When something is both little and large – politicalbetting.com

Nigelb said:

Well now.

Serbia is being insulted on Russian state TV after information appeared that Serbia sold shells to Western countries.

State TV presenter Sergei Mardan called Serbia a “whore” and said that the Serbs are no longer brothers to the Russians, but enemies
https://x.com/den_kazansky/status/1805324291577196742

To quote some Ukrainians, Sergei Mardan, go fuck yourself.

FrancisUrquhart said:

I am really hating this 3rd placed in group can still qualify for knockouts nonsense in Euros. No jeopardy. We want to be thinking, shit if England screw this up tonight, they could be out. Not well if they screw it up, they will probably play Germany.

Why? The reason there is no jeopardy for us is that we have already accrued enough points to qualify. Croatia finished third. Ask them about 'no jeopardy'.

...

Farooq said:

MisterBedfordshire said:

Leon said:

Pulpstar said:

Leon said:

It’s completely unfair that France gets all this natural beauty (and better weather, and slimmer women) while we have Newent, Wick and @kinabalu’s golf club

I’m therefore trying to cheer myself out of my jealousy by working out what is the most boring, least interesting department of France. The obvious choice would be somewhere in Picardy but I think I’ve found a prime candidate

Creuse. It seems to be the ultimate nowhere land smack bang in the middle of the country. It has a tiny population with only lozere smaller (in departments) but Lozere is quite spectacular -moors, mountains, megaliths and ravines

Creuse has… farms. And a town that used to make tapestries. That seems to be it

Is it that bad? Has anyone been? How boring is creuse?

If we're comparing like with like then you'll need to see what if offers vis a vis Bedfordshire.

Hah. I did for a moment wonder about the “most boring county in Britain” and yes Bedfordshire floated into my head

Oi.

Nothing boring about Bedfordshire. Quite small but have some splendid countryside that is the equal of anything in the Cotswolds and market towns and far enough out of London to be beyond the worst of the stockbroker belt. They get as far as Luton (our London Inner City type borough) and turn back.

And no ULEZ, Congestion Charge or 20mph limits (except short bits by schools)

"Bedfordshire isn't boring because [checks notes] you can drive at 30mph"
I was going to plump for Herefordshire, but you've just converted me to the Bedfordshire camp.

Herefordshire is a stunningly beautiful county. Lots of uphill and down dale rather than flat sandpit Bedfordshire. OK, the people are like the duelling banjo players from Deliverance if very much more scary.

Anabobazina said:

Farooq said:

MisterBedfordshire said:

Leon said:

Pulpstar said:

Leon said:

It’s completely unfair that France gets all this natural beauty (and better weather, and slimmer women) while we have Newent, Wick and @kinabalu’s golf club

I’m therefore trying to cheer myself out of my jealousy by working out what is the most boring, least interesting department of France. The obvious choice would be somewhere in Picardy but I think I’ve found a prime candidate

Creuse. It seems to be the ultimate nowhere land smack bang in the middle of the country. It has a tiny population with only lozere smaller (in departments) but Lozere is quite spectacular -moors, mountains, megaliths and ravines

Creuse has… farms. And a town that used to make tapestries. That seems to be it

Is it that bad? Has anyone been? How boring is creuse?

If we're comparing like with like then you'll need to see what if offers vis a vis Bedfordshire.

Hah. I did for a moment wonder about the “most boring county in Britain” and yes Bedfordshire floated into my head

Oi.

Nothing boring about Bedfordshire. Quite small but have some splendid countryside that is the equal of anything in the Cotswolds and market towns and far enough out of London to be beyond the worst of the stockbroker belt. They get as far as Luton (our London Inner City type borough) and turn back.

And no ULEZ, Congestion Charge or 20mph limits (except short bits by schools)

"Bedfordshire isn't boring because [checks notes] you can drive at 30mph"
I was going to plump for Herefordshire, but you've just converted me to the Bedfordshire camp.

For some of the weirdos on here who are absolutely obsessed with 20mph speed limits, driving at 30mph through a town makes them feel all manly.

30mph through a town is pretty staid and slow. 20 is absurdly slow.

The speed limit should be 40-50 in most places.

Andy_JS said:

I'm supporting Poland.

Poland are already out, so I'm watching the other game on Beeb 2.

Leon said:

It’s completely unfair that France gets all this natural beauty (and better weather, and slimmer women) while we have Newent, Wick and @kinabalu’s golf club

I’m therefore trying to cheer myself out of my jealousy by working out what is the most boring, least interesting department of France. The obvious choice would be somewhere in Picardy but I think I’ve found a prime candidate

Creuse. It seems to be the ultimate nowhere land smack bang in the middle of the country. It has a tiny population with only lozere smaller (in departments) but Lozere is quite spectacular -moors, mountains, megaliths and ravines

Creuse has… farms. And a town that used to make tapestries. That seems to be it

Is it that bad? Has anyone been? How boring is creuse?

Fuck dont start me.

I owned a factory in La Creuse and commuted there for 4 years. Its a cultural vacuum. Parisians laugh at it as the arsehole of France - but thts a level of national pride I never understood - it's worse than that. It's the kind of place where the swingers sleep with their other sister. The town I stayed in had an Irish Pub called le Loch Ness I couldnt be arsed explaining but that was international division of the departement. For years it held the record of the only department without a Michelin star, its population has been on the slide for a century and has only pepped up in the last decade or so because nitwit english are buying houses there. Houses they will never be able to sell unless some numpty like Pater Mayle is sponsored to write ficion by the local estate agents

Surpisingly for what is quite an agricultural area it votes far left. All those years of interbreeding with their cousins and their livestock have produced some seriously screwed up people. When I was driving to Limoges airport to go home I passed signs for Oradour sur Glane and had to suppress my guilt that I understood where the 2SS Division Das Reich were coming from. There is next to no industry and what there is the locals try to wreck as they are all paid up members of the CGT the manic communist union. The type of people who key your car and knife your tyres if your negotiating wages. Meanwhile the local plods just stand back and watch.

And it's not just me, Macron famously had a bust up with people at the factory ( after my time )

https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/nouvelle-aquitaine/creuse/visite-presidentielle-en-creuse-les-salaries-de-lsi-ex-gm-s-mobilises-pour-recevoir-le-chef-de-l-etat-2431768.html

and then they went even madder and got a leftie documentarist to push them on - he won the Palme dOr at Cannes

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/blow-it-bits-va-tout-peter-review-1210444/#!


