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Did Rishi Sunak just save the Union? – politicalbetting.com

SystemSystem Posts: 11,002
edited April 2023 in General
imageDid Rishi Sunak just save the Union? – politicalbetting.com

I thought it would be interesting to see what the independence polling shows on the day before Nicola Sturgeon’s successor is announced.

Read the full story here

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Comments

  • I'm going to miss doing Sturgeon fish puns.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,709
    Quite possibly yes. He has removed the border in the Irish Sea effectively and removed Sturgeon by blocking the GRR Bill who is far more popular with Scots than Yousaf or Forbes. Forbes would see an SNP civil war and lose Scottish Green support, Yousaf is even less popular with Scots than Forbes
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 41,674
    HYUFD said:

    Quite possibly yes. He has removed the border in the Irish Sea effectively and removed Sturgeon by blocking the GRR Bill who is far more popular with Scots than Yousaf or Forbes. Forbes would see an SNP civil war and lose Scottish Green support, Yousaf is even less popular with Scots than Forbes

    Are you as stupid as you make out.
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 37,603
    edited March 2023
    What question does FindOutNow use? Their poll results seem very far out of alignment and they're favoured by separatist publications.
  • solarflaresolarflare Posts: 3,623
    edited March 2023
    No - in my view it was May, ultimately.

    Sturgeon couldn't work out a convincing next step escalation/response to "now is not the time" on the S30 request and didn't really have the guts or sheer desire to do anything significantly dramatic, so basically every UK PM since just trots out the same line. Sunak is just the one who gets to see when the SNP finally crumbles as a long term result of that pissing off a section of its membership alongside other general internal party fuck-ups and long-term complacency setting in whilst the Scottish non-indy pop gets bored with them.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 24,587
    Mr Sunak is having an excellent week, at least on PB. Bringing lasting peace to Northern Ireland, personally resolving the Palestinian crisis (I read that here earlier today) and now saving the Union. I suspect crushing Putin comes next, although I suspect Boris Johnson will claim that one for himself.

  • FF43FF43 Posts: 15,545
    Possibly Sturgeon saved the Union by resigning with the SNP in some disarray, and not Sunak.

    As recently as December, Yes was well in the lead. I doubt those potential voters are suddenly troubled by the currency question.
  • MaxPB said:

    What question does FindOutNow use? Their poll results seem very far out of alignment and they're favoured by separatist publications.

    They use the same question as 2014.

    I think they have a robust filter which sees much lower DKs than others.
  • EPGEPG Posts: 5,996

    I'm going to miss doing Sturgeon fish puns.

    Yousaf YouGov puns are a poor substitute in their plaice.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 50,772
    The last sentence is completely unfair. There is nothing remotely happy about Nicola's legacy, not even a 4 day old version.
    Ferries, GRR, the "missing" £600k, the lost 30k members, the lack of any clear options as to how to force another referendum (which may be something of a relief given the chances of winning it), bringing the muppets into government (a deep apology to Kermit and co for that one), an NHS really struggling to cope with the sequelae of Covid and a criminal justice system on its knees, it's one hell of a legacy for her successor. Scotland needs an Abraham Lincoln but we are going to get Useless instead. Not sure that Things can only get better is really the right tune for this.
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 37,603

    MaxPB said:

    What question does FindOutNow use? Their poll results seem very far out of alignment and they're favoured by separatist publications.

    They use the same question as 2014.

    I think they have a robust filter which sees much lower DKs than others.
    Robust, aye.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 50,772

    Mr Sunak is having an excellent week, at least on PB. Bringing lasting peace to Northern Ireland, personally resolving the Palestinian crisis (I read that here earlier today) and now saving the Union. I suspect crushing Putin comes next, although I suspect Boris Johnson will claim that one for himself.

    I expect his approval rating to rocket up another 1% any day now.
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 14,089

    I'm going to miss doing Sturgeon fish puns.

    The whiting's on the wall for them.

    As for Sindy and the SNP...

    The polling never really broke decisively for "Yes". I don't know what decisive looks like (is it 3:2 or 2:1? I don't know, but as with reopening Brexit, I suspect we'll recognise it when it happens) but the pressure for Scottish Independence didn't seem to get to a point where another referendum would have been more than another spin on the wheel.

    And without an imminent referendum, what exactly is the SNP for? Hence the arguments we're seeing now.
  • FishingFishing Posts: 4,555
    But I thought Brexit doomed the Union?

    Or was this just yet another Remainer mistake/lie, along with the 5 million unemployed and international irrelevance that we're still waiting for?
  • Horse_BHorse_B Posts: 106
    I think Rishi Sunak is a decent enough PM, competent and is clearly a massive step up from Truss and Johnson.

    But he's still defending 13 years of failure, in which people see their lives getting worse and not better and they see things like energy bills going up and everything getting more expensive. His wealth is an issue as people see him as out of touch.

    As a man to steady the ship he's good - but I just cannot see why anyone would come out to vote for his party in big numbers at this stage.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,758
    At least with Yousaf the only way he can surprise is on the upside.

    Because if he surprises on the downside the only thing left will be to suspend Holyrood, which seems a tad unlikely.
  • solarflaresolarflare Posts: 3,623
    ydoethur said:

    At least with Yousaf the only way he can surprise is on the upside.

    Because if he surprises on the downside the only thing left will be to suspend Holyrood, which seems a tad unlikely.

    Yousaf surprising on the downside would involve taking off and nuking the site from orbit as the only way to be sure.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,758

    I'm going to miss doing Sturgeon fish puns.

    How many years since we had a leader of the SNP we couldn't do fish puns on? Twenty odd?

    It's tragic it really is.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 48,921

    I'm going to miss doing Sturgeon fish puns.

    "The irony is that this could end up benefiting Sir Keir Starmer and Labour rather than Starmer."

    TSE typo alert!
    TSE typo alert!

    :lol:
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 47,084
    Horse_B said:

    I think Rishi Sunak is a decent enough PM, competent and is clearly a massive step up from Truss and Johnson.

    But he's still defending 13 years of failure, in which people see their lives getting worse and not better and they see things like energy bills going up and everything getting more expensive. His wealth is an issue as people see him as out of touch.

    As a man to steady the ship he's good - but I just cannot see why anyone would come out to vote for his party in big numbers at this stage.

