Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.

Options

I suspect this is sub-optimal for the Tories and Sunak – politicalbetting.com

SystemSystem Posts: 11,848
edited June 16 in General
I suspect this is sub-optimal for the Tories and Sunak – politicalbetting.com

New ?@JLPartnersPolls? word cloud. What’s changed your mind about how you might vote? Two words stick out pic.twitter.com/gyqiGmbGDk

Read the full story here

«13456

Comments

  • Options
    FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 78,463
    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    Indeed I’ll develop that argument. One of the great problems with American food is not the cooking or the restaurants - the chains and the recipes - it’s the corruption of the basic ingredients. Fructose and hormones. Shit at the source

    There is also the corporate push for deskilled kitchens. It far cheaper to create recipes that require little to no equipment beyond a microwave or ones of those special ovens that cooks /steams in rapid time, and in doing so doesn't require actual trained chefs. Its like the school dinners here, but in the US you are now paying $20-30-40 (+20% tip) for it.
    20%? Dream on. 30%!!

    https://x.com/thespectator/status/1793582677196485030?s=46&t=bulOICNH15U6kB0MwE6Lfw
    The funniest (if you want to call it that) I have seen is demand for a tip at a self service check-out.

    When minimum wage in the US was exceptionally low it made some sense, but in some states the minimum wage is as high as $20/hr, then to ask for 20% minimum tip on top is absolute piss take.

    It has creeped into London as well. The automatic service charge of 15%, including some establishments who try to frame it as compulsory fee.
  • Options
    FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 78,463
    One word I would never attach to Farage is idiot. He knows exactly what he is doing.
  • Options
    SelebianSelebian Posts: 7,917
    'Sunak' is fairly prominent in that first word cloud, but I suspect not in a good way if it's post D-Day etc.

    Starmer much less prominent, which probably suits Labour - when you're far ahead you don't need people to be changing votes based on your leader, unless your leader is very electorally appealing.
  • Options
    wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 9,641
    https://x.com/Nigel_Farage/status/1800153898931695906?s=19
    'Drain the swamp'
    He's not even paying royalties!
  • Options
    AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 21,633

    Interesting odds appearing now on Bet365
    I'd recommend (as value) 12/1 on Jody McIntyre for WPB in Birmingham Yardley. They are pushing this one hard, its Labour's weakest held seat in Brum and although Jess P has a profile this might be closer than imagined given Labour's chaos in Birmingham.
    Value in the odds not a prediction........

    Word on the street has been Jess is toast since the Mayoralty when this guy did well.

    The most gratifying Portillo moments for the PB Tories will be Phillips, Streeting and Debonnaire.

    On the other hand Hunt, Penny and JRM all survive even if it is a bad night for the Tories.
    To be clear, are you predicting that Wes Streeting will lose his seat?
  • Options
    StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 15,450
    The Conservative problem is that their voters (and probably their candidates) are split pretty evenly. So both broad strategies (we hail Nigel and we hate Nigel) will annoy some of the voters they are after.

    Hey ho. Should have (politically) strangled him at birth.
  • Options
    wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 9,641

    Interesting odds appearing now on Bet365
    I'd recommend (as value) 12/1 on Jody McIntyre for WPB in Birmingham Yardley. They are pushing this one hard, its Labour's weakest held seat in Brum and although Jess P has a profile this might be closer than imagined given Labour's chaos in Birmingham.
    Value in the odds not a prediction........

    Word on the street has been Jess is toast since the Mayoralty when this guy did well.

    The most gratifying Portillo moments for the PB Tories will be Phillips, Streeting and Debonnaire.

    On the other hand Hunt, Penny and JRM all survive even if it is a bad night for the Tories.
    To be clear, are you predicting that Wes Streeting will lose his seat?
    MexicanPete I think is confusing Jody McIntyre with Akhmed Yakoob who is against Shabhana Mahmood in Ladywood (and has a very good chance of getting close too, he's an indy). Jody will also run Jess close.
    Streeting is interesting. Swing in London will be much lower and if Leanne Mohammed (indy, gaza)gets traction Tories through the middle or her herself is unlikely but not unthinkable. DYOR
  • Options
    Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 29,062

    The Conservative problem is that their voters (and probably their candidates) are split pretty evenly. So both broad strategies (we hail Nigel and we hate Nigel) will annoy some of the voters they are after.

    Hey ho. Should have (politically) strangled him at birth.

    Thatcher somehow managed to appeal to both at the same time.
  • Options
    williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 49,355

    https://x.com/Nigel_Farage/status/1800153898931695906?s=19
    'Drain the swamp'
    He's not even paying royalties!

    Will we get Little Rishi and Lyin' Keir?
  • Options
    Sean_FSean_F Posts: 36,495
    It's surprising that 20% of Labour voters think that he has had a good influence on politics.
  • Options
    FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 78,463
    edited June 10

    https://x.com/Nigel_Farage/status/1800153898931695906?s=19
    'Drain the swamp'
    He's not even paying royalties!

    Will we get Little Rishi and Lyin' Keir?
    Robot Rishi. Dopey Davey. Keir Sanctimonious.
  • Options
    OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 15,446
    That sliding bar gentrification map of London on the previous thread is fascinating. The rapid gentrification of SE London, which I guess I have contributed to, is striking. It certainly accords with my own observation of how the areas around us have changed since we moved here in 2011, let alone when a friend moved to Brockley (which we'd never heard of) in the late 1990s and the area was awash with drug dealing and the local pub was full of NF supporters. If you know SE4 now that picture is impossible to visualise.
  • Options
    RichardrRichardr Posts: 87
    Sean_F said:

    It's surprising that 20% of Labour voters think that he has had a good influence on politics.

    Would someone who splits the other side and make a landslide for you with less than half the vote not be thought of as good?
  • Options
    FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 78,463
    edited June 10
    Sean_F said:

    It's surprising that 20% of Labour voters think that he has had a good influence on politics.

    Old School Labour Red Wallers who have concerns about immigration, but will return to voting Labour this time around?
  • Options
    pigeonpigeon Posts: 4,549
    Re: restaurants (FPT, can't quote, too fiddly on a primitive phone):

    "Middle class" chains: I find Pizza Express very reliable, Nando's variable and overrated.

    Pub food: is pot luck, but certainly not uniformly bad. Two examples that I frequent semi-regularly spring to mind, one good, one very good.

    As big a factor in the quality of mid-range restaurants as that of the food itself is that of the service, especially how bloody slow some of them are. They fail to employ enough people to wait tables and/or make the stuff in the first place, so even if it's very good it takes so long to arrive that it ruins the experience. I've given up on one local restaurant entirely because of this; I recently went into another, sat at table for an age and then walked out again when it became obvious that the one woman they had taking orders was going to take about two hours just to get to us. Hopeless.
  • Options
    AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 21,633

    Interesting odds appearing now on Bet365
    I'd recommend (as value) 12/1 on Jody McIntyre for WPB in Birmingham Yardley. They are pushing this one hard, its Labour's weakest held seat in Brum and although Jess P has a profile this might be closer than imagined given Labour's chaos in Birmingham.
    Value in the odds not a prediction........

    Word on the street has been Jess is toast since the Mayoralty when this guy did well.

    The most gratifying Portillo moments for the PB Tories will be Phillips, Streeting and Debonnaire.

    On the other hand Hunt, Penny and JRM all survive even if it is a bad night for the Tories.
    To be clear, are you predicting that Wes Streeting will lose his seat?
    MexicanPete I think is confusing Jody McIntyre with Akhmed Yakoob who is against Shabhana Mahmood in Ladywood (and has a very good chance of getting close too, he's an indy). Jody will also run Jess close.
    Streeting is interesting. Swing in London will be much lower and if Leanne Mohammed (indy, gaza)gets traction Tories through the middle or her herself is unlikely but not unthinkable. DYOR
    I'm more interested in Mexican's prediction. He couches his posts in the language of certainty.

    Some might say he does it to garner attention rather than as a betting tip. Indeed, if all of his 'racing certainties' come in he will be a very rich man!!!
  • Options
    MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 26,296

    https://x.com/Nigel_Farage/status/1800153898931695906?s=19
    'Drain the swamp'
    He's not even paying royalties!

    Will we get Little Rishi and Lyin' Keir?
    Little Rishi is quite positive. Lyin' Keir on the other hand smacks of a disgusting Charlatan.
  • Options
    pigeonpigeon Posts: 4,549
    Andy_JS said:

    The Conservative problem is that their voters (and probably their candidates) are split pretty evenly. So both broad strategies (we hail Nigel and we hate Nigel) will annoy some of the voters they are after.

    Hey ho. Should have (politically) strangled him at birth.

    Thatcher somehow managed to appeal to both at the same time.
    A figure from a bygone era. Strategies that worked a treat for her (e.g. gay bashing) aren't quite as effective as they used to be, thank God.
  • Options
    OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 15,446
    pigeon said:

    Re: restaurants (FPT, can't quote, too fiddly on a primitive phone):

    "Middle class" chains: I find Pizza Express very reliable, Nando's variable and overrated.

    Pub food: is pot luck, but certainly not uniformly bad. Two examples that I frequent semi-regularly spring to mind, one good, one very good.

    As big a factor in the quality of mid-range restaurants as that of the food itself is that of the service, especially how bloody slow some of them are. They fail to employ enough people to wait tables and/or make the stuff in the first place, so even if it's very good it takes so long to arrive that it ruins the experience. I've given up on one local restaurant entirely because of this; I recently went into another, sat at table for an age and then walked out again when it became obvious that the one woman they had taking orders was going to take about two hours just to get to us. Hopeless.

