Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.

The Chancer of the Exchequer – politicalbetting.com

124

Comments

  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 18,322

    I was once arrested at the East German border, trying to get into West Germany.

    It was only for five hours, but you don't need that detail...

    You were trying for five hours? Persistent.
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 18,322
    eek said:

    Correction - an awful lot of jobs perceived to require a certain amount of thinking will use degrees as a convenient gate keeper to make recruitment relatively painless...
    I’m thinking more engineering, science, medicine, but yes, for a lot of other jobs that is surely true.
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 18,322
    Leon said:

    Bro, the jobs are going. They really ARE

    Better to be prepared for the inevitable than to live in denial
    Are they? Examples?
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 9,764
    edited November 2024
    Driver said:

    The fundamental problem with relative poverty measures is that they are perfectly happy with everyone being worse off as long as the richest lose most, and that generally leads to the most reliable way of reducing relative poverty being to have a recession.

    And I very much doubt that the current government sees it only as "a place to start".
    @Driver that's not strictly accurate (and sorry to come back to you do late). On relative poverty, it's median incomes that are the baseline for calculation. The rich losing out has no effect whatsoever.

    But in general, it's part of the reason the SNP, for example, struggle so much with reducing poverty - the provision of universal benefits boost median incomes, increasing relative poverty. Perversely, making WFP universal would actually increase pensioner poverty rates (to a very minor degree).
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 22,559

    Had you also applied to Oxford or Cambridge? I had a three E offer to study Chemistry at Warwick, mainly so I would pick them as insurance for the Cambridge place. Sadly I didn’t shine at the Cambridge interview so Rubbish old Warwick it was…
    So the Cambridge interview panel sent you to Coventry.
  • StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 9,338
    Leon said:

    Admirable

    People call me when they need something sorted. That doesn’t require a CV.
  • sarissasarissa Posts: 2,072

    There was a 🎄 tree visible in the Sky newsroom..surely not? 🤔🥴

    Edinburgh’s Christmas Fair opened last weekend. Literally erected on the same patch of lawn as the Garden of Remembrance, which was cleared two days after the 11th.
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 23,773
    I forget who it was who talked about space suits, but here's a nice summary on YouTube

    "A Brief History of Space Suits" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMUI1oncW1c 70mins
  • LeonLeon Posts: 58,914

    Are they? Examples?
    I’m not allowed to talk about it 🤷🏼‍♂️
  • Had you also applied to Oxford or Cambridge? I had a three E offer to study Chemistry at Warwick, mainly so I would pick them as insurance for the Cambridge place. Sadly I didn’t shine at the Cambridge interview so Rubbish old Warwick it was…
    Medieval History was an 'A' level?

    I don't remember that being an option. Sounds extremely specialised. This is 1980s?
  • david_herdsondavid_herdson Posts: 18,111
    edited November 2024

    Whatever you say about the Conservative Government they expedited mild winters. Let's see if Starmer cocks that up too.
    Probably. Isn't there something like a 16 year cycle on these things? Probably something to do with sun spots or whatever? We had some cold / snowy winters c2010. Probably heading back into that trough now.

    Relatedly, snow settling here in Wakefield. Presumably there'll be quite a bit by morning up in the Pennines.

    Which means it's definitely winter, irrespective of calendars. Seasons are the descriptions of natural things, not artificial human delineations.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 58,914

    Medieval History was an 'A' level?

    I don't remember that being an option. Sounds extremely specialised. This is 1980s?
    It was in the 80s yes. I loved it. All that swirling Dark Age weirdness. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Gildas and Vortigern. Hereward the Wake
  • NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,644

    The trick is not to die under a Labour Government...
    The Conservatives have promised to reverse the measure?

    Thought not...
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 18,322
    Purge
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 18,322

    So the Cambridge interview panel sent you to Coventry.
    How dare you! They sent me to just outside Coventry. At least until third year when I lived near the station…
  • Due to “logistical issues” Joe Biden was left out of a photo with other world leaders at the G20 summit in Rio De Janeiro on Monday. Those in the photo include Chinese president, Xi Jinping, Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, and French president, Emmanuel Macron.

    Power goes away fast....
  • Gaetz 'paid for sex' – attorney for witnesses

    A lawyer who is representing two women who gave testimony to the ethics committee of the House of Representatives investigating Matt Gaetz has said in an interview that the former congressman paid the women to have sex with him.

    The two women were adults at the time but also told lawmakers that she witnessed Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old at the same party she attended, ABC News reported.

