Alex Salmond has died – politicalbetting.com

Barnesian said:

WildernessPt2 said:

Barnesian said:

DecrepiterJohnL said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

The attorney-general was called in by the government to press the Metropolitan Police into providing Taylor Swift with a taxpayer-funded blue-light escort to her Wembley concerts this summer.

Lord Hermer KC, the government’s top lawyer, was asked to intervene after Scotland Yard warned that granting the US pop star “VVIP” protection would breach its long-standing protocols.

According to sources, it was only after this intervention that the Met relented and Swift was provided with the escort. It is unclear who requested the attorney-general’s involvement but the decision is highly unusual.

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/taylor-swifts-police-escort-was-approved-after-pressure-from-attorney-general-h0b09ckl5

Taylor Swift has passed me by in musical terms. I am old and no-one gave me a free ticket so I have never knowingly listened to her tunes.

However, I really cannot see what this particular fuss is about, bearing in mind Taylor Swift had recently been forced to cancel Austrian concerts after being targeted by terrorists. If there is to be an inquiry, it should be into why the Metropolitan Police did not see the need for special precautions.

I agree. Particularly after Trump targeted her with his tweet I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT.

Why would that encourage some kind of terrorism? Are we now going to clear our throats look to the ground and mumble, "achulley Taylor Swift was not in fact targeted by islamic extremist but mostly at risk because of someone tweeting he didn't like her/her music".

It wasn't that he didn't like her music.

It was because she endorsed Kamala Harris and has millions of followers. He was livid. He knows what he is doing.

I don't think Taylor Swift is in any danger from islamic extremists. She is in danger from MAGA and needs protection. If I were her security I'd hide her abroad until after the election. There is a serious risk.

Sandpit said:

Nigelb said:

darkage said:

Malmesbury said:

FrankBooth said:

SouthamObserver said:

FrankBooth said:

rottenborough said:

Black voters drifting to Trump reports NY Times.

Turkeys and Christmas comes to mind.

This is the problem. The immediate reaction is to patronise not seek to understand. Frank Luntz has said again and again that Trump's appeal is due to immigration and inflation.

On the other hand, Trump is now regularly using fascist language and threatening to lock up and kill US citizens who he does not like. At some point, surely, we need to give people the agency to know that they are voting for a racist who does not believe in the rule of law and to not care.

Look it's the PC culture that's been foisted upon us. I'm not particularly a fan but referring to a racial demographic as turkeys voting for Christmas is a little eyebrow raising.

Many African Americans see themselves being pushed to the back of the queue by recent immigrants. They see the Democratic Party increasingly interested in Hispanic groups, and as taking the African American vote for granted.

Harris’s history as a hard charging DA, especially after BLM, isn’t doing her many favours there, either.

Many progressives won't even acknowledge that 'PC Culture' exists, they believe it is all just 'common sense'. In most cases the most appropriate response is to just leave them alone with their opinions and watch how things play out.

If Trump wins it is at least in part because progressives have succumbed to belief and ideology over practical politics. It is most obvious with the migrant question. Money and resources gets poured in to accommodating people who have entered the country illegally, in a context where the state is failing to provide basic assistance to its own citizens. It should be obvious that citizens should always be prioritised over migrants but there is a kind of denial of reality and the issue becomes too hard to address for fear of breaking taboos in the tribe. Trump just plays absolutely brilliantly on these weaknesses; his opponents are even happy to help him along by insulting his supporters and claiming that anyone that doesn't agree with them is a 'fascist'.

Have you any hard evidence for that, beyond the MAGA rhetoric ?

The Biden-Harris administration are not exactly funding this in secret. It’s loud and proud in their own press releases.

https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20240412/department-homeland-security-announces-300-million-direct-funding https://www.dhs.gov/news/2024/08/28/department-homeland-security-announces-380-million-additional-funding-communities

JosiasJessop said:

WildernessPt2 said:

SeaShantyIrish2 said:

FrankBooth said:

SouthamObserver said:

FrankBooth said:

SouthamObserver said:

FrankBooth said:

rottenborough said:

Black voters drifting to Trump reports NY Times.

Turkeys and Christmas comes to mind.

This is the problem. The immediate reaction is to patronise not seek to understand. Frank Luntz has said again and again that Trump's appeal is due to immigration and inflation.

On the other hand, Trump is now regularly using fascist language and threatening to lock up and kill US citizens who he does not like. At some point, surely, we need to give people the agency to know that they are voting for a racist who does not believe in the rule of law and to not care.

Look it's the PC culture that's been foisted upon us. I'm not particularly a fan but referring to a racial demographic as turkeys voting for Christmas is a little eyebrow raising.

I agree on the Turkeys comment. People make informed choices. Those voting for Trump know exactly who he is. They don't care. My overriding thought is that if the US really were the greatest country on earth he would be absolutely nowhere near power rather than about to be re-elected President. What puzzles me is why so many on the UK right want him to win given the campaign he has fought and the policies he supports, which will clearly be very bad news for the UK.

Are there that many on the UK right who want him to win? A few opportunistic politicians but not that many people so far as I can tell. Is there a single person on pb?

You are unaware of PB's resident Sophist-in-Chief and leading Putin-pimper/Trump-fluffer?

Yes, I want him to win, or more so I loath the alternative. He doesn't really stand for anything I stand for, as an economic liberal with mild social conservatism who believes free markets and free trade enriches all those who engage in it.
But, I cannot abide anyone who does pronoun declarations, land acknowledgement and think its a good idea to affirm confused young children about their sexuality and what adults call gender identity.

Yeah, because you care so much about women and girls that you support the side that will restrict abortion and other contraceptive rights.

geoffw said:

Sad news about Alex Salmond, RiP. The grim reaper found him far too early. There's been no more significant figure in Scottish politics. Our paths crossed briefly when he was at RBS.

TheScreamingEagles said:

Theuniondivvie said:

SouthamObserver said:

Leon said:

SouthamObserver said:

JosiasJessop said:

Putting my tinfoil hat on, I hope Salmond gets a thorough autopsy considering where he died.

Though why the Russians would want him dead is another matter...

He was a big bloke. That's probably the likeliest explanation. I never disliked him in the way that some did. I find it very sad that he died a long way from home and probably pretty much alone.

