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A note from Mike Smithson – politicalbetting.com

SystemSystem Posts: 12,114
edited October 2023 in General
A note from Mike Smithson – politicalbetting.com

After nearly 20 years of running PB I am taking a break from the site.

Read the full story here

«13456

Comments

  • Hope all is well Mike. Best wishes.
  • Best of British.
  • CiceroCicero Posts: 3,052
    All the best Mike.
  • kyf_100kyf_100 Posts: 4,843
    As others have said, very best wishes, Mike.
  • Christ....given shit always hits the fan when OGH takes a break....prepare for WWIII....glad I still have the nuclear bomb shelter in the garden I built for Trump presidency.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 27,993
    I hope everything is OK OGH.

    In the event of TSE running the show, should we be looking to bet on the inevitable Armageddon?
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 32,006
    Best wishes OGH.
  • Nigelb said:

    A note from your readers.

    We love you, Mike.

    Seconded.

    Meanwhile in "boring polls" news,

    Labour leads by 14% nationally.

    Westminster VI (1 October):

    Labour 43% (–)
    Conservative 29% (+1)
    Liberal Democrat 12% (-1)
    Reform UK 7% (-1)
    Green 4% (-1)
    Scottish National Party 3% (+1)
    Other 1% (–)

    Changes +/- 24 September


    https://x.com/RedfieldWilton/status/1708874488996409475
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 35,675
    @KevinASchofield

    More HS2 confusion as Downing Street is forced to deny that Rishi Sunak has decided to axe the Birmingham to Manchester leg of the project.
  • FlatlanderFlatlander Posts: 4,560

    Scott_xP said:

    @KevinASchofield

    More HS2 confusion as Downing Street is forced to deny that Rishi Sunak has decided to axe the Birmingham to Manchester leg of the project.

    This pathetic nonsense is no way to run a country.

    If you say you're going to do something, then bloody well do it. Stop dilly dallying about for decades.

    And if you've made a decision, spit it out.
    Who is leaking to the press?

    Is the Treasury (or someone else) trying to bounce the PM prior to an actual decision?
  • Pro_RataPro_Rata Posts: 5,239
    Good luck Mike. Get and keep well, and I'm sure any BTL and header contributions you see fit to post will be most welcome. You sound open to coming back if the break goes well, so best of luck.
  • TazTaz Posts: 14,100
    Hope all is well Mike. Enjoy your break.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,160

    Scott_xP said:

    @KevinASchofield

    More HS2 confusion as Downing Street is forced to deny that Rishi Sunak has decided to axe the Birmingham to Manchester leg of the project.

    This pathetic nonsense is no way to run a country.

    If you say you're going to do something, then bloody well do it. Stop dilly dallying about for decades.

    And if you've made a decision, spit it out.
    It is chaos. Just utter indecisive chaos.

    Sunak's USP was stable and adult governance after a period of chaos.

    Now this.

    Just beggars belief frankly.
  • Scott_xP said:

    @KevinASchofield

    More HS2 confusion as Downing Street is forced to deny that Rishi Sunak has decided to axe the Birmingham to Manchester leg of the project.

    This pathetic nonsense is no way to run a country.

    If you say you're going to do something, then bloody well do it. Stop dilly dallying about for decades.

    And if you've made a decision, spit it out.
    In betting terms, this appalling management of the story points to a terrible potential problem to the Tories when it comes to the election campaign.

    When the election campaign comes, parties need to close down damaging stories hard and fast. This one has been rolling on for days, and the line seems to be "Rishi is having a good old think about it and we'll let you know the outcome at some point." Plainly that is not an acceptable answer.
  • FPT Panorama is about Abercrombie & Fitch. Big in America but lucky to sell a pair of socks a week over here.

    Abercrombie & Fitch ex-CEO accused of exploiting men for sex
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-66889779
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 21,646
    Watch Panorama's The Abercrombie Guys: The Dark Side of Cool, on BBC iPlayer now and on BBC One on Monday at 21:00 BST. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001r3ns

    Listen to the podcast series, World of Secrets: Season 1 - The Abercrombie Guys, available on BBC Sounds from 21:00 BST. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvs0

    Apparently, rich men are travelling the world and paying out of their own pocket for consensual sex with adult men for money. Leaving aside the ethics of prostitution, am I missing something?
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 21,646
    Good luck Mike. Hope it all turns out OK.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,160

    Aubrey Allegretti
    @breeallegretti
    ·
    35m
    Surprise press conferences is not the sign of a party in charge of the conference news agenda.

    Andy Street, the Conservative mayor of the West Midlands, also holding one shortly

    Aubrey Allegretti
    @breeallegretti
    ·
    6m
    “You will be turning your back on the opportunity to level up”

    Andy Street makes an impassioned plea to save the future of HS2
  • viewcode said:

    Watch Panorama's The Abercrombie Guys: The Dark Side of Cool, on BBC iPlayer now and on BBC One on Monday at 21:00 BST. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001r3ns

    Listen to the podcast series, World of Secrets: Season 1 - The Abercrombie Guys, available on BBC Sounds from 21:00 BST. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvs0

    Apparently, rich men are travelling the world and paying out of their own pocket for consensual sex with adult men for money. Leaving aside the ethics of prostitution, am I missing something?