There is sod all in the place except the people who cant leave, some charolais cattle who are smarter than their owners and regular riots. By all means visit, it will give you an appreciation for the dynamism and jet setting which is rural Suffolk. But dont try bedding the locals its a french SSI and you'll disrupt the gene pool. Anyway if the women have 3 legs how do you know youve got the right crevice, you could be unlucky and enter the one with the penis.

BartholomewRoberts said:

Anabobazina said:

Farooq said:

MisterBedfordshire said:

Leon said:

Pulpstar said:

Leon said:

It’s completely unfair that France gets all this natural beauty (and better weather, and slimmer women) while we have Newent, Wick and @kinabalu’s golf club

I’m therefore trying to cheer myself out of my jealousy by working out what is the most boring, least interesting department of France. The obvious choice would be somewhere in Picardy but I think I’ve found a prime candidate

Creuse. It seems to be the ultimate nowhere land smack bang in the middle of the country. It has a tiny population with only lozere smaller (in departments) but Lozere is quite spectacular -moors, mountains, megaliths and ravines

Creuse has… farms. And a town that used to make tapestries. That seems to be it

Is it that bad? Has anyone been? How boring is creuse?

If we're comparing like with like then you'll need to see what if offers vis a vis Bedfordshire.

Hah. I did for a moment wonder about the “most boring county in Britain” and yes Bedfordshire floated into my head

Oi.

Nothing boring about Bedfordshire. Quite small but have some splendid countryside that is the equal of anything in the Cotswolds and market towns and far enough out of London to be beyond the worst of the stockbroker belt. They get as far as Luton (our London Inner City type borough) and turn back.

And no ULEZ, Congestion Charge or 20mph limits (except short bits by schools)

"Bedfordshire isn't boring because [checks notes] you can drive at 30mph"
I was going to plump for Herefordshire, but you've just converted me to the Bedfordshire camp.

For some of the weirdos on here who are absolutely obsessed with 20mph speed limits, driving at 30mph through a town makes them feel all manly.

30mph through a town is pretty staid and slow. 20 is absurdly slow.

The speed limit should be 40-50 in most places.

Not through towns it shouldn't.

Labour candidate suspended for gambling breaches.

How did he know?

TheScreamingEagles said:

Well the Tories have lost the Whovian vote.

Kemi Badenoch brands David Tennant ‘rich, lefty, white male celebrity’ in trans row

Equalities minister says she will not be ‘silenced by a man’ after Doctor Who actor told her to ‘shut up’ and ‘not exist any more’

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/06/25/kemi-badenoch-brands-david-tennant-rich-lefty-white-male/

"White" male? I thought Kemi was singularly opposed to that sort of identity/racialised politics. Shame on her.

Mexicanpete said:

...

Farooq said:

MisterBedfordshire said:

Leon said:

Pulpstar said:

Leon said:

It’s completely unfair that France gets all this natural beauty (and better weather, and slimmer women) while we have Newent, Wick and @kinabalu’s golf club

I’m therefore trying to cheer myself out of my jealousy by working out what is the most boring, least interesting department of France. The obvious choice would be somewhere in Picardy but I think I’ve found a prime candidate

Creuse. It seems to be the ultimate nowhere land smack bang in the middle of the country. It has a tiny population with only lozere smaller (in departments) but Lozere is quite spectacular -moors, mountains, megaliths and ravines

Creuse has… farms. And a town that used to make tapestries. That seems to be it

Is it that bad? Has anyone been? How boring is creuse?

If we're comparing like with like then you'll need to see what if offers vis a vis Bedfordshire.

Hah. I did for a moment wonder about the “most boring county in Britain” and yes Bedfordshire floated into my head

Oi.

Nothing boring about Bedfordshire. Quite small but have some splendid countryside that is the equal of anything in the Cotswolds and market towns and far enough out of London to be beyond the worst of the stockbroker belt. They get as far as Luton (our London Inner City type borough) and turn back.

And no ULEZ, Congestion Charge or 20mph limits (except short bits by schools)

"Bedfordshire isn't boring because [checks notes] you can drive at 30mph"
I was going to plump for Herefordshire, but you've just converted me to the Bedfordshire camp.

Herefordshire is a stunningly beautiful county. Lots of uphill and down dale rather than flat sandpit Bedfordshire. OK, the people are like the duelling banjo players from Deliverance if very much more scary.

I recommend the book "Engel's England" by Matthew Engel - a county-by-county trip around England's 39 traditional counties*. I don't recall whether he picked winners, but Herefordshire was one of his favourites. ISTR he found Bedfordshire somewhat difficult to pin down.

Anyway, it's very good.

*other definitions are available

algarkirk said:

Leon said:

Pulpstar said:

Leon said:

It’s completely unfair that France gets all this natural beauty (and better weather, and slimmer women) while we have Newent, Wick and @kinabalu’s golf club

I’m therefore trying to cheer myself out of my jealousy by working out what is the most boring, least interesting department of France. The obvious choice would be somewhere in Picardy but I think I’ve found a prime candidate

Creuse. It seems to be the ultimate nowhere land smack bang in the middle of the country. It has a tiny population with only lozere smaller (in departments) but Lozere is quite spectacular -moors, mountains, megaliths and ravines

Creuse has… farms. And a town that used to make tapestries. That seems to be it

Is it that bad? Has anyone been? How boring is creuse?

If we're comparing like with like then you'll need to see what if offers vis a vis Bedfordshire.

Hah. I did for a moment wonder about the “most boring county in Britain” and yes Bedfordshire floated into my head

Yes, Bedfordshire is boringest county (traditional boundaries) by some way. The competition is for number 2. Staffordshire or Cheshire perhaps. But even Bedfordshire has a lifetime of interest in it. Marston Moretaine; Elstow; Shillington; Luton Central Mosque interior; Luton bus station at night; Luton Airport departure lounge.

I grew up in Leicestershire. The rough guide to Britain my parents bought just said that you pass through it on the M1 and the countryside is quite nice. Seems fair tbh.

I always wondered if it was a sly Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy “mostly harmless” joke.

Andy_JS said:

Dutch own goal after 6 mins.

Now we know who Sunak would be manager of.

https://x.com/ElectionMapsUK/status/1805633467608134092?s=19
That's Fridays 'missing' You Gov, rather out of date now

TheScreamingEagles said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Well the Tories have lost the Whovian vote.

Kemi Badenoch brands David Tennant ‘rich, lefty, white male celebrity’ in trans row

Equalities minister says she will not be ‘silenced by a man’ after Doctor Who actor told her to ‘shut up’ and ‘not exist any more’

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/06/25/kemi-badenoch-brands-david-tennant-rich-lefty-white-male/

Well looking at the viewing figures for the latest season, they are becoming a lot rarer. "not exist any more", not very tolerant and open to differing opinions from Tennant.