Hmm. 69 is far too young, of course, but if you gotta go a speedy heart attack is one of the best possible ways (if that is indeed what happened)

For me the sadness, if there is any, is that he didn't have kids. "Dying without issue" always strikes me as a terribly melancholy phrase

There could of course be any number of reasons for that, and he may never have wanted kids, so this is an entirely personal, subjective take

Yep, I hope it was quick to the extent he had no idea what was happening.

Never understood that pov. Obviously I’d prefer to avoid the pain, fear & degradation factors (a forlorn hope I fear) but I wouldn’t want to miss the moment.

I want to die when I’m 100 years old.

I want my wife to be so upset that she cancels her upcoming 21st birthday party as a mark of respect.

WildernessPt2 said:

Barnesian said:

WildernessPt2 said:

SeaShantyIrish2 said:

FrankBooth said:

SouthamObserver said:

FrankBooth said:

SouthamObserver said:

FrankBooth said:

rottenborough said:

Black voters drifting to Trump reports NY Times.

Turkeys and Christmas comes to mind.

This is the problem. The immediate reaction is to patronise not seek to understand. Frank Luntz has said again and again that Trump's appeal is due to immigration and inflation.

On the other hand, Trump is now regularly using fascist language and threatening to lock up and kill US citizens who he does not like. At some point, surely, we need to give people the agency to know that they are voting for a racist who does not believe in the rule of law and to not care.

Look it's the PC culture that's been foisted upon us. I'm not particularly a fan but referring to a racial demographic as turkeys voting for Christmas is a little eyebrow raising.

I agree on the Turkeys comment. People make informed choices. Those voting for Trump know exactly who he is. They don't care. My overriding thought is that if the US really were the greatest country on earth he would be absolutely nowhere near power rather than about to be re-elected President. What puzzles me is why so many on the UK right want him to win given the campaign he has fought and the policies he supports, which will clearly be very bad news for the UK.

Are there that many on the UK right who want him to win? A few opportunistic politicians but not that many people so far as I can tell. Is there a single person on pb?

You are unaware of PB's resident Sophist-in-Chief and leading Putin-pimper/Trump-fluffer?

Yes, I want him to win, or more so I loath the alternative. He doesn't really stand for anything I stand for, as an economic liberal with mild social conservatism who believes free markets and free trade enriches all those who engage in it.
But, I cannot abide anyone who does pronoun declarations, land acknowledgement and think its a good idea to affirm confused young children about their sexuality and what adults call gender identity.

Sad

Well there you go, its the filthy pervert who predates on grown women (include adult entertainment stars), or the ideology of filthy perverts who who predate on young children.

Not that it really matters either way because I don't have a vote.

JosiasJessop said:

MightyAlex said:

JosiasJessop said:

Incidentally, I watched a 2018 film yesterday, Cutterhead.

A 90 minute horror-drama film set in a tunnel boring machine in Denmark. It is remarkably good, and uses darkness, claustrophobia and sound to immense effect. Essentially it is a film set in just two 'rooms'. And it is anything but boring.

Available on Amazon Prime.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hCTvmopw30

I wanted to go into tunnelling as a career; this film made me kinda glad I didn't.

You might enjoy this.

Ritom Pumped-Storage Plant Project – Tunneling under extreme conditions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AV2NcyX7pk

I love tunnelling. It's why I LOL at the Boring Company.

As an aside, the film portrays the multinational nature of tunnelling very well. Especially of that nation is Ireland. Or, more accurately, Arranmore Island off the coast of Ireland, home of the Tunnelling Tigers.

ydoethur said:

WildernessPt2 said:

Barnesian said:

WildernessPt2 said:

SeaShantyIrish2 said:

FrankBooth said:

SouthamObserver said:

FrankBooth said:

SouthamObserver said:

FrankBooth said:

rottenborough said:

Black voters drifting to Trump reports NY Times.

Turkeys and Christmas comes to mind.

This is the problem. The immediate reaction is to patronise not seek to understand. Frank Luntz has said again and again that Trump's appeal is due to immigration and inflation.

On the other hand, Trump is now regularly using fascist language and threatening to lock up and kill US citizens who he does not like. At some point, surely, we need to give people the agency to know that they are voting for a racist who does not believe in the rule of law and to not care.

Look it's the PC culture that's been foisted upon us. I'm not particularly a fan but referring to a racial demographic as turkeys voting for Christmas is a little eyebrow raising.

I agree on the Turkeys comment. People make informed choices. Those voting for Trump know exactly who he is. They don't care. My overriding thought is that if the US really were the greatest country on earth he would be absolutely nowhere near power rather than about to be re-elected President. What puzzles me is why so many on the UK right want him to win given the campaign he has fought and the policies he supports, which will clearly be very bad news for the UK.

Are there that many on the UK right who want him to win? A few opportunistic politicians but not that many people so far as I can tell. Is there a single person on pb?

You are unaware of PB's resident Sophist-in-Chief and leading Putin-pimper/Trump-fluffer?

Yes, I want him to win, or more so I loath the alternative. He doesn't really stand for anything I stand for, as an economic liberal with mild social conservatism who believes free markets and free trade enriches all those who engage in it.
But, I cannot abide anyone who does pronoun declarations, land acknowledgement and think its a good idea to affirm confused young children about their sexuality and what adults call gender identity.

Sad

Well there you go, its the filthy pervert who predates on grown women (include adult entertainment stars), or the ideology of filthy perverts who who predate on young children.

Not that it really matters either way because I don't have a vote.

Err...with Trump, who was a friend of Epstein and fantasised about molesting his 14 year old daughter, that isn't an 'either/or' option.

WildernessPt2 said:

ydoethur said:

WildernessPt2 said:

Barnesian said:

WildernessPt2 said:

SeaShantyIrish2 said:

FrankBooth said:

SouthamObserver said:

FrankBooth said:

SouthamObserver said:

FrankBooth said:

rottenborough said:

Black voters drifting to Trump reports NY Times.

Turkeys and Christmas comes to mind.

This is the problem. The immediate reaction is to patronise not seek to understand. Frank Luntz has said again and again that Trump's appeal is due to immigration and inflation.

