If optimism wins elections – politicalbetting.com

System · September 12

If optimism wins elections – politicalbetting.com

Regardless of who they support, % of registered voters who think Kamala Harris / Donald Trump has a more optimistic vision of this country’s future:Sept. 11: 49% / 38%July 23: 45% / 42%https://t.co/ryqox1haaOhttps://t.co/QsE7w1CKan pic.twitter.com/LECI5PHv27

Read the full story here

rottenborough · September 12

First?

Sandpit · September 12

Optimistic, me?

Foxy · September 12

Hope for the best?

boulay · September 12

Fascinating interview with Sor John Bell just now on R4 re the NHS. Worth listening to - he is brutal about the BMA and makes huge sense about the fact that there isn’t a money problem but a structural problem.

Foxy · September 12

Brilliant from @AlastairMeeks formerly of this parish.

https://x.com/AlastairMeeks/status/1833786433074495939?t=JTAfk1dfAc6BaWM9pz0s1A&s=19

Nigelb · September 12

Anyone thinking Trump is optimistic doesn't listen to his speeches.
No one runs down the US more than he does.

The poll cited in the header is more just another illustration of the partisan divide. Though I suppose the numbers for independents might mean something.

MattW · September 12

I'm in seventh heaven.

TheScreamingEagles · September 12

FPT

Morris_Dancer said:
Good morning, everyone.

F1: McLaren apparently backing Norris for the title. Edited extra bit: at the expense of Piastri, of course.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/articles/c4gen1vegx7o

Unless Piastri starts crashing into Verstappen on a regular basis then this is meaningless from McLaren.

StillWaters · September 12

FPT

When I was a kid I lived in a slightly decrepit old house. In one particularly dark corner we had a leprechaun sized simulacrum of Scott.

When I was about 7 my Dad convinced me they were his mummified remains that had shrunk in the freezer…

StillWaters · September 12

FPT

When I was a kid I lived in a slightly decrepit old house. In one particularly dark corner we had a leprechaun sized simulacrum of Scott.

When I was about 7 my Dad convinced me they were his mummified remains that had shrunk in the freezer…

TheScreamingEagles · September 12

As I predicted a few weeks ago.

‘Good Omens’ Final Season Suspends Production Following Neil Gaiman Assault Allegations

https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/good-omens-halts-production-neil-gaiman-allegations-1236138923/

Morris_Dancer · September 12

F1: backed Leclerc at 6.5 to win each way in Azerbaijan. Ferrari looking more competitive of late and he's very good at the circuit. Plus, the new McLaren approach might compromise Piastri.

Sandpit · September 12

TheScreamingEagles said:
FPT

Morris_Dancer said:
Good morning, everyone.

F1: McLaren apparently backing Norris for the title. Edited extra bit: at the expense of Piastri, of course.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/articles/c4gen1vegx7o
Unless Piastri starts crashing into Verstappen on a regular basis then this is meaningless from McLaren.

Piastri and Russell both owe it to their teams to ensure that MV doesn’t pass under any circumstances!

Foxy · September 12

boulay said:
Fascinating interview with Sor John Bell just now on R4 re the NHS. Worth listening to - he is brutal about the BMA and makes huge sense about the fact that there isn’t a money problem but a structural problem.

That's a rather odd summary of an interview where he castigated the last government for running down NHS capital budgets leaving it with inadequate equipment and decrepit buildings.

His criticism of the BMA was based on GPs refusing additional work unless they got paid to deliver it. Best of luck with expecting a private system to be doing extra work for free.

MattW · September 12

The other day @Benpointer was explaining how he had a self-build starting with instructions to be finished by Christmas 2026.

I asked the question on Buildhub, where I am on the mod team. I have 27 replies.

Several people have posted who have done it in ~2 years. and a couple who are still in the Planning process after 2 years. I am not claiming it is a statistical sample.

Since BH goes off topic even more quickly than PB, there are a number of posts about Council Officers turning up PDQ to start charging Council Tax, and a couple where the Council say "it will take X months". Not having a staircase in seems to convince them not to try to charge yet.

An interesting point I had not considered is that a couple have started under a Building Notice. This is a process where you just tell them you are starting a build, and trust yourselves that it will get Planning Permission. It is usually used by experienced Builders and Architects who are confident on small projects being in compliance with PP, and willing to take on the risk of having to change it later. This is in England, and may be in Wales (not sure). Building Notices do not exist in Scotland.

https://forum.buildhub.org.uk/topic/40417-have-you-gone-from-planning-app-to-moving-in-in-~2-yeas/

Alanbrooke · September 12

Foxy said:

boulay said:
Fascinating interview with Sor John Bell just now on R4 re the NHS. Worth listening to - he is brutal about the BMA and makes huge sense about the fact that there isn’t a money problem but a structural problem.
That's a rather odd summary of an interview where he castigated the last government for running down NHS capital budgets leaving it with inadequate equipment and decrepit buildings.

His criticism of the BMA was based on GPs refusing additional work unless they got paid to deliver it. Best of luck with expecting a private system to be doing extra work for free.

To paraphrase Voltaire

"Where some states have a health service, the British health service has a state"

Morris_Dancer · September 12

Mr. Eagles, Norris needs an 8 point advantage over Verstappen each race weekend. That's 8 races and 3 sprint bullshits. Even without the McLaren move, that's difficult but achievable.

Dopermean · September 12

TheScreamingEagles said:
As I predicted a few weeks ago.

‘Good Omens’ Final Season Suspends Production Following Neil Gaiman Assault Allegations

https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/good-omens-halts-production-neil-gaiman-allegations-1236138923/

Listened to a couple of the slow newscast podcasts about this, not easy listening.

Stuartinromford · September 12

Foxy said:

boulay said:
Fascinating interview with Sor John Bell just now on R4 re the NHS. Worth listening to - he is brutal about the BMA and makes huge sense about the fact that there isn’t a money problem but a structural problem.
That's a rather odd summary of an interview where he castigated the last government for running down NHS capital budgets leaving it with inadequate equipment and decrepit buildings.

His criticism of the BMA was based on GPs refusing additional work unless they got paid to deliver it. Best of luck with expecting a private system to be doing extra work for free.

Half-formed thought.

When people say pay rises should follow productivity, productivity becomes a function of the morality of staff- it's about how hard and effectively they work.

The other way of thinking about productivity is as a function of capital spending and task selection.

Do healthcare productivity discussions become unproductive because of people talking at cross-purposes?

Fysics_Teacher · September 12

Foxy said:

boulay said:
Fascinating interview with Sor John Bell just now on R4 re the NHS. Worth listening to - he is brutal about the BMA and makes huge sense about the fact that there isn’t a money problem but a structural problem.
That's a rather odd summary of an interview where he castigated the last government for running down NHS capital budgets leaving it with inadequate equipment and decrepit buildings.

His criticism of the BMA was based on GPs refusing additional work unless they got paid to deliver it. Best of luck with expecting a private system to be doing extra work for free.

I would just be happy if my GP started having appointments available when I phone up in the morning, which hasn’t been the case the last three time I’ve called.

Taz · September 12

TheScreamingEagles said:
As I predicted a few weeks ago.

‘Good Omens’ Final Season Suspends Production Following Neil Gaiman Assault Allegations

https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/good-omens-halts-production-neil-gaiman-allegations-1236138923/

Not a surprise. He offered to step back a few days ago.

I wonder if anything will ever come of these accusations or, like in the case of Noel Clarke, nothing will happen and his career will just be over. A similar thing happened to Hugo Speer although the accusation against him was not one of assault or any personal attack. Just "inappropriate behaviour" which amounted to him being naked/semi-naked, getting changed, in his changing room when a runner entered.

Peter_the_Punter · September 12

boulay said:
Fascinating interview with Sor John Bell just now on R4 re the NHS. Worth listening to - he is brutal about the BMA and makes huge sense about the fact that there isn’t a money problem but a structural problem.

Heard it. Brilliant. He says the normally unsayable. He is right.

As a high cholestorol man, I was incensed by his story of GPs refusing to use the new drug.

Foxy · September 12

Alanbrooke said:

Foxy said:

boulay said:
Fascinating interview with Sor John Bell just now on R4 re the NHS. Worth listening to - he is brutal about the BMA and makes huge sense about the fact that there isn’t a money problem but a structural problem.
That's a rather odd summary of an interview where he castigated the last government for running down NHS capital budgets leaving it with inadequate equipment and decrepit buildings.

His criticism of the BMA was based on GPs refusing additional work unless they got paid to deliver it. Best of luck with expecting a private system to be doing extra work for free.
To paraphrase Voltaire

"Where some states have a health service, the British health service has a state"

Meanwhile in Italy:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/sep/11/call-for-army-to-protect-italian-hospital-staff-after-spate-of-attacks

"Many of the assaults are caused by the shortage of hospital staff and family members’ frustration at the resulting long waiting times for surgery and consultations.

According to the doctors’ union ANAAO, until 2022 almost half of positions in emergency medicine were vacant. Salary-cap legislation over the past two decades to curb public spending has kept salaries low, and work schedules are punishing. For many Italian medical staff, the Covid pandemic was the tipping point, accelerating an exodus abroad. Spending plans published by Giorgia Meloni’s government envisage further healthcare cuts."

