Johnson got Ukraine right. But then so did SKS. In general the UK got Ukraine right.
But Johnson also lied and partied through lockdown and brought disgrace to the office and ruined this country.
So I am not going to say he's a good PM just yet. Still the worst in history by my count.
Worst in my lifetime anyway, CHB, but he did get Ukraine right and he was quite good on Covid for a while.
Worst in UK History? Hmmmm.....Lord North usually gets the nod, but Boris definitely runs him close.
Liz Truss is a shoo-in if she counts but perhaps she shouldn't. Eg when you rank batters on their test match average they have to have played a minimum number of innings to be in the conversation.
Johnson got Ukraine right. But then so did SKS. In general the UK got Ukraine right.
But Johnson also lied and partied through lockdown and brought disgrace to the office and ruined this country.
So I am not going to say he's a good PM just yet. Still the worst in history by my count.
Worst in my lifetime anyway, CHB, but he did get Ukraine right and he was quite good on Covid for a while.
Worst in UK History? Hmmmm.....Lord North usually gets the nod, but Boris definitely runs him close.
Liz Truss is a shoo-in if she counts but perhaps she shouldn't. Eg when you rank batters on their test match average they have to have played a minimum number of innings to be in the conversation.
David Cameron was our worst Prime Minister since Lord North. Liz Truss was barely in office long enough to justify a Wikipedia entry. Boris was sui generis, so outside the norm as to be incomparable with normal Prime Ministers, but possibly the most unsuitable person to have held that office.
Gosh. Hell hath no fury like a Dorries scorned. But a Boris Johnson worshipper accusing somebody of demeaning the office of PM has to merit some sort of prize.
I am thinking of applying to become a trustee and director of a charity myself, actually.
Absolutely nothing wrong with it to my knowledge but, strangely, my first thought was that she'd be the first person I'd call for advice if I heard about any allegation of malpractice or wrongdoing, and my second was about how I'd convince my fellow directors to act (my default assumption being they'd be terrified of the embarrassment and reputational damage it might cause, be inclined to dismiss it, and would probably bracket me as a troublemaker/gullible and not a team player).
In short, I'm not sure this is a bad apples thing: I think most organisations and institutions are just culturally wired like this with human nature being what it is on top.
Indeed, it’s mostly human nature that needs to be trained out of people.
How many of those who go into managerial or trustee roles with large 3rd sector organisations, see their primary tank as being custodians of this famous institution, and therefore when a problem occurs their first reaction is to think of whatever best preserves the reputation of the organisation, rather than what’s actually the right thing to do in the circumstances?
One point: I'd take very seriously any training for trustees, even if it is the charity equivalent of what is sometimes decried as HR and woke stuff. As I understand it, the law about charity trustees has tightened in recent years and their personal responsibilities and liabilities are greater. How far this is the case in actual practice I don't know, as I have never become a charity trustee, but the very reason for not doing so was that the little I saw of it made me feel I did not want to do so without being very sure of the other trustees.
PS: puzzled by the expression "trustee and director". Aren't those roles kept separate? [PS Not asking personally or about the specific case - just the general point.]
Being a Trustee for a regular charity carries potential unlimited financial and other liability., and this is a bar to many, even if somewhat of a remote possibility.
One way around this is to reconstitute the Charity as a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation) with many similarities to a limited company.
Johnson got Ukraine right. But then so did SKS. In general the UK got Ukraine right.
But Johnson also lied and partied through lockdown and brought disgrace to the office and ruined this country.
So I am not going to say he's a good PM just yet. Still the worst in history by my count.
Worst in my lifetime anyway, CHB, but he did get Ukraine right and he was quite good on Covid for a while.
Worst in UK History? Hmmmm.....Lord North usually gets the nod, but Boris definitely runs him close.
Liz Truss is a shoo-in if she counts but perhaps she shouldn't. Eg when you rank batters on their test match average they have to have played a minimum number of innings to be in the conversation.
David Cameron was our worst Prime Minister since Lord North. Liz Truss was barely in office long enough to justify a Wikipedia entry. Boris was sui generis, so outside the norm as to be incomparable with normal Prime Ministers, but possibly the most unsuitable person to have held that office.
Since this is International Dog Day, I'll mention this thought I had a few months ago: One of the most successful evolutionary strategies, in the last few thousand years, has been to be useful to be humans. For example, dogs, having accepted being junior partners to humans, have done much better than wolves.
For some species it's been a win/win, for example, apple trees. For others, for example chickens, less so. According to a quick search, there are more than 34 billion chickens in the world, but not all of them live happy lives. (In recent years I have come to believe we should treat chickens better, though I know that will increase the costs of the eggs and chicken meat I consume.)
Since this is International Dog Day, I'll mention this thought I had a few months ago: One of the most successful evolutionary strategies, in the last few thousand years, has been to be useful to be humans. For example, dogs, having accepted being junior partners to humans, have done much better than wolves.
For some species it's been a win/win, for example, apple trees. For others, for example chickens, less so. According to a quick search, there are more than 34 billion chickens in the world, but not all of them live happy lives. (In recent years I have come to believe we should treat chickens better, though I know that will increase the costs of the eggs and chicken meat I consume.)
This is a completely unnecessary row for Rishi. He could easily have facilitated her peerage, respecting the wishes of his predecessor. Instead he was vindictive and more than a little petty.
And now it’s bitten him in the arse. Quelle surprise. People don’t take Mad Nad too seriously but some of this will sting. He deserves no better.
Who(m) else on here thinks, that it was yours truly's cutting remark - that Mad Nad is a fleabite on the hindquarters of creation - that finally drove here to apply for Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds?
Civil servants trawled through “independent” research before it was published seeking dozens of changes to present Scottish government policy on tacking alcohol abuse in a more positive light.
Officials scoured a report sent to them on the impact of minimum alcohol pricing, submitting at least 88 comments and questions about one draft alone. They suggested that evidence that alcohol consumption had fallen after the minimum unit pricing (MUP) was introduced in 2018 be described as “strong”.
The final version of the report, published in June by Public Health Scotland, included the word, saying that there was “strong and consistent” quantitative evidence of a reduction in public alcohol consumption.
The interventions by civil servants has led experts to question the independence of the report.