I think it is personal for the 10th and 14th Doctor, rumour has it that his stepkid is trans.

Is that the jury in on whether Kemi is racist then?

I wouldn't be surprised when all this betting stuff is finally finished there will have been loads of people investigated, but the vast majority it was £50 here or there.

I'm outraged. Got on a train and al

biggles said:

Anabobazina said:

BartholomewRoberts said:

Anabobazina said:

Farooq said:

MisterBedfordshire said:

Leon said:

Pulpstar said:

Leon said:

It’s completely unfair that France gets all this natural beauty (and better weather, and slimmer women) while we have Newent, Wick and @kinabalu’s golf club

I’m therefore trying to cheer myself out of my jealousy by working out what is the most boring, least interesting department of France. The obvious choice would be somewhere in Picardy but I think I’ve found a prime candidate

Creuse. It seems to be the ultimate nowhere land smack bang in the middle of the country. It has a tiny population with only lozere smaller (in departments) but Lozere is quite spectacular -moors, mountains, megaliths and ravines

Creuse has… farms. And a town that used to make tapestries. That seems to be it

Is it that bad? Has anyone been? How boring is creuse?

If we're comparing like with like then you'll need to see what if offers vis a vis Bedfordshire.

Hah. I did for a moment wonder about the “most boring county in Britain” and yes Bedfordshire floated into my head

Oi.

Nothing boring about Bedfordshire. Quite small but have some splendid countryside that is the equal of anything in the Cotswolds and market towns and far enough out of London to be beyond the worst of the stockbroker belt. They get as far as Luton (our London Inner City type borough) and turn back.

And no ULEZ, Congestion Charge or 20mph limits (except short bits by schools)

"Bedfordshire isn't boring because [checks notes] you can drive at 30mph"
I was going to plump for Herefordshire, but you've just converted me to the Bedfordshire camp.

For some of the weirdos on here who are absolutely obsessed with 20mph speed limits, driving at 30mph through a town makes them feel all manly.

30mph through a town is pretty staid and slow. 20 is absurdly slow.

The speed limit should be 40-50 in most places.

Not through towns it shouldn't.

To be fair, 50mph would reduce the number of ambulances required because everyone hit by a car would just die. So there’s that in “favour”.

Its 60/70 mph on the through roads in nearby MK right up to the city centre.

The Labour suspension may hand the seat to the defending Tories as its very marginal on MRPs in Central Suffolk and Ipswich North. Dan Poulters old seat

Nigelb said:

.

Alanbrooke said:

Leon said:

It’s completely unfair that France gets all this natural beauty (and better weather, and slimmer women) while we have Newent, Wick and @kinabalu’s golf club

I’m therefore trying to cheer myself out of my jealousy by working out what is the most boring, least interesting department of France. The obvious choice would be somewhere in Picardy but I think I’ve found a prime candidate

Creuse. It seems to be the ultimate nowhere land smack bang in the middle of the country. It has a tiny population with only lozere smaller (in departments) but Lozere is quite spectacular -moors, mountains, megaliths and ravines

Creuse has… farms. And a town that used to make tapestries. That seems to be it

Is it that bad? Has anyone been? How boring is creuse?

Fuck dont start me.

I owned a factory in La Creuse and commuted there for 4 years. Its a cultural vacuum. Parisians laugh at it as the arsehole of France - but thts a level of national pride I never understood - it's worse than that. It's the kind of place where the swingers sleep with their other sister. The town I stayed in had an Irish Pub called le Loch Ness I couldnt be arsed explaining but that was international division of the departement. For years it held the record of the only department without a Michelin star, its population has been on the slide for a century and has only pepped up in the last decade or so because nitwit english are buying houses there. Houses they will never be able to sell unless some numpty like Pater Mayle is sponsored to write ficion by the local estate agents

Surpisingly for what is quite an agricultural area it votes far left. All those years of interbreeding with their cousins and their livestock have produced some seriously screwed up people. When I was driving to Limoges airport to go home I passed signs for Oradour sur Glane and had to suppress my guilt that I understood where the 2SS Division Das Reich were coming from. There is next to no industry and what there is the locals try to wreck as they are all paid up members of the CGT the manic communist union. The type of people who key your car and knife your tyres if your negotiating wages. Meanwhile the local plods just stand back and watch.

And it's not just me, Macron famously had a bust up with people at the factory ( after my time )

https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/nouvelle-aquitaine/creuse/visite-presidentielle-en-creuse-les-salaries-de-lsi-ex-gm-s-mobilises-pour-recevoir-le-chef-de-l-etat-2431768.html

and then they went even madder and got a leftie documentarist to push them on - he won the Palme dOr at Cannes

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/blow-it-bits-va-tout-peter-review-1210444/#!


There is sod all in the place except the people who cant leave, some charolais cattle who are smarter than their owners and regular riots. By all means visit, it will give you an appreciation for the dynamism and jet setting which is rural Suffolk. But dont try bedding the locals its a french SSI and you'll disrupt the gene pool. Anyway if the women have 3 legs how do you know youve got the right crevice, you could be unlucky and enter the one with the penis.

And folk say David Tennant is rude...

Mr b I still have the scars on my back.

MightyAlex said:

Alanbrooke said:

Leon said:

It’s completely unfair that France gets all this natural beauty (and better weather, and slimmer women) while we have Newent, Wick and @kinabalu’s golf club

I’m therefore trying to cheer myself out of my jealousy by working out what is the most boring, least interesting department of France. The obvious choice would be somewhere in Picardy but I think I’ve found a prime candidate

Creuse. It seems to be the ultimate nowhere land smack bang in the middle of the country. It has a tiny population with only lozere smaller (in departments) but Lozere is quite spectacular -moors, mountains, megaliths and ravines

Creuse has… farms. And a town that used to make tapestries. That seems to be it

Is it that bad? Has anyone been? How boring is creuse?

Fuck dont start me.

I owned a factory in La Creuse and commuted there for 4 years. Its a cultural vacuum. Parisians laugh at it as the arsehole of France - but thts a level of national pride I never understood - it's worse than that. It's the kind of place where the swingers sleep with their other sister. The town I stayed in had an Irish Pub called le Loch Ness I couldnt be arsed explaining but that was international division of the departement. For years it held the record of the only department without a Michelin star, its population has been on the slide for a century and has only pepped up in the last decade or so because nitwit english are buying houses there. Houses they will never be able to sell unless some numpty like Pater Mayle is sponsored to write ficion by the local estate agents

Surpisingly for what is quite an agricultural area it votes far left. All those years of interbreeding with their cousins and their livestock have produced some seriously screwed up people. When I was driving to Limoges airport to go home I passed signs for Oradour sur Glane and had to suppress my guilt that I understood where the 2SS Division Das Reich were coming from. There is next to no industry and what there is the locals try to wreck as they are all paid up members of the CGT the manic communist union. The type of people who key your car and knife your tyres if your negotiating wages. Meanwhile the local plods just stand back and watch.