Foxy · September 12

Peter_the_Punter said:

boulay said:
Fascinating interview with Sor John Bell just now on R4 re the NHS. Worth listening to - he is brutal about the BMA and makes huge sense about the fact that there isn’t a money problem but a structural problem.
Heard it. Brilliant. He says the normally unsayable. He is right.

As a high cholestorol man, I was incensed by his story of GPs refusing to use the new drug.

You mean refusing to do extra work for free?

Casino_Royale · September 12

Foxy said:
Brilliant from @AlastairMeeks formerly of this parish.

https://x.com/AlastairMeeks/status/1833786433074495939?t=JTAfk1dfAc6BaWM9pz0s1A&s=19

Lol. That's superb.

Hope he does West End Girls next.

boulay · September 12

Foxy said:

boulay said:
Fascinating interview with Sor John Bell just now on R4 re the NHS. Worth listening to - he is brutal about the BMA and makes huge sense about the fact that there isn’t a money problem but a structural problem.
That's a rather odd summary of an interview where he castigated the last government for running down NHS capital budgets leaving it with inadequate equipment and decrepit buildings.

His criticism of the BMA was based on GPs refusing additional work unless they got paid to deliver it. Best of luck with expecting a private system to be doing extra work for free.

I didn’t say he didn’t castigate that last gov and clearly there has been a lack of capital spending - and his criticism of the BMA wasn’t solely about GPs refusing to do extra work - that was an example he gave of their obstruction - his criticisms were that any meaningful change has to get past the unions which means huge obstacles.

The fact he criticised all areas constructively was very interesting would have been a fairer end to my summary but I was trying to draw attention to the interview as was a nice example of someone not calling the NHs and everyone in it “the best in the world” yet having its best interests at heart.

theProle · September 12

Fysics_Teacher said:

Foxy said:

boulay said:
Fascinating interview with Sor John Bell just now on R4 re the NHS. Worth listening to - he is brutal about the BMA and makes huge sense about the fact that there isn’t a money problem but a structural problem.
That's a rather odd summary of an interview where he castigated the last government for running down NHS capital budgets leaving it with inadequate equipment and decrepit buildings.

His criticism of the BMA was based on GPs refusing additional work unless they got paid to deliver it. Best of luck with expecting a private system to be doing extra work for free.
I would just be happy if my GP started having appointments available when I phone up in the morning, which hasn’t been the case the last three time I’ve called.

One of the most easy and obvious reforms would be alter the basis on which GPs are paid from a price per patient on the books to a price per GP visit. It's not completely foolproof, but incentives matter, and this should be at least an improvement.

TimS · September 12

Foxy said:

Peter_the_Punter said:

boulay said:
Fascinating interview with Sor John Bell just now on R4 re the NHS. Worth listening to - he is brutal about the BMA and makes huge sense about the fact that there isn’t a money problem but a structural problem.
Heard it. Brilliant. He says the normally unsayable. He is right.

As a high cholestorol man, I was incensed by his story of GPs refusing to use the new drug.
You mean refusing to do extra work for free?

I don’t understand this, but then perhaps I don’t understand GP contracts. Do they not have salaries? Or are they paid on a piece-work basis?

MattW · September 12

Surrender of 35,000 Zombie Knives in response to the broadened ban.

This is by a knife wholesaler. They will get £10 compensation per qualifying item - that may even be a profitable level, as they sell for about £15-20 each. I was not expecting it to be on that scale.

Knife wholesaler surrenders 35,000 'zombie' blades

A knife wholesaler whose weapons have been used in several killings has surrendered more than 35,000 "zombie" blades.

Police said the knives and machetes were designed to "kill and maim".

Under a government surrender scheme Luton-based Sporting Wholesale will receive £10 compensation for each knife.

The company said it would not comment.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy0re4wp8j2o

boulay · September 12

Foxy said:

Peter_the_Punter said:

boulay said:
Fascinating interview with Sor John Bell just now on R4 re the NHS. Worth listening to - he is brutal about the BMA and makes huge sense about the fact that there isn’t a money problem but a structural problem.
Heard it. Brilliant. He says the normally unsayable. He is right.

As a high cholestorol man, I was incensed by his story of GPs refusing to use the new drug.
You mean refusing to do extra work for free?

But that wasn’t what he was saying - he was criticising the GPs for nixing a drug that would help so many people because it was “extra work” and other chuntering - clearly they didn’t get that if they free up their schedules by removing those patients from their surgeries for a year at a time then they have more time to make money from other patients.

Fysics_Teacher · September 12

Foxy said:

Peter_the_Punter said:

boulay said:
Fascinating interview with Sor John Bell just now on R4 re the NHS. Worth listening to - he is brutal about the BMA and makes huge sense about the fact that there isn’t a money problem but a structural problem.
Heard it. Brilliant. He says the normally unsayable. He is right.

As a high cholestorol man, I was incensed by his story of GPs refusing to use the new drug.
You mean refusing to do extra work for free?

Extra, or just different?

Malmesbury · September 12

Stuartinromford said:

Foxy said:

boulay said:
Fascinating interview with Sor John Bell just now on R4 re the NHS. Worth listening to - he is brutal about the BMA and makes huge sense about the fact that there isn’t a money problem but a structural problem.
That's a rather odd summary of an interview where he castigated the last government for running down NHS capital budgets leaving it with inadequate equipment and decrepit buildings.

His criticism of the BMA was based on GPs refusing additional work unless they got paid to deliver it. Best of luck with expecting a private system to be doing extra work for free.
Half-formed thought.

When people say pay rises should follow productivity, productivity becomes a function of the morality of staff- it's about how hard and effectively they work.

The other way of thinking about productivity is as a function of capital spending and task selection.

Do healthcare productivity discussions become unproductive because of people talking at cross-purposes?

Productivity increases come from two actual things. Nearly always.

1) People in an organisation waiting to do work. Because of resources/work queues.
2) Doing more work with the same effort. Better tools/techniques.

Very often 2 feeds into 1

Nearly no one has achieved productivity gains by getting the serfs to pick cotton faster, with threats.

DecrepiterJohnL · September 12

Foxy said:
Brilliant from @AlastairMeeks formerly of this parish.

https://x.com/AlastairMeeks/status/1833786433074495939?t=JTAfk1dfAc6BaWM9pz0s1A&s=19

Very well done but the message is a bit, oh, I don't know, taking care of your pension is probably not the biggest problem for pension lawyers trousering well into six figures a year. What next? Leon on the benefits of free exotic holibobs?

Malmesbury · September 12

MattW said:
Surrender of 35,000 Zombie Knives in response to the broadened ban.

This is by a knife wholesaler. They will get £10 compensation per qualifying item - that may even be a profitable level, as they sell for about £15-20 each. I was not expecting it to be on that scale.

Knife wholesaler surrenders 35,000 'zombie' blades

A knife wholesaler whose weapons have been used in several killings has surrendered more than 35,000 "zombie" blades.

Police said the knives and machetes were designed to "kill and maim".

Under a government surrender scheme Luton-based Sporting Wholesale will receive £10 compensation for each knife.

The company said it would not comment.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy0re4wp8j2o

Meanwhile, the actual weapon used in most stabbings is a moderate sized kitchen knife.

There have been “martial art weapon” scares since I was a child. For a while, showing a *film* with nunchucks in it was crime.

Foxy · September 12

TimS said:

Foxy said:

Peter_the_Punter said:

boulay said:
Fascinating interview with Sor John Bell just now on R4 re the NHS. Worth listening to - he is brutal about the BMA and makes huge sense about the fact that there isn’t a money problem but a structural problem.
Heard it. Brilliant. He says the normally unsayable. He is right.

As a high cholestorol man, I was incensed by his story of GPs refusing to use the new drug.
You mean refusing to do extra work for free?
I don’t understand this, but then perhaps I don’t understand GP contracts. Do they not have salaries? Or are they paid on a piece-work basis?

The GP practice is funded more or less fee for service, and will employ salaried staff to deliver the service, which includes about 50% of GPs as well as nurses, receptionists etc. The other half of GPs are partners and get paid from practice profits after salary and other costs.

Nigelb · September 12

Foxy said:
Brilliant from @AlastairMeeks formerly of this parish.

https://x.com/AlastairMeeks/status/1833786433074495939?t=JTAfk1dfAc6BaWM9pz0s1A&s=19

Some TSE-level sartorial choices there.

Stuartinromford · September 12

Malmesbury said:

Stuartinromford said:

Foxy said:

boulay said:
Fascinating interview with Sor John Bell just now on R4 re the NHS. Worth listening to - he is brutal about the BMA and makes huge sense about the fact that there isn’t a money problem but a structural problem.
That's a rather odd summary of an interview where he castigated the last government for running down NHS capital budgets leaving it with inadequate equipment and decrepit buildings.

His criticism of the BMA was based on GPs refusing additional work unless they got paid to deliver it. Best of luck with expecting a private system to be doing extra work for free.
Half-formed thought.

When people say pay rises should follow productivity, productivity becomes a function of the morality of staff- it's about how hard and effectively they work.

The other way of thinking about productivity is as a function of capital spending and task selection.

Do healthcare productivity discussions become unproductive because of people talking at cross-purposes?
Productivity increases come from two actual things. Nearly always.

1) People in an organisation waiting to do work. Because of resources/work queues.
2) Doing more work with the same effort. Better tools/techniques.

