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Defining legacies – politicalbetting.com

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    boulayboulay Posts: 4,700
    Farooq said:

    Can anyone point to the list of businesspeople who have endorsed the Conservatives for this election?
    Thanks in advance.

    I think it’s just the PPE approved supplier list with a new header if you want a read.
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    CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 41,094

    .

    Eabhal said:

    Guido has something

    Looks like he is going to run his October surprise story he has been hinting at then. Does that mean the papers wouldn't buy it off him in the end?
    Unless it's something illegal or very morally questionable, I think it won't do too much damage. We've had Johnson as PM!
    Given the last time the newspapers monstered SKS, the worst they could find was thta he helped his mum be kind to elderly donkeys ...
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    StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 7,269
    I was reading an article and came across this quote which I think sums up things quite nicely.

    Russia occupies and will continue to occupy a commanding position in every struggle against popular rights… And though other governments, its allies and subordinates, may seem to be most active, yet they are but puppets on the stage..: The motive power is the man behind the scenes, the leader of Russia. He is the formidable antagonist of the peoples. He is … impelled by a hostility to free institutions that admits if no compromise and yields to no relaxation”

    When do people think this was written (no googling!)
  • Options
    MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 13,149
    edited June 13
    We must all still vote Conservative at this election.

    Why continue to vote Conservative? It’s very easy to answer. 14 years of Conservative government has protected you and our Nation from the horrors and household bill increases of Labours Nanny State. Thinking of voting Labour, you are voting to be Nannied, voting for New taxes on your weekly shop as well as mandatory health targets
    https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/health/national-food-strategy-is-an-off-the-shelf-solution-for-labour/691923.article
    Labour are instinctive nanny state-ers. VAT on junk food, fast food and your deliveries, the deliveroo tax in the Telegraph, Labours whopper tax The Sun will dub it. Labours policy on take aways is to always take away your individual freedom. If Labour leave families only aspiring to Just Eat, unable to afford it anymore, it’s yet another attack on aspiration.

    Labour = enemy of freedom of choice, policy after policy. So protect the aspiration of families, protect everyone’s individual freedoms, give people back THEIR money, and don’t let everyone in this country get sucked into the massive Socialist State. THIS is what this election is really all about, if Team Sunak wasn’t so useless.
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    LeonLeon Posts: 49,540
    Ooh. Is there salacious goss on starmer?!

    At least it might improve his boring image
  • Options
    FeersumEnjineeyaFeersumEnjineeya Posts: 4,048
    tlg86 said:

    Thankfully, I don't think Starmer has used the words "back to basics" during his campaign.

    Baxter Basics!

    Baxter Basics
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    CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 41,094
    edited June 13

    We must all still vote Conservative at this election.

    Why continue to vote Conservative? It’s very easy to answer. 14 years of Conservative government has protected you and our Nation from the horrors and household bill increases of Labours Nanny State. Thinking of voting Labour, you are voting to be Nannied, voting for New taxes on your weekly shop as well as mandatory health targets
    https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/health/national-food-strategy-is-an-off-the-shelf-solution-for-labour/691923.article
    Labour are instinctive nanny state-ers. VAT on junk food, fast food and your deliveries, the deliveroo tax in the Telegraph, Labours whopper tax The Sun will dub it. Labours policy on take aways is to always take away your individual freedom. If Labour leave families only aspiring to Just Eat, unable to afford it anymore, it’s yet another attack on aspiration.

    Labour = enemy of freedom of choice, policy after policy. So protect the aspiration of families, protect everyone’s individual freedoms, give people back THEIR money, and don’t let everyone in this country get sucked into the massive Socialist State. THIS is what this election is really all about, if Team Sunak wasn’t so useless.

    [edited!]
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    FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 78,000
    edited June 13
    Leon said:

    Ooh. Is there salacious goss on starmer?!

    At least it might improve his boring image

    Given your connections, I am surprised you hadn't heard this one before.
  • Options
    MortimerMortimer Posts: 14,018

    We must all still vote Conservative at this election.

    Why continue to vote Conservative? It’s very easy to answer. 14 years of Conservative government has protected you and our Nation from the horrors and household bill increases of Labours Nanny State. Thinking of voting Labour, you are voting to be Nannied, voting for New taxes on your weekly shop as well as mandatory health targets
    https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/health/national-food-strategy-is-an-off-the-shelf-solution-for-labour/691923.article
    Labour are instinctive nanny state-ers. VAT on junk food, fast food and your deliveries, the deliveroo tax in the Telegraph, Labours whopper tax The Sun will dub it. Labours policy on take aways is to always take away your individual freedom. If Labour leave families only aspiring to Just Eat, unable to afford it anymore, it’s yet another attack on aspiration.

    Labour = enemy of freedom of choice, policy after policy. So protect the aspiration of families, protect everyone’s individual freedoms, give people back THEIR money, and don’t let everyone in this country get sucked into the massive Socialist State. THIS is what this election is really all about, if Team Sunak wasn’t so useless.

    This would only have worked if the 'Tory' govt hadnt spent the last 14 years banning things.

    Not only have they massively moved the overton window left, they've trapped their fingers in it.
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    glwglw Posts: 9,600
    pigeon said:

    They're lying because the electorate doesn't want to hear the truth, and will punish anyone who tells it. It's possible to be deeply unimpressed and frustrated with all the rubbish politicians churn out, and to understand why they do it at the same time.

    Labour is using fantasies about rampant economic growth to disguise its true intentions. They're either lying about an end to austerity, lying about freezes to income tax and NI rates, or there are big increases coming in taxes where they've not yet been explicitly ruled out. Look for the holes in the manifesto where Reeves is leaving wriggle room for the latter.

    Exactly what Paul Johnson at the IFS was saying. Working people will pay more tax because of fiscal drag, and there will still need to be significant tax increases as the alternative required cuts to spending are not viable.

    Every party is basically taking the electorate for fools.
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    ToryJimToryJim Posts: 4,105

    I was reading an article and came across this quote which I think sums up things quite nicely.

    Russia occupies and will continue to occupy a commanding position in every struggle against popular rights… And though other governments, its allies and subordinates, may seem to be most active, yet they are but puppets on the stage..: The motive power is the man behind the scenes, the leader of Russia. He is the formidable antagonist of the peoples. He is … impelled by a hostility to free institutions that admits if no compromise and yields to no relaxation”

    When do people think this was written (no googling!)

    My guess the mid 1930s
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    williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 49,199
    ToryJim said:

    The deposed leader of Les Republicains addresses journalists from a window of the party HQ.

    https://x.com/clpressfr/status/1801181213589111166

    No satire could ever be as funny as the deposed leader of a political party locking themselves in their HQ and conducting a press conference from a window so he doesn’t have to open the door which might let his former colleagues in. It’s mental.
    He’s also published a video of the view from inside

    https://x.com/eciotti/status/1801195609434587444
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    FarooqFarooq Posts: 12,119

    We must all still vote Conservative at this election.

