What is Sunak up to? – politicalbetting.com

SandyRentool said:

williamglenn said:

Very odd

https://x.com/disclosetv/status/1765843754643034579

U.S. and British embassies in Moscow warn that "extremists" have "imminent plans" to target "large gatherings."

https://ru.usembassy.gov/security-alert-avoid-large-gatherings-over-the-next-48-hours/

The Embassy is monitoring reports that extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow, to include concerts, and U.S. citizens should be advised to avoid large gatherings over the next 48 hours.

By 'extremists' do they mean the government?

Theuniondivvie said:

ohnotnow said:

SeaShantyIrish2 said:

Benpointer said:

rcs1000 said:

GIN1138 said:

Either Sunak is going for a May election, or... He's a really terrible politician...

Take your pick!

Or both...

Hi RCS, any idea what happened to the Like feature, where we can no longer see who has 'liked' a given post?

RCS knows, no doubt? But he ain't telling the likes (ahem) of us what he knows!

Perhaps The Shadow knows???

The Shadow - Heh! Heh! Heh!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMlRpN8ANrU

One of my favourite tracks :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O-8bJEYwtA

Link Wray - The Shadow Knows.

Link Wray is brill.
Rumble is one of the only instrumentals to be banned on US radio stations. I like to think it was because of its brooding menace but I think it was down to a moral panic about teenage greasers knifing each other, and rumble being slang for such activities.

ydoethur said:

kinabalu said:

Benpointer said:

kinabalu said:

IanB2 said:

Casino_Royale said:

londonpubman said:

kinabalu said:

Theuniondivvie said:

kinabalu said:

Theuniondivvie said:

Fairliered said:

I’m very disappointed. I was expecting a thread about the Lewisham mayoral by-election!

A small hill of beans compared to the Hillhead council by-election (Galloway’s old stamping ground by the by).

https://ballotbox.scot/preview-hillhead/

Congrats tud btw. You've palmed him off on us again!

Not entirely comfortable tbh, yet again he’s probably sucked in some quite decent people into his shenanigans. Hopefully won’t be for too long.

Hope not. The truth is, I'm looking forward hugely to the Labour landslide (Oct, I think) but I'm actually pretty depressed about politics in general atm. Right wing populism all over the place, appealing to all the baser instincts. We all have them but jesus let's not celebrate them and pretend it's the way to go. Trump is a coin toss ffs, just can't believe that, and although I hope (and semi expect) Starmer proves more radical in office than people think I do miss the 'edge' of the Corbyn era. I want that back with a more intelligent modern skillful leader. And preferably no beard.

Anyway, just been listening to one of my fave songs by the Hollies and the hook lyric reminded me of the opportunity the left had (and squandered) when it got control of the party.

"I know that we could have made it
We had ideas in our heads"

✊️🙂

You will be fine with LAB and Biden both winning. No need to worry about other outcomes.

Not sure about Biden.

You can still lay Mrs Obama as next President at 22. And back Biden not being impeached before the November election at 1.09. And back the Dems as popular vote winner at 1.66. There is plenty of value if you go looking for it.

I even have money on laying Trump as Republican VP nominee at 66, which was never going to happen. Now out at 290. Of course, not worth more than a token stake given the risible return.

I'm very short Trump for Prez at average 4.

Many thousands.

🤞 c'mon you American people. It's a bet on you.

For the minority on here who know nothing about betting what does that actually mean? If Trump wins you profit? or is it vice versa?

I lose if he wins.

The entire fucking planet loses if he wins. Your bankruptcy would actually be one of the more minor tragedies involved, however painful for you personally.

AverageNinja said:

I am starting to believe @MoonRabbit is going to make one of the greatest political predictions other than Horse’s Labour lead prediction.

Foxy said:

AverageNinja said:

I am starting to believe @MoonRabbit is going to make one of the greatest political predictions other than Horse’s Labour lead prediction.