On the other hand, Trump is now regularly using fascist language and threatening to lock up and kill US citizens who he does not like. At some point, surely, we need to give people the agency to know that they are voting for a racist who does not believe in the rule of law and to not care.

Look it's the PC culture that's been foisted upon us. I'm not particularly a fan but referring to a racial demographic as turkeys voting for Christmas is a little eyebrow raising.

I agree on the Turkeys comment. People make informed choices. Those voting for Trump know exactly who he is. They don't care. My overriding thought is that if the US really were the greatest country on earth he would be absolutely nowhere near power rather than about to be re-elected President. What puzzles me is why so many on the UK right want him to win given the campaign he has fought and the policies he supports, which will clearly be very bad news for the UK.

Are there that many on the UK right who want him to win? A few opportunistic politicians but not that many people so far as I can tell. Is there a single person on pb?

You are unaware of PB's resident Sophist-in-Chief and leading Putin-pimper/Trump-fluffer?

Yes, I want him to win, or more so I loath the alternative. He doesn't really stand for anything I stand for, as an economic liberal with mild social conservatism who believes free markets and free trade enriches all those who engage in it.
But, I cannot abide anyone who does pronoun declarations, land acknowledgement and think its a good idea to affirm confused young children about their sexuality and what adults call gender identity.

Sad

Well there you go, its the filthy pervert who predates on grown women (include adult entertainment stars), or the ideology of filthy perverts who who predate on young children.

Not that it really matters either way because I don't have a vote.

Err...with Trump, who was a friend of Epstein and fantasised about molesting his 14 year old daughter, that isn't an 'either/or' option.

Half of Holywood and DC high politics was involved with Epstein.

WildernessPt2 said:

Barnesian said:

DecrepiterJohnL said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

The attorney-general was called in by the government to press the Metropolitan Police into providing Taylor Swift with a taxpayer-funded blue-light escort to her Wembley concerts this summer.

Lord Hermer KC, the government’s top lawyer, was asked to intervene after Scotland Yard warned that granting the US pop star “VVIP” protection would breach its long-standing protocols.

According to sources, it was only after this intervention that the Met relented and Swift was provided with the escort. It is unclear who requested the attorney-general’s involvement but the decision is highly unusual.

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/taylor-swifts-police-escort-was-approved-after-pressure-from-attorney-general-h0b09ckl5

Taylor Swift has passed me by in musical terms. I am old and no-one gave me a free ticket so I have never knowingly listened to her tunes.

However, I really cannot see what this particular fuss is about, bearing in mind Taylor Swift had recently been forced to cancel Austrian concerts after being targeted by terrorists. If there is to be an inquiry, it should be into why the Metropolitan Police did not see the need for special precautions.

I agree. Particularly after Trump targeted her with his tweet I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT.

Why would that encourage some kind of terrorism? Are we now going to clear our throats look to the ground and mumble, "achulley Taylor Swift was not in fact targeted by islamic extremist but mostly at risk because of someone tweeting he didn't like her/her music".

bondegezou said:

WildernessPt2 said:

Barnesian said:

DecrepiterJohnL said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

The attorney-general was called in by the government to press the Metropolitan Police into providing Taylor Swift with a taxpayer-funded blue-light escort to her Wembley concerts this summer.

Lord Hermer KC, the government’s top lawyer, was asked to intervene after Scotland Yard warned that granting the US pop star “VVIP” protection would breach its long-standing protocols.

According to sources, it was only after this intervention that the Met relented and Swift was provided with the escort. It is unclear who requested the attorney-general’s involvement but the decision is highly unusual.

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/taylor-swifts-police-escort-was-approved-after-pressure-from-attorney-general-h0b09ckl5

Taylor Swift has passed me by in musical terms. I am old and no-one gave me a free ticket so I have never knowingly listened to her tunes.

However, I really cannot see what this particular fuss is about, bearing in mind Taylor Swift had recently been forced to cancel Austrian concerts after being targeted by terrorists. If there is to be an inquiry, it should be into why the Metropolitan Police did not see the need for special precautions.

I agree. Particularly after Trump targeted her with his tweet I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT.

Why would that encourage some kind of terrorism? Are we now going to clear our throats look to the ground and mumble, "achulley Taylor Swift was not in fact targeted by islamic extremist but mostly at risk because of someone tweeting he didn't like her/her music".

He wasn't tweeting that he didn't like her music. He was objecting to her personally and her politics. Do you just make stuff up or were you not paying attention?

ydoethur said:

WildernessPt2 said:

ydoethur said:

WildernessPt2 said:

Barnesian said:

WildernessPt2 said:

SeaShantyIrish2 said:

FrankBooth said:

SouthamObserver said:

FrankBooth said:

SouthamObserver said:

FrankBooth said:

rottenborough said:

Black voters drifting to Trump reports NY Times.

Turkeys and Christmas comes to mind.

This is the problem. The immediate reaction is to patronise not seek to understand. Frank Luntz has said again and again that Trump's appeal is due to immigration and inflation.

On the other hand, Trump is now regularly using fascist language and threatening to lock up and kill US citizens who he does not like. At some point, surely, we need to give people the agency to know that they are voting for a racist who does not believe in the rule of law and to not care.

Look it's the PC culture that's been foisted upon us. I'm not particularly a fan but referring to a racial demographic as turkeys voting for Christmas is a little eyebrow raising.

I agree on the Turkeys comment. People make informed choices. Those voting for Trump know exactly who he is. They don't care. My overriding thought is that if the US really were the greatest country on earth he would be absolutely nowhere near power rather than about to be re-elected President. What puzzles me is why so many on the UK right want him to win given the campaign he has fought and the policies he supports, which will clearly be very bad news for the UK.

Are there that many on the UK right who want him to win? A few opportunistic politicians but not that many people so far as I can tell. Is there a single person on pb?

You are unaware of PB's resident Sophist-in-Chief and leading Putin-pimper/Trump-fluffer?

Yes, I want him to win, or more so I loath the alternative. He doesn't really stand for anything I stand for, as an economic liberal with mild social conservatism who believes free markets and free trade enriches all those who engage in it.
But, I cannot abide anyone who does pronoun declarations, land acknowledgement and think its a good idea to affirm confused young children about their sexuality and what adults call gender identity.