    The remarkable thing is that the Tories are just now discovering the merits of quiet, reasonably competent government having spent a fair few years insistent on subjecting us to precisely the opposite. Which leaves us non-Tories wondering why they ever thought it a good idea to inflict Johnson and Truss on us in the first place?
  • stodgestodge Posts: 12,745
    Afternoon all :)

    Thinking heretically for a moment, I'm coming to the conclusion just as UK-EU relations will be hugely improved by us no longer being in the EU, the Anglo-Scottish relationship will in time be hugely improved by Scotland no longer being in the UK.
  • pingping Posts: 3,724
    edited March 2023
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-your-money-65079792

    Labours next election campaign writes itself.

    Fifteen years of failure.

    On the conservatives favoured metric, it’s been a disaster.

    I don’t see how Labour can lose this one.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 39,149
    Horse_B said:

    I think Rishi Sunak is a decent enough PM, competent and is clearly a massive step up from Truss and Johnson.

    But he's still defending 13 years of failure, in which people see their lives getting worse and not better and they see things like energy bills going up and everything getting more expensive. His wealth is an issue as people see him as out of touch.

    As a man to steady the ship he's good - but I just cannot see why anyone would come out to vote for his party in big numbers at this stage.

    The revelation about how much tax he pays - 22%, I think? - on his income overall could be very damaging. Precisely because it is entirely legal, and his income is way above the impact of the various allowances for income, interest, CGT etc.

    I'm surprised Pbers haven't commented more on that, and the marked contrast with the percentage SKS pays on his income.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 113,969
    edited March 2023
    ydoethur said:

    I'm going to miss doing Sturgeon fish puns.

    How many years since we had a leader of the SNP we couldn't do fish puns on? Twenty odd?

    It's tragic it really is.
    19 years.

    For the 32 out of the last 36 years the SNP had a leader with a fish punnable surname.
  • pigeonpigeon Posts: 4,088

    I'm going to miss doing Sturgeon fish puns.

    The whiting's on the wall for them.

    As for Sindy and the SNP...

    The polling never really broke decisively for "Yes". I don't know what decisive looks like (is it 3:2 or 2:1? I don't know, but as with reopening Brexit, I suspect we'll recognise it when it happens) but the pressure for Scottish Independence didn't seem to get to a point where another referendum would have been more than another spin on the wheel.

    And without an imminent referendum, what exactly is the SNP for? Hence the arguments we're seeing now.
    The SNP aren't run, or perceived as being run, from London, which is why they'll continue to be the leading party in Scotland for the foreseeable, regardless of how many mistakes they make and how much catfighting happens in the ranks. And as long as the SNP are the leading party, it's very hard to see how the constitution as the headline issue in Scottish politics goes away either. A second referendum might finally resolve the issue, but if it results in another vote in favour of Union then the campaigning for the third referendum starts the following morning, so honestly who knows?
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 39,149
    edited March 2023

    I'm going to miss doing Sturgeon fish puns.

    The whiting's on the wall for them.

    As for Sindy and the SNP...

    The polling never really broke decisively for "Yes". I don't know what decisive looks like (is it 3:2 or 2:1? I don't know, but as with reopening Brexit, I suspect we'll recognise it when it happens) but the pressure for Scottish Independence didn't seem to get to a point where another referendum would have been more than another spin on the wheel.

    And without an imminent referendum, what exactly is the SNP for? Hence the arguments we're seeing now.
    OTOH - there never would be a referendum question to discuss but for the SNP. Edit: or, to be fair, other independista parties.
  • CookieCookie Posts: 11,184
    FPT:
    kinabalu said:

    On topic: I like it that the clocks change twice a year. Life needs its senseless quirks and we'd have one less if we stopped doing this.

    75% agree.
    In fact, I think the GMT/BST dichotomy is a perfectly rational solution - and better than perma-BST or the weirdly unpopular perma-GMT.
    But on senseless quirks, absolutely agree. The existence of a guide to escort people across Morecambe Bay at low tide. Ed Balls day. The Abbots Bromley horn dancers. The use of the phrase 'early doors' to mean 'early'. Morris Dancer's steadfast refusal to use the quote function. All makes life immeasurably richer.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 50,772
    edited March 2023

    ydoethur said:

    I'm going to miss doing Sturgeon fish puns.

    How many years since we had a leader of the SNP we couldn't do fish puns on? Twenty odd?

    It's tragic it really is.
    19 years.

    For the 32 out of the last 36 years the SNP had a leader with a fish punnable surname.
    The others were clearly Swinnying against the tide.
  • CookieCookie Posts: 11,184

    ydoethur said:

    I'm going to miss doing Sturgeon fish puns.

    How many years since we had a leader of the SNP we couldn't do fish puns on? Twenty odd?

    It's tragic it really is.
    Skate Forbes.
    Ash Ray-gen.
  • CookieCookie Posts: 11,184

    Mr Sunak is having an excellent week, at least on PB. Bringing lasting peace to Northern Ireland, personally resolving the Palestinian crisis (I read that here earlier today) and now saving the Union. I suspect crushing Putin comes next, although I suspect Boris Johnson will claim that one for himself.

    He is taking the modern approach of a honeymoon several months after the wedding.
  • solarflaresolarflare Posts: 3,623
    pigeon said:

    I'm going to miss doing Sturgeon fish puns.

    The whiting's on the wall for them.

    As for Sindy and the SNP...

    The polling never really broke decisively for "Yes". I don't know what decisive looks like (is it 3:2 or 2:1? I don't know, but as with reopening Brexit, I suspect we'll recognise it when it happens) but the pressure for Scottish Independence didn't seem to get to a point where another referendum would have been more than another spin on the wheel.

    And without an imminent referendum, what exactly is the SNP for? Hence the arguments we're seeing now.
    The SNP aren't run, or perceived as being run, from London, which is why they'll continue to be the leading party in Scotland for the foreseeable, regardless of how many mistakes they make and how much catfighting happens in the ranks. And as long as the SNP are the leading party, it's very hard to see how the constitution as the headline issue in Scottish politics goes away either. A second referendum might finally resolve the issue, but if it results in another vote in favour of Union then the campaigning for the third referendum starts the following morning, so honestly who knows?
    You're not wrong, but the momentum towards independence isn't just founded on the SNP winning election but on them winning elections in a mahoosive thumping great way, taking nearly all the seats at WM in FPTP and/or nearly or actually breaking D'Hondt at Holyrood.