The SNP-Green administration has faced criticism in the past over civil service interference in reports from the Audit Commission, among other public bodies. Michael Matheson, now the health secretary, was caught up in a row about attempts to interfere with independent police authorities during his time on the justice brief.
In 2021 officials repeatedly tried to alter a report to suggest that the SNP administration had prepared better for the Covid pandemic.
Johnson got Ukraine right. But then so did SKS. In general the UK got Ukraine right.
But Johnson also lied and partied through lockdown and brought disgrace to the office and ruined this country.
So I am not going to say he's a good PM just yet. Still the worst in history by my count.
Worst in my lifetime anyway, CHB, but he did get Ukraine right and he was quite good on Covid for a while.
Worst in UK History? Hmmmm.....Lord North usually gets the nod, but Boris definitely runs him close.
Liz Truss is a shoo-in if she counts but perhaps she shouldn't. Eg when you rank batters on their test match average they have to have played a minimum number of innings to be in the conversation.
David Cameron was our worst Prime Minister since Lord North. Liz Truss was barely in office long enough to justify a Wikipedia entry. Boris was sui generis, so outside the norm as to be incomparable with normal Prime Ministers, but possibly the most unsuitable person to have held that office.
Yes indeed. Liz Truss is basically the world’s most expensive asterisk; Cameron and his ‘quad’ damaged this country for a generation or more.
Not sure if Nadine is talking about me or Rishi Sunak.
Nadine Dorries: "You flashed your gleaming smile in your Prada shoes and Savile Row suit from behind a camera, but you just weren’t listening".
Prada? How vulgar.
I'm a Louis Vuitton man.
Isn't Louis Vuitton a French brand? And even worse, off the peg.
Less off the peg, more off the market stall for a fraction of the price.
One is reminded of Guy Burgess's letter from Moscow to his old chum the Chancellor of the Exchequer about getting restrictions removed from his account.
For the Treasury’s information I shall be sending cheques to: My grocers – Fortnum and Mason My shirt-makers – New and Lingwood My tailors – Tom Brown My Booksellers – Messrs Collett or Nancy Rodd’s.
Johnson got Ukraine right. But then so did SKS. In general the UK got Ukraine right.
But Johnson also lied and partied through lockdown and brought disgrace to the office and ruined this country.
So I am not going to say he's a good PM just yet. Still the worst in history by my count.
Worst in my lifetime anyway, CHB, but he did get Ukraine right and he was quite good on Covid for a while.
Worst in UK History? Hmmmm.....Lord North usually gets the nod, but Boris definitely runs him close.
Liz Truss is a shoo-in if she counts but perhaps she shouldn't. Eg when you rank batters on their test match average they have to have played a minimum number of innings to be in the conversation.
David Cameron was our worst Prime Minister since Lord North. Liz Truss was barely in office long enough to justify a Wikipedia entry. Boris was sui generis, so outside the norm as to be incomparable with normal Prime Ministers, but possibly the most unsuitable person to have held that office.
Yes indeed. Liz Truss is basically the world’s most expensive asterisk; Cameron and his ‘quad’ damaged this country for a generation or more.
Not the quad, it was the post 2015 Cameron government that was a shambles.
The first thing to read is this twitter thread/report which suggests that transport infrastructure in the UK is incredibly expensive compared to peer economies.
The next thing is these two charts, the first of which I posted last night. The usual suspects couldn’t wait to criticise, it was variously dismissed as Remainer propaganda, erroneous (by those who didn’t bother to check the underlying data), while others managed to find themselves arguing that commuter systems should not extend to actual commuting catchment areas (Tyndall).
I think the criticism that the first chart does not contain rail and bus is fair. But including them won't make the UK look much better compared with European countries, given only 2% of us use the train and 4% the bus to commute to work.
The ONS think 17.5 million people in England and Wales, or 35%, live in "major built up areas" - population over 200,000.
That only a small percentage choose to use inferior public transport is fine, its a valid choice to choose not to do so, just ensure people have a choice.
What we need is to invest in our infrastructure. For our population density we lack sufficient roads, we have far lower roads than comparably dense nations like the Netherlands or Japan (both of whom have a higher public transport share and cycling share than we do) which means we lack sufficient cycle paths as a result.
Do what the Dutch have done and build more roads, cycling improves and public transport (buses) improves too. Everybody wins.
I think your grasp of causality is rather weak.
I think its better than yours of starting what you object to (cars and roads) and then working backwards from there. You say you're in favour of Dutch cycling, you say you're in favour of cycling paths, but any proposals of doing what they've done and building roads with cycling paths and rather than embracing that you oppose it. Why do you oppose the opportunity for new bike paths etc to go with new roads?
The other day you asked me when if we followed my policy of construction we could expect new cycling paths, would it be after a decade, and I said immediately - you never responded so not sure if you saw that. You also agreed that if the UK caught up with the Netherlands for road density it would represent 90,000 extra miles of roads and asked if we did that how much cycling infrastructure I would expect with that - to which I said about 180,000 miles of segregated cycling paths.
Besides motorways, all new roads as standard should come with safe, segregated, cycling paths. And building new roads to relieve traffic on old ones allows them to be converted to LTNs or have cycling added to them once the road's throughput is relieved so it can be narrowed to cars and give land space over to bikes once relieved.
How many miles of cycle paths do we have in the UK today? Do you think if we followed my plan and added ~180k miles of dedicated cycle paths thanks to new road construction, then do you feel that would be better for cycling or not in this country?
Its not reinventing the bicycle wheel - its what the Dutch have done for decades.
I said very little of that. I'd appreciate it if you didn't put words into my mouth.
This is a completely unnecessary row for Rishi. He could easily have facilitated her peerage, respecting the wishes of his predecessor. Instead he was vindictive and more than a little petty.
And now it’s bitten him in the arse. Quelle surprise. People don’t take Mad Nad too seriously but some of this will sting. He deserves no better.
This is a completely unnecessary row for Rishi. He could easily have facilitated her peerage, respecting the wishes of his predecessor. Instead he was vindictive and more than a little petty.
And now it’s bitten him in the arse. Quelle surprise. People don’t take Mad Nad too seriously but some of this will sting. He deserves no better.
