@lewis_goodall I cannot think of a less auspicious start to a general election campaign for any prime minister.
It reminds me of when, er, Mandelson and Brown perhaps were performing some campaign stunt only for a car to crash in front of them, prompting the obvuous question. But at least that couldn't have been mitigated against by glancing out of the window.
Between the weather on his suit and Things Can Only Get Better that was the most tragic speech I've ever seen.
It was. Desperately bad. Steve Bray should be hurled into the Channel but that was still awful
His delivery is so bad, and wooden, it's weird. Ah well, he will be gone soon enough
Like a supply teacher who's given up hope of controlling the class. Hard words without conviction.
Very good analogy! Indeed perfect
Thats exactly what he sounds like. A weak teacher defeated by an unruly class that knows it has the teacher on the run
We had one of those at my secondary school. My Polyblank. That was his name. Taught music, or, rather, tried to teach music even as the entire class ran riot every lesson, he would stand there mouthing pointless firm words which made everyone laugh
Very sad. And that is Sunak, you are bang on
We had an NQ teacher, Mr Boggis, like the characters from Discworld and Fantastic Mr Fox, who lasted less than a term. We were such utter shits to him that I occasionally google his name to see if I can find what he's up to and offer an apology. But googling Mr Boggis just gets you Discworld and Fantastic Mr Fox.
Between the weather on his suit and Things Can Only Get Better that was the most tragic speech I've ever seen.
It was. Desperately bad. Steve Bray should be hurled into the Channel but that was still awful
His delivery is so bad, and wooden, it's weird. Ah well, he will be gone soon enough
Like a supply teacher who's given up hope of controlling the class. Hard words without conviction.
Very good analogy! Indeed perfect
Thats exactly what he sounds like. A weak teacher defeated by an unruly class that knows it has the teacher on the run
We had one of those at my secondary school. My Polyblank. That was his name. Taught music, or, rather, tried to teach music even as the entire class ran riot every lesson, he would stand there mouthing pointless firm words which made everyone laugh
Very sad. And that is Sunak, you are bang on
Polyblank? Really? I always have a faint admiration for people who have gone into teaching despite having an absurd name. Is it Cornish, I wonder?
I just checked. Apparently it could be derived from Old French for "white hair"
The only place the Tories might gain seats is north-east Scotland, from the SNP.
Possible. Depends on the seat and the lead. Remember that BOTH their ships are sinking fast, so its hard to advocate voting against the Tories malfeasance, corruption and incompetence and instead for the SNP and their malfeasance, corruption and incompetence
Did I miss the bit where he says “that’s why I am calling an election for 5th July?” If he said it, my mind must have wandered, since suddenly he seemed to be talking about an election he hadn’t actually called.
My favourite part was the opening. In which the underlying assumption was that we all knew what he was talking about, having memorized the course of his star spangled career. Which we didn't. Then it turned out it was the Furlough Scheme.
I don’t know that reminding everyone about the pandemic is remotely sensible for the tories.
1939-45 was something people wanted to forget. Project Fear isn’t going to help the Conservatives this time either.
The only place the Tories might gain seats is north-east Scotland, from the SNP.
Watch Leicester East if Webbe stands as an indy. Its the only seat in England I think that may wander but very long shot. Although Kensington would be a nominal gain on new boundaries and is worth a look nearer the time
Or is this evening the evening that the Sun publishes a picture of Starmer ##### with a ##### in the #####, wearing a ##### and it was all planned ahead?
Starmer standing with a lectern in the rain wearing a suit?
Yeah, that would look pretty tragic, could be election losing
Rory Campbell (with Alistair Campbell) is doing a live podcast and says the texts he's getting from MPs and ministers are very much "We have no idea why he's doing this. Maybe he's worried about Farage coming back". They're all "Totally astonished".
The only place the Tories might gain seats is north-east Scotland, from the SNP.
Watch Leicester East if Webbe stands as an indy. Its the only seat in England I think that may wander but very long shot. Although Kensington would be a nominal gain on new boundaries and is worth a look nearer the time
I forgot about Leicester East. There's also Brent North and Harrow West, though very unlikely.
Did I miss the bit where he says “that’s why I am calling an election for 5th July?” If he said it, my mind must have wandered, since suddenly he seemed to be talking about an election he hadn’t actually called.
My favourite part was the opening. In which the underlying assumption was that we all knew what he was talking about, having memorized the course of his star spangled career. Which we didn't. Then it turned out it was the Furlough Scheme.
I don’t know that reminding everyone about the pandemic is remotely sensible for the tories.
1939-45 was something people wanted to forget. Project Fear isn’t going to help the Conservatives this time either.
Between the weather on his suit and Things Can Only Get Better that was the most tragic speech I've ever seen.
It was. Desperately bad. Steve Bray should be hurled into the Channel but that was still awful
His delivery is so bad, and wooden, it's weird. Ah well, he will be gone soon enough
Like a supply teacher who's given up hope of controlling the class. Hard words without conviction.
