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The Tory soap opera continues – politicalbetting.com

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  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,820
    Also interesting, if it's confirmed.

    This is big: it seems China stopped permitting new coal-based steel mills in the first half of 2024!

    Steel is the second-largest emitter in China after electricity, due to the industry's vast size and heavy reliance on coal.

    In recent years, China has been permitting hundreds of millions of tonnes of new coal-based steel capacity. While these have been "replacement" projects, i.e. an equal or slightly larger amount of old capacity has to be closed, this continued investment has extended the sector's reliance on coal.

    The potential to reduce emissions from steelmaking over the next decade is probably larger than from any other sector...

    https://x.com/laurimyllyvirta/status/1811359252310843518
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 53,787

    Mrs Thatcher always considered anyone carrying human remains on a bus was a failure, cab or Denis’s Jag every time.
    These days, the discerning hire Addison Lee's electric delivery van option. The drivers seem an amenable lot - probably could get them to put the body in the river for 20 quid.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 26,149
    edited July 2024

    I think that is bordering on pedantry. Anyone with a half decent pension pot and house is a millionaire these days.

    That dosent mean they have tens of thousands spare because they are given a bill of tens of thousands based on an imputed rise in value of their property.

    Doing that will ruin people.
    How many people has it ruined?

    If the property is up in value, they can get a small mortgage or move to somewhere slightly smaller. Or if they are a pension millionaire of the type you mention, they can draw down 3% or 5% of their pension pot.

    But mainly they should really have thought about that before committing the crime.

    The standard punishment in 2 of the 3 cases we have discussed is a small fine of a few thousand, Court Costs, and recovery of criminal profits.

    The Leominster River Legg SSSI destruction case is a little different, in that the perp with the record of offences going back to 2007, who got the year in prison, has been told to spend £1.2m to restore the landscape he destroyed.

    But that one has assets reported by the Daily Mail of more than £20m+, so he can perfectly well afford it.

    So I think "forced into bankruptcy" is essentially a fiction.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 53,787
    Eabhal said:

    Yes. A cargobike would be pretty much perfect. No ANPR and in Woke Bristol you'll blend in..
    Disguise the body as a statue - you'd get people volunteering to help shove it in the river....
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 79,060

    The decision was correct by current UEFA refereeing guidelines. In the Prem it would be a pen, or at least was at the start of the season, by the second half of the season it had got confused. Fifa might have given different guidelines had it been a World Cup. And whatever the rules are now they will be changed a bit by the next tournament.

    It is not hard to see why fans and commentators are bemused and confused.
    The rules seem to have changed to favour the attacking side generally except offside.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 53,787
    edited July 2024

    Because everything that is good about life is built on gas and oil. Wishful thinking wont reverse that.
    No, it isn't

    Can't do this with gas and oil.

    image
  • LeonLeon Posts: 59,274
    Pulpstar said:

    The rules seem to have changed to favour the attacking side generally except offside.
    Football does have a problem tho. Defenses have got better and better

    They need to enlarge the goals by a few inches. Seriously
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,820
    Pulpstar said:

    The rules seem to have changed to favour the attacking side generally except offside.
    Change the rule to allow one attacking player to be offside ?
  • That just shows the ignorance of both Miliband and yourself. We constantly need those new developments simply to maintain production at anywhere near current levels. Field life is an extremely finite thing. The Solan field I did the original exploration and production drilling for in 2010/12 will reach COP (Ceasation of Production) next year. 10 - 12 years is the norm for most oil and gas fields these days.

    This decision will result in a very rapid drop off in production because it also includes near field development licences used to maintain current fields.

    Basically this screws the UK oil and gas industry and the UK energy sector as a whole very rapidly.
    But the world as a whole cannot maintain oil and gas production at anywhere near the current levels if it is serious about combatting climate change. That's the whole bloody point. And if we're not going to be serious about it, how can we expect anyone else to be? The oil and gas industry is destroying the climate. It needs to be screwed.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 34,106
    edited July 2024

    It's on Radio Five SportsXtra on digital.
    I know, but I've got this dinky old radio that does long wave, short wave, medium wave, FM which I used to listen to the cricket on. Digital radio didn't exist when it was manufactured.
  • Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 33,236
    Nigelb said:

    Has any official announcement actually been reported anywhere reputable ?
    Not that I have seen. I have based my response entirely on the Telegraph report (dangerous I know) and the fact that Miliband said this was exactly what they would do once in office (maybe that is dangerous too?)

    The point being it is a fundementally stupid thing to do whenever they decide to do it. Actually it was a fundementally stupid thing to even suggest doing as it has significatly reduced investment in the UKCS over the last year or so once it was clear Labour would win.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 59,274
    Also, bring in game-limited appeals to VAR. This works brilliantly in cricket, and actually adds to the drama

    It's such an obvious thing to do, speed up the game, decrease disallowed goals, make it all more exciting. They are such dimwits for not doing this
  • But the world as a whole cannot maintain oil and gas production at anywhere near the current levels if it is serious about combatting climate change. That's the whole bloody point. And if we're not going to be serious about it, how can we expect anyone else to be? The oil and gas industry is destroying the climate. It needs to be screwed.
    "if we dont disarm our nuclear warheads how can we expect anyone else to" Of course if you do it, you dont result in anyone else not having warheads, you just no longer have your own.
  • noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 24,000
    Pulpstar said:

    The rules seem to have changed to favour the attacking side generally except offside.
    Yeah, I don't mind the general direction and big rule changes such as the back pass and goal kick changes, they have improved the game. But tinkering year in year out and then having different competiton and country specific interpretations of the laws is silly.