And it's not just me, Macron famously had a bust up with people at the factory ( after my time )

https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/nouvelle-aquitaine/creuse/visite-presidentielle-en-creuse-les-salaries-de-lsi-ex-gm-s-mobilises-pour-recevoir-le-chef-de-l-etat-2431768.html

and then they went even madder and got a leftie documentarist to push them on - he won the Palme dOr at Cannes

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/blow-it-bits-va-tout-peter-review-1210444/#!


There is sod all in the place except the people who cant leave, some charolais cattle who are smarter than their owners and regular riots. By all means visit, it will give you an appreciation for the dynamism and jet setting which is rural Suffolk. But dont try bedding the locals its a french SSI and you'll disrupt the gene pool. Anyway if the women have 3 legs how do you know youve got the right crevice, you could be unlucky and enter the one with the penis.

Think you were going for sardonic all I'm getting is horrible bastard.

Of course, It's the only way to face off to the locals.

kinabalu said:

Leon said:

kinabalu said:

Cookie said:

kinabalu said:

Leon said:

kinabalu said:

RochdalePioneers said:

kinabalu said:

Like "Peppa Pig" from the amusefest that was Boris Johnson wasn't the fucking cringiest thing ever from a politician.

C'mon. Get a grip. Various people are just pissed off Starmer's winning.

I'm *bored* that Starmer is winning. Because he is being terribly boring and inoffensive. Where's the umph?

This bit is 'win the election' and barring a mega shock it's going to be a resounding success. Then, 5/7 onwards, he's PM. Will he be boring, cautious, ineffectual? Or will he be a good, maybe very good, PM who'll relax a bit more in public over time?

I hope and expect the second, but who knows? What I do know is that people writing him off on the basis he hasn't been a thrill-a-minute as Opposition Leader or in this GE campaign are mainly engaging in prejudice-informed guesswork.

No, we’re just mocking his cringe. In my comment immediately after my mockery (which seems to have upset so many of you so weirdly) I actually say This won’t matter as long as he learns from it. We don’t want or need him to be funny so he doesn’t have to try and he shouldn’t even try

After the last few years we will take dull but competent if he can manage it. We all know he has a tough task (I expect him to fail but I genuinely hope he succeeds)

What we don’t want is an inept politician who also makes us cringe. That will be damaging. Quit the gags Sir Kir

No point trying to backtrack now. You're really put out that he isn't making you laugh so hard it hurts every time you see him. You think it's a big deal that he doesn't (can't?) do that. So much of a big deal that it's cost him your vote.

No, you're missing the point. See also the Ryan Giggs clip. It's not just not funny, its the antithesis of funny. If funny is 1 and not funny is 0, what SKS and Ryan Giggs are are -1. Perhaps even i. It has all the cadences of humour, without the humour itself. It's awful and weirdly compelling.
It's not just failing to tell a joke well, it's failing to recognise whether the story he's telling falls into the category of 'anecdote' or not.
Many people aren't particularly funny. But this is more than just telling a joke which doesn't land. It's, well, weird. And certainly worthy of comment.

I think Leon has said though that he still intends to vote Labour. Doesn't mean he can't then comment on the Labour leader's oddities.

I don't miss points, Cookie, you know that.

It's just a sweet and rather forced little story in front of a bunch of stony faced teenagers. THAT is what's funny - least to me - them in the background. The awkwardness. Lol. Poor kids.

But look, it was clearly meant to be gently amusing not bring the house down. And it fell a little flat. So the fuck what? People going on about how incredibly 'cringy' it is - they are the weirdos here. Eg it's absolutely nothing next to "Peppa Pig" and "Buses".

But the good news? Leon is not voting Labour. It's Reform for our gammon with a vocab.

lol. You’re SO defensive. Is it because you’re a bit like kir royale yourself so it feels personal? Quite fascinating

If only. I am actually - to my great chagrin and discredit - far more like Boris Johnson than Keir Starmer. I so wish could change that. Too late now though.

No you’re not. Boris is a rampantly heterosexual ladies man and old Etonian and very funny and deeply deeply irresponsible. You are not irresponsible. Nor did you go to eton and so on

You are really quite like sir kir royale. A provincial upper working class lad made good in london. Hard working and sensible. Bit stiff. Intelligent and earnest. Similar age. Now in north london. Spooky!

You are so defensive about skyr because you are so alike. Perhaps you don’t realise this

Mexicanpete said:

Labour candidate suspended for gambling breaches.

How did he know?

Maybe he got it from here. Seriously, we're told that MPs read this site, so doesn't seem that odd that he does too.

I’m in yet another etc etc little french town. Sauzon. Its like someone decided to build an adorable little French town on a creek and nailed it all right down to the cute dinky lighthouses

Good news for the Greens in Central Suffolk & North Ipswich: the Labour candidate there has been disowned by the Labour Party.

https://news.sky.com/story/labour-candidate-suspended-as-gambling-commission-launches-investigation-13158716

"Labour candidate suspended as Gambling Commission launches investigation

Kevin Craig was seeking to become the party's MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, but Sky News understands he placed a bet on the outcome in the seat."

Grandcanyon said:

Leon said:

Cookie said:

kinabalu said:

Leon said:

kinabalu said:

RochdalePioneers said:

kinabalu said:

Like "Peppa Pig" from the amusefest that was Boris Johnson wasn't the fucking cringiest thing ever from a politician.

C'mon. Get a grip. Various people are just pissed off Starmer's winning.

I'm *bored* that Starmer is winning. Because he is being terribly boring and inoffensive. Where's the umph?

This bit is 'win the election' and barring a mega shock it's going to be a resounding success. Then, 5/7 onwards, he's PM. Will he be boring, cautious, ineffectual? Or will he be a good, maybe very good, PM who'll relax a bit more in public over time?

I hope and expect the second, but who knows? What I do know is that people writing him off on the basis he hasn't been a thrill-a-minute as Opposition Leader or in this GE campaign are mainly engaging in prejudice-informed guesswork.