Yes, this was wholly avoidable. One wonders if Rishi Sunak understands anything of the murkier political arts.
This is a completely unnecessary row for Rishi. He could easily have facilitated her peerage, respecting the wishes of his predecessor. Instead he was vindictive and more than a little petty.
And now it’s bitten him in the arse. Quelle surprise. People don’t take Mad Nad too seriously but some of this will sting. He deserves no better.
Why on earth should someone completely undeserving get a peerage just to stop that person throwing their toys out of the pram? Her reaction shows exactly why she is unsuitable to be in any role that influences decisions that affect the country.
This is a completely unnecessary row for Rishi. He could easily have facilitated her peerage, respecting the wishes of his predecessor. Instead he was vindictive and more than a little petty.
And now it’s bitten him in the arse. Quelle surprise. People don’t take Mad Nad too seriously but some of this will sting. He deserves no better.
She doesn't deserve a peerage.
No she doesn't but that is hardly the criterion. In any case, the point is Rishi could easily have avoided this mess by giving her the peerage while blaming Boris both for the award and for stuffing up the arrangements.
This is a completely unnecessary row for Rishi. He could easily have facilitated her peerage, respecting the wishes of his predecessor. Instead he was vindictive and more than a little petty.
And now it’s bitten him in the arse. Quelle surprise. People don’t take Mad Nad too seriously but some of this will sting. He deserves no better.
She doesn't deserve a peerage.
She served at cabinet level. It seems a better qualification than writing large cheques to the party. The HoL is a joke of an institution anyway, what difference if there is yet another joker there?
It has been a frantic last day or so as my daughter and her family were stranded by EasyJet in Marrakesh as they cancelled their flight home yesterday giving no reason
After a lot of frantic phone calls, and a visit by myself to the travel agents, hours later EasyJet said they had no flight home for them but were working on it
Later in the day we were told they had been booked on the next available flight home which leaves this evening but to Gatwick from where they are to supply a coach to return them to Manchester Airport sometime in the early hours of tomorrow morning
Needless to say I have only been popping in and out of PB but hearing Dorries has finally resigned with an acid letter of betrayal directed at Sunak, she, Johnson and others demonstrate just how much of a cult they have become and in the process betrayed the wider conservative party as it heads for a comprehensive defeat
She may pen poisonous books but she has no awareness whatsoever that she is the one who is poisoning the brand
I am pleased she is going, and as far as Sunak is concerned, I noted the pile on from some posters to him recently but frankly the conservative party are in such disarray that he is the best they have at present and too be fair Sunak and Hunt are steering the country in the right direction in respect of the economy and should hand over a recovering economy to Starmer in 2024
Anyway early bed and an early rise to go to Knutsford Services to collect my family before dawn and bring them home again to Wales
Okay, last photo from this trip, safely ensconced in the lounge at Warsaw airport, finally heading back to my own bed in the sandpit after an epic five-city trip in three weeks.
Highlights were Lviv and Krakow, definitely places to which we’ll return, and the unbelievable sprit shown by the Ukranian people in the face of terrible adversity.
The by-election is genuinely interesting due to seeming disagreement over who is best placed to beat the Tories, and the possible presence of a spoiler independent.
Who(m) else on here thinks, that it was yours truly's cutting remark - that Mad Nad is a fleabite on the hindquarters of creation - that finally drove here to apply for Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds?
Civil servants trawled through “independent” research before it was published seeking dozens of changes to present Scottish government policy on tacking alcohol abuse in a more positive light.
Officials scoured a report sent to them on the impact of minimum alcohol pricing, submitting at least 88 comments and questions about one draft alone. They suggested that evidence that alcohol consumption had fallen after the minimum unit pricing (MUP) was introduced in 2018 be described as “strong”.
The final version of the report, published in June by Public Health Scotland, included the word, saying that there was “strong and consistent” quantitative evidence of a reduction in public alcohol consumption.
The interventions by civil servants has led experts to question the independence of the report.
The SNP-Green administration has faced criticism in the past over civil service interference in reports from the Audit Commission, among other public bodies. Michael Matheson, now the health secretary, was caught up in a row about attempts to interfere with independent police authorities during his time on the justice brief.
In 2021 officials repeatedly tried to alter a report to suggest that the SNP administration had prepared better for the Covid pandemic.
You were working as an MP in the Tory Party When I met you I picked you out, I shook you up and turned you around Turned you into someone new Now five years later on you've got the world at your feet Success has been so easy for you But don't forget, it's me who put you where you are now And I can put you back down too
Don't, don't you want me? You know I can't believe it when I hear that you won't see me Don't, don't you want me? You know I don't believe you when you say that you don't need me It's much too late to find You think you've changed your mind You'd better change it back or we will both be sorry
Don't you want me, baby? Don't you want me, ohh? Don't you want me, baby? Don't you want me, ohh?
I was working as an MP in the Tory Party That much is true But even then I knew I'd find a much better place Either with or without you The five years we have had have been such good times I still love you But now I think it's time I live my life on my own I guess it's just what I must do
The by-election is genuinely interesting due to seeming disagreement over who is best placed to beat the Tories, and the possible presence of a spoiler independent.
Yes, there’s no way that Labour stand back for the LDs, after the poll that showed them ahead.
In the circumstances, it could be a genuine three-way marginal right in the middle of conference season. What more could a political betting forum want!
Can someone use ChatGPT to rewrite You’re So Vain where the lyrics refer to embittered MP, Nadine Dorries, referring to jumped up management consulting intern of a PM, Rishi Sunak?
My personal in-house Art expert tells me that a big part of the problem at the British Meseum and similar institutions is the crap pay for the staff. Poor morale and low levels of honesty are therefore not surprising.
That’s a deeply offensive comment
Dishonesty has nothing to do with poor pay. Good people are good, honourable people regardless of their career choice. Bad people are bad people.
Don’t imply that all people in relatively low wage roles are more inclined to steal than others.
I still think Dorries played it all wrong. Sunak isn't popular, he's open to attack, but her announcement and then recanting her resignation due to the very personal reason of being upset at not getting a reward colours everything else she says. His people can and will deflect on the basis she's disgruntled, and that her other points are due to that.