    Why continue to vote Conservative? It’s very easy to answer. 14 years of Conservative government has protected you and our Nation from the horrors and household bill increases of Labours Nanny State. Thinking of voting Labour, you are voting to be Nannied, voting for New taxes on your weekly shop as well as mandatory health targets
    https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/health/national-food-strategy-is-an-off-the-shelf-solution-for-labour/691923.article
    Labour are instinctive nanny state-ers. VAT on junk food, fast food and your deliveries, the deliveroo tax in the Telegraph, Labours whopper tax The Sun will dub it. Labours policy on take aways is to always take away your individual freedom. If Labour leave families only aspiring to Just Eat, unable to afford it anymore, it’s yet another attack on aspiration.

    Labour = enemy of freedom of choice, policy after policy. So protect the aspiration of families, protect everyone’s individual freedoms, give people back THEIR money, and don’t let everyone in this country get sucked into the massive Socialist State. THIS is what this election is really all about, if Team Sunak wasn’t so useless.

    If there's a whopper tax the Tories will be bankrupt in 2000 seconds flat.
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    kyf_100kyf_100 Posts: 4,366
    Reading the Labour party manifesto.

    So much waffle, you imagine it was written by Bird's Eye.

    The section on immigration, for example, is completely meaningless, and could easily allow for immigration to increase, rather than decrease. Tax is similarly meaningless. "Keep taxes... as low as possible" doesn't say a lot. "we will not increase National Insurance, the basic, higher, or additional rates of Income Tax, or VAT" leaves a blind spot so huge you could drive a fleet of buses through it. Everything from 10p extra on a litre of fuel to causing immediate capital flight by putting CGT up to 40% (one of the highest rates in the world), or introducing a wealth tax, as others have suggested, again leading to capital flight.

    We all know taxes are going to have to go up, what I don't like is the evasiveness over which ones, and effects on the economy they might have.

    The only thing Labour really have going for themselves here is the Conservatives have proven themselves utterly incompetent in government, and it's essentially Buggins' turn.
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    LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 16,581

    Eabhal said:

    Guido has something

    Looks like he is going to run his October surprise story he has been hinting at then. Does that mean the papers wouldn't buy it off him in the end?
    Makes sense to try and spike the manifesto launch, but runs the risk of it sinking without a trace.
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    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 115,833

    Just out of interest, is anyone on here desperate for tax cuts?

    Anecdotal I know, but on a regular catch-up call with my brother, he raised the election with the comment: "I don't want tax cuts, I want things fixed". He's a self-employed plumber, voted Tory in 2019, marginal south coast seat.

    Me.

    I am taxed too much.
  • Options
    CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 41,094

    Leon said:

    Ooh. Is there salacious goss on starmer?!

    At least it might improve his boring image

    Given your connections, I am surprised you hadn't heard this one before.
    So that's Leon's credibility as a gossip finnished then?
  • Options
    FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 78,000
    edited June 13

    Just out of interest, is anyone on here desperate for tax cuts?

    Anecdotal I know, but on a regular catch-up call with my brother, he raised the election with the comment: "I don't want tax cuts, I want things fixed". He's a self-employed plumber, voted Tory in 2019, marginal south coast seat.

    This is Andrew Neil's argument that the UK appears to have become much more European in that respect. Higher tax, bigger state. Remember, Boris promised loads of spending to get elected. May's, I won't change anything approach went down like a bucket of cold sick.
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    BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 33,173

    I was reading an article and came across this quote which I think sums up things quite nicely.

    Russia occupies and will continue to occupy a commanding position in every struggle against popular rights… And though other governments, its allies and subordinates, may seem to be most active, yet they are but puppets on the stage..: The motive power is the man behind the scenes, the leader of Russia. He is the formidable antagonist of the peoples. He is … impelled by a hostility to free institutions that admits if no compromise and yields to no relaxation”

    When do people think this was written (no googling!)

    1950?
  • Options
    kle4kle4 Posts: 93,571
    edited June 13

    Just out of interest, is anyone on here desperate for tax cuts?

    Anecdotal I know, but on a regular catch-up call with my brother, he raised the election with the comment: "I don't want tax cuts, I want things fixed". He's a self-employed plumber, voted Tory in 2019, marginal south coast seat.

    Everyone wants a free lunch in theory, but if we know the person offering to pay is skint we might have second thoughts.
  • Options
    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 115,833

    Just out of interest, is anyone on here desperate for tax cuts?

    Anecdotal I know, but on a regular catch-up call with my brother, he raised the election with the comment: "I don't want tax cuts, I want things fixed". He's a self-employed plumber, voted Tory in 2019, marginal south coast seat.

    This is Andrew Neil's argument that the UK appears to have become much more European in that respect. Boris promised loads of spending to get elected.
    Brexit = socialism
  • Options
    NigelbNigelb Posts: 64,496
    Eabhal said:

    Guido has something

    Is it treatable ?
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    FarooqFarooq Posts: 12,119

    I was reading an article and came across this quote which I think sums up things quite nicely.

    Russia occupies and will continue to occupy a commanding position in every struggle against popular rights… And though other governments, its allies and subordinates, may seem to be most active, yet they are but puppets on the stage..: The motive power is the man behind the scenes, the leader of Russia. He is the formidable antagonist of the peoples. He is … impelled by a hostility to free institutions that admits if no compromise and yields to no relaxation”

    When do people think this was written (no googling!)

    1870
    1905
    1916
    1921
    1936
    1950
    1971
    1982
    2000
    2013, and
    2024
  • Options
    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 115,833
    Nigelb said:

    Eabhal said:

    Guido has something

    Is it treatable ?
    He has a criminal record.
  • Options
    twistedfirestopper3twistedfirestopper3 Posts: 2,204
    edited June 13

    We must all still vote Conservative at this election.

    Why continue to vote Conservative? It’s very easy to answer. 14 years of Conservative government has protected you and our Nation from the horrors and household bill increases of Labours Nanny State. Thinking of voting Labour, you are voting to be Nannied, voting for New taxes on your weekly shop as well as mandatory health targets
    https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/health/national-food-strategy-is-an-off-the-shelf-solution-for-labour/691923.article
    Labour are instinctive nanny state-ers. VAT on junk food, fast food and your deliveries, the deliveroo tax in the Telegraph, Labours whopper tax The Sun will dub it. Labours policy on take aways is to always take away your individual freedom. If Labour leave families only aspiring to Just Eat, unable to afford it anymore, it’s yet another attack on aspiration.

    Labour = enemy of freedom of choice, policy after policy. So protect the aspiration of families, protect everyone’s individual freedoms, give people back THEIR money, and don’t let everyone in this country get sucked into the massive Socialist State. THIS is what this election is really all about, if Team Sunak wasn’t so useless.

    Vote Tory so you can eat yourself to chronic disease, cost the NHS millions and then die young, gasping for breath on a hospital floor!
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    CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 41,094
    edited June 13
    Nigelb said:

    Eabhal said:

    Guido has something

    Is it treatable ?
    Just read it on the website. Not the NHS one but the Guido one.

    Left completely baffled. It's about as interesting as reading a random page from Wisden 1974.
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    LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 16,581

    I was reading an article and came across this quote which I think sums up things quite nicely.