    I much prefer Pizza Express to Nandos but the kids love Nandos for some unfathomable reason. I could quite happily eat every meal at Pizza Express for the rest of my life.
  • Options
    FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 78,463

    pigeon said:

    Re: restaurants (FPT, can't quote, too fiddly on a primitive phone):

    "Middle class" chains: I find Pizza Express very reliable, Nando's variable and overrated.

    Pub food: is pot luck, but certainly not uniformly bad. Two examples that I frequent semi-regularly spring to mind, one good, one very good.

    As big a factor in the quality of mid-range restaurants as that of the food itself is that of the service, especially how bloody slow some of them are. They fail to employ enough people to wait tables and/or make the stuff in the first place, so even if it's very good it takes so long to arrive that it ruins the experience. I've given up on one local restaurant entirely because of this; I recently went into another, sat at table for an age and then walked out again when it became obvious that the one woman they had taking orders was going to take about two hours just to get to us. Hopeless.

    I much prefer Pizza Express to Nandos but the kids love Nandos for some unfathomable reason. I could quite happily eat every meal at Pizza Express for the rest of my life.
    But the important question is, do they have broccoli with their Nandos?
  • Options
    noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 21,653
    Sean_F said:

    It's surprising that 20% of Labour voters think that he has had a good influence on politics.

    Not really. Labour Brexiteers plus Labour obsessives who want a divided right are not insignificant in number.

    Personally I don't see much of a gap between Farage and the likes of Braverman, Patel, JRM or Francois. So find it quite weird the number of Tories who are horrified at both the prospect of ex Tories now voting elsewhere whilst simultaneously claiming Farage is unpalatable.

    And Farage is a far better communicator than Braverman, Patel, JRM or Francois.
  • Options
    OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 15,446
    pigeon said:

    Andy_JS said:

    The Conservative problem is that their voters (and probably their candidates) are split pretty evenly. So both broad strategies (we hail Nigel and we hate Nigel) will annoy some of the voters they are after.

    Hey ho. Should have (politically) strangled him at birth.

    Thatcher somehow managed to appeal to both at the same time.
    A figure from a bygone era. Strategies that worked a treat for her (e.g. gay bashing) aren't quite as effective as they used to be, thank God.
    Thatcher's position on gay rights is sad. She started her career as a standout liberal on this issue on the Conservative benches but ended it with Section 28, which is a horrible stain on her legacy.
  • Options
    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 116,242

    pigeon said:

    Re: restaurants (FPT, can't quote, too fiddly on a primitive phone):

    "Middle class" chains: I find Pizza Express very reliable, Nando's variable and overrated.

    Pub food: is pot luck, but certainly not uniformly bad. Two examples that I frequent semi-regularly spring to mind, one good, one very good.

    As big a factor in the quality of mid-range restaurants as that of the food itself is that of the service, especially how bloody slow some of them are. They fail to employ enough people to wait tables and/or make the stuff in the first place, so even if it's very good it takes so long to arrive that it ruins the experience. I've given up on one local restaurant entirely because of this; I recently went into another, sat at table for an age and then walked out again when it became obvious that the one woman they had taking orders was going to take about two hours just to get to us. Hopeless.

    I much prefer Pizza Express to Nandos but the kids love Nandos for some unfathomable reason. I could quite happily eat every meal at Pizza Express for the rest of my life.
    Have you ever eaten at the Pizza Express in Woking?
  • Options
    OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 15,446

    pigeon said:

    Re: restaurants (FPT, can't quote, too fiddly on a primitive phone):

    "Middle class" chains: I find Pizza Express very reliable, Nando's variable and overrated.

    Pub food: is pot luck, but certainly not uniformly bad. Two examples that I frequent semi-regularly spring to mind, one good, one very good.

    As big a factor in the quality of mid-range restaurants as that of the food itself is that of the service, especially how bloody slow some of them are. They fail to employ enough people to wait tables and/or make the stuff in the first place, so even if it's very good it takes so long to arrive that it ruins the experience. I've given up on one local restaurant entirely because of this; I recently went into another, sat at table for an age and then walked out again when it became obvious that the one woman they had taking orders was going to take about two hours just to get to us. Hopeless.

    I much prefer Pizza Express to Nandos but the kids love Nandos for some unfathomable reason. I could quite happily eat every meal at Pizza Express for the rest of my life.
    But the important question is, do they have broccoli with their Nandos?
    I think so, they all like broccoli.
  • Options
    FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 78,463
    edited June 10

    pigeon said:

    Re: restaurants (FPT, can't quote, too fiddly on a primitive phone):

    "Middle class" chains: I find Pizza Express very reliable, Nando's variable and overrated.

    Pub food: is pot luck, but certainly not uniformly bad. Two examples that I frequent semi-regularly spring to mind, one good, one very good.

    As big a factor in the quality of mid-range restaurants as that of the food itself is that of the service, especially how bloody slow some of them are. They fail to employ enough people to wait tables and/or make the stuff in the first place, so even if it's very good it takes so long to arrive that it ruins the experience. I've given up on one local restaurant entirely because of this; I recently went into another, sat at table for an age and then walked out again when it became obvious that the one woman they had taking orders was going to take about two hours just to get to us. Hopeless.

    I much prefer Pizza Express to Nandos but the kids love Nandos for some unfathomable reason. I could quite happily eat every meal at Pizza Express for the rest of my life.
    Have you ever eaten at the Pizza Express in Woking?
    It amazing have not a single person has come out of the woodwork to claim they also remember the infamous visit. Anybody would think it didn't happen.
  • Options
    MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 45,800

    pigeon said:

    Re: restaurants (FPT, can't quote, too fiddly on a primitive phone):

    "Middle class" chains: I find Pizza Express very reliable, Nando's variable and overrated.

    Pub food: is pot luck, but certainly not uniformly bad. Two examples that I frequent semi-regularly spring to mind, one good, one very good.

    As big a factor in the quality of mid-range restaurants as that of the food itself is that of the service, especially how bloody slow some of them are. They fail to employ enough people to wait tables and/or make the stuff in the first place, so even if it's very good it takes so long to arrive that it ruins the experience. I've given up on one local restaurant entirely because of this; I recently went into another, sat at table for an age and then walked out again when it became obvious that the one woman they had taking orders was going to take about two hours just to get to us. Hopeless.

    I much prefer Pizza Express to Nandos but the kids love Nandos for some unfathomable reason. I could quite happily eat every meal at Pizza Express for the rest of my life.
    Have you ever eaten at the Pizza Express in Woking?
    Pizza Express, Dean St, in London is of interest. If you like live Jazz….
  • Options
    FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 78,463
    A consortium of international investors, which involves a member of the Saudi royal family, has made a £400m offer to buy Premier League club Everton.
  • Options
    Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 29,062
    edited June 10
    The only thing I know about Woking is that Paul Weller and The Jam were/are from there.
  • Options
    RandallFlaggRandallFlagg Posts: 1,209

    Interesting odds appearing now on Bet365
    I'd recommend (as value) 12/1 on Jody McIntyre for WPB in Birmingham Yardley. They are pushing this one hard, its Labour's weakest held seat in Brum and although Jess P has a profile this might be closer than imagined given Labour's chaos in Birmingham.
    Value in the odds not a prediction........

    Word on the street has been Jess is toast since the Mayoralty when this guy did well.

    The most gratifying Portillo moments for the PB Tories will be Phillips, Streeting and Debonnaire.

    On the other hand Hunt, Penny and JRM all survive even if it is a bad night for the Tories.
    To be clear, are you predicting that Wes Streeting will lose his seat?
    MexicanPete I think is confusing Jody McIntyre with Akhmed Yakoob who is against Shabhana Mahmood in Ladywood (and has a very good chance of getting close too, he's an indy). Jody will also run Jess close.
    Streeting is interesting. Swing in London will be much lower and if Leanne Mohammed (indy, gaza)gets traction Tories through the middle or her herself is unlikely but not unthinkable. DYOR
    Mahmood's constituency contains Newtown, Digbeth, the City Centre, and the Jewellery Quarter.... which mostly consists of black and mixed race voters and young, white middle-class professionals living in the city centre. If she doesn't get completely trounced in Alum Rock, Small Heath etc. she'll be ok.
  • Options
    pigeonpigeon Posts: 4,549

    pigeon said:

    Andy_JS said:

    The Conservative problem is that their voters (and probably their candidates) are split pretty evenly. So both broad strategies (we hail Nigel and we hate Nigel) will annoy some of the voters they are after.

    Hey ho. Should have (politically) strangled him at birth.

    Thatcher somehow managed to appeal to both at the same time.
    A figure from a bygone era. Strategies that worked a treat for her (e.g. gay bashing) aren't quite as effective as they used to be, thank God.
    Thatcher's position on gay rights is sad. She started her career as a standout liberal on this issue on the Conservative benches but ended it with Section 28, which is a horrible stain on her legacy.
    I dare say that it appealed to White Van Man, which is what mattered by that stage.
  • Options
    LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 16,773
    edited June 10

    pigeon said:

    Re: restaurants (FPT, can't quote, too fiddly on a primitive phone):

    "Middle class" chains: I find Pizza Express very reliable, Nando's variable and overrated.

    Pub food: is pot luck, but certainly not uniformly bad. Two examples that I frequent semi-regularly spring to mind, one good, one very good.

    As big a factor in the quality of mid-range restaurants as that of the food itself is that of the service, especially how bloody slow some of them are. They fail to employ enough people to wait tables and/or make the stuff in the first place, so even if it's very good it takes so long to arrive that it ruins the experience. I've given up on one local restaurant entirely because of this; I recently went into another, sat at table for an age and then walked out again when it became obvious that the one woman they had taking orders was going to take about two hours just to get to us. Hopeless.