Very good analogy! Indeed perfect
Thats exactly what he sounds like. A weak teacher defeated by an unruly class that knows it has the teacher on the run
We had one of those at my secondary school. My Polyblank. That was his name. Taught music, or, rather, tried to teach music even as the entire class ran riot every lesson, he would stand there mouthing pointless firm words which made everyone laugh
Very sad. And that is Sunak, you are bang on
Polyblank? Really? I always have a faint admiration for people who have gone into teaching despite having an absurd name. Is it Cornish, I wonder?
I just checked. Apparently it could be derived from Old French for "white hair"
We also had a Mr Snoswell who taught Physics
We didn't have any amusingly named teachers that I remember. But some had an amusing appearance. Particularly together. The physics department had a man who was absurdly tall, thin, and ginger, a man who looked like a garden gnome, and a man who was the spit of Bruce Grobelaar. Seeing the three of them together never failed to be arresting.
Did I miss the bit where he says “that’s why I am calling an election for 5th July?” If he said it, my mind must have wandered, since suddenly he seemed to be talking about an election he hadn’t actually called.
My favourite part was the opening. In which the underlying assumption was that we all knew what he was talking about, having memorized the course of his star spangled career. Which we didn't. Then it turned out it was the Furlough Scheme.
I don’t know that reminding everyone about the pandemic is remotely sensible for the tories.
1939-45 was something people wanted to forget. Project Fear isn’t going to help the Conservatives this time either.
Evidence from places like Australia and New Zealand suggest not good approach, and it arguable that those places did COVID better (at least initially).
The only place the Tories might gain seats is north-east Scotland, from the SNP.
Possible. Depends on the seat and the lead. Remember that BOTH their ships are sinking fast, so its hard to advocate voting against the Tories malfeasance, corruption and incompetence and instead for the SNP and their malfeasance, corruption and incompetence
Depending where the wheels stop, Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock (three way battle incoming) and Argyll and Bute will be where they focus outside held seats and the NE
In Clarkson's Farm they go to see Rishi. Kaleb says something, a quip, about Rishi's hair. Rishi's response, although a throwaway line showed how razor sharp he actually is irl. What does this prove? Absolutely diddly squat (to use the vernacular).
It's all been grand theatre and a lot of fun today. I wonder when the actual decision was taken and on what basis. As might be expected, there's a run back to the big two parties at the first hint of electoral gunfire but that means nothing until the campaign proper starts.
Kudos to @MoonRabbit and all those who got July right having got May wrong and especially well done to those who backed July.
Fortunately we have plenty of other entertainment in June (football, Royal Ascot, start of Winbledon) to keep us away from the election. Those who are out pounding the street will be delighted - it's much easier in June and July than November and December.
Between the weather on his suit and Things Can Only Get Better that was the most tragic speech I've ever seen.
It was. Desperately bad. Steve Bray should be hurled into the Channel but that was still awful
His delivery is so bad, and wooden, it's weird. Ah well, he will be gone soon enough
Like a supply teacher who's given up hope of controlling the class. Hard words without conviction.
Very good analogy! Indeed perfect
Thats exactly what he sounds like. A weak teacher defeated by an unruly class that knows it has the teacher on the run
We had one of those at my secondary school. My Polyblank. That was his name. Taught music, or, rather, tried to teach music even as the entire class ran riot every lesson, he would stand there mouthing pointless firm words which made everyone laugh
Very sad. And that is Sunak, you are bang on
Polyblank? Really? I always have a faint admiration for people who have gone into teaching despite having an absurd name. Is it Cornish, I wonder?
I just checked. Apparently it could be derived from Old French for "white hair"
Predictions: # 1 Labour 39%, Tories 34%. Labour short of a majority.
Starmer may be happier about that than winning by a handful of seats - a narrow loss and he’s got a good excuse to HW and go back to the country for a proper majority. A few over and it’ll be harder to go back and he’ll be beholden to his loons.
It's all been grand theatre and a lot of fun today. I wonder when the actual decision was taken and on what basis. As might be expected, there's a run back to the big two parties at the first hint of electoral gunfire but that means nothing until the campaign proper starts.
Kudos to @MoonRabbit and all those who got July right having got May wrong and especially well done to those who backed July.
Fortunately we have plenty of other entertainment in June (football, Royal Ascot, start of Winbledon) to keep us away from the election. Those who are out pounding the street will be delighted - it's much easier in June and July than November and December.
A very important factor to bear in mind.
How many seats has Sunak handed the Lib Dems by his decision not to have a winter election, when nobody wants to go out?
I've not seen it but I assume - at least if I were his adviser I'd suggest - it was simple and along the lines of this lot have had their chance and they blew it. It's time for a change.
As most of you know I am the Liberal Democrat candidate in Aberdeenshire North and Moray East. Anyone else want to out themselves as candidates? For any party in any constituency?