Very often 2 feeds into 1

Nearly no one has achieved productivity gains by getting the serfs to pick cotton faster, with threats.

And yet it's a popular narrative. Partly because it sounds easy to do, partly I suspect because it allows those of us who have lucked out to feel more comfortable with our good fortune.

rottenborough · September 12

"On her record so far, Reeves is quickly turning out to be the worst Chancellor of modern times – and it won’t be long before there is talk about replacing her."

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/09/11/rachel-reeves-is-the-most-incompetent-chancellor-in-decades/

Nigelb · September 12

Alanbrooke said:

Foxy said:

boulay said:
Fascinating interview with Sor John Bell just now on R4 re the NHS. Worth listening to - he is brutal about the BMA and makes huge sense about the fact that there isn’t a money problem but a structural problem.
That's a rather odd summary of an interview where he castigated the last government for running down NHS capital budgets leaving it with inadequate equipment and decrepit buildings.

His criticism of the BMA was based on GPs refusing additional work unless they got paid to deliver it. Best of luck with expecting a private system to be doing extra work for free.
To paraphrase Voltaire

"Where some states have a health service, the British health service has a state"

Streeting used exactly that phrase on R4 this morning, to warn what would happen if Labour failed to reform the NHS.

noneoftheabove · September 12

boulay said:

Foxy said:

boulay said:
Fascinating interview with Sor John Bell just now on R4 re the NHS. Worth listening to - he is brutal about the BMA and makes huge sense about the fact that there isn’t a money problem but a structural problem.
That's a rather odd summary of an interview where he castigated the last government for running down NHS capital budgets leaving it with inadequate equipment and decrepit buildings.

His criticism of the BMA was based on GPs refusing additional work unless they got paid to deliver it. Best of luck with expecting a private system to be doing extra work for free.
I didn’t say he didn’t castigate that last gov and clearly there has been a lack of capital spending - and his criticism of the BMA wasn’t solely about GPs refusing to do extra work - that was an example he gave of their obstruction - his criticisms were that any meaningful change has to get past the unions which means huge obstacles.

The fact he criticised all areas constructively was very interesting would have been a fairer end to my summary but I was trying to draw attention to the interview as was a nice example of someone not calling the NHs and everyone in it “the best in the world” yet having its best interests at heart.

Does anyone call the NHS the best in the world anymore? Twenty years ago some did, but genuinely can't recall it being said recently. Boris during covid made everything about world beating might have done I suppose, but proponents of and those involved in the NHS don't make that claim.

kjh · September 12

rottenborough said:
"On her record so far, Reeves is quickly turning out to be the worst Chancellor of modern times – and it won’t be long before there is talk about replacing her."

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/09/11/rachel-reeves-is-the-most-incompetent-chancellor-in-decades/

Says the Telegraph. Let's wait until she does cockups which inevitably will happen. You have a budget in a month. Honestly the impatience of people to show Labour are failing is laughable. There are 4 to 5 years to go. Can we not wait a few more months until something really happens.

Nigelb · September 12

Peter_the_Punter said:

boulay said:
Fascinating interview with Sor John Bell just now on R4 re the NHS. Worth listening to - he is brutal about the BMA and makes huge sense about the fact that there isn’t a money problem but a structural problem.
Heard it. Brilliant. He says the normally unsayable. He is right.

As a high cholestorol man, I was incensed by his story of GPs refusing to use the new drug.

I've suggested before, that as neither GSK nor AZN have GLP1 obesity drugs in development, the government should finance a joint venture to develop one (perhaps by acquisition) in exchange for an at cost supply to the NHS.
Both parties would probably benefit massively.

noneoftheabove · September 12

MattW said:
Surrender of 35,000 Zombie Knives in response to the broadened ban.

This is by a knife wholesaler. They will get £10 compensation per qualifying item - that may even be a profitable level, as they sell for about £15-20 each. I was not expecting it to be on that scale.

Knife wholesaler surrenders 35,000 'zombie' blades

A knife wholesaler whose weapons have been used in several killings has surrendered more than 35,000 "zombie" blades.

Police said the knives and machetes were designed to "kill and maim".

Under a government surrender scheme Luton-based Sporting Wholesale will receive £10 compensation for each knife.

The company said it would not comment.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy0re4wp8j2o

Probably re-ordered another 35,000 for delivery @ £5 each. Luvvly jubbly.

Stuartinromford · September 12

kjh said:

rottenborough said:
"On her record so far, Reeves is quickly turning out to be the worst Chancellor of modern times – and it won’t be long before there is talk about replacing her."

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/09/11/rachel-reeves-is-the-most-incompetent-chancellor-in-decades/
Says the Telegraph. Let's wait until she does cockups which inevitably will happen. You have a budget in a month. Honestly the impatience of people to show Labour are failing is laughable. There are 4 to 5 years to go. Can we not wait a few more months until something really happens.

She's not even the most incompetent Chancellor of the last two years.

Even if you think Trussonomics was the right thing to do, it was done incompetently.

noneoftheabove · September 12

kjh said:

rottenborough said:
"On her record so far, Reeves is quickly turning out to be the worst Chancellor of modern times – and it won’t be long before there is talk about replacing her."

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/09/11/rachel-reeves-is-the-most-incompetent-chancellor-in-decades/
Says the Telegraph. Let's wait until she does cockups which inevitably will happen. You have a budget in a month. Honestly the impatience of people to show Labour are failing is laughable. There are 4 to 5 years to go. Can we not wait a few more months until something really happens.

They really don't like being in opposition do they? Still in shock and denial, yet to reach pain and guilt.

mercator · September 12

noneoftheabove said:

boulay said:

Foxy said:

boulay said:
Fascinating interview with Sor John Bell just now on R4 re the NHS. Worth listening to - he is brutal about the BMA and makes huge sense about the fact that there isn’t a money problem but a structural problem.
That's a rather odd summary of an interview where he castigated the last government for running down NHS capital budgets leaving it with inadequate equipment and decrepit buildings.

His criticism of the BMA was based on GPs refusing additional work unless they got paid to deliver it. Best of luck with expecting a private system to be doing extra work for free.
I didn’t say he didn’t castigate that last gov and clearly there has been a lack of capital spending - and his criticism of the BMA wasn’t solely about GPs refusing to do extra work - that was an example he gave of their obstruction - his criticisms were that any meaningful change has to get past the unions which means huge obstacles.

The fact he criticised all areas constructively was very interesting would have been a fairer end to my summary but I was trying to draw attention to the interview as was a nice example of someone not calling the NHs and everyone in it “the best in the world” yet having its best interests at heart.
Does anyone call the NHS the best in the world anymore? Twenty years ago some did, but genuinely can't recall it being said recently. Boris during covid made everything about world beating might have done I suppose, but proponents of and those involved in the NHS don't make that claim.

The Letby inquiry is already pure Kafka (irrespective of any possible question about her own guilt), and the surgeon who has questions to answer about 721 children at GOSH does not put the organisation in a great light.

Nigelb · September 12

Malmesbury said:

Stuartinromford said:

Foxy said:

boulay said:
Fascinating interview with Sor John Bell just now on R4 re the NHS. Worth listening to - he is brutal about the BMA and makes huge sense about the fact that there isn’t a money problem but a structural problem.
That's a rather odd summary of an interview where he castigated the last government for running down NHS capital budgets leaving it with inadequate equipment and decrepit buildings.

His criticism of the BMA was based on GPs refusing additional work unless they got paid to deliver it. Best of luck with expecting a private system to be doing extra work for free.
Half-formed thought.

When people say pay rises should follow productivity, productivity becomes a function of the morality of staff- it's about how hard and effectively they work.

The other way of thinking about productivity is as a function of capital spending and task selection.

Do healthcare productivity discussions become unproductive because of people talking at cross-purposes?
Productivity increases come from two actual things. Nearly always.

1) People in an organisation waiting to do work. Because of resources/work queues.
2) Doing more work with the same effort. Better tools/techniques.

Very often 2 feeds into 1

Nearly no one has achieved productivity gains by getting the serfs to pick cotton faster, with threats.

That last bit's not quite true.
Plantation slavery did just that. Though strictly speaking that was slaves rather than serfs, and they were deliberately worked to death in the sugar plantations.

Stuartinromford · September 12

noneoftheabove said:

kjh said:

rottenborough said:
"On her record so far, Reeves is quickly turning out to be the worst Chancellor of modern times – and it won’t be long before there is talk about replacing her."

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/09/11/rachel-reeves-is-the-most-incompetent-chancellor-in-decades/
Says the Telegraph. Let's wait until she does cockups which inevitably will happen. You have a budget in a month. Honestly the impatience of people to show Labour are failing is laughable. There are 4 to 5 years to go. Can we not wait a few more months until something really happens.
They really don't like being in opposition do they? Still in shock and denial, yet to reach pain and guilt.

On one hand, they have the moves down to a tee; heck, they've been opposing each other for long enough.

But the heckling as people try to clear up the dung they deliberately left round the place...

Alphabet_Soup · September 12

Nigelb said:

Foxy said:
Brilliant from @AlastairMeeks formerly of this parish.

https://x.com/AlastairMeeks/status/1833786433074495939?t=JTAfk1dfAc6BaWM9pz0s1A&s=19
Some TSE-level sartorial choices there.