@londonpubman too

Cleitophon said:

NickyBreakspear said:

Are we expecting any polling tonight, or will it be tomorrow for the post budget voting intentions?

I think that we are expecting YouGov, We Think, Techne and Survation with the last three tomorrow. Opinium will be over the weekend. Any others, BMG?

Everything seems unnaturally quiet these days, in uk politics. The budget was seemingly a dud, there are no big issues. Is this quiet before a storm?

Anabobazina said:

On the latest Political Currency podcast, George Osborne says a May election is being considered. He says many Tory MPs want it. He thinks it will be nuts to do so however!

Anabobazina said:

Sunil_Prasannan said:

Anabobazina said:

Taz said:

SeaShantyIrish2 said:

Anabobazina said:

Clutch_Brompton said:

The original plan was Spring 2023, the replacement plan was Spring 2024 and we are now down to option 3. We also had briefings regarding Autumn 2023 but that was probably just a very hamfisted attempt to confuse the Lab electoral machine. Any Govt that ends up going to the end of its term is doing so because it is bottling the preferable earlier dates. If the Cons had thought they could have won earlier then they would have gone to the GE earlier. We look for a No 10 strategy but there really is none. They just cross their fingers and hope something, anything, will turn up.

Meanwhile, people are very tired of them. That will not improve as they continue to stage their socio-political dirty protest at No 10

Well put. If it looks like a bottle. It's a bottle.

Especially when it's three-quarters full of lukewarm piss . . . and being waved about in voters' faces . . .

The only lukewarm piss is from the resident cash hater claiming the govt are bottling a May election when they’ve never said, or even implied, they will do it. It is just labour demanding one.

There you go again! What on God’s Green Earth has this discussion got to do with cash? Sod all. You are obsessed.

C

A

S

H

The Spam Trap is coming for you.

I warn you, as a friend and comrade.

Anabobazina said:

On the latest Political Currency podcast, George Osborne says a May election is being considered. He says many Tory MPs want it. He thinks it will be nuts to do so however!

eek said:

Anabobazina said:

On the latest Political Currency podcast, George Osborne says a May election is being considered. He says many Tory MPs want it. He thinks it will be nuts to do so however!

It's nuts but I suspect there is little upside and far more downside in delaying until the autumn...

Benpointer said:

Anabobazina said:

On the latest Political Currency podcast, George Osborne says a May election is being considered. He says many Tory MPs want it. He thinks it will be nuts to do so however!

It was only two weeks ago that Osborne 'revealed' the election was definitely going to be 14 November.

Benpointer said:

Anabobazina said:

On the latest Political Currency podcast, George Osborne says a May election is being considered. He says many Tory MPs want it. He thinks it will be nuts to do so however!

It was only two weeks ago that Osborne 'revealed' the election was definitely going to be 14 November.

Anabobazina said:

eek said:

Anabobazina said:

On the latest Political Currency podcast, George Osborne says a May election is being considered. He says many Tory MPs want it. He thinks it will be nuts to do so however!

It's nuts but I suspect there is little upside and far more downside in delaying until the autumn...

Yes, that is the thinking. The local elections are a big problem. A Tory rout there (likely) leaves Sunny exposed. Might as well cut and run.

Anabobazina said:

Benpointer said:

Anabobazina said:

On the latest Political Currency podcast, George Osborne says a May election is being considered. He says many Tory MPs want it. He thinks it will be nuts to do so however!

It was only two weeks ago that Osborne 'revealed' the election was definitely going to be 14 November.

He admitted that he was backtracking TBF

eek said:

Anabobazina said:

On the latest Political Currency podcast, George Osborne says a May election is being considered. He says many Tory MPs want it. He thinks it will be nuts to do so however!

It's nuts but I suspect there is little upside and far more downside in delaying until the autumn...

TimS said:

Cleitophon said:

NickyBreakspear said:

Are we expecting any polling tonight, or will it be tomorrow for the post budget voting intentions?

I think that we are expecting YouGov, We Think, Techne and Survation with the last three tomorrow. Opinium will be over the weekend. Any others, BMG?