    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2024/nov/18/donald-trump-brendan-carr-white-house-latest-live-us-politics-news
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 53,999

    The Conservatives have promised to reverse the measure?

    Thought not...
    Let's see what Kemi says tomorrow as the tractors fill London...
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 9,764

    Probably. Isn't there something like a 16 year cycle on these things? Probably something to do with sun spots or whatever? We had some cold / snowy winters c2010. Probably heading back into that trough now.

    Relatedly, snow settling here in Wakefield. Presumably there'll be quite a bit by morning up in the Pennines.

    Which means it's definitely winter, irrespective of calendars. Seasons are the descriptions of natural things, not artificial human delineations.
    2009 - the most brutal snowball fight in Scottish education history. Came home with a split lip and frostbitten fingers. Used Mr Fraser's Z3 as cover.
  • Hutton getting pasted by NFU chair on Newsnight.

    Gets quite tetchy and so drags Brexit into the argument.
  • The Conservatives have promised to reverse the measure?

    Thought not...
    Apparently they have and the Lib Dems oppose the tax

    https://news.sky.com/story/pmqs-conservative-leader-kemi-badenoch-would-reverse-labours-cruel-family-farms-tax-13249389
  • Leon said:

    It was in the 80s yes. I loved it. All that swirling Dark Age weirdness. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Gildas and Vortigern. Hereward the Wake
    Sounds brilliant. I would have been up for that.

    Maybe a different exam board to my school? We mainly did JMB. Do they even have such things as exam boards these days?
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 19,118
    The 10-way party leader debate for the Irish general election was as bad as you would expect it to be, and we have switched off halfway through.

    Ten internet points to whoever can name all ten party leaders, or their parties, without looking it up. I won't be strict about spelling.
  • The 10-way party leader debate for the Irish general election was as bad as you would expect it to be, and we have switched off halfway through.

    Ten internet points to whoever can name all ten party leaders, or their parties, without looking it up. I won't be strict about spelling.

    I cannot name any to be fair
  • CyclefreeCyclefree Posts: 25,554

    You would like to think so, especially for those whose pensions are calculated to include the bonuses paid out on bogus figures. Can't see it happening though.

    If it really is going to be just four prosecutions (some time in the distant future) one wonders who it will be. Maybe Betfair really should run a market.

    Gareth Jenkins would be sure to be one, since he has all but confessed.

    Paula Vennells is a nice scapegoat, so I guess she's in.

    The ridiculous Jarnail Singh is another condemned out of his own mouth, although his extreme stupidity may get him off.

    John Scott, who ordered the shrerdding of incriminating evidence, would be another strong candidate.

    Former CEO Tim Parker should be included, because he was the one who refrained from informing the Board of the damning advice from its solicitors, but he tends to be regarded as one of the Great And The Good, so he may swim through the net.

    You don't really have to try too hard to find other strong candidates, but if it is only going to be four the bar is set very high indeed.
    A note of caution here: lying is not enough to create a crime. There has to be a "course of justice". That is a defined term.

    Singh, van den Bogerd, Jenkins were v close to actual cases and therefore what they said in evidence or did might well amount to perverting etc.,.

    But what course of justice did Parker pervert? Not telling the Board about a damning report on its own won't be enough. Ditto for Vennells - she stayed well away from the court cases - so if she were to be done on a conspiracy charge there will have to be some pretty strong evidence.

    Some of the lawyers OTOH should be very nervous and, in a way, it's right that they should be targeted because this scandal was created, perpetuated and covered up by lawyers, a point which is not yet well enough understood, even within the legal profession.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,818

    The Conservatives have promised to reverse the measure?

    Thought not...
    Not promised to reverse death?
    Leave that to Donald.
  • The trick is not to die under a Labour Government...
    Just because an Opposition complains about something in the first year of a parliament doesn't mean its reversal will automatically be in their manifesto at the next election.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,818

    The 10-way party leader debate for the Irish general election was as bad as you would expect it to be, and we have switched off halfway through.

    Ten internet points to whoever can name all ten party leaders, or their parties, without looking it up. I won't be strict about spelling.

    Try the Parties.
    FF, FG, SF, SDP, Labour, PBP, Aontu, Green.
    No I'm struggling. There'll be a substantial number of Indy's. Don't suppose they get one?
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 19,118
    edited November 2024

    I cannot name any to be fair
    A few clues then.