    I much prefer Pizza Express to Nandos but the kids love Nandos for some unfathomable reason. I could quite happily eat every meal at Pizza Express for the rest of my life.
    I would genuinely prefer to go to Pizza Hut than Pizza Express, though as you are in London there are loads of independent pizza places that are superior to both all over the place, but if in provincial England and not fortunate to have that option it would be Pizza Hut every time.
  • Options
    RogerRoger Posts: 19,381
    edited June 10

    pigeon said:

    Andy_JS said:

    The Conservative problem is that their voters (and probably their candidates) are split pretty evenly. So both broad strategies (we hail Nigel and we hate Nigel) will annoy some of the voters they are after.

    Hey ho. Should have (politically) strangled him at birth.

    Thatcher somehow managed to appeal to both at the same time.
    A figure from a bygone era. Strategies that worked a treat for her (e.g. gay bashing) aren't quite as effective as they used to be, thank God.
    Thatcher's position on gay rights is sad. She started her career as a standout liberal on this issue on the Conservative benches but ended it with Section 28, which is a horrible stain on her legacy.
    Her boasting about being the only country not to have sanctions against apartheid South Africa pipped her gay bashing for me. I just don't get this Thatcher revisionism.
  • Options
    WhisperingOracleWhisperingOracle Posts: 8,717
    Andy_JS said:

    The only thing I know about Woking is that Paul Weller and The Jam were/are from there.

    It's now, by name, the most Woke town in the commuter belt.

    Leon will be giving it a wide berth.
  • Options
    ToryJimToryJim Posts: 4,111
    I cannot begin to comprehend how children of 12 can end up committing a crime of this level of calculated depravity. No doubt police forces will soon embark on yet more ludicrous knife amnesties.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz99py9rgz5o
  • Options
    MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 26,296

    Interesting odds appearing now on Bet365
    I'd recommend (as value) 12/1 on Jody McIntyre for WPB in Birmingham Yardley. They are pushing this one hard, its Labour's weakest held seat in Brum and although Jess P has a profile this might be closer than imagined given Labour's chaos in Birmingham.
    Value in the odds not a prediction........

    Word on the street has been Jess is toast since the Mayoralty when this guy did well.

    The most gratifying Portillo moments for the PB Tories will be Phillips, Streeting and Debonnaire.

    On the other hand Hunt, Penny and JRM all survive even if it is a bad night for the Tories.
    To be clear, are you predicting that Wes Streeting will lose his seat?
    MexicanPete I think is confusing Jody McIntyre with Akhmed Yakoob who is against Shabhana Mahmood in Ladywood (and has a very good chance of getting close too, he's an indy). Jody will also run Jess close.
    Streeting is interesting. Swing in London will be much lower and if Leanne Mohammed (indy, gaza)gets traction Tories through the middle or her herself is unlikely but not unthinkable. DYOR
    I'm more interested in Mexican's prediction. He couches his posts in the language of certainty.

    Some might say he does it to garner attention rather than as a betting tip. Indeed, if all of his 'racing certainties' come in he will be a very rich man!!!
    I'm only on a Tory majority at 12. It circa 50 now, but I am less inclined than I was.

    Sorry about the Ladywood/ Yardley error.
  • Options
    BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 33,412

    pigeon said:

    Re: restaurants (FPT, can't quote, too fiddly on a primitive phone):

    "Middle class" chains: I find Pizza Express very reliable, Nando's variable and overrated.

    Pub food: is pot luck, but certainly not uniformly bad. Two examples that I frequent semi-regularly spring to mind, one good, one very good.

    As big a factor in the quality of mid-range restaurants as that of the food itself is that of the service, especially how bloody slow some of them are. They fail to employ enough people to wait tables and/or make the stuff in the first place, so even if it's very good it takes so long to arrive that it ruins the experience. I've given up on one local restaurant entirely because of this; I recently went into another, sat at table for an age and then walked out again when it became obvious that the one woman they had taking orders was going to take about two hours just to get to us. Hopeless.

    I much prefer Pizza Express to Nandos but the kids love Nandos for some unfathomable reason. I could quite happily eat every meal at Pizza Express for the rest of my life.
    Have you ever eaten at the Pizza Express in Woking?
    It amazing have not a single person has come out of the woodwork to claim they also remember the infamous visit. Anybody would think it didn't happen.
    Unfathomable that none of the staff have sold their story of his visit to a tabloid.
  • Options
    SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 21,397
    Andy_JS said:

    The only thing I know about Woking is that Paul Weller and The Jam were/are from there.

    "I know I come from Woking
    And you think I'm a fraud
    But my heart lies in the city, where it belongs"

    (In the City)
  • Options
    MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 50,808

    pigeon said:

    Re: restaurants (FPT, can't quote, too fiddly on a primitive phone):

    "Middle class" chains: I find Pizza Express very reliable, Nando's variable and overrated.

    Pub food: is pot luck, but certainly not uniformly bad. Two examples that I frequent semi-regularly spring to mind, one good, one very good.

    As big a factor in the quality of mid-range restaurants as that of the food itself is that of the service, especially how bloody slow some of them are. They fail to employ enough people to wait tables and/or make the stuff in the first place, so even if it's very good it takes so long to arrive that it ruins the experience. I've given up on one local restaurant entirely because of this; I recently went into another, sat at table for an age and then walked out again when it became obvious that the one woman they had taking orders was going to take about two hours just to get to us. Hopeless.

    I much prefer Pizza Express to Nandos but the kids love Nandos for some unfathomable reason. I could quite happily eat every meal at Pizza Express for the rest of my life.
    the rest of my short life....
  • Options
    CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 41,324

    pigeon said:

    Re: restaurants (FPT, can't quote, too fiddly on a primitive phone):

    "Middle class" chains: I find Pizza Express very reliable, Nando's variable and overrated.

    Pub food: is pot luck, but certainly not uniformly bad. Two examples that I frequent semi-regularly spring to mind, one good, one very good.

    As big a factor in the quality of mid-range restaurants as that of the food itself is that of the service, especially how bloody slow some of them are. They fail to employ enough people to wait tables and/or make the stuff in the first place, so even if it's very good it takes so long to arrive that it ruins the experience. I've given up on one local restaurant entirely because of this; I recently went into another, sat at table for an age and then walked out again when it became obvious that the one woman they had taking orders was going to take about two hours just to get to us. Hopeless.

    I much prefer Pizza Express to Nandos but the kids love Nandos for some unfathomable reason. I could quite happily eat every meal at Pizza Express for the rest of my life.
    I would genuinely prefer to go to Pizza Hut than Pizza Express, though as you are in London there are loads of independent pizza places that are superior to both all over the place, but if in provincial England and not fortunate to have that option it would be Pizza Hut every time.
    Pizza Hut is shit.
    I've never been. What's it like, apart from shite in your view? Italian authenticity?
  • Options
    OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 15,446

    pigeon said:

    Re: restaurants (FPT, can't quote, too fiddly on a primitive phone):

    "Middle class" chains: I find Pizza Express very reliable, Nando's variable and overrated.

    Pub food: is pot luck, but certainly not uniformly bad. Two examples that I frequent semi-regularly spring to mind, one good, one very good.

    As big a factor in the quality of mid-range restaurants as that of the food itself is that of the service, especially how bloody slow some of them are. They fail to employ enough people to wait tables and/or make the stuff in the first place, so even if it's very good it takes so long to arrive that it ruins the experience. I've given up on one local restaurant entirely because of this; I recently went into another, sat at table for an age and then walked out again when it became obvious that the one woman they had taking orders was going to take about two hours just to get to us. Hopeless.

    I much prefer Pizza Express to Nandos but the kids love Nandos for some unfathomable reason. I could quite happily eat every meal at Pizza Express for the rest of my life.
    I would genuinely prefer to go to Pizza Hut than Pizza Express, though as you are in London there are loads of independent pizza places that are superior to both all over the place, but if in provincial England and not fortunate to have that option it would be Pizza Hut every time.
    Really? I would put Pizza Hut in the same category as Dominos. We are lucky to have several independent pizza places nearby. But I actually rate Pizza Express pizzas. I worked in a pizza restaurant for four years when I was younger and would sometimes have pizza for lunch and dinner depending on the shift. Luckily I love pizza.
  • Options
    numbertwelvenumbertwelve Posts: 6,019

    pigeon said:

    Re: restaurants (FPT, can't quote, too fiddly on a primitive phone):

    "Middle class" chains: I find Pizza Express very reliable, Nando's variable and overrated.

    Pub food: is pot luck, but certainly not uniformly bad. Two examples that I frequent semi-regularly spring to mind, one good, one very good.

    As big a factor in the quality of mid-range restaurants as that of the food itself is that of the service, especially how bloody slow some of them are. They fail to employ enough people to wait tables and/or make the stuff in the first place, so even if it's very good it takes so long to arrive that it ruins the experience. I've given up on one local restaurant entirely because of this; I recently went into another, sat at table for an age and then walked out again when it became obvious that the one woman they had taking orders was going to take about two hours just to get to us. Hopeless.

    I much prefer Pizza Express to Nandos but the kids love Nandos for some unfathomable reason. I could quite happily eat every meal at Pizza Express for the rest of my life.
    I would genuinely prefer to go to Pizza Hut than Pizza Express, though as you are in London there are loads of independent pizza places that are superior to both all over the place, but if in provincial England and not fortunate to have that option it would be Pizza Hut every time.
    There’s plenty of decent options in “Provincial England” you know!
  • Options
    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 57,542
    Andy_JS said:

    The only thing I know about Woking is that Paul Weller and The Jam were/are from there.