    Not entirely consensual from the sounds of it? In which case its absolutely wrong.

    And travelling the world to pay yourself is one thing. Sex trafficking and moving people to be exploited is another kettle of fish.
  • algarkirkalgarkirk Posts: 12,325
    FPT

    Following on from the definition of 'woke' discussion, can I suggest that it eludes definition in the normal sense of the term because it belongs to a special class of words which have three characteristics:

    Their meaning evolves continuously
    They denote a clan and clan membership
    It is a sanctified (for some) or tainting (for others) word, meaning that its use always implies being axiomatically right or axiomatically wrong, with no further consideration required.

    Discussion across boundaries is frequently discouraged and is generally fruitless.

    Other words with similar overtones: left, right, progressive, centrist, conservative.
  • Keep well Mike.
  • Mark Harper transport secretary has just said Tories will stop the "misuse of 15 minute cities" …
    "what is sinister is the idea of local councils deciding how often you can go to the shops".
    It is sinister. It’s also not remotely true…

    https://twitter.com/maitlis/status/1708792200329372089
  • Scott_xP said:

    @KevinASchofield

    More HS2 confusion as Downing Street is forced to deny that Rishi Sunak has decided to axe the Birmingham to Manchester leg of the project.

    This pathetic nonsense is no way to run a country.

    If you say you're going to do something, then bloody well do it. Stop dilly dallying about for decades.

    And if you've made a decision, spit it out.
    It is chaos. Just utter indecisive chaos.

    Sunak's USP was stable and adult governance after a period of chaos.

    Now this.

    Just beggars belief frankly.
    The country would be better with Truss.

    Or Johnson.

    Or Starmer.
  • GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 22,121
    Hope everything is OK, OGH.
  • OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 15,662
    Best wishes Mike, be back soon!
  • Scott_xP said:

    @KevinASchofield

    More HS2 confusion as Downing Street is forced to deny that Rishi Sunak has decided to axe the Birmingham to Manchester leg of the project.

    This pathetic nonsense is no way to run a country.

    If you say you're going to do something, then bloody well do it. Stop dilly dallying about for decades.

    And if you've made a decision, spit it out.
    It is chaos. Just utter indecisive chaos.

    Sunak's USP was stable and adult governance after a period of chaos.

    Now this.

    Just beggars belief frankly.
    The country would be better with Truss.

    Or Johnson.

    Or Starmer.
    It really does raise the question just why we have so many abject politicians but then not just in UK but globally

    I cannot think of one outstanding politician anywhere

  • Scott_xP said:

    @KevinASchofield

    More HS2 confusion as Downing Street is forced to deny that Rishi Sunak has decided to axe the Birmingham to Manchester leg of the project.

    This pathetic nonsense is no way to run a country.

    If you say you're going to do something, then bloody well do it. Stop dilly dallying about for decades.

    And if you've made a decision, spit it out.
    It is chaos. Just utter indecisive chaos.

    Sunak's USP was stable and adult governance after a period of chaos.

    Now this.

    Just beggars belief frankly.
    The country would be better with Truss.

    Or Johnson.

    Or Starmer.
    Frankly, the country would be better if we had a truss for Prime Minister. Or a johnson.

    If I knew what a starmer was, I'd be pretty sure the same applied to it.
  • geoffwgeoffw Posts: 8,652
    Best wishes Mike
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 32,006
    "Redfield / Wilton

    Labour 43% (–)
    Conservative 29% (+1)
    Liberal Democrat 12% (-1)
    Reform UK 7% (-1)
    Green 4% (-1)
    Scottish National Party 3% (+1)
    Other 1% (–)

    Changes +/- 24 September"
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 81,347
    edited October 2023

    FPT Panorama is about Abercrombie & Fitch. Big in America but lucky to sell a pair of socks a week over here.

    Abercrombie & Fitch ex-CEO accused of exploiting men for sex
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-66889779

    If you know anything about Mike Jeffries, its a bit like finding out Russell Brand didn't exactly live a pure life in the noughties. There have been previous lawsuits about his and his partners behaviour.

    I am presuming the delay in announcing was down to legal fights.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 121,974
    Good luck Mike
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 121,974

    Scott_xP said:

    @KevinASchofield

    More HS2 confusion as Downing Street is forced to deny that Rishi Sunak has decided to axe the Birmingham to Manchester leg of the project.

    This pathetic nonsense is no way to run a country.

    If you say you're going to do something, then bloody well do it. Stop dilly dallying about for decades.

    And if you've made a decision, spit it out.
    It is chaos. Just utter indecisive chaos.

    Sunak's USP was stable and adult governance after a period of chaos.

    Now this.

    Just beggars belief frankly.
    The country would be better with Truss.

    Or Johnson.

    Or Starmer.
    Inflation is falling, the economy is growing, Sunak is delivering in some respects
  • PhilPhil Posts: 2,225

    Scott_xP said:

    @KevinASchofield

    More HS2 confusion as Downing Street is forced to deny that Rishi Sunak has decided to axe the Birmingham to Manchester leg of the project.

    This pathetic nonsense is no way to run a country.

    If you say you're going to do something, then bloody well do it. Stop dilly dallying about for decades.

