TheScreamingEagles said:

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.

TimS said:

Scott_xP said:

@jimwaterson

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

It's a sort of hedge, I suppose. And in a weird plot twist, by being found out and then suspended he's increased his chances of winning the bet.

Andy_JS said:

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."

IanB2 said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

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.

If you knew, it wasn’t brilliance.

Cookie said:

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?

TheScreamingEagles said:

Blimey, that Labour candidate must be loaded.

I understand Labour will return the £100,000 Kevin Craig has donated to the party under Keir Starmer's leadership

https://x.com/breeallegretti/status/1805641880304005389

Mexicanpete said:

...

Andy_JS said:

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."

If he bet on himself to win, I don't see a problem. Well there is now for him because he's not running ( officially).

It's a game of chance in this instance, not one of betting on dead cert. data.

Has Starmer over reacted again?

Pulpstar said:

Mexicanpete said:

...

Andy_JS said:

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."

If he bet on himself to win, I don't see a problem. Well there is now for him because he's not running ( officially).

It's a game of chance in this instance, not one of betting on dead cert. data.

Has Starmer over reacted again?

I'd switch my vote for him in the seat as of today

boulay said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Blimey, that Labour candidate must be loaded.

I understand Labour will return the £100,000 Kevin Craig has donated to the party under Keir Starmer's leadership

https://x.com/breeallegretti/status/1805641880304005389

There was something in the papers the other day about him being one of the bosses of a company that does loads of work for private schools. His colleagues must be loving him.

MarqueeMark said:

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..."

SirNorfolkPassmore said:

Andy_JS said:

"As I understand it, what appears to have happened is this Labour candidate in this seat, which has a large Conservative majority, actually bet that he himself would lose the seat."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cqqqqx25rz0t

I cannot understand on what possible basis this justifies a Gambling Commission investigation.

I don't actually think the election date bets were in breach of the Gambling Act, but there is absolutely no chance this is. He's either knocked on some doors and reckons he'll lose or it's an insurance bet ("well, I've lost, but at least I can buy myself and the missus a restaurant meal").

The Gambling Commission have taken leave of their senses. This is absolutely no different from a horse racing fan coming to a judgment based on form and looking at the horse in the paddock.

algarkirk said:

Cookie said:

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?

Thanks for the invitation. It needs a book. In Leon's language it is the county of noom. abandoned lostness, whole towns forgotten, good roads to nowhere, architectural sensations and a heritage to die for, fantastic variety, huge spaces and sky, openness. Manor houses. Gentry. Yeomen. Best growing lands in England. Try the recent Turner: 'Edge of England', or the old Rawnsley 'Highways and Byways'. or Treherne's 'Dangerous Precincts'., (which mentions Algarkirk on the first page).

TimS said:

MarqueeMark said:

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..."

I imagine the reaction in Labour HQ was "oh FFS". In one fell swoop a story about dodgy Tories transforms into a story about dodgy politicians of both parties.

Mexicanpete said:

...

Andy_JS said:

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."

If he bet on himself to win, I don't see a problem. Well there is now for him because he's not running ( officially).

It's a game of chance in this instance, not one of betting on dead cert. data.

Has Starmer over reacted again?

Edit, not if he bet himself to lose. What an idiot.

TimS said:

SirNorfolkPassmore said:

Andy_JS said:

"As I understand it, what appears to have happened is this Labour candidate in this seat, which has a large Conservative majority, actually bet that he himself would lose the seat."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cqqqqx25rz0t

I cannot understand on what possible basis this justifies a Gambling Commission investigation.

I don't actually think the election date bets were in breach of the Gambling Act, but there is absolutely no chance this is. He's either knocked on some doors and reckons he'll lose or it's an insurance bet ("well, I've lost, but at least I can buy myself and the missus a restaurant meal").

The Gambling Commission have taken leave of their senses. This is absolutely no different from a horse racing fan coming to a judgment based on form and looking at the horse in the paddock.

It's not a million miles away from match fixing though, is it? Admittedly it's a lot harder for an MP to throw an election than a goalkeeper or wicket keeper to throw a match, but in theory it's possible. The candidate does have some influence over the outcome.

Betting on yourself to win is, I think, far less dodgy than betting on yourself to lose.

TheScreamingEagles said:

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.

TheScreamingEagles said:

IanB2 said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

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.

If you knew, it wasn’t brilliance.

I didn't know.

The tipping point for me was a couple of days before the announcement was Lord Finkelstein saying he had heard talk about a July election which started moving the market.

Lord F is close to Lord Hague who is very close to Rishi Sunak was my logic.

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]"

Andy_JS said:

Kevin Craig donated £100,000 to the Labour Party last year, which will now be returned.

https://x.com/___Riz1902/status/1805644186462326995

SirNorfolkPassmore said:

Andy_JS said:

"As I understand it, what appears to have happened is this Labour candidate in this seat, which has a large Conservative majority, actually bet that he himself would lose the seat."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cqqqqx25rz0t

I cannot understand on what possible basis this justifies a Gambling Commission investigation.