Sad

Well there you go, its the filthy pervert who predates on grown women (include adult entertainment stars), or the ideology of filthy perverts who who predate on young children.

Not that it really matters either way because I don't have a vote.

Err...with Trump, who was a friend of Epstein and fantasised about molesting his 14 year old daughter, that isn't an 'either/or' option.

Half of Holywood and DC high politics was involved with Epstein.

But not Harris.

WildernessPt2 said:

JosiasJessop said:

WildernessPt2 said:

SeaShantyIrish2 said:

FrankBooth said:

SouthamObserver said:

FrankBooth said:

SouthamObserver said:

FrankBooth said:

rottenborough said:

Black voters drifting to Trump reports NY Times.

Turkeys and Christmas comes to mind.

This is the problem. The immediate reaction is to patronise not seek to understand. Frank Luntz has said again and again that Trump's appeal is due to immigration and inflation.

On the other hand, Trump is now regularly using fascist language and threatening to lock up and kill US citizens who he does not like. At some point, surely, we need to give people the agency to know that they are voting for a racist who does not believe in the rule of law and to not care.

Look it's the PC culture that's been foisted upon us. I'm not particularly a fan but referring to a racial demographic as turkeys voting for Christmas is a little eyebrow raising.

I agree on the Turkeys comment. People make informed choices. Those voting for Trump know exactly who he is. They don't care. My overriding thought is that if the US really were the greatest country on earth he would be absolutely nowhere near power rather than about to be re-elected President. What puzzles me is why so many on the UK right want him to win given the campaign he has fought and the policies he supports, which will clearly be very bad news for the UK.

Are there that many on the UK right who want him to win? A few opportunistic politicians but not that many people so far as I can tell. Is there a single person on pb?

You are unaware of PB's resident Sophist-in-Chief and leading Putin-pimper/Trump-fluffer?

Yes, I want him to win, or more so I loath the alternative. He doesn't really stand for anything I stand for, as an economic liberal with mild social conservatism who believes free markets and free trade enriches all those who engage in it.
But, I cannot abide anyone who does pronoun declarations, land acknowledgement and think its a good idea to affirm confused young children about their sexuality and what adults call gender identity.

Yeah, because you care so much about women and girls that you support the side that will restrict abortion and other contraceptive rights.

Surely such matters are left to the states.

Carnyx said:

JosiasJessop said:

Incidentally, I watched a 2018 film yesterday, Cutterhead.

A 90 minute horror-drama film set in a tunnel boring machine in Denmark. It is remarkably good, and uses darkness, claustrophobia and sound to immense effect. Essentially it is a film set in just two 'rooms'. And it is anything but boring.

Available on Amazon Prime.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hCTvmopw30

I wanted to go into tunnelling as a career; this film made me kinda glad I didn't.

I once had the occasion to go down a tunnel being cut by the New Austrian Tunnelling Method - ISTR instant Brunel, the lining being sprayed concrete immediately after the cutting face. Or so memory tells me.

WildernessPt2 said:

ydoethur said:

WildernessPt2 said:

Barnesian said:

WildernessPt2 said:

SeaShantyIrish2 said:

FrankBooth said:

SouthamObserver said:

FrankBooth said:

SouthamObserver said:

FrankBooth said:

rottenborough said:

Black voters drifting to Trump reports NY Times.

Turkeys and Christmas comes to mind.

This is the problem. The immediate reaction is to patronise not seek to understand. Frank Luntz has said again and again that Trump's appeal is due to immigration and inflation.

On the other hand, Trump is now regularly using fascist language and threatening to lock up and kill US citizens who he does not like. At some point, surely, we need to give people the agency to know that they are voting for a racist who does not believe in the rule of law and to not care.

Look it's the PC culture that's been foisted upon us. I'm not particularly a fan but referring to a racial demographic as turkeys voting for Christmas is a little eyebrow raising.

I agree on the Turkeys comment. People make informed choices. Those voting for Trump know exactly who he is. They don't care. My overriding thought is that if the US really were the greatest country on earth he would be absolutely nowhere near power rather than about to be re-elected President. What puzzles me is why so many on the UK right want him to win given the campaign he has fought and the policies he supports, which will clearly be very bad news for the UK.

Are there that many on the UK right who want him to win? A few opportunistic politicians but not that many people so far as I can tell. Is there a single person on pb?

You are unaware of PB's resident Sophist-in-Chief and leading Putin-pimper/Trump-fluffer?

Yes, I want him to win, or more so I loath the alternative. He doesn't really stand for anything I stand for, as an economic liberal with mild social conservatism who believes free markets and free trade enriches all those who engage in it.
But, I cannot abide anyone who does pronoun declarations, land acknowledgement and think its a good idea to affirm confused young children about their sexuality and what adults call gender identity.

Sad

Well there you go, its the filthy pervert who predates on grown women (include adult entertainment stars), or the ideology of filthy perverts who who predate on young children.

Not that it really matters either way because I don't have a vote.

Err...with Trump, who was a friend of Epstein and fantasised about molesting his 14 year old daughter, that isn't an 'either/or' option.

Half of Holywood and DC high politics was involved with Epstein.

bondegezou said:

WildernessPt2 said:

ydoethur said:

WildernessPt2 said:

Barnesian said:

WildernessPt2 said:

SeaShantyIrish2 said:

FrankBooth said:

SouthamObserver said:

FrankBooth said:

SouthamObserver said:

FrankBooth said:

rottenborough said:

Black voters drifting to Trump reports NY Times.

Turkeys and Christmas comes to mind.

This is the problem. The immediate reaction is to patronise not seek to understand. Frank Luntz has said again and again that Trump's appeal is due to immigration and inflation.

On the other hand, Trump is now regularly using fascist language and threatening to lock up and kill US citizens who he does not like. At some point, surely, we need to give people the agency to know that they are voting for a racist who does not believe in the rule of law and to not care.

Look it's the PC culture that's been foisted upon us. I'm not particularly a fan but referring to a racial demographic as turkeys voting for Christmas is a little eyebrow raising.

I agree on the Turkeys comment. People make informed choices. Those voting for Trump know exactly who he is. They don't care. My overriding thought is that if the US really were the greatest country on earth he would be absolutely nowhere near power rather than about to be re-elected President. What puzzles me is why so many on the UK right want him to win given the campaign he has fought and the policies he supports, which will clearly be very bad news for the UK.

