The Tories tighter than evens to retain Mid Bedfordshire – politicalbetting.com

logical_song said:

NickPalmer said:

Verulamius said:

Anabobazina said:

nico679 said:

If the Tories hold Mid Beds then the bitter recriminations will start between Labour and the Lib Dems. I don’t expect it though to last into the general election as you’re not going to waste time and money fighting unwillable seats .

There was an absolutely stark-raving crackers post from @Barnesian on here which claimed that the Liberals have no chance of winning a by-election unless Labour concedes it, and therefore Labour should have conceded it (even though the Liberals were in THIRD place).

Barnesian then went on to say that, as that nasty big bully boy Labour has decided to fight the seat in which it is the current challenger, he hopes the Tories win. A better exposition of Yellow Peril entitlement one could barely craft oneself.

He was, quite rightly, put in his place by @NickPalmer, as I recall. But Labour themselves are far from blameless – they should have been quicker sending the troops into Mid Beds and made it crystal clear to the Liberals from Day Zero that they weren't going to concede this one and hand them a free pass (as they rightly did in Somerton).

Lots of encouragement for Libdems to come up and help in Mid Beds with regular emails and phone calls.

It looks like that I will be based in Flitwick on Thursday. This is the largest town in the constituency but is only around 10% of the electorate so the GOTV campaign will need to be carefully managed.

If more than 30% is a winning score then focused activity on Thursday will be required to maximise the diffential voting pattern.

IMO based on the four canvass rounds that I've been on, the LibDems are behind by a large margin, and their effort will literally help the Tories beat Labour, as Barnesian says he'd prefer. I do expect that to have negative effects on tactical voting at the GE (I know three people personally in Godalming, a LibDem target, who voted tactically for them last time and won't do so again in protest at their "greediness"). So it's doubly beneficial for the Tories - both in holding the seat and weakening tactical efforts in the future.

I do think it's difficult for the LibDems to simply sit out two by-elections (this is also why appealing to the Greens to stay out rarely works), so I'm not as cheesed off as some, but I do think that the effort they're making has turned out to be against everyone's interest except the Tories, and perhaps some LibDems with the wider interest in mind will give polling day a miss.

I'll be helping Labour in Flitwick too on Thursday, Verulamius, so perhaps our paths will cross. I'll look out for anyone who looks like a centurion.

You're a Labour ex MP, so it's not surprising that you want Labour to win this by election. If the Libdems didn't stand you would probably do it. It's also true that if Labour didn't stand the Libdems would probably win it.
Letting the Tories hold on, if they do, would be an unfortunate result of our electoral system.
If only there was a way where all parties could fight for what they believe in and the electorate wasn't forced to make decisions about who was the main challenger.

Northern_Al said:

I've read an awful lot on here, and elsewhere, about Mid-Bedfordshire, but hardly anything about Tamworth. Is that just because Tamworth is so dire that nobody goes there? I see that Labour are the bookies' clear favourites there, but I'm not sure why. Is that just because the LDs aren't in the game?

On the same note, I receive daily emails from Labour asking for help in Mid-Beds, but again, nothing on Tamworth. So, either Labour thinks it's in the bag, or they've given up. Does anybody know what's going on in Tamworth, and why there's such an apparent lack of interest?

NickPalmer said:

Stuartinromford said:

theakes said:

At the risk of upsetting one or two folk Sky News says it has seen a confidential Conservative telephone polling of Mid Beds and Tamworth. Mid Beds says the Cons vote will halve to 28-33%. So they have lost between 27 and 32%. However only 5% is going to Labour. Where is the other 23-28% going? This may also help to explain the Lib Dems apparent cautious optimism But of course there is the Independent and Reform. Fascinating. Looks like 35% is the winning line.

That memo in full;

https://twitter.com/SamCoatesSky/status/1714250238666404249

It's not totally obvious that the different percentages are all of the same base.

The memo does say directly that the "lost" Tories are overwhelmingly just sitting it out, with "very few direct switchers to opposition parties". That corresponds broadly to my impression although I met more Con-Lab switchers than 1 in 20. I still think Labour have a decent shot at it, if the LibDem effort doesn't undermine the tactical voting effort without bringing themselves within reach.

