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  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 10,164
    Taz said:

    So you think he will fall at the final hurdle too and be a well celebrated loser.
    I think Arteta will get his title. But no complacency,
  • bigglesbiggles Posts: 6,754

    There has clearly been a change in immigration numbers and pattern since we Brexited. The really big increases are since Brexit. Feel free to offer an explanation for what has happened. I suggest freedom of movement meant labour shortages could be filled without as much long term immigration.
    I hate to say it but (gulp) I can see the sense in the Reform policy of a higher employer’s NI rate for immigrant labour. If really needed, and the sums add up, they will still come, but it moves the incentive towards growing talent.

    I am sure Reform has many other bad policies I can continue to look down upon.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 54,856
    TOPPING said:

    A government effectively being run by Mark Francois and Bill Cash I don't think can be described as "liberal".

    All the "liberal" Tories fucked off after/over Brexit.
    You're confusing One Nation/patrician with liberal. Johnson was radically liberal on immigration.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 54,235
    Eabhal said:

    Why? You could argue that a minimum wage incentivises companies to keep innovating and investing. Otherwise, they essentially get cheap subsidised labour from the government.

    For me the main benefit of a UBI is that people will be happier to take on risks like starting a small business.
    Because it makes a whole swathe of jobs uneconomic.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 43,724

    In Britain, the number of 18-24 year olds who support the death penalty for cases of multiple murder has risen to 56%.

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/trackers/should-the-death-penalty-be-reintroduced-for-cases-of-multiple-murder?crossBreak=1824
    Not 100% sure what that proves - my point to our Moldovan emigrant is that he quoted a stat about Muslims disapproving of homosexuality. I simply posted a survey that shows that non-trivial numbers of anglicans and catholics think the same way.

    Now if we could abolish religion then we might be moving in the right direction.
  • bigglesbiggles Posts: 6,754
    TOPPING said:

    A government effectively being run by Mark Francois and Bill Cash I don't think can be described as "liberal".

    All the "liberal" Tories fucked off after/over Brexit.
    Rather depends what you mean by “liberal”. It’s hard not to see Boris as very socially liberal. Probably the most liberal PM since Blair. And even that’s a fight.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 54,235

    You're confusing One Nation/patrician with liberal. Johnson was radically liberal on immigration.
    While the Greek Coastguard literally sank a ship full of migrants, the U.K. block booked the kind of three star hotels that have the treadmills next to the indoor pool.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 54,856
    TOPPING said:

    Not 100% sure what that proves - my point to our Moldovan emigrant is that he quoted a stat about Muslims disapproving of homosexuality. I simply posted a survey that shows that non-trivial numbers of anglicans and catholics think the same way.

    Now if we could abolish religion then we might be moving in the right direction.
    Even Richard Dawkins has lost his faith in that prescription.
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 10,164

    Because it makes a whole swathe of jobs uneconomic.
    Isn't that just the original argument against minimum wage?
  • LeonLeon Posts: 59,840
    TOPPING said:

    Maybe. In Afghan they haven't (in the sixties the women were going around in mini-skirts). But they have in western liberal democracies and we are in a western liberal democracies.
    No they haven’t. Again you’re provably wrong

    Here’s the latest poll on Muslim attitudes. More 18-24 year olds than 55+ year olds want to make it illegal to show the prophet Mohammad in any form. Younger Muslims are much more anti Isreal and anti Jewish. And so on

    https://unherd.com/newsroom/two-thirds-of-young-british-muslims-oppose-israels-right-to-exist/

    The attitudes to homosexuality have barely budged in a decade. A 50/50 split on whether it should be illegal. Large minorities or actual majorities want sharia law across the UK, compulsory halal food everywhere, more traditional roles for women

    It’s deeply depressing. This is what we are importing. This is incompatible with the liberal western democracy you proclaim to cherish

    I can only conclude that you are literary too dumb and incurious to grasp all this, because I don’t believe you are that intellectually dishonest
  • bigglesbiggles Posts: 6,754
    TOPPING said:

    Not 100% sure what that proves - my point to our Moldovan emigrant is that he quoted a stat about Muslims disapproving of homosexuality. I simply posted a survey that shows that non-trivial numbers of anglicans and catholics think the same way.

    Now if we could abolish religion then we might be moving in the right direction.
    Seconded. Does the motion pass now?
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,949

    In Britain, the number of 18-24 year olds who support the death penalty for cases of multiple murder has risen to 56%.

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/trackers/should-the-death-penalty-be-reintroduced-for-cases-of-multiple-murder?crossBreak=1824
    What's interesting about those charts is how consistent they are across age profiles. Only 65+ is significantly different.
    And they are almost identical by gender. Which surprised me.
    I do think a referendum is smart politics for the Tories. If not now then in Opposition.
    I wouldn't have to give it a second thought.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 34,295
    "No reason Diane Abbott can't stand in general election as a Labour candidate, says Angela Rayner"

    https://news.sky.com/story/no-reason-diane-abbott-cant-stand-in-general-election-as-a-labour-candidate-says-angela-rayner-13145508
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 34,295

    In Britain, the number of 18-24 year olds who support the death penalty for cases of multiple murder has risen to 56%.