Everything seems unnaturally quiet these days, in uk politics. The budget was seemingly a dud, there are no big issues. Is this quiet before a storm?

In my "circles" the budget isn't seen as a dud, generally viewed as politically fairly astute albeit financially a bit suspect, but just not exciting enough to shift the polls. I don't think it's done the Tories any harm though. Hunt will come out of this car crash of a parliament with a better reputation than most of his front bench colleagues.

Scott_xP said:

@PeterOuld
What if the Government's plan is to hold an early (May) election if, and only if, the Rwanda Bill is held up by Parliamentary Process / the Lords? A kind of "the people vs the lefty immigration fans" thing?

Would let them have an ideological conflict linked to Brexit.

Sounds a bit desperate, but it might be worth a roll of the dice compared with other options. After all, this conflict around Brexit approach paid huge dividends for Boris in 2019.

Benpointer said:

Anabobazina said:

Benpointer said:

Anabobazina said:

On the latest Political Currency podcast, George Osborne says a May election is being considered. He says many Tory MPs want it. He thinks it will be nuts to do so however!

It was only two weeks ago that Osborne 'revealed' the election was definitely going to be 14 November.

He admitted that he was backtracking TBF

Ah right, I haven't listened to his and Balls' latest podcast yet.

Benpointer said:

rottenborough said:

gabyhinsliff
@gabyhinsliff
·
3h
My mum just texted to report an earthquake in thePeak District so obviously I scoffed but I checked the BGS & it seems (basically the world’s smallest) earthquake has…I would not quite say shaken but definitely slightly stirred Derbyshire

https://twitter.com/gabyhinsliff/status/1765799756452757702

The home of Shakewell tarts?

algarkirk said:

eek said:

Anabobazina said:

On the latest Political Currency podcast, George Osborne says a May election is being considered. He says many Tory MPs want it. He thinks it will be nuts to do so however!

It's nuts but I suspect there is little upside and far more downside in delaying until the autumn...

However, it is rational to think thus (for Sunak, not the rest of us): I can't win in May. I do not know how things can change so that I can win or at least do better later, but the chance cannot be Zero. So don't go in May.

OTOH it may be rational to say: I can't win at all. Let's get it over with, go for May.

Also, OTOH, there aren't any good times to go for once POTUS elections are in full swing; January is out because of Christmas campaigning being a non starter; I can't win in May. Try July or September.

Personally I think May is a definite No. But it would be good now to get this over.

Anabobazina said:

Benpointer said:

Anabobazina said:

Sunil_Prasannan said:

Anabobazina said:

Taz said:

SeaShantyIrish2 said:

Anabobazina said:

Clutch_Brompton said:

The original plan was Spring 2023, the replacement plan was Spring 2024 and we are now down to option 3. We also had briefings regarding Autumn 2023 but that was probably just a very hamfisted attempt to confuse the Lab electoral machine. Any Govt that ends up going to the end of its term is doing so because it is bottling the preferable earlier dates. If the Cons had thought they could have won earlier then they would have gone to the GE earlier. We look for a No 10 strategy but there really is none. They just cross their fingers and hope something, anything, will turn up.

Meanwhile, people are very tired of them. That will not improve as they continue to stage their socio-political dirty protest at No 10

Well put. If it looks like a bottle. It's a bottle.

Especially when it's three-quarters full of lukewarm piss . . . and being waved about in voters' faces . . .

The only lukewarm piss is from the resident cash hater claiming the govt are bottling a May election when they’ve never said, or even implied, they will do it. It is just labour demanding one.

There you go again! What on God’s Green Earth has this discussion got to do with cash? Sod all. You are obsessed.

C

A

S

H

The Spam Trap is coming for you.

I warn you, as a friend and comrade.

Someone else was banned for doing something similar (one capital letter every other line) but what's behind it, what is it intended to convey, and why does the 'spam trap' pick it up?

