I'm enjoying the Shakespeare quotes as thread headers groove we're in. Gives a sprinkle of class.
Like me, Shakespeare is eminently quotable.
I must be cruel, only to be kind. Some people say Shakespeare is the be-all and the end-all of English literature but his spotless reputation is neither here nor there. All that glisters is not gold and you can have too much of a good thing. The truth will out: Shakespeare used too many clichés.
Shakespeare invented the cliches… they have only become that by being quoted too frequently
He might have been inspired by reading the PB posts of Isam, William Glenn, Taz, Moon Rabbit and others.
It's PB wot won it.
Rishi does at least have nothing to lose, Starmer however is such an overwhelming favourite the pressure is on him.
It could be another 2017 or 1992 if Rishi really does a Major 1992 soapbox on the campaign and Starmer is no Blair or even Corbyn in terms of charismatic oratory and being able to inspire his supporters (indeed in that respect Starmer is the Labour Theresa May, odds on favourite by far and huge poll lead heading into the campaign but not a natural campaigner despite being serious and intelligent).
I still expect Labour to win but I think the campaign will narrow the gap
Sunak is also no John Major. The soapbox worked because he had the common touch and the ability to work a crowd. Can you imagine Sunak let loose among ordinary people?
I'm sure he'd have no problem getting out there and shaking the hands of regular people.
So long as he could wipe his hands afterwards.
To be fair I get that impression about a lot of famous champions of the working class in history as well.
What's all this guff about the soapbox, the right wing media did a hatchet job on the Labour leader, that was the reason Major won. The papers almost certainly don't have the power that they had in 92, but they will still go to town on Starmer, I'm sure that will narrow the polls.
More Major was not Thatcher nor Kinnock won it for him in 1992 but the Tories could only stretch the elastic that far as 1997 showed
He might have been inspired by reading the PB posts of Isam, William Glenn, Taz, Moon Rabbit and others.
It's PB wot won it.
Rishi does at least have nothing to lose, Starmer however is such an overwhelming favourite the pressure is on him.
It could be another 2017 or 1992 if Rishi really does a Major 1992 soapbox on the campaign and Starmer is no Blair or even Corbyn in terms of charismatic oratory and being able to inspire his supporters (indeed in that respect Starmer is the Labour Theresa May, odds on favourite by far and huge poll lead heading into the campaign but not a natural campaigner despite being serious and intelligent).
I still expect Labour to win but I think the campaign will narrow the gap
Sunak is also no John Major. The soapbox worked because he had the common touch and the ability to work a crowd. Can you imagine Sunak let loose among ordinary people?
I can actually.
Given his diminutive size, Sunak is a master at the sport of limbo.
He's managed to limbo his way to getting opinion polls worse than Liz Truss achieved.
After an election campaign of Sunak let loose among ordinary people he might manage to limbo to below the 8.8% for the Tories that May achieved in 2019.
No his poll ratings are still better than the final Tory ratings under Truss
He might have been inspired by reading the PB posts of Isam, William Glenn, Taz, Moon Rabbit and others.
It's PB wot won it.
Rishi does at least have nothing to lose, Starmer however is such an overwhelming favourite the pressure is on him.
It could be another 2017 or 1992 if Rishi really does a Major 1992 soapbox on the campaign and Starmer is no Blair or even Corbyn in terms of charismatic oratory and being able to inspire his supporters (indeed in that respect Starmer is the Labour Theresa May, odds on favourite by far and huge poll lead heading into the campaign but not a natural campaigner despite being serious and intelligent).
I still expect Labour to win but I think the campaign will narrow the gap
Sunak is also no John Major. The soapbox worked because he had the common touch and the ability to work a crowd. Can you imagine Sunak let loose among ordinary people?
By 1992, Major has been doing the soapbox thing for... 30 years or so? You pick up the knack after a while.
We go into the GE this year with the two most likely Prime Ministers having been in parliament for less than 20 years combined.
2019 - 47 years 2017 - 54 years 2015 - 25 years 2010 - 36 years 2005 - 44 years 2001 - 30 years 1997 - 32 years 1992 - 35 years 1987 - 45 years 1983 - 57 years 1979 - 54 years
He might have been inspired by reading the PB posts of Isam, William Glenn, Taz, Moon Rabbit and others.
It's PB wot won it.
Rishi does at least have nothing to lose, Starmer however is such an overwhelming favourite the pressure is on him.
It could be another 2017 or 1992 if Rishi really does a Major 1992 soapbox on the campaign and Starmer is no Blair or even Corbyn in terms of charismatic oratory and being able to inspire his supporters (indeed in that respect Starmer is the Labour Theresa May, odds on favourite by far and huge poll lead heading into the campaign but not a natural campaigner despite being serious and intelligent).
I still expect Labour to win but I think the campaign will narrow the gap
Sunak is also no John Major. The soapbox worked because he had the common touch and the ability to work a crowd. Can you imagine Sunak let loose among ordinary people?
By 1992, Major has been doing the soapbox thing for... 30 years or so? You pick up the knack after a while.
The problem is I think Rishi would even end up getting his soapbox from Harrods!
He might have been inspired by reading the PB posts of Isam, William Glenn, Taz, Moon Rabbit and others.
It's PB wot won it.
Rishi does at least have nothing to lose, Starmer however is such an overwhelming favourite the pressure is on him.
It could be another 2017 or 1992 if Rishi really does a Major 1992 soapbox on the campaign and Starmer is no Blair or even Corbyn in terms of charismatic oratory and being able to inspire his supporters (indeed in that respect Starmer is the Labour Theresa May, odds on favourite by far and huge poll lead heading into the campaign but not a natural campaigner despite being serious and intelligent).
I still expect Labour to win but I think the campaign will narrow the gap
Sunak is also no John Major. The soapbox worked because he had the common touch and the ability to work a crowd. Can you imagine Sunak let loose among ordinary people?
Though to be fair Sr Keir has even less common touch than Neil Kinnock did too.
As John Curtice said all 3 main UK parties have dull party leaders for the first time in the post WW2 era, perhaps the SNP joining the club with the bank manager like Swinney. Even when Heath faced Wilson there was at least the great oratory of Jo Grimond or the charismatic, if flawed, Jeremy Thorpe as Liberal leaders to liven things up.
Don’t worry! The SNP want to elect Swinney to make the others seem charismatic.
They're not actually going to, are they?
I mean, a caretaker for a proper contest is one thing, but not for good and all? Surely?
The continuity lot want Swinney for leader until after the 2026 Holyrood election. It allows them another couple of years government courtesy of their little Green helpers.
Would another couple of years government courtesy of sock muppet Ash and u-know-who be preferable?
He might have been inspired by reading the PB posts of Isam, William Glenn, Taz, Moon Rabbit and others.
It's PB wot won it.
Rishi does at least have nothing to lose, Starmer however is such an overwhelming favourite the pressure is on him.
It could be another 2017 or 1992 if Rishi really does a Major 1992 soapbox on the campaign and Starmer is no Blair or even Corbyn in terms of charismatic oratory and being able to inspire his supporters (indeed in that respect Starmer is the Labour Theresa May, odds on favourite by far and huge poll lead heading into the campaign but not a natural campaigner despite being serious and intelligent).
I still expect Labour to win but I think the campaign will narrow the gap
Sunak is also no John Major. The soapbox worked because he had the common touch and the ability to work a crowd. Can you imagine Sunak let loose among ordinary people?
I can actually.
Given his diminutive size, Sunak is a master at the sport of limbo.
He's managed to limbo his way to getting opinion polls worse than Liz Truss achieved.
After an election campaign of Sunak let loose among ordinary people he might manage to limbo to below the 8.8% for the Tories that May achieved in 2019.
No his poll ratings are still better than the final Tory ratings under Truss
Changing the goalposts again. Only this time it's the white line painted across the goalmouth.
He might have been inspired by reading the PB posts of Isam, William Glenn, Taz, Moon Rabbit and others.
It's PB wot won it.
Rishi does at least have nothing to lose, Starmer however is such an overwhelming favourite the pressure is on him.
It could be another 2017 or 1992 if Rishi really does a Major 1992 soapbox on the campaign and Starmer is no Blair or even Corbyn in terms of charismatic oratory and being able to inspire his supporters (indeed in that respect Starmer is the Labour Theresa May, odds on favourite by far and huge poll lead heading into the campaign but not a natural campaigner despite being serious and intelligent).
I still expect Labour to win but I think the campaign will narrow the gap
Sunak is also no John Major. The soapbox worked because he had the common touch and the ability to work a crowd. Can you imagine Sunak let loose among ordinary people?
I can actually.
Given his diminutive size, Sunak is a master at the sport of limbo.
He's managed to limbo his way to getting opinion polls worse than Liz Truss achieved.
After an election campaign of Sunak let loose among ordinary people he might manage to limbo to below the 8.8% for the Tories that May achieved in 2019.
No his poll ratings are still better than the final Tory ratings under Truss
Check your figures.
Most recent opinion poll on Wiki is Deltapoll, with the Tories on 24%
Their final poll under Truss had the Tories on 25%
Plastic-eating bacteria can help waste self-destruct
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-68927816 … By incorporating spores of plastic-eating bacteria they've developed a plastic that can self-destruct. The spores remain dormant during the useful lifetime of the plastic, but spring back to life and start to digest the product when exposed to nutrients in compost.
There's hope "we can mitigate plastic pollution in nature", said researcher Han Sol Kim, of the University of California San Diego, La Jolla.