Will Nads slow-motion resignation help or hinder Sunak in the medium term? (*)
Apparently, according to the BBC, her letter says: ""history will not judge you kindly"".
Which shows a rather spectacular case of self-unawareness. If history will not judge Sunak kindly, how will history judge her? Will the short footnote of her career show her as being honourable, hard-working and sane, or traitorous, lazy and slightly mad?
(*) I don't say 'long-term', as he will not be PM in the long-term.
My personal in-house Art expert tells me that a big part of the problem at the British Meseum and similar institutions is the crap pay for the staff. Poor morale and low levels of honesty are therefore not surprising.
That’s a deeply offensive comment
Dishonesty has nothing to do with poor pay. Good people are good, honourable people regardless of their career choice. Bad people are bad people.
Don’t imply that all people in relatively low wage roles are more inclined to steal than others.
People can also still have good morale on crap wages (whether they should us another matter sometimes).
I don't agree the point was offensive, just overemphasising the role bad pay must have had.
Completely off topic, but useful if you are planning a visit to Florida: "It was just before 4 a.m. on Day 5 of the 2023 Python Challenge, a trademarked, only-in-Florida hunting bonanza held in August, and across the Glades, hunters were pulling long hours in search of snakes that can stretch to 20 feet. The 10-day competition is among several unusual strategies the state has devised to try to wrangle a monster problem: Burmese pythons are swallowing the Everglades whole." source$: https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2023/08/25/invasive-python-snakes-hunt-florida/ source: https://flpythonchallenge.org/participate/required-online-training/
I have unusual tastes, but to me that sounds like more fun than visiting Disney. And good for the environment, too.
There's a $10,000 prize for the hunter that "removes" the most pythons.
This is a completely unnecessary row for Rishi. He could easily have facilitated her peerage, respecting the wishes of his predecessor. Instead he was vindictive and more than a little petty.
And now it’s bitten him in the arse. Quelle surprise. People don’t take Mad Nad too seriously but some of this will sting. He deserves no better.
She doesn't deserve a peerage.
She served at cabinet level. It seems a better qualification than writing large cheques to the party. The HoL is a joke of an institution anyway, what difference if there is yet another joker there?
Starmer has an excellent opportunity now to abolish the HoL if he wants to.
It will be interesting to see how he plays that one.
Civil servants trawled through “independent” research before it was published seeking dozens of changes to present Scottish government policy on tacking alcohol abuse in a more positive light.
Officials scoured a report sent to them on the impact of minimum alcohol pricing, submitting at least 88 comments and questions about one draft alone. They suggested that evidence that alcohol consumption had fallen after the minimum unit pricing (MUP) was introduced in 2018 be described as “strong”.
The final version of the report, published in June by Public Health Scotland, included the word, saying that there was “strong and consistent” quantitative evidence of a reduction in public alcohol consumption.
The interventions by civil servants has led experts to question the independence of the report.
The SNP-Green administration has faced criticism in the past over civil service interference in reports from the Audit Commission, among other public bodies. Michael Matheson, now the health secretary, was caught up in a row about attempts to interfere with independent police authorities during his time on the justice brief.
In 2021 officials repeatedly tried to alter a report to suggest that the SNP administration had prepared better for the Covid pandemic.
Can someone use ChatGPT to rewrite You’re So Vain where the lyrics refer to embittered MP, Nadine Dorries, referring to jumped up management consulting intern of a PM, Rishi Sunak?
(Verse 1) You walked into the Commons like you were walking onto a yacht, Your tie strategically dipped below one eye, Your coffee from that upscale spot.
You had one eye on the camera as you watched yourself gavotte, And all the MPs dreamed that they'd be your partner, They'd be your partner, and...
(Chorus) You're so vain, you probably think this debate's about you, You're so vain, I bet you think this debate's about you, Don't you? Don't you?
(Verse 2) You said you were a fiscal genius, a mind sharper than the rest, But with every budget you unveiled, it was clear you were just trying to impress. Oh Rishi, why'd you think austerity was the best?
I hear you went to the IMF, and naturally, you claimed success, Oh, but you're still in Downing Street, Where you always said you'd be the best, You said you'd be the best, and...
(Chorus) You're so vain, you probably think this nation's about you, You're so vain, I bet you think this nation's about you, Don't you? Don't you?
(Verse 3) Well, I hear you went to Silicon Valley to see a tech billionaire, Then you flew your private jet to Davos, 'Cause the elites always gather there, and...
You gave a lecture on the economy, but it was clear you just loved the flair, You talked and talked, but all I heard, Was how you love to hear yourself, love to hear yourself...
(Chorus) You're so vain, you probably think the world's about you, You're so vain, I bet you think the world's about you, Don't you? Don't you?
(Bridge) Nadine, she tried to warn us, said you're not what you pretend, But with every media appearance, Your ego just seems to extend.
(Chorus) You're so vain, you probably think the Tories are about you, You're so vain, I bet you think the Tories are about you, Don't you? Don't you?
Remember, it's important to use parodies or rewritten songs in appropriate contexts and with an understanding of potential consequences, particularly when it involves public figures. The above is meant for entertainment and illustrative purposes only.
No idea if this works, as I don't know the original
Completely off topic, but useful if you are planning a visit to Florida: "It was just before 4 a.m. on Day 5 of the 2023 Python Challenge, a trademarked, only-in-Florida hunting bonanza held in August, and across the Glades, hunters were pulling long hours in search of snakes that can stretch to 20 feet. The 10-day competition is among several unusual strategies the state has devised to try to wrangle a monster problem: Burmese pythons are swallowing the Everglades whole." source$: https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2023/08/25/invasive-python-snakes-hunt-florida/ source: https://flpythonchallenge.org/participate/required-online-training/
I have unusual tastes, but to me that sounds like more fun than visiting Disney. And good for the environment, too.
There's a $10,000 prize for the hunter that "removes" the most pythons.
Is the popularity of snake hunts among Floridians, the chief reason that Gov. DeSantis is spending so little time in the Sunshine State these days/
Allegedly he was out campaigning for President . . . but that appears to be fake news . . .
It’s international dog day!! Here’s a British-owned Hungarian dog, who has a Belgian passport, in Norway - is that international enough?