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/trackers/should-the-death-penalty-be-reintroduced-for-cases-of-multiple-murder?crossBreak=1824
    There's a nasty streak of authoritarianism in a lot of younger people.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 62,375

    The reason that non-EU migration exploded since Brexit is that it coincided with an extremely liberal government being elected, combined with the schemes for people from Ukraine and Hong Kong.
    Boris Johnson took his finger out the dyke.

    The general asylum right to any who make it here worldwide needs to end and, instead, we need to democratically choose how many and from where- like we did for Ukraine and HK.

    That's where this battle is going next. Because it's really atm another form of free movement tempered by a little bit of cash and physical intrepidness.
  • bigglesbiggles Posts: 6,754
    Leon said:

    No they haven’t. Again you’re provably wrong

    Here’s the latest poll on Muslim attitudes. More 18-24 year olds than 55+ year olds want to make it illegal to show the prophet Mohammad in any form. Younger Muslims are much more anti Isreal and anti Jewish. And so on

    https://unherd.com/newsroom/two-thirds-of-young-british-muslims-oppose-israels-right-to-exist/

    The attitudes to homosexuality have barely budged in a decade. A 50/50 split on whether it should be illegal. Large minorities or actual majorities want sharia law across the UK, compulsory halal food everywhere, more traditional roles for women

    It’s deeply depressing. This is what we are importing. This is incompatible with the liberal western democracy you proclaim to cherish

    I can only conclude that you are literary too dumb and incurious to grasp all this, because I don’t believe you are that intellectually dishonest
    What worse is that those of us over a certain age will ensure their views are marginalised. That’s the right thing to do but will radicalise them further, and 30 years from now there will be an issue.

    I do worry about the current 18-21 demographic when it’s in power.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 62,375
    Farooq said:

    The meek.

    But they'll still have to pay IHT.
    I can see why you weren't a scriptwriter for Life of Brian.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 83,550

    Indeed. A UBI plus a minimum wage is a farce.
    Its also why for all its theoretical positives, it won't work in the real world, because politicians will quickly go oh we need UBI+ for those that live in London, UBI++ for those from generational poor backgrounds....
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,949
    edited May 2024
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 34,295
    Being tolerant of views you don't agree with has definitely declined over the last few years. If that's one of the definitions of being progressive, it's in decline.
  • rkrkrkrkrkrk Posts: 8,639
    Andy_JS said:

    "No reason Diane Abbott can't stand in general election as a Labour candidate, says Angela Rayner"

    https://news.sky.com/story/no-reason-diane-abbott-cant-stand-in-general-election-as-a-labour-candidate-says-angela-rayner-13145508

    Doesn't seem helpful for Labour to be having this row but what do I know!? I do worry Starmer has miscalculated here...
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 54,235
    Eabhal said:

    Isn't that just the original argument against minimum wage?
    The minimum wage does make jobs uneconomic. The balance between the societal benefits of higher wages be reduced employment is the key.

    A UBI plus minimum wage makes a serious percentage of the jobs non economic, over night.
  • bigglesbiggles Posts: 6,754
    dixiedean said:

    What's interesting about those charts is how consistent they are across age profiles. Only 65+ is significantly different.
    And they are almost identical by gender. Which surprised me.
    I do think a referendum is smart politics for the Tories. If not now then in Opposition.
    I wouldn't have to give it a second thought.
    I am totally opposed to the death penalty and it’s one of the few issues I would deeply care about if it went to a vote. But if the public ends up in favour then there should be a vote, and my side should make the arguments and try to win.

    Introducing the death penalty would also presumably mean leaving the ECHR (and maybe the OECD - though the U.S. is a member)?
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,949
    Andy_JS said:

    There's a nasty streak of authoritarianism in a lot of younger people.
    And if you look at the 65+ figures, a heck of a lot more in older people.
  • bigglesbiggles Posts: 6,754

    The minimum wage does make jobs uneconomic. The balance between the societal benefits of higher wages be reduced employment is the key.

    A UBI plus minimum wage makes a serious percentage of the jobs non economic, over night.
    Or possibly creates hyper-inflation? I would still want to eat out and go to the pub, but the prices would go through the roof so I’d want paying more. And then the rate would increase to match - cue vicious cycle.
  • eekeek Posts: 29,741
    rkrkrk said:

    Doesn't seem helpful for Labour to be having this row but what do I know!? I do worry Starmer has miscalculated here...
    It wasn't Starmer who miscalculated - someone has been both leaking and playing games to the extent that Diane's quiet retirement is no longer on the table...
  • LeonLeon Posts: 59,840
    biggles said:

    What worse is that those of us over a certain age will ensure their views are marginalised. That’s the right thing to do but will radicalise them further, and 30 years from now there will be an issue.