And there might be an added advantage in that the spores increase the toughness of the plastic. "Our process makes the materials more rugged, so it extends its useful lifetime," said co-researcher, Jon Pokorski. "And then, when it's done, we're able to eliminate it from the environment, regardless of how it's disposed." The plastic is currently being worked on at the laboratory bench but could be in the real world within a few years, with the help of a manufacturer, he added. The type of bacteria added to the plastic is Bacillus subtilis, widely used as a food additive and a probiotic. Crucially, the bacteria has to be genetically engineered to be able to withstand the very high temperatures needed to make plastic…
I'm enjoying the Shakespeare quotes as thread headers groove we're in. Gives a sprinkle of class.
Like me, Shakespeare is eminently quotable.
I must be cruel, only to be kind. Some people say Shakespeare is the be-all and the end-all of English literature but his spotless reputation is neither here nor there. All that glisters is not gold and you can have too much of a good thing. The truth will out: Shakespeare used too many clichés.
Shakespeare invented the cliches… they have only become that by being quoted too frequently
That’s a cliche.
I am delighted to announce the morning thread contains yet another subtle Shakespeare reference.
I'm enjoying the Shakespeare quotes as thread headers groove we're in. Gives a sprinkle of class.
Like me, Shakespeare is eminently quotable.
I must be cruel, only to be kind. Some people say Shakespeare is the be-all and the end-all of English literature but his spotless reputation is neither here nor there. All that glisters is not gold and you can have too much of a good thing. The truth will out: Shakespeare used too many clichés.
Shakespeare invented the cliches… they have only become that by being quoted too frequently
That’s a cliche.
I am delighted to announce the morning thread contains yet another subtle Shakespeare reference.
I'm enjoying the Shakespeare quotes as thread headers groove we're in. Gives a sprinkle of class.
Like me, Shakespeare is eminently quotable.
I must be cruel, only to be kind. Some people say Shakespeare is the be-all and the end-all of English literature but his spotless reputation is neither here nor there. All that glisters is not gold and you can have too much of a good thing. The truth will out: Shakespeare used too many clichés.
Shakespeare invented the cliches… they have only become that by being quoted too frequently
That’s a cliche.
I am delighted to announce the morning thread contains yet another subtle Shakespeare reference.
I'm enjoying the Shakespeare quotes as thread headers groove we're in. Gives a sprinkle of class.
Like me, Shakespeare is eminently quotable.
I must be cruel, only to be kind. Some people say Shakespeare is the be-all and the end-all of English literature but his spotless reputation is neither here nor there. All that glisters is not gold and you can have too much of a good thing. The truth will out: Shakespeare used too many clichés.
Shakespeare invented the cliches… they have only become that by being quoted too frequently
That’s a cliche.
I am delighted to announce the morning thread contains yet another subtle Shakespeare reference.
Is it about the Tories poll ratings?
Bless thee, Bottom! Bless thee! Thou art translated.
He might have been inspired by reading the PB posts of Isam, William Glenn, Taz, Moon Rabbit and others.
It's PB wot won it.
Rishi does at least have nothing to lose, Starmer however is such an overwhelming favourite the pressure is on him.
It could be another 2017 or 1992 if Rishi really does a Major 1992 soapbox on the campaign and Starmer is no Blair or even Corbyn in terms of charismatic oratory and being able to inspire his supporters (indeed in that respect Starmer is the Labour Theresa May, odds on favourite by far and huge poll lead heading into the campaign but not a natural campaigner despite being serious and intelligent).
I still expect Labour to win but I think the campaign will narrow the gap
Sunak is also no John Major. The soapbox worked because he had the common touch and the ability to work a crowd. Can you imagine Sunak let loose among ordinary people?
I can actually.
Given his diminutive size, Sunak is a master at the sport of limbo.
He's managed to limbo his way to getting opinion polls worse than Liz Truss achieved.
After an election campaign of Sunak let loose among ordinary people he might manage to limbo to below the 8.8% for the Tories that May achieved in 2019.
No his poll ratings are still better than the final Tory ratings under Truss
Check your figures.
Most recent opinion poll on Wiki is Deltapoll, with the Tories on 24%
Their final poll under Truss had the Tories on 25%
Labour had a 26% lead in the final Deltapoll under Truss, it now has Labour only 20% ahead.
I'm enjoying the Shakespeare quotes as thread headers groove we're in. Gives a sprinkle of class.
Like me, Shakespeare is eminently quotable.
I must be cruel, only to be kind. Some people say Shakespeare is the be-all and the end-all of English literature but his spotless reputation is neither here nor there. All that glisters is not gold and you can have too much of a good thing. The truth will out: Shakespeare used too many clichés.
Shakespeare invented the cliches… they have only become that by being quoted too frequently
That’s a cliche.
I am delighted to announce the morning thread contains yet another subtle Shakespeare reference.
This, …though it make the unskilful laugh, cannot but make the judicious grieve.
He might have been inspired by reading the PB posts of Isam, William Glenn, Taz, Moon Rabbit and others.
It's PB wot won it.
Rishi does at least have nothing to lose, Starmer however is such an overwhelming favourite the pressure is on him.
It could be another 2017 or 1992 if Rishi really does a Major 1992 soapbox on the campaign and Starmer is no Blair or even Corbyn in terms of charismatic oratory and being able to inspire his supporters (indeed in that respect Starmer is the Labour Theresa May, odds on favourite by far and huge poll lead heading into the campaign but not a natural campaigner despite being serious and intelligent).
I still expect Labour to win but I think the campaign will narrow the gap
Sunak is also no John Major. The soapbox worked because he had the common touch and the ability to work a crowd. Can you imagine Sunak let loose among ordinary people?
I can actually.
Given his diminutive size, Sunak is a master at the sport of limbo.
He's managed to limbo his way to getting opinion polls worse than Liz Truss achieved.
After an election campaign of Sunak let loose among ordinary people he might manage to limbo to below the 8.8% for the Tories that May achieved in 2019.
No his poll ratings are still better than the final Tory ratings under Truss
Check your figures.
Most recent opinion poll on Wiki is Deltapoll, with the Tories on 24%
Their final poll under Truss had the Tories on 25%
Labour had a 26% lead in the final Deltapoll under Truss, it now has Labour only 20% ahead.
He might have been inspired by reading the PB posts of Isam, William Glenn, Taz, Moon Rabbit and others.
It's PB wot won it.
Rishi does at least have nothing to lose, Starmer however is such an overwhelming favourite the pressure is on him.
It could be another 2017 or 1992 if Rishi really does a Major 1992 soapbox on the campaign and Starmer is no Blair or even Corbyn in terms of charismatic oratory and being able to inspire his supporters (indeed in that respect Starmer is the Labour Theresa May, odds on favourite by far and huge poll lead heading into the campaign but not a natural campaigner despite being serious and intelligent).
I still expect Labour to win but I think the campaign will narrow the gap
Sunak is also no John Major. The soapbox worked because he had the common touch and the ability to work a crowd. Can you imagine Sunak let loose among ordinary people?
I can actually.
Given his diminutive size, Sunak is a master at the sport of limbo.
He's managed to limbo his way to getting opinion polls worse than Liz Truss achieved.
After an election campaign of Sunak let loose among ordinary people he might manage to limbo to below the 8.8% for the Tories that May achieved in 2019.
No his poll ratings are still better than the final Tory ratings under Truss
Check your figures.
Most recent opinion poll on Wiki is Deltapoll, with the Tories on 24%
Their final poll under Truss had the Tories on 25%
Labour had a 26% lead in the final Deltapoll under Truss, it now has Labour only 20% ahead.
I'm enjoying the Shakespeare quotes as thread headers groove we're in. Gives a sprinkle of class.
Like me, Shakespeare is eminently quotable.
I must be cruel, only to be kind. Some people say Shakespeare is the be-all and the end-all of English literature but his spotless reputation is neither here nor there. All that glisters is not gold and you can have too much of a good thing. The truth will out: Shakespeare used too many clichés.
Shakespeare invented the cliches… they have only become that by being quoted too frequently
That’s a cliche.
I am delighted to announce the morning thread contains yet another subtle Shakespeare reference.
Is it about the Tories poll ratings?
Bless thee, Bottom! Bless thee! Thou art translated.
His reasons are as two grains of wheat hid in two bushels of chaff—you shall seek all day ere you find them, and when you have them they are not worth the search.
He might have been inspired by reading the PB posts of Isam, William Glenn, Taz, Moon Rabbit and others.
It's PB wot won it.
Rishi does at least have nothing to lose, Starmer however is such an overwhelming favourite the pressure is on him.
It could be another 2017 or 1992 if Rishi really does a Major 1992 soapbox on the campaign and Starmer is no Blair or even Corbyn in terms of charismatic oratory and being able to inspire his supporters (indeed in that respect Starmer is the Labour Theresa May, odds on favourite by far and huge poll lead heading into the campaign but not a natural campaigner despite being serious and intelligent).
I still expect Labour to win but I think the campaign will narrow the gap
Sunak is also no John Major. The soapbox worked because he had the common touch and the ability to work a crowd. Can you imagine Sunak let loose among ordinary people?
Major only used the soapbox once as PM- at Luton South in 1992.
I'm enjoying the Shakespeare quotes as thread headers groove we're in. Gives a sprinkle of class.
Like me, Shakespeare is eminently quotable.