    Replace the tinkering with more and better funded trials in second tier football to see if they can nail the handball law. But only change it once every 5 or 10 years and then implement it across (at least) the whole professional game.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 53,787

    Not that I have seen. I have based my response entirely on the Telegraph report (dangerous I know) and the fact that Miliband said this was exactly what they would do once in office (maybe that is dangerous too?)

    The point being it is a fundementally stupid thing to do whenever they decide to do it. Actually it was a fundementally stupid thing to even suggest doing as it has significatly reduced investment in the UKCS over the last year or so once it was clear Labour would win.
    The problem is burning fossil fuels. And we are going to be burning them for a bit. Unless you'd like to shut down the NHS. As a start.
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 13,328

    We are going to need petrochemicals indefinitely into the future.

    Better they come from the North Sea than the Middle East or Russia.

    Cutting consumption of oil and gas is a good thing, cutting exploration and future production without banning imports first is not.
    And the quantities needed for the petrochemicals industry are small compared to the current quantities used as fuel. So, as I said, if we’re remotely serious about what we’ve said we’ll do, we definitely won’t need that future increase in production. Miliband hasn't cut production: there is no threat to our petrochemicals industry.

    Banning all imports would be against WTO rules surely.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,820
    Nigelb said:

    Has any official announcement actually been reported anywhere reputable ?
    All I can find is reports saying "sources suggest".

    And this:
    ...But the UK Government's Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has said the reports are untrue and no official decision has been made...
    https://uk.news.yahoo.com/ed-miliband-orders-immediate-ban-102141947.html

    Unless the 'sources' are reported on the Guardian front page, it's probably not true.

    Which is really going to sting for the Telegraph.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 79,060
    Nigelb said:

    Change the rule to allow one attacking player to be offside ?
    I think the Saka goal being ruled out worked OK - the flag went up immediately with the semi-automated stuff, VAR checked it from the expectation of it not being a goal (And that's the crucial bit psychologically) so it was OK.

    I think the VAR officials need to ask themselves when it comes to stuff like handball/the penalty "Was this a clear and obvious error by the referee", instead they're rereferring stuff - which IMO should not be the point of VAR. Of course clear and obvious errors (Henry's handball for instance) are far fewer than hairline decisions which look far worse on a slo-mo than they were in real time.
    They need to realise once a decision is referred back to the referee that the referee will almost always go with their new decision even if there was no clear and obvious error originally.
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 13,328
    Pulpstar said:

    OK, I sincerely hope that's true - whatever one's position on North sea oil and gas and ribbing of Ed Miliband it's better that I and the Telegraph have written a few paragraphs of complete bollocks than the government ends up with a mahoosive legal bill because of Ed Miliband's actions.
    The Telegraph writing a few paragraphs of complete bollocks has become an overly familiar event.
  • FeersumEnjineeyaFeersumEnjineeya Posts: 4,724
    edited July 2024

    And the quantities needed for the petrochemicals industry are small compared to the current quantities used as fuel. So, as I said, if we’re remotely serious about what we’ve said we’ll do, we definitely won’t need that future increase in production. Miliband hasn't cut production: there is no threat to our petrochemicals industry.

    Banning all imports would be against WTO rules surely.
    The answer is to cut back our own production as well as heavily taxing imports. Of course we need some hydrocarbons for purposes other than fuel, but we currently burn most of them. Not only is this bad for the environment, it is incredibly wasteful.
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 9,939
    FFS, can't believe we've all been done one by the Telegraph.
  • WildernessPt2WildernessPt2 Posts: 715
    edited July 2024
    Nigelb said:

    Also interesting, if it's confirmed.

    This is big: it seems China stopped permitting new coal-based steel mills in the first half of 2024!

    Steel is the second-largest emitter in China after electricity, due to the industry's vast size and heavy reliance on coal.

    In recent years, China has been permitting hundreds of millions of tonnes of new coal-based steel capacity. While these have been "replacement" projects, i.e. an equal or slightly larger amount of old capacity has to be closed, this continued investment has extended the sector's reliance on coal.

    The potential to reduce emissions from steelmaking over the next decade is probably larger than from any other sector...

    https://x.com/laurimyllyvirta/status/1811359252310843518

    There isnt any other way in commercial operation to make virgin steel, other than coking coal.
  • ScarpiaScarpia Posts: 76
    Leon said:

    Ridiculous over-reaction. Who here hasn't occasionally taken a cab to Clifton Suspension Bridge with two suitcases containing human remains?

    Have the police got nothing better to do?
    Has anyone checked the inventory of the archeology department at Bristol University?
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 13,328

    That just shows the ignorance of both Miliband and yourself. We constantly need those new developments simply to maintain production at anywhere near current levels. Field life is an extremely finite thing. The Solan field I did the original exploration and production drilling for in 2010/12 will reach COP (Ceasation of Production) next year. 10 - 12 years is the norm for most oil and gas fields these days.