Are there that many on the UK right who want him to win? A few opportunistic politicians but not that many people so far as I can tell. Is there a single person on pb?

You are unaware of PB's resident Sophist-in-Chief and leading Putin-pimper/Trump-fluffer?

Yes, I want him to win, or more so I loath the alternative. He doesn't really stand for anything I stand for, as an economic liberal with mild social conservatism who believes free markets and free trade enriches all those who engage in it.
But, I cannot abide anyone who does pronoun declarations, land acknowledgement and think its a good idea to affirm confused young children about their sexuality and what adults call gender identity.

Sad

Well there you go, its the filthy pervert who predates on grown women (include adult entertainment stars), or the ideology of filthy perverts who who predate on young children.

Not that it really matters either way because I don't have a vote.

Err...with Trump, who was a friend of Epstein and fantasised about molesting his 14 year old daughter, that isn't an 'either/or' option.

Half of Holywood and DC high politics was involved with Epstein.

Epstein met a lot of people, but there were few who were as close to him as Epstein. Show me anything like this quote from Trump: "I’ve known Jeff for fifteen years. Terrific guy. He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it — Jeffrey enjoys his social life."

Leon said:

bondegezou said:

WildernessPt2 said:

ydoethur said:

WildernessPt2 said:

Barnesian said:

WildernessPt2 said:

SeaShantyIrish2 said:

FrankBooth said:

SouthamObserver said:

FrankBooth said:

SouthamObserver said:

FrankBooth said:

rottenborough said:

Black voters drifting to Trump reports NY Times.

Turkeys and Christmas comes to mind.

This is the problem. The immediate reaction is to patronise not seek to understand. Frank Luntz has said again and again that Trump's appeal is due to immigration and inflation.

On the other hand, Trump is now regularly using fascist language and threatening to lock up and kill US citizens who he does not like. At some point, surely, we need to give people the agency to know that they are voting for a racist who does not believe in the rule of law and to not care.

Look it's the PC culture that's been foisted upon us. I'm not particularly a fan but referring to a racial demographic as turkeys voting for Christmas is a little eyebrow raising.

I agree on the Turkeys comment. People make informed choices. Those voting for Trump know exactly who he is. They don't care. My overriding thought is that if the US really were the greatest country on earth he would be absolutely nowhere near power rather than about to be re-elected President. What puzzles me is why so many on the UK right want him to win given the campaign he has fought and the policies he supports, which will clearly be very bad news for the UK.

Are there that many on the UK right who want him to win? A few opportunistic politicians but not that many people so far as I can tell. Is there a single person on pb?

You are unaware of PB's resident Sophist-in-Chief and leading Putin-pimper/Trump-fluffer?

Yes, I want him to win, or more so I loath the alternative. He doesn't really stand for anything I stand for, as an economic liberal with mild social conservatism who believes free markets and free trade enriches all those who engage in it.
But, I cannot abide anyone who does pronoun declarations, land acknowledgement and think its a good idea to affirm confused young children about their sexuality and what adults call gender identity.

Sad

Well there you go, its the filthy pervert who predates on grown women (include adult entertainment stars), or the ideology of filthy perverts who who predate on young children.

Not that it really matters either way because I don't have a vote.

Err...with Trump, who was a friend of Epstein and fantasised about molesting his 14 year old daughter, that isn't an 'either/or' option.

Half of Holywood and DC high politics was involved with Epstein.

Epstein met a lot of people, but there were few who were as close to him as Epstein. Show me anything like this quote from Trump: "I’ve known Jeff for fifteen years. Terrific guy. He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it — Jeffrey enjoys his social life."

Well, there's always Bill Clinton, who took about 700 flights on the "Lolita Express"

JosiasJessop said:

Carnyx said:

JosiasJessop said:

Incidentally, I watched a 2018 film yesterday, Cutterhead.

A 90 minute horror-drama film set in a tunnel boring machine in Denmark. It is remarkably good, and uses darkness, claustrophobia and sound to immense effect. Essentially it is a film set in just two 'rooms'. And it is anything but boring.

Available on Amazon Prime.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hCTvmopw30

I wanted to go into tunnelling as a career; this film made me kinda glad I didn't.

I once had the occasion to go down a tunnel being cut by the New Austrian Tunnelling Method - ISTR instant Brunel, the lining being sprayed concrete immediately after the cutting face. Or so memory tells me.

Yep, NATM. You dig out a small portion of the tunnel - say, 120 degrees, for a few feet, perhaps put mesh up, and then spray shotcrete (a type of wet concrete) on the wall to strengthen it. Although as ever, there are 1,001 variations.

It is very useful when you do not want the tunnel to be round, e.g. in station boxes.

Was in use when the Heathrow Tunnel collapsed in the early 1990s...

SonofContrarian said:

"Boris is an A* arsehole" - it's that polished political insight that I read pb.com. for...😏

Carnyx said:

JosiasJessop said:

Carnyx said:

JosiasJessop said:

Incidentally, I watched a 2018 film yesterday, Cutterhead.

A 90 minute horror-drama film set in a tunnel boring machine in Denmark. It is remarkably good, and uses darkness, claustrophobia and sound to immense effect. Essentially it is a film set in just two 'rooms'. And it is anything but boring.

Available on Amazon Prime.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hCTvmopw30

I wanted to go into tunnelling as a career; this film made me kinda glad I didn't.

I once had the occasion to go down a tunnel being cut by the New Austrian Tunnelling Method - ISTR instant Brunel, the lining being sprayed concrete immediately after the cutting face. Or so memory tells me.

Yep, NATM. You dig out a small portion of the tunnel - say, 120 degrees, for a few feet, perhaps put mesh up, and then spray shotcrete (a type of wet concrete) on the wall to strengthen it. Although as ever, there are 1,001 variations.

It is very useful when you do not want the tunnel to be round, e.g. in station boxes.

Was in use when the Heathrow Tunnel collapsed in the early 1990s...

Thanks!

BTW - did yuou see my query about your photo of a road needing work? Were the odd patterns in the setts evidence of an old tramway? The sort of thing used for agricultural produce or coprolites, perhaps, in the old days?