No, we’re just mocking his cringe. In my comment immediately after my mockery (which seems to have upset so many of you so weirdly) I actually say This won’t matter as long as he learns from it. We don’t want or need him to be funny so he doesn’t have to try and he shouldn’t even try

After the last few years we will take dull but competent if he can manage it. We all know he has a tough task (I expect him to fail but I genuinely hope he succeeds)

What we don’t want is an inept politician who also makes us cringe. That will be damaging. Quit the gags Sir Kir

No point trying to backtrack now. You're really put out that he isn't making you laugh so hard it hurts every time you see him. You think it's a big deal that he doesn't (can't?) do that. So much of a big deal that it's cost him your vote.

No, you're missing the point. See also the Ryan Giggs clip. It's not just not funny, its the antithesis of funny. If funny is 1 and not funny is 0, what SKS and Ryan Giggs are are -1. Perhaps even i. It has all the cadences of humour, without the humour itself. It's awful and weirdly compelling.
It's not just failing to tell a joke well, it's failing to recognise whether the story he's telling falls into the category of 'anecdote' or not.
Many people aren't particularly funny. But this is more than just telling a joke which doesn't land. It's, well, weird. And certainly worthy of comment.

I think Leon has said though that he still intends to vote Labour. Doesn't mean he can't then comment on the Labour leader's oddities.

Exactly right and very eloquent to boot. He doesn’t apparently understand humour at a basic level. This is like “how do you do fellow kids” but he means it


Add in the non-dreaming and third person stuff and we have a proper oddball coming into number 10. But then maybe that’s what Britain needs as we stare into the abyss

He doesn’t have a favourite poem or novel either. Hmmm. He’s the cliche of an alien trying to be human and failing. But again - that could be just the ticket

Tho TMay and Brown were a bit like this and they were disasters

The man is institutionalised after years working for the CPS. Hes a dangerous man in the sense he will be a puritan on legislating on things like ethnic minority pay gaps.

Sir Keir will basically be another Gordon Brown as PM, except if Brown had won a landslide majority for his policies

TheScreamingEagles said:

So how does a Labour candidate have inside knowledge about the surprise election date the Tory PM is about to announce?

We’re approaching the point where the question arises as to how no-one on PB knew in advance?

Apart, maybe, from moonrabbit.

TheScreamingEagles said:

So how does a Labour candidate have inside knowledge about the surprise election date the Tory PM is about to announce?

Apparently the bet was on the result in his constituency, lmao

TheScreamingEagles said:

So how does a Labour candidate have inside knowledge about the surprise election date the Tory PM is about to announce?

The investigation into police announced today aren't on operational duty with the PM, so again they can't have direct insider info.

@jimwaterson

The Labour guy has been suspended FOR BETTING ON HIMSELF TO LOSE. No this is too much.

algarkirk said:

Leon said:

Pulpstar said:

Leon said:

It’s completely unfair that France gets all this natural beauty (and better weather, and slimmer women) while we have Newent, Wick and @kinabalu’s golf club

I’m therefore trying to cheer myself out of my jealousy by working out what is the most boring, least interesting department of France. The obvious choice would be somewhere in Picardy but I think I’ve found a prime candidate

Creuse. It seems to be the ultimate nowhere land smack bang in the middle of the country. It has a tiny population with only lozere smaller (in departments) but Lozere is quite spectacular -moors, mountains, megaliths and ravines

Creuse has… farms. And a town that used to make tapestries. That seems to be it

Is it that bad? Has anyone been? How boring is creuse?

If we're comparing like with like then you'll need to see what if offers vis a vis Bedfordshire.

Hah. I did for a moment wonder about the “most boring county in Britain” and yes Bedfordshire floated into my head

Yes, Bedfordshire is boringest county (traditional boundaries) by some way. The competition is for number 2. Staffordshire or Cheshire perhaps. But even Bedfordshire has a lifetime of interest in it. Marston Moretaine; Elstow; Shillington; Luton Central Mosque interior; Luton bus station at night; Luton Airport departure lounge.

No, not having Cheshire as boring, either on traditional or modern boundaries. Cheshire has some National Park, for as start. Cheshire has Joddrell Bank, one of the seven wonders of the North West* Cheshire has the rows and walls of Chester, the Peckforton Hills, the Anderton Boat Lift, Stockport Bus Station, Port Sunlight, the Dee Estuary, Helsby Hill, Little Moreton Hall, Gawsworth Hall, Alderley Edge. Cheshire has the books of Alan Garner. Cheshire has the Macc Lads. Cheshire has a panhandle. Cheshire has Lyme Park. Cheshire is, what, the seventh highest county in the country (or thereabouts). Boring this place is not.

Cheshire is less instantly exciting than most of the other northern counties, but beats most of the Midlands and South East. Imagine one of those calendars you get in moderately upmarket garden centres. Cheshire's calendars will beat at least 50% of other counties into a cocked hat.

I would say most boring county probably Huntingdonshire. Highest point in Huntingdonshire? Boring Field. QED, my friends, QED.
Other clearly more boring counties than Cheshire include Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Rutland, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.

Scott_xP said:

@jimwaterson

The Labour guy has been suspended FOR BETTING ON HIMSELF TO LOSE. No this is too much.

Well this is why they stopped footballers betting.

Grandcanyon said:

biggles said:

algarkirk said:

Leon said:

Pulpstar said:

Leon said:

It’s completely unfair that France gets all this natural beauty (and better weather, and slimmer women) while we have Newent, Wick and @kinabalu’s golf club

I’m therefore trying to cheer myself out of my jealousy by working out what is the most boring, least interesting department of France. The obvious choice would be somewhere in Picardy but I think I’ve found a prime candidate

Creuse. It seems to be the ultimate nowhere land smack bang in the middle of the country. It has a tiny population with only lozere smaller (in departments) but Lozere is quite spectacular -moors, mountains, megaliths and ravines

Creuse has… farms. And a town that used to make tapestries. That seems to be it

Is it that bad? Has anyone been? How boring is creuse?

If we're comparing like with like then you'll need to see what if offers vis a vis Bedfordshire.

Hah. I did for a moment wonder about the “most boring county in Britain” and yes Bedfordshire floated into my head

Yes, Bedfordshire is boringest county (traditional boundaries) by some way. The competition is for number 2. Staffordshire or Cheshire perhaps. But even Bedfordshire has a lifetime of interest in it. Marston Moretaine; Elstow; Shillington; Luton Central Mosque interior; Luton bus station at night; Luton Airport departure lounge.

I grew up in Leicestershire. The rough guide to Britain my parents bought just said that you pass through it on the M1 and the countryside is quite nice. Seems fair tbh.