    This decision will result in a very rapid drop off in production because it also includes near field development licences used to maintain current fields.

    Basically this screws the UK oil and gas industry and the UK energy sector as a whole very rapidly.
    But we don't need to maintain production at anywhere near current levels. Miliband's actions have no impact on current production today. They will some years in the future, but we are committed to very significant reductions in the use of oil and gas over the next decade.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 54,425
    https://x.com/rachaelmbade/status/1811382505825554818

    @SpeakerPelosi has been advising frontline members to voice their district & do what they need for re-election -- even if it means calling on Biden to step aside. (Her one request: wait until NATO concludes out of respect for the office & Biden)

    For other safe-seat members, she's encouraging them to take their desire for him to step aside straight to the WH or campaign to minimize party infighting.

    For her part, Pelosi has told some people that Biden won't win and should step aside.
  • Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 33,236
    Eabhal said:

    Hmm.

    Do you think it's possible to taper this down in a way that satisfies the transition to renewables while not causing such a cliff edge? Or prioritise not importing some refined products from the baddies as we do it?

    This is tricky politics. We are a net exporter of crude oil. How we justify that while pushing renewables...
    We are not a net exporter of oil (crude and refined). We are a net importer and have been for a good few years. We do export much of our production because of its high quality for petrochemicals but we import far more for our own domestic use. The variation in the crude oil import/export is due to refining capacity issues. But even then it is almost exactly balanced.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 53,787

    There isnt any other way in commercial operation to make virgin steel, other than coking coal.
    https://corporate.arcelormittal.com/media/cases-studies/hydrogen-based-steelmaking-to-begin-in-hamburg
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 79,060
    edited July 2024
    Eabhal said:

    FFS, can't believe we've all been done one by the Telegraph.

    Better than the Gov't running up big legal bills due to Ed Miliband doing an Ed Balls/Sharon Shoesmith on existing north sea contracts.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 34,106
    edited July 2024
    "The older brother of Kyle Clifford, suspect in the triple murder of John Hunt’s wife and daughters, is already in prison for murder.

    Bradley Clifford, of Rendlesham Road, Enfield, was found guilty of murder and the attempted grievous bodily harm with intent against a 19-year-old man in May 2018.

    The now 30-year-old was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 23 years for murder and seven years for the attack on Mr Francis, to run concurrently."

    https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/24444962.brother-bushey-suspect-kyle-clifford-jail-murder/

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-43977756
  • logical_songlogical_song Posts: 10,013
    Nunu5 said:

    NEW: The Liberal Democrats chose what seats to target based on whether or not they had a Gail’s bakery location there

    None in Winchester or Eastleigh as far as I can see.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 83,131
    edited July 2024
    "Starmer hints at a possible bank holiday if England win the Euros. The PM said 'we should certainly mark the occasion' but 'I don't want to jinx it'. Starmer previously called for bank holidays if England won past tournaments"

    https://x.com/ITVNewsPolitics/status/1811369853527187647
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 13,328

    Its a cost to the UK balance of trade. It also removes a reliable UK source for the petrochemical industry. In addition North Sea oil is much better than much of the imported stuff, particularly from the Middle East, as it has a far lower sulphide content so needs far less processing.
    We import very little from the Middle East. Saudi Arabia is a mere 12th on the list of countries we import oil from. Our oil overwhelmingly comes from the US and Norway. See https://www.statista.com/statistics/381963/crude-oil-and-natural-gas-import-origin-countries-to-united-kingdom-uk/
  • logical_songlogical_song Posts: 10,013

    "if we dont disarm our nuclear warheads how can we expect anyone else to" Of course if you do it, you dont result in anyone else not having warheads, you just no longer have your own.
    Non sequitur
  • https://corporate.arcelormittal.com/media/cases-studies/hydrogen-based-steelmaking-to-begin-in-hamburg
    "innovation project" "Many technical and practical challenges are ahead of us" 100,000 tonnes of steel sounds like a lot, I mean it must be right?
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 13,328

    Of course it is.

    Taper down consumption of oil and gas and let the market handle the rest.

    Firms won't invest in redundant exploration that is unnecessary.
    Oh, how I enjoy your naive belief in capitalism.
  • geoffwgeoffw Posts: 8,962

    "Starmer hints at a possible bank holiday if England win the Euros. The PM said 'we should certainly mark the occasion' but 'I don't want to jinx it'. Starmer previously called for bank holidays if England won past tournaments"

    https://x.com/ITVNewsPolitics/status/1811369853527187647

    Bit of an over reaction, as if Engerland wasn't already expecting to win it
    And a touch infra dig
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 23,795
    Pulpstar said:

    Not much help if you've managed to keep your motor running since 2010 or so. I listen on 5LSE but they should keep it going on R4LW till about 2040 I think.
    Why? Nobody listens to that station any more. You could just get a DAB for your car if it's that old couldn't you?
  • CookieCookie Posts: 14,685

    This is unalloyed garbage. Did you even watch the game last night?
    No, I didn't - I'd already said as such upthread (but it was some time ago and it would be an odd man indeed who sought out ALL of my comments.) My comment about passing back and forth between the back four is based on what I've seen from the other four matches, which seemed to contain almost no attacking play whatsoever.
  • Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 33,236

    But the world as a whole cannot maintain oil and gas production at anywhere near the current levels if it is serious about combatting climate change. That's the whole bloody point. And if we're not going to be serious about it, how can we expect anyone else to be? The oil and gas industry is destroying the climate. It needs to be screwed.
    You deal with it by reducing demand, not by cutting your own throat and increasing imports. OIl, and gas prouduction worldwide won't change by a single barrel just because we stop our production.