Yes, that was me. I spent 48 hours in the cooler due to the Spam Trapper. It is a serious adversary. Be afraid, be very afraid, would be my advice.

Benpointer said:

algarkirk said:

eek said:

Anabobazina said:

On the latest Political Currency podcast, George Osborne says a May election is being considered. He says many Tory MPs want it. He thinks it will be nuts to do so however!

It's nuts but I suspect there is little upside and far more downside in delaying until the autumn...

However, it is rational to think thus (for Sunak, not the rest of us): I can't win in May. I do not know how things can change so that I can win or at least do better later, but the chance cannot be Zero. So don't go in May.

OTOH it may be rational to say: I can't win at all. Let's get it over with, go for May.

Also, OTOH, there aren't any good times to go for once POTUS elections are in full swing; January is out because of Christmas campaigning being a non starter; I can't win in May. Try July or September.

Personally I think May is a definite No. But it would be good now to get this over.

Once again:

Advantages of May:
- Avoids fall-out from the locals.
- Forestalls any further major division or a leadership challenge.
- Energy prices will fall in April.
- Any tax cuts will have appeared in April payslips.
- Boat numbers will be yet to rise.
- Inflation probably back at target (temporarily).
- Mortgage rates falling and fewer will have switched to higher fixed rate (than will have by the autumn).

Advantages of Oct/Nov:
- Something might turn up.
- Sunak spends more time as PM.

Foxy said:

Benpointer said:

algarkirk said:

eek said:

Anabobazina said:

On the latest Political Currency podcast, George Osborne says a May election is being considered. He says many Tory MPs want it. He thinks it will be nuts to do so however!

It's nuts but I suspect there is little upside and far more downside in delaying until the autumn...

However, it is rational to think thus (for Sunak, not the rest of us): I can't win in May. I do not know how things can change so that I can win or at least do better later, but the chance cannot be Zero. So don't go in May.

OTOH it may be rational to say: I can't win at all. Let's get it over with, go for May.

Also, OTOH, there aren't any good times to go for once POTUS elections are in full swing; January is out because of Christmas campaigning being a non starter; I can't win in May. Try July or September.

Personally I think May is a definite No. But it would be good now to get this over.

Once again:

Advantages of May:
- Avoids fall-out from the locals.
- Forestalls any further major division or a leadership challenge.
- Energy prices will fall in April.
- Any tax cuts will have appeared in April payslips.
- Boat numbers will be yet to rise.
- Inflation probably back at target (temporarily).
- Mortgage rates falling and fewer will have switched to higher fixed rate (than will have by the autumn).

Advantages of Oct/Nov:
- Something might turn up.
- Sunak spends more time as PM.

May:

Also no chance of an embarrassing attempt at defenestration.

Benpointer said:

algarkirk said:

eek said:

Anabobazina said:

On the latest Political Currency podcast, George Osborne says a May election is being considered. He says many Tory MPs want it. He thinks it will be nuts to do so however!

It's nuts but I suspect there is little upside and far more downside in delaying until the autumn...

However, it is rational to think thus (for Sunak, not the rest of us): I can't win in May. I do not know how things can change so that I can win or at least do better later, but the chance cannot be Zero. So don't go in May.

OTOH it may be rational to say: I can't win at all. Let's get it over with, go for May.

Also, OTOH, there aren't any good times to go for once POTUS elections are in full swing; January is out because of Christmas campaigning being a non starter; I can't win in May. Try July or September.

Personally I think May is a definite No. But it would be good now to get this over.

Once again:

Advantages of May:
- Avoids fall-out from the locals.
- Forestalls any further major division or a leadership challenge.
- Energy prices will fall in April.
- Any tax cuts will have appeared in April payslips.
- Boat numbers will be yet to rise.
- Inflation probably back at target (temporarily).
- Mortgage rates falling and fewer will have switched to higher fixed rate (than will have by the autumn).