I don't actually think the election date bets were in breach of the Gambling Act, but there is absolutely no chance this is. He's either knocked on some doors and reckons he'll lose or it's an insurance bet ("well, I've lost, but at least I can buy myself and the missus a restaurant meal").

The Gambling Commission have taken leave of their senses. This is absolutely no different from a horse racing fan coming to a judgment based on form and looking at the horse in the paddock.

FrancisUrquhart said:

If you have a spare £100k knocking about to donate to a political party, I can't imagine whatever money you can get on for a constituency bet will be worth much financially in the grand scheme of things.

There people are morons.

Taz said:

George Clooney lookalike standing in Winchester.

Lookalike is a real stretch

https://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/24394620.george-clooney-lookalike-will-stand-candidate-winchester/

Taz said:

George Clooney lookalike standing in Winchester.

Lookalike is a real stretch

https://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/24394620.george-clooney-lookalike-will-stand-candidate-winchester/

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.

Nunu5 said:

SirNorfolkPassmore said:

Andy_JS said:

"As I understand it, what appears to have happened is this Labour candidate in this seat, which has a large Conservative majority, actually bet that he himself would lose the seat."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cqqqqx25rz0t

I cannot understand on what possible basis this justifies a Gambling Commission investigation.

I don't actually think the election date bets were in breach of the Gambling Act, but there is absolutely no chance this is. He's either knocked on some doors and reckons he'll lose or it's an insurance bet ("well, I've lost, but at least I can buy myself and the missus a restaurant meal").

The Gambling Commission have taken leave of their senses. This is absolutely no different from a horse racing fan coming to a judgment based on form and looking at the horse in the paddock.

That analogy doesn't quite work. He is the candidate so he could throw the race on purpose. Like if a jockey was to bet against him.

FrancisUrquhart said:

Grandcanyon said:

SirNorfolkPassmore said:

Andy_JS said:

"As I understand it, what appears to have happened is this Labour candidate in this seat, which has a large Conservative majority, actually bet that he himself would lose the seat."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cqqqqx25rz0t

I cannot understand on what possible basis this justifies a Gambling Commission investigation.

I don't actually think the election date bets were in breach of the Gambling Act, but there is absolutely no chance this is. He's either knocked on some doors and reckons he'll lose or it's an insurance bet ("well, I've lost, but at least I can buy myself and the missus a restaurant meal").

The Gambling Commission have taken leave of their senses. This is absolutely no different from a horse racing fan coming to a judgment based on form and looking at the horse in the paddock.

Absolutely. The conservative cases were on inside information. This is a nothing burger.

It sort of depends. When did he put the bet on. Lets say he put a big bet on to lose a couple of days ago, could that be due to insider info about the state of the campaign in that seat e.g. private polling, returns from door knocking, etc.

If he put it on at the start of the campaign, I reckon its more hedging for the time / effort of campaigning for 6 weeks, and you can get some money out of it if you lose.

algarkirk said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Grandcanyon said:

SirNorfolkPassmore said:

Andy_JS said:

"As I understand it, what appears to have happened is this Labour candidate in this seat, which has a large Conservative majority, actually bet that he himself would lose the seat."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cqqqqx25rz0t

I cannot understand on what possible basis this justifies a Gambling Commission investigation.

I don't actually think the election date bets were in breach of the Gambling Act, but there is absolutely no chance this is. He's either knocked on some doors and reckons he'll lose or it's an insurance bet ("well, I've lost, but at least I can buy myself and the missus a restaurant meal").

The Gambling Commission have taken leave of their senses. This is absolutely no different from a horse racing fan coming to a judgment based on form and looking at the horse in the paddock.

Absolutely. The conservative cases were on inside information. This is a nothing burger.

It sort of depends. When did he put the bet on. Lets say he put a big bet on to lose a couple of days ago, could that be due to insider info about the state of the campaign in that seat e.g. private polling, returns from door knocking, etc.

If he put it on at the start of the campaign, I reckon its more hedging for the time / effort of campaigning for 6 weeks, and you can get some money out of it if you lose.

In ordinary common sense the line is pretty clear. If you have proper, advance, confidential inside information about event X happening on day Y and you place a bet on it, that's obviously a crime just like insider trading is. Some of the election date bets look a bit that way.

If you have information, lawfully obtained, because of your research, hard work or the nature of your job which gives you an informational edge over a matter which is still a contingency, you are doing what all gamblers would like to do. It could not possibly be a crime. In the realm of election politics it is plainly inappropriate - but that's different.

HYUFD said:

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]"

Give it a year and I will be proved right. A Starmer government will be legislating and policymaking and running the economy in a very similar way to how Brown did as PM (though they will hope without another banking crash)

TheScreamingEagles said:

NEW: Kevin Craig admits he put a bet on the Tories to win in his constituency.