    How do you build your electric cars without petrochemical products - plastics, lubricants, coolants?

    And as I have said before, when that gives you an almighty headache don't reach for the asprin. It won't be there as it is made of hydrocarbons.
  • StockyStocky Posts: 10,270
    edited July 2024
    Has @MoonRabbit posted lately? Banned?
  • LeonLeon Posts: 59,274
    It's 36C and feels like about 80C

    I love a bit of real summer heat but.... ouch

    And this gloriously ancient house has no aircon
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 23,795
    edited July 2024
    Nigelb said:

    Change the rule to allow one attacking player to be offside ?
    Then you would just have a permanent goal hanger. Better to have a challenge system a la cricket with each captain allowed just one challenge per half (he retains it if he is proved right). Result would likely be more goals from the linesman giving the attacker the benefit of the doubt in close calls (as they are supposed to do by keeping their flags down if unsure).
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,820

    LOL. You really have no idea do you. Near field exploration and development can bring wells on in a matter of months. I drilled a well for Dana last August on a near-field exploration target which, if it isn't online already, will be in the next month or so. It is a constant conveyor system to keep fields operational and once there are indications of a break in the conveyor the oil companies will simply pull that investment and shoft it to elsewhere in the world. Harbour, Dana, Ithaca and loads of other independent UK oil companies, as well as the majors, have already started that process, partly because of the windfall tax and partly because of the prospect of Labour imposing the ban. Why bother to invest now when you know you will have the lesg taken out from under you in a few months or years.

    So all you are doing is damaging the UK economy and forcing us to import more hydrocarbons, destroying importantindustries and making the transition all the more difficult. It is self destructive childish virtue signalling.
    If we halve our gas usage, we'll still be importing a bit.
    And our levels of production these days have almost no effect at the margin on world market prices.
    So there's no good economic or environmental case for an immediate halt to new projects.

    But oil & gas revenues can and should be used to subsidise more renewables.
  • Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 33,236

    We import very little from the Middle East. Saudi Arabia is a mere 12th on the list of countries we import oil from. Our oil overwhelmingly comes from the US and Norway. See https://www.statista.com/statistics/381963/crude-oil-and-natural-gas-import-origin-countries-to-united-kingdom-uk/
    And the US Oil has much of the same problems as the Middle East whilst Norway is already at close to capacity for its ability to export to us. They already said earlier in the year that they would be unlikely to be able to meet current UK demand for their gas.
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 23,795
    Cookie said:

    No, I didn't - I'd already said as such upthread (but it was some time ago and it would be an odd man indeed who sought out ALL of my comments.) My comment about passing back and forth between the back four is based on what I've seen from the other four matches, which seemed to contain almost no attacking play whatsoever.
    Well even they contained attacking play, albeit not as much as one would like (which is rather a different point). You don't seem to like football much, which is fair enough. But I think these sweeping generalisations you are making in this particular case are rather coloured by your general views of the sport.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,820
    geoffw said:

    Bit of an over reaction, as if Engerland wasn't already expecting to win it
    And a touch infra dig
    Does 'hint' mean he was asked by a journalist and didn't say no ?
  • FeersumEnjineeyaFeersumEnjineeya Posts: 4,724
    edited July 2024

    "if we dont disarm our nuclear warheads how can we expect anyone else to" Of course if you do it, you dont result in anyone else not having warheads, you just no longer have your own.
    The net result of everyone refusing to curtail fossil fuel extraction is that a fair chunk of the UK vanishes below the waves. Is this what you and the other fossil fuel addicts want? Do you hate your country that much?
  • GardenwalkerGardenwalker Posts: 22,124
    Leon said:

    It's 36C and feels like about 80C

    I love a bit of real summer heat but.... ouch

    And this gloriously ancient house has no aircon

    Your gazillionaire friend could surely have stretched to a a few fans?
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 23,795
    edited July 2024
    Leon said:

    Also, bring in game-limited appeals to VAR. This works brilliantly in cricket, and actually adds to the drama

    It's such an obvious thing to do, speed up the game, decrease disallowed goals, make it all more exciting. They are such dimwits for not doing this

    Correct. Sorry, I made the same point below but I see you have made it first.

    Edit: it would also enhance the role of the skipper, which would be a good addition to the game. Captains with good game sense would attract a premium as 'skilled reviewers'.
  • CookieCookie Posts: 14,685

    Why? Nobody listens to that station any more. You could just get a DAB for your car if it's that old couldn't you?
    Well you could, but it seems a bit rum that you have to.

    (I too, you will be unsurprised to learn, lament the passing of R4LWTMS - seemed to me to fall into the category of not broke/don't fix. I too have a car which is 'that old', and I also had recently a long wave radio I used specifically for listening to the cricket when I was out and about. Unlike a phone, I didn't have to pay for data and the battery lasted for ever. And I miss the break for the shipping forecast.)
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,820
    Nigelb said:

    If we halve our gas usage, we'll still be importing a bit.
    And our levels of production these days have almost no effect at the margin on world market prices.
    So there's no good economic or environmental case for an immediate halt to new projects.