    One of them shares a name with a famous film star who had a role in Dynasty. Another shares a surname with a US VP and failed Presidential candidate. Another of the leaders shares a name with the first leader of the state after independence who negotiated with Winston Churchill. And one of the leaders who would look most uncomfortable on a farm, nevertheless has a name that suggests farm ownership.
  • Seriously snowing now in my part of the midland boondocks.
  • The Conservatives have promised to reverse the measure?

    Thought not...
    Yes they have
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 30,199
    Cookie said:

    I thought it was one of your better ones, actually.
    Agree.
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,674

    Are they? Examples?
    Klarna replaced 800 customer service jobs in Sweden with an LLM.
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 19,118
    dixiedean said:

    Try the Parties.
    FF, FG, SF, SDP, Labour, PBP, Aontu, Green.
    No I'm struggling. There'll be a substantial number of Indy's. Don't suppose they get one?
    Eight is a pretty good go. Some of the Independents have clubbed together and started a party called "Independent Ireland" to make selling their votes to FG and FF after the election less of a hassle.
  • How dare you! They sent me to just outside Coventry. At least until third year when I lived near the station…
    Actually, Gibbet Hill Road marks the boundary between Coventry and Warwick District so in your day most of the campus would have been on the 'wrong' side. But the ever-ambitious university is constantly expanding into the Arden countryside so most of the accommodation today is in Warks. A few years ago the Uni and Coventry City FC cooked up a ludicrous plan to build a football stadium on 'our' side of the road. My sole contribution to this debate was to demand that the club should therefore change its name to Kenilworth Town FC. This seems to have halted it in its tracks.
  • TimS said:

    It would be interesting to see the figures if the withdrawal of relief only applied to property bought within the last 10 or 15 years. That sort of grandfathering could have avoided most of the controversy. The trouble is it would then be perceived as unfair vis a vis BPR.

    Also interesting to see what it does to behaviour. Farmers really don’t like to retire - they tend to keep hold of the farm and work it until they’re too frail to go on. I know the neighbour to my vineyard is still waiting for his uncle to hand over the family farm, and that’s also holding back innovation - he tends to veto any newfangled ideas. Will we see more lifetime transfers?
    In the longer term once the wealthy drop out of farmland as its tax advantages dwindle the price of land sh/could become more affordable.

    Making farming profitable?

    And farmers are objecting.
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 64,786
    edited November 2024

    Just because an Opposition complains about something in the first year of a parliament doesn't mean its reversal will automatically be in their manifesto at the next election.
    On this I expect it to be in a manifesto, even possibly in the Lib Dems as well, as it is not a huge sum [ circa 700 million] and an unnecessary own goal by Reeves on a powerful group
  • A few clues then.

    One of them shares a name with a famous film star who had a role in Dynasty. Another shares a surname with a US VP and failed Presidential candidate. Another of the leaders shares a name with the first leader of the state after independence who negotiated with Winston Churchill. And one of the leaders who would look most uncomfortable on a farm, nevertheless has a name that suggests farm ownership.
    Is it Christmas Day already?
  • I was once arrested at the East German border, trying to get into West Germany.

    It was only for five hours, but you don't need that detail...

    Ah. I think we have finally identified our secret sleeper Russian spy!

    All those nights spent pretending to be catching moths!
  • MattWMattW Posts: 25,737
    edited November 2024
    Cyclefree said:

    A note of caution here: lying is not enough to create a crime. There has to be a "course of justice". That is a defined term.

    Singh, van den Bogerd, Jenkins were v close to actual cases and therefore what they said in evidence or did might well amount to perverting etc.,.

    But what course of justice did Parker pervert? Not telling the Board about a damning report on its own won't be enough. Ditto for Vennells - she stayed well away from the court cases - so if she were to be done on a conspiracy charge there will have to be some pretty strong evidence.

    Some of the lawyers OTOH should be very nervous and, in a way, it's right that they should be targeted because this scandal was created, perpetuated and covered up by lawyers, a point which is not yet well enough understood, even within the legal profession.
    Is this Sub Judice, yet?

    We need to watch for that.
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 64,786
    edited November 2024

    Seriously snowing now in my part of the midland boondocks.

    A55 westbound at Holywell having issues as well
  • GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 22,677

    Seriously snowing now in my part of the midland boondocks.