I always wondered if it was a sly Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy “mostly harmless” joke.

The most boring county in the uk is Hertfordshire and it also has the most boring people.

A candidate if you took out St Alban's and Hatfield House. But yes, in the top few for boringness.

Leon said:

Mexicanpete said:

...

Farooq said:

MisterBedfordshire said:

Leon said:

Pulpstar said:

Leon said:

It’s completely unfair that France gets all this natural beauty (and better weather, and slimmer women) while we have Newent, Wick and @kinabalu’s golf club

I’m therefore trying to cheer myself out of my jealousy by working out what is the most boring, least interesting department of France. The obvious choice would be somewhere in Picardy but I think I’ve found a prime candidate

Creuse. It seems to be the ultimate nowhere land smack bang in the middle of the country. It has a tiny population with only lozere smaller (in departments) but Lozere is quite spectacular -moors, mountains, megaliths and ravines

Creuse has… farms. And a town that used to make tapestries. That seems to be it

Is it that bad? Has anyone been? How boring is creuse?

If we're comparing like with like then you'll need to see what if offers vis a vis Bedfordshire.

Hah. I did for a moment wonder about the “most boring county in Britain” and yes Bedfordshire floated into my head

Oi.

Nothing boring about Bedfordshire. Quite small but have some splendid countryside that is the equal of anything in the Cotswolds and market towns and far enough out of London to be beyond the worst of the stockbroker belt. They get as far as Luton (our London Inner City type borough) and turn back.

And no ULEZ, Congestion Charge or 20mph limits (except short bits by schools)

"Bedfordshire isn't boring because [checks notes] you can drive at 30mph"
I was going to plump for Herefordshire, but you've just converted me to the Bedfordshire camp.

Herefordshire is a stunningly beautiful county. Lots of uphill and down dale rather than flat sandpit Bedfordshire. OK, the people are like the duelling banjo players from Deliverance if very much more scary.

Yes, Herefordshire is ravishingly beautiful. If only every British county was as lovely and unspoilt!

It’s also really really noomy in the south and west as it butts up against the Welsh hills. Plus the Wye valley, the orchard lands of the east, half the malverns and half the Forest of Dean. Tintern abbey. Kilpeck. Galway. The lugg. Craswall

A speccie travel piece on it here

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-welsh-marches-englands-foodie-frontier/

We were staying in Creuse (Dun-le-Palestel) the night Princess Diana was killed. In the bakery on Sunday morning the locals lined up to offer condolences, which I solemnly accepted on behalf of the nation. Doesn't make it interesting, but it does make it memorable.

This GE campaign gets more and more farcical.

Cookie said:

algarkirk said:

Leon said:

Pulpstar said:

Leon said:

It’s completely unfair that France gets all this natural beauty (and better weather, and slimmer women) while we have Newent, Wick and @kinabalu’s golf club

I’m therefore trying to cheer myself out of my jealousy by working out what is the most boring, least interesting department of France. The obvious choice would be somewhere in Picardy but I think I’ve found a prime candidate

Creuse. It seems to be the ultimate nowhere land smack bang in the middle of the country. It has a tiny population with only lozere smaller (in departments) but Lozere is quite spectacular -moors, mountains, megaliths and ravines

Creuse has… farms. And a town that used to make tapestries. That seems to be it

Is it that bad? Has anyone been? How boring is creuse?

If we're comparing like with like then you'll need to see what if offers vis a vis Bedfordshire.

Hah. I did for a moment wonder about the “most boring county in Britain” and yes Bedfordshire floated into my head

Yes, Bedfordshire is boringest county (traditional boundaries) by some way. The competition is for number 2. Staffordshire or Cheshire perhaps. But even Bedfordshire has a lifetime of interest in it. Marston Moretaine; Elstow; Shillington; Luton Central Mosque interior; Luton bus station at night; Luton Airport departure lounge.

No, not having Cheshire as boring, either on traditional or modern boundaries. Cheshire has some National Park, for as start. Cheshire has Joddrell Bank, one of the seven wonders of the North West* Cheshire has the rows and walls of Chester, the Peckforton Hills, the Anderton Boat Lift, Stockport Bus Station, Port Sunlight, the Dee Estuary, Helsby Hill, Little Moreton Hall, Gawsworth Hall, Alderley Edge. Cheshire has the books of Alan Garner. Cheshire has the Macc Lads. Cheshire has a panhandle. Cheshire has Lyme Park. Cheshire is, what, the seventh highest county in the country (or thereabouts). Boring this place is not.

Cheshire is less instantly exciting than most of the other northern counties, but beats most of the Midlands and South East. Imagine one of those calendars you get in moderately upmarket garden centres. Cheshire's calendars will beat at least 50% of other counties into a cocked hat.

I would say most boring county probably Huntingdonshire. Highest point in Huntingdonshire? Boring Field. QED, my friends, QED.
Other clearly more boring counties than Cheshire include Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Rutland, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.

I offer an unconditional surrender. But you are not having Lincolnshire (England's most interesting county) or Northamptonshire (most underestimated). Nottinghamshire you can have; I had forgotten it existed.

Scott_xP said:

@jimwaterson

The Labour guy has been suspended FOR BETTING ON HIMSELF TO LOSE. No this is too much.

Just when you thought the Tories were going to get a complete sweep on the podium for dumb fucks. here comes one from Labour.

"Hold my pint..."

Leon said:

Mexicanpete said:

...

Farooq said:

MisterBedfordshire said:

Leon said:

Pulpstar said:

Leon said:

It’s completely unfair that France gets all this natural beauty (and better weather, and slimmer women) while we have Newent, Wick and @kinabalu’s golf club

I’m therefore trying to cheer myself out of my jealousy by working out what is the most boring, least interesting department of France. The obvious choice would be somewhere in Picardy but I think I’ve found a prime candidate

Creuse. It seems to be the ultimate nowhere land smack bang in the middle of the country. It has a tiny population with only lozere smaller (in departments) but Lozere is quite spectacular -moors, mountains, megaliths and ravines

Creuse has… farms. And a town that used to make tapestries. That seems to be it

Is it that bad? Has anyone been? How boring is creuse?

If we're comparing like with like then you'll need to see what if offers vis a vis Bedfordshire.

Hah. I did for a moment wonder about the “most boring county in Britain” and yes Bedfordshire floated into my head

Oi.

Nothing boring about Bedfordshire. Quite small but have some splendid countryside that is the equal of anything in the Cotswolds and market towns and far enough out of London to be beyond the worst of the stockbroker belt. They get as far as Luton (our London Inner City type borough) and turn back.