But as any sailor knows there are two dogs every day. In fact it'll soon be the first dog ...
I'll keep watch for them, twice...
Now well into the second dog, the sun has been over the yardarm for a while, hence some pleasant NZ white before and with ham, potatoes and pickled beetroot.
I am thinking of applying to become a trustee and director of a charity myself, actually.
Absolutely nothing wrong with it to my knowledge but, strangely, my first thought was that she'd be the first person I'd call for advice if I heard about any allegation of malpractice or wrongdoing, and my second was about how I'd convince my fellow directors to act (my default assumption being they'd be terrified of the embarrassment and reputational damage it might cause, be inclined to dismiss it, and would probably bracket me as a troublemaker/gullible and not a team player).
In short, I'm not sure this is a bad apples thing: I think most organisations and institutions are just culturally wired like this with human nature being what it is on top.
Indeed, it’s mostly human nature that needs to be trained out of people.
How many of those who go into managerial or trustee roles with large 3rd sector organisations, see their primary tank as being custodians of this famous institution, and therefore when a problem occurs their first reaction is to think of whatever best preserves the reputation of the organisation, rather than what’s actually the right thing to do in the circumstances?
One point: I'd take very seriously any training for trustees, even if it is the charity equivalent of what is sometimes decried as HR and woke stuff. As I understand it, the law about charity trustees has tightened in recent years and their personal responsibilities and liabilities are greater. How far this is the case in actual practice I don't know, as I have never become a charity trustee, but the very reason for not doing so was that the little I saw of it made me feel I did not want to do so without being very sure of the other trustees.
PS: puzzled by the expression "trustee and director". Aren't those roles kept separate? [PS Not asking personally or about the specific case - just the general point.]
Being a Trustee for a regular charity carries potential unlimited financial and other liability., and this is a bar to many, even if somewhat of a remote possibility.
One way around this is to reconstitute the Charity as a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation) with many similarities to a limited company.
This is a completely unnecessary row for Rishi. He could easily have facilitated her peerage, respecting the wishes of his predecessor. Instead he was vindictive and more than a little petty.
And now it’s bitten him in the arse. Quelle surprise. People don’t take Mad Nad too seriously but some of this will sting. He deserves no better.
She doesn't deserve a peerage.
She served at cabinet level. It seems a better qualification than writing large cheques to the party. The HoL is a joke of an institution anyway, what difference if there is yet another joker there?
Starmer has an excellent opportunity now to abolish the HoL if he wants to.
It will be interesting to see how he plays that one.
Can someone use ChatGPT to rewrite You’re So Vain where the lyrics refer to embittered MP, Nadine Dorries, referring to jumped up management consulting intern of a PM, Rishi Sunak?
(Verse 1) You walked into the Commons like you were walking onto a yacht, Your tie strategically dipped below one eye, Your coffee from that upscale spot.
You had one eye on the camera as you watched yourself gavotte, And all the MPs dreamed that they'd be your partner, They'd be your partner, and...
(Chorus) You're so vain, you probably think this debate's about you, You're so vain, I bet you think this debate's about you, Don't you? Don't you?
(Verse 2) You said you were a fiscal genius, a mind sharper than the rest, But with every budget you unveiled, it was clear you were just trying to impress. Oh Rishi, why'd you think austerity was the best?
I hear you went to the IMF, and naturally, you claimed success, Oh, but you're still in Downing Street, Where you always said you'd be the best, You said you'd be the best, and...
(Chorus) You're so vain, you probably think this nation's about you, You're so vain, I bet you think this nation's about you, Don't you? Don't you?
(Verse 3) Well, I hear you went to Silicon Valley to see a tech billionaire, Then you flew your private jet to Davos, 'Cause the elites always gather there, and...
You gave a lecture on the economy, but it was clear you just loved the flair, You talked and talked, but all I heard, Was how you love to hear yourself, love to hear yourself...
(Chorus) You're so vain, you probably think the world's about you, You're so vain, I bet you think the world's about you, Don't you? Don't you?
(Bridge) Nadine, she tried to warn us, said you're not what you pretend, But with every media appearance, Your ego just seems to extend.
(Chorus) You're so vain, you probably think the Tories are about you, You're so vain, I bet you think the Tories are about you, Don't you? Don't you?
Remember, it's important to use parodies or rewritten songs in appropriate contexts and with an understanding of potential consequences, particularly when it involves public figures. The above is meant for entertainment and illustrative purposes only.
No idea if this works, as I don't know the original
Not too bad. Could definitely use as a starter template.
I’d like to get the following line in; “Your trow strategically hemmed at ankle length”
Poland investigates cyber-attack on rail network ... Hackers broke into railway frequencies to disrupt traffic in the north-west of the country overnight, the Polish Press Agency (PAP) reported on Saturday.
The signals were interspersed with recording of Russia's national anthem and a speech by President Vladimir Putin, the report says.
Poland is a major transit hub for Western weapons being sent to Ukraine.
Saturday's incident occurred when hackers transmitted a signal that triggered an emergency stoppage of trains near the city of Szczecin, PAP reported.
I still think Dorries played it all wrong. Sunak isn't popular, he's open to attack, but her announcement and then recanting her resignation due to the very personal reason of being upset at not getting a reward colours everything else she says. His people can and will deflect on the basis she's disgruntled, and that her other points are due to that.
Nadine Dorries has achieved the feat, of making herself even more pathetic than she already was/is.
It's a gift. Now all she needs, is a cheesy mug shot.
Johnson got Ukraine right. But then so did SKS. In general the UK got Ukraine right.
But Johnson also lied and partied through lockdown and brought disgrace to the office and ruined this country.
So I am not going to say he's a good PM just yet. Still the worst in history by my count.
Worst in my lifetime anyway, CHB, but he did get Ukraine right and he was quite good on Covid for a while.
Worst in UK History? Hmmmm.....Lord North usually gets the nod, but Boris definitely runs him close.
Liz Truss is a shoo-in if she counts but perhaps she shouldn't. Eg when you rank batters on their test match average they have to have played a minimum number of innings to be in the conversation.
Quite. That's why I ignored her. Has to be in long enough to do serious long term damage.
Boris qualifies, just; Truss doesn't, although per days-in-office the amount of damage was impressively high.