    Wonder how many pensioners are shivering without their heating on tonight...
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 18,322
    MaxPB said:

    Klarna replaced 800 customer service jobs in Sweden with an LLM.
    And that means that universities will all close how?
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 18,322

    Actually, Gibbet Hill Road marks the boundary between Coventry and Warwick District so in your day most of the campus would have been on the 'wrong' side. But the ever-ambitious university is constantly expanding into the Arden countryside so most of the accommodation today is in Warks. A few years ago the Uni and Coventry City FC cooked up a ludicrous plan to build a football stadium on 'our' side of the road. My sole contribution to this debate was to demand that the club should therefore change its name to Kenilworth Town FC. This seems to have halted it in its tracks.
    I had happy days playing cricket for Kenilworth back in the day.
  • GIN1138 said:

    Wonder how many pensioners are shivering without their heating on tonight...
    We have just been told by EDF that because we reduced our energy use between 4.00pm and 7pm we will be given 4 hours free electricity from 8.00 am to 12 noon on Sunday

    Every little helps
  • GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 22,677

    We have just been told by EDF that because we reduced our energy use between 4.00pm and 7pm we will be given 4 hours free electricity from 8.00 am to 12 noon on Sunday

    Every little helps
    Keep warm Big G
  • CyclefreeCyclefree Posts: 25,554
    MattW said:

    Is this Sub Judice, yet?

    We need to watch for that.
    No. And won't be for a long time.
  • Northern_AlNorthern_Al Posts: 8,712

    A55 westbound at Holywell having issues as well
    It's a relief they're not allowed to go at more than 20mph then.
  • Cyclefree said:

    A note of caution here: lying is not enough to create a crime. There has to be a "course of justice". That is a defined term.

    Singh, van den Bogerd, Jenkins were v close to actual cases and therefore what they said in evidence or did might well amount to perverting etc.,.

    But what course of justice did Parker pervert? Not telling the Board about a damning report on its own won't be enough. Ditto for Vennells - she stayed well away from the court cases - so if she were to be done on a conspiracy charge there will have to be some pretty strong evidence.

    Some of the lawyers OTOH should be very nervous and, in a way, it's right that they should be targeted because this scandal was created, perpetuated and covered up by lawyers, a point which is not yet well enough understood, even within the legal profession.
    If the offences being considered include perjury then it will have to be those who actually gave evidence, presumably on the reliability of the Horizon system to the courts? That feels like lower-level officials.

    I'd have thought that fraud or other related crimes might be more appropriate to those who took decisions at the top to cover up the failings (and benefited from it), unless they directly intervened in specific cases?
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 64,786
    edited November 2024
    GIN1138 said:

    Keep warm Big G
    Thank you and we will, but many pensioners must be very scared not only with the cold weather but another increase in energy prices due in January
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 33,912
    edited November 2024
    Leon said:

    BBC

    Economics, Medieval History, English

    Not exactly dazzling but then UCL offered me a place if I got two E’s (that was their weird way back then) so I kind of coasted. I knew I’d get in so the tension drained away. Which made for a very pleasant end of sixth form and summer

    Ah, youth
    Ta for the reply. Medieval History sounds like an interesting subject.
  • On this I expect it to be in a manifesto, even possibly in the Lib Dems as well, as it is not a huge sum [ circa 700 million] and an unnecessary own goal by Reeves on a powerful group
    They're not a powerful group: they're a vocal one. There's a difference.

    That said, I wouldn't be surprised if there's an increased allowance in a future budget.
  • And that means that universities will all close how?
    Actually, in the mid distant future (say a generation) they may be blooming again as young people spend years and years, even decades, enriching themselves with esoteric knowledge as there is no work to do.

  • It's a relief they're not allowed to go at more than 20mph then.
    You clearly have no idea about Welsh roads.

    It is 70mph on this part of the A55
  • GIN1138 said:

    Wonder how many pensioners are shivering without their heating on tonight...
    Indeed. Hopefully not. But if even one dies from actual cold this winter Labour are in even more trouble than they are already.
  • Northern_AlNorthern_Al Posts: 8,712

    You clearly have no idea about Welsh roads.