Ful statement: “Throughout my life I have enjoyed the odd bet for fun whether on politics or horses. A few weeks ago when I thought I would never win this seat I put a bet on the Tories to win here with the intention of giving any winnings to local charities. While I did not place this bet with any prior knowledge of the outcome, this was a huge mistake, for which I apologise unreservedly. I have so much respect for how Keir Starmer has changed the Labour Party and I have been fighting so hard to win this seat and change the country alongside him. However, it is right that the party upholds the highest standards for its Parliamentary candidates - just as the public expects the highest standards from any party hoping to serve in government. I deeply regret what I have done and will take the consequences of this stupid error of judgement on the chin. I am deeply sorry to the many dedicated and loyal local Labour Party volunteers who have been supporting my campaign. I will comply fully with the investigation.”

https://x.com/breeallegretti/status/1805649666090189088

algarkirk said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Grandcanyon said:

SirNorfolkPassmore said:

Andy_JS said:

"As I understand it, what appears to have happened is this Labour candidate in this seat, which has a large Conservative majority, actually bet that he himself would lose the seat."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cqqqqx25rz0t

I cannot understand on what possible basis this justifies a Gambling Commission investigation.

I don't actually think the election date bets were in breach of the Gambling Act, but there is absolutely no chance this is. He's either knocked on some doors and reckons he'll lose or it's an insurance bet ("well, I've lost, but at least I can buy myself and the missus a restaurant meal").

The Gambling Commission have taken leave of their senses. This is absolutely no different from a horse racing fan coming to a judgment based on form and looking at the horse in the paddock.

Absolutely. The conservative cases were on inside information. This is a nothing burger.

It sort of depends. When did he put the bet on. Lets say he put a big bet on to lose a couple of days ago, could that be due to insider info about the state of the campaign in that seat e.g. private polling, returns from door knocking, etc.

If he put it on at the start of the campaign, I reckon its more hedging for the time / effort of campaigning for 6 weeks, and you can get some money out of it if you lose.

In ordinary common sense the line is pretty clear. If you have proper, advance, confidential inside information about event X happening on day Y and you place a bet on it, that's obviously a crime just like insider trading is. Some of the election date bets look a bit that way.

If you have information, lawfully obtained, because of your research, hard work or the nature of your job which gives you an informational edge over a matter which is still a contingency, you are doing what all gamblers would like to do. It could not possibly be a crime. In the realm of election politics it is plainly inappropriate - but that's different.

Nigelb 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/

That's rather rude, if he did say that.

Andy_JS said:

Kevin Craig donated £100,000 to the Labour Party last year, which will now be returned.

https://x.com/___Riz1902/status/1805644186462326995

RochdalePioneers said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

What we really need now is for the SNP candidate in Aberdeenshire North & Moray East to have placed bets on the Tories/Lib Dems to win the seat.

lol - I can emphatically confirm that my only bet is on myself to win. And at 66/1 it’s hardly me cheating the system to make money…

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/

Northern_Al said:

Andy_JS said:

Kevin Craig donated £100,000 to the Labour Party last year, which will now be returned.

https://x.com/___Riz1902/status/1805644186462326995

Starmer returns £100k in case it's dodgy.

Tories keep £5m from Frank Hester of definitely-dodgy racist attack on Diane Abbott fame.

Flatlander said:

Cookie said:

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?

Its not all flat (at least, compared to the levels) - the Wolds are quite hilly and pleasantly rural in parts (and are an AONB) and there's a few chalk downs with interesting flora. Some of the coast is interesting too - such as Gibraltar Point & Donna Nook.

Lincoln Cathedral is a medieval wonder.

I'd certainly defend it against Bedfordshire.

RochdalePioneers said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

What we really need now is for the SNP candidate in Aberdeenshire North & Moray East to have placed bets on the Tories/Lib Dems to win the seat.

lol - I can emphatically confirm that my only bet is on myself to win. And at 66/1 it’s hardly me cheating the system to make money…

Nunu5 said:

SirNorfolkPassmore said:

Andy_JS said:

"As I understand it, what appears to have happened is this Labour candidate in this seat, which has a large Conservative majority, actually bet that he himself would lose the seat."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cqqqqx25rz0t

I cannot understand on what possible basis this justifies a Gambling Commission investigation.

I don't actually think the election date bets were in breach of the Gambling Act, but there is absolutely no chance this is. He's either knocked on some doors and reckons he'll lose or it's an insurance bet ("well, I've lost, but at least I can buy myself and the missus a restaurant meal").

The Gambling Commission have taken leave of their senses. This is absolutely no different from a horse racing fan coming to a judgment based on form and looking at the horse in the paddock.

That analogy doesn't quite work. He is the candidate so he could throw the race on purpose. Like if a jockey was to bet against him.

Grandcanyon said:

kinabalu said:

Leon said:

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

I have lived a careless, deeply irresponsible life is the actual truth of the matter, I'm afraid. But thank you. The assessment is most flattering - and since it's based on my nearly 40k posts on here there must be a germ. I do a little shrug.

I often wonder if you mistreated women in your youth which is why you are so ridiculously woke now. A sense of guilt.

NEW THREAD

noneoftheabove said:

Andy_JS said:

Dutch own goal after 6 mins.

Now we know who Sunak would be manager of.

IanB2 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.

And you can actually get odds on the Tories holding Huntingdon, when within most PB’ers living memory it was the Tories safest seat.