    And if you've made a decision, spit it out.
    I now look forward to Sunak announcing that both northern legs of HS2 are going ahead, as well as the northern powerhouse rail.

    If you’re going to vacillate wildly from one position to another, why not do it good and hard!
  • RazedabodeRazedabode Posts: 3,027


    Aubrey Allegretti
    @breeallegretti
    ·
    35m
    Surprise press conferences is not the sign of a party in charge of the conference news agenda.

    Andy Street, the Conservative mayor of the West Midlands, also holding one shortly

    Aubrey Allegretti
    @breeallegretti
    ·
    6m
    “You will be turning your back on the opportunity to level up”

    Andy Street makes an impassioned plea to save the future of HS2

    Wouldn’t be surprised if he does resign. What a disaster
  • darkagedarkage Posts: 5,297
    Sunak needs to kick this HS2 thing in to the long grass. Just announce it is being reviewed and that it is going to take a while.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,598
    HYUFD said:

    Scott_xP said:

    @KevinASchofield

    More HS2 confusion as Downing Street is forced to deny that Rishi Sunak has decided to axe the Birmingham to Manchester leg of the project.

    This pathetic nonsense is no way to run a country.

    If you say you're going to do something, then bloody well do it. Stop dilly dallying about for decades.

    And if you've made a decision, spit it out.
    It is chaos. Just utter indecisive chaos.

    Sunak's USP was stable and adult governance after a period of chaos.

    Now this.

    Just beggars belief frankly.
    The country would be better with Truss.

    Or Johnson.

    Or Starmer.
    Inflation is falling, the economy is growing, Sunak is delivering in some respects
    "Your prices are still going up, and your mortgage will be going up when you renew it layter this year. Only your prices aren't going up qutie as fast as we made them do last year."
  • RazedabodeRazedabode Posts: 3,027
    HYUFD said:

    Scott_xP said:

    @KevinASchofield

    More HS2 confusion as Downing Street is forced to deny that Rishi Sunak has decided to axe the Birmingham to Manchester leg of the project.

    This pathetic nonsense is no way to run a country.

    If you say you're going to do something, then bloody well do it. Stop dilly dallying about for decades.

    And if you've made a decision, spit it out.
    It is chaos. Just utter indecisive chaos.

    Sunak's USP was stable and adult governance after a period of chaos.

    Now this.

    Just beggars belief frankly.
    The country would be better with Truss.

    Or Johnson.

    Or Starmer.
    Inflation is falling, the economy is growing, Sunak is delivering in some respects
    And none of us are feeling the benefits of any of it. Until public services are improved, it’ll continue to feel dire
  • HYUFD said:

    Scott_xP said:

    @KevinASchofield

    More HS2 confusion as Downing Street is forced to deny that Rishi Sunak has decided to axe the Birmingham to Manchester leg of the project.

    This pathetic nonsense is no way to run a country.

    If you say you're going to do something, then bloody well do it. Stop dilly dallying about for decades.

    And if you've made a decision, spit it out.
    It is chaos. Just utter indecisive chaos.

    Sunak's USP was stable and adult governance after a period of chaos.

    Now this.

    Just beggars belief frankly.
    The country would be better with Truss.

    Or Johnson.

    Or Starmer.
    Inflation is falling, the economy is growing, Sunak is delivering in some respects
    And he is terrible on communication and pr
  • HYUFD said:

    Scott_xP said:

    @KevinASchofield

    More HS2 confusion as Downing Street is forced to deny that Rishi Sunak has decided to axe the Birmingham to Manchester leg of the project.

    This pathetic nonsense is no way to run a country.

    If you say you're going to do something, then bloody well do it. Stop dilly dallying about for decades.

    And if you've made a decision, spit it out.
    It is chaos. Just utter indecisive chaos.

    Sunak's USP was stable and adult governance after a period of chaos.

    Now this.

    Just beggars belief frankly.
    The country would be better with Truss.

    Or Johnson.

    Or Starmer.
    Inflation is falling, the economy is growing, Sunak is delivering in some respects
    Inflation is falling globally and cyclically as one-off spikes from post-Covid/Ukraine invasion shocks have rolled out.

    Taking credit for that is like taking credit for ending global warming in February as its colder than it was in August.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,598


    Aubrey Allegretti
    @breeallegretti
    ·
    35m
    Surprise press conferences is not the sign of a party in charge of the conference news agenda.

    Andy Street, the Conservative mayor of the West Midlands, also holding one shortly

    Aubrey Allegretti
    @breeallegretti
    ·
    6m
    “You will be turning your back on the opportunity to level up”

    Andy Street makes an impassioned plea to save the future of HS2

    Wouldn’t be surprised if he does resign. What a disaster
    Er, why would Mr Street resign? He's getting HS2, albeit with a scenic tour of Wormwood Sctrubs etc thrown in.
  • Good luck, Mr S. Hope all is well.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,598

    Carnyx said:


    Aubrey Allegretti
    @breeallegretti
    ·
    35m
    Surprise press conferences is not the sign of a party in charge of the conference news agenda.