    I do worry about the current 18-21 demographic when it’s in power.
    I’m 97% certain young white Britons will shift firmly to the right in the next decade - as they are doing across Europe. We are not immune to this trend we are merely 5-10 years behind it

    Personally I’d prefer it if that wasn’t inevitable. If we hadn’t had so much immigration and we hadn’t pursued insane woke policies and if we hadn’t made young white men in particular such a target we wouldn’t have banked all this trouble. But we have and we did and the interest is slowly but surely accruing

    When Labour fails to change the world, which they will, what happens then?
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 79,235
    edited May 2024

    Its also why for all its theoretical positives, it won't work in the real world, because politicians will quickly go oh we need UBI+ for those that live in London, UBI++ for those from generational poor backgrounds....
    How much are they up to for reparations in California now ? Last thing I recall a million dollars was considered not nearly enough :D
  • NerysHughesNerysHughes Posts: 3,375
    rkrkrk said:

    Doesn't seem helpful for Labour to be having this row but what do I know!? I do worry Starmer has miscalculated here...
    Just imagine how many of Scott's reposts we would have had if Sunak had done something like this
  • LeonLeon Posts: 59,840
    In much happier news I am now lodged in an ancient Bessarabian farmhouse overlooking the Dniester river and the farmer who owns the place wants me to taste every single form of alcohol he has made in the last 30 years

    Moldova is great. They get so few tourists they basically have a festival if one shows up
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,107
    Andy_JS said:

    There's a nasty streak of authoritarianism in a lot of younger people.
    Except amongst over 65s 70% back the death penalty for serial killers. Even 37% of Labour and 44% of LD voters back it too
    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/trackers/should-the-death-penalty-be-reintroduced-for-cases-of-multiple-murder?crossBreak=liberaldemocrat
  • bigglesbiggles Posts: 6,754
    Leon said:

    I’m 97% certain young white Britons will shift firmly to the right in the next decade - as they are doing across Europe. We are not immune to this trend we are merely 5-10 years behind it

    Personally I’d prefer it if that wasn’t inevitable. If we hadn’t had so much immigration and we hadn’t pursued insane woke policies and if we hadn’t made young white men in particular such a target we wouldn’t have banked all this trouble. But we have and we did and the interest is slowly but surely accruing

    When Labour fails to change the world, which they will, what happens then?
    Oh I agree with that. One of the main reasons I caution people to go slow on things like Net Zero and Trans-rights (on both of which there’s a perfectly sensible way of meeting people half way and getting consensus) is that if you push these things too far then there will be an equal and opposite reaction, and it won’t be pretty.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 43,724
    Leon said:

    No they haven’t. Again you’re provably wrong

    Here’s the latest poll on Muslim attitudes. More 18-24 year olds than 55+ year olds want to make it illegal to show the prophet Mohammad in any form. Younger Muslims are much more anti Isreal and anti Jewish. And so on

    https://unherd.com/newsroom/two-thirds-of-young-british-muslims-oppose-israels-right-to-exist/

    The attitudes to homosexuality have barely budged in a decade. A 50/50 split on whether it should be illegal. Large minorities or actual majorities want sharia law across the UK, compulsory halal food everywhere, more traditional roles for women

    It’s deeply depressing. This is what we are importing. This is incompatible with the liberal western democracy you proclaim to cherish

    I can only conclude that you are literary too dumb and incurious to grasp all this, because I don’t believe you are that intellectually dishonest
    Eyeballing it, it seems that around 30-40% of anglicans and catholics have the same views.

    What's your solution.
  • rkrkrkrkrkrk Posts: 8,639
    eek said:

    It wasn't Starmer who miscalculated - someone has been both leaking and playing games to the extent that Diane's quiet retirement is no longer on the table...
    Yes possibly. But I would think Starmer does have some influence over decision not to allow left wing candidates to stand, but maybe it really is a fully independent process...
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,107
    edited May 2024
    Leon said:

    I’m 97% certain young white Britons will shift firmly to the right in the next decade - as they are doing across Europe. We are not immune to this trend we are merely 5-10 years behind it

    Personally I’d prefer it if that wasn’t inevitable. If we hadn’t had so much immigration and we hadn’t pursued insane woke policies and if we hadn’t made young white men in particular such a target we wouldn’t have banked all this trouble. But we have and we did and the interest is slowly but surely accruing

    When Labour fails to change the world, which they will, what happens then?
    They aren't really, most young people voted for Melenchon in France, in Germany they tend to vote Green, here they are more likely to vote Labour or Green too. In Australia and NZ they tend to vote Labor or Green and in Canada NDP, even in the US they voted for Biden last time albeit Trump has made inroads with the young.