Pumping up your pension is sound personal advice. In fact, I might even give the link to my son as a valuable but relatively inexpensive birthday present. But from a political perspective the creation of an ever-expanding, ever-richer rentier class dependent on an ever-expanding, ever-poorer proletarian workforce cannot possibly last forever.

Can it?

rottenborough · September 12

Stuartinromford said:

kjh said:

rottenborough said:
"On her record so far, Reeves is quickly turning out to be the worst Chancellor of modern times – and it won’t be long before there is talk about replacing her."

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/09/11/rachel-reeves-is-the-most-incompetent-chancellor-in-decades/
Says the Telegraph. Let's wait until she does cockups which inevitably will happen. You have a budget in a month. Honestly the impatience of people to show Labour are failing is laughable. There are 4 to 5 years to go. Can we not wait a few more months until something really happens.
She's not even the most incompetent Chancellor of the last two years.

Even if you think Trussonomics was the right thing to do, it was done incompetently.

Indeed. Telegraph is increasingly hysterical about Labour government. Perhaps this is a stage in the grieving process?

Having said that I agree she has had a very poor start but let's see the Budget.

mercator · September 12

noneoftheabove said:

kjh said:

rottenborough said:
"On her record so far, Reeves is quickly turning out to be the worst Chancellor of modern times – and it won’t be long before there is talk about replacing her."

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/09/11/rachel-reeves-is-the-most-incompetent-chancellor-in-decades/
Says the Telegraph. Let's wait until she does cockups which inevitably will happen. You have a budget in a month. Honestly the impatience of people to show Labour are failing is laughable. There are 4 to 5 years to go. Can we not wait a few more months until something really happens.
They really don't like being in opposition do they? Still in shock and denial, yet to reach pain and guilt.

The exact inverse of the truth. Pain and guilt are what magically ceased on 4 July. We are watching a different version of the same comedy, but the legitimate reaction to it is now to kick back, open a beer, point and laugh, rather than shudder and look the other way and pretend to have lost interest in politics.

As to shock and denial, this was the most predictable GE since probably 1997. 1992 was a shock, 2017 was a shock. This is not.

Taz · September 12

kjh said:

rottenborough said:
"On her record so far, Reeves is quickly turning out to be the worst Chancellor of modern times – and it won’t be long before there is talk about replacing her."

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/09/11/rachel-reeves-is-the-most-incompetent-chancellor-in-decades/
Says the Telegraph. Let's wait until she does cockups which inevitably will happen. You have a budget in a month. Honestly the impatience of people to show Labour are failing is laughable. There are 4 to 5 years to go. Can we not wait a few more months until something really happens.

I voted Labour and have a bit of Buyers remorse at the moment but it is far too early to castigate Rachel Reeves.

I agree with the WFA cut, I do not see that she has done anything wrong so far apart from, possibly, the way it was handled.

TBH I get why the Tories and their supporters cannot wait to try to show labour is failing us. If would be no different if the boot was on the other foot.

TimS · September 12

Taz said:

kjh said:

rottenborough said:
"On her record so far, Reeves is quickly turning out to be the worst Chancellor of modern times – and it won’t be long before there is talk about replacing her."

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/09/11/rachel-reeves-is-the-most-incompetent-chancellor-in-decades/
Says the Telegraph. Let's wait until she does cockups which inevitably will happen. You have a budget in a month. Honestly the impatience of people to show Labour are failing is laughable. There are 4 to 5 years to go. Can we not wait a few more months until something really happens.
I voted Labour and have a bit of Buyers remorse at the moment but it is far too early to castigate Rachel Reeves.

I agree with the WFA cut, I do not see that she has done anything wrong so far apart from, possibly, the way it was handled.

TBH I get why the Tories and their supporters cannot wait to try to show labour is failing us. If would be no different if the boot was on the other foot.

The Tory press is doing exactly what you’d expect it to do, and it’s perfectly within its rights to do so. Of course the Telegraph is going to say things like Reeves is the worse chancellor in history. It may well be working: Labour have lost the spin battles since July.

Equally it makes sense for supporters of Labour to position this as desperate bleating by a right wing press in denial. Which might also work a bit.

Taz · September 12

What kind of person turns up to protest against Kamala Harris at a 9/11 memorial event in Pennsylvania. They're there to show respect to the fallen. A break from politics and campaigning.

"The second part of the shirt, “Hawktuah” is a reference to oral sex.

When asked by a pool reporter why he had attended the service, the man said he had come to the ceremony to honor the victims of Flight 93 and to “make sure Biden and Harris get this message.”

The back of the shirt said “Abort Hawktuah Harris.”

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/protester-shows-up-to-9-11-ceremony-to-make-sure-hawktuah-harris-sees-his-vile-sexist-t-shirt/ar-AA1qpzFw?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=455eb7d1e6b540b599a97ee5b45f7624&ei=18

mercator · September 12

TimS said:

Taz said:

kjh said:

rottenborough said:
"On her record so far, Reeves is quickly turning out to be the worst Chancellor of modern times – and it won’t be long before there is talk about replacing her."

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/09/11/rachel-reeves-is-the-most-incompetent-chancellor-in-decades/
Says the Telegraph. Let's wait until she does cockups which inevitably will happen. You have a budget in a month. Honestly the impatience of people to show Labour are failing is laughable. There are 4 to 5 years to go. Can we not wait a few more months until something really happens.
I voted Labour and have a bit of Buyers remorse at the moment but it is far too early to castigate Rachel Reeves.

I agree with the WFA cut, I do not see that she has done anything wrong so far apart from, possibly, the way it was handled.

TBH I get why the Tories and their supporters cannot wait to try to show labour is failing us. If would be no different if the boot was on the other foot.
The Tory press is doing exactly what you’d expect it to do, and it’s perfectly within its rights to do so. Of course the Telegraph is going to say things like Reeves is the worse chancellor in history. It may well be working: Labour have lost the spin battles since July.

Equally it makes sense for supporters of Labour to position this as desperate bleating by a right wing press in denial. Which might also work a bit.

The point is, it works *this time*. In 1997 calling Brown worst chancellor ever or Blair a gloomy technocrat would have been so obviously untrue nobody bothered to say it.

MattW · September 12

Malmesbury said:

MattW said:
Surrender of 35,000 Zombie Knives in response to the broadened ban.

This is by a knife wholesaler. They will get £10 compensation per qualifying item - that may even be a profitable level, as they sell for about £15-20 each. I was not expecting it to be on that scale.

Knife wholesaler surrenders 35,000 'zombie' blades

A knife wholesaler whose weapons have been used in several killings has surrendered more than 35,000 "zombie" blades.

Police said the knives and machetes were designed to "kill and maim".

Under a government surrender scheme Luton-based Sporting Wholesale will receive £10 compensation for each knife.

The company said it would not comment.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy0re4wp8j2o
Meanwhile, the actual weapon used in most stabbings is a moderate sized kitchen knife.

There have been “martial art weapon” scares since I was a child. For a while, showing a *film* with nunchucks in it was crime.

What's your point?

35,000 deadly weapons not on our streets seems to me to be a good thing, regardless of whether it is a minority of majority of bladed articles used in crime.

That's enough for the best part of a year of offences involving a knife or "pointed instrument"
https://benkinsella.org.uk/knife-crime-statistics/

At the very least it's a big disruption of easy supply.

TheScreamingEagles · September 12

Taz said:
What kind of person turns up to protest against Kamala Harris at a 9/11 memorial event in Pennsylvania. They're there to show respect to the fallen. A break from politics and campaigning.

"The second part of the shirt, “Hawktuah” is a reference to oral sex.

When asked by a pool reporter why he had attended the service, the man said he had come to the ceremony to honor the victims of Flight 93 and to “make sure Biden and Harris get this message.”

The back of the shirt said “Abort Hawktuah Harris.”

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/protester-shows-up-to-9-11-ceremony-to-make-sure-hawktuah-harris-sees-his-vile-sexist-t-shirt/ar-AA1qpzFw?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=455eb7d1e6b540b599a97ee5b45f7624&ei=18

Contrast Biden’s action yesterday with the Trump cap.

williamglenn · September 12

https://x.com/matt_dathan/status/1834131565133156805

Excl: Prisoners should "jump the queue" for housing to stop them reoffending, Sadiq Khan has said.

The mayor of London told @thetimes Crime & Justice Commission that while there is “a big shortage of housing in London", there needs to be an "honest conversation" about the need for some prisoners to be prioritised. @RSylvesterTimes @daisyeastlake

Taz · September 12

rottenborough said:

Stuartinromford said:

kjh said:

rottenborough said:
"On her record so far, Reeves is quickly turning out to be the worst Chancellor of modern times – and it won’t be long before there is talk about replacing her."

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/09/11/rachel-reeves-is-the-most-incompetent-chancellor-in-decades/
Says the Telegraph. Let's wait until she does cockups which inevitably will happen. You have a budget in a month. Honestly the impatience of people to show Labour are failing is laughable. There are 4 to 5 years to go. Can we not wait a few more months until something really happens.
She's not even the most incompetent Chancellor of the last two years.

Even if you think Trussonomics was the right thing to do, it was done incompetently.
Indeed. Telegraph is increasingly hysterical about Labour government. Perhaps this is a stage in the grieving process?

Having said that I agree she has had a very poor start but let's see the Budget.