Advantages of Oct/Nov:
- Something might turn up.
- Sunak spends more time as PM.

algarkirk said:

Benpointer said:

algarkirk said:

eek said:

Anabobazina said:

On the latest Political Currency podcast, George Osborne says a May election is being considered. He says many Tory MPs want it. He thinks it will be nuts to do so however!

It's nuts but I suspect there is little upside and far more downside in delaying until the autumn...

However, it is rational to think thus (for Sunak, not the rest of us): I can't win in May. I do not know how things can change so that I can win or at least do better later, but the chance cannot be Zero. So don't go in May.

OTOH it may be rational to say: I can't win at all. Let's get it over with, go for May.

Also, OTOH, there aren't any good times to go for once POTUS elections are in full swing; January is out because of Christmas campaigning being a non starter; I can't win in May. Try July or September.

Personally I think May is a definite No. But it would be good now to get this over.

Once again:

Advantages of May:
- Avoids fall-out from the locals.
- Forestalls any further major division or a leadership challenge.
- Energy prices will fall in April.
- Any tax cuts will have appeared in April payslips.
- Boat numbers will be yet to rise.
- Inflation probably back at target (temporarily).
- Mortgage rates falling and fewer will have switched to higher fixed rate (than will have by the autumn).

Advantages of Oct/Nov:
- Something might turn up.
- Sunak spends more time as PM.

Major and decisive disadvantage of May: Sunak Loses.

LostPassword said:

How is Michelle Donelan still in post?

Benpointer said:

Anabobazina said:

Benpointer said:

Anabobazina said:

Sunil_Prasannan said:

Anabobazina said:

Taz said:

SeaShantyIrish2 said:

Anabobazina said:

Clutch_Brompton said:

The original plan was Spring 2023, the replacement plan was Spring 2024 and we are now down to option 3. We also had briefings regarding Autumn 2023 but that was probably just a very hamfisted attempt to confuse the Lab electoral machine. Any Govt that ends up going to the end of its term is doing so because it is bottling the preferable earlier dates. If the Cons had thought they could have won earlier then they would have gone to the GE earlier. We look for a No 10 strategy but there really is none. They just cross their fingers and hope something, anything, will turn up.

Meanwhile, people are very tired of them. That will not improve as they continue to stage their socio-political dirty protest at No 10

Well put. If it looks like a bottle. It's a bottle.

Especially when it's three-quarters full of lukewarm piss . . . and being waved about in voters' faces . . .

The only lukewarm piss is from the resident cash hater claiming the govt are bottling a May election when they’ve never said, or even implied, they will do it. It is just labour demanding one.

There you go again! What on God’s Green Earth has this discussion got to do with cash? Sod all. You are obsessed.

C

A

S

H

The Spam Trap is coming for you.

I warn you, as a friend and comrade.

Someone else was banned for doing something similar (one capital letter every other line) but what's behind it, what is it intended to convey, and why does the 'spam trap' pick it up?

Yes, that was me. I spent 48 hours in the cooler due to the Spam Trapper. It is a serious adversary. Be afraid, be very afraid, would be my advice.

Yes but why? Why did you feel moved to post a word with one capital letter every other line and why does the spam trapper object to it?

Leon said:

Mugshot

rottenborough said:

Benpointer said:

Anabobazina said:

On the latest Political Currency podcast, George Osborne says a May election is being considered. He says many Tory MPs want it. He thinks it will be nuts to do so however!

It was only two weeks ago that Osborne 'revealed' the election was definitely going to be 14 November.

Well, I suspect next door's cat could tell you that "a May election is being considered".

bondegezou said:

Benpointer said:

algarkirk said:

eek said:

Anabobazina said:

On the latest Political Currency podcast, George Osborne says a May election is being considered. He says many Tory MPs want it. He thinks it will be nuts to do so however!

It's nuts but I suspect there is little upside and far more downside in delaying until the autumn...

However, it is rational to think thus (for Sunak, not the rest of us): I can't win in May. I do not know how things can change so that I can win or at least do better later, but the chance cannot be Zero. So don't go in May.