    Russia occupies and will continue to occupy a commanding position in every struggle against popular rights… And though other governments, its allies and subordinates, may seem to be most active, yet they are but puppets on the stage..: The motive power is the man behind the scenes, the leader of Russia. He is the formidable antagonist of the peoples. He is … impelled by a hostility to free institutions that admits if no compromise and yields to no relaxation”

    When do people think this was written (no googling!)

    I wonder if it was a Reagan quote, but it doesn't really seem his style. Maybe it's early 60s.
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    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 115,833
    So Guido has published his story.

    What a load of overhyped bollocks.
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    Stark_DawningStark_Dawning Posts: 9,414
    Wow. So back in the 1990s Sir Keir was surpassing even Boris with his multitude of sexual partners!
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    LeonLeon Posts: 49,540
    Carnyx said:

    Leon said:

    Ooh. Is there salacious goss on starmer?!

    At least it might improve his boring image

    Given your connections, I am surprised you hadn't heard this one before.
    So that's Leon's credibility as a gossip finnished then?
    I can give you something amazing on Sunak. After the election
  • Options
    tlg86tlg86 Posts: 25,515

    So Guido has published his story.

    What a load of overhyped bollocks.

    Unless there's more to come it really is a yawn fest.

    The young Starmer was quite good looking (as far as I can judge with men!), so I'm not surprised he was popular with the ladies.
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    FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 78,000

    So Guido has published his story.

    What a load of overhyped bollocks.

    No wonder nobody wanted to buy that story.
  • Options
    FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 78,000
    Leon said:

    Carnyx said:

    Leon said:

    Ooh. Is there salacious goss on starmer?!

    At least it might improve his boring image

    Given your connections, I am surprised you hadn't heard this one before.
    So that's Leon's credibility as a gossip finnished then?
    I can give you something amazing on Sunak. After the election
    He actually likes Coke Zero, all the claims of shotgunning the full sugar one is boasting?
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    BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 33,173
    Nunu5 said:

    Eabhal said:

    Guido has something

    On Starmers "complicated love life".

    No one cares. We voted for BoJo, remember.

    Another damp squib from guido
    God, that's very thin gruel. Starmer had other girlfriends before he married his wife - shock!
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    LeonLeon Posts: 49,540
    tlg86 said:

    So Guido has published his story.

    What a load of overhyped bollocks.

    Unless there's more to come it really is a yawn fest.

    The young Starmer was quite good looking (as far as I can judge with men!), so I'm not surprised he was popular with the ladies.
    Yes it’s feeble. The Mail has already published more obvious innuendos - 3 years ago


    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9583155/Starmers-aide-Baroness-Chapman-considering-legal-action-claim-banned-home.html
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    GhedebravGhedebrav Posts: 3,549
    CatMan said:

    boulay said:

    algarkirk said:

    Eabhal said:

    algarkirk said:

    Eabhal said:

    Sandpit said:

    Cookie said:

    Eabhal said:

    The key takehome from the D-Day debacle is that the vast majority of the electorate like to see britain along side neighbours and allies affirming its international commitment..... a britain at the heart of the western international community honouring that heritage.... basically the opposite of free wheeling go it alone brexiteerism. I saw Marr's piece in the New Statesman talking about rejoining the single market

    "But the country has already changed its mind about his rotten Brexit deal, and there would be no opportunity like Labour’s first 18 months to improve relations with the giant market on our doorstep. As the EU grapples with the problem of enlargement to its east and populism at home, the notion of a more flexible, less monolithic EU of concentric or interlocking circles is growing in potency."

    https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/labour/2024/06/what-historic-labour-keir-starmer-win-mean-britain-election-andrew-marr

    What I am looking for in Labour's manifesto is silence on the EU - that will (ironically) be a huge indicator to me where things are going. It will be a carte blance on EU trading relations and security agreements.

    Sunak's actions on leaving the D-Day celebrations were very much a tacit expression of inward looking, isolationist ethos of the populist right, and its time has come.... I seriously think the country is turning a corner on brexit going into the next parliament.

    Lol, this is an absolutely brilliant example of the genre: "What D-Day was really about is rejoining the single market".
    You've got to admire the creativity, the imagination, the insightful juxtaposition of two apparently unrelated topics ;-)

    We Remainers are never going to go away.
    Not until you die off anyway.

    There is nothing to "Remain" part of. You lost that war. We left the EU.

    There is only Rejoin. And that is the dog that hasn't barked in this election. And if not this, then when?
    You're right about it not becoming a major issue in this election, but I think it provides a general sense of unease to politics in the UK.

    By a ratio of at least 3:1, people think the negatives of Brexit outweigh the benefits. For Leavers, immigration is at an all time high - so it was pointless for many. There must be some regret or misgiving there. For Remainers, there is no hint that any party will bring us back in or materially improve our relationship with Europe, so it sits as an open wound.

    It's not being spoken about, but I think it contributes to the doom and gloom.
    I think that is just a cipher for 'things were better before 2016' - which is understandable; the world was a surer place, no Ukraine, no pandemic, no culture wars (at least, not on the scale we see now), less immigration. Understandable people might wish things were otherwise. I'd happily swallow rejoin if it could mean we could wipe out all that other unpleasantness. But clearly, almost everything bad which has happened since 2016 is nothing to do with Brexit, and undoing Brexit wouldn't bring back those apples.
    That's just the way humans think. Change the thing we did and we can control and undo all those things we can't control.
    If we were still in the EU, today’s news headline would be that electric cars are about to get more expensive, the EU voting for protectionism over Net Zero.

    https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/business-electric-vehicles/chinese-evs-be-hit-much-38-extra-eu-import-tax

    Great for the campaigners who think cars are evil and we should all get the bus, for for the average motorist who just to get from A to B as cheaply as possible, not so much.
    Transportation was always a weakness in our climate change mitigation efforts - look at the massive fuss over the 2030 deadline for new ICE cars, even while other sectors of the economy made massive reductions in emissions. The Chinese have exploited the gap left by the lethargy and lobbying of European/American car makers.

    It's darkly funny. When I was at Uni, there was all sorts of depressed talk about the industrialisation of China and India making climate change efforts basically pointless. Instead, the Chinese have flooded the market with cheap solar panels and cheap EVs to the extent that it's going to destroy fossil fuel industries in the West.
    Annual CO2 emissions are still rising. It is delusional to think that by 2050 this will be much different. Even if output is halved from present levels (the evidence that this can be done is absent), levels will only be rising but a little more slowly.

    The rhetoric is all reminiscent of UK General Election rhetoric. A realistic truthful conversation would make a nice change.
    Climate change mitigation is not binary. It's not like there is a big climate change switch when we hit 2 degrees.

    Most people working in this field know and accept that a huge amount of climate change damage is baked in. That's why we need to start discussing adaptation - flood defences, new pandemics, famine, mass migration.