And no ULEZ, Congestion Charge or 20mph limits (except short bits by schools)

"Bedfordshire isn't boring because [checks notes] you can drive at 30mph"
I was going to plump for Herefordshire, but you've just converted me to the Bedfordshire camp.

Herefordshire is a stunningly beautiful county. Lots of uphill and down dale rather than flat sandpit Bedfordshire. OK, the people are like the duelling banjo players from Deliverance if very much more scary.

Yes, Herefordshire is ravishingly beautiful. If only every British county was as lovely and unspoilt!

It’s also really really noomy in the south and west as it butts up against the Welsh hills. Plus the Wye valley, the orchard lands of the east, half the malverns and half the Forest of Dean. Tintern abbey. Kilpeck. Galway. The lugg. Craswall

A speccie travel piece on it here

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-welsh-marches-englands-foodie-frontier/

One of the happiest days of my life was a bike ride I did from Lyonshall to Hay on Wye and back again. Just absolutely perfect. Big blue skies, hot and silent. Every pub looked inviting. I crossed over into Wales and rode over the Begwns. My expectation is that less than 5% of this board will have heard of the Begwns, and yet it is one of the most spectacular locations in the country; views over the Wye Valley to the Black Mountains, east into the appealing loveliness of Herefordshire, North and West into the drama of Wales. I was there at midday: I understand it is spectacular at dawn and dusk. And yet almost noone has heard of it. That's the marches for you.

FrancisUrquhart said:

Its not that daft if you think about. Depending on the odds, if you get a decent bet on yourself to lose, it could cover the cost of the time you spent not working and out campaigning. If you happen to win, well you are on the Westminster gravy train for 5 years.

Although, it rather requires nobody knowing you have placed the bet...

Farooq said:

HYUFD said:

Grandcanyon said:

Leon said:

Cookie said:

kinabalu said:

Leon said:

kinabalu said:

RochdalePioneers said:

kinabalu said:

Like "Peppa Pig" from the amusefest that was Boris Johnson wasn't the fucking cringiest thing ever from a politician.

C'mon. Get a grip. Various people are just pissed off Starmer's winning.

I'm *bored* that Starmer is winning. Because he is being terribly boring and inoffensive. Where's the umph?

This bit is 'win the election' and barring a mega shock it's going to be a resounding success. Then, 5/7 onwards, he's PM. Will he be boring, cautious, ineffectual? Or will he be a good, maybe very good, PM who'll relax a bit more in public over time?

I hope and expect the second, but who knows? What I do know is that people writing him off on the basis he hasn't been a thrill-a-minute as Opposition Leader or in this GE campaign are mainly engaging in prejudice-informed guesswork.

No, we’re just mocking his cringe. In my comment immediately after my mockery (which seems to have upset so many of you so weirdly) I actually say This won’t matter as long as he learns from it. We don’t want or need him to be funny so he doesn’t have to try and he shouldn’t even try

After the last few years we will take dull but competent if he can manage it. We all know he has a tough task (I expect him to fail but I genuinely hope he succeeds)

What we don’t want is an inept politician who also makes us cringe. That will be damaging. Quit the gags Sir Kir

No point trying to backtrack now. You're really put out that he isn't making you laugh so hard it hurts every time you see him. You think it's a big deal that he doesn't (can't?) do that. So much of a big deal that it's cost him your vote.

No, you're missing the point. See also the Ryan Giggs clip. It's not just not funny, its the antithesis of funny. If funny is 1 and not funny is 0, what SKS and Ryan Giggs are are -1. Perhaps even i. It has all the cadences of humour, without the humour itself. It's awful and weirdly compelling.
It's not just failing to tell a joke well, it's failing to recognise whether the story he's telling falls into the category of 'anecdote' or not.
Many people aren't particularly funny. But this is more than just telling a joke which doesn't land. It's, well, weird. And certainly worthy of comment.

I think Leon has said though that he still intends to vote Labour. Doesn't mean he can't then comment on the Labour leader's oddities.

Exactly right and very eloquent to boot. He doesn’t apparently understand humour at a basic level. This is like “how do you do fellow kids” but he means it


Add in the non-dreaming and third person stuff and we have a proper oddball coming into number 10. But then maybe that’s what Britain needs as we stare into the abyss

He doesn’t have a favourite poem or novel either. Hmmm. He’s the cliche of an alien trying to be human and failing. But again - that could be just the ticket

Tho TMay and Brown were a bit like this and they were disasters

The man is institutionalised after years working for the CPS. Hes a dangerous man in the sense he will be a puritan on legislating on things like ethnic minority pay gaps.

Sir Keir will basically be another Gordon Brown as PM, except if Brown had won a landslide majority for his policies

You're obsessed with how everything that might happen is somehow just the same as something that happened before. It's really weird. Like you've only got five slots in your head and everything has to conform to one of those.
1. The 1997 election
2. Gordon Brown
3. The Russell Group
4. A cat
5. The monarchy

Here, HYUFD, here's a picture of my dog
"It's basically like a cat only larger and with a longer nose"

Hey, HYUFD, did you see Eurovision?
"Yes, it was like the the 1997 election only with a jury system and more political parties. The winner was basically Gordon Brown if Gordon Brown had been a 24 year old woman from Azerbaijan who was dancing on a floor screen the size of 400 cats. Yass queen [consort, HRH Camilla]"

I think that's harsh. But I genuinely lolled.

How long before the first LibDem leaflet:

"Labour: no longer winning here. Says their candidate...."

TimS said:

MoonRabbit said:

On topic, is “ Starmer winning a massive majority which could be easily overturned in 2029.” a little bigged up?

A lot of froth on top a silly stupid supermajority might by small majorities, but as you come to mere landslide or plain working majority, the % win is larger. So the maths doesn’t support “easily overturned”.

Neither does the politics look feasible. Which party is “easily overturning” Labours majority, as overturning means gaining government, mere losing majority a phrase not used here, would be to NOM.

Tory’s will be on the floor fighting for survival. They don’t just need to reclaim seats from Labour next time, which they failed to do in 2001, from a far stronger base, but from libdems, perhaps even Reform and Greens.

The memory of Tory government will live long in the voters memories too.

Neither the electoral maths or politics supports “easily overturned in 2029” as header immodestly claims.

This is one of the issues with the Labour rapid collapse scenario, which I commented on a couple of days ago.