    Andy Street, the Conservative mayor of the West Midlands, also holding one shortly

    Aubrey Allegretti
    @breeallegretti
    ·
    6m
    “You will be turning your back on the opportunity to level up”

    Andy Street makes an impassioned plea to save the future of HS2

    Wouldn’t be surprised if he does resign. What a disaster
    Er, why would Mr Street resign? He's getting HS2, albeit with a scenic tour of Wormwood Sctrubs etc thrown in.
    He's getting half of it.

    Or, is only going to London all that people give a damn about?

    Feck the Treasury. Sorry for my language, but I'm fed up with this London-centric BS.
    Fair enough!
  • TazTaz Posts: 14,100
    Pro_Rata said:

    Of course, TSE in charge signals the collapse of civilization as we know it.....

    Italian media been reporting that the Campi Flegrei supervolcano has been grumbling more than at any time over the last few decades...
    Has it also confirmed Pineapple goes on a Pizza ?
  • Carnyx said:


    Aubrey Allegretti
    @breeallegretti
    ·
    35m
    Surprise press conferences is not the sign of a party in charge of the conference news agenda.

    Andy Street, the Conservative mayor of the West Midlands, also holding one shortly

    Aubrey Allegretti
    @breeallegretti
    ·
    6m
    “You will be turning your back on the opportunity to level up”

    Andy Street makes an impassioned plea to save the future of HS2

    Wouldn’t be surprised if he does resign. What a disaster
    Er, why would Mr Street resign? He's getting HS2, albeit with a scenic tour of Wormwood Sctrubs etc thrown in.
    I'm sure the government won't be happy if he resigns, but 10 years with no time off for good behaviour seems a bit harsh.

    West Midlands people- how attached is Street to the party? A high profile resignation overshadowing Rishi's speech would definitely be top banter.
  • El_CapitanoEl_Capitano Posts: 4,238
    Sky's Beth Rigby on Twitter - https://twitter.com/BethRigby/status/1708880934680858730

    "💥West Mids mayor @andy4wm impromptu doorstep where he publicly pleads with the PM not to scrap HS2 & says he’s putting together private sec backer to keep project on track.

    Asked repeatedly if he’d resign if scrapped and he refuses to rule it out"
  • The Tories seem to have gone full on loon. Is there another Western European government going to the extremes so quickly? It would be amusing, but it’s our country they’re in charge of. What madness are they going to embrace next? These are dangerous times.
  • Today I employed a gardener for the first time as 'tempus fugit'

    I still cut the grass and potter but time to recognise my limitations

    Also today my granddaughter flew to Turin for a year at Turin University from Leeds University to continue her Italian studies after her posting to a Milan Law firm as a translator fell through

    She informed me yesterday she hopes to join the Foreign Office as a diplomat, so quite an ambition
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 81,347
    edited October 2023
    When does legitimate protest become a prolonged campaign of harassment / stalking? The anti-lockdown / anti-vax loons got banged up for hassling politicians for a few weeks.

    https://order-order.com/2023/10/02/watch-steve-bray-ejected-from-fringe-event/
  • The Tories seem to have gone full on loon. Is there another Western European government going to the extremes so quickly? It would be amusing, but it’s our country they’re in charge of. What madness are they going to embrace next? These are dangerous times.

    Must be harder elsewhere, because single-party government is less common.

    So the coalition partners can always stage An Intervention, or threaten one before things get out of hand.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 121,974

    The Tories seem to have gone full on loon. Is there another Western European government going to the extremes so quickly? It would be amusing, but it’s our country they’re in charge of. What madness are they going to embrace next? These are dangerous times.

    Meloni's Italy for starters is more extreme than this one, they are even banning parents by surrogate.

    Sweden has the Sweden Democrats in government
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 121,974

    HYUFD said:

    Scott_xP said:

    @KevinASchofield

    More HS2 confusion as Downing Street is forced to deny that Rishi Sunak has decided to axe the Birmingham to Manchester leg of the project.

    This pathetic nonsense is no way to run a country.

    If you say you're going to do something, then bloody well do it. Stop dilly dallying about for decades.

    And if you've made a decision, spit it out.
    It is chaos. Just utter indecisive chaos.

    Sunak's USP was stable and adult governance after a period of chaos.

    Now this.

    Just beggars belief frankly.
    The country would be better with Truss.

    Or Johnson.

    Or Starmer.
    Inflation is falling, the economy is growing, Sunak is delivering in some respects
    Inflation is falling globally and cyclically as one-off spikes from post-Covid/Ukraine invasion shocks have rolled out.

    Taking credit for that is like taking credit for ending global warming in February as its colder than it was in August.
    It wasn't falling here until Sunak took over, nor was the deficit falling before then either
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 121,974

    HYUFD said:

    Scott_xP said:

    @KevinASchofield

    More HS2 confusion as Downing Street is forced to deny that Rishi Sunak has decided to axe the Birmingham to Manchester leg of the project.

    This pathetic nonsense is no way to run a country.

    If you say you're going to do something, then bloody well do it. Stop dilly dallying about for decades.

    And if you've made a decision, spit it out.
    It is chaos. Just utter indecisive chaos.

    Sunak's USP was stable and adult governance after a period of chaos.

    Now this.

    Just beggars belief frankly.
    The country would be better with Truss.

    Or Johnson.