    Given even ideal circumstances, which no longer seems to be true when it comes to the SNP, how long can they keep doing that? "Just" winning now is no longer enough as it will essentially look like a backwards step. It's why the gradualist approach has always looked flawed to me.

    Realistically they might win another couple of elections and be in government but unless they're whopping wins they are not really going to alter the balance on the constitutional question.

    Maybe Forbes or Yousaf can somehow re-generate that momentum, though it seems unlikely at this point in time.
  • OmniumOmnium Posts: 9,688
    Cookie said:

    ydoethur said:

    I'm going to miss doing Sturgeon fish puns.

    How many years since we had a leader of the SNP we couldn't do fish puns on? Twenty odd?

    It's tragic it really is.
    Skate Forbes.
    Ash Ray-gen.
    When the language isn't so easy in a restaurant.

    Ham's off, you fish?
  • pigeonpigeon Posts: 4,088
    Carnyx said:

    Horse_B said:

    I think Rishi Sunak is a decent enough PM, competent and is clearly a massive step up from Truss and Johnson.

    But he's still defending 13 years of failure, in which people see their lives getting worse and not better and they see things like energy bills going up and everything getting more expensive. His wealth is an issue as people see him as out of touch.

    As a man to steady the ship he's good - but I just cannot see why anyone would come out to vote for his party in big numbers at this stage.

    The revelation about how much tax he pays - 22%, I think? - on his income overall could be very damaging. Precisely because it is entirely legal, and his income is way above the impact of the various allowances for income, interest, CGT etc.

    I'm surprised Pbers haven't commented more on that, and the marked contrast with the percentage SKS pays on his income.
    The Tories are greedy fucks and the party of the rich and everyone knows it. We also know that Rishi Sunak is richer than the King but it doesn't stop him being more popular than his party.

    Their reputation is baked in. Save for the delusional and the demented, nobody who votes Conservative thinks that they care about ordinary people. They get support from two largely overlapping groups: better off voters who think that they have more to lose than to gain by waving them goodbye, and voters who are allergic to the idea of Labour in power for social/cultural reasons.
  • Cookie said:

    ydoethur said:

    I'm going to miss doing Sturgeon fish puns.

    How many years since we had a leader of the SNP we couldn't do fish puns on? Twenty odd?

    It's tragic it really is.
    Skate Forbes.
    Ash Ray-gen.
    Humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻ(z)a Yusuf
  • boulayboulay Posts: 3,773
    Carnyx said:

    Horse_B said:

    I think Rishi Sunak is a decent enough PM, competent and is clearly a massive step up from Truss and Johnson.

    But he's still defending 13 years of failure, in which people see their lives getting worse and not better and they see things like energy bills going up and everything getting more expensive. His wealth is an issue as people see him as out of touch.

    As a man to steady the ship he's good - but I just cannot see why anyone would come out to vote for his party in big numbers at this stage.

    The revelation about how much tax he pays - 22%, I think? - on his income overall could be very damaging. Precisely because it is entirely legal, and his income is way above the impact of the various allowances for income, interest, CGT etc.

    I'm surprised Pbers haven't commented more on that, and the marked contrast with the percentage SKS pays on his income.
    I guess that as it’s been trailed widely how rich Rishi is that it’s already priced in with the public.

    There’s also a lack these days of the tall poppy syndrome where people didn’t like to see others wealthier than they are - all the kids see their football idols, reality tv “stars” etc driving the expensive cars, the really naff ones in black G-Wagons, and they want a bit of it too and preferably with as little effort as possible.

    And maybe the evil cynical people like me think Starmer is a mug for not arranging his tax affairs more efficiently.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,709
    edited March 2023
    pigeon said:

    I'm going to miss doing Sturgeon fish puns.

    The whiting's on the wall for them.

    As for Sindy and the SNP...

    The polling never really broke decisively for "Yes". I don't know what decisive looks like (is it 3:2 or 2:1? I don't know, but as with reopening Brexit, I suspect we'll recognise it when it happens) but the pressure for Scottish Independence didn't seem to get to a point where another referendum would have been more than another spin on the wheel.

    And without an imminent referendum, what exactly is the SNP for? Hence the arguments we're seeing now.
    The SNP aren't run, or perceived as being run, from London, which is why they'll continue to be the leading party in Scotland for the foreseeable, regardless of how many mistakes they make and how much catfighting happens in the ranks. And as long as the SNP are the leading party, it's very hard to see how the constitution as the headline issue in Scottish politics goes away either. A second referendum might finally resolve the issue, but if it results in another vote in favour of Union then the campaigning for the third referendum starts the following morning, so honestly who knows?
    I would expect Scottish Labour to overtake the SNP as the largest party in Scotland again within 5 years now Sturgeon has gone.

    Forbes will leak left liberals to SLab and the Greens like a sieve, Yousaf is hapless and will equally leak to SLab and the SCons
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 50,772
    Fishing said:

    But I thought Brexit doomed the Union?

    Or was this just yet another Remainer mistake/lie, along with the 5 million unemployed and international irrelevance that we're still waiting for?

    I have made the point repeatedly that Brexit makes the whole idea of independence so much more complicated and difficult. Not necessarily unsolvable, as Rishi has shown in NI but much more complicated and a much harder sell, given the level of goodwill and cooperation it would take to make it work.
  • Cambridge are magic, Oxford are tragic.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 39,149
    boulay said:

    Carnyx said:

    Horse_B said:

    I think Rishi Sunak is a decent enough PM, competent and is clearly a massive step up from Truss and Johnson.

    But he's still defending 13 years of failure, in which people see their lives getting worse and not better and they see things like energy bills going up and everything getting more expensive. His wealth is an issue as people see him as out of touch.

    As a man to steady the ship he's good - but I just cannot see why anyone would come out to vote for his party in big numbers at this stage.

    The revelation about how much tax he pays - 22%, I think? - on his income overall could be very damaging. Precisely because it is entirely legal, and his income is way above the impact of the various allowances for income, interest, CGT etc.

    I'm surprised Pbers haven't commented more on that, and the marked contrast with the percentage SKS pays on his income.
    I guess that as it’s been trailed widely how rich Rishi is that it’s already priced in with the public.