    But that doesn't mean the world should stop trying to prevent it being even worse - there is no sign of China abandoning solar or EVs, is there? The question for the UK is whether we want to embrace all this new technology or get left behind by the rest of the world.
    Agree. This discussion is obscured by Trumpian denialists and 'Just Stop Oil' fundamentalists. The 'amelioration' aspect is often ignored.
    Even if you don't agree with their methods, there's nothing particularly fundamentalist about JSO's demands. There is general scientific agreement that we need to rapidly reduce consumption of fossil fuels, and ceasing to issue new licences for oil exploration and production is broadly compatible with that aim. Amelioration to cope with the damage already in the pipeline is of course also required, but that's in addition to, not instead of, a sharp reduction in oil consumption.
    Perhaps you'd like to accompany me if I have to close a factory in Aberdeen in the second half of this year. Decent people will be put out of a job because of flawed government policies, and I don't see too many "green jobs" they can take round where they live.
    If I hear another idiot saying that they want "Green growth"... It apparently means growth without making anything, building anything. And it is free.

    Changing technologies is massively disruptive for an industry - see Germany and American car makers. Who are stumbling.

    The idea that this is free or painless is yet another populist, stupid delusion.

    It is hard and expensive. And worth doing. Just decoupling our economy from the times that El Supremo has the hiccups and starts another war, and energy prices zoom up, it worth it. X recessions avoided.

    Saving the planet is a nice side effect.

    Further, in the longer term, as energy prices fall below fossil fuel energy prices, we have interesting opportunities.
    Indeed. Switching to a sustainable economy is both necessary and also a huge challenge. Those who paint it as something that can be done without too much bother or inconvenience risk scuppering the whole effort. It's like fighting a war. It's necessary, but it inevitably involves some sacrifice. Smart leadership would prepare people for the challenges ahead as well as ensuring that the burdens are shared fairly.
    The other thing is that the status quo is not an option. The energy transition away from fossil fuels is going to happen, and you don't want to be a laggard.
    Estimates suggest 20% of all the electricity generated in Ireland will go to keeping Data Centres functioning.

    Why not close them ?
    Because they are useful and you can generate the electricity for them cleanly.
    Only way in the future, Ireland currently generates 52% of its energy from oil or coal. With a growing population and a noted lack of infrastructure investment, that will be the case for some time. Data centres will consume energy and there is no green backstop to feed them.

    https://kpmg.com/ie/en/home/insights/2024/01/energy-outlook-2024-cge-eut.html
    Those problems will continue to exist whether there are data centres or not. I'd suggest fixing the problem.

    I think the Green Party in government spent too much time/money on admirable improvements to public transport, and not enough on offshore wind and other energy infrastructure.
    And yet public transport in Ireland (outwith the cities) is abysmal.
    Public transport outside of cities is never going to be great, because the population densities are too low. But they are putting effort into introducing new services, both in cities and in rural areas.

    There's a new bus service from Skibbereen to Killarney that seems to be popular, but I haven't tried it yet.
    Oh, Skibbereen! Oh, I used to go there as a little child. And I used to go on nature trails, and I used to spot flowers.
    The people on here who don't get that reference are going to be "WTAF????"
    It’s quite obscure but was also my first thought!
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    MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 13,149
    Leon said:

    Carnyx said:

    Leon said:

    Ooh. Is there salacious goss on starmer?!

    At least it might improve his boring image

    Given your connections, I am surprised you hadn't heard this one before.
    So that's Leon's credibility as a gossip finnished then?
    I can give you something amazing on Sunak. After the election
    You don’t want him to seem interesting and human this side of the election?
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    NigelbNigelb Posts: 64,496

    I was reading an article and came across this quote which I think sums up things quite nicely.

    Russia occupies and will continue to occupy a commanding position in every struggle against popular rights… And though other governments, its allies and subordinates, may seem to be most active, yet they are but puppets on the stage..: The motive power is the man behind the scenes, the leader of Russia. He is the formidable antagonist of the peoples. He is … impelled by a hostility to free institutions that admits if no compromise and yields to no relaxation”

    When do people think this was written (no googling!)

    Literally any time in the last two centuries.
  • Options
    bigglesbiggles Posts: 5,239
    Farooq said:

    Can anyone point to the list of businesspeople who have endorsed the Conservatives for this election?
    Thanks in advance.

    1) Michael Green
    2) Erm, that’s it…
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    Disappointing from Labour. Nothing on planning reform to ensure better broadband and 4G/5G. I’d have liked to see allowing the heights of masts being upped to match Europe.
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    BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 33,173
    Leon said:

    Carnyx said:

    Leon said:

    Ooh. Is there salacious goss on starmer?!

    At least it might improve his boring image

    Given your connections, I am surprised you hadn't heard this one before.
    So that's Leon's credibility as a gossip finnished then?
    I can give you something amazing on Sunak. After the election
    Why after, are you worried that some salacious gossip now might improve his chances?
  • Options
    MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 13,149

    We must all still vote Conservative at this election.

    Why continue to vote Conservative? It’s very easy to answer. 14 years of Conservative government has protected you and our Nation from the horrors and household bill increases of Labours Nanny State. Thinking of voting Labour, you are voting to be Nannied, voting for New taxes on your weekly shop as well as mandatory health targets
    https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/health/national-food-strategy-is-an-off-the-shelf-solution-for-labour/691923.article
    Labour are instinctive nanny state-ers. VAT on junk food, fast food and your deliveries, the deliveroo tax in the Telegraph, Labours whopper tax The Sun will dub it. Labours policy on take aways is to always take away your individual freedom. If Labour leave families only aspiring to Just Eat, unable to afford it anymore, it’s yet another attack on aspiration.

    Labour = enemy of freedom of choice, policy after policy. So protect the aspiration of families, protect everyone’s individual freedoms, give people back THEIR money, and don’t let everyone in this country get sucked into the massive Socialist State. THIS is what this election is really all about, if Team Sunak wasn’t so useless.

    Vote Tory so you can eat yourself to chronic disease, cost the NHS millions and then die young, gasping for breath on a hospital floor!
    Yes. It’s about freedom and rights.
  • Options
    LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 16,581

    So Guido has published his story.

    What a load of overhyped bollocks.

    Is that it? It's a lot less than he'd been hinting at.
  • Options
    OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 32,408

    I was reading an article and came across this quote which I think sums up things quite nicely.

    Russia occupies and will continue to occupy a commanding position in every struggle against popular rights… And though other governments, its allies and subordinates, may seem to be most active, yet they are but puppets on the stage..: The motive power is the man behind the scenes, the leader of Russia. He is the formidable antagonist of the peoples. He is … impelled by a hostility to free institutions that admits if no compromise and yields to no relaxation”

    When do people think this was written (no googling!)

    1950?
    1900?
  • Options
    mwadamsmwadams Posts: 3,268

    'Change' is not 'nothing at all'. Except when it is.
    Visionless offer from Labour. No wonder everyone is bored

    Higher Utility charges to pay for the Socialist Starmer’s Nationalisation Programme. State Ownership means being an employer, and with that comes costs, wages, training, a pension scheme etc etc etc And who’s paying for all this? You the taxpayer. Not only that, Labour’s anti aspirational VAT on private schooling, not touching the wealthy famous schools, but destroying all the fine local ones, working families have been using for their families for generations. And the dreaded garden tax is coming - they have it in Labour Wales, where tax man flies drones over your property to hit you with Labours brand new stealth tax.