I must be cruel, only to be kind. Some people say Shakespeare is the be-all and the end-all of English literature but his spotless reputation is neither here nor there. All that glisters is not gold and you can have too much of a good thing. The truth will out: Shakespeare used too many clichés.
Shakespeare invented the cliches… they have only become that by being quoted too frequently
Importers have warned that plans for goods inspectors at the Brexit border to clock off at 7pm risk creating chaos.
Industry bosses have urged ministers to address the “crazy” situation, which will result in almost all checkpoints being shut overnight, amid fears it will affect fresh food supplies.
It will mean that trucks bringing produce into the country through southern ports, including Dover, will be redirected to a single processing facility in Kent.
The warning was issued as long-delayed post-Brexit border controls on large quantities of “medium risk” goods, including fresh food, finally came into force on Tuesday.
I'm enjoying the Shakespeare quotes as thread headers groove we're in. Gives a sprinkle of class.
Like me, Shakespeare is eminently quotable.
I must be cruel, only to be kind. Some people say Shakespeare is the be-all and the end-all of English literature but his spotless reputation is neither here nor there. All that glisters is not gold and you can have too much of a good thing. The truth will out: Shakespeare used too many clichés.
Shakespeare invented the cliches… they have only become that by being quoted too frequently
That’s a cliche.
I am delighted to announce the morning thread contains yet another subtle Shakespeare reference.
I suspect his vote will mainly come from Muslim voters but we shall see
He’s a Sikh, is there much evidence of cross voting between Sikhs and Muslims?
I thought that, but I suppose it could still be argued that the majority of Workers Party voters would be Muslim, given Galloway’s agenda. There’s a lot of Sikhs in Southwell, but would they necessarily vote for the workers Party?
He might have been inspired by reading the PB posts of Isam, William Glenn, Taz, Moon Rabbit and others.
It's PB wot won it.
Rishi does at least have nothing to lose, Starmer however is such an overwhelming favourite the pressure is on him.
It could be another 2017 or 1992 if Rishi really does a Major 1992 soapbox on the campaign and Starmer is no Blair or even Corbyn in terms of charismatic oratory and being able to inspire his supporters (indeed in that respect Starmer is the Labour Theresa May, odds on favourite by far and huge poll lead heading into the campaign but not a natural campaigner despite being serious and intelligent).
I still expect Labour to win but I think the campaign will narrow the gap
Sunak is also no John Major. The soapbox worked because he had the common touch and the ability to work a crowd. Can you imagine Sunak let loose among ordinary people?
Major only used the soapbox once as PM- at Luton South in 1992.
He gave the impression of having met people outside the top decile who he treated as human beings though and not his servants or funny cartoon animals wearing clothes.
@lizziedearden The difference is that with the previous country of origin schemes people just get £3,000 and travel paid for
With Rwanda, it's not people's country of origin so people get that plus same 5-year package of financial support, accommodation and more as given to forced deportees
The plan to "stop the boats" is to offer people who cross the channel £3,000 and 5 years financial support, accommodation and more.
@lizziedearden The difference is that with the previous country of origin schemes people just get £3,000 and travel paid for
With Rwanda, it's not people's country of origin so people get that plus same 5-year package of financial support, accommodation and more as given to forced deportees
The plan to "stop the boats" is to offer people who cross the channel £3,000 and 5 years financial support, accommodation and more.
Fucking genius!
Hang on, so the choice is to dob oneself in and get £3K, or just cross fingers and not dob oneself in? Or have I got it wrong?
@lizziedearden So in summary, this is not "a Rwanda flight" or the scheme starting/taking off etc etc, and it has no link to the Safety of Rwanda Act or new treaty, which is all aimed at forcible deportations of small boat migrants whose claims the UK has refused to substantively consider
Netanyahu is promising that the Israeli army will invade Rafah and destroy the resistance and achieve total victory "with or without a deal". Great negotiating strategy for achieving the release of prisoners he's got there.
I suspect his vote will mainly come from Muslim voters but we shall see
He’s a Sikh, is there much evidence of cross voting between Sikhs and Muslims?
I thought that, but I suppose it could still be argued that the majority of Workers Party voters would be Muslim, given Galloway’s agenda. There’s a lot of Sikhs in Southwell, but would they necessarily vote for the workers Party?
If the Sikh vote is traditionally as Labour heavy as the Muslim vote purportedly is, then leaving any religious pandering Galloway might undertake a suitably radical left position may attract a decent chunk of it.
Netanyahu is promising that the Israeli army will invade Rafah and destroy the resistance and achieve total victory "with or without a deal". Great negotiating strategy for achieving the release of prisoners he's got there.
It doesn't sound like a ceasefire in the conventional usage of the term.
Netanyahu is promising that the Israeli army will invade Rafah and destroy the resistance and achieve total victory "with or without a deal". Great negotiating strategy for achieving the release of prisoners he's got there.
I don’t fully get why Western media isn’t more interested in #TbilisiProtests when it’s an incredible opportunity to observe on live TV an existential trial of a nation and the molding of a democratic society. Doesn’t have to be clashes for a great story.<\i> https://twitter.com/Mikiashvili_M/status/1785016323367637086
I suspect his vote will mainly come from Muslim voters but we shall see
He’s a Sikh, is there much evidence of cross voting between Sikhs and Muslims?
I thought that, but I suppose it could still be argued that the majority of Workers Party voters would be Muslim, given Galloway’s agenda. There’s a lot of Sikhs in Southwell, but would they necessarily vote for the workers Party?
He might have been inspired by reading the PB posts of Isam, William Glenn, Taz, Moon Rabbit and others.
It's PB wot won it.
Rishi does at least have nothing to lose, Starmer however is such an overwhelming favourite the pressure is on him.
It could be another 2017 or 1992 if Rishi really does a Major 1992 soapbox on the campaign and Starmer is no Blair or even Corbyn in terms of charismatic oratory and being able to inspire his supporters (indeed in that respect Starmer is the Labour Theresa May, odds on favourite by far and huge poll lead heading into the campaign but not a natural campaigner despite being serious and intelligent).
I still expect Labour to win but I think the campaign will narrow the gap
Sunak is also no John Major. The soapbox worked because he had the common touch and the ability to work a crowd. Can you imagine Sunak let loose among ordinary people?
By 1992, Major has been doing the soapbox thing for... 30 years or so? You pick up the knack after a while.
We go into the GE this year with the two most likely Prime Ministers having been in parliament for less than 20 years combined.
2019 - 47 years 2017 - 54 years 2015 - 25 years 2010 - 36 years 2005 - 44 years 2001 - 30 years 1997 - 32 years 1992 - 35 years 1987 - 45 years 1983 - 57 years 1979 - 54 years
He might have been inspired by reading the PB posts of Isam, William Glenn, Taz, Moon Rabbit and others.
It's PB wot won it.
Rishi does at least have nothing to lose, Starmer however is such an overwhelming favourite the pressure is on him.
It could be another 2017 or 1992 if Rishi really does a Major 1992 soapbox on the campaign and Starmer is no Blair or even Corbyn in terms of charismatic oratory and being able to inspire his supporters (indeed in that respect Starmer is the Labour Theresa May, odds on favourite by far and huge poll lead heading into the campaign but not a natural campaigner despite being serious and intelligent).
I still expect Labour to win but I think the campaign will narrow the gap
Sunak is also no John Major. The soapbox worked because he had the common touch and the ability to work a crowd. Can you imagine Sunak let loose among ordinary people?
By 1992, Major has been doing the soapbox thing for... 30 years or so? You pick up the knack after a while.
We go into the GE this year with the two most likely Prime Ministers having been in parliament for less than 20 years combined.
2019 - 47 years 2017 - 54 years 2015 - 25 years 2010 - 36 years 2005 - 44 years 2001 - 30 years 1997 - 32 years 1992 - 35 years 1987 - 45 years 1983 - 57 years 1979 - 54 years
Different eras entirely.
That's interesting. My first thought was: blimey, imagine having to do a job or work at the same place for 27 years before you get to the top! But people used to do that. That was what the world used to be like. The longest I have ever stayed in one place was 7 years. The longest I've ever been in one career was 10 years. It's a different era entirely.
He might have been inspired by reading the PB posts of Isam, William Glenn, Taz, Moon Rabbit and others.
It's PB wot won it.
Rishi does at least have nothing to lose, Starmer however is such an overwhelming favourite the pressure is on him.
It could be another 2017 or 1992 if Rishi really does a Major 1992 soapbox on the campaign and Starmer is no Blair or even Corbyn in terms of charismatic oratory and being able to inspire his supporters (indeed in that respect Starmer is the Labour Theresa May, odds on favourite by far and huge poll lead heading into the campaign but not a natural campaigner despite being serious and intelligent).
I still expect Labour to win but I think the campaign will narrow the gap
Sunak is also no John Major. The soapbox worked because he had the common touch and the ability to work a crowd. Can you imagine Sunak let loose among ordinary people?
I can actually.
Given his diminutive size, Sunak is a master at the sport of limbo.
He's managed to limbo his way to getting opinion polls worse than Liz Truss achieved.
After an election campaign of Sunak let loose among ordinary people he might manage to limbo to below the 8.8% for the Tories that May achieved in 2019.
No his poll ratings are still better than the final Tory ratings under Truss
Check your figures.
Most recent opinion poll on Wiki is Deltapoll, with the Tories on 24%
Their final poll under Truss had the Tories on 25%
Labour had a 26% lead in the final Deltapoll under Truss, it now has Labour only 20% ahead.
The Tory share is lower under Sunak than Truss with at least some pollsters.