    There’s also a lack these days of the tall poppy syndrome where people didn’t like to see others wealthier than they are - all the kids see their football idols, reality tv “stars” etc driving the expensive cars, the really naff ones in black G-Wagons, and they want a bit of it too and preferably with as little effort as possible.

    And maybe the evil cynical people like me think Starmer is a mug for not arranging his tax affairs more efficiently.
    boulay said:

    Carnyx said:

    Horse_B said:

    I think Rishi Sunak is a decent enough PM, competent and is clearly a massive step up from Truss and Johnson.

    But he's still defending 13 years of failure, in which people see their lives getting worse and not better and they see things like energy bills going up and everything getting more expensive. His wealth is an issue as people see him as out of touch.

    As a man to steady the ship he's good - but I just cannot see why anyone would come out to vote for his party in big numbers at this stage.

    The revelation about how much tax he pays - 22%, I think? - on his income overall could be very damaging. Precisely because it is entirely legal, and his income is way above the impact of the various allowances for income, interest, CGT etc.

    I'm surprised Pbers haven't commented more on that, and the marked contrast with the percentage SKS pays on his income.
    I guess that as it’s been trailed widely how rich Rishi is that it’s already priced in with the public.

    There’s also a lack these days of the tall poppy syndrome where people didn’t like to see others wealthier than they are - all the kids see their football idols, reality tv “stars” etc driving the expensive cars, the really naff ones in black G-Wagons, and they want a bit of it too and preferably with as little effort as possible.

    And maybe the evil cynical people like me think Starmer is a mug for not arranging his tax affairs more efficiently.
    Given SKS is salaried, how much could he actually do, though?
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 31,718
    edited March 2023
    Cambridge women win their Boat Race!
  • OmniumOmnium Posts: 9,688
    DavidL said:

    Fishing said:

    But I thought Brexit doomed the Union?

    Or was this just yet another Remainer mistake/lie, along with the 5 million unemployed and international irrelevance that we're still waiting for?

    I have made the point repeatedly that Brexit makes the whole idea of independence so much more complicated and difficult. Not necessarily unsolvable, as Rishi has shown in NI but much more complicated and a much harder sell, given the level of goodwill and cooperation it would take to make it work.
    So far as I know the SNP have rather ignored this (Obviously it's another irritant, but also a blocker).

  • What sore losers Oxford are.
  • RandallFlaggRandallFlagg Posts: 1,151
    MaxPB said:

    MaxPB said:

    What question does FindOutNow use? Their poll results seem very far out of alignment and they're favoured by separatist publications.

    They use the same question as 2014.

    I think they have a robust filter which sees much lower DKs than others.
    Robust, aye.
    I think their methodology rewards 'enthusiastic voters' from what I understand. I think People Polling use the same which is why they get daft results like the Greens being on 13% etc.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 50,772
    stodge said:

    Afternoon all :)

    Thinking heretically for a moment, I'm coming to the conclusion just as UK-EU relations will be hugely improved by us no longer being in the EU, the Anglo-Scottish relationship will in time be hugely improved by Scotland no longer being in the UK.

    That is indeed heresy. And wrong.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 50,772
    Talking of heresy how can a professional journalist write a sentence like this:
    "Neither Humza Yousaf, Kate Forbes or Ash Regan have a net positive rating among the Scottish public, researchers at Ipsos found in a snap poll held between March 17 and 21."

    I mean, where do you start?
    https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/ahead-of-tomorrow-s-result-all-snp-leadership-hopefuls-have-net-negative-ratings/ar-AA195OY7?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=1115e0035dc84441bb185761997b5a40&ei=20
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,758
    DavidL said:

    Talking of heresy how can a professional journalist write a sentence like this:
    "Neither Humza Yousaf, Kate Forbes or Ash Regan have a net positive rating among the Scottish public, researchers at Ipsos found in a snap poll held between March 17 and 21."

    I mean, where do you start?
    https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/ahead-of-tomorrow-s-result-all-snp-leadership-hopefuls-have-net-negative-ratings/ar-AA195OY7?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=1115e0035dc84441bb185761997b5a40&ei=20

    Not so much net positive as positively gross.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,019
    Yes.
  • RandallFlaggRandallFlagg Posts: 1,151
    HYUFD said:

    pigeon said:

    I'm going to miss doing Sturgeon fish puns.

    The whiting's on the wall for them.

    As for Sindy and the SNP...

    The polling never really broke decisively for "Yes". I don't know what decisive looks like (is it 3:2 or 2:1? I don't know, but as with reopening Brexit, I suspect we'll recognise it when it happens) but the pressure for Scottish Independence didn't seem to get to a point where another referendum would have been more than another spin on the wheel.

    And without an imminent referendum, what exactly is the SNP for? Hence the arguments we're seeing now.
    The SNP aren't run, or perceived as being run, from London, which is why they'll continue to be the leading party in Scotland for the foreseeable, regardless of how many mistakes they make and how much catfighting happens in the ranks. And as long as the SNP are the leading party, it's very hard to see how the constitution as the headline issue in Scottish politics goes away either. A second referendum might finally resolve the issue, but if it results in another vote in favour of Union then the campaigning for the third referendum starts the following morning, so honestly who knows?
    I would expect Scottish Labour to overtake the SNP as the largest party in Scotland again within 5 years now Sturgeon has gone.

    Forbes will leak left liberals to SLab and the Greens like a sieve, Yousaf is hapless and will equally leak to SLab and the SCons
    Carnyx often likes pointing out that a chunk of the SLAB vote is pro-indy. Problem is that also demonstrates that all yes voters won't just vote for the SNP no matter what and a reasonable chunk are open to voting for SLAB.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,019
    DavidL said:

    Mr Sunak is having an excellent week, at least on PB. Bringing lasting peace to Northern Ireland, personally resolving the Palestinian crisis (I read that here earlier today) and now saving the Union. I suspect crushing Putin comes next, although I suspect Boris Johnson will claim that one for himself.

    I expect his approval rating to rocket up another 1% any day now.
    He's doing pretty bloody well, though, batting off a terrible wicket though, no?

    I'm not sure even Cameron could have done this.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,019

    Cambridge are magic, Oxford are tragic.

    When's the third place play off against Hull?
  • OmniumOmnium Posts: 9,688

    What sore losers Oxford are.