More strategically, both Opposition parties need to keep in mind that the Tory vote is basically just staying at home. That might not still hold in a year's time.

El_Capitano said:

Phil said:

OCC votes to keep the LTNs: https://twitter.com/OxfordClarion/status/1714270624213041166

Be interesting to see how this affects the next local elections.

Very interesting and not one I can easily call. The Greens are snapping at Labour's heels in the inner wards. There's the possibility for anti-LTN independents to stand against Labour but historically they've not done well. The LibDems are mostly in North Oxford so probably less affected, though the jams on St Clements might put off some of their Headington voters. Labour seems very split on the issue.

JosiasJessop said:

On another note, a local FB group has just had reports of a XL Bully loose near the end of the path that most of the secondary and primary school kids take - and which I will be taking in less than an hour. It is apparently acting 'aggressively'.

I wouldn't know a XL Bully if I saw one (compared to, say, a Bulldog), and goodness knows if acting aggressively just meant that it was sitting on the grass licking its own privates.

But it is another indication that the issue has some cut-through.

The school has been informed, at least.

nico679 said:

NickPalmer said:

Verulamius said:

Anabobazina said:

nico679 said:

If the Tories hold Mid Beds then the bitter recriminations will start between Labour and the Lib Dems. I don’t expect it though to last into the general election as you’re not going to waste time and money fighting unwillable seats .

There was an absolutely stark-raving crackers post from @Barnesian on here which claimed that the Liberals have no chance of winning a by-election unless Labour concedes it, and therefore Labour should have conceded it (even though the Liberals were in THIRD place).

Barnesian then went on to say that, as that nasty big bully boy Labour has decided to fight the seat in which it is the current challenger, he hopes the Tories win. A better exposition of Yellow Peril entitlement one could barely craft oneself.

He was, quite rightly, put in his place by @NickPalmer, as I recall. But Labour themselves are far from blameless – they should have been quicker sending the troops into Mid Beds and made it crystal clear to the Liberals from Day Zero that they weren't going to concede this one and hand them a free pass (as they rightly did in Somerton).

Lots of encouragement for Libdems to come up and help in Mid Beds with regular emails and phone calls.

It looks like that I will be based in Flitwick on Thursday. This is the largest town in the constituency but is only around 10% of the electorate so the GOTV campaign will need to be carefully managed.

If more than 30% is a winning score then focused activity on Thursday will be required to maximise the diffential voting pattern.

IMO based on the four canvass rounds that I've been on, the LibDems are behind by a large margin, and their effort will literally help the Tories beat Labour, as Barnesian says he'd prefer. I do expect that to have negative effects on tactical voting at the GE (I know three people personally in Godalming, a LibDem target, who voted tactically for them last time and won't do so again in protest at their "greediness"). So it's doubly beneficial for the Tories - both in holding the seat and weakening tactical efforts in the future.

I do think it's difficult for the LibDems to simply sit out two by-elections (this is also why appealing to the Greens to stay out rarely works), so I'm not as cheesed off as some, but I do think that the effort they're making has turned out to be against everyone's interest except the Tories, and perhaps some LibDems with the wider interest in mind will give polling day a miss.

I'll be helping Labour in Flitwick too on Thursday, Verulamius, so perhaps our paths will cross. I'll look out for anyone who looks like a centurion.

I’m normally a Labour voter so I won’t be happy if the Lib Dems cost Labour the seat . However I’m willing to let that go in my current area , Eastbourne . Refusing to vote Lib Dem here and playing the martyr will just enable a Tory win . Protesting and enabling the Tories is ridiculous . Number one mission is the Tories gone . To be blunt people need to get over themselves and put the greater good first .

IanB2 said:

Labour is the Soviet troops arriving after the Poles were finally rescued from the Nazis.

Just be careful what you wish for, because it might not be what you expect.

RochdalePioneers said:

nico679 said:

NickPalmer said:

Verulamius said:

Anabobazina said:

nico679 said:

If the Tories hold Mid Beds then the bitter recriminations will start between Labour and the Lib Dems. I don’t expect it though to last into the general election as you’re not going to waste time and money fighting unwillable seats .