    Or Starmer.
    Inflation is falling, the economy is growing, Sunak is delivering in some respects
    And none of us are feeling the benefits of any of it. Until public services are improved, it’ll continue to feel dire
    Public services will be improved by reform and more choice
  • On topic - all the best Mike, hope to see you back here soon. Nothing interesting ever happens when TSE has the helm, so a boring period of political snoozing awaits.
  • Didn't Sunak stand up at the hustings last year and say something along the lines of he'll divert money heading to poor northern areas to more prosperous Southern ones?

    If so, Labour could do with getting hold of that video and playing on repeat for the next 12 months
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 121,974
    Carnyx said:

    HYUFD said:

    Scott_xP said:

    @KevinASchofield

    More HS2 confusion as Downing Street is forced to deny that Rishi Sunak has decided to axe the Birmingham to Manchester leg of the project.

    This pathetic nonsense is no way to run a country.

    If you say you're going to do something, then bloody well do it. Stop dilly dallying about for decades.

    And if you've made a decision, spit it out.
    It is chaos. Just utter indecisive chaos.

    Sunak's USP was stable and adult governance after a period of chaos.

    Now this.

    Just beggars belief frankly.
    The country would be better with Truss.

    Or Johnson.

    Or Starmer.
    Inflation is falling, the economy is growing, Sunak is delivering in some respects
    "Your prices are still going up, and your mortgage will be going up when you renew it layter this year. Only your prices aren't going up qutie as fast as we made them do last year."
    Interest rates and hence mortgage rates too are stabilising
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,160

    Sky's Beth Rigby on Twitter - https://twitter.com/BethRigby/status/1708880934680858730

    "💥West Mids mayor @andy4wm impromptu doorstep where he publicly pleads with the PM not to scrap HS2 & says he’s putting together private sec backer to keep project on track.

    Asked repeatedly if he’d resign if scrapped and he refuses to rule it out"

    Good for him. It is an utterly appalling decision.

    The decision has been taken years ago to build this. Get the feck on and finish the job.

  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,598
    edited October 2023

    Carnyx said:


    Aubrey Allegretti
    @breeallegretti
    ·
    35m
    Surprise press conferences is not the sign of a party in charge of the conference news agenda.

    Andy Street, the Conservative mayor of the West Midlands, also holding one shortly

    Aubrey Allegretti
    @breeallegretti
    ·
    6m
    “You will be turning your back on the opportunity to level up”

    Andy Street makes an impassioned plea to save the future of HS2

    Wouldn’t be surprised if he does resign. What a disaster
    Er, why would Mr Street resign? He's getting HS2, albeit with a scenic tour of Wormwood Sctrubs etc thrown in.
    I'm sure the government won't be happy if he resigns, but 10 years with no time off for good behaviour seems a bit harsh.

    West Midlands people- how attached is Street to the party? A high profile resignation overshadowing Rishi's speech would definitely be top banter.
    It was a reference to the most distinctive local landmark for those of us who don't know Old Oak Common at all! But yes, I should have said 'the outside of the Scrubs'.
  • Farooq said:

    The captain of the ship gets a call on the bridge that's he's needed in the engine room. He's greeted by water spraying everywhere. Hans, one of the stokers, has a pick-axe in his hands and every ten seconds he swings it at the hull, piercing it. Another jet of fine seawater mist erupts.

    "Hans!" the captain shouts. "What the fuck are you doing?! You'll sink us! Stop making holes in the hull!"

    "Actually captain," Hans replies "until recently I was making holes every five seconds. So you see," and here he sweeps his arm around at the holes and the spray and the ankle-deep brine, "the situation is already improving."

    What happened to the Chief Engineer?
  • Tory MP Scott Benton to be suspended in sleaze row with ANOTHER by-election on the cards
    Blackpool South MP Scott Benton is being investigated by the Commons sleaze watchdog after he was filmed offering to lobby ministers and leak confidential information

    https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/tories-face-another-nightmare-election-31082177
  • BartholomewRobertsBartholomewRoberts Posts: 21,699
    edited October 2023
    HYUFD said:

    HYUFD said:

    Scott_xP said:

    @KevinASchofield

    More HS2 confusion as Downing Street is forced to deny that Rishi Sunak has decided to axe the Birmingham to Manchester leg of the project.

    This pathetic nonsense is no way to run a country.

    If you say you're going to do something, then bloody well do it. Stop dilly dallying about for decades.

    And if you've made a decision, spit it out.
    It is chaos. Just utter indecisive chaos.

    Sunak's USP was stable and adult governance after a period of chaos.

    Now this.

    Just beggars belief frankly.
    The country would be better with Truss.

    Or Johnson.

    Or Starmer.
    Inflation is falling, the economy is growing, Sunak is delivering in some respects
    Inflation is falling globally and cyclically as one-off spikes from post-Covid/Ukraine invasion shocks have rolled out.

    Taking credit for that is like taking credit for ending global warming in February as its colder than it was in August.
    It wasn't falling here until Sunak took over, nor was the deficit falling before then either
    Again, there was a cyclical effect.

    He took over at the peak, that was known before he took over and forecast by the BoE to be the peak. And was the peak globally.

    After that effects from post-Covid and the build-up to the war in Ukraine started falling out of the inflation figures.