Labour and Starmer might well quickly see their approval ratings tank. They're not that high to begin with. But for them to fall significantly in voter intention someone else needs to benefit. The Tories are going to be on the floor and it's hard to see a rapid way back for them. Reform, Green and even the Lib Dems have ceilings. And Labour is not polling that high anyway - barely above 40%. So I think the polling might defy gravity for a while even if ratings sink.

Actually I expect the opposite.

A new, honeymoon, government typically sees its ratings rise rather than fall as people who didn't back the winner retrospectively do.

And Reform are going to die and fade into insignificance as they get either no, or next to no, MPs.

The Tories are going to be riven and fighting each other and an irrelevance until they find a Cameron style reformer.

So Labour over 50% in the polls before the end of the year wouldn't surprise me at all.

IanB2 said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

So how does a Labour candidate have inside knowledge about the surprise election date the Tory PM is about to announce?

We’re approaching the point where the question arises as to how no-one on PB knew in advance?

Apart, maybe, from moonrabbit.

I knew, I know it gauche to point out my brilliance and modest fellow that I am but I did tip a July election back in March at 20s when MoonRabbit was spamming the site with why it would be a May election.

algarkirk said:

Cookie said:

algarkirk said:

Leon said:

Pulpstar said:

Leon said:

It’s completely unfair that France gets all this natural beauty (and better weather, and slimmer women) while we have Newent, Wick and @kinabalu’s golf club

I’m therefore trying to cheer myself out of my jealousy by working out what is the most boring, least interesting department of France. The obvious choice would be somewhere in Picardy but I think I’ve found a prime candidate

Creuse. It seems to be the ultimate nowhere land smack bang in the middle of the country. It has a tiny population with only lozere smaller (in departments) but Lozere is quite spectacular -moors, mountains, megaliths and ravines

Creuse has… farms. And a town that used to make tapestries. That seems to be it

Is it that bad? Has anyone been? How boring is creuse?

If we're comparing like with like then you'll need to see what if offers vis a vis Bedfordshire.

Hah. I did for a moment wonder about the “most boring county in Britain” and yes Bedfordshire floated into my head

Yes, Bedfordshire is boringest county (traditional boundaries) by some way. The competition is for number 2. Staffordshire or Cheshire perhaps. But even Bedfordshire has a lifetime of interest in it. Marston Moretaine; Elstow; Shillington; Luton Central Mosque interior; Luton bus station at night; Luton Airport departure lounge.

No, not having Cheshire as boring, either on traditional or modern boundaries. Cheshire has some National Park, for as start. Cheshire has Joddrell Bank, one of the seven wonders of the North West* Cheshire has the rows and walls of Chester, the Peckforton Hills, the Anderton Boat Lift, Stockport Bus Station, Port Sunlight, the Dee Estuary, Helsby Hill, Little Moreton Hall, Gawsworth Hall, Alderley Edge. Cheshire has the books of Alan Garner. Cheshire has the Macc Lads. Cheshire has a panhandle. Cheshire has Lyme Park. Cheshire is, what, the seventh highest county in the country (or thereabouts). Boring this place is not.

Cheshire is less instantly exciting than most of the other northern counties, but beats most of the Midlands and South East. Imagine one of those calendars you get in moderately upmarket garden centres. Cheshire's calendars will beat at least 50% of other counties into a cocked hat.

I would say most boring county probably Huntingdonshire. Highest point in Huntingdonshire? Boring Field. QED, my friends, QED.
Other clearly more boring counties than Cheshire include Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Rutland, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.

I offer an unconditional surrender. But you are not having Lincolnshire (England's most interesting county) or Northamptonshire (most underestimated). Nottinghamshire you can have; I had forgotten it existed.

Go on then, offer a defence of Lincolnshire?
I do actually quite like a reason to go to Lincolnshire - the flatness feels quite exotic. It is quite unlike most of the rest of England. I like Lincoln, and I like Boston Stump, and the Fens are strangely compelling. But England's most interesting?

Ned v Aut is a fun match. Definitely going to be some red cards.

Cookie said:

Leon said:

Mexicanpete said:

...

Farooq said:

MisterBedfordshire said:

Leon said:

Pulpstar said:

Leon said:

It’s completely unfair that France gets all this natural beauty (and better weather, and slimmer women) while we have Newent, Wick and @kinabalu’s golf club

I’m therefore trying to cheer myself out of my jealousy by working out what is the most boring, least interesting department of France. The obvious choice would be somewhere in Picardy but I think I’ve found a prime candidate

Creuse. It seems to be the ultimate nowhere land smack bang in the middle of the country. It has a tiny population with only lozere smaller (in departments) but Lozere is quite spectacular -moors, mountains, megaliths and ravines

Creuse has… farms. And a town that used to make tapestries. That seems to be it

Is it that bad? Has anyone been? How boring is creuse?

If we're comparing like with like then you'll need to see what if offers vis a vis Bedfordshire.

Hah. I did for a moment wonder about the “most boring county in Britain” and yes Bedfordshire floated into my head

Oi.

Nothing boring about Bedfordshire. Quite small but have some splendid countryside that is the equal of anything in the Cotswolds and market towns and far enough out of London to be beyond the worst of the stockbroker belt. They get as far as Luton (our London Inner City type borough) and turn back.

And no ULEZ, Congestion Charge or 20mph limits (except short bits by schools)

"Bedfordshire isn't boring because [checks notes] you can drive at 30mph"
I was going to plump for Herefordshire, but you've just converted me to the Bedfordshire camp.

Herefordshire is a stunningly beautiful county. Lots of uphill and down dale rather than flat sandpit Bedfordshire. OK, the people are like the duelling banjo players from Deliverance if very much more scary.

Yes, Herefordshire is ravishingly beautiful. If only every British county was as lovely and unspoilt!

It’s also really really noomy in the south and west as it butts up against the Welsh hills. Plus the Wye valley, the orchard lands of the east, half the malverns and half the Forest of Dean. Tintern abbey. Kilpeck. Galway. The lugg. Craswall

A speccie travel piece on it here

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-welsh-marches-englands-foodie-frontier/

One of the happiest days of my life was a bike ride I did from Lyonshall to Hay on Wye and back again. Just absolutely perfect. Big blue skies, hot and silent. Every pub looked inviting. I crossed over into Wales and rode over the Begwns. My expectation is that less than 5% of this board will have heard of the Begwns, and yet it is one of the most spectacular locations in the country; views over the Wye Valley to the Black Mountains, east into the appealing loveliness of Herefordshire, North and West into the drama of Wales. I was there at midday: I understand it is spectacular at dawn and dusk. And yet almost noone has heard of it. That's the marches for you.

Try volume one of Kilvert's diary - magical account of the area, though a bit creepy to modern mores.