I have heard rumblings, and taken representations, that TRUSS could stage an electrifying return. It would make sense, if your numbers are correct. No doubt other PBers will agree.
Tories so desperate to get any flight to Rwanda before elections that they just paid one person to volunteer.
An extortionate pre-election gimmick costing UK taxpayers half a billion pounds. Should be putting that money into boosting our border security
Lol from the party with no answers.
Labour are terrified Rwanda might just work.
She literally tells you what she plans to do with the money in that very tweet.
There's none so blind as those that will not see.
How will boosting border security stop the boats? Unless they are prepared to tow back to France, or sink them?
I posted a response to a similar challenge this morning:
Labour's plan is quite clear, it is to cooperate with our neighbours, take a quota of asylum seekers in exchange for being able to return people who cross the Channel, spend more on asylum caseworkers to help clear the c.200k backlog of those awaiting an initial decision on their application.
I'd like to see them go further: e.g. allow/make asylum-seekers work to pay for their keep, encourage illegal immigrants to shop employers in return for a route to citizenship, introduce ID cards, tighten up legal immigration which of course swamps illegal by some margin. These and similar would fuel a right-wing media frenzy so I can't blame Labour for keeping them off the agenda at present.
Labour has a plan but you'd rather see this end-of-life Tory shambles spaff money up the wall on a scheme that is as unworkable as it is cruel. Half a £bn is it so far?
@Beyond_Topline Ooft. Labour candidate 14 pts ahead in the North Yorkshire race, apparently - 41% to 27%
This area voted Conservative by 30 pts at the last General election (55%-25% ish).
I think the most useful mayoral races will be the ones like this where there are no incumbents. Mayor's seem to benefit whatever their party if incumbent.
Tories so desperate to get any flight to Rwanda before elections that they just paid one person to volunteer.
An extortionate pre-election gimmick costing UK taxpayers half a billion pounds. Should be putting that money into boosting our border security
Lol from the party with no answers.
Labour are terrified Rwanda might just work.
She literally tells you what she plans to do with the money in that very tweet.
Yes the “no answers, no plan” stock line from Central Office is verging on the realms of farcical. I swear I heard some Tory quarterwit accuse Louise Haigh of having “no plan” the other day, when she was announcing an entire package of rail nationalisation.
Now, you might disagree with her plan, fair enough, you might think it flawed, you are entitled to that opinion. But a plan there is. If you don’t like the bloody plan, why not just say so rather than questioning its existence? Duh!
He might have been inspired by reading the PB posts of Isam, William Glenn, Taz, Moon Rabbit and others.
It's PB wot won it.
Rishi does at least have nothing to lose, Starmer however is such an overwhelming favourite the pressure is on him.
It could be another 2017 or 1992 if Rishi really does a Major 1992 soapbox on the campaign and Starmer is no Blair or even Corbyn in terms of charismatic oratory and being able to inspire his supporters (indeed in that respect Starmer is the Labour Theresa May, odds on favourite by far and huge poll lead heading into the campaign but not a natural campaigner despite being serious and intelligent).
I still expect Labour to win but I think the campaign will narrow the gap
Sunak is also no John Major. The soapbox worked because he had the common touch and the ability to work a crowd. Can you imagine Sunak let loose among ordinary people?
By 1992, Major has been doing the soapbox thing for... 30 years or so? You pick up the knack after a while.
We go into the GE this year with the two most likely Prime Ministers having been in parliament for less than 20 years combined.
2019 - 47 years 2017 - 54 years 2015 - 25 years 2010 - 36 years 2005 - 44 years 2001 - 30 years 1997 - 32 years 1992 - 35 years 1987 - 45 years 1983 - 57 years 1979 - 54 years
Different eras entirely.
That's interesting. My first thought was: blimey, imagine having to do a job or work at the same place for 27 years before you get to the top! But people used to do that. That was what the world used to be like. The longest I have ever stayed in one place was 7 years. The longest I've ever been in one career was 10 years. It's a different era entirely.
I'd say that was why, whilst we have had plenty of PMs in their 40s before, there's definitely been a trend toward younger PMs in recent decades compared to the rest of the 20th century, except that even then the combined top two experience remained high.
I suspect his vote will mainly come from Muslim voters but we shall see
He’s a Sikh, is there much evidence of cross voting between Sikhs and Muslims?
I thought that, but I suppose it could still be argued that the majority of Workers Party voters would be Muslim, given Galloway’s agenda. There’s a lot of Sikhs in Southwell, but would they necessarily vote for the workers Party?
Assume you mean Southall?
The psephologist David Butler used to pronounce Southall as "Suth-all" on election night shows in the 1970s. I'm not sure how many other people pronounced it like that back then.
@Beyond_Topline Ooft. Labour candidate 14 pts ahead in the North Yorkshire race, apparently - 41% to 27%
This area voted Conservative by 30 pts at the last General election (55%-25% ish).
I think the most useful mayoral races will be the ones like this where there are no incumbents. Mayor's seem to benefit whatever their party if incumbent.
It’s an interesting point. I think the metro mayors - of all parties - have been, by and large, pretty good. There haven’t been any calamities (Houchen TBC) and actually most have been reasonable figureheads for their cities. Khan gets slagged off on here, but he’s competent without ever being inspiring, and has a decent cv. I’m led to believe that Street in Birmingham is similar.
Tories so desperate to get any flight to Rwanda before elections that they just paid one person to volunteer.
An extortionate pre-election gimmick costing UK taxpayers half a billion pounds. Should be putting that money into boosting our border security
Lol from the party with no answers.
Labour are terrified Rwanda might just work.
Apart from the list of answers they keep giving every time they’re asked, you mean?
Answers you may disagree with because they’re not “robust” enough for you but which are nonetheless answers. Just different ones.
They have a campaign slogan "we will do it better", "we will spend more", "we will boost this and that", "we will be more international" but it's just words.
Tories so desperate to get any flight to Rwanda before elections that they just paid one person to volunteer.
An extortionate pre-election gimmick costing UK taxpayers half a billion pounds. Should be putting that money into boosting our border security
Lol from the party with no answers.
Labour are terrified Rwanda might just work.
She literally tells you what she plans to do with the money in that very tweet.
There's none so blind as those that will not see.
How will boosting border security stop the boats? Unless they are prepared to tow back to France, or sink them?
I posted a response to a similar challenge this morning:
Labour's plan is quite clear, it is to cooperate with our neighbours, take a quota of asylum seekers in exchange for being able to return people who cross the Channel, spend more on asylum caseworkers to help clear the c.200k backlog of those awaiting an initial decision on their application.
I'd like to see them go further: e.g. allow/make asylum-seekers work to pay for their keep, encourage illegal immigrants to shop employers in return for a route to citizenship, introduce ID cards, tighten up legal immigration which of course swamps illegal by some margin. These and similar would fuel a right-wing media frenzy so I can't blame Labour for keeping them off the agenda at present.
Labour has a plan but you'd rather see this end-of-life Tory shambles spaff money up the wall on a scheme that is as unworkable as it is cruel. Half a £bn is it so far?
Rather depends on France agreeing though, surely. It’s pretty clear that the French would rather they cross to England.
Plastic-eating bacteria can help waste self-destruct
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-68927816 … By incorporating spores of plastic-eating bacteria they've developed a plastic that can self-destruct. The spores remain dormant during the useful lifetime of the plastic, but spring back to life and start to digest the product when exposed to nutrients in compost.
There's hope "we can mitigate plastic pollution in nature", said researcher Han Sol Kim, of the University of California San Diego, La Jolla.
And there might be an added advantage in that the spores increase the toughness of the plastic. "Our process makes the materials more rugged, so it extends its useful lifetime," said co-researcher, Jon Pokorski. "And then, when it's done, we're able to eliminate it from the environment, regardless of how it's disposed." The plastic is currently being worked on at the laboratory bench but could be in the real world within a few years, with the help of a manufacturer, he added. The type of bacteria added to the plastic is Bacillus subtilis, widely used as a food additive and a probiotic. Crucially, the bacteria has to be genetically engineered to be able to withstand the very high temperatures needed to make plastic…
"Why did they all die, N'glurgh?" "They genetically engineered a bacterium to survive very high temperatures, D'ingk. They passed thru their primitive autoclaves into every operating room. It took less than a year..."
Civil lawyer Hugh Flemington, witness at the Post Office inquiry, says he isn't aware of what the criminal standard of proof is, and had to rely on Jarnail Singh, the criminal lawyer, to advise him on such matters.
@Beyond_Topline Ooft. Labour candidate 14 pts ahead in the North Yorkshire race, apparently - 41% to 27%
This area voted Conservative by 30 pts at the last General election (55%-25% ish).
I think the most useful mayoral races will be the ones like this where there are no incumbents. Mayor's seem to benefit whatever their party if incumbent.
It’s an interesting point. I think the metro mayors - of all parties - have been, by and large, pretty good. There haven’t been any calamities (Houchen TBC) and actually most have been reasonable figureheads for their cities. Khan gets slagged off on here, but he’s competent without ever being inspiring, and has a decent cv. I’m led to believe that Street in Birmingham is similar.
The Bristol Mayor has seen his mayoralty abolished by referendum, but I don't know whether his personal performance played any role in that outcome or just general apathy towards such posts in many areas - I think Bristol were the only area that (narrowly) voted to have a mayor when referendums were held in 10 cities in 2012 (a bit embarrassing to the government as I recall), though the government then brought in a bunch regardless.