    But oil & gas revenues can and should be used to subsidise more renewables.
    Perhaps Milliband is just playing hardball on that latter suggestion ?

    Though I never saw him as sufficiently politically adept.
  • Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 33,236
    Nigelb said:

    If we halve our gas usage, we'll still be importing a bit.
    And our levels of production these days have almost no effect at the margin on world market prices.
    So there's no good economic or environmental case for an immediate halt to new projects.

    But oil & gas revenues can and should be used to subsidise more renewables.
    Yep. Agree entirely. This is why I think BP and Shell are wrong to roll back from renewables.

    And we need to do something to make EVs more attractive as well. Not the pie in the sky stuff opponents talk about but practical stuff that makes them viable and preferable as a choice for most people. As I said before, because of the impact I think fuel additives are having on insect populations I would love to see us move to EVs a lot quicker.

    We need to deal with demand not supply.
  • CookieCookie Posts: 14,685
    This test isn't lasting until tomorrow lunchtime, is it?
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 79,060

    The net result of everyone refusing to curtail fossil fuel extraction is that a fair chunk of the UK vanishes below the waves. Is this what you and the other fossil fuel addicts want? Do you hate your country that much?
    Perhaps give a referendum to those in the areas projected to be effected a referendum on whether we should continue net zero policies. That'd be democratic.
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 23,795
    Leon said:

    It's 36C and feels like about 80C

    I love a bit of real summer heat but.... ouch

    And this gloriously ancient house has no aircon

    Are you still in France? I have been away for a while so not keeping up.
  • geoffwgeoffw Posts: 8,962
    Nigelb said:

    Perhaps Milliband is just playing hardball on that latter suggestion ?

    Though I never saw him as sufficiently politically adept.
    Miliband E. seems to be a zealot

  • Yep. Agree entirely. This is why I think BP and Shell are wrong to roll back from renewables.

    And we need to do something to make EVs more attractive as well. Not the pie in the sky stuff opponents talk about but practical stuff that makes them viable and preferable as a choice for most people. As I said before, because of the impact I think fuel additives are having on insect populations I would love to see us move to EVs a lot quicker.

    We need to deal with demand not supply.
    It's like a drug. You deal with both demand and supply.
  • TimSTimS Posts: 14,666
    Nigelb said:

    Perhaps Milliband is just playing hardball on that latter suggestion ?

    Though I never saw him as sufficiently politically adept.
    Well we still haven't seen this story reported by a reputable source, so worth keeping the powder dry on what Ed has actually said or done for now.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 54,904
    GIN1138 said:

    UK economy grew faster than expected in May

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp682nprlw7o

    So, obviously the election should be re-run.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 79,060
    Cookie said:

    This test isn't lasting until tomorrow lunchtime, is it?

    Not a bad effort from Smith to keep it going till tommorow.

    JL Smith
    50 runs
    (104)
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,203

    But we don't need to maintain production at anywhere near current levels. Miliband's actions have no impact on current production today. They will some years in the future, but we are committed to very significant reductions in the use of oil and gas over the next decade.
    Richard is THE expert in this place on UK oil and gas development. When he says the UK oil and gas sector is screwed by this decision, he knows of what he speaks.
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 13,328

    LOL. You really have no idea do you. Near field exploration and development can bring wells on in a matter of months. I drilled a well for Dana last August on a near-field exploration target which, if it isn't online already, will be in the next month or so. It is a constant conveyor system to keep fields operational and once there are indications of a break in the conveyor the oil companies will simply pull that investment and shoft it to elsewhere in the world. Harbour, Dana, Ithaca and loads of other independent UK oil companies, as well as the majors, have already started that process, partly because of the windfall tax and partly because of the prospect of Labour imposing the ban. Why bother to invest now when you know you will have the lesg taken out from under you in a few months or years.

    So all you are doing is damaging the UK economy and forcing us to import more hydrocarbons, destroying importantindustries and making the transition all the more difficult. It is self destructive childish virtue signalling.
    I said the decision will have no impact on current production, but some years in the future. You talked of drilling a well that, 1 year later, will be online. But your drilling of it wasn't the beginning of the process. The licence for that drilling will have occurred before then, probably a fair while before then. So you haven't disproved my "some years" estimate.

    Our oil and gas needs will soon be dramatically lower. Yes, that is bad news for oil companies. The wise thing to do is not to invest in oil companies.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 79,060
    Cookie said:

    Well you could, but it seems a bit rum that you have to.

    (I too, you will be unsurprised to learn, lament the passing of R4LWTMS - seemed to me to fall into the category of not broke/don't fix. I too have a car which is 'that old', and I also had recently a long wave radio I used specifically for listening to the cricket when I was out and about. Unlike a phone, I didn't have to pay for data and the battery lasted for ever. And I miss the break for the shipping forecast.)
    My motor is newer so has DAB now but I empathise with those with older cars.
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 23,795
    Cookie said:

    Well you could, but it seems a bit rum that you have to.