There was an absolutely stark-raving crackers post from @Barnesian on here which claimed that the Liberals have no chance of winning a by-election unless Labour concedes it, and therefore Labour should have conceded it (even though the Liberals were in THIRD place).

Barnesian then went on to say that, as that nasty big bully boy Labour has decided to fight the seat in which it is the current challenger, he hopes the Tories win. A better exposition of Yellow Peril entitlement one could barely craft oneself.

He was, quite rightly, put in his place by @NickPalmer, as I recall. But Labour themselves are far from blameless – they should have been quicker sending the troops into Mid Beds and made it crystal clear to the Liberals from Day Zero that they weren't going to concede this one and hand them a free pass (as they rightly did in Somerton).

Lots of encouragement for Libdems to come up and help in Mid Beds with regular emails and phone calls.

It looks like that I will be based in Flitwick on Thursday. This is the largest town in the constituency but is only around 10% of the electorate so the GOTV campaign will need to be carefully managed.

If more than 30% is a winning score then focused activity on Thursday will be required to maximise the diffential voting pattern.

IMO based on the four canvass rounds that I've been on, the LibDems are behind by a large margin, and their effort will literally help the Tories beat Labour, as Barnesian says he'd prefer. I do expect that to have negative effects on tactical voting at the GE (I know three people personally in Godalming, a LibDem target, who voted tactically for them last time and won't do so again in protest at their "greediness"). So it's doubly beneficial for the Tories - both in holding the seat and weakening tactical efforts in the future.

I do think it's difficult for the LibDems to simply sit out two by-elections (this is also why appealing to the Greens to stay out rarely works), so I'm not as cheesed off as some, but I do think that the effort they're making has turned out to be against everyone's interest except the Tories, and perhaps some LibDems with the wider interest in mind will give polling day a miss.

I'll be helping Labour in Flitwick too on Thursday, Verulamius, so perhaps our paths will cross. I'll look out for anyone who looks like a centurion.

I’m normally a Labour voter so I won’t be happy if the Lib Dems cost Labour the seat . However I’m willing to let that go in my current area , Eastbourne . Refusing to vote Lib Dem here and playing the martyr will just enable a Tory win . Protesting and enabling the Tories is ridiculous . Number one mission is the Tories gone . To be blunt people need to get over themselves and put the greater good first .

the greater good

Andy_JS said:

Sandpit said:

Andy_JS said:

Miraculous recovery by Netherlands from 82/5 to 245/8, v South Africa.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket

Wow that’s impressive from the Dutch, batting deep when required. Rain-affected earlier, reduced overs?

Too much work today and yesterday, not enough cricket.

43 hours each, caused by 2 hours rain. They can still do 50 overs up to a 1 hour delay.

Dura_Ace said:

turbotubbs said:

Local socials are full of bullshit.

This is true. I recently posted a photo of Harold Shipman on our village FB saying he was a vulnerable old man who needed donations of cornflakes and baked beans but ONLY cornflakes and baked beans. I posted the address of my mate who now has to step over cornflakes and baked beans on his doorstep every morning.

Andy_JS said:

FT article on the Tamworth by-election. Can be viewed via google.

https://www.ft.com/content/b9a743ac-a7dd-4806-a461-b457df8e3999

Andy_JS said:

Stocky said:

Leon said:

JosiasJessop said:

On another note, a local FB group has just had reports of a XL Bully loose near the end of the path that most of the secondary and primary school kids take - and which I will be taking in less than an hour. It is apparently acting 'aggressively'.

I wouldn't know a XL Bully if I saw one (compared to, say, a Bulldog), and goodness knows if acting aggressively just meant that it was sitting on the grass licking its own privates.

But it is another indication that the issue has some cut-through.

The school has been informed, at least.

You will know them when you see them. They are absolutely enormous and look like the Dogs from Hell

They could kill a child in seconds. It is a fucking disgrace that this pathetic government hasn't acted already

What form should this action take?

I'd like to see them all put down (plus all other dangerous breeds) but can you imagine the trouble that would cause prising them from the owners and then the government would get a backlash for murdering doggies.

Since when did we start pandering to potential wrongdoers in this way?