    The young may be more likely to vote populist right than traditionalist right though eg Le Pen and Meloni both poll higher with under 35s than Les Republicains and Forza Italia too. Poilievre though in Canada now leads Trudeau with the young mainly as he promises to build more homes, especially near stations
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 43,724
    Andy_JS said:

    Being tolerant of views you don't agree with has definitely declined over the last few years. If that's one of the definitions of being progressive, it's in decline.

    True, but - so far - societally that hasn't been the case. The opposite, if anything, hence the outrage on here about eg the BBC's woke correctness gone mad and the fact that every advert for washing powder has an obligatory mixed race family.
  • All conkers declared the property of the king.
    In Gaza they declared all rainwater the property of Israel...
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 43,724
    Leon said:

    I’m 97% certain young white Britons will shift firmly to the right in the next decade - as they are doing across Europe. We are not immune to this trend we are merely 5-10 years behind it

    Personally I’d prefer it if that wasn’t inevitable. If we hadn’t had so much immigration and we hadn’t pursued insane woke policies and if we hadn’t made young white men in particular such a target we wouldn’t have banked all this trouble. But we have and we did and the interest is slowly but surely accruing

    When Labour fails to change the world, which they will, what happens then?
    I can assure you that young Britons care a lot less about "woke" stuff than you do.

    Why does it matter if they're white or not.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,107
    edited May 2024
    Pulpstar said:

    How much are they up to for reparations in California now ? Last thing I recall a million dollars was considered not nearly enough :D
    At present a UBI is too costly and unrealistic. If AI causes mass unemployment though and few permanent jobs no government will ever get elected again without backing a UBI funded by a tax on robots used by corporations
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 35,302
    Leon said:

    In much happier news I am now lodged in an ancient Bessarabian farmhouse overlooking the Dniester river and the farmer who owns the place wants me to taste every single form of alcohol he has made in the last 30 years

    Moldova is great. They get so few tourists they basically have a festival if one shows up

    It's been nice knowing you. (That's a joke obvs.)
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 34,295
    Leon said:

    I’m 97% certain young white Britons will shift firmly to the right in the next decade - as they are doing across Europe. We are not immune to this trend we are merely 5-10 years behind it

    Personally I’d prefer it if that wasn’t inevitable. If we hadn’t had so much immigration and we hadn’t pursued insane woke policies and if we hadn’t made young white men in particular such a target we wouldn’t have banked all this trouble. But we have and we did and the interest is slowly but surely accruing

    When Labour fails to change the world, which they will, what happens then?
    I hope they don't shift to the nasty right, but I'm not confident.
  • NerysHughesNerysHughes Posts: 3,375

    The Post Office scandal should be enough to put anyone off the idea.
    Especially in the UK whether the proof threshold for murder is far less than it is for shoplifting.
  • Jim_MillerJim_Miller Posts: 3,268
    edited May 2024
    Off topic: But I did want to pass on my praise to the Edinburgh Eagles and the Edinburgh Giants for helping Oona Dooks make her climb.
    source$: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/05/30/rugby-players-edinburgh-wheelchair-climb/

    Nice work, guys! And good for Oona in making it up (with a little help from her friends).
  • bigglesbiggles Posts: 6,754
    edited May 2024
    HYUFD said:

    At present a UBI is too costly and unrealistic. If AI causes mass unemployment though and few permanent jobs no government will ever get elected again without backing a UBI funded by a tax on robots used by corporations
    AI plus robotics won’t cause mass unemployment as some suggest. At its absolute best, it will be a mini-industrial revolution where we all become 5x as productive with the help of AI and although some jobs die around the edges, others will be born.

    At its worst, sod all will happen.
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 10,164
    edited May 2024
    Death Penalty = National Service

    Most people instinctively like the idea. After about 5 minutes, the awful implications of it start to become apparent. The death penalty, even after what happened to the Post Office folk? If the polling reaction to NS is anything to go by, after a lot of noise, no change.

    Though it would support my idea that this is an arsehole manifesto that only attracts arseholes. The negative vibes around the Conservatives are so bad I'm starting to wonder if Ed Davey's strategy of just *smiling* might really pay off.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 121,688
    Nigelb said:

    This unites two of TSE passions.

    Red Bull takes minority ownership stake in Leeds
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cx88w2nneego

    Pineapple pizza on match days ?

    Dirty Red Bull Leeds.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 43,724
    Eabhal said:

    Death Penalty = National Service

    Most people instinctively like the idea. After about 5 minutes, the awful implications of it start to become apparent. The death penalty, even after what happened to the Post Office folk? If the polling reaction to NS is anything to go by, after a lot of noise, no change.

    Though it would support my idea that this is an arsehole manifesto that only attracts arseholes. The negative vibes around the Conservatives are so bad I'm starting to wonder if Ed Davey's strategy of just *smiling* might really pay off.