Well Allister Heath was also hysterical about them in the run up to the election. Occasionally his columns came up on a feed of mine. I stopped reading them as they verged on the hyperbolic.

kinabalu · September 12

Nigelb said:

Alanbrooke said:

Foxy said:

boulay said:
Fascinating interview with Sor John Bell just now on R4 re the NHS. Worth listening to - he is brutal about the BMA and makes huge sense about the fact that there isn’t a money problem but a structural problem.
That's a rather odd summary of an interview where he castigated the last government for running down NHS capital budgets leaving it with inadequate equipment and decrepit buildings.

His criticism of the BMA was based on GPs refusing additional work unless they got paid to deliver it. Best of luck with expecting a private system to be doing extra work for free.
To paraphrase Voltaire

"Where some states have a health service, the British health service has a state"
Streeting used exactly that phrase on R4 this morning, to warn what would happen if Labour failed to reform the NHS.

Serious NHS reform might be more likely under Labour. Nixon China etc.

Sandpit · September 12

Taz said:
What kind of person turns up to protest against Kamala Harris at a 9/11 memorial event in Pennsylvania. They're there to show respect to the fallen. A break from politics and campaigning.

"The second part of the shirt, “Hawktuah” is a reference to oral sex.

When asked by a pool reporter why he had attended the service, the man said he had come to the ceremony to honor the victims of Flight 93 and to “make sure Biden and Harris get this message.”

The back of the shirt said “Abort Hawktuah Harris.”

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/protester-shows-up-to-9-11-ceremony-to-make-sure-hawktuah-harris-sees-his-vile-sexist-t-shirt/ar-AA1qpzFw?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=455eb7d1e6b540b599a97ee5b45f7624&ei=18

That’s not a good look. There’s days for rude protests against politicians, a day of remembrance for a terrorist attack isn’t one of them. Politicians of all stripes stood side by side yesterday at the service.

kinabalu · September 12

noneoftheabove said:

boulay said:

Foxy said:

boulay said:
Fascinating interview with Sor John Bell just now on R4 re the NHS. Worth listening to - he is brutal about the BMA and makes huge sense about the fact that there isn’t a money problem but a structural problem.
That's a rather odd summary of an interview where he castigated the last government for running down NHS capital budgets leaving it with inadequate equipment and decrepit buildings.

His criticism of the BMA was based on GPs refusing additional work unless they got paid to deliver it. Best of luck with expecting a private system to be doing extra work for free.
I didn’t say he didn’t castigate that last gov and clearly there has been a lack of capital spending - and his criticism of the BMA wasn’t solely about GPs refusing to do extra work - that was an example he gave of their obstruction - his criticisms were that any meaningful change has to get past the unions which means huge obstacles.

The fact he criticised all areas constructively was very interesting would have been a fairer end to my summary but I was trying to draw attention to the interview as was a nice example of someone not calling the NHs and everyone in it “the best in the world” yet having its best interests at heart.
Does anyone call the NHS the best in the world anymore? Twenty years ago some did, but genuinely can't recall it being said recently. Boris during covid made everything about world beating might have done I suppose, but proponents of and those involved in the NHS don't make that claim.

Starmer and Streeting are saying it very much isn't.

MattW · September 12

noneoftheabove said:

MattW said:
Surrender of 35,000 Zombie Knives in response to the broadened ban.

This is by a knife wholesaler. They will get £10 compensation per qualifying item - that may even be a profitable level, as they sell for about £15-20 each. I was not expecting it to be on that scale.

Knife wholesaler surrenders 35,000 'zombie' blades

A knife wholesaler whose weapons have been used in several killings has surrendered more than 35,000 "zombie" blades.

Police said the knives and machetes were designed to "kill and maim".

Under a government surrender scheme Luton-based Sporting Wholesale will receive £10 compensation for each knife.

The company said it would not comment.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy0re4wp8j2o
Probably re-ordered another 35,000 for delivery @ £5 each. Luvvly jubbly.

I'm interested in the cynicism. Obviously not a solution to the whole issue, which needs to be both social and policing, yet a definite positive.

No. They are quoted as not trading in the products any more in the article.

This particular setup has been a big supplier to gangs.

https://www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-news/anti-knife-crusader-says-parents-21012198

kjh · September 12

A question for the moderators:

I sometimes look at other people's profiles for various reasons. Today for instance because I wanted to see if a particular person had replied to me so instead of trawling through all the last few day's threads (even using 'Find') I could much more quickly look through their posts on their profile (That set is significantly smaller)

I can't do that if the profile is private. Now unless I am missing something there is nothing private in a profile whatsoever. It just makes life easier if you want to find a post.

So why do we have private profiles and why do people make them private (just in case there is a good reason for me to do so that I am not aware of)?

Theuniondivvie · September 12

kjh said:
A question for the moderators:

I sometimes look at other people's profiles for various reasons. Today for instance because I wanted to see if a particular person had replied to me so instead of trawling through all the last few day's threads (even using 'Find') I could much more quickly look through their posts on their profile (That set is significantly smaller)

I can't do that if the profile is private. Now unless I am missing something there is nothing private in a profile whatsoever. It just makes life easier if you want to find a post.

So why do we have private profiles and why do people make them private (just in case there is a good reason for me to do so that I am not aware of)?

Fear of being cancelled apparently. Wouldn't be great for someone with any sort of public profile if they were on record as lauding Putin just before his SMO for example.

Edit: past comments only go back for a few posts now, so it's a bit academic.

Taz · September 12

williamglenn said:
https://x.com/matt_dathan/status/1834131565133156805

Excl: Prisoners should "jump the queue" for housing to stop them reoffending, Sadiq Khan has said.

The mayor of London told @thetimes Crime & Justice Commission that while there is “a big shortage of housing in London", there needs to be an "honest conversation" about the need for some prisoners to be prioritised. @RSylvesterTimes @daisyeastlake

There is a big shortage of housing in London

If only there was an obvious solution rather than playing one group of people off against another ?

MaxPB · September 12

Morris_Dancer said:
Mr. Eagles, Norris needs an 8 point advantage over Verstappen each race weekend. That's 8 races and 3 sprint bullshits. Even without the McLaren move, that's difficult but achievable.

It also depends on Red Bull's ability to fix their aero issues without Adrian Newey which so far don't seem high. MV could be finishing off the podium for quite a few of those races so the average required to gain per race could come down substantially with just two or three results if it's a Lando win and Max is 4th or 5th.

Morris_Dancer · September 12

Mr. Max, it seems shifting their design concept entirely from last year has reduced the ceiling for development compared to McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes. Norris has not been maximising his potential and Verstappen has been driving very well. On pace, Norris should have this, but a single DNF or bad result could make it nip and tuck.

My feeling right now is Norris is a slight favourite.

Sandpit · September 12

mercator said:

TimS said:

Taz said:

kjh said:

rottenborough said:
"On her record so far, Reeves is quickly turning out to be the worst Chancellor of modern times – and it won’t be long before there is talk about replacing her."

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/09/11/rachel-reeves-is-the-most-incompetent-chancellor-in-decades/
Says the Telegraph. Let's wait until she does cockups which inevitably will happen. You have a budget in a month. Honestly the impatience of people to show Labour are failing is laughable. There are 4 to 5 years to go. Can we not wait a few more months until something really happens.
I voted Labour and have a bit of Buyers remorse at the moment but it is far too early to castigate Rachel Reeves.

I agree with the WFA cut, I do not see that she has done anything wrong so far apart from, possibly, the way it was handled.

TBH I get why the Tories and their supporters cannot wait to try to show labour is failing us. If would be no different if the boot was on the other foot.
The Tory press is doing exactly what you’d expect it to do, and it’s perfectly within its rights to do so. Of course the Telegraph is going to say things like Reeves is the worse chancellor in history. It may well be working: Labour have lost the spin battles since July.

Equally it makes sense for supporters of Labour to position this as desperate bleating by a right wing press in denial. Which might also work a bit.
The point is, it works *this time*. In 1997 calling Brown worst chancellor ever or Blair a gloomy technocrat would have been so obviously untrue nobody bothered to say it.

We didn’t know in 1997 that Brown would turn out to be the worst Chancellor of all time. Perhaps Mr Meeks spotted the significance of the pension changes that year, but the rest of us didn’t. It didn’t become really obvious until about a decade later, just how much of a mess the public finances were in.

DecrepiterJohnL · September 12

MattW said:

Malmesbury said:

MattW said:
Surrender of 35,000 Zombie Knives in response to the broadened ban.

This is by a knife wholesaler. They will get £10 compensation per qualifying item - that may even be a profitable level, as they sell for about £15-20 each. I was not expecting it to be on that scale.

Knife wholesaler surrenders 35,000 'zombie' blades

A knife wholesaler whose weapons have been used in several killings has surrendered more than 35,000 "zombie" blades.

Police said the knives and machetes were designed to "kill and maim".

Under a government surrender scheme Luton-based Sporting Wholesale will receive £10 compensation for each knife.

The company said it would not comment.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy0re4wp8j2o
Meanwhile, the actual weapon used in most stabbings is a moderate sized kitchen knife.

There have been “martial art weapon” scares since I was a child. For a while, showing a *film* with nunchucks in it was crime.
What's your point?

35,000 deadly weapons not on our streets seems to me to be a good thing, regardless of whether it is a minority of majority of bladed articles used in crime.

That's enough for the best part of a year of offences involving a knife or "pointed instrument"
https://benkinsella.org.uk/knife-crime-statistics/

At the very least it's a big disruption of easy supply.