Poland investigates cyber-attack on rail network ... Hackers broke into railway frequencies to disrupt traffic in the north-west of the country overnight, the Polish Press Agency (PAP) reported on Saturday.
The signals were interspersed with recording of Russia's national anthem and a speech by President Vladimir Putin, the report says.
Poland is a major transit hub for Western weapons being sent to Ukraine.
Saturday's incident occurred when hackers transmitted a signal that triggered an emergency stoppage of trains near the city of Szczecin, PAP reported.
Poland investigates cyber-attack on rail network ... Hackers broke into railway frequencies to disrupt traffic in the north-west of the country overnight, the Polish Press Agency (PAP) reported on Saturday.
The signals were interspersed with recording of Russia's national anthem and a speech by President Vladimir Putin, the report says.
Poland is a major transit hub for Western weapons being sent to Ukraine.
Saturday's incident occurred when hackers transmitted a signal that triggered an emergency stoppage of trains near the city of Szczecin, PAP reported.
I still think Dorries played it all wrong. Sunak isn't popular, he's open to attack, but her announcement and then recanting her resignation due to the very personal reason of being upset at not getting a reward colours everything else she says. His people can and will deflect on the basis she's disgruntled, and that her other points are due to that.
Nadine Dorries has achieved the feat, of making herself even more pathetic than she already was/is.
It's a gift. Now all she needs, is a cheesy mug shot.
Indeed. The letter deserves a place on management courses and the like. It's exemplary of the letter which, a few times in a lifetime, you write and then don't send.
Can someone use ChatGPT to rewrite You’re So Vain where the lyrics refer to embittered MP, Nadine Dorries, referring to jumped up management consulting intern of a PM, Rishi Sunak?
(Verse 1) You strolled into power, with a grin so bold, Former consultant, now a PM we're told, An embittered MP, fighting tooth and nail, In the corridors of power, a bitter tale.
(Pre-Chorus) You're both in a war, pride on display, MP's bitterness, PM's ambitious sway, An embittered MP, and a consultant's pride, In this battleground of egos, you collide.
(Chorus) Oh, you're so vain, trapped in your own charade, Locked in combat, accolades to trade, You're so vain, your paths now remade, Yet time will reveal the debts to be paid.
(Verse 2) MP fueled by resentment and disdain, PM turned leader, arrogance like rain, A battle of wills, of ideals and might, Both believing they're destined for the height.
(Pre-Chorus) But remember, MP, and PM so grand, Leadership requires more than a stand, An embittered MP, and a consultant's flair, In this journey of power, be aware.
(Chorus) Oh, you're so vain, entangled in your charade, Seeking dominance, your rules to be obeyed, You're so vain, both roles overplayed, And truth will unfold like a serenade.
(Bridge) An embittered MP, a consultant's past, Caught in a struggle, a battle so vast, But humility and vision will guide, As you navigate the currents of pride.
(Pre-Chorus) MP, release that bitterness inside, PM, let wisdom be your guide, For leadership is more than a game, It's about leaving behind a worthy name.
(Chorus) Oh, you're so vain, trapped in your own crusade, Chasing glory, in power's accolade, You're so vain, both on parade, Yet time will expose the decisions you've made.
(Outro) So continue, MP and PM, forge ahead, But remember, it's not just power you'll spread, An embittered MP, a consultant's stance, In the symphony of leadership, find your dance.
The Dorries resignation letter is a pretty coruscating personal attack on Sunak. Regardless of the source, I don't think it's good news for him. Bring it on.
Poland investigates cyber-attack on rail network ... Hackers broke into railway frequencies to disrupt traffic in the north-west of the country overnight, the Polish Press Agency (PAP) reported on Saturday.
The signals were interspersed with recording of Russia's national anthem and a speech by President Vladimir Putin, the report says.
Poland is a major transit hub for Western weapons being sent to Ukraine.
Saturday's incident occurred when hackers transmitted a signal that triggered an emergency stoppage of trains near the city of Szczecin, PAP reported.
The Russian national anthem makes this hack sound more like a prank by a patriotic Russian script kiddie than a state-sponsored cyberattack.
That’s very interesting. I wasn’t near Szczecin, but I was on a Polish train today - and it did do one hell of a stop at one point, enough to send the crockery and cutlery flying off the first class tables. It was stationary for about a minute, then started rolling again, I mentioned to wifey at the time that it felt like an emergency stop, not something I’ve experienced before on a fast train, as if someone had unexpectedly turned a signal red in front of us.
Many years ago, I proposed a system of travelling exhibitions for art and artifacts. Out country has millions of things of interest, often split between different museums and galleries.
Take Joseph Wright of Derby, a great artist I love. (The Orrery, An Experiment, Vesuvius). Many of his best paintings are in Derby, but there are others around the country. So organise a travelling exhibition that goes around the country, in which the best of his paintings, not just rom derby, but the country and the world, are shown.
This has the advantage of allowing many more people around the country to see the great works, but also promoting his works. It may also make people look up his works in their more local museums.
You can do it for other things as well, such as religious artefacts. Themed exhibitions already happen (see Charles ex-of this parish), but they should be more common and easier.
Poland investigates cyber-attack on rail network ... Hackers broke into railway frequencies to disrupt traffic in the north-west of the country overnight, the Polish Press Agency (PAP) reported on Saturday.
The signals were interspersed with recording of Russia's national anthem and a speech by President Vladimir Putin, the report says.
Poland is a major transit hub for Western weapons being sent to Ukraine.
Saturday's incident occurred when hackers transmitted a signal that triggered an emergency stoppage of trains near the city of Szczecin, PAP reported.
Poland investigates cyber-attack on rail network ... Hackers broke into railway frequencies to disrupt traffic in the north-west of the country overnight, the Polish Press Agency (PAP) reported on Saturday.
The signals were interspersed with recording of Russia's national anthem and a speech by President Vladimir Putin, the report says.
Poland is a major transit hub for Western weapons being sent to Ukraine.
Saturday's incident occurred when hackers transmitted a signal that triggered an emergency stoppage of trains near the city of Szczecin, PAP reported.