Dura_Ace said:

turbotubbs said:

Local socials are full of bullshit.

This is true. I recently posted a photo of Harold Shipman on our village FB saying he was a vulnerable old man who needed donations of cornflakes and baked beans but ONLY cornflakes and baked beans. I posted the address of my mate who now has to step over cornflakes and baked beans on his doorstep every morning.

Leon said:

Stocky said:

Leon said:

JosiasJessop said:

On another note, a local FB group has just had reports of a XL Bully loose near the end of the path that most of the secondary and primary school kids take - and which I will be taking in less than an hour. It is apparently acting 'aggressively'.

I wouldn't know a XL Bully if I saw one (compared to, say, a Bulldog), and goodness knows if acting aggressively just meant that it was sitting on the grass licking its own privates.

But it is another indication that the issue has some cut-through.

The school has been informed, at least.

You will know them when you see them. They are absolutely enormous and look like the Dogs from Hell

They could kill a child in seconds. It is a fucking disgrace that this pathetic government hasn't acted already

What form should this action take?

I'd like to see them all put down (plus all other dangerous breeds) but can you imagine the trouble that would cause prising them from the owners and then the government would get a backlash for murdering doggies.

The Aussies in NSW do it by physical characteristics, not genes, and no one complains and it works fine. You are actually allowed to keep a restricted breed, but with severe limitations, it has to wear a special collar, be neutered, be muzzled in public, and if anything goes wrong there are severe penalties - if it kills someone you will get ten years in jail

Do that here. Then these idiots can keep their stupid hellhounds but they won't be a menace to anyone else

Stocky said:

NickPalmer said:

Anabobazina said:

Northern_Al said:

I've read an awful lot on here, and elsewhere, about Mid-Bedfordshire, but hardly anything about Tamworth. Is that just because Tamworth is so dire that nobody goes there? I see that Labour are the bookies' clear favourites there, but I'm not sure why. Is that just because the LDs aren't in the game?

On the same note, I receive daily emails from Labour asking for help in Mid-Beds, but again, nothing on Tamworth. So, either Labour thinks it's in the bag, or they've given up. Does anybody know what's going on in Tamworth, and why there's such an apparent lack of interest?

Yes, I'm trying ascertain whether Tories are VALUE there, at a good notch over 3.

It may be geographical. I get daily appeals on mid-Beds too, but I live in Surrey so Tamworth is further away. The Liverpool activists who I talked to at the conference said they were spending all their time in Tamworth.

At the Tory conference, it was clear that Tory MPs had been asked to help in both, though I only saw two Tory canvassers during the two days I was there.

Did you get a feel for how Festus Akinbusoye is regarded? I understand he's well known to the electorate already.

Dura_Ace said:

turbotubbs said:

Local socials are full of bullshit.

This is true. I recently posted a photo of Harold Shipman on our village FB saying he was a vulnerable old man who needed donations of cornflakes and baked beans but ONLY cornflakes and baked beans. I posted the address of my mate who now has to step over cornflakes and baked beans on his doorstep every morning.

Malmesbury said:

turbotubbs said:

IanB2 said:

Labour is the Soviet troops arriving after the Poles were finally rescued from the Nazis.

Just be careful what you wish for, because it might not be what you expect.

I have no idea what you mean - who rescued which Poles?

Warsaw Uprising, maybe.

Phil said:

El_Capitano said:

Phil said:

OCC votes to keep the LTNs: https://twitter.com/OxfordClarion/status/1714270624213041166

Be interesting to see how this affects the next local elections.

Very interesting and not one I can easily call. The Greens are snapping at Labour's heels in the inner wards. There's the possibility for anti-LTN independents to stand against Labour but historically they've not done well. The LibDems are mostly in North Oxford so probably less affected, though the jams on St Clements might put off some of their Headington voters. Labour seems very split on the issue.

Historically single issue anti LTN candidates have done very poorly, but that was when no mainstream party was willing to seriously stand against them. I suspect this time around, taking their cue from party central, the Cons will campaign against. Labour will be torn: Some fraction of Labour has clearly been persuaded by the (disingenuous imo) framing of LTNs as a kind of class warfare.