    It is 70mph on this part of the A55
    Oh dear. It was an (admittedly poor) joke.
  • GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 22,677
    edited November 2024

    Thank you and we will, but many pensioners must be very scared not only with the cold weather but another increase in energy prices due in January
    If these November snowfalls are a portent of a nasty winter to come, things will get pretty grim through the next few weeks.
  • Indeed. Hopefully not. But if even one dies from actual cold this winter Labour are in even more trouble than they are already.
    You can expect the broadcast media to be looking for pensioners suffering in this cold snap
  • Oh dear. It was an (admittedly poor) joke.
    To be honest the 20mph saga in Wales is being resolved and it is just boring for it to be constantly raised
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 19,118
    GIN1138 said:

    If these November snowfalls are a portent of a nasty winter to come, things will get pretty grim through the next few weeks.
    The winter of 2014 was the then wettest and mildest winter on record and the portent of what was to come was a cold snap in November that saw the coldest day of the winter.

    So I wouldn't worry yet.
  • Carnyx said:

    Also: does it take into account the normal allowances, and the RNRB (x 2 for a couple = £1m in itself)? That's effectively 350K for the farmhouse alone.
    Not sure what's going to happen with tapering, if it still applies with estates over £2 million. Complex again if the house is jointly owned. Quite a lot of farms will have the business assets - machinery and livestock owned under a partnership, but the land in a sole name. Still a lot of finer details to work out with the policy, and a 600k farmhouse in Kent may only be worth 350k further north
  • GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 22,677

    The winter of 2014 was the then wettest and mildest winter on record and the portent of what was to come was a cold snap in November that saw the coldest day of the winter.

    So I wouldn't worry yet.
    Lets hope not.

    Just got a feeling in my waters about this winter...
  • StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 9,338

    The 10-way party leader debate for the Irish general election was as bad as you would expect it to be, and we have switched off halfway through.

    Ten internet points to whoever can name all ten party leaders, or their parties, without looking it up. I won't be strict about spelling.

    Fine Gael
    Fianna Fáil
    Labour
    Green
    Sinn Fein
    Social Democrats
    Workers Party
  • MaxPB said:

    If that was the case then why is the government retaining the 5p temporary fuel duty cut which costs 10x more than removing the exemption will raise. If you believe this then I've got a bridge you might be interested in.
    I was quite surprised fuel duty wasn't touched in the budget, but not many farmers vote Labour, whereas many of the red wall voters will drive ICE cars
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 19,118
    GIN1138 said:

    Lets hope not.

    Just got a feeling in my waters about this winter...
    One wonders how well the current government would cope with a repeat of the winter of 1947.
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 19,118

    Fine Gael
    Fianna Fáil
    Labour
    Green
    Sinn Fein
    Social Democrats
    Workers Party
    No Workers Party, but two other far to the left parties that aren't on your list.
  • One wonders how well the current government would cope with a repeat of the winter of 1947.
    Fret not. Lord Ali will provide the whole Cabinet with fine overcoats and mufflers.
  • DoctorG said:

    Not sure what's going to happen with tapering, if it still applies with estates over £2 million. Complex again if the house is jointly owned. Quite a lot of farms will have the business assets - machinery and livestock owned under a partnership, but the land in a sole name. Still a lot of finer details to work out with the policy, and a 600k farmhouse in Kent may only be worth 350k further north
    "newfangled ideas."

    To be fair to Hutton that was one of his key thoughts if some land had to be sold. Innovation would come to farming.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,959
    edited November 2024

    "newfangled ideas."

    To be fair to Hutton that was one of his key thoughts if some land had to be sold. Innovation would come to farming.
    But Hutton is basically wrong about everything....this is the man who managed to bust the Work Foundation after he sold part of the organisation to the private sector.
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 9,764

    On this I expect it to be in a manifesto, even possibly in the Lib Dems as well, as it is not a huge sum [ circa 700 million] and an unnecessary own goal by Reeves on a powerful group
    It's not a widespread tax dodge yet but it's growing fast. Always better for HMRC to squash something earlier rather than later.

    Will save the British countryside from being owned by a bunch of faceless billionai... ah hang on, it's the Duke of Buccleuch!
  • "newfangled ideas."

    To be fair to Hutton that was one of his key thoughts if some land had to be sold. Innovation would come to farming.
    I still think outside money will sink into land and keep land price relatively stable, the green revolution/renewable energy drive will see to that. Toffs and estates can still take advantage of the 7 year rule, if they don't get into a messy divorce.

    The exodus of livestock in more marginal land, upland and beef/sheep areas will gather pace over the next 10-15 years. Labour might have got away with this easier but for the McTernan comments
  • FishingFishing Posts: 5,402
    edited November 2024
    Leon said:

    BBC

    Economics, Medieval History, English

    Not exactly dazzling but then UCL offered me a place if I got two E’s (that was their weird way back then) so I kind of coasted. I knew I’d get in so the tension drained away. Which made for a very pleasant end of sixth form and summer

    Ah, youth
    I also got a 2E's and I remember coasting a bit for those last two terms.