    You won’t get any of this with a Tory government. Fact. 💁‍♀️
    "Higher Utility charges to pay for the Socialist Starmer’s Nationalisation Programme"

    I don't think anyone is buying those 1970s apples. It's not like British Leyland v. a globally competitive automotive market.

    It's the critical infrastructure that gets water to come out of taps and electricity from the wall sockets, along with the security framework that UKGov already provides for it.

    Oh, plus the transport infrastructure that the Tories have already (largely) nationalized over the last 15 years.

    We are already paying for all of those things through subsidy. You speak as if the employees of the operating companies running these things are in any way "more motivated" to be efficient than they would if their shareholders were representatives of government rather than pension funds.

  • Options
    boulayboulay Posts: 4,700
    edited June 13

    So Guido has published his story.

    What a load of overhyped bollocks.

    That is truly weak sauce from Guido. There’s me hoping that “Toolmaker” *was the code name for Jimmy Savile but instead, man shags someone, starts seeing someone else, people get together with other people. No animals or hearts hurt. Rubbish.

    *Tools, like Savile, fix things for you.
  • Options
    Guido hasn't blown Starmer's world apart with this.
  • Options
    LeonLeon Posts: 49,540

    Nunu5 said:

    Eabhal said:

    Guido has something

    On Starmers "complicated love life".

    No one cares. We voted for BoJo, remember.

    Another damp squib from guido
    God, that's very thin gruel. Starmer had other girlfriends before he married his wife - shock!
    The rumour is “he had a sex life”

    If he did NOT that would actually be more unusual and interesting. Pathetic! We want zebras and midgets
  • Options
    OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 32,408
    edited June 13
    Deleted
  • Options
    GhedebravGhedebrav Posts: 3,549

    I was reading an article and came across this quote which I think sums up things quite nicely.

    Russia occupies and will continue to occupy a commanding position in every struggle against popular rights… And though other governments, its allies and subordinates, may seem to be most active, yet they are but puppets on the stage..: The motive power is the man behind the scenes, the leader of Russia. He is the formidable antagonist of the peoples. He is … impelled by a hostility to free institutions that admits if no compromise and yields to no relaxation”

    When do people think this was written (no googling!)

    1905?
  • Options
    FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 78,000
    edited June 13
    Its about as shocking as finding out footballers shag around with OF girls in places like Dubai.
  • Options
    TazTaz Posts: 12,139

    So Guido has published his story.

    What a load of overhyped bollocks.

    Guido is just another clickbait addicted engagement farmer.

    Guido hasn't blown Starmer's world apart with this.

    Is the revelation what SKS's Dad did for a living ?
  • Options
    mwadamsmwadams Posts: 3,268
    Leon said:

    Carnyx said:

    Leon said:

    Ooh. Is there salacious goss on starmer?!

    At least it might improve his boring image

    Given your connections, I am surprised you hadn't heard this one before.
    So that's Leon's credibility as a gossip finnished then?
    I can give you something amazing on Sunak. After the election
    Is that the Political Betting equivalent of "I do have a girlfriend but she lives in Canada"?
  • Options
    bigglesbiggles Posts: 5,239

    Just out of interest, is anyone on here desperate for tax cuts?

    Anecdotal I know, but on a regular catch-up call with my brother, he raised the election with the comment: "I don't want tax cuts, I want things fixed". He's a self-employed plumber, voted Tory in 2019, marginal south coast seat.

    I thin the issue is that personal taxes are pretty much fine. We’d all love some cash back but few of us outside certain cliff edges think they are bonkers.

    The high tax burden falls in less direct places and has less directly obvious impacts, but it still has them.
  • Options
    ToryJimToryJim Posts: 4,105

    So Guido has published his story.

    What a load of overhyped bollocks.

    Indeed, person dated more than one woman before marriage is hardly the biggest revelation of the week, it has to compete with head of religious organisation with specific injunction against homosexual acts in its religious texts not hyper keen on gays.
  • Options
    FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 78,000
    edited June 13
    Taz said:

    So Guido has published his story.

    What a load of overhyped bollocks.

    Guido is just another clickbait addicted engagement farmer.

    Guido hasn't blown Starmer's world apart with this.

    Is the revelation what SKS's Dad did for a living ?
    It has been many years since he really got a big news dominating story. If I remember correctly Staines himself isn't even in London these days, its all the fresh faced paid interns and a lot of seems very akin to how the half the media is press releases from think tanks.
  • Options
    glwglw Posts: 9,600

    Disappointing from Labour. Nothing on planning reform to ensure better broadband and 4G/5G. I’d have liked to see allowing the heights of masts being upped to match Europe.

    It's a rational idea but a guaranteed vote loser. The number of people who would vote Labour because of it would be massively outnumbered by the NIMBYs/BANANAs who wouldn't.
  • Options
    NigelbNigelb Posts: 64,496
    Leon said:

    Carnyx said:

    Leon said:

    Ooh. Is there salacious goss on starmer?!

    At least it might improve his boring image

    Given your connections, I am surprised you hadn't heard this one before.
    So that's Leon's credibility as a gossip finnished then?
    I can give you something amazing on Sunak. After the election
    You always make us wait for the Finnish.
  • Options
    MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 13,149

    We must all still vote Conservative at this election.

    Why continue to vote Conservative? It’s very easy to answer. 14 years of Conservative government has protected you and our Nation from the horrors and household bill increases of Labours Nanny State. Thinking of voting Labour, you are voting to be Nannied, voting for New taxes on your weekly shop as well as mandatory health targets
    https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/health/national-food-strategy-is-an-off-the-shelf-solution-for-labour/691923.article
    Labour are instinctive nanny state-ers. VAT on junk food, fast food and your deliveries, the deliveroo tax in the Telegraph, Labours whopper tax The Sun will dub it. Labours policy on take aways is to always take away your individual freedom. If Labour leave families only aspiring to Just Eat, unable to afford it anymore, it’s yet another attack on aspiration.

    Labour = enemy of freedom of choice, policy after policy. So protect the aspiration of families, protect everyone’s individual freedoms, give people back THEIR money, and don’t let everyone in this country get sucked into the massive Socialist State. THIS is what this election is really all about, if Team Sunak wasn’t so useless.

    Vote Tory so you can eat yourself to chronic disease, cost the NHS millions and then die young, gasping for breath on a hospital floor!
    Yes. It’s about freedom and rights.
    Actually wait. I’ll come back with a better answer.
  • Options
    bigglesbiggles Posts: 5,239
    One assumes Guido is running a series, leading to something. Otherwise his story appears to be “man has relationships with women”.
  • Options
    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 115,833
    ToryJim said:

    So Guido has published his story.

    What a load of overhyped bollocks.