    "That nice Mr Davey how bad could it [LD 500+ seats] be?"
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,601
    edited May 2024
    eek said:

    500,000 council homes built where exactly?

    Got to say it's great to see a manifesto where not a single thought has been given as to how do we achieve this / pay for it...
    The 2019 Green Party manifesto included an appendix 'How it all adds up'. It probably didn't, but hey it was more than most bothered to do. (The 2015 manifesto had actual tables and everything on the finances, just to really reassure people, but they didn't bother for 2017).

    They also hyperlinked the chapters within the document, which earned it some bonus points compared to most parties.

    But let's be honest, the Palestine point is probably the biggest draw for many of its supporters anyway, the rest is not that stand out thesedays.
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 10,164
    TOPPING said:

    "That nice Mr Davey how bad could it [LD 500+ seats] be?"
    The other weird thing about Davey is he looks more comfortable in his wetsuit than Sunak and Starmer do in their suits.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 62,375
    Leon said:

    I’m 97% certain young white Britons will shift firmly to the right in the next decade - as they are doing across Europe. We are not immune to this trend we are merely 5-10 years behind it

    Personally I’d prefer it if that wasn’t inevitable. If we hadn’t had so much immigration and we hadn’t pursued insane woke policies and if we hadn’t made young white men in particular such a target we wouldn’t have banked all this trouble. But we have and we did and the interest is slowly but surely accruing

    When Labour fails to change the world, which they will, what happens then?
    The real risk is that many give up on democracy and go to the extremes.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 62,375
    Eabhal said:

    Death Penalty = National Service

    Most people instinctively like the idea. After about 5 minutes, the awful implications of it start to become apparent. The death penalty, even after what happened to the Post Office folk? If the polling reaction to NS is anything to go by, after a lot of noise, no change.

    Though it would support my idea that this is an arsehole manifesto that only attracts arseholes. The negative vibes around the Conservatives are so bad I'm starting to wonder if Ed Davey's strategy of just *smiling* might really pay off.

    I love how 25 days of service helping grannies has become the death penalty.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,107

    The real risk is that many give up on democracy and go to the extremes.
    As long as they only vote for the extremes that is still democracy, even if centrism gets squeezed.

  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,107
    biggles said:

    AI plus robotics won’t cause mass unemployment as some suggest. At its absolute best, it will be a mini-industrial revolution where we all become 5x as productive with the help of AI and although some jobs die around the edges, others will be born.

    At its worst, sod all will happen.
    We hope
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 10,164
    edited May 2024

    I love how 25 days of service helping grannies has become the death penalty.
    Possibly for the Grannies, if it replaces trained social care workers. Preventing falls is no simple task.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 43,724

    The real risk is that many give up on democracy and go to the extremes.
    You mean because of policies enacted by the Conservative Party over the past 14 years? Yes scary.
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 18,369
    Eabhal said:

    Death Penalty = National Service

    Most people instinctively like the idea. After about 5 minutes, the awful implications of it start to become apparent. The death penalty, even after what happened to the Post Office folk? If the polling reaction to NS is anything to go by, after a lot of noise, no change.

    Though it would support my idea that this is an arsehole manifesto that only attracts arseholes. The negative vibes around the Conservatives are so bad I'm starting to wonder if Ed Davey's strategy of just *smiling* might really pay off.

    There's a lot to be said for it. The 1992 version of John Major had a lovely smile.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,601

    Whatever your politics at least we get to decide here. 14 convicted of a "vicious" plan to stand for election:

    "Fourteen of the defendants — collectively known as the Hong Kong 47 — were found guilty of what prosecutors called a “vicious” plan to win a majority of seats in Hong Kong’s legislature and to force out the territory’s chief executive by blocking laws and budgets."

    https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/hong-kong-47-trial-court-democracy-national-security-law-vgh8q592x

    I hope plenty have managed to take up the option of a British Nationals passport.
  • FairlieredFairliered Posts: 5,609
    HYUFD said:

    They aren't really, most young people voted for Melenchon in France, in Germany they tend to vote Green, here they are more likely to vote Labour or Green too. In Australia and NZ they tend to vote Labor or Green and in Canada NDP, even in the US they voted for Biden last time albeit Trump has made inroads with the young.

    The young may be more likely to vote populist right than traditionalist right though eg Le Pen and Meloni both poll higher with under 35s than Les Republicains and Forza Italia too. Poilievre though in Canada now leads Trudeau with the young mainly as he promises to build more homes, especially near stations
    Doesn’t seem much point building homes near stations, when most Canadian stations only have a train three days a week, at 2.37am.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 38,148
    @alexwickham
    NEW: Trump-style Tory attacks on “Sleepy Keir” Starmer backfired,
    @Moreincommon_
    poll says

    — only 17% of voters think he’s too old to be PM
    — that falls to 5% among swing voters
    — only 26% of Tories say his age is an issue
    — and core vote may be offended
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 10,164

    The real risk is that many give up on democracy and go to the extremes.
    One week in and you're already conjuring up a neo-fascist revolution led by 18 year olds. I suppose everyone has their safe space.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,601

    I love how 25 days of service helping grannies has become the death penalty.
    Are you criticising the nature of the analogy or of analogies in general?
  • RochdalePioneersRochdalePioneers Posts: 29,852
    Eabhal said:

    Death Penalty = National Service

    Most people instinctively like the idea. After about 5 minutes, the awful implications of it start to become apparent. The death penalty, even after what happened to the Post Office folk? If the polling reaction to NS is anything to go by, after a lot of noise, no change.