I suspect his vote will mainly come from Muslim voters but we shall see
He’s a Sikh, is there much evidence of cross voting between Sikhs and Muslims?
I thought that, but I suppose it could still be argued that the majority of Workers Party voters would be Muslim, given Galloway’s agenda. There’s a lot of Sikhs in Southwell, but would they necessarily vote for the workers Party?
Assume you mean Southall?
The psephologist David Butler used to pronounce Southall as "Suth-all" on election night shows in the 1970s. I'm not sure how many other people pronounced it like that back then.
Whereas Southwell in Nottinghamshire is pronounced Suth-ul. I wonder if he simply got mixed up?
Tories so desperate to get any flight to Rwanda before elections that they just paid one person to volunteer.
An extortionate pre-election gimmick costing UK taxpayers half a billion pounds. Should be putting that money into boosting our border security
Lol from the party with no answers.
Labour are terrified Rwanda might just work.
She literally tells you what she plans to do with the money in that very tweet.
There's none so blind as those that will not see.
How will boosting border security stop the boats? Unless they are prepared to tow back to France, or sink them?
It's just rhetoric.
They have no answers.
The mistake, of everyone, is to think there is one Silver Bullet.
There isn't
There are lots of difference measures, which if implemented together, will have a meaningful impact on crossings.
You need:
- Better border security - Agreements with neighbours to help prevent people making the crossing - Agreements with countries to return people - Off-shore processing facilities - A severe clampdown on illegal working - Much faster processing of applications
But you can't just do one thing and expect it to have a massive effect. These people are economically rational, and you need to make it so the costs of refusal are high, that decisions are reached quickly, and that there is no black economy to disappear into.
Tories so desperate to get any flight to Rwanda before elections that they just paid one person to volunteer.
An extortionate pre-election gimmick costing UK taxpayers half a billion pounds. Should be putting that money into boosting our border security
Lol from the party with no answers.
Labour are terrified Rwanda might just work.
She literally tells you what she plans to do with the money in that very tweet.
There's none so blind as those that will not see.
How will boosting border security stop the boats? Unless they are prepared to tow back to France, or sink them?
I posted a response to a similar challenge this morning:
Labour's plan is quite clear, it is to cooperate with our neighbours, take a quota of asylum seekers in exchange for being able to return people who cross the Channel, spend more on asylum caseworkers to help clear the c.200k backlog of those awaiting an initial decision on their application.
I'd like to see them go further: e.g. allow/make asylum-seekers work to pay for their keep, encourage illegal immigrants to shop employers in return for a route to citizenship, introduce ID cards, tighten up legal immigration which of course swamps illegal by some margin. These and similar would fuel a right-wing media frenzy so I can't blame Labour for keeping them off the agenda at present.
Labour has a plan but you'd rather see this end-of-life Tory shambles spaff money up the wall on a scheme that is as unworkable as it is cruel. Half a £bn is it so far?
You did, and it wasn't convincing then either.
Sunak is already investing to speed up and clear the asylum backlog and saying you'd cooperate more with neighbours is meaningless unless you say how. Taking a quota in exchange for a returns deal is the only bit of it that's worthy of serious consideration, but that's hardly stopping the boats and might just be pushing the food around the plate. He needs a policy to tackle the demand at source.
And the second part is all your ideas, and not theirs.
@Beyond_Topline Ooft. Labour candidate 14 pts ahead in the North Yorkshire race, apparently - 41% to 27%
This area voted Conservative by 30 pts at the last General election (55%-25% ish).
I think the most useful mayoral races will be the ones like this where there are no incumbents. Mayor's seem to benefit whatever their party if incumbent.
It’s an interesting point. I think the metro mayors - of all parties - have been, by and large, pretty good. There haven’t been any calamities (Houchen TBC) and actually most have been reasonable figureheads for their cities. Khan gets slagged off on here, but he’s competent without ever being inspiring, and has a decent cv. I’m led to believe that Street in Birmingham is similar.
Being able to feature in the local press week in, week out is a huge advantage. Its very difficult for an opponent to get anything like the same publicity.
He might have been inspired by reading the PB posts of Isam, William Glenn, Taz, Moon Rabbit and others.
It's PB wot won it.
Rishi does at least have nothing to lose, Starmer however is such an overwhelming favourite the pressure is on him.
It could be another 2017 or 1992 if Rishi really does a Major 1992 soapbox on the campaign and Starmer is no Blair or even Corbyn in terms of charismatic oratory and being able to inspire his supporters (indeed in that respect Starmer is the Labour Theresa May, odds on favourite by far and huge poll lead heading into the campaign but not a natural campaigner despite being serious and intelligent).
I still expect Labour to win but I think the campaign will narrow the gap
Sunak is also no John Major. The soapbox worked because he had the common touch and the ability to work a crowd. Can you imagine Sunak let loose among ordinary people?
I'm sure he'd have no problem getting out there and shaking the hands of regular people.
So long as he could wipe his hands afterwards.
To be fair I get that impression about a lot of famous champions of the working class in history as well.
What's all this guff about the soapbox, the right wing media did a hatchet job on the Labour leader, that was the reason Major won. The papers almost certainly don't have the power that they had in 92, but they will still go to town on Starmer, I'm sure that will narrow the polls.
More Major was not Thatcher nor Kinnock won it for him in 1992 but the Tories could only stretch the elastic that far as 1997 showed
That's one of your super astute @HYUFD posts. Major won by being a Tory who was definitely not Thatcher. Something her younger hagiographers don't appreciate.
He might have been inspired by reading the PB posts of Isam, William Glenn, Taz, Moon Rabbit and others.
It's PB wot won it.
Rishi does at least have nothing to lose, Starmer however is such an overwhelming favourite the pressure is on him.
It could be another 2017 or 1992 if Rishi really does a Major 1992 soapbox on the campaign and Starmer is no Blair or even Corbyn in terms of charismatic oratory and being able to inspire his supporters (indeed in that respect Starmer is the Labour Theresa May, odds on favourite by far and huge poll lead heading into the campaign but not a natural campaigner despite being serious and intelligent).
I still expect Labour to win but I think the campaign will narrow the gap
Sunak is also no John Major. The soapbox worked because he had the common touch and the ability to work a crowd. Can you imagine Sunak let loose among ordinary people?
I can actually.
Given his diminutive size, Sunak is a master at the sport of limbo.
He's managed to limbo his way to getting opinion polls worse than Liz Truss achieved.
After an election campaign of Sunak let loose among ordinary people he might manage to limbo to below the 8.8% for the Tories that May achieved in 2019.
No his poll ratings are still better than the final Tory ratings under Truss
I don't think Sunak can save this, not even close, but it's still possible he can do a Dunkirk and get most of his troops off the beach to fight another day, as opposed to be annihilated.
Tories so desperate to get any flight to Rwanda before elections that they just paid one person to volunteer.
An extortionate pre-election gimmick costing UK taxpayers half a billion pounds. Should be putting that money into boosting our border security
Lol from the party with no answers.
Labour are terrified Rwanda might just work.
She literally tells you what she plans to do with the money in that very tweet.
There's none so blind as those that will not see.
How will boosting border security stop the boats? Unless they are prepared to tow back to France, or sink them?
It's just rhetoric.
They have no answers.
The mistake, of everyone, is to think there is one Silver Bullet.
There isn't
There are lots of difference measures, which if implemented together, will have a meaningful impact on crossings.
You need:
- Better border security - Agreements with neighbours to help prevent people making the crossing - Agreements with countries to return people - Off-shore processing facilities - A severe clampdown on illegal working - Much faster processing of applications
But you can't just do one thing and expect it to have a massive effect. These people are economically rational, and you need to make it so the costs of refusal are high, that decisions are reached quickly, and that there is no black economy to disappear into.
I suspect his vote will mainly come from Muslim voters but we shall see
He’s a Sikh, is there much evidence of cross voting between Sikhs and Muslims?
I thought that, but I suppose it could still be argued that the majority of Workers Party voters would be Muslim, given Galloway’s agenda. There’s a lot of Sikhs in Southwell, but would they necessarily vote for the workers Party?
I don't know the answer, but I wouldn't call the WP policies especially Muslim in flavour. They include
* referendum on Net Zero * referendum on NATO membership * 0% income tax up to £21K * stonking IHT on estates of >£10M * one secular Palestinian state
Tories so desperate to get any flight to Rwanda before elections that they just paid one person to volunteer.
An extortionate pre-election gimmick costing UK taxpayers half a billion pounds. Should be putting that money into boosting our border security
Lol from the party with no answers.
Labour are terrified Rwanda might just work.
She literally tells you what she plans to do with the money in that very tweet.
There's none so blind as those that will not see.
How will boosting border security stop the boats? Unless they are prepared to tow back to France, or sink them?
I posted a response to a similar challenge this morning:
Labour's plan is quite clear, it is to cooperate with our neighbours, take a quota of asylum seekers in exchange for being able to return people who cross the Channel, spend more on asylum caseworkers to help clear the c.200k backlog of those awaiting an initial decision on their application.
I'd like to see them go further: e.g. allow/make asylum-seekers work to pay for their keep, encourage illegal immigrants to shop employers in return for a route to citizenship, introduce ID cards, tighten up legal immigration which of course swamps illegal by some margin. These and similar would fuel a right-wing media frenzy so I can't blame Labour for keeping them off the agenda at present.