    And, the Martians landed there.
  • Options
    AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 24,448
    Striking map showing german election results, Lead party in each constituency creates the old East West border 35 years after union

    https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article250850434/Europawahl-400-Wahlkreise-ausgezaehlt-Alle-Ergebnisse-im-Ueberblick.html?source=puerto-reco-2_ABC-V39.1.C_plus35
  • Options
    wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 9,641
    edited June 10

    Interesting odds appearing now on Bet365
    I'd recommend (as value) 12/1 on Jody McIntyre for WPB in Birmingham Yardley. They are pushing this one hard, its Labour's weakest held seat in Brum and although Jess P has a profile this might be closer than imagined given Labour's chaos in Birmingham.
    Value in the odds not a prediction........

    Word on the street has been Jess is toast since the Mayoralty when this guy did well.

    The most gratifying Portillo moments for the PB Tories will be Phillips, Streeting and Debonnaire.

    On the other hand Hunt, Penny and JRM all survive even if it is a bad night for the Tories.
    To be clear, are you predicting that Wes Streeting will lose his seat?
    MexicanPete I think is confusing Jody McIntyre with Akhmed Yakoob who is against Shabhana Mahmood in Ladywood (and has a very good chance of getting close too, he's an indy). Jody will also run Jess close.
    Streeting is interesting. Swing in London will be much lower and if Leanne Mohammed (indy, gaza)gets traction Tories through the middle or her herself is unlikely but not unthinkable. DYOR
    I'm more interested in Mexican's prediction. He couches his posts in the language of certainty.

    Some might say he does it to garner attention rather than as a betting tip. Indeed, if all of his 'racing certainties' come in he will be a very rich man!!!
    I'm only on a Tory majority at 12. It circa 50 now, but I am less inclined than I was.

    Sorry about the Ladywood/ Yardley error.
    Yakoob, the other indies and WPB are running a pretty much united campaign in Birmingham all supporting each other so any traction has a good chance of spilling over constituencies. Labour are very fortunate they have big majorities in most of Brum because they will leak votes like crazy
  • Options
    SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 21,397

    pigeon said:

    Re: restaurants (FPT, can't quote, too fiddly on a primitive phone):

    "Middle class" chains: I find Pizza Express very reliable, Nando's variable and overrated.

    Pub food: is pot luck, but certainly not uniformly bad. Two examples that I frequent semi-regularly spring to mind, one good, one very good.

    As big a factor in the quality of mid-range restaurants as that of the food itself is that of the service, especially how bloody slow some of them are. They fail to employ enough people to wait tables and/or make the stuff in the first place, so even if it's very good it takes so long to arrive that it ruins the experience. I've given up on one local restaurant entirely because of this; I recently went into another, sat at table for an age and then walked out again when it became obvious that the one woman they had taking orders was going to take about two hours just to get to us. Hopeless.

    I much prefer Pizza Express to Nandos but the kids love Nandos for some unfathomable reason. I could quite happily eat every meal at Pizza Express for the rest of my life.
    I would genuinely prefer to go to Pizza Hut than Pizza Express, though as you are in London there are loads of independent pizza places that are superior to both all over the place, but if in provincial England and not fortunate to have that option it would be Pizza Hut every time.
    Pizza Hut is to pizza what Spoons is to ale.
  • Options
    MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 50,808
    I though "c****" would hgave been high in that word cloud. "T***" lets him off too lightly.
  • Options
    CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 41,324

    That sliding bar gentrification map of London on the previous thread is fascinating. The rapid gentrification of SE London, which I guess I have contributed to, is striking. It certainly accords with my own observation of how the areas around us have changed since we moved here in 2011, let alone when a friend moved to Brockley (which we'd never heard of) in the late 1990s and the area was awash with drug dealing and the local pub was full of NF supporters. If you know SE4 now that picture is impossible to visualise.

    Quite so re Orpington/Bromley. But also Stratford area.

    Nothing new though, in urban history, I suppose ...
  • Options
    GhedebravGhedebrav Posts: 3,637

    Sean_F said:

    It's surprising that 20% of Labour voters think that he has had a good influence on politics.

    Old School Labour Red Wallers who have concerns about immigration, but will return to voting Labour this time around?
    TBH I think a lot of people even if they don't agree with him find it refreshing that somebody isn't a Party HQ Spinbot 3000.

    Most folk don't have anywhere near the granular interest in politics that we do and probably don't rake over his motives to the same degree.
  • Options
    SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 21,397
    Roger said:

    pigeon said:

    Andy_JS said:

    The Conservative problem is that their voters (and probably their candidates) are split pretty evenly. So both broad strategies (we hail Nigel and we hate Nigel) will annoy some of the voters they are after.

    Hey ho. Should have (politically) strangled him at birth.

    Thatcher somehow managed to appeal to both at the same time.
    A figure from a bygone era. Strategies that worked a treat for her (e.g. gay bashing) aren't quite as effective as they used to be, thank God.
    Thatcher's position on gay rights is sad. She started her career as a standout liberal on this issue on the Conservative benches but ended it with Section 28, which is a horrible stain on her legacy.
    Her boasting about being the only country not to have sanctions against apartheid South Africa pipped her gay bashing for me. I just don't get this Thatcher revisionism.
    Plus she was best mates with General Pinochet.
  • Options
    OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 15,446
    Roger said:

    pigeon said:

    Andy_JS said:

    The Conservative problem is that their voters (and probably their candidates) are split pretty evenly. So both broad strategies (we hail Nigel and we hate Nigel) will annoy some of the voters they are after.

    Hey ho. Should have (politically) strangled him at birth.

    Thatcher somehow managed to appeal to both at the same time.
    A figure from a bygone era. Strategies that worked a treat for her (e.g. gay bashing) aren't quite as effective as they used to be, thank God.
    Thatcher's position on gay rights is sad. She started her career as a standout liberal on this issue on the Conservative benches but ended it with Section 28, which is a horrible stain on her legacy.
    Her boasting about being the only country not to have sanctions against apartheid South Africa pipped her gay bashing for me. I just don't get this Thatcher revisionism.
    Yeah there's lots to not like about her, I will never be a fan although I do find myself admiring aspects of her character more as the quality of her political descendants has declined. But I think the Section 28 stuff is just really nasty and tawdry and hard to justify wherever you sit on the left-right spectrum.
  • Options
    AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 21,633
    edited June 10
    Carnyx said:

    pigeon said:

    Re: restaurants (FPT, can't quote, too fiddly on a primitive phone):

    "Middle class" chains: I find Pizza Express very reliable, Nando's variable and overrated.

    Pub food: is pot luck, but certainly not uniformly bad. Two examples that I frequent semi-regularly spring to mind, one good, one very good.

    As big a factor in the quality of mid-range restaurants as that of the food itself is that of the service, especially how bloody slow some of them are. They fail to employ enough people to wait tables and/or make the stuff in the first place, so even if it's very good it takes so long to arrive that it ruins the experience. I've given up on one local restaurant entirely because of this; I recently went into another, sat at table for an age and then walked out again when it became obvious that the one woman they had taking orders was going to take about two hours just to get to us. Hopeless.

    I much prefer Pizza Express to Nandos but the kids love Nandos for some unfathomable reason. I could quite happily eat every meal at Pizza Express for the rest of my life.
    I would genuinely prefer to go to Pizza Hut than Pizza Express, though as you are in London there are loads of independent pizza places that are superior to both all over the place, but if in provincial England and not fortunate to have that option it would be Pizza Hut every time.
    Pizza Hut is shit.
    I've never been. What's it like, apart from shite in your view? Italian authenticity?
    It's just commercial slop, big portions over authenticity. PX is vastly superior – but there are many better places.
  • Options
    LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 16,773
    edited June 10
    ToryJim said:

    I cannot begin to comprehend how children of 12 can end up committing a crime of this level of calculated depravity. No doubt police forces will soon embark on yet more ludicrous knife amnesties.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz99py9rgz5o

    It reads to me like a spur of the moment sort of thing, rather than a calculated act. Doesn't lessen the brutality, of course.

    The point of an amnesty would be that something like this wouldn't happen on a whim if the boys hadn't had such a weapon on their person. Of course, you'd expect the police to take other action too, but an amnesty doesn't strike me as being particularly objectionable.
  • Options
    BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 33,412

    Striking map showing german election results, Lead party in each constituency creates the old East West border 35 years after union

    https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article250850434/Europawahl-400-Wahlkreise-ausgezaehlt-Alle-Ergebnisse-im-Ueberblick.html?source=puerto-reco-2_ABC-V39.1.C_plus35

    The Soviets really screwed up the East didn't they?
  • Options
    TimSTimS Posts: 11,085

    That sliding bar gentrification map of London on the previous thread is fascinating. The rapid gentrification of SE London, which I guess I have contributed to, is striking. It certainly accords with my own observation of how the areas around us have changed since we moved here in 2011, let alone when a friend moved to Brockley (which we'd never heard of) in the late 1990s and the area was awash with drug dealing and the local pub was full of NF supporters. If you know SE4 now that picture is impossible to visualise.

    I moved to Brockley in 2000 after 2 years in Hatcham Park in SE14, and it was never that rough, aside from the drug problem at the Breakspear Arms (now a Wetherspoons). The housing stock was always pretty pleasant. There was just nothing to do, no decent shops or restaurants except for one well established Thai cafe, now sadly gone, and a wine bar in Crofton Park.
  • Options
    AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 21,633

    pigeon said:

    Re: restaurants (FPT, can't quote, too fiddly on a primitive phone):

    "Middle class" chains: I find Pizza Express very reliable, Nando's variable and overrated.