    Though it would support my idea that this is an arsehole manifesto that only attracts arseholes. The negative vibes around the Conservatives are so bad I'm starting to wonder if Ed Davey's strategy of just *smiling* might really pay off.

    It's an absurd proposal. Lets set aside for a moment the practical elements of (a) the armed forces don't have the capacity to do this and (b) there isn't a framework of companies / providers to manage the mandatory "volunteering" program. Lets just look at the optics.

    My daughter is a few weeks off her 13th birthday. So is in the firing line (geddit?) of this proposal assuming a Royal Commission does its job and puts recommendations in place.

    What does that mean? As the Telegraph confirmed there is no room in the plan for people to have plans. No room for a gap year. No room for university. No room for a job, or even to start a business. You will "volunteer" and it will make you a better person. Because at 18 you would otherwise be a worse person and we will fix you.

    No way is that going to happen. And that's assuming they fix the capacity issues in the armed forces and the voluntary sector. And we know what that will mean in reality - conscripts with little function in overstretched armed forces in horrible conditions, and an army of Tory contractors taking a ton of our money to create volunteering opportunities at the highest possible invoice price and the lowest possible cost.
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 22,696

    It's been nice knowing you. (That's a joke obvs.)
    Since clearly it hasn't been nice.

    (Also a joke.)
  • FairlieredFairliered Posts: 5,609

    The real risk is that many give up on democracy and go to the extremes.
    Agreed. It would be safer for democracy to actually try to include young people, defined as anyone under 60.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,601
    Scott_xP said:

    @alexwickham
    NEW: Trump-style Tory attacks on “Sleepy Keir” Starmer backfired,
    @Moreincommon_
    poll says

    — only 17% of voters think he’s too old to be PM
    — that falls to 5% among swing voters
    — only 26% of Tories say his age is an issue
    — and core vote may be offended

    I must have blinked and missed the attacks - it seemed to come out of nowhere and I've not noticed anything sustained, so was it an official thing?

    The man is 61 and broadly looks his age, he's obviously not too old or decrepit.

  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 35,302
    HYUFD said:

    As long as they only vote for the extremes that is still democracy, even if centrism gets squeezed.

    Er... Germany, 1933.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 83,550
    edited May 2024
    biggles said:

    AI plus robotics won’t cause mass unemployment as some suggest. At its absolute best, it will be a mini-industrial revolution where we all become 5x as productive with the help of AI and although some jobs die around the edges, others will be born.

    At its worst, sod all will happen.
    I think a more realistic issue is a bit of a middle ground to Leon's the AI will take over everything and the AI is crap nothing to see. I think a danger is that we see a repeat of the scars of heavy industry closing down. Lots of people trained to do a specific job and on the wrong end of the age scale to easily retrain and start again, and a potential for a gap between the obselete jobs and new jobs appearing.

    The difference is this time is won't just be smelly northerners down pit or in the ship yard, lots of lower end / mid white collar jobs that are filled with middle class will be in the firing line. It won't be all the jobs go, rather one person can do what it currently requires say 5 people.

    Government failed when it was mining / ship building etc, and now no party talks about potential impacts of AI (i doubt they understand it tbh).
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 10,164

    Agreed. It would be safer for democracy to actually try to include young people, defined as anyone under 60.
    Compulsory voting instead of compulsory volunteering, perhaps?
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 54,856
    edited May 2024
    Eabhal said:

    One week in and you're already conjuring up a neo-fascist revolution led by 18 year olds. I suppose everyone has their safe space.
    Starmer's plan to give the vote to 16-year-olds could backfire if they go all Tomorrow Belongs To Me.
  • nico679nico679 Posts: 6,277
    Day 2 of the jury deliberations in the Trump trial .

    If they haven’t reached a verdict by the end of the day then I think it will end up a mistrial.

    Yesterday’s request by the jury to hear certain testimonies again was seen by some legal experts as bad news for Trump. We can only hope !
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,107
    edited May 2024

    Starmer's plan to give the vote to 16-year-olds could backfire if they go all Tomorrow Belongs To Me.
    The youngest voters already voted for Corbyn
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,601
    TOPPING said:

    Maybe. In Afghan they haven't (in the sixties the women were going around in mini-skirts). But they have in western liberal democracies and we are in a western liberal democracies.
    Doesn't mean it is inevitable it always will.
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 18,369

    It's an absurd proposal. Lets set aside for a moment the practical elements of (a) the armed forces don't have the capacity to do this and (b) there isn't a framework of companies / providers to manage the mandatory "volunteering" program. Lets just look at the optics.