    Why do you say that?
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 50,772
    Well the hail has now gone off so time for walkies.
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 3,056


    Public beginning to see a light at the end of the covid/economic tunnel?
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,019
    What's so interesting about the polling data in that table is that you can see the hubris of the SNP administration play out in it almost day by day.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 24,587

    Yes.

    Thank you Lord Astor.
  • Alphabet_SoupAlphabet_Soup Posts: 2,703

    Mr Sunak is having an excellent week, at least on PB. Bringing lasting peace to Northern Ireland, personally resolving the Palestinian crisis (I read that here earlier today) and now saving the Union. I suspect crushing Putin comes next, although I suspect Boris Johnson will claim that one for himself.

    You're damning him with faint praise. On the domestic front Mr Sunak has been so successful dealing with murder, rape, knife crime, fraud and robbery that he now has the time and energy to confront the problem of laughing gas.
  • pigeonpigeon Posts: 4,088
    carnforth said:



    Public beginning to see a light at the end of the covid/economic tunnel?

    Hard to say. Could just be a blip.
  • DavidL said:

    Mr Sunak is having an excellent week, at least on PB. Bringing lasting peace to Northern Ireland, personally resolving the Palestinian crisis (I read that here earlier today) and now saving the Union. I suspect crushing Putin comes next, although I suspect Boris Johnson will claim that one for himself.

    I expect his approval rating to rocket up another 1% any day now.
    He's doing pretty bloody well, though, batting off a terrible wicket though, no?

    I'm not sure even Cameron could have done this.
    Good afternoon

    Sunak may well have tipped the scales for Sturgeon but there has to be more which is yet to be told

    I am just relieved that at last the conservative party has a leader and PM who is competent and his success with the WF is his legacy as he put the DUP and ERG to the sword for the greater good of Northern Ireland, the UK and EU and in doing so has created a warm relationship with the EU from the hostility of Johnson and Truss to the greater benefit of us all

    I have no idea how GE24 will play out, but Sunak/ Hunt are capable of improving the economy and Starmer may be the benefactor but I do not see some of the wilder claims the conservatives will be wiped out
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 61,575
    One for our resident wokefinders.

    https://mobile.twitter.com/NoLieWithBTC/status/1639644436001968128
    Idaho Republicans have blocked a bill to make tampons available for students, calling it “woke.” One Republican lawmaker said, “You don’t have to be a woman to understand the absurdity of this policy.”
  • FarooqFarooq Posts: 10,775
    Only a clueless wonder would confidently predict the outcome of Scotland’s place in the United Kingdom.

    Rising to the bait: I confidently predict Scotland will choose independence in the coming decade or so.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 48,921
    Guess the PB Russophiles are all going to support England against Ukraine in the footy (kick-off 5pm).

    :lol:
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 61,575
    A trio of @HouseGOP committee chairs say the House could soon take up legislation to strip state and local prosecutors of the authority to prosecute former presidents in response to the potential indictment of former president Donald Trump.
    https://mobile.twitter.com/AndrewFeinberg/status/1639727653228781568
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 43,624

    Guess the PB Russophiles are all going to support England against Ukraine in the footy (kick-off 5pm).

    :lol:

    Surely they will take the view that Ukraine is just West Russia In De Nile, and support them?
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 43,624

    Mr Sunak is having an excellent week, at least on PB. Bringing lasting peace to Northern Ireland, personally resolving the Palestinian crisis (I read that here earlier today) and now saving the Union. I suspect crushing Putin comes next, although I suspect Boris Johnson will claim that one for himself.

    You're damning him with faint praise. On the domestic front Mr Sunak has been so successful dealing with murder, rape, knife crime, fraud and robbery that he now has the time and energy to confront the problem of laughing gas.
    I solved the Palestinian issue way back. Time to implement my plan….
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 39,748
    ..

    HYUFD said:

    pigeon said:

    I'm going to miss doing Sturgeon fish puns.

    The whiting's on the wall for them.

    As for Sindy and the SNP...

    The polling never really broke decisively for "Yes". I don't know what decisive looks like (is it 3:2 or 2:1? I don't know, but as with reopening Brexit, I suspect we'll recognise it when it happens) but the pressure for Scottish Independence didn't seem to get to a point where another referendum would have been more than another spin on the wheel.

    And without an imminent referendum, what exactly is the SNP for? Hence the arguments we're seeing now.
    The SNP aren't run, or perceived as being run, from London, which is why they'll continue to be the leading party in Scotland for the foreseeable, regardless of how many mistakes they make and how much catfighting happens in the ranks. And as long as the SNP are the leading party, it's very hard to see how the constitution as the headline issue in Scottish politics goes away either. A second referendum might finally resolve the issue, but if it results in another vote in favour of Union then the campaigning for the third referendum starts the following morning, so honestly who knows?
    I would expect Scottish Labour to overtake the SNP as the largest party in Scotland again within 5 years now Sturgeon has gone.

    Forbes will leak left liberals to SLab and the Greens like a sieve, Yousaf is hapless and will equally leak to SLab and the SCons
    Carnyx often likes pointing out that a chunk of the SLAB vote is pro-indy. Problem is that also demonstrates that all yes voters won't just vote for the SNP no matter what and a reasonable chunk are open to voting for SLAB.
    No group of voters has their opinions set in stone (Scottish Daily Mail readers aside), but I’m not seeing a head of enthusiastic steam building for Starmer/Sarwar Labour in Scotland; the recent Ipsos favourability ratings pretty much evidence that.

    A problem on here with trying to discern the place Labour holds in Scottish heads & hearts is that there’s never been a SLab poster to talk us through it, let alone a ‘Labour left me not me them but I’m going to dump the SNP because of Sir Keir’s exciting progressive prospectus’ poster.



  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 38,851
    Mr Cookie, I suspect if Morris gets to thinking we all approve of his dogged boycott of the Quote button he'll decide to start using it.
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 38,517

    Guess the PB Russophiles are all going to support England against Ukraine in the footy (kick-off 5pm).

    :lol:

    Guess the PB Russophiles are all going to be traitorously supporting Oxford in a few minutes. ;)
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 43,624

    Guess the PB Russophiles are all going to support England against Ukraine in the footy (kick-off 5pm).