    Indeed, person dated more than one woman before marriage is hardly the biggest revelation of the week, it has to compete with head of religious organisation with specific injunction against homosexual acts in its religious texts not hyper keen on gays.
    I keep on telling everybody that everyone loves a lawyer, Starmer is the prime example of that.
  • Options
    TazTaz Posts: 12,139

    Taz said:

    So Guido has published his story.

    What a load of overhyped bollocks.

    Guido is just another clickbait addicted engagement farmer.

    Guido hasn't blown Starmer's world apart with this.

    Is the revelation what SKS's Dad did for a living ?
    It has been many years since he really got a big news dominating story. If I remember correctly Staines himself isn't even in London these days, its all the fresh faced paid interns and a lot of seems very akin to how the half the media is press releases from think tanks.
    What was his last big story ? I can't remember. Stopped regularly visiting his site many years ago. The BTL comments left you feeling, somewhat, unclean.
  • Options
    Sean_FSean_F Posts: 36,405
    biggles said:

    One assumes Guido is running a series, leading to something. Otherwise his story appears to be “man has relationships with women”.

    Perhaps it leads to "Starmer's nights of passion with Jimmy Savile."
  • Options
    viewcodeviewcode Posts: 19,704
    mwadams said:

    Leon said:

    Carnyx said:

    Leon said:

    Ooh. Is there salacious goss on starmer?!

    At least it might improve his boring image

    Given your connections, I am surprised you hadn't heard this one before.
    So that's Leon's credibility as a gossip finnished then?
    I can give you something amazing on Sunak. After the election
    Is that the Political Betting equivalent of "I do have a girlfriend but she lives in Canada"?
    You wouldn't know her. She goes to another school.
  • Options
    LeonLeon Posts: 49,540
    mwadams said:

    Leon said:

    Carnyx said:

    Leon said:

    Ooh. Is there salacious goss on starmer?!

    At least it might improve his boring image

    Given your connections, I am surprised you hadn't heard this one before.
    So that's Leon's credibility as a gossip finnished then?
    I can give you something amazing on Sunak. After the election
    Is that the Political Betting equivalent of "I do have a girlfriend but she lives in Canada"?
    You can read it how you like

    *taps nose slyly and whispers: “Narvik”*
  • Options

    We must all still vote Conservative at this election.

    Why continue to vote Conservative? It’s very easy to answer. 14 years of Conservative government has protected you and our Nation from the horrors and household bill increases of Labours Nanny State. Thinking of voting Labour, you are voting to be Nannied, voting for New taxes on your weekly shop as well as mandatory health targets
    https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/health/national-food-strategy-is-an-off-the-shelf-solution-for-labour/691923.article
    Labour are instinctive nanny state-ers. VAT on junk food, fast food and your deliveries, the deliveroo tax in the Telegraph, Labours whopper tax The Sun will dub it. Labours policy on take aways is to always take away your individual freedom. If Labour leave families only aspiring to Just Eat, unable to afford it anymore, it’s yet another attack on aspiration.

    Labour = enemy of freedom of choice, policy after policy. So protect the aspiration of families, protect everyone’s individual freedoms, give people back THEIR money, and don’t let everyone in this country get sucked into the massive Socialist State. THIS is what this election is really all about, if Team Sunak wasn’t so useless.

    Vote Tory so you can eat yourself to chronic disease, cost the NHS millions and then die young, gasping for breath on a hospital floor!
    Yes. It’s about freedom and rights.
    You only eat that shite "food" because the transnational corporations that industrially manufacture it have spent billions developing hyper palatable products that hit all the taste/texture bliss points, that they can make as cheap as possible and then sell it to you for as much as they can wring from you. That's not choice, that's addiction and one day, these corporations should be held in the same regard as tobacco companies.
  • Options
    GhedebravGhedebrav Posts: 3,549
    Yebbut has Sirkier beaten Nick ‘Randy’ Clegg’s magic number?

    Does anyone actually give a flying one?
  • Options
    TazTaz Posts: 12,139
    mwadams said:

    Leon said:

    Carnyx said:

    Leon said:

    Ooh. Is there salacious goss on starmer?!

    At least it might improve his boring image

    Given your connections, I am surprised you hadn't heard this one before.
    So that's Leon's credibility as a gossip finnished then?
    I can give you something amazing on Sunak. After the election
    Is that the Political Betting equivalent of "I do have a girlfriend but she lives in Canada"?
    Or "Finland", not that I think Rishi Sunak was the object of that non story.
  • Options

    We must all still vote Conservative at this election.

    Why continue to vote Conservative? It’s very easy to answer. 14 years of Conservative government has protected you and our Nation from the horrors and household bill increases of Labours Nanny State. Thinking of voting Labour, you are voting to be Nannied, voting for New taxes on your weekly shop as well as mandatory health targets
    https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/health/national-food-strategy-is-an-off-the-shelf-solution-for-labour/691923.article
    Labour are instinctive nanny state-ers. VAT on junk food, fast food and your deliveries, the deliveroo tax in the Telegraph, Labours whopper tax The Sun will dub it. Labours policy on take aways is to always take away your individual freedom. If Labour leave families only aspiring to Just Eat, unable to afford it anymore, it’s yet another attack on aspiration.

    Labour = enemy of freedom of choice, policy after policy. So protect the aspiration of families, protect everyone’s individual freedoms, give people back THEIR money, and don’t let everyone in this country get sucked into the massive Socialist State. THIS is what this election is really all about, if Team Sunak wasn’t so useless.

    Vote Tory so you can eat yourself to chronic disease, cost the NHS millions and then die young, gasping for breath on a hospital floor!
    Yes. It’s about freedom and rights.
    Actually wait. I’ll come back with a better answer.
    Don't bother.
  • Options
    mwadamsmwadams Posts: 3,268

    We must all still vote Conservative at this election.

    Why continue to vote Conservative? It’s very easy to answer. 14 years of Conservative government has protected you and our Nation from the horrors and household bill increases of Labours Nanny State. Thinking of voting Labour, you are voting to be Nannied, voting for New taxes on your weekly shop as well as mandatory health targets
    https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/health/national-food-strategy-is-an-off-the-shelf-solution-for-labour/691923.article
    Labour are instinctive nanny state-ers. VAT on junk food, fast food and your deliveries, the deliveroo tax in the Telegraph, Labours whopper tax The Sun will dub it. Labours policy on take aways is to always take away your individual freedom. If Labour leave families only aspiring to Just Eat, unable to afford it anymore, it’s yet another attack on aspiration.

    Labour = enemy of freedom of choice, policy after policy. So protect the aspiration of families, protect everyone’s individual freedoms, give people back THEIR money, and don’t let everyone in this country get sucked into the massive Socialist State. THIS is what this election is really all about, if Team Sunak wasn’t so useless.

    Vote Tory so you can eat yourself to chronic disease, cost the NHS millions and then die young, gasping for breath on a hospital floor!
    Why just stop at the sugar and fat? It's my god given right as an Englishman to eat food you wouldn't give to a dog! Get rid of the "nanny state" Health Inspectors! It should be toxic shock roulette every time a morsel of food passes your mouth - take personal responsibility you slacker!
  • Options
    RogerRoger Posts: 19,283
    Leon said:

    Carnyx said:

    Leon said:

    Ooh. Is there salacious goss on starmer?!