OTOH it may be rational to say: I can't win at all. Let's get it over with, go for May.

Also, OTOH, there aren't any good times to go for once POTUS elections are in full swing; January is out because of Christmas campaigning being a non starter; I can't win in May. Try July or September.

Personally I think May is a definite No. But it would be good now to get this over.

Once again:

Advantages of May:
- Avoids fall-out from the locals.
- Forestalls any further major division or a leadership challenge.
- Energy prices will fall in April.
- Any tax cuts will have appeared in April payslips.
- Boat numbers will be yet to rise.
- Inflation probably back at target (temporarily).
- Mortgage rates falling and fewer will have switched to higher fixed rate (than will have by the autumn).

Advantages of Oct/Nov:
- Something might turn up.
- Sunak spends more time as PM.

Other advantages of Oct/Nov:
- The economy will (probably) no longer be in recession
- Inflation will be low and memories of high inflation will be fading more
- Rwanda bill passed and maybe flights happened
- NHS waiting lists might be better
- People will have had more time to appreciate the NI cuts

eek said:

bondegezou said:

Benpointer said:

algarkirk said:

eek said:

Anabobazina said:

On the latest Political Currency podcast, George Osborne says a May election is being considered. He says many Tory MPs want it. He thinks it will be nuts to do so however!

It's nuts but I suspect there is little upside and far more downside in delaying until the autumn...

However, it is rational to think thus (for Sunak, not the rest of us): I can't win in May. I do not know how things can change so that I can win or at least do better later, but the chance cannot be Zero. So don't go in May.

OTOH it may be rational to say: I can't win at all. Let's get it over with, go for May.

Also, OTOH, there aren't any good times to go for once POTUS elections are in full swing; January is out because of Christmas campaigning being a non starter; I can't win in May. Try July or September.

Personally I think May is a definite No. But it would be good now to get this over.

Once again:

Advantages of May:
- Avoids fall-out from the locals.
- Forestalls any further major division or a leadership challenge.
- Energy prices will fall in April.
- Any tax cuts will have appeared in April payslips.
- Boat numbers will be yet to rise.
- Inflation probably back at target (temporarily).
- Mortgage rates falling and fewer will have switched to higher fixed rate (than will have by the autumn).

Advantages of Oct/Nov:
- Something might turn up.
- Sunak spends more time as PM.

Other advantages of Oct/Nov:
- The economy will (probably) no longer be in recession
- Inflation will be low and memories of high inflation will be fading more
- Rwanda bill passed and maybe flights happened
- NHS waiting lists might be better
- People will have had more time to appreciate the NI cuts

Memories of inflation can be brought back instantly - how much more was you shopping than 5 years ago?

NI cuts - people really won't notice, they didn't notice the November one they won't notice the April one...

bigjohnowls said:

IanB2 said:

bigjohnowls said:

GIN1138 said:

Hello... I'm Johnny CASH

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AHCfZTRGiI

You are the change you get from a Durex machine and I claim my prize

You wait around to see if it gives any change??

They do in Yorkshire.

biggles said:

ydoethur said:

Carnyx said:

isam said:

https://x.com/godblesstoto/status/1765770786999058911?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

You obviously are unaware of male lion behaviour in the wild.

Do they have Gay Prides?

Roar sex appeal and

Luckyguy1983 said:

biggles said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

Cyclefree said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

What a fucking roaster.

Police misconduct should be dealt with “behind closed doors” and problems in Britain’s biggest force are the result of individual “bad ’uns”, the Conservative London mayoral candidate has said.

In a leaked recording, Susan Hall can be heard telling backers that she would “support [the Met] completely in front of other people”, adding: “If they’re doing something wrong, you take them into your office, you close the door, and you have the conversation and that’s exactly what we should be doing with the police.”

Hall also suggested that problems of sexism and misogyny in the Met are down to “bad ’uns” and “wrong ’uns”. This runs counter to the central finding of Baroness Casey’s review of the Met, which concluded that the force was institutionally racist, misogynistic and homophobic...