    :lol:

    Guess the PB Russophiles are all going to be traitorously supporting Oxford in a few minutes. ;)
    Surely they will be supporting Fenland Polytechnic (twinned with the Lubyanka) ?
  • SirNorfolkPassmoreSirNorfolkPassmore Posts: 6,168
    edited March 2023
    carnforth said:



    Public beginning to see a light at the end of the covid/economic tunnel?

    That graph essentially says what you'd expect, doesn't it? Degree of optimism in mid 2021 as we emerged from Covid (and rebound growth with it). Then a very sobering year of economic news with the Truss/Kwarteng budget putting a cherry on it but not being the full reason for the bleak outlook. Then general "this might not be as bad as feared" news since then - economy scraping the bottom but not as bad as Autumn forecasts.

    Not sure it means the next move will be to greater optimism though. Current levels factor in expectation of falling inflation, narrow avoidance of recession, a fairly gentle exit from energy price cap for households, and no worsening of the international outlook. Plenty of room there for negative surprises (as well as positive ones).
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 39,149
    edited March 2023

    ..

    HYUFD said:

    pigeon said:

    I'm going to miss doing Sturgeon fish puns.

    The whiting's on the wall for them.

    As for Sindy and the SNP...

    The polling never really broke decisively for "Yes". I don't know what decisive looks like (is it 3:2 or 2:1? I don't know, but as with reopening Brexit, I suspect we'll recognise it when it happens) but the pressure for Scottish Independence didn't seem to get to a point where another referendum would have been more than another spin on the wheel.

    And without an imminent referendum, what exactly is the SNP for? Hence the arguments we're seeing now.
    The SNP aren't run, or perceived as being run, from London, which is why they'll continue to be the leading party in Scotland for the foreseeable, regardless of how many mistakes they make and how much catfighting happens in the ranks. And as long as the SNP are the leading party, it's very hard to see how the constitution as the headline issue in Scottish politics goes away either. A second referendum might finally resolve the issue, but if it results in another vote in favour of Union then the campaigning for the third referendum starts the following morning, so honestly who knows?
    I would expect Scottish Labour to overtake the SNP as the largest party in Scotland again within 5 years now Sturgeon has gone.

    Forbes will leak left liberals to SLab and the Greens like a sieve, Yousaf is hapless and will equally leak to SLab and the SCons
    Carnyx often likes pointing out that a chunk of the SLAB vote is pro-indy. Problem is that also demonstrates that all yes voters won't just vote for the SNP no matter what and a reasonable chunk are open to voting for SLAB.
    No group of voters has their opinions set in stone (Scottish Daily Mail readers aside), but I’m not seeing a head of enthusiastic steam building for Starmer/Sarwar Labour in Scotland; the recent Ipsos favourability ratings pretty much evidence that.

    A problem on here with trying to discern the place Labour holds in Scottish heads & hearts is that there’s never been a SLab poster to talk us through it, let alone a ‘Labour left me not me them but I’m going to dump the SNP because of Sir Keir’s exciting progressive prospectus’ poster.



    True. Our PB experts keep forgetting that SKS is a right wing reactionary by Scottish standards. As good as a Tory. Bornagain Brexiter, betrayed Slab on the GRA, all for Trident, and rowed back on democratic mandates for referenda.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 43,624
    Carnyx said:

    ..

    HYUFD said:

    pigeon said:

    I'm going to miss doing Sturgeon fish puns.

    The whiting's on the wall for them.

    As for Sindy and the SNP...

    The polling never really broke decisively for "Yes". I don't know what decisive looks like (is it 3:2 or 2:1? I don't know, but as with reopening Brexit, I suspect we'll recognise it when it happens) but the pressure for Scottish Independence didn't seem to get to a point where another referendum would have been more than another spin on the wheel.

    And without an imminent referendum, what exactly is the SNP for? Hence the arguments we're seeing now.
    The SNP aren't run, or perceived as being run, from London, which is why they'll continue to be the leading party in Scotland for the foreseeable, regardless of how many mistakes they make and how much catfighting happens in the ranks. And as long as the SNP are the leading party, it's very hard to see how the constitution as the headline issue in Scottish politics goes away either. A second referendum might finally resolve the issue, but if it results in another vote in favour of Union then the campaigning for the third referendum starts the following morning, so honestly who knows?
    I would expect Scottish Labour to overtake the SNP as the largest party in Scotland again within 5 years now Sturgeon has gone.

    Forbes will leak left liberals to SLab and the Greens like a sieve, Yousaf is hapless and will equally leak to SLab and the SCons
    Carnyx often likes pointing out that a chunk of the SLAB vote is pro-indy. Problem is that also demonstrates that all yes voters won't just vote for the SNP no matter what and a reasonable chunk are open to voting for SLAB.
    No group of voters has their opinions set in stone (Scottish Daily Mail readers aside), but I’m not seeing a head of enthusiastic steam building for Starmer/Sarwar Labour in Scotland; the recent Ipsos favourability ratings pretty much evidence that.

    A problem on here with trying to discern the place Labour holds in Scottish heads & hearts is that there’s never been a SLab poster to talk us through it, let alone a ‘Labour left me not me them but I’m going to dump the SNP because of Sir Keir’s exciting progressive prospectus’ poster.



    True. Our PB experts keep forgetting that SKS is a right wing reactionary by Scottish standards. As good as a Tory. Bornagain Brexiter, betrayed Slab on the GRA, all for Trident, and rowed back on democratic mandates for referenda.
    Haven’t the Scottish people betrayed the politicians on the GRA, according to polls? Wanting the amendments and all?
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,709

    ..

    HYUFD said:

    pigeon said:

    I'm going to miss doing Sturgeon fish puns.

    The whiting's on the wall for them.

    As for Sindy and the SNP...

    The polling never really broke decisively for "Yes". I don't know what decisive looks like (is it 3:2 or 2:1? I don't know, but as with reopening Brexit, I suspect we'll recognise it when it happens) but the pressure for Scottish Independence didn't seem to get to a point where another referendum would have been more than another spin on the wheel.