This is not 35,000 zombie knives taken off the street, but taken out of a warehouse, and probably at a profit. It is a good thing in itself but there are shades of snakes being bred for the reward money in India.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perverse_incentive

kinabalu · September 12

Theuniondivvie said:

kjh said:
A question for the moderators:

I sometimes look at other people's profiles for various reasons. Today for instance because I wanted to see if a particular person had replied to me so instead of trawling through all the last few day's threads (even using 'Find') I could much more quickly look through their posts on their profile (That set is significantly smaller)

I can't do that if the profile is private. Now unless I am missing something there is nothing private in a profile whatsoever. It just makes life easier if you want to find a post.

So why do we have private profiles and why do people make them private (just in case there is a good reason for me to do so that I am not aware of)?
Fear of being cancelled apparently. Wouldn't be great for someone with any sort of public profile if they were on record as lauding Putin just before his SMO for example.

Edit: past comments only go back for a few posts now, so it's a bit academic.

You're absolutely right. Hadn't noticed that change. Shame but I'll get by, I suppose, with my remarkable memory for what people say. Esp some people.

TheScreamingEagles · September 12

Morris_Dancer said:
Mr. Max, it seems shifting their design concept entirely from last year has reduced the ceiling for development compared to McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes. Norris has not been maximising his potential and Verstappen has been driving very well. On pace, Norris should have this, but a single DNF or bad result could make it nip and tuck.

My feeling right now is Norris is a slight favourite.

Who would have thought I would be cheering for an F1 team with colours associated with ~~orange~~ papaya.

Morris_Dancer · September 12

Mr. Eagles, I think most people will like a change.

Could be interesting not only to see how this season concludes, but 2025, as everything's so tight, and 2026, with a big rules change and Newey at Aston Martin.

Verulamius · September 12

The Darzi report published today has also included a 332 page technical appendix.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66e1b517dd4e6b59f0cb2553/Independent-Investigation-of-the-National-Health-Service-in-England-Technical-Annex.pdf

This appendix is for all statistical nerds with nothing but page after page of graphs tables etc with data on almost everything health related over the past 20 years.

For example on page 279 there is a table with an international comparisons of nurses and midwives working outside hospitals.

The oecd16 average is 5 per 1,000 inhabitants; UK is 0.7

TheScreamingEagles · September 12

Morris_Dancer said:
Mr. Eagles, I think most people will like a change.

Could be interesting not only to see how this season concludes, but 2025, as everything's so tight, and 2026, with a big rules change and Newey at Aston Martin.

Adrian Newey is so good he could have ensured Luca Badoer won a ~~race~~ title.

MattW · September 12

Taz said:

williamglenn said:
https://x.com/matt_dathan/status/1834131565133156805

Excl: Prisoners should "jump the queue" for housing to stop them reoffending, Sadiq Khan has said.

The mayor of London told @thetimes Crime & Justice Commission that while there is “a big shortage of housing in London", there needs to be an "honest conversation" about the need for some prisoners to be prioritised. @RSylvesterTimes @daisyeastlake
There is a big shortage of housing in London

If only there was an obvious solution rather than playing one group of people off against another ?

The obvious way would be supported accommodation, which I hope will expand as James Timpson gets his feet under the desk.

Nacro have 30 units in Nottingham, for example. There are other similar organisations.
https://www.nacro.org.uk/services/supported-housing-reintegration-nottingham/

Currently in addition to ~17000 "innocent not yet found guilty" people in prison on remand, there are a further ~12500 who have been recalled to prison for violation of release conditions.

There are ~50k admissions per year (not including recalls).

So get rehabilitation right and offending rates down and there is a lot of potential.
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/offender-management-statistics-quarterly-october-to-december-2023/offender-management-statistics-quarterly-october-to-december-2023-and-annual-2023

Sandpit · September 12

Morris_Dancer said:
Mr. Eagles, I think most people will like a change.

Could be interesting not only to see how this season concludes, but 2025, as everything's so tight, and 2026, with a big rules change and Newey at Aston Martin.

Next year could be a fascinating season, as the last year of a rule set usually turns out to be.

Four teams right up there, plus Aston Martin with a brand new factory, a new wind tunnel, and a new Adrian Newey. With not a lot of in-season development happening, as the teams concentrate limited resources to the new ‘26 cars.

As someone pointed out on another forum, there’s been seven race winners this year - 2012 was the last time that happened.

noneoftheabove · September 12

MattW said:

noneoftheabove said:

MattW said:
Surrender of 35,000 Zombie Knives in response to the broadened ban.

This is by a knife wholesaler. They will get £10 compensation per qualifying item - that may even be a profitable level, as they sell for about £15-20 each. I was not expecting it to be on that scale.

Knife wholesaler surrenders 35,000 'zombie' blades

A knife wholesaler whose weapons have been used in several killings has surrendered more than 35,000 "zombie" blades.

Police said the knives and machetes were designed to "kill and maim".

Under a government surrender scheme Luton-based Sporting Wholesale will receive £10 compensation for each knife.

The company said it would not comment.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy0re4wp8j2o
Probably re-ordered another 35,000 for delivery @ £5 each. Luvvly jubbly.
I'm interested in the cynicism. Obviously not a solution to the whole issue, which needs to be both social and policing, yet a definite positive.

No. They are quoted as not trading in the products any more in the article.

This particular setup has been a big supplier to gangs.

https://www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-news/anti-knife-crusader-says-parents-21012198

As a born cynic I would read:

"After careful consideration we have, as a company, decided to stop importing knives under our Anglo Arms brand. It will take around 6 months to clear current stock and back orders."

as

"We will continue to import and sell dangerous knives under a different brand having pocketed our government windfall".

TheScreamingEagles · September 12

Actually Adrian Newey is a complete idiot. Verstappen being a grade A twat is responsible for this.

Sky’s ‘nationalistic’ F1 coverage caused ‘demonisation’ of Verstappen – Newey

https://www.racefans.net/2024/09/10/skys-nationalistic-f1-coverage-caused-demonisation-of-verstappen-newey/

kinabalu · September 12

TimS said:

Taz said:

kjh said:

rottenborough said:
"On her record so far, Reeves is quickly turning out to be the worst Chancellor of modern times – and it won’t be long before there is talk about replacing her."

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/09/11/rachel-reeves-is-the-most-incompetent-chancellor-in-decades/
Says the Telegraph. Let's wait until she does cockups which inevitably will happen. You have a budget in a month. Honestly the impatience of people to show Labour are failing is laughable. There are 4 to 5 years to go. Can we not wait a few more months until something really happens.
I voted Labour and have a bit of Buyers remorse at the moment but it is far too early to castigate Rachel Reeves.

I agree with the WFA cut, I do not see that she has done anything wrong so far apart from, possibly, the way it was handled.

TBH I get why the Tories and their supporters cannot wait to try to show labour is failing us. If would be no different if the boot was on the other foot.
The Tory press is doing exactly what you’d expect it to do, and it’s perfectly within its rights to do so. Of course the Telegraph is going to say things like Reeves is the worse chancellor in history. It may well be working: Labour have lost the spin battles since July.

Equally it makes sense for supporters of Labour to position this as desperate bleating by a right wing press in denial. Which might also work a bit.

I don't have a great sense of spin battles being either lost or won atm.

Malmesbury · September 12

Nigelb said:

Malmesbury said:

Stuartinromford said:

Foxy said:

boulay said:
Fascinating interview with Sor John Bell just now on R4 re the NHS. Worth listening to - he is brutal about the BMA and makes huge sense about the fact that there isn’t a money problem but a structural problem.
That's a rather odd summary of an interview where he castigated the last government for running down NHS capital budgets leaving it with inadequate equipment and decrepit buildings.

His criticism of the BMA was based on GPs refusing additional work unless they got paid to deliver it. Best of luck with expecting a private system to be doing extra work for free.
Half-formed thought.

When people say pay rises should follow productivity, productivity becomes a function of the morality of staff- it's about how hard and effectively they work.

The other way of thinking about productivity is as a function of capital spending and task selection.

Do healthcare productivity discussions become unproductive because of people talking at cross-purposes?
Productivity increases come from two actual things. Nearly always.

1) People in an organisation waiting to do work. Because of resources/work queues.
2) Doing more work with the same effort. Better tools/techniques.

Very often 2 feeds into 1

Nearly no one has achieved productivity gains by getting the serfs to pick cotton faster, with threats.
That last bit's not quite true.
Plantation slavery did just that. Though strictly speaking that was slaves rather than serfs, and they were deliberately worked to death in the sugar plantations.

There’s actually little evidence that trying to force the slaves to work harder actually produced results.

Indeed, it often made things *worse* in terms of output.

The violence against slaves was as much to do with keeping them from rebelling - to make them live in a state of fear.

edmundintokyo · September 12

On topic, I think that part of it is optimism but also, the side that's having the most fun wins. This was the thing about 2016: The Trump people thought they were losing but they were having a great time with the Pepe memes and the "lock her up" thing and the audacity of it all.

On paper Trump is still making the same moves that he was then but the Trumpists aren't enjoying themselves like they used to.

noneoftheabove · September 12

kinabalu said:

TimS said:

Taz said:

kjh said:

rottenborough said:
"On her record so far, Reeves is quickly turning out to be the worst Chancellor of modern times – and it won’t be long before there is talk about replacing her."