    Pub food: is pot luck, but certainly not uniformly bad. Two examples that I frequent semi-regularly spring to mind, one good, one very good.

    As big a factor in the quality of mid-range restaurants as that of the food itself is that of the service, especially how bloody slow some of them are. They fail to employ enough people to wait tables and/or make the stuff in the first place, so even if it's very good it takes so long to arrive that it ruins the experience. I've given up on one local restaurant entirely because of this; I recently went into another, sat at table for an age and then walked out again when it became obvious that the one woman they had taking orders was going to take about two hours just to get to us. Hopeless.

    I much prefer Pizza Express to Nandos but the kids love Nandos for some unfathomable reason. I could quite happily eat every meal at Pizza Express for the rest of my life.
    I would genuinely prefer to go to Pizza Hut than Pizza Express, though as you are in London there are loads of independent pizza places that are superior to both all over the place, but if in provincial England and not fortunate to have that option it would be Pizza Hut every time.
    Really? I would put Pizza Hut in the same category as Dominos. We are lucky to have several independent pizza places nearby. But I actually rate Pizza Express pizzas. I worked in a pizza restaurant for four years when I was younger and would sometimes have pizza for lunch and dinner depending on the shift. Luckily I love pizza.
    At least PX tries to have some nod to Italian cookery. PH is fast food garbage.
  • Options
    LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 16,773

    pigeon said:

    Re: restaurants (FPT, can't quote, too fiddly on a primitive phone):

    "Middle class" chains: I find Pizza Express very reliable, Nando's variable and overrated.

    Pub food: is pot luck, but certainly not uniformly bad. Two examples that I frequent semi-regularly spring to mind, one good, one very good.

    As big a factor in the quality of mid-range restaurants as that of the food itself is that of the service, especially how bloody slow some of them are. They fail to employ enough people to wait tables and/or make the stuff in the first place, so even if it's very good it takes so long to arrive that it ruins the experience. I've given up on one local restaurant entirely because of this; I recently went into another, sat at table for an age and then walked out again when it became obvious that the one woman they had taking orders was going to take about two hours just to get to us. Hopeless.

    I much prefer Pizza Express to Nandos but the kids love Nandos for some unfathomable reason. I could quite happily eat every meal at Pizza Express for the rest of my life.
    I would genuinely prefer to go to Pizza Hut than Pizza Express, though as you are in London there are loads of independent pizza places that are superior to both all over the place, but if in provincial England and not fortunate to have that option it would be Pizza Hut every time.
    Pizza Hut is shit.
    That's kinda my point. Pizza Express is worse.
  • Options
    noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 21,653
    edited June 10
    Franco Manca the best pizza chain and it is not even close.
  • Options
    SeaShantyIrish2SeaShantyIrish2 Posts: 16,233

    https://x.com/Nigel_Farage/status/1800153898931695906?s=19
    'Drain the swamp'
    He's not even paying royalties!

    Will we get Little Rishi and Lyin' Keir?
    Little Rishi is quite positive. Lyin' Keir on the other hand smacks of a disgusting Charlatan.
    Yes, good description of the poster who posted that.
  • Options
    turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 16,074

    ToryJim said:

    I cannot begin to comprehend how children of 12 can end up committing a crime of this level of calculated depravity. No doubt police forces will soon embark on yet more ludicrous knife amnesties.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz99py9rgz5o

    It reads to me like a spur of the moment sort of thing, rather than a calculated act. Doesn't lessen the brutality, of course.

    The point of an amnesty would be that something like this wouldn't happen on a whim if the boys hadn't had such a weapon on their person. Of course, you'd expect the police to take other action too, but an amnesty doesn't strike me as being particularly objectionable.
    I'm probably out of touch but this doesn't seem like normal behaviour to me:

    "The court heard one of the boys regularly carried a machete, and had been passing it between him and his co-accused that day."
  • Options
    LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 16,773

    pigeon said:

    Re: restaurants (FPT, can't quote, too fiddly on a primitive phone):

    "Middle class" chains: I find Pizza Express very reliable, Nando's variable and overrated.

    Pub food: is pot luck, but certainly not uniformly bad. Two examples that I frequent semi-regularly spring to mind, one good, one very good.

    As big a factor in the quality of mid-range restaurants as that of the food itself is that of the service, especially how bloody slow some of them are. They fail to employ enough people to wait tables and/or make the stuff in the first place, so even if it's very good it takes so long to arrive that it ruins the experience. I've given up on one local restaurant entirely because of this; I recently went into another, sat at table for an age and then walked out again when it became obvious that the one woman they had taking orders was going to take about two hours just to get to us. Hopeless.

    I much prefer Pizza Express to Nandos but the kids love Nandos for some unfathomable reason. I could quite happily eat every meal at Pizza Express for the rest of my life.
    I would genuinely prefer to go to Pizza Hut than Pizza Express, though as you are in London there are loads of independent pizza places that are superior to both all over the place, but if in provincial England and not fortunate to have that option it would be Pizza Hut every time.
    Really? I would put Pizza Hut in the same category as Dominos. We are lucky to have several independent pizza places nearby. But I actually rate Pizza Express pizzas. I worked in a pizza restaurant for four years when I was younger and would sometimes have pizza for lunch and dinner depending on the shift. Luckily I love pizza.
    I think the pizzas at Pizza Express are the worst pizzas I have ever eaten.
  • Options
    williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 49,355

    ToryJim said:

    I cannot begin to comprehend how children of 12 can end up committing a crime of this level of calculated depravity. No doubt police forces will soon embark on yet more ludicrous knife amnesties.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz99py9rgz5o

    It reads to me like a spur of the moment sort of thing, rather than a calculated act. Doesn't lessen the brutality, of course.

    The point of an amnesty would be that something like this wouldn't happen on a whim if the boys hadn't had such a weapon on their person. Of course, you'd expect the police to take other action too, but an amnesty doesn't strike me as being particularly objectionable.
    I'm probably out of touch but this doesn't seem like normal behaviour to me:

    "The court heard one of the boys regularly carried a machete, and had been passing it between him and his co-accused that day."
    Have the boys been named?
  • Options
    BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 33,412
    edited June 10

    pigeon said:

    Re: restaurants (FPT, can't quote, too fiddly on a primitive phone):

    "Middle class" chains: I find Pizza Express very reliable, Nando's variable and overrated.

    Pub food: is pot luck, but certainly not uniformly bad. Two examples that I frequent semi-regularly spring to mind, one good, one very good.

    As big a factor in the quality of mid-range restaurants as that of the food itself is that of the service, especially how bloody slow some of them are. They fail to employ enough people to wait tables and/or make the stuff in the first place, so even if it's very good it takes so long to arrive that it ruins the experience. I've given up on one local restaurant entirely because of this; I recently went into another, sat at table for an age and then walked out again when it became obvious that the one woman they had taking orders was going to take about two hours just to get to us. Hopeless.

    I much prefer Pizza Express to Nandos but the kids love Nandos for some unfathomable reason. I could quite happily eat every meal at Pizza Express for the rest of my life.
    I would genuinely prefer to go to Pizza Hut than Pizza Express, though as you are in London there are loads of independent pizza places that are superior to both all over the place, but if in provincial England and not fortunate to have that option it would be Pizza Hut every time.
    Really? I would put Pizza Hut in the same category as Dominos. We are lucky to have several independent pizza places nearby. But I actually rate Pizza Express pizzas. I worked in a pizza restaurant for four years when I was younger and would sometimes have pizza for lunch and dinner depending on the shift. Luckily I love pizza.
    I think the pizzas at Pizza Express are the worst pizzas I have ever eaten.
    You've obviously never been subjected to Dominos
  • Options
    CookieCookie Posts: 12,169

    pigeon said:

    Re: restaurants (FPT, can't quote, too fiddly on a primitive phone):

    "Middle class" chains: I find Pizza Express very reliable, Nando's variable and overrated.

    Pub food: is pot luck, but certainly not uniformly bad. Two examples that I frequent semi-regularly spring to mind, one good, one very good.

    As big a factor in the quality of mid-range restaurants as that of the food itself is that of the service, especially how bloody slow some of them are. They fail to employ enough people to wait tables and/or make the stuff in the first place, so even if it's very good it takes so long to arrive that it ruins the experience. I've given up on one local restaurant entirely because of this; I recently went into another, sat at table for an age and then walked out again when it became obvious that the one woman they had taking orders was going to take about two hours just to get to us. Hopeless.

    I much prefer Pizza Express to Nandos but the kids love Nandos for some unfathomable reason. I could quite happily eat every meal at Pizza Express for the rest of my life.
    I would genuinely prefer to go to Pizza Hut than Pizza Express, though as you are in London there are loads of independent pizza places that are superior to both all over the place, but if in provincial England and not fortunate to have that option it would be Pizza Hut every time.
    Pizza Hut is to pizza what Spoons is to ale.
    I don't think that's fair. You can drink reasonably well in most Spoons.

    I do have a soft spot for Pizza Express. I really like their Caffe Reals. (sp?) Plus, you used to be able to eat there astonishingly cheaply with tesco vouchers. Not eaten there for a few years - after being a foodie desert for years, my home town is now surprisingly awash with good food options, including a couple of very good independent pizzerias.

  • Options
    LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 16,773

    pigeon said:

    Re: restaurants (FPT, can't quote, too fiddly on a primitive phone):

    "Middle class" chains: I find Pizza Express very reliable, Nando's variable and overrated.

    Pub food: is pot luck, but certainly not uniformly bad. Two examples that I frequent semi-regularly spring to mind, one good, one very good.