Comments
https://twitter.com/NadineDorries/status/1695477448861757833
Full text of Naddine Dorries' resignation
https://www.mailplus.co.uk/edition/news/313641/in-full-nadine-dorriess-resignation-letter
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12448557/Nadine-Dorries-quits-Commons-seat-resignation-letter-full.html?ito=social-twitter_mailonline
Nadine Dorries: "You flashed your gleaming smile in your Prada shoes and Savile Row suit from behind a camera, but you just weren’t listening".
One way around this is to reconstitute the Charity as a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation) with many similarities to a limited company.
“You walked into the party like you were walking onboard a helicopter.”
Go, Nads.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12448557/Nadine-Dorries-quits-Commons-seat-resignation-letter-full.html
And now it’s bitten him in the arse. Quelle surprise. People don’t take Mad Nad too seriously but some of this will sting. He deserves no better.
Officials scoured a report sent to them on the impact of minimum alcohol pricing, submitting at least 88 comments and questions about one draft alone. They suggested that evidence that alcohol consumption had fallen after the minimum unit pricing (MUP) was introduced in 2018 be described as “strong”.
The final version of the report, published in June by Public Health Scotland, included the word, saying that there was “strong and consistent” quantitative evidence of a reduction in public alcohol consumption.
The interventions by civil servants has led experts to question the independence of the report.
The SNP-Green administration has faced criticism in the past over civil service interference in reports from the Audit Commission, among other public bodies. Michael Matheson, now the health secretary, was caught up in a row about attempts to interfere with independent police authorities during his time on the justice brief.
In 2021 officials repeatedly tried to alter a report to suggest that the SNP administration had prepared better for the Covid pandemic.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/independent-alcohol-pricing-report-was-amended-by-civil-servants-ck2ll2wvn
For the Treasury’s information I shall be sending cheques to:
My grocers – Fortnum and Mason
My shirt-makers – New and Lingwood
My tailors – Tom Brown
My Booksellers – Messrs Collett or Nancy Rodd’s.
"...You flashed your gleaming smile in your Prada shoes and Savile Row suit from behind a camera, but you just weren’t listening. All they received in return were platitudes and a speech illustrating how wonderful life was in California..."
Carly Simon on (allegedly) Warren Beatty
"...You walked into the party like you were walking onto a yacht
Your hat strategically dipped below one eye, your scarf it was apricot
You had one eye in the mirror, as you watched yourself gavotte..."
It has been a frantic last day or so as my daughter and her family were stranded by EasyJet in Marrakesh as they cancelled their flight home yesterday giving no reason
After a lot of frantic phone calls, and a visit by myself to the travel agents, hours later EasyJet said they had no flight home for them but were working on it
Later in the day we were told they had been booked on the next available flight home which leaves this evening but to Gatwick from where they are to supply a coach to return them to Manchester Airport sometime in the early hours of tomorrow morning
Needless to say I have only been popping in and out of PB but hearing Dorries has finally resigned with an acid letter of betrayal directed at Sunak, she, Johnson and others demonstrate just how much of a cult they have become and in the process betrayed the wider conservative party as it heads for a comprehensive defeat
She may pen poisonous books but she has no awareness whatsoever that she is the one who is poisoning the brand
I am pleased she is going, and as far as Sunak is concerned, I noted the pile on from some posters to him recently but frankly the conservative party are in such disarray that he is the best they have at present and too be fair Sunak and Hunt are steering the country in the right direction in respect of the economy and should hand over a recovering economy to Starmer in 2024
Anyway early bed and an early rise to go to Knutsford Services to collect my family before dawn and bring them home again to Wales
Highlights were Lviv and Krakow, definitely places to which we’ll return, and the unbelievable sprit shown by the Ukranian people in the face of terrible adversity.
Sayonara!
It’s that which was mistake, rather than rejecting her flimsy claim to a peerage.
I shall today inform the Chancellor of my intention to take the Chiltern Hundreds, enabling the writ to be moved on September the 4th for the by-election you are so desperately seeking to take place.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12448557/Nadine-Dorries-quits-Commons-seat-resignation-letter-full.html
Although it is not for her to choose the date of the by-election.
[ducks]
Fish License
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5MnyRZLd8A
When I met you
I picked you out, I shook you up and turned you around
Turned you into someone new
Now five years later on you've got the world at your feet
Success has been so easy for you
But don't forget, it's me who put you where you are now
And I can put you back down too
Don't, don't you want me?
You know I can't believe it when I hear that you won't see me
Don't, don't you want me?
You know I don't believe you when you say that you don't need me
It's much too late to find
You think you've changed your mind
You'd better change it back or we will both be sorry
Don't you want me, baby?
Don't you want me, ohh?
Don't you want me, baby?
Don't you want me, ohh?
I was working as an MP in the Tory Party
That much is true
But even then I knew I'd find a much better place
Either with or without you
The five years we have had have been such good times
I still love you
But now I think it's time I live my life on my own
I guess it's just what I must do
In the circumstances, it could be a genuine three-way marginal right in the middle of conference season. What more could a political betting forum want!
Dishonesty has nothing to do with poor pay. Good people are good, honourable people regardless of their career choice. Bad people are bad people.
Don’t imply that all people in relatively low wage roles are more inclined to steal than others.
"...You had me several years ago when I was still quite naive
Well, you said that we made such a pretty pair and that you would never leave
But you gave away the things you loved
And one of them was me..."
I hate to say it, but it better describes Nadine's platonic but still fierce feelings for Boris.
Apparently, according to the BBC, her letter says: ""history will not judge you kindly"".
Which shows a rather spectacular case of self-unawareness. If history will not judge Sunak kindly, how will history judge her? Will the short footnote of her career show her as being honourable, hard-working and sane, or traitorous, lazy and slightly mad?
(*) I don't say 'long-term', as he will not be PM in the long-term.
I don't agree the point was offensive, just overemphasising the role bad pay must have had.
"It was just before 4 a.m. on Day 5 of the 2023 Python Challenge, a trademarked, only-in-Florida hunting bonanza held in August, and across the Glades, hunters were pulling long hours in search of snakes that can stretch to 20 feet. The 10-day competition is among several unusual strategies the state has devised to try to wrangle a monster problem: Burmese pythons are swallowing the Everglades whole."
source$: https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2023/08/25/invasive-python-snakes-hunt-florida/
source: https://flpythonchallenge.org/participate/required-online-training/
I have unusual tastes, but to me that sounds like more fun than visiting Disney. And good for the environment, too.