FrankBooth said:

OldKingCole said:

Andy_JS said:

"@PippaCrerar

UK drops its opposition to international arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu, removing key hurdle to one being issued and underlining tougher stance towards Israel taken by the new govt"

https://x.com/PippaCrerar/status/1816827327474454968

Good!

The question is what exactly is Netanyahu's arrest warrant based on and is he really deserving of such special status among world leaders?

MightyAlex said:

JosiasJessop said:

Incidentally, I watched a 2018 film yesterday, Cutterhead.

A 90 minute horror-drama film set in a tunnel boring machine in Denmark. It is remarkably good, and uses darkness, claustrophobia and sound to immense effect. Essentially it is a film set in just two 'rooms'. And it is anything but boring.

Available on Amazon Prime.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hCTvmopw30

I wanted to go into tunnelling as a career; this film made me kinda glad I didn't.

You might enjoy this.

Ritom Pumped-Storage Plant Project – Tunneling under extreme conditions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AV2NcyX7pk

geoffw said:

FrankBooth said:

OldKingCole said:

Andy_JS said:

"@PippaCrerar

UK drops its opposition to international arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu, removing key hurdle to one being issued and underlining tougher stance towards Israel taken by the new govt"

https://x.com/PippaCrerar/status/1816827327474454968

Good!

The question is what exactly is Netanyahu's arrest warrant based on and is he really deserving of such special status among world leaders?

Yeah, how about arrest warrants for Putin and Xi for starters. Or do we leave that to Peter Tatchell?

geoffw said:

FrankBooth said:

OldKingCole said:

Andy_JS said:

"@PippaCrerar

UK drops its opposition to international arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu, removing key hurdle to one being issued and underlining tougher stance towards Israel taken by the new govt"

https://x.com/PippaCrerar/status/1816827327474454968

Good!

The question is what exactly is Netanyahu's arrest warrant based on and is he really deserving of such special status among world leaders?

Yeah, how about arrest warrants for Putin and Xi for starters. Or do we leave that to Peter Tatchell?

bondegezou said:

geoffw said:

FrankBooth said:

OldKingCole said:

Andy_JS said:

"@PippaCrerar

UK drops its opposition to international arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu, removing key hurdle to one being issued and underlining tougher stance towards Israel taken by the new govt"

https://x.com/PippaCrerar/status/1816827327474454968

Good!

The question is what exactly is Netanyahu's arrest warrant based on and is he really deserving of such special status among world leaders?

Yeah, how about arrest warrants for Putin and Xi for starters. Or do we leave that to Peter Tatchell?

The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin in 2023: https://www.icc-cpi.int/news/situation-ukraine-icc-judges-issue-arrest-warrants-against-vladimir-vladimirovich-putin-and

kle4 said:

geoffw said:

Sad news about Alex Salmond, RiP. The grim reaper found him far too early. There's been no more significant figure in Scottish politics. Our paths crossed briefly when he was at RBS.

The grim reaper worked at RBS?!

bondegezou said:

Andy_JS said:

"@PippaCrerar

UK drops its opposition to international arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu, removing key hurdle to one being issued and underlining tougher stance towards Israel taken by the new govt"

https://x.com/PippaCrerar/status/1816827327474454968

That was nearly 3 months ago.

Leon said:

bondegezou said:

Fairliered said:

Good evening everyone, except that it isn’t a good evening. As an SNP member for 50 years, I first met Alex Salmond in 1979, at a meeting of the 79 Group, in a dusty back room of a union office in Glasgow in 1980. I last met him when campaigning for our MSP a few years ago. He was always larger than life, and a political giant.

He was the greatest Scot of my generation and passed away without seeing the free independent Scotland we both longed for. He didn’t even live long enough to clear his name after the odious quisling Sturgeon and her henchpersons tried to put him in jail.😢. Many in the SNP hierarchy will be relieved tonight. Independence supporters less so.

He got the closest to Scottish independence that anyone will in my lifetime, because he realised that the economic case for independence needed to be won, If he hadn’t been wishy washy on the currency issue (an independent Scotland should not be linked to sterling), Scotland would now be an independent nation.

His successors think that social issues are more important; they’re not!

I always thought he was a similar age to me. He’s several years younger.

RIP Alex Salmond.

His own lawyer called him a "sex pest". There is no doubt that his behaviour towards women was frequently poor, even if it didn't reach the level of assault. He is not a good choice of hero.

Every hero, on examination, does pretty shitty things

JFK was a borderline rapist. Martin Luther King probably WAS an actual rapist

Who else?

Gandhi? Outright racist

Churchill we know was flawed

Lincoln thought blacks were inferior and should be sent back to Africa

To become a hero you almost always end up trampling over people, because that is how things are achieved; and most people will exploit others even if they don't mean to, it is near-impossible to succeed without doing so

I am hardpushed to find a hero, let alone a political hero, who hasn't got serious issues

JosiasJessop said:

MightyAlex said:

JosiasJessop said:

MightyAlex said:

JosiasJessop said:

Incidentally, I watched a 2018 film yesterday, Cutterhead.

A 90 minute horror-drama film set in a tunnel boring machine in Denmark. It is remarkably good, and uses darkness, claustrophobia and sound to immense effect. Essentially it is a film set in just two 'rooms'. And it is anything but boring.

Available on Amazon Prime.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hCTvmopw30

I wanted to go into tunnelling as a career; this film made me kinda glad I didn't.

You might enjoy this.

Ritom Pumped-Storage Plant Project – Tunneling under extreme conditions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AV2NcyX7pk

I love tunnelling. It's why I LOL at the Boring Company.

As an aside, the film portrays the multinational nature of tunnelling very well. Especially of that nation is Ireland. Or, more accurately, Arranmore Island off the coast of Ireland, home of the Tunnelling Tigers.

Proper engineering is definitely a bit beyond my world although they seem to have fun doing it. The idea of being paid to burrow through a mountain, absurd.

I loved tunnelling. I still love tunnelling. A very minor regret in life is that I did not go into it. But it was the right decision.

People don't comprehend how different tunnels are, and how many differing tunnelling techniques there are, and how
individual the machines are to cope with differing conditions. And it is a job where mistakes can easily be fatal.