Roger said:

In defence of Steve Bell by Frazer Nelson

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/in-defence-of-steve-bell/

Andy_JS said:

Prof Neil Ferguson is giving evidence at the Covid Inquiry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKBtVG5T5OA

Andy_JS said:

3.5 looks like value for the Tories in Tamworth. Not as much liquidity as Mid Beds.

https://www.betfair.com/exchange/plus/politics/market/1.218056777

Pulpstar said:

viewcode said:

Andy_JS said:

FT article on the Tamworth by-election. Can be viewed via google.

https://www.ft.com/content/b9a743ac-a7dd-4806-a461-b457df8e3999

Non-paywall link; https://archive.ph/9EdWS

Those archive.ph links aren't working fyi.

Nigelb said:

.

Dura_Ace said:

turbotubbs said:

Local socials are full of bullshit.

This is true. I recently posted a photo of Harold Shipman on our village FB saying he was a vulnerable old man who needed donations of cornflakes and baked beans but ONLY cornflakes and baked beans. I posted the address of my mate who now has to step over cornflakes and baked beans on his doorstep every morning.

If you're not careful, C4 is going to offer you a reality show.

Dura_Ace said:

turbotubbs said:

Local socials are full of bullshit.

This is true. I recently posted a photo of Harold Shipman on our village FB saying he was a vulnerable old man who needed donations of cornflakes and baked beans but ONLY cornflakes and baked beans. I posted the address of my mate who now has to step over cornflakes and baked beans on his doorstep every morning.

Richard_Tyndall said:

Malmesbury said:

turbotubbs said:

IanB2 said:

Labour is the Soviet troops arriving after the Poles were finally rescued from the Nazis.

Just be careful what you wish for, because it might not be what you expect.

I have no idea what you mean - who rescued which Poles?

Warsaw Uprising, maybe.

They weren't rescued. They were massacred whilst the Russians waited on the other side of the river.

Making sure the Poles were in no condition to resist once the war was over.

Taz said:

Andy_JS said:

Miraculous recovery by Netherlands from 82/5 to 245/8, v South Africa.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket

South Africa "C" versus South Africa.

DecrepiterJohnL said:

Leon said:

Stocky said:

Leon said:

JosiasJessop said:

On another note, a local FB group has just had reports of a XL Bully loose near the end of the path that most of the secondary and primary school kids take - and which I will be taking in less than an hour. It is apparently acting 'aggressively'.

I wouldn't know a XL Bully if I saw one (compared to, say, a Bulldog), and goodness knows if acting aggressively just meant that it was sitting on the grass licking its own privates.

But it is another indication that the issue has some cut-through.

The school has been informed, at least.

You will know them when you see them. They are absolutely enormous and look like the Dogs from Hell

They could kill a child in seconds. It is a fucking disgrace that this pathetic government hasn't acted already

What form should this action take?

I'd like to see them all put down (plus all other dangerous breeds) but can you imagine the trouble that would cause prising them from the owners and then the government would get a backlash for murdering doggies.

The Aussies in NSW do it by physical characteristics, not genes, and no one complains and it works fine. You are actually allowed to keep a restricted breed, but with severe limitations, it has to wear a special collar, be neutered, be muzzled in public, and if anything goes wrong there are severe penalties - if it kills someone you will get ten years in jail

Do that here. Then these idiots can keep their stupid hellhounds but they won't be a menace to anyone else

One fear is that owners simply abandon their devil dogs which in the short term causes even more danger.

Stocky said:

theakes said:

At the risk of upsetting one or two folk Sky News says it has seen a confidential Conservative telephone polling of Mid Beds and Tamworth. Mid Beds says the Cons vote will halve to 28-33%. So they have lost between 27 and 32%. However only 5% is going to Labour. Where is the other 23-28% going? This may also help to explain the Lib Dems apparent cautious optimism But of course there is the Independent and Reform. Fascinating. Looks like 35% is the winning line.

I'm surprised the Tories are now odds-on favourite in Mid Beds. The 'other 23-28%' is largely not going anywhere - sitting on their hands.

I suspect the anti-Labour vote will be sufficiently split CP/LD/Reform/MacKay to allow Labour to come through the middle. If so it will be that conservatives not voting that will have decided it.