...The leaked remarks were made at a campaign event for Hall in January, during which she was challenged on her approach to the Met by a member of the audience who warned her against failing to publicly recognise the need for reform.

In response, Hall replied: “There have been some disgraceful episodes, you’re quite right. And they are now rooting out the bad ’uns, if you like. There’s 250 that are on suspension, not allowed to work and there’s about 1,000 that are being watched. Totally not good enough … Having said that, if you’re running a business, if you want things to go well with your staff, you support them completely in front of other people.

“If they’re doing something wrong, you take them into your office, you close the door, and you have the conversation and that’s exactly what we should be doing with the police.”

Hall went on to praise the majority of Met officers who feel “battered and bruised” by the criticism directed at the force in recent years, adding: “And some of the wrong ’uns are the ones that have gotten a bad reputation. So I will continue to support [the majority].

“But what I say to the commissioner behind closed doors will stay behind closed doors. But I promise you, we will get results. It will be much, much better under a Hall mayoralty.”

Hall’s campaign slogan is “Safer with Susan” and she has been deeply critical of the current Labour mayor Sadiq Khan’s record on policing. The former leader of Harrow council was selected by the Conservative Party to fight the City Hall election this May.

A Conservative source said the remarks risked sending relations between the Met and the public “back to square one”.

They said: “To tackle the deep-rooted issues in the Met police you need to first actually tackle the problem and also regain the trust of the public. To do that you have to call out bad behaviour publicly and to suggest she won’t say that anything is wrong is worrying. Susan has to show the public she understands the depth of the problem.”

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/met-police-problems-susan-hall-tory-london-mayor-candidate-pps59ln3g

I don't see how what she's saying is particularly unreasonable. I find that 'thought leaders' in politics and the civil service are always using individual shocking newsmaking events to instigate massive and not necessarily positive institutional changes that they wanted to make anyway. Yes, the Met does need to be sorted, and far greater rigour applied to appointments, but it is far from self-evident that a huge public process ending with (to give some examples) tokenistic public displays of 'respect' toward women, active discrimination toward women in recruitment, and the criminalisation of wolf whistling, is the best way forward. Just stopping employing criminals and known perverts as policemen should do the trick.

Clearly neither you nor Susan Hall have read the multiple reports on the problems in the Met. The Met is not fundamentally decent or even fundamentally professional. They have not been like that for years and part of the reason has been politicians not holding them to account and coming out with rubbish like this, which has allowed the leadership to avoid being clear-eyed about what they need to do. The problems are not simply about employing a few criminals by mistake.

For instance, the recent Angiolini Report made clear that Couzens was not a "known pervert" (he should have been) and was actually rather good at hiding his true character and behaviour from his colleagues. Why he was hired - despite some subtle warning signs - and why he was not caught will not be solved by just telling the bosses behind closed doors not to hire criminals and perverts.

Hall is an idiot.

You're right, I haven't read the reports, and I do yield to your far greater knowledge on the topic.

However, I think we often neglect simple solutions in favour of more complex ones. I was shocked that convicted criminals are allowed to serve in the Met. These people should not serve. We don't need a huge enquiry to tell us that.

Ancillary point to this, but I would caution being too distracted by whether someone HAS a criminal record. Yes, obviously we should bar those with (some types of) criminal record from certain jobs, but always remember that a) a DBS check is only valid at the moment it is completed; and b) the most successful criminals don’t have records anyway.

Vetting has to be broader than criminal record checks.

It isn't just about vetting; the last time we discussed this I am sure I heard of serving officers being convicted of drugs offences etc. and continuing to serve. It was shocking and disgraceful. Of course clever criminals aren't caught, but we can at least weed out the stupid (but still dangerous ones). You break the law; you don't serve as a police officer. This isn't a complex concept.