    As big a factor in the quality of mid-range restaurants as that of the food itself is that of the service, especially how bloody slow some of them are. They fail to employ enough people to wait tables and/or make the stuff in the first place, so even if it's very good it takes so long to arrive that it ruins the experience. I've given up on one local restaurant entirely because of this; I recently went into another, sat at table for an age and then walked out again when it became obvious that the one woman they had taking orders was going to take about two hours just to get to us. Hopeless.

    I much prefer Pizza Express to Nandos but the kids love Nandos for some unfathomable reason. I could quite happily eat every meal at Pizza Express for the rest of my life.
    I would genuinely prefer to go to Pizza Hut than Pizza Express, though as you are in London there are loads of independent pizza places that are superior to both all over the place, but if in provincial England and not fortunate to have that option it would be Pizza Hut every time.
    There’s plenty of decent options in “Provincial England” you know!
    I'm sure there are, in plenty of places, but quite often there aren't.
  • Options
    TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 40,838
    Andy_JS said:

    The only thing I know about Woking is that Paul Weller and The Jam were/are from there.

    Weller not a Starmer fan.

    https://x.com/bigissue/status/1797589896787583358?s=61&t=LYVEHh2mqFy1oUJAdCfe-Q
  • Options
    FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 78,463

    pigeon said:

    Re: restaurants (FPT, can't quote, too fiddly on a primitive phone):

    "Middle class" chains: I find Pizza Express very reliable, Nando's variable and overrated.

    Pub food: is pot luck, but certainly not uniformly bad. Two examples that I frequent semi-regularly spring to mind, one good, one very good.

    As big a factor in the quality of mid-range restaurants as that of the food itself is that of the service, especially how bloody slow some of them are. They fail to employ enough people to wait tables and/or make the stuff in the first place, so even if it's very good it takes so long to arrive that it ruins the experience. I've given up on one local restaurant entirely because of this; I recently went into another, sat at table for an age and then walked out again when it became obvious that the one woman they had taking orders was going to take about two hours just to get to us. Hopeless.

    I much prefer Pizza Express to Nandos but the kids love Nandos for some unfathomable reason. I could quite happily eat every meal at Pizza Express for the rest of my life.
    I would genuinely prefer to go to Pizza Hut than Pizza Express, though as you are in London there are loads of independent pizza places that are superior to both all over the place, but if in provincial England and not fortunate to have that option it would be Pizza Hut every time.
    Really? I would put Pizza Hut in the same category as Dominos. We are lucky to have several independent pizza places nearby. But I actually rate Pizza Express pizzas. I worked in a pizza restaurant for four years when I was younger and would sometimes have pizza for lunch and dinner depending on the shift. Luckily I love pizza.
    I think the pizzas at Pizza Express are the worst pizzas I have ever eaten.
    You've obviously never been subjected to Dominos
    Now that i don't understand....they aren't even cheap.
  • Options
    Daveyboy1961Daveyboy1961 Posts: 3,560

    I though "c****" would hgave been high in that word cloud. "T***" lets him off too lightly.

    i must be naive, but I thought it meant twit.
  • Options
    rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 54,941

    pigeon said:

    Re: restaurants (FPT, can't quote, too fiddly on a primitive phone):

    "Middle class" chains: I find Pizza Express very reliable, Nando's variable and overrated.

    Pub food: is pot luck, but certainly not uniformly bad. Two examples that I frequent semi-regularly spring to mind, one good, one very good.

    As big a factor in the quality of mid-range restaurants as that of the food itself is that of the service, especially how bloody slow some of them are. They fail to employ enough people to wait tables and/or make the stuff in the first place, so even if it's very good it takes so long to arrive that it ruins the experience. I've given up on one local restaurant entirely because of this; I recently went into another, sat at table for an age and then walked out again when it became obvious that the one woman they had taking orders was going to take about two hours just to get to us. Hopeless.

    I much prefer Pizza Express to Nandos but the kids love Nandos for some unfathomable reason. I could quite happily eat every meal at Pizza Express for the rest of my life.
    I would genuinely prefer to go to Pizza Hut than Pizza Express, though as you are in London there are loads of independent pizza places that are superior to both all over the place, but if in provincial England and not fortunate to have that option it would be Pizza Hut every time.
    Really? I would put Pizza Hut in the same category as Dominos. We are lucky to have several independent pizza places nearby. But I actually rate Pizza Express pizzas. I worked in a pizza restaurant for four years when I was younger and would sometimes have pizza for lunch and dinner depending on the shift. Luckily I love pizza.
    Pizza Hut tomato sauce is bizarrely - and disgustingly - sweet.
  • Options
    turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 16,074

    ToryJim said:

    I cannot begin to comprehend how children of 12 can end up committing a crime of this level of calculated depravity. No doubt police forces will soon embark on yet more ludicrous knife amnesties.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz99py9rgz5o

    It reads to me like a spur of the moment sort of thing, rather than a calculated act. Doesn't lessen the brutality, of course.

    The point of an amnesty would be that something like this wouldn't happen on a whim if the boys hadn't had such a weapon on their person. Of course, you'd expect the police to take other action too, but an amnesty doesn't strike me as being particularly objectionable.
    I'm probably out of touch but this doesn't seem like normal behaviour to me:

    "The court heard one of the boys regularly carried a machete, and had been passing it between him and his co-accused that day."
    Have the boys been named?
    Not yet - I suppose the judge will have to determine whether they should be.

    I have mixed feelings about naming them. In one sense we should have a right to know, but to what end? 12 year old kids don't suddenly do things like this from nowhere -something has gone very wrong in their lives and upbringing. This is NOT normal behaviour.
  • Options
    FarooqFarooq Posts: 12,418
    edited June 10
    Farooq said:

    Farooq said:

    Ok, I've compiled 25 questions for the General Election Competition.
    Thanks to everyone who's made suggestions. A reminder that I've dropped all non-numerical questions, so if someone wants to run something parallel asking questions like "in which seat will..." then be my guest.

    Also, I've devised a fiendish scoring system to make sure all questions count equally. That is, on difficult questions like "how many seats will Labour win?" just as many points will be given out as easier questions like "how many seats will the DUP get?" Obviously it's easier to hit the exact right number with the DUP one than the Labour one, but my scoring system flattens that out.

    In essence the most important thing is that you give better answers than other people. Being 1 off the Labour seats will probably earn you big points, but being 1 off with DUP seats might well get you nothing at all.

    More details on the scoring will follow later, but for now... the questions!

    General Election Competition

    In how many seats will:
    1. Reform beat Conservative (don't count draws)?
    2. Labour finish 3rd or lower (don't count where they didn't stand)?
    3. Conservatives lose their deposit?
    4. Lib Dems lose their deposit?
    5. Reform lose their deposit?
    6. Labour lose their deposit?

    How big:
    7. Will the largest winning vote margin be?
    8. Will the biggest notional majority defeated be (only count where the incumbent party stands)?

    How small:
    9. Will the smallest winning vote margin be (1st - 2nd)?
    10. Will the smallest gap between 1st and 3rd be?
    11. Will the lowest number of votes for any candidate?

    How many:
    12. Parties will be elected (whether or not they take their seats. All true independents are grouped as a single party)?
    13. Seats will the Conservatives win?
    14. Seats will Labour win?
    15. Seats will Lib Dems win?
    16. Seats will the SNP win?
    17. Seats will Sinn Fein win?
    18. Seats will DUP win?
    19. Seats will Reform come second in?

    What percentage vote:
    20. Will Conservatives get across the UK?
    21. Will Reform get across the UK?
    22. Will SNP get in Scotland?
    23. Will be lowest of any winning candidate?
    24. Will be highest of any 2nd place candidate?
    25. Will Speaker get?

    Rules:
    "Independent" means the candidate has no party affiliation or where the party is standing in a single seat.
    Candidates nominated for a party who are suspended by their party after nominations close still count for the party.
    "Green" treats the Green Parties in England & Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland as a single party.
    All entries must be made before midday on polling day, 4th July

    Please tag @Farooq in your answers so I'm less likely to miss them.
    My own answers:

    1 Ref > Con 77
    2 Lab 3rd 65
    3 deposits: Con 39
    4 LibDem 98
    5 Ref 111
    6 Lab 10
    7 max winning vote margin 38110
    8 max notional majority beaten 11288
    9 min winning vote margin 22
    10 min gap 1st to 3rd 778
    11 min candidate votes 27
    12 count parties elected 12
    13 seats: Con 159
    14 Lab 404
    15 LibDem 42
    16 SNP 19
    17 SF 7
    18 DUP 5
    19 Ref 2nd places 132
    20 Con % 26.9
    21 Ref % 11.8
    22 SNP Scot% 33
    23 min winning % 27.29
    24 max losing % 44.34
    25 Speaker % 63.3

    I've logged answers for Farooq, Ghedebrav, Cookie, biggles.
    Any other answers, please tag @Farooq so I see it
  • Options
    TimSTimS Posts: 11,085

    Franco Manca the best pizza chain and it is not even close.

    Only if you like thicker doughy crust. Which I do, sometimes. But sometimes it’s nice to have a thinner one. PX Romana crusts do the job.
  • Options
    SelebianSelebian Posts: 7,917

    Striking map showing german election results, Lead party in each constituency creates the old East West border 35 years after union

    https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article250850434/Europawahl-400-Wahlkreise-ausgezaehlt-Alle-Ergebnisse-im-Ueberblick.html?source=puerto-reco-2_ABC-V39.1.C_plus35

    It is indeed striking. But then, the 2019 (or 2015!) UK general election map pretty neatly recreates the old England-Scotland border 300 years after union :wink:
  • Options
    stodgestodge Posts: 13,207
    Afternoon all :)

    Out and about in North London this morning - found a pleasant cafe near Archway for an early lunch but parts of North London, and I say this as an East Londoner, are pretty awful. There are homeless all over the streets and shoplifting, as I saw in a branch of Wenzels, is endemic with two people coming in, nicking a sandwich and running off.