StillWaters said:

JosiasJessop said:

MightyAlex said:

JosiasJessop said:

MightyAlex said:

JosiasJessop said:

Incidentally, I watched a 2018 film yesterday, Cutterhead.

A 90 minute horror-drama film set in a tunnel boring machine in Denmark. It is remarkably good, and uses darkness, claustrophobia and sound to immense effect. Essentially it is a film set in just two 'rooms'. And it is anything but boring.

Available on Amazon Prime.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hCTvmopw30

I wanted to go into tunnelling as a career; this film made me kinda glad I didn't.

You might enjoy this.

Ritom Pumped-Storage Plant Project – Tunneling under extreme conditions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AV2NcyX7pk

I love tunnelling. It's why I LOL at the Boring Company.

As an aside, the film portrays the multinational nature of tunnelling very well. Especially of that nation is Ireland. Or, more accurately, Arranmore Island off the coast of Ireland, home of the Tunnelling Tigers.

Proper engineering is definitely a bit beyond my world although they seem to have fun doing it. The idea of being paid to burrow through a mountain, absurd.

I loved tunnelling. I still love tunnelling. A very minor regret in life is that I did not go into it. But it was the right decision.

People don't comprehend how different tunnels are, and how many differing tunnelling techniques there are, and how
individual the machines are to cope with differing conditions. And it is a job where mistakes can easily be fatal.

Nah. Tunnelling is boring.

Theuniondivvie said:

SonofContrarian said:

"Boris is an A* arsehole" - it's that polished political insight that I read pb.com. for...😏

Does the * stand for double plus?

Daveyboy1961 said:

bondegezou said:

geoffw said:

FrankBooth said:

OldKingCole said:

Andy_JS said:

"@PippaCrerar

UK drops its opposition to international arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu, removing key hurdle to one being issued and underlining tougher stance towards Israel taken by the new govt"

https://x.com/PippaCrerar/status/1816827327474454968

Good!

The question is what exactly is Netanyahu's arrest warrant based on and is he really deserving of such special status among world leaders?

Yeah, how about arrest warrants for Putin and Xi for starters. Or do we leave that to Peter Tatchell?

The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin in 2023: https://www.icc-cpi.int/news/situation-ukraine-icc-judges-issue-arrest-warrants-against-vladimir-vladimirovich-putin-and

I didn't know he played cricket...

geoffw said:

Leon said:

bondegezou said:

Fairliered said:

Good evening everyone, except that it isn’t a good evening. As an SNP member for 50 years, I first met Alex Salmond in 1979, at a meeting of the 79 Group, in a dusty back room of a union office in Glasgow in 1980. I last met him when campaigning for our MSP a few years ago. He was always larger than life, and a political giant.

He was the greatest Scot of my generation and passed away without seeing the free independent Scotland we both longed for. He didn’t even live long enough to clear his name after the odious quisling Sturgeon and her henchpersons tried to put him in jail.😢. Many in the SNP hierarchy will be relieved tonight. Independence supporters less so.

He got the closest to Scottish independence that anyone will in my lifetime, because he realised that the economic case for independence needed to be won, If he hadn’t been wishy washy on the currency issue (an independent Scotland should not be linked to sterling), Scotland would now be an independent nation.

His successors think that social issues are more important; they’re not!

I always thought he was a similar age to me. He’s several years younger.

RIP Alex Salmond.

His own lawyer called him a "sex pest". There is no doubt that his behaviour towards women was frequently poor, even if it didn't reach the level of assault. He is not a good choice of hero.

Every hero, on examination, does pretty shitty things

JFK was a borderline rapist. Martin Luther King probably WAS an actual rapist

Who else?

Gandhi? Outright racist

Churchill we know was flawed

Lincoln thought blacks were inferior and should be sent back to Africa

To become a hero you almost always end up trampling over people, because that is how things are achieved; and most people will exploit others even if they don't mean to, it is near-impossible to succeed without doing so

I am hardpushed to find a hero, let alone a political hero, who hasn't got serious issues

Can't think of any personal faults like those for the great leaderene

Leon said:

Malmesbury said:

Leon said:

bondegezou said:

Fairliered said:

Good evening everyone, except that it isn’t a good evening. As an SNP member for 50 years, I first met Alex Salmond in 1979, at a meeting of the 79 Group, in a dusty back room of a union office in Glasgow in 1980. I last met him when campaigning for our MSP a few years ago. He was always larger than life, and a political giant.

He was the greatest Scot of my generation and passed away without seeing the free independent Scotland we both longed for. He didn’t even live long enough to clear his name after the odious quisling Sturgeon and her henchpersons tried to put him in jail.😢. Many in the SNP hierarchy will be relieved tonight. Independence supporters less so.

He got the closest to Scottish independence that anyone will in my lifetime, because he realised that the economic case for independence needed to be won, If he hadn’t been wishy washy on the currency issue (an independent Scotland should not be linked to sterling), Scotland would now be an independent nation.

His successors think that social issues are more important; they’re not!

I always thought he was a similar age to me. He’s several years younger.

RIP Alex Salmond.

His own lawyer called him a "sex pest". There is no doubt that his behaviour towards women was frequently poor, even if it didn't reach the level of assault. He is not a good choice of hero.

Every hero, on examination, does pretty shitty things

JFK was a borderline rapist. Martin Luther King probably WAS an actual rapist

Who else?

Gandhi? Outright racist

Churchill we know was flawed

Lincoln thought blacks were inferior and should be sent back to Africa

To become a hero you almost always end up trampling over people, because that is how things are achieved; and most people will exploit others even if they don't mean to, it is near-impossible to succeed without doing so

I am hardpushed to find a hero, let alone a political hero, who hasn't got serious issues

On Lincoln - that depends *which* Lincoln you are talking off. He changed a lot in 56 years. Among other things, his belief in "Colonisation" was from before he actually met many black people - like a number of Abolitionists, he assumed that reversing what had happened was the correct idea.

The immediate cause of his assassination was a speech advocating Black voting rights.

Frederick Douglass was of the opinion that Lincoln didn't consider black people inferior.

Yeah no he did

JosiasJessop said:

StillWaters said:

JosiasJessop said:

WildernessPt2 said:

JosiasJessop said:

WildernessPt2 said:

SeaShantyIrish2 said:

FrankBooth said:

SouthamObserver said:

FrankBooth said:

SouthamObserver said:

FrankBooth said:

rottenborough said:

Black voters drifting to Trump reports NY Times.