I didn’t argue with any of that. I was pointing out that only gets you so far, and can give you a false sense of security.

dixiedean said:

rottenborough said:

Benpointer said:

Anabobazina said:

On the latest Political Currency podcast, George Osborne says a May election is being considered. He says many Tory MPs want it. He thinks it will be nuts to do so however!

It was only two weeks ago that Osborne 'revealed' the election was definitely going to be 14 November.

Well, I suspect next door's cat could tell you that "a May election is being considered".

That's one talented cat.
Where do you live?

Benpointer said:

Leon said:

Benpointer said:

Leon said:

Mugshot

Made me smile anyway.

Thanks. Surely the greatest piece of wordplay in PB history

Greatest piece of photo-wordplay maybe. Pure wordplay - @ydoethur is the master.

viewcode said:

LostPassword said:

How is Michelle Donelan still in post?

The rules are for poor people. They are that blatant at this point.

Stuartinromford said:

Foxy said:

Cleitophon said:

NickyBreakspear said:

Are we expecting any polling tonight, or will it be tomorrow for the post budget voting intentions?

I think that we are expecting YouGov, We Think, Techne and Survation with the last three tomorrow. Opinium will be over the weekend. Any others, BMG?

Everything seems unnaturally quiet these days, in uk politics. The budget was seemingly a dud, there are no big issues. Is this quiet before a storm?

The big issue is that both Tory and Labour are pretending that there are neither tax rises nor massive spending cuts on the way. Both know that its true, but won't admit it, at least not this side of an election.

They think voters are idiots.

Conservatives can't tell the fiscal truth, because it would mean admitting how much they have soiled the bed.

And that means that Labour can't, because denying reality beats acknowledging it.

Reeves gets exactly one shot at "the Tory mess is even worse than we imagined". I think I trust her and Starmer to use that better than any Downing Street team of my adulthood. Whether they use it well enough remains to be seen.

As for May or December... My assumption has been that that the government would hang on, not because things would get better but to bank a few more months in office. But there's nothing left, is there?

dixiedean said:

rottenborough said:

Benpointer said:

Anabobazina said:

On the latest Political Currency podcast, George Osborne says a May election is being considered. He says many Tory MPs want it. He thinks it will be nuts to do so however!

It was only two weeks ago that Osborne 'revealed' the election was definitely going to be 14 November.

Well, I suspect next door's cat could tell you that "a May election is being considered".

That's one talented cat.
Where do you live?

williamglenn said:

May election ruled out

https://x.com/tomhfh/status/1765864367541600418

MoonRabbit said:

Anabobazina said:

biggles said:

rottenborough said:

Benpointer said:

Anabobazina said:

On the latest Political Currency podcast, George Osborne says a May election is being considered. He says many Tory MPs want it. He thinks it will be nuts to do so however!

It was only two weeks ago that Osborne 'revealed' the election was definitely going to be 14 November.

Well, I suspect next door's cat could tell you that "a May election is being considered".

“Actively considered” in the Yes Minister sense?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=X-HUw3_TCXg

I mean, just listen to the podcast! (It’s about 2/3s of the way in)

For the record, I don’t subscribe to this “May is now being considered” claptrap.

btw we should consider Gin is in the spam trap, despite being told not to do it. Don’t anyone listen on this site? 🥱

MoonRabbit said:

Anabobazina said:

biggles said:

rottenborough said:

Benpointer said:

Anabobazina said:

On the latest Political Currency podcast, George Osborne says a May election is being considered. He says many Tory MPs want it. He thinks it will be nuts to do so however!

It was only two weeks ago that Osborne 'revealed' the election was definitely going to be 14 November.

Well, I suspect next door's cat could tell you that "a May election is being considered".

“Actively considered” in the Yes Minister sense?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=X-HUw3_TCXg

I mean, just listen to the podcast! (It’s about 2/3s of the way in)

For the record, I don’t subscribe to this “May is now being considered” claptrap.

btw we should consider Gin is in the spam trap, despite being told not to do it. Don’t anyone listen on this site? 🥱