Anabobazina said:

Sean_F said:

Anabobazina said:

Roger said:

In defence of Steve Bell by Frazer Nelson

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/in-defence-of-steve-bell/

But the new enemy of this trend is TwitterPB, where non-readers of a publication take offence at a cartoon they don’t like .

FTF Fraser.

As others have said, the real problem is that he is neither funny nor incisive.

And as others have said, he's a satirist. And in any case humour and incision is subjective.

That said, I'm not a fan of his, nor cartoons in general, most are mediocre at best.

Even Matt, who is by far the best of them, is mostly mediocre and forgettable. It's just that every seven to ten days he produces a work of sheer genius, an enviable hit rate.

turbotubbs said:

JosiasJessop said:

On another note, a local FB group has just had reports of a XL Bully loose near the end of the path that most of the secondary and primary school kids take - and which I will be taking in less than an hour. It is apparently acting 'aggressively'.

I wouldn't know a XL Bully if I saw one (compared to, say, a Bulldog), and goodness knows if acting aggressively just meant that it was sitting on the grass licking its own privates.

But it is another indication that the issue has some cut-through.

The school has been informed, at least.

May be true, may be a hoax. Local socials are full of bullshit. There is a persistent one near us of poisoned food being left out where people walk their dogs, allegedly the council know etc etc. All bollocks.

FeersumEnjineeya said:

Andy_JS said:

Northern_Al said:

I've read an awful lot on here, and elsewhere, about Mid-Bedfordshire, but hardly anything about Tamworth. Is that just because Tamworth is so dire that nobody goes there? I see that Labour are the bookies' clear favourites there, but I'm not sure why. Is that just because the LDs aren't in the game?

On the same note, I receive daily emails from Labour asking for help in Mid-Beds, but again, nothing on Tamworth. So, either Labour thinks it's in the bag, or they've given up. Does anybody know what's going on in Tamworth, and why there's such an apparent lack of interest?

My grandparents lived there for 80 years so I know it quite well.

Do you know it was basically capital of the country about 1,200 years ago? It was capital of Mercia when Mercia was the most powerful kingdom in Britain.

I live not a million miles from Tamworth and pop over there regularly. While it's regarded as more down-to-earth than snooty Lichfield (the one-time ecclesiastical capital of Mercia, next town along Watling Street) it actually surprises with the pleasantness of the castle grounds and nearby shopping streets. Nevertheless, it is very white working class and, I'd say, pretty socially conservative. It's a big hill to climb for Labour, but the combination of a non-white, remote prime minister and Chris Pincher's antics might just be enough to get them over the line.

TOPPING said:

Leon said:

kinabalu said:

DecrepiterJohnL said:

Leon said:

Stocky said:

Leon said:

JosiasJessop said:

On another note, a local FB group has just had reports of a XL Bully loose near the end of the path that most of the secondary and primary school kids take - and which I will be taking in less than an hour. It is apparently acting 'aggressively'.

I wouldn't know a XL Bully if I saw one (compared to, say, a Bulldog), and goodness knows if acting aggressively just meant that it was sitting on the grass licking its own privates.

But it is another indication that the issue has some cut-through.

The school has been informed, at least.

You will know them when you see them. They are absolutely enormous and look like the Dogs from Hell

They could kill a child in seconds. It is a fucking disgrace that this pathetic government hasn't acted already

What form should this action take?

I'd like to see them all put down (plus all other dangerous breeds) but can you imagine the trouble that would cause prising them from the owners and then the government would get a backlash for murdering doggies.

The Aussies in NSW do it by physical characteristics, not genes, and no one complains and it works fine. You are actually allowed to keep a restricted breed, but with severe limitations, it has to wear a special collar, be neutered, be muzzled in public, and if anything goes wrong there are severe penalties - if it kills someone you will get ten years in jail

Do that here. Then these idiots can keep their stupid hellhounds but they won't be a menace to anyone else

One fear is that owners simply abandon their devil dogs which in the short term causes even more danger.

That's what I was wondering. If you ban them where will they go?