    At least it might improve his boring image

    Given your connections, I am surprised you hadn't heard this one before.
    So that's Leon's credibility as a gossip finnished then?
    I can give you something amazing on Sunak. After the election
    Tedious even by your standards.
  • Options
    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 115,833

    We must all still vote Conservative at this election.

    Why continue to vote Conservative? It’s very easy to answer. 14 years of Conservative government has protected you and our Nation from the horrors and household bill increases of Labours Nanny State. Thinking of voting Labour, you are voting to be Nannied, voting for New taxes on your weekly shop as well as mandatory health targets
    https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/health/national-food-strategy-is-an-off-the-shelf-solution-for-labour/691923.article
    Labour are instinctive nanny state-ers. VAT on junk food, fast food and your deliveries, the deliveroo tax in the Telegraph, Labours whopper tax The Sun will dub it. Labours policy on take aways is to always take away your individual freedom. If Labour leave families only aspiring to Just Eat, unable to afford it anymore, it’s yet another attack on aspiration.

    Labour = enemy of freedom of choice, policy after policy. So protect the aspiration of families, protect everyone’s individual freedoms, give people back THEIR money, and don’t let everyone in this country get sucked into the massive Socialist State. THIS is what this election is really all about, if Team Sunak wasn’t so useless.

    Vote Tory so you can eat yourself to chronic disease, cost the NHS millions and then die young, gasping for breath on a hospital floor!
    Yes. It’s about freedom and rights.
    Actually wait. I’ll come back with a better answer.
    I guess we'll be waiting a while.
  • Options
    MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 45,643
    Taz said:

    Eabhal said:

    Guido has something

    Nothing trivial ?
    The thing with the Loch Ness Monster, The Trans Gay Illegal Immigrant Alien AIs *and* Elizabeth Bathory might raise some eyebrows.
  • Options
    EabhalEabhal Posts: 6,739
    edited June 13
    Wtf is that story by Guido. Even I've had a more complicated love life than Starmer, and I've been blessed with some long, stable relationships.

    Consider the divorce rate. Starmer must be among the more reliable partners anyone can expect.
  • Options
    FarooqFarooq Posts: 12,119

    ToryJim said:

    So Guido has published his story.

    What a load of overhyped bollocks.

    Indeed, person dated more than one woman before marriage is hardly the biggest revelation of the week, it has to compete with head of religious organisation with specific injunction against homosexual acts in its religious texts not hyper keen on gays.
    I keep on telling everybody that everyone loves a lawyer, Starmer is the prime example of that.
    It's for the best. They'll fuck you anyway, so you may as well enjoy it.
  • Options
    BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 33,173
    Leon said:

    Carnyx said:

    Leon said:

    Ooh. Is there salacious goss on starmer?!

    At least it might improve his boring image

    Given your connections, I am surprised you hadn't heard this one before.
    So that's Leon's credibility as a gossip finnished then?
    I can give you something amazing on Sunak. After the election
    How many times have you teased "I have some really hot exposé I can't share with you right now but when it comes out it will blow your minds" or similar?

    And how many times has there been any substance? (A: zero)
  • Options
    Taz said:

    mwadams said:

    Leon said:

    Carnyx said:

    Leon said:

    Ooh. Is there salacious goss on starmer?!

    At least it might improve his boring image

    Given your connections, I am surprised you hadn't heard this one before.
    So that's Leon's credibility as a gossip finnished then?
    I can give you something amazing on Sunak. After the election
    Is that the Political Betting equivalent of "I do have a girlfriend but she lives in Canada"?
    Or "Finland", not that I think Rishi Sunak was the object of that non story.
    Sunak is actually an alien AI based in Finland...
  • Options
    LeonLeon Posts: 49,540
    Roger said:

    Leon said:

    Carnyx said:

    Leon said:

    Ooh. Is there salacious goss on starmer?!

    At least it might improve his boring image

    Given your connections, I am surprised you hadn't heard this one before.
    So that's Leon's credibility as a gossip finnished then?
    I can give you something amazing on Sunak. After the election
    Tedious even by your standards.
    Knit one pearl one
  • Options
    williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 49,199

    I was reading an article and came across this quote which I think sums up things quite nicely.

    Russia occupies and will continue to occupy a commanding position in every struggle against popular rights… And though other governments, its allies and subordinates, may seem to be most active, yet they are but puppets on the stage..: The motive power is the man behind the scenes, the leader of Russia. He is the formidable antagonist of the peoples. He is … impelled by a hostility to free institutions that admits if no compromise and yields to no relaxation”

    When do people think this was written (no googling!)

    1875?
  • Options
    LeonLeon Posts: 49,540

    Leon said:

    Carnyx said:

    Leon said:

    Ooh. Is there salacious goss on starmer?!

    At least it might improve his boring image

    Given your connections, I am surprised you hadn't heard this one before.
    So that's Leon's credibility as a gossip finnished then?
    I can give you something amazing on Sunak. After the election
    How many times have you teased "I have some really hot exposé I can't share with you right now but when it comes out it will blow your minds" or similar?

    And how many times has there been any substance? (A: zero)
    I have actually shared the Finland rumour with a couple of PBers (as it was first shared with me). Its a real thing
  • Options
    FlatlanderFlatlander Posts: 4,097
    ToryJim said:

    So Guido has published his story.

    What a load of overhyped bollocks.

    Indeed, person dated more than one woman before marriage is hardly the biggest revelation of the week, it has to compete with head of religious organisation with specific injunction against homosexual acts in its religious texts not hyper keen on gays.
    It must be a lead in. That can't be all there is, surely?

    It barely reaches the very low bar of being more interesting than Labour's manifesto.

    Unless there are progeny that he's disowned and refuses to pay for there's clearly not going to be a scandal.
  • Options
    El_CapitanoEl_Capitano Posts: 4,135
    That Guido story is not so much a nothingburger as a Quadruple Deluxe Zero-Pounder With Cheese.
  • Options
    BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 33,173

    That Guido story is not so much a nothingburger as a Quadruple Deluxe Zero-Pounder With Cheese.

    ... but hold the cheese.
  • Options
    numbertwelvenumbertwelve Posts: 5,925
    what even was the Finland thing?
  • Options
    LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 16,581
    Leon said:

    Roger said:

    Leon said:

    Carnyx said:

    Leon said:

    Ooh. Is there salacious goss on starmer?!

    At least it might improve his boring image

    Given your connections, I am surprised you hadn't heard this one before.
    So that's Leon's credibility as a gossip finnished then?
    I can give you something amazing on Sunak. After the election
    Tedious even by your standards.
    Knit one pearl one
    Purl.

    And if you slip the first stitch knitwise you get a nice selvedge edge.
  • Options
    stodgestodge Posts: 13,165

    We must all still vote Conservative at this election.