    If you take over in August, then its colder in November, does that mean you solved global warming?
  • RazedabodeRazedabode Posts: 3,027
    HYUFD said:

    Carnyx said:

    HYUFD said:

    Scott_xP said:

    @KevinASchofield

    More HS2 confusion as Downing Street is forced to deny that Rishi Sunak has decided to axe the Birmingham to Manchester leg of the project.

    This pathetic nonsense is no way to run a country.

    If you say you're going to do something, then bloody well do it. Stop dilly dallying about for decades.

    And if you've made a decision, spit it out.
    It is chaos. Just utter indecisive chaos.

    Sunak's USP was stable and adult governance after a period of chaos.

    Now this.

    Just beggars belief frankly.
    The country would be better with Truss.

    Or Johnson.

    Or Starmer.
    Inflation is falling, the economy is growing, Sunak is delivering in some respects
    "Your prices are still going up, and your mortgage will be going up when you renew it layter this year. Only your prices aren't going up qutie as fast as we made them do last year."
    Interest rates and hence mortgage rates too are stabilising
    But that usually means people are fixing at a much higher rate anyway. So nothing to be felt there
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,598

    Farooq said:

    The captain of the ship gets a call on the bridge that's he's needed in the engine room. He's greeted by water spraying everywhere. Hans, one of the stokers, has a pick-axe in his hands and every ten seconds he swings it at the hull, piercing it. Another jet of fine seawater mist erupts.

    "Hans!" the captain shouts. "What the fuck are you doing?! You'll sink us! Stop making holes in the hull!"

    "Actually captain," Hans replies "until recently I was making holes every five seconds. So you see," and here he sweeps his arm around at the holes and the spray and the ankle-deep brine, "the situation is already improving."

    What happened to the Chief Engineer?
    Joined the LDs.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,197
    Best wishes Mike, hope you can enjoy the break and come back 100% refreshed.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,598
    HYUFD said:

    Carnyx said:

    HYUFD said:

    Scott_xP said:

    @KevinASchofield

    More HS2 confusion as Downing Street is forced to deny that Rishi Sunak has decided to axe the Birmingham to Manchester leg of the project.

    This pathetic nonsense is no way to run a country.

    If you say you're going to do something, then bloody well do it. Stop dilly dallying about for decades.

    And if you've made a decision, spit it out.
    It is chaos. Just utter indecisive chaos.

    Sunak's USP was stable and adult governance after a period of chaos.

    Now this.

    Just beggars belief frankly.
    The country would be better with Truss.

    Or Johnson.

    Or Starmer.
    Inflation is falling, the economy is growing, Sunak is delivering in some respects
    "Your prices are still going up, and your mortgage will be going up when you renew it layter this year. Only your prices aren't going up qutie as fast as we made them do last year."
    Interest rates and hence mortgage rates too are stabilising
    " ... your mortgage will be going UP when you RENEW it later this year ..."
  • geoffwgeoffw Posts: 8,652
     
    HYUFD said:

    HYUFD said:

    Scott_xP said:

    @KevinASchofield

    More HS2 confusion as Downing Street is forced to deny that Rishi Sunak has decided to axe the Birmingham to Manchester leg of the project.

    This pathetic nonsense is no way to run a country.

    If you say you're going to do something, then bloody well do it. Stop dilly dallying about for decades.

    And if you've made a decision, spit it out.
    It is chaos. Just utter indecisive chaos.

    Sunak's USP was stable and adult governance after a period of chaos.

    Now this.

    Just beggars belief frankly.
    The country would be better with Truss.

    Or Johnson.

    Or Starmer.
    Inflation is falling, the economy is growing, Sunak is delivering in some respects
    Inflation is falling globally and cyclically as one-off spikes from post-Covid/Ukraine invasion shocks have rolled out.

    Taking credit for that is like taking credit for ending global warming in February as its colder than it was in August.
    It wasn't falling here until Sunak took over, nor was the deficit falling before then either
    Post hoc eh?

  • Tory MP Scott Benton to be suspended in sleaze row with ANOTHER by-election on the cards
    Blackpool South MP Scott Benton is being investigated by the Commons sleaze watchdog after he was filmed offering to lobby ministers and leak confidential information

    https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/tories-face-another-nightmare-election-31082177

    Oh no! Not Scotbenton! He was the bright blue future of the party.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,598
    edited October 2023
    Hooray, bendy bananas are back! Graun feed:

    'Thérèse Coffey, the environment secretary, announced that she was axing an EU rule banning bendy bananas.

    In her speech she declared:

    "My officials are cutting red tape and introducing smarter regulation.

    Frankly, bent or straight, it is not for government to decide the shape of bananas you want to eat – I just want to assure you they are safe to eat.

    So we will be dropping absurd regulations, including the one on bendy bananas.

    Contrast all this to Labour.

    They are sneakily signing up to keeping in step with whatever Europe decides."'

    Just like banning meat tax, then.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 81,347
    edited October 2023
    Reading the Panorama story...this is exactly what all the "instanta influencers" allegedly go to Dubai for.
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 62,631
    edited October 2023
    HYUFD said:

    The Tories seem to have gone full on loon. Is there another Western European government going to the extremes so quickly? It would be amusing, but it’s our country they’re in charge of. What madness are they going to embrace next? These are dangerous times.