    (I too, you will be unsurprised to learn, lament the passing of R4LWTMS - seemed to me to fall into the category of not broke/don't fix. I too have a car which is 'that old', and I also had recently a long wave radio I used specifically for listening to the cricket when I was out and about. Unlike a phone, I didn't have to pay for data and the battery lasted for ever. And I miss the break for the shipping forecast.)
    I mean that is a classic Cookie case of nostalgia > sense, in a similar way to people on here persisting with bulky wallets that are full of paper tickets and weigh a ton, and cash, neither of which have much purpose in the modern world, and create just meaningless clutter and landfill.

    I dare say the key reason why R4LWTMS was binned was that hardly anyone listened to it. I mean, most cars don't even have LW (even if they have an old-style FM radio) and the sound quality on DAB is vastly superior.
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 18,424

    Why? Nobody listens to that station any more. You could just get a DAB for your car if it's that old couldn't you?
    Years ago I was given a PURE DAB set up that would receive DAB and transmit FM to your car radio. Transformative. I was used to crackly medium wave for radio 5 (693 and 909 etc). I now have an inbuilt DAB on a much newer car, but sadly its worse, because the aerial is quite poor and signal drops out all over Wltshire. Sometimes progress is not all its cracked up to be.
  • Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 33,236

    It's like a drug. You deal with both demand and supply.
    Yes. Its like a prescription drug administered by the NHS. What you want to do is cut off the supply and then say how sorry you are when the patient dies.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 54,425

    The net result of everyone refusing to curtail fossil fuel extraction is that a fair chunk of the UK vanishes below the waves. Is this what you and the other fossil fuel addicts want? Do you hate your country that much?
    Should we have tried to prevent the rest of the world from industrialising in the first place?
  • FeersumEnjineeyaFeersumEnjineeya Posts: 4,724
    edited July 2024
    Pulpstar said:

    Perhaps give a referendum to those in the areas projected to be effected a referendum on whether we should continue net zero policies. That'd be democratic.
    Didn't we just have an election in which one of the parties most enthusiastic about net zero won a stonking majority?
  • CookieCookie Posts: 14,685

    Well even they contained attacking play, albeit not as much as one would like (which is rather a different point). You don't seem to like football much, which is fair enough. But I think these sweeping generalisations you are making in this particular case are rather coloured by your general views of the sport.
    That's fair enough. There's a bit of a cause and effect question here - do I not like football much because teams play so frustratingly defensively/cynically/dirtily? Or do I not like teams playing defensively/cynically/dirtily because I don't like football much? Dunno. I find almost all teams immensely frustrating to watch. I liked Turkey, though. A shame they went out.

    I genuinely do find the praise for Southgate odd. England AFAICS have done no better than par during his tenure. Which is admittedly substantially better than under his predecessors.
    Partly it's just a factor of the nature of international football: in comparison to other sports (or to domestic football), the best teams play each other so rarely it is hard to get a meaningful measure of how good a team is.

  • MattWMattW Posts: 26,149
    edited July 2024
    Pulpstar said:

    My motor is newer so has DAB now but I empathise with those with older cars.
    £25 a day inside the ULEZ to listen to Golden Oldie TMS.

    Ouch !
  • Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 33,236

    I said the decision will have no impact on current production, but some years in the future. You talked of drilling a well that, 1 year later, will be online. But your drilling of it wasn't the beginning of the process. The licence for that drilling will have occurred before then, probably a fair while before then. So you haven't disproved my "some years" estimate.

    Our oil and gas needs will soon be dramatically lower. Yes, that is bad news for oil companies. The wise thing to do is not to invest in oil companies.
    Nope. All you are doing is moving that investment overseas. Like I said, it is infantile.
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 23,795
    Pulpstar said:

    My motor is newer so has DAB now but I empathise with those with older cars.
    I mean a DAB adaptor for your car costs less than a tank of petrol.

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/POP-Adapter-Bluetooth-Transmitter-Handsfree/dp/B0CKLT8DRC/ref=asc_df_B0CKLT8DRC/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=696285193871&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4000445475789336460&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9044936&hvtargid=pla-2281435177818&psc=1&mcid=216e3bf7527533308e1181046c1b32f0&hvocijid=4000445475789336460-B0CKLT8DRC-&hvexpln=74&gad_source=1
  • Yes. Its like a prescription drug administered by the NHS. What you want to do is cut off the supply and then say how sorry you are when the patient dies.
    But it's a drug with terrible side effects, and it's going to run out at some point anyway. Do we try to wean ourselves off it as quickly as possible, or do we carry on in the hope that it doesn't kill us and something else comes along in time?
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 44,617
    edited July 2024
    Taz said:

    In 2023 they were building 95% of the worlds new coal fired power stations. A major uptick. So they are still invested in coal for the time being.
    That doesn't take into account how many old stations were being decommissioned.
  • franklynfranklyn Posts: 326
    What is the email address for the editor of politicalbetting.com if I want to discuss submitting an article?

    Thanks
  • Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 33,236

    But it's a drug with terrible side effects, and it's going to run out at some point anyway. Do we try to wean ourselves off it as quickly as possible, or do we carry on in the hope that it doesn't kill us and something else comes along in time?
    You wean yourself off it. That is dealing with demand. You don't just stop it and die.
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 45,093

    The net result of everyone refusing to curtail fossil fuel extraction is that a fair chunk of the UK vanishes below the waves. Is this what you and the other fossil fuel addicts want? Do you hate your country that much?
    I'm unsure saying stuff like "UK vanishes below the waves" or calling others "fossil fuel addicts" does your 'argument' any good at all.