    Why continue to vote Conservative? It’s very easy to answer. 14 years of Conservative government has protected you and our Nation from the horrors and household bill increases of Labours Nanny State. Thinking of voting Labour, you are voting to be Nannied, voting for New taxes on your weekly shop as well as mandatory health targets
    https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/health/national-food-strategy-is-an-off-the-shelf-solution-for-labour/691923.article
    Labour are instinctive nanny state-ers. VAT on junk food, fast food and your deliveries, the deliveroo tax in the Telegraph, Labours whopper tax The Sun will dub it. Labours policy on take aways is to always take away your individual freedom. If Labour leave families only aspiring to Just Eat, unable to afford it anymore, it’s yet another attack on aspiration.

    Labour = enemy of freedom of choice, policy after policy. So protect the aspiration of families, protect everyone’s individual freedoms, give people back THEIR money, and don’t let everyone in this country get sucked into the massive Socialist State. THIS is what this election is really all about, if Team Sunak wasn’t so useless.

    It's not about Freedom TO, it's about Freedom FROM.

    Freedom from Poverty, Hunger, Ignorance or to put it into more meaningful terms freedom from having to wait months or years for a hospital appointment, freedom from pain, freedom from fear of crime and freedom from becoming a victim not just of petty crime but freedom from corporate crime, freedom from being gouged by foreign-owned corporations and freedom from the pathetic services they provide.

    The Conservatives have had 14 years in Government to make it a better place for the citizens - they have failed dismally and completely. That's not to say there isn't a place for conservative thinking but that's not to be found in the current iteration of the Party.

    That Party needs to, pace Dracula, be held down and have a stake driven through its still beating heart.

    From there, perhaps, it can return as a genuinely conservative party interested in the welfare of all citizens.
  • Options
    NigelbNigelb Posts: 64,496
    What do PB's tech fraternity make of the Palantir launch ?
    https://aip.palantir.com/workflow/d8d7117b-57de-41be-aba3-2955aa525c24
  • Options
    .

    what even was the Finland thing?

    I've tried all sorts of Google permutations. Never come up with anything interesting.
  • Options
    LeonLeon Posts: 49,540

    ToryJim said:

    So Guido has published his story.

    What a load of overhyped bollocks.

    Indeed, person dated more than one woman before marriage is hardly the biggest revelation of the week, it has to compete with head of religious organisation with specific injunction against homosexual acts in its religious texts not hyper keen on gays.
    It must be a lead in. That can't be all there is, surely?

    It barely reaches the very low bar of being more interesting than Labour's manifesto.

    Unless there are progeny that he's disowned and refuses to pay for there's clearly not going to be a scandal.
    Yes this must be a teaser. It’s embarrassingly bad if this is it. My guess is - like any sensible journalist - he’s stringing it out for maximum effect

    If it literally is just this then standards are falling even amongst guttersnipes and snitches
  • Options
    williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 49,199
    First opinion polls since Macron's snap election announcement:

    Rassemblement national/Le Pen: 31%
    Left alliance/Melenchon: 28%
    Renaissance/Macron: 18%

    image
  • Options
    MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 45,643

    That Guido story is not so much a nothingburger as a Quadruple Deluxe Zero-Pounder With Cheese.

    ... but hold the cheese.
    and the Quadruple
    and the Deluxe
    and the Pounder
    and the Burger
  • Options
    LeonLeon Posts: 49,540

    Leon said:

    Roger said:

    Leon said:

    Carnyx said:

    Leon said:

    Ooh. Is there salacious goss on starmer?!

    At least it might improve his boring image

    Given your connections, I am surprised you hadn't heard this one before.
    So that's Leon's credibility as a gossip finnished then?
    I can give you something amazing on Sunak. After the election
    Tedious even by your standards.
    Knit one pearl one
    Purl.

    And if you slip the first stitch knitwise you get a nice selvedge edge.
    Like it. Clever. So you’ve heard the same rumour
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    sladeslade Posts: 1,962

    I was reading an article and came across this quote which I think sums up things quite nicely.

    Russia occupies and will continue to occupy a commanding position in every struggle against popular rights… And though other governments, its allies and subordinates, may seem to be most active, yet they are but puppets on the stage..: The motive power is the man behind the scenes, the leader of Russia. He is the formidable antagonist of the peoples. He is … impelled by a hostility to free institutions that admits if no compromise and yields to no relaxation”

    When do people think this was written (no googling!)

    1875?
    I am reminded of Nicholas 1 - The Gendarme of Europe'. So 1849?
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    LeonLeon Posts: 49,540

    First opinion polls since Macron's snap election announcement:

    Rassemblement national/Le Pen: 31%
    Left alliance/Melenchon: 28%
    Renaissance/Macron: 18%

    image

    Isn’t that basically what it is now? So macrons gamble will do… nothing. If that is the result
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    That Guido story is not so much a nothingburger as a Quadruple Deluxe Zero-Pounder With Cheese.

    ... but hold the cheese.
    and the Quadruple
    and the Deluxe
    and the Pounder
    and the Burger
    I'll just have the wilted looking lettuce and half a tomato slice.
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    AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 21,411

    So Guido has published his story.

    What a load of overhyped bollocks.

    The story seems to be that Sir Keir was a bit of a shagger in his younger years and had lots of girlfriends.

    So what?
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    StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 15,353
    Leon said:

    ToryJim said:

    So Guido has published his story.

    What a load of overhyped bollocks.

    Indeed, person dated more than one woman before marriage is hardly the biggest revelation of the week, it has to compete with head of religious organisation with specific injunction against homosexual acts in its religious texts not hyper keen on gays.
    It must be a lead in. That can't be all there is, surely?

    It barely reaches the very low bar of being more interesting than Labour's manifesto.

    Unless there are progeny that he's disowned and refuses to pay for there's clearly not going to be a scandal.
    Yes this must be a teaser. It’s embarrassingly bad if this is it. My guess is - like any sensible journalist - he’s stringing it out for maximum effect

    If it literally is just this then standards are falling even amongst guttersnipes and snitches
    But even as a teaser, it's rubbish.

    Guido has always been more sizzle than sausage, but where's the sizzle here?

    Even the plaintive mention of Boris is a bit sad.
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    MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 45,643

    I was reading an article and came across this quote which I think sums up things quite nicely.

    Russia occupies and will continue to occupy a commanding position in every struggle against popular rights… And though other governments, its allies and subordinates, may seem to be most active, yet they are but puppets on the stage..: The motive power is the man behind the scenes, the leader of Russia. He is the formidable antagonist of the peoples. He is … impelled by a hostility to free institutions that admits if no compromise and yields to no relaxation”

    When do people think this was written (no googling!)

    1875?
    Russia was a standard Trope for Despotism in the 19th Cent.

    Hence Lincoln in 1855 - "I am not a Know-Nothing. That is certain. How could I be? How can any one who abhors the oppression of negroes, be in favor of degrading classes of white people? Our progress in degeneracy appears to me to be pretty rapid. As a nation, we begin by declaring that "all men are created equal." We now practically read it "all men are created equal, except negroes." When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read "all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and catholics." When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretence of loving liberty-to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocracy."
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