    Meloni's Italy for starters is more extreme than this one, they are even banning parents by surrogate.

    Sweden has the Sweden Democrats in government
    I would just comment that the news from Slovakia of the election of a pro Putin president welcomed by Putin, alongside Hungary's Orban, who is also pro Putin, and with Poland facing an election later this month it is worrying times for Ukraine, especially as the US is also prevaricating
  • Carnyx said:

    Hooray, bendy bananas are back! Graun feed:

    'Thérèse Coffey, the environment secretary, announced that she was axing an EU rule banning bendy bananas.

    In her speech she declared:

    "My officials are cutting red tape and introducing smarter regulation.

    Frankly, bent or straight, it is not for government to decide the shape of bananas you want to eat – I just want to assure you they are safe to eat.

    So we will be dropping absurd regulations, including the one on bendy bananas.

    Contrast all this to Labour.

    They are sneakily signing up to keeping in step with whatever Europe decides."'

    Just like banning meat tax, then.

    Yes, but what about the great British sausage?

    We can't let Labour sign us up to the emulsified high fat offal tube.
  • So the Tory conference is a mismanaged disaster with a half-empty hall as mad ministers decry your local shops as a woke illuminati plot, as the Chancellor seriously says he will sanction scroungers (people who can't get a job) to pay for tax cuts to billionaires, and nobody in the government can toe the line on what is happening to HS2 because the line is so spectacularly crazy that even the Lizaster Group aren't backing it.

    Top job Richy! I hope for letters falling off the set behind him, or perhaps the podium has a rotating sign with contradicting policies so that he can react to the wind blowing with another uturn.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 121,974
    @montie
    I walked into Conference earlier with
    @Nigel_Farage
    . He got quite the reception. I'm convinced party members would choose him as leader if they could.
  • CookieCookie Posts: 13,506
    Mike, you're leaving the site to a man who wears trousers like that?!

    Best of luck with your time off, and many thanks for all your work over the last 20 years. I have had a huge amount of enjoyment out of this site over the years.

    And TSE, many thanks too for taking over the reins.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,197
    Carnyx said:

    HYUFD said:

    Carnyx said:

    HYUFD said:

    Scott_xP said:

    @KevinASchofield

    More HS2 confusion as Downing Street is forced to deny that Rishi Sunak has decided to axe the Birmingham to Manchester leg of the project.

    This pathetic nonsense is no way to run a country.

    If you say you're going to do something, then bloody well do it. Stop dilly dallying about for decades.

    And if you've made a decision, spit it out.
    It is chaos. Just utter indecisive chaos.

    Sunak's USP was stable and adult governance after a period of chaos.

    Now this.

    Just beggars belief frankly.
    The country would be better with Truss.

    Or Johnson.

    Or Starmer.
    Inflation is falling, the economy is growing, Sunak is delivering in some respects
    "Your prices are still going up, and your mortgage will be going up when you renew it layter this year. Only your prices aren't going up qutie as fast as we made them do last year."
    Interest rates and hence mortgage rates too are stabilising
    " ... your mortgage will be going UP when you RENEW it later this year ..."
    My current deal runs out in March so I will have to get new one, luckily it is my 1/4 villa so not a big one.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 121,974

    HYUFD said:

    The Tories seem to have gone full on loon. Is there another Western European government going to the extremes so quickly? It would be amusing, but it’s our country they’re in charge of. What madness are they going to embrace next? These are dangerous times.

    Meloni's Italy for starters is more extreme than this one, they are even banning parents by surrogate.

    Sweden has the Sweden Democrats in government
    I would just comment that the news from Slovakia of the election of a pro Putin president welcomed by Putin, alongside Hungary's Orban, who is also pro Putin, and with Poland facing an election later this month it is worrying times for Ukraine, especially as the US is also prevaricating
    Indeed, though Poland is more an issue about grain and most western nations are still behind Zelensky
  • PhilPhil Posts: 2,225
    HYUFD said:

    @montie
    I walked into Conference earlier with
    @Nigel_Farage
    . He got quite the reception. I'm convinced party members would choose him as leader if they could.

    Given that the Conservative & Unionist Party was subject to a reverse takeover by UKIP, that’s hardly surprising.
  • Carnyx said:

    Hooray, bendy bananas are back! Graun feed:

    'Thérèse Coffey, the environment secretary, announced that she was axing an EU rule banning bendy bananas.

    In her speech she declared:

    "My officials are cutting red tape and introducing smarter regulation.

    Frankly, bent or straight, it is not for government to decide the shape of bananas you want to eat – I just want to assure you they are safe to eat.

    So we will be dropping absurd regulations, including the one on bendy bananas.

    Contrast all this to Labour.

    They are sneakily signing up to keeping in step with whatever Europe decides."'

    Just like banning meat tax, then.

    So her big policy announcement is to abolish something that doesn't exist. Well after Sunak's big pledge to scrap the meat tax, at least the continuation of fantasy island is consistent.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 121,974
    edited October 2023
    Carnyx said:

    HYUFD said:

    Carnyx said:

    HYUFD said:

    Scott_xP said:

    @KevinASchofield

    More HS2 confusion as Downing Street is forced to deny that Rishi Sunak has decided to axe the Birmingham to Manchester leg of the project.

