as the seasonal variation. I have some footy friends who are refusing to watch it on principle.

    So I guess for what it's worth I should say what I think I feel ...
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 47,081
    pigeon said:

    Leon said:

    I hate to say it - coz I 'ates FIFA and Qatar - but this World Cup is already absolutely compelling drama

    The last four awful years have somehow made it more significant. This is a wounded world coming together, to share every nation's scars

    Apart from Russia, but fuck them

    I haven't got the slightest bit of interest in it, and haven't watched any of it.

    That will get increasingly harder to sustain as England progress but, for now, I'm blissfully ignoring it.
    I imagine my lot at work will be striving to win an Olympic gold medal in boring my arse off, going on and on and on and on and on about it every day until it's finally over. Football talk is a bit of a bore at the best of times, and these are very far from the best of times.

    Expecting a gay bloke to sit quietly and listen to hours of mindless pontificating about the wind kicking action in somewhere like Qatar is, frankly, a bit of a stretch. They might just as well have given the gig to Iran, Afghanistan or Saudi Arabia. Medieval religious bullshit and fun don't sit well together.
    The focus on the betting. The ‘more than 1.5 goals’ betting tip yesterday turned good. Let’s drink to more of those…
  • eristdooferistdoof Posts: 4,861

    NickPalmer said: " Outside the jobs, I've not really developed any major cultural interests. Do I start taking up walking, theatre, music when I'm 80?"

    Cross country skiing in the winter, Nick, to begin with. It's about as good an exercise as there is.

    Harder in Surrey than WA though!
    Cross Country skiing in Western Australia?
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