    And without an imminent referendum, what exactly is the SNP for? Hence the arguments we're seeing now.
    The SNP aren't run, or perceived as being run, from London, which is why they'll continue to be the leading party in Scotland for the foreseeable, regardless of how many mistakes they make and how much catfighting happens in the ranks. And as long as the SNP are the leading party, it's very hard to see how the constitution as the headline issue in Scottish politics goes away either. A second referendum might finally resolve the issue, but if it results in another vote in favour of Union then the campaigning for the third referendum starts the following morning, so honestly who knows?
    I would expect Scottish Labour to overtake the SNP as the largest party in Scotland again within 5 years now Sturgeon has gone.

    Forbes will leak left liberals to SLab and the Greens like a sieve, Yousaf is hapless and will equally leak to SLab and the SCons
    Carnyx often likes pointing out that a chunk of the SLAB vote is pro-indy. Problem is that also demonstrates that all yes voters won't just vote for the SNP no matter what and a reasonable chunk are open to voting for SLAB.
    No group of voters has their opinions set in stone (Scottish Daily Mail readers aside), but I’m not seeing a head of enthusiastic steam building for Starmer/Sarwar Labour in Scotland; the recent Ipsos favourability ratings pretty much evidence that.

    A problem on here with trying to discern the place Labour holds in Scottish heads & hearts is that there’s never been a SLab poster to talk us through it, let alone a ‘Labour left me not me them but I’m going to dump the SNP because of Sir Keir’s exciting progressive prospectus’ poster.



    Sarwar has a net approval rating of -4% with Scots, compared to -8% for Forbes and an abysmal -20% for Yousaf.

    He and SLab are jumping for joy that Sturgeon has gone as she was on +8% with Scots
    https://www.ipsos.com/en-uk/tight-race-between-yousaf-and-forbes-among-snp-voters-while-sturgeons-ratings-are-up
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 48,921
    C4 footy coverage: Must admit it's the first time I've heard the Ukraine anthem. Not too bad.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,709
    edited March 2023
    Carnyx said:

    ..

    HYUFD said:

    pigeon said:

    I'm going to miss doing Sturgeon fish puns.

    The whiting's on the wall for them.

    As for Sindy and the SNP...

    The polling never really broke decisively for "Yes". I don't know what decisive looks like (is it 3:2 or 2:1? I don't know, but as with reopening Brexit, I suspect we'll recognise it when it happens) but the pressure for Scottish Independence didn't seem to get to a point where another referendum would have been more than another spin on the wheel.

    And without an imminent referendum, what exactly is the SNP for? Hence the arguments we're seeing now.
    The SNP aren't run, or perceived as being run, from London, which is why they'll continue to be the leading party in Scotland for the foreseeable, regardless of how many mistakes they make and how much catfighting happens in the ranks. And as long as the SNP are the leading party, it's very hard to see how the constitution as the headline issue in Scottish politics goes away either. A second referendum might finally resolve the issue, but if it results in another vote in favour of Union then the campaigning for the third referendum starts the following morning, so honestly who knows?
    I would expect Scottish Labour to overtake the SNP as the largest party in Scotland again within 5 years now Sturgeon has gone.

    Forbes will leak left liberals to SLab and the Greens like a sieve, Yousaf is hapless and will equally leak to SLab and the SCons
    Carnyx often likes pointing out that a chunk of the SLAB vote is pro-indy. Problem is that also demonstrates that all yes voters won't just vote for the SNP no matter what and a reasonable chunk are open to voting for SLAB.
    No group of voters has their opinions set in stone (Scottish Daily Mail readers aside), but I’m not seeing a head of enthusiastic steam building for Starmer/Sarwar Labour in Scotland; the recent Ipsos favourability ratings pretty much evidence that.

    A problem on here with trying to discern the place Labour holds in Scottish heads & hearts is that there’s never been a SLab poster to talk us through it, let alone a ‘Labour left me not me them but I’m going to dump the SNP because of Sir Keir’s exciting progressive prospectus’ poster.



    True. Our PB experts keep forgetting that SKS is a right wing reactionary by Scottish standards. As good as a Tory. Bornagain Brexiter, betrayed Slab on the GRA, all for Trident, and rowed back on democratic mandates for referenda.
    And Forbes makes Ann Widdecombe look like a 60s hippie and is an admirer of Thatcherite economics!!!
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 39,149

    Carnyx said:

    ..

    HYUFD said:

    pigeon said:

    I'm going to miss doing Sturgeon fish puns.

    The whiting's on the wall for them.

    As for Sindy and the SNP...

    The polling never really broke decisively for "Yes". I don't know what decisive looks like (is it 3:2 or 2:1? I don't know, but as with reopening Brexit, I suspect we'll recognise it when it happens) but the pressure for Scottish Independence didn't seem to get to a point where another referendum would have been more than another spin on the wheel.

    And without an imminent referendum, what exactly is the SNP for? Hence the arguments we're seeing now.
    The SNP aren't run, or perceived as being run, from London, which is why they'll continue to be the leading party in Scotland for the foreseeable, regardless of how many mistakes they make and how much catfighting happens in the ranks. And as long as the SNP are the leading party, it's very hard to see how the constitution as the headline issue in Scottish politics goes away either. A second referendum might finally resolve the issue, but if it results in another vote in favour of Union then the campaigning for the third referendum starts the following morning, so honestly who knows?
    I would expect Scottish Labour to overtake the SNP as the largest party in Scotland again within 5 years now Sturgeon has gone.

    Forbes will leak left liberals to SLab and the Greens like a sieve, Yousaf is hapless and will equally leak to SLab and the SCons
    Carnyx often likes pointing out that a chunk of the SLAB vote is pro-indy. Problem is that also demonstrates that all yes voters won't just vote for the SNP no matter what and a reasonable chunk are open to voting for SLAB.
    No group of voters has their opinions set in stone (Scottish Daily Mail readers aside), but I’m not seeing a head of enthusiastic steam building for Starmer/Sarwar Labour in Scotland; the recent Ipsos favourability ratings pretty much evidence that.

    A problem on here with trying to discern the place Labour holds in Scottish heads & hearts is that there’s never been a SLab poster to talk us through it, let alone a ‘Labour left me not me them but I’m going to dump the SNP because of Sir Keir’s exciting progressive prospectus’ poster.