    This pathetic nonsense is no way to run a country.

    If you say you're going to do something, then bloody well do it. Stop dilly dallying about for decades.

    And if you've made a decision, spit it out.
    It is chaos. Just utter indecisive chaos.

    Sunak's USP was stable and adult governance after a period of chaos.

    Now this.

    Just beggars belief frankly.
    The country would be better with Truss.

    Or Johnson.

    Or Starmer.
    Inflation is falling, the economy is growing, Sunak is delivering in some respects
    "Your prices are still going up, and your mortgage will be going up when you renew it layter this year. Only your prices aren't going up qutie as fast as we made them do last year."
    Interest rates and hence mortgage rates too are stabilising
    " ... your mortgage will be going UP when you RENEW it later this year ..."
    And would be going up even more if big spending and large tax cuts expanded the deficit and inflation further
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 121,974

    Sky's Beth Rigby on Twitter - https://twitter.com/BethRigby/status/1708880934680858730

    "💥West Mids mayor @andy4wm impromptu doorstep where he publicly pleads with the PM not to scrap HS2 & says he’s putting together private sec backer to keep project on track.

    Asked repeatedly if he’d resign if scrapped and he refuses to rule it out"

    Good for him. It is an utterly appalling decision.

    The decision has been taken years ago to build this. Get the feck on and finish the job.

    There are arguments either way, I expect most people in the north would not complain if more funds saved from cancellation were put into local bus stations and rail routes and mending potholes
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 21,646

    Carnyx said:

    Hooray, bendy bananas are back! Graun feed:

    'Thérèse Coffey, the environment secretary, announced that she was axing an EU rule banning bendy bananas.

    In her speech she declared:

    "My officials are cutting red tape and introducing smarter regulation.

    Frankly, bent or straight, it is not for government to decide the shape of bananas you want to eat – I just want to assure you they are safe to eat.

    So we will be dropping absurd regulations, including the one on bendy bananas.

    Contrast all this to Labour.

    They are sneakily signing up to keeping in step with whatever Europe decides."'

    Just like banning meat tax, then.

    Yes, but what about the great British sausage?

    We can't let Labour sign us up to the emulsified high fat offal tube.
    Britische sausage! Saucisson Anglaise!

    (I got the reference :) )
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,598
    HYUFD said:

    Sky's Beth Rigby on Twitter - https://twitter.com/BethRigby/status/1708880934680858730

    "💥West Mids mayor @andy4wm impromptu doorstep where he publicly pleads with the PM not to scrap HS2 & says he’s putting together private sec backer to keep project on track.

    Asked repeatedly if he’d resign if scrapped and he refuses to rule it out"

    Good for him. It is an utterly appalling decision.

    The decision has been taken years ago to build this. Get the feck on and finish the job.

    There are arguments either way, I expect most people in the north would not complain if more funds saved from cancellation were put into local bus stations and rail routes and mending potholes
    You have seen the historical records for transport investment in the North of England vs. London?
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 21,646
    HYUFD said:

    Carnyx said:

    HYUFD said:

    Carnyx said:

    HYUFD said:

    Scott_xP said:

    @KevinASchofield

    More HS2 confusion as Downing Street is forced to deny that Rishi Sunak has decided to axe the Birmingham to Manchester leg of the project.

    This pathetic nonsense is no way to run a country.

    If you say you're going to do something, then bloody well do it. Stop dilly dallying about for decades.

    And if you've made a decision, spit it out.
    It is chaos. Just utter indecisive chaos.

    Sunak's USP was stable and adult governance after a period of chaos.

    Now this.

    Just beggars belief frankly.
    The country would be better with Truss.

    Or Johnson.

    Or Starmer.
    Inflation is falling, the economy is growing, Sunak is delivering in some respects
    "Your prices are still going up, and your mortgage will be going up when you renew it layter this year. Only your prices aren't going up qutie as fast as we made them do last year."
    Interest rates and hence mortgage rates too are stabilising
    " ... your mortgage will be going UP when you RENEW it later this year ..."
    And would be going up even more if big spending and large tax cuts expanded the deficit and inflation further
    Remind me again: which Prime Minister was the last one to promise huge tax cuts without cutting spending?

  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,302
    Best Wishes Mike, enjoy your break.
  • Of course, TSE in charge signals the collapse of civilization as we know it.....

    "85's gonna be in charge! Jesus, give us a break!"
  • CatManCatMan Posts: 3,043
    HYUFD said:

    @montie
    I walked into Conference earlier with
    @Nigel_Farage
    . He got quite the reception. I'm convinced party members would choose him as leader if they could.

    Think it's quite possible he will try to become a Tory MP soon.
  • All the best, Mike, and thanks for setting PB up all those years ago!
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,598
    CatMan said:

    HYUFD said:

    @montie
    I walked into Conference earlier with
    @Nigel_Farage
    . He got quite the reception. I'm convinced party members would choose him as leader if they could.

    Think it's quite possible he will try to become a Tory MP soon.
    Hmm, there is a by election coming up.
This discussion has been closed.