Labour has a plan but you'd rather see this end-of-life Tory shambles spaff money up the wall on a scheme that is as unworkable as it is cruel. Half a £bn is it so far?
Rather depends on France agreeing though, surely. It’s pretty clear that the French would rather they cross to England.
Prediction: SKS will agree to take a quota of asylum seekers from France, who in turn will only accept a tiny handful of returnees back.
@Beyond_Topline Ooft. Labour candidate 14 pts ahead in the North Yorkshire race, apparently - 41% to 27%
This area voted Conservative by 30 pts at the last General election (55%-25% ish).
I think the most useful mayoral races will be the ones like this where there are no incumbents. Mayor's seem to benefit whatever their party if incumbent.
It’s an interesting point. I think the metro mayors - of all parties - have been, by and large, pretty good. There haven’t been any calamities (Houchen TBC) and actually most have been reasonable figureheads for their cities. Khan gets slagged off on here, but he’s competent without ever being inspiring, and has a decent cv. I’m led to believe that Street in Birmingham is similar.
The Bristol Mayor has seen his mayoralty abolished by referendum, but I don't know whether his personal performance played any role in that outcome or just general apathy towards such posts in many areas - I think Bristol were the only area that (narrowly) voted to have a mayor when referendums were held in 10 cities in 2012 (a bit embarrassing to the government as I recall), though the government then brought in a bunch regardless.
Was the Bristol mayor a metro mayor though? I’m talking about those specifically. The borough mayors are a pointless exercise, and should be abolished. The metro mayoralties are a great idea and their powers should be enhanced - and the mayoralties named after the main city: Greater Birmingham, Greater Nottingham etc etc.
He might have been inspired by reading the PB posts of Isam, William Glenn, Taz, Moon Rabbit and others.
It's PB wot won it.
Rishi does at least have nothing to lose, Starmer however is such an overwhelming favourite the pressure is on him.
It could be another 2017 or 1992 if Rishi really does a Major 1992 soapbox on the campaign and Starmer is no Blair or even Corbyn in terms of charismatic oratory and being able to inspire his supporters (indeed in that respect Starmer is the Labour Theresa May, odds on favourite by far and huge poll lead heading into the campaign but not a natural campaigner despite being serious and intelligent).
I still expect Labour to win but I think the campaign will narrow the gap
Sunak is also no John Major. The soapbox worked because he had the common touch and the ability to work a crowd. Can you imagine Sunak let loose among ordinary people?
I can actually.
Given his diminutive size, Sunak is a master at the sport of limbo.
He's managed to limbo his way to getting opinion polls worse than Liz Truss achieved.
After an election campaign of Sunak let loose among ordinary people he might manage to limbo to below the 8.8% for the Tories that May achieved in 2019.
No his poll ratings are still better than the final Tory ratings under Truss
I don't think Sunak can save this, not even close, but it's still possible he can do a Dunkirk and get most of his troops off the beach to fight another day, as opposed to be annihilated.
An extinction event for the Conservatives was always an absolute crock. I don't believe the current polling. This will be borne out across the country on Friday morning.
He might have been inspired by reading the PB posts of Isam, William Glenn, Taz, Moon Rabbit and others.
It's PB wot won it.
Rishi does at least have nothing to lose, Starmer however is such an overwhelming favourite the pressure is on him.
It could be another 2017 or 1992 if Rishi really does a Major 1992 soapbox on the campaign and Starmer is no Blair or even Corbyn in terms of charismatic oratory and being able to inspire his supporters (indeed in that respect Starmer is the Labour Theresa May, odds on favourite by far and huge poll lead heading into the campaign but not a natural campaigner despite being serious and intelligent).
I still expect Labour to win but I think the campaign will narrow the gap
Sunak is also no John Major. The soapbox worked because he had the common touch and the ability to work a crowd. Can you imagine Sunak let loose among ordinary people?
By 1992, Major has been doing the soapbox thing for... 30 years or so? You pick up the knack after a while.
We go into the GE this year with the two most likely Prime Ministers having been in parliament for less than 20 years combined.
2019 - 47 years 2017 - 54 years 2015 - 25 years 2010 - 36 years 2005 - 44 years 2001 - 30 years 1997 - 32 years 1992 - 35 years 1987 - 45 years 1983 - 57 years 1979 - 54 years
I suspect his vote will mainly come from Muslim voters but we shall see
He’s a Sikh, is there much evidence of cross voting between Sikhs and Muslims?
I thought that, but I suppose it could still be argued that the majority of Workers Party voters would be Muslim, given Galloway’s agenda. There’s a lot of Sikhs in Southwell, but would they necessarily vote for the workers Party?
Assume you mean Southall?
No I went off piste and was anecdotally recalling the time I went to Southwell racecourse and saw a minibus full of turbaned men in the car park
@Beyond_Topline Ooft. Labour candidate 14 pts ahead in the North Yorkshire race, apparently - 41% to 27%
This area voted Conservative by 30 pts at the last General election (55%-25% ish).
I think the most useful mayoral races will be the ones like this where there are no incumbents. Mayor's seem to benefit whatever their party if incumbent.
It’s an interesting point. I think the metro mayors - of all parties - have been, by and large, pretty good. There haven’t been any calamities (Houchen TBC) and actually most have been reasonable figureheads for their cities. Khan gets slagged off on here, but he’s competent without ever being inspiring, and has a decent cv. I’m led to believe that Street in Birmingham is similar.
The Bristol Mayor has seen his mayoralty abolished by referendum, but I don't know whether his personal performance played any role in that outcome or just general apathy towards such posts in many areas - I think Bristol were the only area that (narrowly) voted to have a mayor when referendums were held in 10 cities in 2012 (a bit embarrassing to the government as I recall), though the government then brought in a bunch regardless.
Sir Peter Soulsby in Leicester fell out with a group of Labour councillors when they tried the same.
Tories so desperate to get any flight to Rwanda before elections that they just paid one person to volunteer.
An extortionate pre-election gimmick costing UK taxpayers half a billion pounds. Should be putting that money into boosting our border security
Lol from the party with no answers.
Labour are terrified Rwanda might just work.
She literally tells you what she plans to do with the money in that very tweet.
There's none so blind as those that will not see.
How will boosting border security stop the boats? Unless they are prepared to tow back to France, or sink them?
I posted a response to a similar challenge this morning:
Labour's plan is quite clear, it is to cooperate with our neighbours, take a quota of asylum seekers in exchange for being able to return people who cross the Channel, spend more on asylum caseworkers to help clear the c.200k backlog of those awaiting an initial decision on their application.
I'd like to see them go further: e.g. allow/make asylum-seekers work to pay for their keep, encourage illegal immigrants to shop employers in return for a route to citizenship, introduce ID cards, tighten up legal immigration which of course swamps illegal by some margin. These and similar would fuel a right-wing media frenzy so I can't blame Labour for keeping them off the agenda at present.
Labour has a plan but you'd rather see this end-of-life Tory shambles spaff money up the wall on a scheme that is as unworkable as it is cruel. Half a £bn is it so far?
Rather depends on France agreeing though, surely. It’s pretty clear that the French would rather they cross to England.
Prediction: SKS will agree to take a quota of asylum seekers from France, who in turn will only accept a tiny handful of returnees back.
And the boats will continue.
Or France will just say no to the whole scheme. I wonder if Labour have checked with them...
@lizziedearden The difference is that with the previous country of origin schemes people just get £3,000 and travel paid for
With Rwanda, it's not people's country of origin so people get that plus same 5-year package of financial support, accommodation and more as given to forced deportees
The plan to "stop the boats" is to offer people who cross the channel £3,000 and 5 years financial support, accommodation and more.
Fucking genius!
If they don’t fancy Rwanda I suppose they won’t come over though.
For what it's worth, I think Labour will have a (relatively) disappointing set of results on Thursday, and the Tories will breathe a huge sigh of relief and go forward with a bit more optimism.
Then, when the GE comes, the Tories will get trounced as all the under-50s who don't bother coming out to vote in local or mayoral elections turn out and do their duty in putting the government out of their misery.
@Beyond_Topline Ooft. Labour candidate 14 pts ahead in the North Yorkshire race, apparently - 41% to 27%
This area voted Conservative by 30 pts at the last General election (55%-25% ish).
I think the most useful mayoral races will be the ones like this where there are no incumbents. Mayor's seem to benefit whatever their party if incumbent.
It’s an interesting point. I think the metro mayors - of all parties - have been, by and large, pretty good. There haven’t been any calamities (Houchen TBC) and actually most have been reasonable figureheads for their cities. Khan gets slagged off on here, but he’s competent without ever being inspiring, and has a decent cv. I’m led to believe that Street in Birmingham is similar.
The Bristol Mayor has seen his mayoralty abolished by referendum, but I don't know whether his personal performance played any role in that outcome or just general apathy towards such posts in many areas - I think Bristol were the only area that (narrowly) voted to have a mayor when referendums were held in 10 cities in 2012 (a bit embarrassing to the government as I recall), though the government then brought in a bunch regardless.
Sir Peter Soulsby in Leicester fell out with a group of Labour councillors when they tried the same.
Nether were under serious threat otherwise.
Nor is he a metro mayor as far as I understand it. Isn’t he just a bog standard single-borough mayor? My post was specifically about the big city metro mayors.
@Beyond_Topline Ooft. Labour candidate 14 pts ahead in the North Yorkshire race, apparently - 41% to 27%
This area voted Conservative by 30 pts at the last General election (55%-25% ish).