There's a $10,000 prize for the hunter that "removes" the most pythons.
For many years a household name across America, but mostly unknown to younger generations in the US . . . and to virtually everybody else elsewhere.
It will be interesting to see how he plays that one.
Absolute clown. Good riddance.
You walked into the Commons like you were walking onto a yacht,
Your tie strategically dipped below one eye,
Your coffee from that upscale spot.
You had one eye on the camera as you watched yourself gavotte,
And all the MPs dreamed that they'd be your partner,
They'd be your partner, and...
(Chorus)
You're so vain, you probably think this debate's about you,
You're so vain, I bet you think this debate's about you,
Don't you? Don't you?
(Verse 2)
You said you were a fiscal genius, a mind sharper than the rest,
But with every budget you unveiled, it was clear you were just trying to impress.
Oh Rishi, why'd you think austerity was the best?
I hear you went to the IMF, and naturally, you claimed success,
Oh, but you're still in Downing Street,
Where you always said you'd be the best,
You said you'd be the best, and...
(Chorus)
You're so vain, you probably think this nation's about you,
You're so vain, I bet you think this nation's about you,
Don't you? Don't you?
(Verse 3)
Well, I hear you went to Silicon Valley to see a tech billionaire,
Then you flew your private jet to Davos,
'Cause the elites always gather there, and...
You gave a lecture on the economy, but it was clear you just loved the flair,
You talked and talked, but all I heard,
Was how you love to hear yourself, love to hear yourself...
(Chorus)
You're so vain, you probably think the world's about you,
You're so vain, I bet you think the world's about you,
Don't you? Don't you?
(Bridge)
Nadine, she tried to warn us, said you're not what you pretend,
But with every media appearance,
Your ego just seems to extend.
(Chorus)
You're so vain, you probably think the Tories are about you,
You're so vain, I bet you think the Tories are about you,
Don't you? Don't you?
Remember, it's important to use parodies or rewritten songs in appropriate contexts and with an understanding of potential consequences, particularly when it involves public figures. The above is meant for entertainment and illustrative purposes only.
No idea if this works, as I don't know the original
Allegedly he was out campaigning for President . . . but that appears to be fake news . . .
https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=AONE&u=googlescholar&id=GALE|A288536262&v=2.1&it=r&sid=AONE&asid=c632f4a7
Always follow the letter of rules, or people will screw you over it if they want.
Could definitely use as a starter template.
I’d like to get the following line in;
“Your trow strategically hemmed at ankle length”
...
Hackers broke into railway frequencies to disrupt traffic in the north-west of the country overnight, the Polish Press Agency (PAP) reported on Saturday.
The signals were interspersed with recording of Russia's national anthem and a speech by President Vladimir Putin, the report says.
Poland is a major transit hub for Western weapons being sent to Ukraine.
Saturday's incident occurred when hackers transmitted a signal that triggered an emergency stoppage of trains near the city of Szczecin, PAP reported.
About 20 trains were brought to a standstill, but services were restored within hours.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-66630260
The Russian national anthem makes this hack sound more like a prank by a patriotic Russian script kiddie than a state-sponsored cyberattack.
It's a gift. Now all she needs, is a cheesy mug shot.
Boris qualifies, just; Truss doesn't, although per days-in-office the amount of damage was impressively high.
Or is it that the alleged demise of their convict commander, has disrupted activities at the Wagner Troll Farm?
You strolled into power, with a grin so bold,
Former consultant, now a PM we're told,
An embittered MP, fighting tooth and nail,
In the corridors of power, a bitter tale.
(Pre-Chorus)
You're both in a war, pride on display,
MP's bitterness, PM's ambitious sway,
An embittered MP, and a consultant's pride,
In this battleground of egos, you collide.
(Chorus)
Oh, you're so vain, trapped in your own charade,
Locked in combat, accolades to trade,
You're so vain, your paths now remade,
Yet time will reveal the debts to be paid.
(Verse 2)
MP fueled by resentment and disdain,
PM turned leader, arrogance like rain,
A battle of wills, of ideals and might,
Both believing they're destined for the height.
(Pre-Chorus)
But remember, MP, and PM so grand,
Leadership requires more than a stand,
An embittered MP, and a consultant's flair,
In this journey of power, be aware.
(Chorus)
Oh, you're so vain, entangled in your charade,
Seeking dominance, your rules to be obeyed,
You're so vain, both roles overplayed,
And truth will unfold like a serenade.
(Bridge)
An embittered MP, a consultant's past,
Caught in a struggle, a battle so vast,
But humility and vision will guide,
As you navigate the currents of pride.
(Pre-Chorus)
MP, release that bitterness inside,
PM, let wisdom be your guide,
For leadership is more than a game,
It's about leaving behind a worthy name.
(Chorus)
Oh, you're so vain, trapped in your own crusade,
Chasing glory, in power's accolade,
You're so vain, both on parade,
Yet time will expose the decisions you've made.
(Outro)
So continue, MP and PM, forge ahead,
But remember, it's not just power you'll spread,
An embittered MP, a consultant's stance,
In the symphony of leadership, find your dance.
Regardless of the source, I don't think it's good news for him.
Bring it on.
Many years ago, I proposed a system of travelling exhibitions for art and artifacts. Out country has millions of things of interest, often split between different museums and galleries.
Take Joseph Wright of Derby, a great artist I love. (The Orrery, An Experiment, Vesuvius). Many of his best paintings are in Derby, but there are others around the country. So organise a travelling exhibition that goes around the country, in which the best of his paintings, not just rom derby, but the country and the world, are shown.
This has the advantage of allowing many more people around the country to see the great works, but also promoting his works. It may also make people look up his works in their more local museums.
You can do it for other things as well, such as religious artefacts. Themed exhibitions already happen (see Charles ex-of this parish), but they should be more common and easier.
I don't frequent art galleries very often - they're generally not my thing. But one minor piece that really caught my interest was the central panel of the triptych below:
https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/saint-catherine-and-the-philosophers-18226