    True. Our PB experts keep forgetting that SKS is a right wing reactionary by Scottish standards. As good as a Tory. Bornagain Brexiter, betrayed Slab on the GRA, all for Trident, and rowed back on democratic mandates for referenda.
    Haven’t the Scottish people betrayed the politicians on the GRA, according to polls? Wanting the amendments and all?
    I'm thinking of Slab themselves given their support for the GRA.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 38,851
    Nigelb said:

    One for our resident wokefinders.

    https://mobile.twitter.com/NoLieWithBTC/status/1639644436001968128
    Idaho Republicans have blocked a bill to make tampons available for students, calling it “woke.” One Republican lawmaker said, “You don’t have to be a woman to understand the absurdity of this policy.”

    That smacks of Chopery.
  • Both Cambridge crews have man cox

    Both Oxford crews have lady cox
  • FrankBoothFrankBooth Posts: 9,005

    Guess the PB Russophiles are all going to support England against Ukraine in the footy (kick-off 5pm).

    :lol:

    Guess the PB Russophiles are all going to be traitorously supporting Oxford in a few minutes. ;)
    Surely Russians always support the boys from Cambridge given the long history of collaboration?
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 49,614
    The friendliest Wembley football crowd, towards the opposition fans, in many years.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 38,851
    I enjoy the Boat Race but should such a celebration of privilege and elitism be a major live broadcast on the BBC? Not sure. Think I'd rather it was on Eurosport.
  • solarflaresolarflare Posts: 3,623
    kinabalu said:

    I enjoy the Boat Race but should such a celebration of privilege and elitism be a major live broadcast on the BBC? Not sure. Think I'd rather it was on Eurosport.

    Depends if they sink or not
  • FrankBoothFrankBooth Posts: 9,005
    The Union has certainly been given a reprieve but it is no more than that. So long as about half of Scots see their future as being one of independence when the time is right and the majority of people in England appear not to really care and those that are unionists (on both sides of the border) can't make a persuasive case for a pan-British identity, the thorn remains.
  • kinabalu said:

    I enjoy the Boat Race but should such a celebration of privilege and elitism be a major live broadcast on the BBC? Not sure. Think I'd rather it was on Eurosport.

    What if they had a third Plebs boat?
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,709

    The Union has certainly been given a reprieve but it is no more than that. So long as about half of Scots see their future as being one of independence when the time is right and the majority of people in England appear not to really care and those that are unionists (on both sides of the border) can't make a persuasive case for a pan-British identity, the thorn remains.

    Only 39% back Yes on the latest Yougov above little more than a third, if Labour win the next UK general election that will decline further
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,709
    kinabalu said:

    I enjoy the Boat Race but should such a celebration of privilege and elitism be a major live broadcast on the BBC? Not sure. Think I'd rather it was on Eurosport.

    I am on Chiswick Bridge and big crowds all along the riverbank, it is a great celebration of amateur sport, many future Olympians compete, is internationally renowned and one of the few sporting events the BBC alone show live still
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 43,624

    kinabalu said:

    I enjoy the Boat Race but should such a celebration of privilege and elitism be a major live broadcast on the BBC? Not sure. Think I'd rather it was on Eurosport.

    What if they had a third Plebs boat?
    They do let Cambridge compete.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 49,614

    Both Cambridge crews have man cox

    Both Oxford crews have lady cox

    No matter who wins, they’ll still get their cox out and dip it in the Thames.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 48,921

    Both Cambridge crews have man cox

    Both Oxford crews have lady cox

    They let trans people compete already?
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 43,624
    kinabalu said:

    I enjoy the Boat Race but should such a celebration of privilege and elitism be a major live broadcast on the BBC? Not sure. Think I'd rather it was on Eurosport.

    As opposed to sports where the players are millionaires, the owners are criminal billionaires and tickets can reach 5 figures?
  • FrankBoothFrankBooth Posts: 9,005
    kinabalu said:

    I enjoy the Boat Race but should such a celebration of privilege and elitism be a major live broadcast on the BBC? Not sure. Think I'd rather it was on Eurosport.

    It's a shame we now think of it as privilege. I think of it as a folkloric ritual that I don't partake in but like to know it is still going. One of the strange things about England is that for so long it only had two universities. A failing I have never seen a good explanation for.
  • RichardrRichardr Posts: 80
    IanB2 said:

    Horse_B said:

    I think Rishi Sunak is a decent enough PM, competent and is clearly a massive step up from Truss and Johnson.

    But he's still defending 13 years of failure, in which people see their lives getting worse and not better and they see things like energy bills going up and everything getting more expensive. His wealth is an issue as people see him as out of touch.

    As a man to steady the ship he's good - but I just cannot see why anyone would come out to vote for his party in big numbers at this stage.

    The remarkable thing is that the Tories are just now discovering the merits of quiet, reasonably competent government having spent a fair few years insistent on subjecting us to precisely the opposite. Which leaves us non-Tories wondering why they ever thought it a good idea to inflict Johnson and Truss on us in the first place?
    Sunak was appointed by the MPs, the other two were appointed by the membership - a diminishing number of people unrepresentative of Conservative voters as a whole.
  • FarooqFarooq Posts: 10,775
    HYUFD said:

    The Union has certainly been given a reprieve but it is no more than that. So long as about half of Scots see their future as being one of independence when the time is right and the majority of people in England appear not to really care and those that are unionists (on both sides of the border) can't make a persuasive case for a pan-British identity, the thorn remains.

    Only 39% back Yes on the latest Yougov above little more than a third, if Labour win the next UK general election that will decline further
    "Vote Labour to save the union!"
    -- HYUFD
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 49,614
    kinabalu said:

    I enjoy the Boat Race but should such a celebration of privilege and elitism be a major live broadcast on the BBC? Not sure. Think I'd rather it was on Eurosport.

    Absolutely. Privilege and elitism is everything the BBC stands for.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 48,921
    Jesus! Ukraine nearly scored!
  • Cambridge are magic, Oxford are tragic.

    Once again, Cambridge are magic, Oxford are tragic.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 24,587
    edited March 2023

    Both Cambridge crews have man cox

    Both Oxford crews have lady cox

    This transgender woke nonsense is beyond...

    Edit: Beaten to it by Sunil.
  • FrankBoothFrankBooth Posts: 9,005
    I wasn't very good at sport in school and do wonder if I missed out on a possibly stellar athletic career by turning down the opportunity to be a cox. I was so small that I was seen as the idea candidate. Yet I never understood what a cox actually did. And from I'd seen of the boat race they seemed to get thrown in the river at the end.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 61,575
This discussion has been closed.