I think the most useful mayoral races will be the ones like this where there are no incumbents. Mayor's seem to benefit whatever their party if incumbent.
It’s an interesting point. I think the metro mayors - of all parties - have been, by and large, pretty good. There haven’t been any calamities (Houchen TBC) and actually most have been reasonable figureheads for their cities. Khan gets slagged off on here, but he’s competent without ever being inspiring, and has a decent cv. I’m led to believe that Street in Birmingham is similar.
The Bristol Mayor has seen his mayoralty abolished by referendum, but I don't know whether his personal performance played any role in that outcome or just general apathy towards such posts in many areas - I think Bristol were the only area that (narrowly) voted to have a mayor when referendums were held in 10 cities in 2012 (a bit embarrassing to the government as I recall), though the government then brought in a bunch regardless.
Was the Bristol mayor a metro mayor though? I’m talking about those specifically. The borough mayors are a pointless exercise, and should be abolished. The metro mayoralties are a great idea and their powers should be enhanced - and the mayoralties named after the main city: Greater Birmingham, Greater Nottingham etc etc.
Ah yes. Well, Bristol at one point had three mayors - the Lord Mayor ceremonial position, the City 'Executive' Mayor, and the West of England Combined Authority Mayor, which includes BaNES and South Gloucestershire. Turns out the latter is some Labour chap I've never heard of.
I imagine they'd moan about calling it Greater Bristol, though it is what it is (I think others they wanted included did not agree to going in, which is part of the issue with these inconsistent devolution arrangements).
@Beyond_Topline Ooft. Labour candidate 14 pts ahead in the North Yorkshire race, apparently - 41% to 27%
This area voted Conservative by 30 pts at the last General election (55%-25% ish).
I think the most useful mayoral races will be the ones like this where there are no incumbents. Mayor's seem to benefit whatever their party if incumbent.
It’s an interesting point. I think the metro mayors - of all parties - have been, by and large, pretty good. There haven’t been any calamities (Houchen TBC) and actually most have been reasonable figureheads for their cities. Khan gets slagged off on here, but he’s competent without ever being inspiring, and has a decent cv. I’m led to believe that Street in Birmingham is similar.
The Bristol Mayor has seen his mayoralty abolished by referendum, but I don't know whether his personal performance played any role in that outcome or just general apathy towards such posts in many areas - I think Bristol were the only area that (narrowly) voted to have a mayor when referendums were held in 10 cities in 2012 (a bit embarrassing to the government as I recall), though the government then brought in a bunch regardless.
Was the Bristol mayor a metro mayor though? I’m talking about those specifically. The borough mayors are a pointless exercise, and should be abolished. The metro mayoralties are a great idea and their powers should be enhanced - and the mayoralties named after the main city: Greater Birmingham, Greater Nottingham etc etc.
Ah yes. Well, Bristol at one point had three mayors - the Lord Mayor ceremonial position, the City 'Executive' Mayor, and the West of England Combined Authority Mayor, which includes BaNES and South Gloucestershire. Turns out the latter is some Labour chap I've never heard of.
I imagine they'd moan about calling it Greater Bristol, though it is what it is (I think others they wanted included did not agree to going in, which is part of the issue with these inconsistent devolution arrangements).
@Beyond_Topline Ooft. Labour candidate 14 pts ahead in the North Yorkshire race, apparently - 41% to 27%
This area voted Conservative by 30 pts at the last General election (55%-25% ish).
I think the most useful mayoral races will be the ones like this where there are no incumbents. Mayor's seem to benefit whatever their party if incumbent.
It’s an interesting point. I think the metro mayors - of all parties - have been, by and large, pretty good. There haven’t been any calamities (Houchen TBC) and actually most have been reasonable figureheads for their cities. Khan gets slagged off on here, but he’s competent without ever being inspiring, and has a decent cv. I’m led to believe that Street in Birmingham is similar.
The Bristol Mayor has seen his mayoralty abolished by referendum, but I don't know whether his personal performance played any role in that outcome or just general apathy towards such posts in many areas - I think Bristol were the only area that (narrowly) voted to have a mayor when referendums were held in 10 cities in 2012 (a bit embarrassing to the government as I recall), though the government then brought in a bunch regardless.
Was the Bristol mayor a metro mayor though? I’m talking about those specifically. The borough mayors are a pointless exercise, and should be abolished. The metro mayoralties are a great idea and their powers should be enhanced - and the mayoralties named after the main city: Greater Birmingham, Greater Nottingham etc etc.
Ah yes. Well, Bristol at one point had three mayors - the Lord Mayor ceremonial position, the City 'Executive' Mayor, and the West of England Combined Authority Mayor, which includes BaNES and South Gloucestershire. Turns out the latter is some Labour chap I've never heard of.
I imagine they'd moan about calling it Greater Bristol, though it is what it is (I think others they wanted included did not agree to going in, which is part of the issue with these inconsistent devolution arrangements).
@Beyond_Topline Ooft. Labour candidate 14 pts ahead in the North Yorkshire race, apparently - 41% to 27%
This area voted Conservative by 30 pts at the last General election (55%-25% ish).
I think the most useful mayoral races will be the ones like this where there are no incumbents. Mayor's seem to benefit whatever their party if incumbent.
It’s an interesting point. I think the metro mayors - of all parties - have been, by and large, pretty good. There haven’t been any calamities (Houchen TBC) and actually most have been reasonable figureheads for their cities. Khan gets slagged off on here, but he’s competent without ever being inspiring, and has a decent cv. I’m led to believe that Street in Birmingham is similar.
The Bristol Mayor has seen his mayoralty abolished by referendum, but I don't know whether his personal performance played any role in that outcome or just general apathy towards such posts in many areas - I think Bristol were the only area that (narrowly) voted to have a mayor when referendums were held in 10 cities in 2012 (a bit embarrassing to the government as I recall), though the government then brought in a bunch regardless.
Was the Bristol mayor a metro mayor though? I’m talking about those specifically. The borough mayors are a pointless exercise, and should be abolished. The metro mayoralties are a great idea and their powers should be enhanced - and the mayoralties named after the main city: Greater Birmingham, Greater Nottingham etc etc.
Ah yes. Well, Bristol at one point had three mayors - the Lord Mayor ceremonial position, the City 'Executive' Mayor, and the West of England Combined Authority Mayor, which includes BaNES and South Gloucestershire. Turns out the latter is some Labour chap I've never heard of.
I imagine they'd moan about calling it Greater Bristol, though it is what it is (I think others they wanted included did not agree to going in, which is part of the issue with these inconsistent devolution arrangements).
@Beyond_Topline Ooft. Labour candidate 14 pts ahead in the North Yorkshire race, apparently - 41% to 27%
This area voted Conservative by 30 pts at the last General election (55%-25% ish).
I think the most useful mayoral races will be the ones like this where there are no incumbents. Mayor's seem to benefit whatever their party if incumbent.
It’s an interesting point. I think the metro mayors - of all parties - have been, by and large, pretty good. There haven’t been any calamities (Houchen TBC) and actually most have been reasonable figureheads for their cities. Khan gets slagged off on here, but he’s competent without ever being inspiring, and has a decent cv. I’m led to believe that Street in Birmingham is similar.
The Bristol Mayor has seen his mayoralty abolished by referendum, but I don't know whether his personal performance played any role in that outcome or just general apathy towards such posts in many areas - I think Bristol were the only area that (narrowly) voted to have a mayor when referendums were held in 10 cities in 2012 (a bit embarrassing to the government as I recall), though the government then brought in a bunch regardless.
Was the Bristol mayor a metro mayor though? I’m talking about those specifically. The borough mayors are a pointless exercise, and should be abolished. The metro mayoralties are a great idea and their powers should be enhanced - and the mayoralties named after the main city: Greater Birmingham, Greater Nottingham etc etc.
Ah yes. Well, Bristol at one point had three mayors - the Lord Mayor ceremonial position, the City 'Executive' Mayor, and the West of England Combined Authority Mayor, which includes BaNES and South Gloucestershire. Turns out the latter is some Labour chap I've never heard of.
I imagine they'd moan about calling it Greater Bristol, though it is what it is (I think others they wanted included did not agree to going in, which is part of the issue with these inconsistent devolution arrangements).
They should be forced to call all of them after the main big city: Greater Bristol, Greater Newcastle, Greater Leeds, Greater Nottingham etc.
The fact that the Manchester and London metro mayoralties are the only ones actually named for the city is bizarre.
There is a growing trend of shitty generic parliamentary names as well. You have ones historically named after the main settlement for example, and when new ones are created you get a big moan from people about their name not being included, and because it's easier to concede on such a point the BCE ends with a bunch of boring ones like Wiltshire South West.
I'm not sure we want every seat to have super long names like in Scotland ('Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey' anyone?), but seats named for their largest or a couple of the largest settlements are more interesting and more informative, since people referencing an area will refer to the major settlements or other features.
@Beyond_Topline Ooft. Labour candidate 14 pts ahead in the North Yorkshire race, apparently - 41% to 27%
This area voted Conservative by 30 pts at the last General election (55%-25% ish).
One of those "sounds stupid, but..." races.
From Andrew Teale at Britain Elects,
That means we see the abolition of the North Yorkshire police and crime commissionership, which has been in Conservative hands since its creation in 2012. In May 2021 North Yorkshire elected a new PCC, Philip Allott, who polled 47% of the votes in the first round against 26% for Labour and 15% for independent candidate Keith Tordoff. Allott was forced to resign just five months later over insensitive comments about the Sarah Everard murder; the resulting by-election in November 2021 elected the Conservatives’ Zoë Metcalf with 40% against 21% for Labour and 17% for Tordoff.