    My own view - and I don't think I'm alone in this - is that we need to move to greener forms of energy. But we cannot afford to do that in a way that destroys jobs or the economy as a whole (obviously, some jobs will go, but they should be offset by jobs in the new sectors).

    There are vast opportunities to be made in going green - not just in terms of climate change, but in other ways, for instance local air quality. But the moment we start having brownouts or blackouts, we're a bit screwed. Therefore care is needed.

    IMV others - I'm not saying this is you, but it may be - see Green issues more as a way of introducing socialist policies as much as promoting the environment. And if you look at the history of socialism and the environment, it isn't good. Especially extreme forms such as Communism.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 34,106
    https://unherd.com/2024/07/france-has-scorned-globalisation/

    "The basic problem neoliberal globalisation always had was that even though it undeniably raised the incomes of Western countries, those gains were unequally spread. Urban professionals gained a lot, whereas unskilled workers were hammered, their industrial towns often turning into wastelands of boarded-up shops and abandoned mills. Meanwhile the urban booms drove up property prices and enriched owners, sucking more and more money out of the pockets of working folk, forcing many to move far out of town where they often suffered from inadequate services. One of the most reliable predictors of support for France’s National Rally is the distance one lives from a train station: the further away, the more likely a vote for the RN."
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 9,939

    But it's a drug with terrible side effects, and it's going to run out at some point anyway. Do we try to wean ourselves off it as quickly as possible, or do we carry on in the hope that it doesn't kill us and something else comes along in time?
    Isn't there a reasonable position which allows the UK to retain the same ratio of gas imports (50%) and crude oil (self-sufficient) even while we reduce consumption.

    And Richard is suggesting we can't maintain that without some (limited) new licenses. The key thing is to provide a bit of certainty to the sector over the next decade or so, while asserting downward pressure so the transition doesn't slow.
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 18,424
    Pulpstar said:

    Not a bad effort from Smith to keep it going till tommorow.

    JL Smith
    50 runs
    (104)
    Don't bet on it. I remember the strange series of 2000. I set off from Norwich to travel Wiltshire for the weekend. The WI were batting again with 100 runs deficit from the first innings and were all out by the time I reached the M25... 61 all out in 26.2 overs.

    This was also the series were the second day of the second test had part of all four innings. Courtney Walsh batted and bowled in all four innings on that day, the only player ever to do so.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 26,149
    Eabhal said:

    Isn't there a reasonable position which allows the UK to retain the same ratio of gas imports (50%) and crude oil (self-sufficient) even while we reduce consumption.

    And Richard is suggesting we can't maintain that without some (limited) new licenses. The key thing is to provide a bit of certainty to the sector over the next decade or so, while asserting downward pressure so the transition doesn't slow.
    There's a whole spectrum of "reasonable positions".

    But no one agrees where the right one is positioned :smile:
  • You wean yourself off it. That is dealing with demand. You don't just stop it and die.
    You're not going to wean yourself off it if you keep procuring it.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,820

    Should we have tried to prevent the rest of the world from industrialising in the first place?
    At the height of Empire, we did just that.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,820
    edited July 2024
    franklyn said:

    What is the email address for the editor of politicalbetting.com if I want to discuss submitting an article?

    Thanks

    Vanilla message to @TheScreamingEagles , I believe.

    Check that you've omitted all pineapples.

    Word format preferred.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 54,425
    Nigelb said:

    At the height of Empire, we did just that.
    Not really. We were a massive exporter of energy and raw materials.
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 9,939
    edited July 2024
    MattW said:

    There's a whole spectrum of "reasonable positions".

    But no one agrees where the right one is positioned :smile:
    Given the O&G sector's record it's right to be sceptical of their motives. This telegraph article looks like a classic of the genre.

    I don't believe that these kind of vested interests will allow the transition to happen in a way that is optimal for the UK, so you do need to be pushy with them. The same with EVs by 2030, housing developers and so on. They are out for a profit, as is their right.
  • FeersumEnjineeyaFeersumEnjineeya Posts: 4,724
    edited July 2024
    Eabhal said:

    Isn't there a reasonable position which allows the UK to retain the same ratio of gas imports (50%) and crude oil (self-sufficient) even while we reduce consumption.

    And Richard is suggesting we can't maintain that without some (limited) new licenses. The key thing is to provide a bit of certainty to the sector over the next decade or so, while asserting downward pressure so the transition doesn't slow.
    That sounds reasonable, but is all too easily used as an excuse for carrying on as normal. Getting down to net zero requires a rapid reduction in consumption (and hence production) and I'd be amenable to whatever approach can best achieve this.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 44,617
    edited July 2024
    Scarpia said:

    Has anyone checked the inventory of the archeology department at Bristol University?
    I rather think dry bones labelled "Wookey Hole" are easy to spot.

    I'm actually quite surprised at the speed of identification of human remains - or at least the working assumption that they are human. Edit: implies something fresh or blatantly obvious. No need for DNA testing for ID as human.