    To be fair, shoplifting is a huge problem in East London along with fare evasion but I presume the supermarkets and food companies, along with Transport for London, have decided the cost of trying to prevent the theft or evasion set against the actual amounts lost or fares not collected, isn't justifiable. If they can live it what is anyone else going to do? It's much harder if you're running a small corner shop and you lose N% of your income to theft.

    Some might say the poor, along with unrealistic expectations for our national football team, will always be with us.

    It's amazing and amusing to hear one of the few Tory sympathisers on here this morning bemoaning the level of debt interest payments and the impact that has on the public finances. Yet no one thought borrowing a bad idea when it was all the rage and interest rates were low. Said finances have been badly managed for decades but as has been said by more than a few, we can't or won't have a serious discussion about any of this until ALL parties agree the choice is spending cuts or tax rises versus spending cuts AND tax rises.

    It's time to revisit land value taxation - the value of undeveloped land versus the value of land with planning permission. A site worth £25m without permission can be worth £250m with that permission and needless to say you don't spend £225m to get that permission so perhaps we can bring some sense to the planning and development process by saying the more properties you squeeze on to a site the more Development Tax you will pay.

    Conversely, if land which is agreed can be developed is sitting there undeveloped it could be taxed to full developmental value which should slow down landbanking.
  • Options
    LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 16,773

    pigeon said:

    Re: restaurants (FPT, can't quote, too fiddly on a primitive phone):

    "Middle class" chains: I find Pizza Express very reliable, Nando's variable and overrated.

    Pub food: is pot luck, but certainly not uniformly bad. Two examples that I frequent semi-regularly spring to mind, one good, one very good.

    As big a factor in the quality of mid-range restaurants as that of the food itself is that of the service, especially how bloody slow some of them are. They fail to employ enough people to wait tables and/or make the stuff in the first place, so even if it's very good it takes so long to arrive that it ruins the experience. I've given up on one local restaurant entirely because of this; I recently went into another, sat at table for an age and then walked out again when it became obvious that the one woman they had taking orders was going to take about two hours just to get to us. Hopeless.

    I much prefer Pizza Express to Nandos but the kids love Nandos for some unfathomable reason. I could quite happily eat every meal at Pizza Express for the rest of my life.
    I would genuinely prefer to go to Pizza Hut than Pizza Express, though as you are in London there are loads of independent pizza places that are superior to both all over the place, but if in provincial England and not fortunate to have that option it would be Pizza Hut every time.
    Really? I would put Pizza Hut in the same category as Dominos. We are lucky to have several independent pizza places nearby. But I actually rate Pizza Express pizzas. I worked in a pizza restaurant for four years when I was younger and would sometimes have pizza for lunch and dinner depending on the shift. Luckily I love pizza.
    I think the pizzas at Pizza Express are the worst pizzas I have ever eaten.
    You've obviously never been subjected to Dominos
    No, I would rate Dominos marginally above Pizza Hut, both of them >>> Pizza Express.
  • Options
    bigglesbiggles Posts: 5,429
    edited June 10
    TimS said:

    Franco Manca the best pizza chain and it is not even close.

    Only if you like thicker doughy crust. Which I do, sometimes. But sometimes it’s nice to have a thinner one. PX Romana crusts do the job.
    They took diavolo away from me and I will never forgive them.
  • Options
    rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 54,941
    edited June 10

    Striking map showing german election results, Lead party in each constituency creates the old East West border 35 years after union

    https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article250850434/Europawahl-400-Wahlkreise-ausgezaehlt-Alle-Ergebnisse-im-Ueberblick.html?source=puerto-reco-2_ABC-V39.1.C_plus35

    The amazing bit, though, is how well Eastern Germany has done relatively: income gaps with Western Germany are less than between the richest and poorest parts of the UK, housing is inexpensive, and unemployment is low - compared even to 2004.

    I would have assumed West Germans, who are still paying for this leveling up, would be the ones who would be upset. But they are not.
  • Options
    HeathenerHeathener Posts: 6,877
    That word cloud for Nigel Farage could be @Leon couldn’t it?

    Is this another alias of which we haven’t been informed?

    (No offence @Leon only joshing)
  • Options
    AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 21,633

    Interesting odds appearing now on Bet365
    I'd recommend (as value) 12/1 on Jody McIntyre for WPB in Birmingham Yardley. They are pushing this one hard, its Labour's weakest held seat in Brum and although Jess P has a profile this might be closer than imagined given Labour's chaos in Birmingham.
    Value in the odds not a prediction........

    Word on the street has been Jess is toast since the Mayoralty when this guy did well.

    The most gratifying Portillo moments for the PB Tories will be Phillips, Streeting and Debonnaire.

    On the other hand Hunt, Penny and JRM all survive even if it is a bad night for the Tories.
    To be clear, are you predicting that Wes Streeting will lose his seat?
    MexicanPete I think is confusing Jody McIntyre with Akhmed Yakoob who is against Shabhana Mahmood in Ladywood (and has a very good chance of getting close too, he's an indy). Jody will also run Jess close.
    Streeting is interesting. Swing in London will be much lower and if Leanne Mohammed (indy, gaza)gets traction Tories through the middle or her herself is unlikely but not unthinkable. DYOR
    I'm more interested in Mexican's prediction. He couches his posts in the language of certainty.

    Some might say he does it to garner attention rather than as a betting tip. Indeed, if all of his 'racing certainties' come in he will be a very rich man!!!
    I'm only on a Tory majority at 12. It circa 50 now, but I am less inclined than I was.

    Sorry about the Ladywood/ Yardley error.
    NOC was 20 last time I looked. Presumably the Mexican Michelin-starred dinner fund has been heavily invested in that market!?
  • Options
    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 116,242
    Roger said:

    pigeon said:

    Andy_JS said:

    The Conservative problem is that their voters (and probably their candidates) are split pretty evenly. So both broad strategies (we hail Nigel and we hate Nigel) will annoy some of the voters they are after.

    Hey ho. Should have (politically) strangled him at birth.

    Thatcher somehow managed to appeal to both at the same time.
    A figure from a bygone era. Strategies that worked a treat for her (e.g. gay bashing) aren't quite as effective as they used to be, thank God.
    Thatcher's position on gay rights is sad. She started her career as a standout liberal on this issue on the Conservative benches but ended it with Section 28, which is a horrible stain on her legacy.
    Her boasting about being the only country not to have sanctions against apartheid South Africa pipped her gay bashing for me. I just don't get this Thatcher revisionism.
    I love it when Roger knows more about ending apartheid than Nelson Mandela.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/margaret-thatcher/9997714/Margaret-Thatchers-vital-role-in-ending-apartheid.html
  • Options
    WTF? I though PB was a bastion of fine dining? You're all arguing over what is the best UPF fast food restaurant! You'll be fighting over which is the nicest transnational "food" corporation next.
    I'm shocked.
  • Options
    BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 33,412
    O/T Greens averaging over 5% in the polls should worry the Tories, imo.

    In the last two elections they've ended up on 1.7% and 2.7%. I expect the green vote to hold up well in safe Labour seats but in Tory-Labour marginals, 2 or 3% of that Green support will fold into Labour on polling day imo.
  • Options
    AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 21,633

    pigeon said:

    Re: restaurants (FPT, can't quote, too fiddly on a primitive phone):

    "Middle class" chains: I find Pizza Express very reliable, Nando's variable and overrated.

    Pub food: is pot luck, but certainly not uniformly bad. Two examples that I frequent semi-regularly spring to mind, one good, one very good.

    As big a factor in the quality of mid-range restaurants as that of the food itself is that of the service, especially how bloody slow some of them are. They fail to employ enough people to wait tables and/or make the stuff in the first place, so even if it's very good it takes so long to arrive that it ruins the experience. I've given up on one local restaurant entirely because of this; I recently went into another, sat at table for an age and then walked out again when it became obvious that the one woman they had taking orders was going to take about two hours just to get to us. Hopeless.

    I much prefer Pizza Express to Nandos but the kids love Nandos for some unfathomable reason. I could quite happily eat every meal at Pizza Express for the rest of my life.
    I would genuinely prefer to go to Pizza Hut than Pizza Express, though as you are in London there are loads of independent pizza places that are superior to both all over the place, but if in provincial England and not fortunate to have that option it would be Pizza Hut every time.
    Really? I would put Pizza Hut in the same category as Dominos. We are lucky to have several independent pizza places nearby. But I actually rate Pizza Express pizzas. I worked in a pizza restaurant for four years when I was younger and would sometimes have pizza for lunch and dinner depending on the shift. Luckily I love pizza.
    I think the pizzas at Pizza Express are the worst pizzas I have ever eaten.
    You've obviously never been subjected to Dominos
    No, I would rate Dominos marginally above Pizza Hut, both of them >>> Pizza Express.
    If sugar and salt rather than authenticity and flavour are your thing...
  • Options
    williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 49,355
    When are the next polls from YouGov or R&W due?
  • Options
    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 57,542

    pigeon said:

    Re: restaurants (FPT, can't quote, too fiddly on a primitive phone):

    "Middle class" chains: I find Pizza Express very reliable, Nando's variable and overrated.

    Pub food: is pot luck, but certainly not uniformly bad. Two examples that I frequent semi-regularly spring to mind, one good, one very good.