Take 2021 as the baseline, and a swing of 11 percent would do the job. A Conservative lead in the county and Labour lead in the city roughly cancel out. The other straw in the wind is the presence of Starmer and Reeves on the stump. In 2015, mapping where the leaders' battlebuses went (Dave et al to the far South West) was a decent clue as to where the real battleground was.
But whilst it probably wouldn't be surprising if it's marginal (city and shire pulling in opposite directions), it would be awks for Rishi.
Comments
2019 - 47 years
2017 - 54 years
2015 - 25 years
2010 - 36 years
2005 - 44 years
2001 - 30 years
1997 - 32 years
1992 - 35 years
1987 - 45 years
1983 - 57 years
1979 - 54 years
Different eras entirely.
Most recent opinion poll on Wiki is Deltapoll, with the Tories on 24%
Their final poll under Truss had the Tories on 25%
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-68927816
… By incorporating spores of plastic-eating bacteria they've developed a plastic that can self-destruct.
The spores remain dormant during the useful lifetime of the plastic, but spring back to life and start to digest the product when exposed to nutrients in compost.
There's hope "we can mitigate plastic pollution in nature", said researcher Han Sol Kim, of the University of California San Diego, La Jolla.
And there might be an added advantage in that the spores increase the toughness of the plastic.
"Our process makes the materials more rugged, so it extends its useful lifetime," said co-researcher, Jon Pokorski. "And then, when it's done, we're able to eliminate it from the environment, regardless of how it's disposed."
The plastic is currently being worked on at the laboratory bench but could be in the real world within a few years, with the help of a manufacturer, he added.
The type of bacteria added to the plastic is Bacillus subtilis, widely used as a food additive and a probiotic.
Crucially, the bacteria has to be genetically engineered to be able to withstand the very high temperatures needed to make plastic…
Bless thee, Bottom! Bless thee! Thou art translated.
Gold standard Survation has the Tories on 26%, under Truss they were on just 23%. Opinium has the Tories on 25% compared to 23% too under Truss
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_next_United_Kingdom_general_election
The Tory share is lower under Sunak than Truss with at least some pollsters.
Yvette Cooper
@YvetteCooperMP
Tories so desperate to get any flight to Rwanda before elections that they just paid one person to volunteer.
An extortionate pre-election gimmick costing UK taxpayers half a billion pounds. Should be putting that money into boosting our border security
Labour are terrified Rwanda might just work.
French Guyana?
Answers you may disagree with because they’re not “robust” enough for you but which are nonetheless answers. Just different ones.
@lizziedearden
The difference is that with the previous country of origin schemes people just get £3,000 and travel paid for
With Rwanda, it's not people's country of origin so people get that plus same 5-year package of financial support, accommodation and more as given to forced deportees
The plan to "stop the boats" is to offer people who cross the channel £3,000 and 5 years financial support, accommodation and more.
Fucking genius!
All you need is an agreement to fund everyone, no ifs, no buts, no exceptions.
Then you don't need to send anyone.
See Nauru.
So in summary, this is not "a Rwanda flight" or the scheme starting/taking off etc etc, and it has no link to the Safety of Rwanda Act or new treaty, which is all aimed at forcible deportations of small boat migrants whose claims the UK has refused to substantively consider
https://twitter.com/Mikiashvili_M/status/1785016323367637086
Ooft. Labour candidate 14 pts ahead in the North Yorkshire race, apparently - 41% to 27%
This area voted Conservative by 30 pts at the last General election (55%-25% ish).
Davey has been an MP for a quarter century.
(Ducks)
My first thought was: blimey, imagine having to do a job or work at the same place for 27 years before you get to the top!
But people used to do that. That was what the world used to be like. The longest I have ever stayed in one place was 7 years. The longest I've ever been in one career was 10 years. It's a different era entirely.
Labour's plan is quite clear, it is to cooperate with our neighbours, take a quota of asylum seekers in exchange for being able to return people who cross the Channel, spend more on asylum caseworkers to help clear the c.200k backlog of those awaiting an initial decision on their application.
I'd like to see them go further: e.g. allow/make asylum-seekers work to pay for their keep, encourage illegal immigrants to shop employers in return for a route to citizenship, introduce ID cards, tighten up legal immigration which of course swamps illegal by some margin. These and similar would fuel a right-wing media frenzy so I can't blame Labour for keeping them off the agenda at present.
Labour has a plan but you'd rather see this end-of-life Tory shambles spaff money up the wall on a scheme that is as unworkable as it is cruel. Half a £bn is it so far?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Monty-Panesar-Full/dp/1526754509/
📈The latest @SkyNews poll tracker puts Labour on a 21-point lead over the Conservatives, with the latter falling below 23%📉
Lab 43.8 (41-45)
Con 22.9 (19-26)
Reform 12.4 (8-14)
Lib Dems 9.4 (8-11)
Green 6.0 (3-9)
SNP 3.1 (2-4)
Now, you might disagree with her plan, fair enough, you might think it flawed, you are entitled to that opinion. But a plan there is. If you don’t like the bloody plan, why not just say so rather than questioning its
existence? Duh!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_prime_ministers_of_the_United_Kingdom_by_age
could be Sunak’s next big campaign.
They have no answers.
They don't have any answers.
"They genetically engineered a bacterium to survive very high temperatures, D'ingk. They passed thru their primitive autoclaves into every operating room. It took less than a year..."
The aliens look out on a deserted Earth...
Civil lawyer Hugh Flemington, witness at the Post Office inquiry, says he isn't aware of what the criminal standard of proof is, and had to rely on Jarnail Singh, the criminal lawyer, to advise him on such matters.
Starting at 52 mins 53 secs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjSoelirctE
https://www.postofficescandal.uk/post/what-hugh-didnt-do/
pronounced Suth-ul. I wonder if he simply got mixed up?
There isn't
There are lots of difference measures, which if implemented together, will have a meaningful impact on crossings.
You need:
- Better border security
- Agreements with neighbours to help prevent people making the crossing
- Agreements with countries to return people
- Off-shore processing facilities
- A severe clampdown on illegal working
- Much faster processing of applications
But you can't just do one thing and expect it to have a massive effect. These people are economically rational, and you need to make it so the costs of refusal are high, that decisions are reached quickly, and that there is no black economy to disappear into.
Sunak is already investing to speed up and clear the asylum backlog and saying you'd cooperate more with neighbours is meaningless unless you say how. Taking a quota in exchange for a returns deal is the only bit of it that's worthy of serious consideration, but that's hardly stopping the boats and might just be pushing the food around the plate. He needs a policy to tackle the demand at source.
And the second part is all your ideas, and not theirs.
Major won by being a Tory who was definitely not Thatcher.
Something her younger hagiographers don't appreciate.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/04/30/two-charged-causing-damage-sycamore-gap-tree/
* referendum on Net Zero
* referendum on NATO membership
* 0% income tax up to £21K
* stonking IHT on estates of >£10M
* one secular Palestinian state
And the boats will continue.
Nether were under serious threat otherwise.
Then, when the GE comes, the Tories will get trounced as all the under-50s who don't bother coming out to vote in local or mayoral elections turn out and do their duty in putting the government out of their misery.
I imagine they'd moan about calling it Greater Bristol, though it is what it is (I think others they wanted included did not agree to going in, which is part of the issue with these inconsistent devolution arrangements).
Gove came with a wheeze awhile back suggesting other areas could have elected leaders but not called mayors, such as governors. It didn't go down well even with some of the Conservative council Leaders
https://www.lgcplus.com/politics/devolution-and-economic-growth/county-leaders-hit-back-at-goves-governor-notion-as-a-recipe-for-disaster-07-01-2022/
HAVE NO ANSWERS.
JUST WORDS.
Is a laughably shite name.
They should be forced to call all of them after the main big city: Greater Bristol, Greater Newcastle, Greater Leeds, Greater Nottingham etc.
The fact that the Manchester and London metro mayoralties are the only ones actually named for the city is bizarre.
TRUSS
I'm not sure we want every seat to have super long names like in Scotland ('Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey' anyone?), but seats named for their largest or a couple of the largest settlements are more interesting and more informative, since people referencing an area will refer to the major settlements or other features.
From Andrew Teale at Britain Elects,
That means we see the abolition of the North Yorkshire police and crime commissionership, which has been in Conservative hands since its creation in 2012. In May 2021 North Yorkshire elected a new PCC, Philip Allott, who polled 47% of the votes in the first round against 26% for Labour and 15% for independent candidate Keith Tordoff. Allott was forced to resign just five months later over insensitive comments about the Sarah Everard murder; the resulting by-election in November 2021 elected the Conservatives’ Zoë Metcalf with 40% against 21% for Labour and 17% for Tordoff.
https://medium.com/britainelects/previewing-the-2nd-may-2024-local-elections-part-ii-northern-england-and-english-midlands-bad3cafc8739
Take 2021 as the baseline, and a swing of 11 percent would do the job. A Conservative lead in the county and Labour lead in the city roughly cancel out. The other straw in the wind is the presence of Starmer and Reeves on the stump. In 2015, mapping where the leaders' battlebuses went (Dave et al to the far South West) was a decent clue as to where the real battleground was.
But whilst it probably wouldn't be surprising if it's marginal (city and shire pulling in opposite directions), it would be awks for Rishi.