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/09/11/rachel-reeves-is-the-most-incompetent-chancellor-in-decades/
Says the Telegraph. Let's wait until she does cockups which inevitably will happen. You have a budget in a month. Honestly the impatience of people to show Labour are failing is laughable. There are 4 to 5 years to go. Can we not wait a few more months until something really happens.
I voted Labour and have a bit of Buyers remorse at the moment but it is far too early to castigate Rachel Reeves.

I agree with the WFA cut, I do not see that she has done anything wrong so far apart from, possibly, the way it was handled.

TBH I get why the Tories and their supporters cannot wait to try to show labour is failing us. If would be no different if the boot was on the other foot.
The Tory press is doing exactly what you’d expect it to do, and it’s perfectly within its rights to do so. Of course the Telegraph is going to say things like Reeves is the worse chancellor in history. It may well be working: Labour have lost the spin battles since July.

Equally it makes sense for supporters of Labour to position this as desperate bleating by a right wing press in denial. Which might also work a bit.
I don't have a great sense of spin battles being either lost or won atm.

Labour will dip a fair bit in the polls and Tories will claim success. Tories have forgotten how to govern. Year 1, clear the decks, announce anything bad. Year 4 spread the jam.

Morris_Dancer · September 12

Mr. Eagles, I don't watch the preamble and post-race stuff, but can confirm the commentary from Croft is shit. Yes, we know Verstappen stayed up late with eSports there's no need to tell us a dozen times.

I did like when Rosberg disagreed with him on everything, though.

Best commentary, since Murray Walker, was the one season Brundle and Coulthard were together.

Sandpit · September 12

TheScreamingEagles said:
Actually Adrian Newey is a complete idiot. Verstappen being a grade A twat is responsible for this.

Sky’s ‘nationalistic’ F1 coverage caused ‘demonisation’ of Verstappen – Newey

https://www.racefans.net/2024/09/10/skys-nationalistic-f1-coverage-caused-demonisation-of-verstappen-newey/

Somewhat ironically, the one nice guy personality in the nest of vipers that is Red Bull Racing was… Adrian Newey.

The rest of them give the impression that they’d stand for Parliament if they could afford the pay cut.

Taz · September 12

MattW said:

Taz said:

williamglenn said:
https://x.com/matt_dathan/status/1834131565133156805

Excl: Prisoners should "jump the queue" for housing to stop them reoffending, Sadiq Khan has said.

The mayor of London told @thetimes Crime & Justice Commission that while there is “a big shortage of housing in London", there needs to be an "honest conversation" about the need for some prisoners to be prioritised. @RSylvesterTimes @daisyeastlake
There is a big shortage of housing in London

If only there was an obvious solution rather than playing one group of people off against another ?
The obvious way would be supported accommodation, which I hope will expand as James Timpson gets his feet under the desk.

Nacro have 30 units in Nottingham, for example. There are other similar organisations.
https://www.nacro.org.uk/services/supported-housing-reintegration-nottingham/

Currently in addition to ~17000 "innocent not yet found guilty" people in prison on remand, there are a further ~12500 who have been recalled to prison for violation of release conditions.

There are ~50k admissions per year (not including recalls).

So get rehabilitation right and offending rates down and there is a lot of potential.
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/offender-management-statistics-quarterly-october-to-december-2023/offender-management-statistics-quarterly-october-to-december-2023-and-annual-2023

As long as they don't just, as councils do with some families (problem or otherwise) ship them off to other parts of the country where property is cheap and dump them there in already deprived communities.

Malmesbury · September 12

DecrepiterJohnL said:

MattW said:

Malmesbury said:

MattW said:
Surrender of 35,000 Zombie Knives in response to the broadened ban.

This is by a knife wholesaler. They will get £10 compensation per qualifying item - that may even be a profitable level, as they sell for about £15-20 each. I was not expecting it to be on that scale.

Knife wholesaler surrenders 35,000 'zombie' blades

A knife wholesaler whose weapons have been used in several killings has surrendered more than 35,000 "zombie" blades.

Police said the knives and machetes were designed to "kill and maim".

Under a government surrender scheme Luton-based Sporting Wholesale will receive £10 compensation for each knife.

The company said it would not comment.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy0re4wp8j2o
Meanwhile, the actual weapon used in most stabbings is a moderate sized kitchen knife.

There have been “martial art weapon” scares since I was a child. For a while, showing a *film* with nunchucks in it was crime.
What's your point?

35,000 deadly weapons not on our streets seems to me to be a good thing, regardless of whether it is a minority of majority of bladed articles used in crime.

That's enough for the best part of a year of offences involving a knife or "pointed instrument"
https://benkinsella.org.uk/knife-crime-statistics/

At the very least it's a big disruption of easy supply.

This is not 35,000 zombie knives taken off the street, but taken out of a warehouse, and probably at a profit. It is a good thing in itself but there are shades of snakes being bred for the reward money in India.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perverse_incentive

I’m curious to know if the knifes were imported before the ban came into place, but when it was a planned law.

If so, nice work. Import and sell to the government wholesale.

Lord Vetinari - “Tax the rat farms”

TheScreamingEagles · September 12

Morris_Dancer said:
Mr. Eagles, I don't watch the preamble and post-race stuff, but can confirm the commentary from Croft is shit. Yes, we know Verstappen stayed up late with eSports there's no need to tell us a dozen times.

I did like when Rosberg disagreed with him on everything, though.

Best commentary, since Murray Walker, was the one season Brundle and Coulthard were together.

Leave Crofty alone, you make him sound like James Allen.

Agree about Rosberg, when Martin Brundle retires Nico should replace him.

noneoftheabove · September 12

noneoftheabove said:

MattW said:

noneoftheabove said:

MattW said:
Surrender of 35,000 Zombie Knives in response to the broadened ban.

This is by a knife wholesaler. They will get £10 compensation per qualifying item - that may even be a profitable level, as they sell for about £15-20 each. I was not expecting it to be on that scale.

Knife wholesaler surrenders 35,000 'zombie' blades

A knife wholesaler whose weapons have been used in several killings has surrendered more than 35,000 "zombie" blades.

Police said the knives and machetes were designed to "kill and maim".

Under a government surrender scheme Luton-based Sporting Wholesale will receive £10 compensation for each knife.

The company said it would not comment.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy0re4wp8j2o
Probably re-ordered another 35,000 for delivery @ £5 each. Luvvly jubbly.
I'm interested in the cynicism. Obviously not a solution to the whole issue, which needs to be both social and policing, yet a definite positive.

No. They are quoted as not trading in the products any more in the article.

This particular setup has been a big supplier to gangs.

https://www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-news/anti-knife-crusader-says-parents-21012198
As a born cynic I would read:

"After careful consideration we have, as a company, decided to stop importing knives under our Anglo Arms brand. It will take around 6 months to clear current stock and back orders."

as

"We will continue to import and sell dangerous knives under a different brand having pocketed our government windfall".

And the "as a company" bit may well mean the same people will import Anglo Arms knives as individuals or under a different ltd co.

malcolmg · September 12

boulay said:
Fascinating interview with Sor John Bell just now on R4 re the NHS. Worth listening to - he is brutal about the BMA and makes huge sense about the fact that there isn’t a money problem but a structural problem.

FS you don't need to be connected with NHS or medicine to know that. No matter how much money they pour in it gets worse. They are only interested when people are at death's door, prior to that there is no interest whatsoever. Been crap for a long time.

tlg86 · September 12

TheScreamingEagles said:

Morris_Dancer said:
Mr. Eagles, I don't watch the preamble and post-race stuff, but can confirm the commentary from Croft is shit. Yes, we know Verstappen stayed up late with eSports there's no need to tell us a dozen times.

I did like when Rosberg disagreed with him on everything, though.

Best commentary, since Murray Walker, was the one season Brundle and Coulthard were together.
Leave Crofty alone, you make him sound like James Allen.

Agree about Rosberg, when Martin Brundle retires Nico should replace him.

On the rare occasion I have the F1 on, I find myself pondering if I think Crofty is worse than James "I'm not a Ferrari fan" Allen. I think it's a very close call.

malcolmg · September 12

noneoftheabove said:

kinabalu said:

TimS said:

Taz said:

kjh said:

rottenborough said:
"On her record so far, Reeves is quickly turning out to be the worst Chancellor of modern times – and it won’t be long before there is talk about replacing her."

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/09/11/rachel-reeves-is-the-most-incompetent-chancellor-in-decades/
Says the Telegraph. Let's wait until she does cockups which inevitably will happen. You have a budget in a month. Honestly the impatience of people to show Labour are failing is laughable. There are 4 to 5 years to go. Can we not wait a few more months until something really happens.
I voted Labour and have a bit of Buyers remorse at the moment but it is far too early to castigate Rachel Reeves.

I agree with the WFA cut, I do not see that she has done anything wrong so far apart from, possibly, the way it was handled.

TBH I get why the Tories and their supporters cannot wait to try to show labour is failing us. If would be no different if the boot was on the other foot.
The Tory press is doing exactly what you’d expect it to do, and it’s perfectly within its rights to do so. Of course the Telegraph is going to say things like Reeves is the worse chancellor in history. It may well be working: Labour have lost the spin battles since July.