    My daughter is a few weeks off her 13th birthday. So is in the firing line (geddit?) of this proposal assuming a Royal Commission does its job and puts recommendations in place.

    What does that mean? As the Telegraph confirmed there is no room in the plan for people to have plans. No room for a gap year. No room for university. No room for a job, or even to start a business. You will "volunteer" and it will make you a better person. Because at 18 you would otherwise be a worse person and we will fix you.

    No way is that going to happen. And that's assuming they fix the capacity issues in the armed forces and the voluntary sector. And we know what that will mean in reality - conscripts with little function in overstretched armed forces in horrible conditions, and an army of Tory contractors taking a ton of our money to create volunteering opportunities at the highest possible invoice price and the lowest possible cost.
    Already falling apart, at least for some. (Yes, it's the Mail, but the headline tells you all you need to know.)

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13473461/England-football-stars-EXEMPT-national-service.html
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,107

    Er... Germany, 1933.
    Won by the Nazis in a multi party election

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_1933_German_federal_election
  • Andy_CookeAndy_Cooke Posts: 5,045

    It's an absurd proposal. Lets set aside for a moment the practical elements of (a) the armed forces don't have the capacity to do this and (b) there isn't a framework of companies / providers to manage the mandatory "volunteering" program. Lets just look at the optics.

    My daughter is a few weeks off her 13th birthday. So is in the firing line (geddit?) of this proposal assuming a Royal Commission does its job and puts recommendations in place.

    What does that mean? As the Telegraph confirmed there is no room in the plan for people to have plans. No room for a gap year. No room for university. No room for a job, or even to start a business. You will "volunteer" and it will make you a better person. Because at 18 you would otherwise be a worse person and we will fix you.

    No way is that going to happen. And that's assuming they fix the capacity issues in the armed forces and the voluntary sector. And we know what that will mean in reality - conscripts with little function in overstretched armed forces in horrible conditions, and an army of Tory contractors taking a ton of our money to create volunteering opportunities at the highest possible invoice price and the lowest possible cost.
    One thing that does stand out about the proposal is that as the overwhelming majority will be doing the "compulsory volunteering"/community service version, there's no real need to limit it to any particular age.

    So if it's good enough for 18-year-olds and fosters community spirit, connections across demographics, pride in Britain, etc, surely it would be even better if rolled out universally?

    Why not everyone? Every adult in the UK should be required to give up one full weekend per month for a year for compulsory unpaid labour in the community. The Government get to tell you when your number is up for this (say 10% of the country every year). It would enhance people of all ages interacting with others, offset loneliness in the elderly, and so on.

    I do wonder how many of those who say they agree with the prospect would still agree with it if it were rolled out to include them as well. After all, there's no real reason why not.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,107

    Doesn’t seem much point building homes near stations, when most Canadian stations only have a train three days a week, at 2.37am.
    In urban and suburban areas there is and better than on greenbelt land
  • numbertwelvenumbertwelve Posts: 7,308
    nico679 said:

    Day 2 of the jury deliberations in the Trump trial .

    If they haven’t reached a verdict by the end of the day then I think it will end up a mistrial.

    Yesterday’s request by the jury to hear certain testimonies again was seen by some legal experts as bad news for Trump. We can only hope !

    There’s quite a few charges to plod through; aren’t there? I know little of the New York jury system but assuming they are running through all the charges and the evidence presumably that will take a bit of time?
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 83,550
    edited May 2024
    Sleepy Starmer attack is weird. I don't think people realise he is as old as he is. Its not like bloody Joe Biden where he looks and sounds 100.
  • sladeslade Posts: 2,163
    There is one local by-election today. It is in Birmingham and on paper should be a Lab gain from Con. But there are some obvious local factors that might change that e.g. the local councils financial difficulties.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 54,856

    Sleepy Starmer attack is weird. I don't think people realise he is as old as he is. Its not like bloody Joe Biden where he looks and sounds 100.

    A version of Lyin' Ted would be more likely to land.
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 35,302
    biggles said:

    What worse is that those of us over a certain age will ensure their views are marginalised. That’s the right thing to do but will radicalise them further, and 30 years from now there will be an issue.