So you just shoot them, with darts or bullets

Where on earth would we find someone who was good enough at darts to do that.

kinabalu said:

Richard_Tyndall said:

Leon said:

Stocky said:

Leon said:

JosiasJessop said:

On another note, a local FB group has just had reports of a XL Bully loose near the end of the path that most of the secondary and primary school kids take - and which I will be taking in less than an hour. It is apparently acting 'aggressively'.

I wouldn't know a XL Bully if I saw one (compared to, say, a Bulldog), and goodness knows if acting aggressively just meant that it was sitting on the grass licking its own privates.

But it is another indication that the issue has some cut-through.

The school has been informed, at least.

You will know them when you see them. They are absolutely enormous and look like the Dogs from Hell

They could kill a child in seconds. It is a fucking disgrace that this pathetic government hasn't acted already

What form should this action take?

I'd like to see them all put down (plus all other dangerous breeds) but can you imagine the trouble that would cause prising them from the owners and then the government would get a backlash for murdering doggies.

The Aussies in NSW do it by physical characteristics, not genes, and no one complains and it works fine. You are actually allowed to keep a restricted breed, but with severe limitations, it has to wear a special collar, be neutered, be muzzled in public, and if anything goes wrong there are severe penalties - if it kills someone you will get ten years in jail

Do that here. Then these idiots can keep their stupid hellhounds but they won't be a menace to anyone else

Still leaves the possibility of them getting out. Particularly given the type of people who own them. Better to find a way to identify them and put them down

For clarity I am talking about the dogs, not the owners......

I wonder why anyone would want a dog like that? Bad enough running into one but the owner has to actually live with it.

rcs1000 said:

Richard_Tyndall said:

Malmesbury said:

turbotubbs said:

IanB2 said:

Labour is the Soviet troops arriving after the Poles were finally rescued from the Nazis.

Just be careful what you wish for, because it might not be what you expect.

I have no idea what you mean - who rescued which Poles?

Warsaw Uprising, maybe.

They weren't rescued. They were massacred whilst the Russians waited on the other side of the river.

Making sure the Poles were in no condition to resist once the war was over.

Sadly, this is completely true. Stalin chose to let the Nazis put down down the Warsaw uprising.

TimS said:

kinabalu said:

DecrepiterJohnL said:

Leon said:

Stocky said:

Leon said:

JosiasJessop said:

On another note, a local FB group has just had reports of a XL Bully loose near the end of the path that most of the secondary and primary school kids take - and which I will be taking in less than an hour. It is apparently acting 'aggressively'.

I wouldn't know a XL Bully if I saw one (compared to, say, a Bulldog), and goodness knows if acting aggressively just meant that it was sitting on the grass licking its own privates.

But it is another indication that the issue has some cut-through.

The school has been informed, at least.

You will know them when you see them. They are absolutely enormous and look like the Dogs from Hell

They could kill a child in seconds. It is a fucking disgrace that this pathetic government hasn't acted already

What form should this action take?

I'd like to see them all put down (plus all other dangerous breeds) but can you imagine the trouble that would cause prising them from the owners and then the government would get a backlash for murdering doggies.

The Aussies in NSW do it by physical characteristics, not genes, and no one complains and it works fine. You are actually allowed to keep a restricted breed, but with severe limitations, it has to wear a special collar, be neutered, be muzzled in public, and if anything goes wrong there are severe penalties - if it kills someone you will get ten years in jail

Do that here. Then these idiots can keep their stupid hellhounds but they won't be a menace to anyone else

One fear is that owners simply abandon their devil dogs which in the short term causes even more danger.

That's what I was wondering. If you ban them where will they go?

A few weeks ago Leon posted about the giant devil dogs of Armenia. I can happily report
that Georgia’s canine population is huge - strays on every street - but seemingly not only well looked after with most having ear tags to signify they’ve been vaccinated for rabies and looking in fine health, but also placid and friendly.

Happiest stray dogs I’ve ever encountered. They cohabit with equally happy free range cattle and pigs. And weirdly, despite the cowpats on every corner, there’s a distinct lack of dog shit. I think they probably go in the bushes.