Equally it makes sense for supporters of Labour to position this as desperate bleating by a right wing press in denial. Which might also work a bit.
I don't have a great sense of spin battles being either lost or won atm.
Labour will dip a fair bit in the polls and Tories will claim success. Tories have forgotten how to govern. Year 1, clear the decks, announce anything bad. Year 4 spread the jam.

Unfortunately you can only hear "Balck Hole" so many times before you want to throttle any Labour MP mindlessly repeating it ad nauseum.

Taz · September 12

noneoftheabove said:

kinabalu said:

TimS said:

Taz said:

kjh said:

rottenborough said:
"On her record so far, Reeves is quickly turning out to be the worst Chancellor of modern times – and it won’t be long before there is talk about replacing her."

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/09/11/rachel-reeves-is-the-most-incompetent-chancellor-in-decades/
Says the Telegraph. Let's wait until she does cockups which inevitably will happen. You have a budget in a month. Honestly the impatience of people to show Labour are failing is laughable. There are 4 to 5 years to go. Can we not wait a few more months until something really happens.
I voted Labour and have a bit of Buyers remorse at the moment but it is far too early to castigate Rachel Reeves.

I agree with the WFA cut, I do not see that she has done anything wrong so far apart from, possibly, the way it was handled.

TBH I get why the Tories and their supporters cannot wait to try to show labour is failing us. If would be no different if the boot was on the other foot.
The Tory press is doing exactly what you’d expect it to do, and it’s perfectly within its rights to do so. Of course the Telegraph is going to say things like Reeves is the worse chancellor in history. It may well be working: Labour have lost the spin battles since July.

Equally it makes sense for supporters of Labour to position this as desperate bleating by a right wing press in denial. Which might also work a bit.
I don't have a great sense of spin battles being either lost or won atm.
Labour will dip a fair bit in the polls and Tories will claim success. Tories have forgotten how to govern. Year 1, clear the decks, announce anything bad. Year 4 spread the jam.

Yup. If they are going to change the council tax rebate do it now too.

Starmer is not daft. Neither is Reeves. This budget is crucial and I am sure they will get all of the bad stuff out of the way as well as announcing a review into pensions.

A few twitchy MP's knee jerk reacting as they are getting angry emails from constituents, either new MP's or the awkard squad, probably won't bother them at this stage.

Nigelb · September 12

Alphabet_Soup said:

Nigelb said:

Foxy said:
Brilliant from @AlastairMeeks formerly of this parish.

https://x.com/AlastairMeeks/status/1833786433074495939?t=JTAfk1dfAc6BaWM9pz0s1A&s=19
Some TSE-level sartorial choices there.
Pumping up your pension is sound personal advice. In fact, I might even give the link to my son as a valuable but relatively inexpensive birthday present. But from a political perspective the creation of an ever-expanding, ever-richer rentier class dependent on an ever-expanding, ever-poorer proletarian workforce cannot possibly last forever.

Can it?

That depends somewhat on whether the capital can be channelled into productive investment in the UK. For now the vast majority of pension fund capital isn't.
Government coercion is likely to be unproductive, so it's not an simple problem.

malcolmg · September 12

kinabalu said:

Nigelb said:

Alanbrooke said:

Foxy said:

boulay said:
Fascinating interview with Sor John Bell just now on R4 re the NHS. Worth listening to - he is brutal about the BMA and makes huge sense about the fact that there isn’t a money problem but a structural problem.
That's a rather odd summary of an interview where he castigated the last government for running down NHS capital budgets leaving it with inadequate equipment and decrepit buildings.

His criticism of the BMA was based on GPs refusing additional work unless they got paid to deliver it. Best of luck with expecting a private system to be doing extra work for free.
To paraphrase Voltaire

"Where some states have a health service, the British health service has a state"
Streeting used exactly that phrase on R4 this morning, to warn what would happen if Labour failed to reform the NHS.
Serious NHS reform might be more likely under Labour. Nixon China etc.

Look another pig just flew past

malcolmg · September 12

Alanbrooke said:

Foxy said:

boulay said:
Fascinating interview with Sor John Bell just now on R4 re the NHS. Worth listening to - he is brutal about the BMA and makes huge sense about the fact that there isn’t a money problem but a structural problem.
That's a rather odd summary of an interview where he castigated the last government for running down NHS capital budgets leaving it with inadequate equipment and decrepit buildings.

His criticism of the BMA was based on GPs refusing additional work unless they got paid to deliver it. Best of luck with expecting a private system to be doing extra work for free.
To paraphrase Voltaire

"Where some states have a health service, the British health service has a state"

Ponzi scheme to make doctor's more and more cash, anything but a vocation for most nowadays.

Big_G_NorthWales · September 12

malcolmg said:

boulay said:
Fascinating interview with Sor John Bell just now on R4 re the NHS. Worth listening to - he is brutal about the BMA and makes huge sense about the fact that there isn’t a money problem but a structural problem.
FS you don't need to be connected with NHS or medicine to know that. No matter how much money they pour in it gets worse. They are only interested when people are at death's door, prior to that there is no interest whatsoever. Been crap for a long time.

Good morning Malc

We are spending 40% on the NHS with some suggesting it will rise to 50% which is simply not sustainable

Listening to Starmer quoting a report by an ex Labour health minister produced in just a few weeks (if you believe that) suggesting it is entirely the failing of the conservative politicians when we have worse problems in a Wales NHS run for 25 years by Labour

It is true the NHS is broken but the solution is as far away today as it has ever been notwithstanding Starmer’s doom and gloom

kinabalu · September 12

noneoftheabove said:

kinabalu said:

TimS said:

Taz said:

kjh said:

rottenborough said:
"On her record so far, Reeves is quickly turning out to be the worst Chancellor of modern times – and it won’t be long before there is talk about replacing her."

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/09/11/rachel-reeves-is-the-most-incompetent-chancellor-in-decades/
Says the Telegraph. Let's wait until she does cockups which inevitably will happen. You have a budget in a month. Honestly the impatience of people to show Labour are failing is laughable. There are 4 to 5 years to go. Can we not wait a few more months until something really happens.
I voted Labour and have a bit of Buyers remorse at the moment but it is far too early to castigate Rachel Reeves.

I agree with the WFA cut, I do not see that she has done anything wrong so far apart from, possibly, the way it was handled.

TBH I get why the Tories and their supporters cannot wait to try to show labour is failing us. If would be no different if the boot was on the other foot.
The Tory press is doing exactly what you’d expect it to do, and it’s perfectly within its rights to do so. Of course the Telegraph is going to say things like Reeves is the worse chancellor in history. It may well be working: Labour have lost the spin battles since July.

Equally it makes sense for supporters of Labour to position this as desperate bleating by a right wing press in denial. Which might also work a bit.
I don't have a great sense of spin battles being either lost or won atm.
Labour will dip a fair bit in the polls and Tories will claim success. Tories have forgotten how to govern. Year 1, clear the decks, announce anything bad. Year 4 spread the jam.

Yup. And on the politics of it SKS has shown he knows how to devise and execute a long term plan. If his 'govern and get reelected' project is even half as successful as his 'make Labour win again' project was, that will do nicely, I'd have thought. But we'll see. Can't get too excited about it right now tbh. It's way too early to judge results and the next GE is yonks away. All about Nov 5th for me. The most important election in the history of elections. C'mon c'mon you polls. Move, ffs, move. You know you want to.

malcolmg · September 12

Taz said:

noneoftheabove said:

kinabalu said:

TimS said:

Taz said:

kjh said:

rottenborough said:
"On her record so far, Reeves is quickly turning out to be the worst Chancellor of modern times – and it won’t be long before there is talk about replacing her."

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/09/11/rachel-reeves-is-the-most-incompetent-chancellor-in-decades/
Says the Telegraph. Let's wait until she does cockups which inevitably will happen. You have a budget in a month. Honestly the impatience of people to show Labour are failing is laughable. There are 4 to 5 years to go. Can we not wait a few more months until something really happens.
I voted Labour and have a bit of Buyers remorse at the moment but it is far too early to castigate Rachel Reeves.

I agree with the WFA cut, I do not see that she has done anything wrong so far apart from, possibly, the way it was handled.

TBH I get why the Tories and their supporters cannot wait to try to show labour is failing us. If would be no different if the boot was on the other foot.
The Tory press is doing exactly what you’d expect it to do, and it’s perfectly within its rights to do so. Of course the Telegraph is going to say things like Reeves is the worse chancellor in history. It may well be working: Labour have lost the spin battles since July.

Equally it makes sense for supporters of Labour to position this as desperate bleating by a right wing press in denial. Which might also work a bit.
I don't have a great sense of spin battles being either lost or won atm.
Labour will dip a fair bit in the polls and Tories will claim success. Tories have forgotten how to govern. Year 1, clear the decks, announce anything bad. Year 4 spread the jam.
Yup. If they are going to change the council tax rebate do it now too.

Starmer is not daft. Neither is Reeves. This budget is crucial and I am sure they will get all of the bad stuff out of the way as well as announcing a review into pensions.

A few twitchy MP's knee jerk reacting as they are getting angry emails from constituents, either new MP's or the awkard squad, probably won't bother them at this stage.

May not be daft Taz, but they are looking pretty useless and tin eared.

Alanbrooke · September 12

Why is Starmer wasting his time on the NHS when he still hasnt sorted out Oasis tickets ?

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