    But this time I hope the media don't fall into the trap of finding the nearest eccentric middle-aged male with a bad haircut, or lack of one, that can be found to the site. It was a bit expensive last time.
  • Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 33,236

    I'm unsure saying stuff like "UK vanishes below the waves" or calling others "fossil fuel addicts" does your 'argument' any good at all.

    My own view - and I don't think I'm alone in this - is that we need to move to greener forms of energy. But we cannot afford to do that in a way that destroys jobs or the economy as a whole (obviously, some jobs will go, but they should be offset by jobs in the new sectors).

    There are vast opportunities to be made in going green - not just in terms of climate change, but in other ways, for instance local air quality. But the moment we start having brownouts or blackouts, we're a bit screwed. Therefore care is needed.

    IMV others - I'm not saying this is you, but it may be - see Green issues more as a way of introducing socialist policies as much as promoting the environment. And if you look at the history of socialism and the environment, it isn't good. Especially extreme forms such as Communism.
    The stupid thing is that there are plenty of us in the industry who have spent the last 30 years or more saying we need renewables because oil is too important a finite resource to burn. It was one of my earliest discussions on here when I joined (18 or more years ago? Certainly back in the Brown era). But you do it by reducing demand for hydrocarbon fuels and by investing in every viable renewable energy form (we should do loads more geothermal for example, and tidal as well as the more (now) conventional forms). Eventually hydrocarbons as a fuel provider will dwindle to very little (nothing if we have the reliable mini nukes or tidal energy). That is the grown up way to do this rather than the current virtue signalling.
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 9,939

    That sounds reasonable, but is all too easily used as an excuse for carrying on as normal. Getting down to net zero requires a rapid reduction in consumption (and hence production) and I'd be amenable to whatever approach can best achieve this.
    Oh yeah. If consumption falls faster than expected (and I'm optimistic), screw the O&G companies. We mustn't let them hold us back.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,820
    edited July 2024

    Not really. We were a massive exporter of energy and raw materials.
    Take a look what happened to Indian industrial production in the 19th century.
  • BartholomewRobertsBartholomewRoberts Posts: 23,216
    edited July 2024

    Oh, how I enjoy your naive belief in capitalism.
    It's not naive. Firms have no reason to produce that which they can not sell.

    Oh and if it's not being sold to be burnt and only being produced for petrochemicals that we need anyway, then what's the harm if they do?
  • Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 33,236
    Carnyx said:

    I rather think dry bones labelled "Wookey Hole" are easy to spot.

    I'm actually quite surprised at the speed of identification of human remains - or at least the working assumption that they are human.

    But this time I hope the media don't fall into the trap of finding the nearest eccentric middle-aged male with a bad haircut, or lack of one, that can be found to the site. It was a bit expensive last time.
    If they are bones then any half decent archaeologist or forensics bod will be able to tell you if they are human or animal almost instantly. I am not an expert but even I can identify human bones on a dig site with no trouble.
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 18,424
    Jimmy time - just the seven wickets needed!
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 9,939
    edited July 2024
    Carnyx said:

    I rather think dry bones labelled "Wookey Hole" are easy to spot.

    I'm actually quite surprised at the speed of identification of human remains - or at least the working assumption that they are human. Edit: implies something fresh or blatantly obvious. No need for DNA testing for ID as human.

    But this time I hope the media don't fall into the trap of finding the nearest eccentric middle-aged male with a bad haircut, or lack of one, that can be found to the site. It was a bit expensive last time.
    PBers in the West Country watch out. Flatlander, get outta there
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 43,616

    The net result of everyone refusing to curtail fossil fuel extraction is that a fair chunk of the UK vanishes below the waves. Is this what you and the other fossil fuel addicts want? Do you hate your country that much?
    a) when will this happen; and
    b) define "fair chunk".

    Or will it be like the Maldives which - shock, horror - haven't sunk.

    https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/06/26/climate/maldives-islands-climate-change.html
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 43,616
    edited July 2024
    Anyway that's great because inflicting damage on the economy in the name of fatuous "environmental goals" is precisely what we voted for.

    But sadly the reality is that people don't want to chnage or get rid of their laptops or cars or whatnot. They don't want to do all those things which the Greens really, really want to do (albeit few of them do themselves). This is just the reality.

    Restricting supply will simply push up prices which will disproportionately affect the poorer. Which again is just what we voted for.

    Hurrah.
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 18,424
    Carnyx said:

    I rather think dry bones labelled "Wookey Hole" are easy to spot.

    I'm actually quite surprised at the speed of identification of human remains - or at least the working assumption that they are human. Edit: implies something fresh or blatantly obvious. No need for DNA testing for ID as human.

    But this time I hope the media don't fall into the trap of finding the nearest eccentric middle-aged male with a bad haircut, or lack of one, that can be found to the site. It was a bit expensive last time.
    Years ago I did a first aid course and the only thing that really stuck is the idea that a doctor is required to certify death, even in the extreme case of finding very obviously long dead remains.
  • That sounds reasonable, but is all too easily used as an excuse for carrying on as normal. Getting down to net zero requires a rapid reduction in consumption (and hence production) and I'd be amenable to whatever approach can best achieve this.
    Consumption for being burnt yes, but not production. It will need to be produced forever unless we find an alternative to petrochemicals, and there's no harm in that, the harm is in burning it.

    So deal with the consumption and the production will take care of itself.
This discussion has been closed.