    I do worry about the current 18-21 demographic when it’s in power.
    The lament of oldies throughout the ages.
  • DM_AndyDM_Andy Posts: 1,261
    HYUFD said:

    Won by the Nazis in a multi party election

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_1933_German_federal_election
    Not exactly what we would call free and fair by modern standards.
  • bigglesbiggles Posts: 6,754
    Ken Livingstone isn’t even standing and we still discuss the Nazis!
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 56,022
    Eabhal said:

    But this just isn't true, however much you wish to ignore it:

    Number of dwellings +8.2%
    Population +6.3%
    Households +6.1%

    Outright owners +12.5%
    Mortgage -5.1%
    Renting + 28.2%
    What’s your timescale on those stats?
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,601
    Scottish voters are so lucky. In the last 10 years some of the seats have changed hands three or more times eg from LD, to SNP, to Con, to SNP.

    And now some might switch yet again. Fortunate devils.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 34,295
    HYUFD said:

    Won by the Nazis in a multi party election

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_1933_German_federal_election
    56% didn't vote for them, but the other parties were stupid enough to offer Hitler the top job.
  • GhedebravGhedebrav Posts: 3,860
    edited May 2024
    I’d urge ‘progressives’ on here to please read some John Gray. It’s depressing (or perhaps fatalistic?) but has a ring of truth that we need to hear.

    And actually quite freeing.

    EDIT: the scare quotes there make it look sarky/mocking - that’s not what I mean
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,601

    Sleepy Starmer attack is weird. I don't think people realise he is as old as he is. Its not like bloody Joe Biden where he looks and sounds 100.

    I don't know if Biden has had something done around his eyes, but he always seems to have a kind of squint thesedays.

    But it's no beauty pagent.

    (I have no regrets wasting my one image on this)
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 30,221
    rkrkrk said:

    Doesn't seem helpful for Labour to be having this row but what do I know!? I do worry Starmer has miscalculated here...
    Technically Rayner and Starmer are on the same page. There is no reason Diane Abbott cannot stand. And until the NEC announces it has blocked her, as she expects it will, Diane is the candidate presumptive.
  • bigglesbiggles Posts: 6,754
    Andy_JS said:

    56% didn't vote for them, but the other parties were stupid enough to offer Hitler the top job.
    But it was safe to do so while Hindenburg was still President…
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 83,550
    The England and Wales Cricket board will sell stakes in the eight Hundred teams later this year and says the competition “will play a vital role in the future of our sport”.

    An agreement between the ECB and the 18 first-class counties has been reached over the distribution of funds from the sales, set to be worth hundreds of millions.

    The eight hosts of the teams will be given a 51% stake, which they can sell or keep, with the remaining 49% in each team sold by the ECB.
  • CookieCookie Posts: 14,834

    Off topic: But I did want to pass on my praise to the Edinburgh Eagles and the Edinburgh Giants for helping Oona Dooks make her climb.
    source$: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/05/30/rugby-players-edinburgh-wheelchair-climb/

    Nice work, guys! And good for Oona in making it up (with a little help from her friends).

    Oona Dooks is quite a name.

    A nice story though.

    I don't know if you've ever been to Edinburgh, Jim, but Arthur's Seat is well worth a climb. There aren't many mountains in the middle of cities.
  • bigglesbiggles Posts: 6,754
    Cookie said:

    Oona Dooks is quite a name.

    A nice story though.

    I don't know if you've ever been to Edinburgh, Jim, but Arthur's Seat is well worth a climb. There aren't many mountains in the middle of cities.
    A tip. Don’t do it on the hottest day of the year, wearing sandals because it “looks like quite a nice path and after all it’s in the middle of a city”.
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 18,369
    kle4 said:

    I don't know if Biden has had something done around his eyes, but he always seems to have a kind of squint thesedays.

    But it's no beauty pagent.

    (I have no regrets wasting my one image on this)
    That remake of Orange Is The New Black looks rubbish.
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 30,221

    Already falling apart, at least for some. (Yes, it's the Mail, but the headline tells you all you need to know.)

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13473461/England-football-stars-EXEMPT-national-service.html
    A day after someone posted a video of Rishi ruling out an England goal (iirc Michael Owen so a middle-aged creator).
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 44,620

    Already falling apart, at least for some. (Yes, it's the Mail, but the headline tells you all you need to know.)

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13473461/England-football-stars-EXEMPT-national-service.html

    Already falling apart, at least for some. (Yes, it's the Mail, but the headline tells you all you need to know.)

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13473461/England-football-stars-EXEMPT-national-service.html
    Rangers will be wanting some of that, too.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 56,022
    Funny story of the day.

    A man charged in Michigan with driving on a suspended licence, appears in court virtually - from behind the wheel of his car!

    The judge didn’t see the funny side, looking at his record and knowing he didn’t have a driving licence, and ordered him to report to a police station that day. He was charged with another count of driving without a licence, and released on bail.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2024/05/30/man-driving-without-licence-joins-court-call-from-car/
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 62,375
    Eabhal said:

    One week in and you're already conjuring up a neo-fascist revolution led by 18 year olds. I suppose everyone has their safe space.
    No, that was me commenting if Labour fail to deliver- something I've mentioned before.

    Don't be silly.
This discussion has been closed.