Roger said:

theakes said:

At the risk of upsetting one or two folk Sky News says it has seen a confidential Conservative telephone polling of Mid Beds and Tamworth. Mid Beds says the Cons vote will halve to 28-33%. So they have lost between 27 and 32%. However only 5% is going to Labour. Where is the other 23-28% going? This may also help to explain the Lib Dems apparent cautious optimism But of course there is the Independent and Reform. Fascinating. Looks like 35% is the winning line.

A most extraordinary extrapolation of a CONFIDENTIAL Conservative telephone poll. I've tried Google translate but it still reads as gobbledegook.

TimS said:

kinabalu said:

DecrepiterJohnL said:

Leon said:

Stocky said:

Leon said:

JosiasJessop said:

On another note, a local FB group has just had reports of a XL Bully loose near the end of the path that most of the secondary and primary school kids take - and which I will be taking in less than an hour. It is apparently acting 'aggressively'.

I wouldn't know a XL Bully if I saw one (compared to, say, a Bulldog), and goodness knows if acting aggressively just meant that it was sitting on the grass licking its own privates.

But it is another indication that the issue has some cut-through.

The school has been informed, at least.

You will know them when you see them. They are absolutely enormous and look like the Dogs from Hell

They could kill a child in seconds. It is a fucking disgrace that this pathetic government hasn't acted already

What form should this action take?

I'd like to see them all put down (plus all other dangerous breeds) but can you imagine the trouble that would cause prising them from the owners and then the government would get a backlash for murdering doggies.

The Aussies in NSW do it by physical characteristics, not genes, and no one complains and it works fine. You are actually allowed to keep a restricted breed, but with severe limitations, it has to wear a special collar, be neutered, be muzzled in public, and if anything goes wrong there are severe penalties - if it kills someone you will get ten years in jail

Do that here. Then these idiots can keep their stupid hellhounds but they won't be a menace to anyone else

One fear is that owners simply abandon their devil dogs which in the short term causes even more danger.

That's what I was wondering. If you ban them where will they go?

A few weeks ago Leon posted about the giant devil dogs of Armenia. I can happily report
that Georgia’s canine population is huge - strays on every street - but seemingly not only well looked after with most having ear tags to signify they’ve been vaccinated for rabies and looking in fine health, but also placid and friendly.

Happiest stray dogs I’ve ever encountered. They cohabit with equally happy free range cattle and pigs. And weirdly, despite the cowpats on every corner, there’s a distinct lack of dog shit. I think they probably go in the bushes.

Richard_Tyndall said:

rcs1000 said:

Richard_Tyndall said:

Malmesbury said:

turbotubbs said:

IanB2 said:

Labour is the Soviet troops arriving after the Poles were finally rescued from the Nazis.

Just be careful what you wish for, because it might not be what you expect.

I have no idea what you mean - who rescued which Poles?

Warsaw Uprising, maybe.

They weren't rescued. They were massacred whilst the Russians waited on the other side of the river.

Making sure the Poles were in no condition to resist once the war was over.

Sadly, this is completely true. Stalin chose to let the Nazis put down down the Warsaw uprising.

Following on from the earlier mention of 34 RAF planes being lost during the resupply operation, the Russians even went so far as to ban British planes from landing in Russian controlled territory during the operation so that they had to take off from the UK and land in Italy. This massively reduced the amunt of cargo they could carry because of fuel issues.

It is no wonder the Poles hated the Russians

theakes said:

By Elections, another thought heavy storms and wet weather all day Thursday, could impact major on the result and throw the outcome onto the Postal Vote which should be mainly Conservative.
If the gales are really severe the by elections might get called off.

Andy_JS said:

Leon said:

Honestly, when you see one of these disgusting dogs, you immediately understand what all the fuss is about

As I have said, I saw my first version last night, on Camden High Street. The owner, a little guy of about 5 foot 5 was struggling to get his excitable dog in his crap car. The dog was almost as big as him, and if it ever turned on him it would chew him up in seconds

They just look evil, even if they are happy and tail-wagging. Because they are bred to be super aggessive and intimidating, and brutally dangerous, that's the whole point of them

Nothing can change that. You can't put a dress on a shark and make it friendly

It's difficult to escape the conclusion that most of the owners of these dogs are inadequate people who are using them to try to boost their self esteem in some weird way.