Turkeys and Christmas comes to mind.

This is the problem. The immediate reaction is to patronise not seek to understand. Frank Luntz has said again and again that Trump's appeal is due to immigration and inflation.

On the other hand, Trump is now regularly using fascist language and threatening to lock up and kill US citizens who he does not like. At some point, surely, we need to give people the agency to know that they are voting for a racist who does not believe in the rule of law and to not care.

Look it's the PC culture that's been foisted upon us. I'm not particularly a fan but referring to a racial demographic as turkeys voting for Christmas is a little eyebrow raising.

I agree on the Turkeys comment. People make informed choices. Those voting for Trump know exactly who he is. They don't care. My overriding thought is that if the US really were the greatest country on earth he would be absolutely nowhere near power rather than about to be re-elected President. What puzzles me is why so many on the UK right want him to win given the campaign he has fought and the policies he supports, which will clearly be very bad news for the UK.

Are there that many on the UK right who want him to win? A few opportunistic politicians but not that many people so far as I can tell. Is there a single person on pb?

You are unaware of PB's resident Sophist-in-Chief and leading Putin-pimper/Trump-fluffer?

Yes, I want him to win, or more so I loath the alternative. He doesn't really stand for anything I stand for, as an economic liberal with mild social conservatism who believes free markets and free trade enriches all those who engage in it.
But, I cannot abide anyone who does pronoun declarations, land acknowledgement and think its a good idea to affirm confused young children about their sexuality and what adults call gender identity.

Yeah, because you care so much about women and girls that you support the side that will restrict abortion and other contraceptive rights.

Surely such matters are left to the states.

That's an important question: in a federal state, what powers should be centralised and common, and which should be up to the states? Isn't it a similar question to the one that started the American Civil War over slavery?

But the 'leave it to the states' argument on this issue is one only said by people who want to remove reproductive rights from women - because that's exactly what will happen. And, indeed, is happening.

I disagree

I absolutely don’t want abortion rights to be restricted beyond reason (my personal view is around viability so in the 20-22 week region).


But it should be a matter for the states and if the local voters and politicians want to restrict access to basic medical care for women then that is their decision no matter how much we might disapprove

A major issue is that AIUI some of the ore regressive states on this topic are hindering abortions in other states; by restricting women from travelling for abortions, or threatening legal punishments on doctors in those states.

So yeah, like slavery, it should be a federal thing IMV.

StillWaters said:

JosiasJessop said:

StillWaters said:

JosiasJessop said:

WildernessPt2 said:

JosiasJessop said:

WildernessPt2 said:

SeaShantyIrish2 said:

FrankBooth said:

SouthamObserver said:

FrankBooth said:

SouthamObserver said:

FrankBooth said:

rottenborough said:

Black voters drifting to Trump reports NY Times.

Turkeys and Christmas comes to mind.

This is the problem. The immediate reaction is to patronise not seek to understand. Frank Luntz has said again and again that Trump's appeal is due to immigration and inflation.

On the other hand, Trump is now regularly using fascist language and threatening to lock up and kill US citizens who he does not like. At some point, surely, we need to give people the agency to know that they are voting for a racist who does not believe in the rule of law and to not care.

Look it's the PC culture that's been foisted upon us. I'm not particularly a fan but referring to a racial demographic as turkeys voting for Christmas is a little eyebrow raising.

I agree on the Turkeys comment. People make informed choices. Those voting for Trump know exactly who he is. They don't care. My overriding thought is that if the US really were the greatest country on earth he would be absolutely nowhere near power rather than about to be re-elected President. What puzzles me is why so many on the UK right want him to win given the campaign he has fought and the policies he supports, which will clearly be very bad news for the UK.

Are there that many on the UK right who want him to win? A few opportunistic politicians but not that many people so far as I can tell. Is there a single person on pb?

You are unaware of PB's resident Sophist-in-Chief and leading Putin-pimper/Trump-fluffer?

Yes, I want him to win, or more so I loath the alternative. He doesn't really stand for anything I stand for, as an economic liberal with mild social conservatism who believes free markets and free trade enriches all those who engage in it.
But, I cannot abide anyone who does pronoun declarations, land acknowledgement and think its a good idea to affirm confused young children about their sexuality and what adults call gender identity.

Yeah, because you care so much about women and girls that you support the side that will restrict abortion and other contraceptive rights.

Surely such matters are left to the states.

That's an important question: in a federal state, what powers should be centralised and common, and which should be up to the states? Isn't it a similar question to the one that started the American Civil War over slavery?

But the 'leave it to the states' argument on this issue is one only said by people who want to remove reproductive rights from women - because that's exactly what will happen. And, indeed, is happening.

I disagree

I absolutely don’t want abortion rights to be restricted beyond reason (my personal view is around viability so in the 20-22 week region).


But it should be a matter for the states and if the local voters and politicians want to restrict access to basic medical care for women then that is their decision no matter how much we might disapprove

A major issue is that AIUI some of the ore regressive states on this topic are hindering abortions in other states; by restricting women from travelling for abortions, or threatening legal punishments on doctors in those states.

So yeah, like slavery, it should be a federal thing IMV.

IMV that is interfering with interstate commerce so would be a federal matter

Leon said:

Tom Kerridge. There's a hero

FrancisUrquhart said:

Robert Jenrick will make Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg chairman of the Conservative Party if he triumphs against Kemi Badenoch in the party leadership contest.

Are we sure he isn't working as an undercover agent for Labour?

HYUFD said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Robert Jenrick will make Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg chairman of the Conservative Party if he triumphs against Kemi Badenoch in the party leadership contest.

Are we sure he isn't working as an undercover agent for Labour?

Rees Mogg is very popular with Reform voters, a good move

Theuniondivvie said:

HYUFD said:

Tributes to Salmond on twitter from Starmer, Sunak, Swinney, even Farage but not a word so far from Sturgeon
https://x.com/NicolaSturgeon

Twitter isn’t everything.

https://news.stv.tv/politics/nicola-sturgeon-leads-tributes-to-mentor-alex-salmond-following-snp-titans-death