    As big a factor in the quality of mid-range restaurants as that of the food itself is that of the service, especially how bloody slow some of them are. They fail to employ enough people to wait tables and/or make the stuff in the first place, so even if it's very good it takes so long to arrive that it ruins the experience. I've given up on one local restaurant entirely because of this; I recently went into another, sat at table for an age and then walked out again when it became obvious that the one woman they had taking orders was going to take about two hours just to get to us. Hopeless.

    I much prefer Pizza Express to Nandos but the kids love Nandos for some unfathomable reason. I could quite happily eat every meal at Pizza Express for the rest of my life.
    I would genuinely prefer to go to Pizza Hut than Pizza Express, though as you are in London there are loads of independent pizza places that are superior to both all over the place, but if in provincial England and not fortunate to have that option it would be Pizza Hut every time.
    Really? I would put Pizza Hut in the same category as Dominos. We are lucky to have several independent pizza places nearby. But I actually rate Pizza Express pizzas. I worked in a pizza restaurant for four years when I was younger and would sometimes have pizza for lunch and dinner depending on the shift. Luckily I love pizza.
    I think the pizzas at Pizza Express are the worst pizzas I have ever eaten.
    You've obviously never been subjected to Dominos
    No, I would rate Dominos marginally above Pizza Hut, both of them >>> Pizza Express.
    That's insane.

    Dominos is horrendous junk and Pizza Express is far better.

    I can't decide between Hut and Express. Hut at least has nice salad.
  • Options
    HeathenerHeathener Posts: 6,877
    edited June 10

    Andy_JS said:

    The only thing I know about Woking is that Paul Weller and The Jam were/are from there.

    It's now, by name, the most Woke town in the commuter belt.

    Leon will be giving it a wide berth.
    I don’t think Woking is woke. I can’t really think of any way in which it is. Not in the way that, say, Guildford is at any rate. Oh I see. Doh. The name :smiley:

    But it is very definitely LibDem now. Rock solidly so.
  • Options
    AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 24,448
    edited June 10
    rcs1000 said:

    Striking map showing german election results, Lead party in each constituency creates the old East West border 35 years after union

    https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article250850434/Europawahl-400-Wahlkreise-ausgezaehlt-Alle-Ergebnisse-im-Ueberblick.html?source=puerto-reco-2_ABC-V39.1.C_plus35

    The amazing bit, though, is how well Eastern Germany has dubbed relatively: income gaps with Western Germany are less than between the richest and poorest parts of the UK, housing is inexpensive, and unemployment is low - compared even to 2004.

    I would have assumed West Germans, who are still paying for this leveling up, would be the ones who would be upset. But they are not.
    Depends on the Wessi, however what strikes me is how much Longer CDU/CSU can keep the AfD at arms length. At some point they will start to do a deal.
  • Options
    bigglesbiggles Posts: 5,429

    WTF? I though PB was a bastion of fine dining? You're all arguing over what is the best UPF fast food restaurant! You'll be fighting over which is the nicest transnational "food" corporation next.
    I'm shocked.

    KFC.
  • Options
    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 116,242
    edited June 10

    pigeon said:

    Re: restaurants (FPT, can't quote, too fiddly on a primitive phone):

    "Middle class" chains: I find Pizza Express very reliable, Nando's variable and overrated.

    Pub food: is pot luck, but certainly not uniformly bad. Two examples that I frequent semi-regularly spring to mind, one good, one very good.

    As big a factor in the quality of mid-range restaurants as that of the food itself is that of the service, especially how bloody slow some of them are. They fail to employ enough people to wait tables and/or make the stuff in the first place, so even if it's very good it takes so long to arrive that it ruins the experience. I've given up on one local restaurant entirely because of this; I recently went into another, sat at table for an age and then walked out again when it became obvious that the one woman they had taking orders was going to take about two hours just to get to us. Hopeless.

    I much prefer Pizza Express to Nandos but the kids love Nandos for some unfathomable reason. I could quite happily eat every meal at Pizza Express for the rest of my life.
    I would genuinely prefer to go to Pizza Hut than Pizza Express, though as you are in London there are loads of independent pizza places that are superior to both all over the place, but if in provincial England and not fortunate to have that option it would be Pizza Hut every time.
    Really? I would put Pizza Hut in the same category as Dominos. We are lucky to have several independent pizza places nearby. But I actually rate Pizza Express pizzas. I worked in a pizza restaurant for four years when I was younger and would sometimes have pizza for lunch and dinner depending on the shift. Luckily I love pizza.
    I think the pizzas at Pizza Express are the worst pizzas I have ever eaten.
    You've obviously never been subjected to Dominos
    No, I would rate Dominos marginally above Pizza Hut, both of them >>> Pizza Express.
    That's insane.

    Dominos is horrendous junk and Pizza Express is far better.

    I can't decide between Hut and Express. Hut at least has nice salad.
    I don't like Pizza Express pizzas as their bases are just too fucking thin, it is like eating pizza toppings on air.
  • Options
    kinabalukinabalu Posts: 40,029
    Having taken the usual necessary precautions (dark room, mellow music, a couple of pills) I’ve been thinking about the Conservative Party. How have they got themselves into such an omnipickle that they could be reduced in a general election to under 100 seats and perhaps not even be the Opposition? Less than three years ago they were topping the polls, and now this. It’s an astonishing feat. How in the name of all that’s holy have they managed it? Books will be written, but while we’re waiting for them I’ve been pondering the matter and the answer, it seems to me, is Brexit.

    We often hear that Boris Johnson delivered it, which is true, however the reverse is also true, Brexit delivered Boris Johnson, it’s how he became PM, and in picking this rogue, this wrong un, to lead them the Tories planted the seeds of their catastrophe. To prosper in torytown under Johnson you had to jettison your judgment and integrity, or better still not be encumbered with any to start with, therefore the ‘people quality’ on the blue side sank in short order to historical lows. Johnson corrupted and infantilised the party. This meant when he imploded, due to the character defects known about from the outset, they were unable to right the ship. Instead they lost the plot entirely and replaced him with perhaps the only contender even more unsuitable.

    TLDR, Brexit begat Johnson and a degraded organisation, this begat Truss, and lo here we are, a ruined Tory Party. Of course you can construct other defensible takes but I do like this one, that Brexit has destroyed the Tories. I like it because in a world generally lacking in justice what we have here is karma at its most pure and righteous. Brexit was (is) wall-to-wall cost and stress and division, with almost zero compensating tangible benefit, an absolute donkey’s arse of a project, and so how very apt that the biggest price of all is paid by the entity responsible for inflicting it upon us.
  • Options
    wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 9,641
    Simon Clarke gets the backing of the Reform proposed candidate who did not stand in Middlesborough S and Cleveland E in case it affects your expectations there in any way
  • Options
    LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 16,773

    WTF? I though PB was a bastion of fine dining? You're all arguing over what is the best UPF fast food restaurant! You'll be fighting over which is the nicest transnational "food" corporation next.
    I'm shocked.

    I mean, yes, we often cook our own pizzas from scratch, albeit cheating with fast-acting yeast, but sometimes you are away from home, or you are short of time, and you have a choice between a number of less than optimal options.
  • Options
    HeathenerHeathener Posts: 6,877
    Andy_JS said:

    The only thing I know about Woking is that Paul Weller and The Jam were/are from there.

    And me.

    Well kind of. Not any more though, sadly. My name is taken from one of the many heaths.

    (As opposed to being a pagan)
  • Options
    AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 21,633

    WTF? I though PB was a bastion of fine dining? You're all arguing over what is the best UPF fast food restaurant! You'll be fighting over which is the nicest transnational "food" corporation next.
    I'm shocked.

    Indeed it is a sad day on here when PBers – PBers! – are extolling the virtues of Dominos and Pizza Hut. Next up: NPXMP on the joys of a microwaved ready meal from Tescos.
  • Options
    BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 33,412

    pigeon said:

    Re: restaurants (FPT, can't quote, too fiddly on a primitive phone):

    "Middle class" chains: I find Pizza Express very reliable, Nando's variable and overrated.

    Pub food: is pot luck, but certainly not uniformly bad. Two examples that I frequent semi-regularly spring to mind, one good, one very good.

    As big a factor in the quality of mid-range restaurants as that of the food itself is that of the service, especially how bloody slow some of them are. They fail to employ enough people to wait tables and/or make the stuff in the first place, so even if it's very good it takes so long to arrive that it ruins the experience. I've given up on one local restaurant entirely because of this; I recently went into another, sat at table for an age and then walked out again when it became obvious that the one woman they had taking orders was going to take about two hours just to get to us. Hopeless.

    I much prefer Pizza Express to Nandos but the kids love Nandos for some unfathomable reason. I could quite happily eat every meal at Pizza Express for the rest of my life.
    I would genuinely prefer to go to Pizza Hut than Pizza Express, though as you are in London there are loads of independent pizza places that are superior to both all over the place, but if in provincial England and not fortunate to have that option it would be Pizza Hut every time.
    Really? I would put Pizza Hut in the same category as Dominos. We are lucky to have several independent pizza places nearby. But I actually rate Pizza Express pizzas. I worked in a pizza restaurant for four years when I was younger and would sometimes have pizza for lunch and dinner depending on the shift. Luckily I love pizza.
    I think the pizzas at Pizza Express are the worst pizzas I have ever eaten.
    You've obviously never been subjected to Dominos
    Now that i don't understand....they aren't even cheap.
    Yeah, bizarre - you'd expect Dominos' numbers to match up.
  • Options
    bigglesbiggles Posts: 5,429

    How *in the name of fuck* are you able to still lay Michelle Obama at almost 20/1 for the Democratic Nomination?

    Are some people just batshit insane?

    Yes, including at least one of the candidates in that election….
This discussion has been closed.