Rory Campbell (with Alistair Campbell) is doing a live podcast and says the texts he's getting from MPs and ministers are very much "We have no idea why he's doing this. Maybe he's worried about Farage coming back". They're all "Totally astonished".
The timing is odd. Unless Rishi knows something, what he has done is give his own side six fewer monthly pay cheques, and brought forward a Labour government, which by definition his side thinks is a bad thing.
It's all been grand theatre and a lot of fun today. I wonder when the actual decision was taken and on what basis. As might be expected, there's a run back to the big two parties at the first hint of electoral gunfire but that means nothing until the campaign proper starts.
Kudos to @MoonRabbit and all those who got July right having got May wrong and especially well done to those who backed July.
Fortunately we have plenty of other entertainment in June (football, Royal Ascot, start of Winbledon) to keep us away from the election. Those who are out pounding the street will be delighted - it's much easier in June and July than November and December.
A very important factor to bear in mind.
How many seats has Sunak handed the Lib Dems by his decision not to have a winter election, when nobody wants to go out?
As luck would have it I'm hosting our local Lib Dem candidate hustings at my house this evening. Not a moment too soon - they'll need to confirm the PPC quickly. Not that it matters in a seat that already has a 33k Labour majority.
Rory Campbell (with Alistair Campbell) is doing a live podcast and says the texts he's getting from MPs and ministers are very much "We have no idea why he's doing this. Maybe he's worried about Farage coming back". They're all "Totally astonished".
The timing is odd. Unless Rishi knows something, what he has done is give his own side six fewer monthly pay cheques, and brought forward a Labour government, which by definition his side thinks is a bad thing.
Rumour is that the threshold of No Confidence was close. BBC or Sky News mentioned this earlier.
Why oh why oh why did they announce it now. Here. Outside?
All the "you don't know what you'll get with Labour" stuff was rather let down by his own failure to look at a short-term weather forecast...
Or control the aural environment.
Bray is an irritating pillock, but that's not the point. If you can't deal with something as entirely predictable as that, then you're just politically incompetent.
Still 1.01 on Betfair but presumably it ties up money for a month.
For July or July 4? The demise of KC3 would push it to July 18th as the only black Swan that's possible I think
For July. £6,255 available at 1.01 which is actually rising, which is probably due to profit-taking (or someone very clever knows of an incoming comet).
Comments
But at least that couldn't have been mitigated against by glancing out of the window.
Sunak seems to be carrying on very much in that vein.
And I’m afraid the headlines have been stolen from Sunak. Here’s the Telegraph:
We also had a Mr Snoswell who taught Physics
Will they have to do a temporary U turn?
Mail: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13448143/rishi-sunak-calls-general-election-july-4.html
[Edit: Gah, blurryvision strikes. 17:15, centered on SW1A 2AA]
1939-45 was something people wanted to forget. Project Fear isn’t going to help the Conservatives this time either.
Yeah, that would look pretty tragic, could be election losing
https://www.youtube.com/live/ta2nEmoUQTE
If you want to watch/hear it.
Top hairspray mind
Labour insider texts: "Umbrellas are woke"
It's all been grand theatre and a lot of fun today. I wonder when the actual decision was taken and on what basis. As might be expected, there's a run back to the big two parties at the first hint of electoral gunfire but that means nothing until the campaign proper starts.
Kudos to @MoonRabbit and all those who got July right having got May wrong and especially well done to those who backed July.
Fortunately we have plenty of other entertainment in June (football, Royal Ascot, start of Winbledon) to keep us away from the election. Those who are out pounding the street will be delighted - it's much easier in June and July than November and December.
Who wasn't very.
And not waving but drowning
-- Rishi E.J. Smith, Con 17½%
I'm sure you're all glad I told you that.
If he'd stuck to technocracy - the Windsor Framework, fiddling with the wonkier bits of the tax system, that sort of thing - he'd have been fine.
It was the trying-to-please-GBNews stuff that made him look so much like a weird idiot.
Keir Starmer is pretty dull but he’s competent.
Here's a picture quiz. A pint of election porter for anyone who can guess the name of this building, where I was recently. Nada googlissimo
*But......or "and"
How many seats has Sunak handed the Lib Dems by his decision not to have a winter election, when nobody wants to go out?
Ooops.
No presumption. The beauty of this democracy is that the people will decide.
Edited: but it's the bit of Italy you said reminded you of Aragon and the Byzantine Empire, the name of which I forget.
Husker Du: Standing in the Rain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ad7gfb3hPpY
Bray is an irritating pillock, but that's not the point. If you can't deal with something as entirely predictable as that, then you're just politically incompetent.
This is Labour. 5 years of putting your blood pressure up 25 points.....
Market link
https://www.betfair.com/exchange/plus/politics/market/1.223758498
Also 1.01 for July to September at
https://www.betfair.com/exchange/plus/politics/market/1.218024805