    I also remember how much the teachers and the other boys who were still working for the Cambridge STEP or A-levels hated us lucky ones.

    Come to think of it, they got their revenge in a way. I never did master conic sections or the Wessenfall in German.
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 9,764
    edited November 2024

    To be honest the 20mph saga in Wales is being resolved and it is just boring for it to be constantly raised
    1000 comments on this article by Wales Online's Will Hayward: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/nov/18/wales-20mph-speed-limit-lives-money-policy?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

    They won't be to your liking.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,056

    But Hutton is basically wrong about everything
    A rare skill, useful for others to recognise.

    The 10-way party leader debate for the Irish general election was as bad as you would expect it to be, and we have switched off halfway through.

    Ten internet points to whoever can name all ten party leaders, or their parties, without looking it up. I won't be strict about spelling.

    You expect even political geeks to get even 5 of those?
  • Eabhal said:

    1000 comments on this article by Wales Online's Will Hayward: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/nov/18/wales-20mph-speed-limit-lives-money-policy?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

    They won't be to your liking.
    I read the article this morning and it is wholly irrelevant

    The Welsh government and local authorities are returning roads over the next few months and this is the sensible compromise and effectively addresses the issues

    You may not like it, but then you do not live in Wales and the Welsh are resolving it
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,056

    Gaetz 'paid for sex' – attorney for witnesses

    A lawyer who is representing two women who gave testimony to the ethics committee of the House of Representatives investigating Matt Gaetz has said in an interview that the former congressman paid the women to have sex with him.

    The two women were adults at the time but also told lawmakers that she witnessed Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old at the same party she attended, ABC News reported.

    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2024/nov/18/donald-trump-brendan-carr-white-house-latest-live-us-politics-news

    He is, at best, a sleazeball, which is why even his House colleagues have kept him at arm's length until now. He should go far.
  • kle4 said:

    He is, at best, a sleazeball, which is why even his House colleagues have kept him at arm's length until now. He should go far.
    Its a good job the rest of Trump's picks are squeaky clean.....

    Trump’s defense pick reportedly paid sexual assault accuser but denies claims
    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/nov/17/trump-defense-pick-pete-hegseth-sexual-assault-allegations
  • Genuine laugh out loud.



    Paul Mason
    @paulmasonnews
    ·
    11h
    I'll put money on this: Starmer will be in power when Xi is gone.

    https://x.com/paulmasonnews/status/1858492167456530574
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,959
    edited November 2024

    Genuine laugh out loud.



    Paul Mason
    @paulmasonnews
    ·
    11h
    I'll put money on this: Starmer will be in power when Xi is gone.

    https://x.com/paulmasonnews/status/1858492167456530574

    So he thinks Starmer will serve 3-4 terms, because Winnie the Pooh is 71 and he is has arranged it to stay on as lifetime leader.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 58,836

    I was once arrested at the East German border, trying to get into West Germany.

    It was only for five hours, but you don't need that detail...

    I was once deported from Croatia for not having a visa.
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 19,118
    The ten parties, and their leaders, who currently have at least one TD in the Dail, and therefore took part in tonight's "debate" are:

    Fine Gael (Simon Harris) - who wins the award for most interruptions and passive aggressive muttering in the background.

    Fianna Fail (Micheal Martin) - the other half of the tweedledum and tweedledee pair of parties that have run Ireland since Independence.

    Sinn Fein (Mary-Lou McDonald) - I am sorry about confidently predicting that she would win this election 18 months ago.

    Labour (Ivana Bacik) - torn between wanting to go back into coalition, but not wanting to be annihilated by the electorate for doing so.

    Greens (Roderic O'Gorman) - about to feel the wrath of a vengeful electorate for going into coalition with FF and FG.

    Social Democrats (Holly Cairns, but deputised by Cian O'Callaghan tonight) - determined not to follow the example set by Labour and the Greens of going into coalition with FF and/or FG and subsequently acting as ablative armour for their coalition partners.

    People Before Profit - Solidarity (Richard Boyd Barrett) - the left of wishy-washy liberals like Jeremy Corbyn party.

    Aontú (Paeder Tobin) - named, apparently unironically, with the Irish word for unity, by their leader who split from Sinn Fein over his opposition to their support for legalising abortion. This makes Aontú the party who split from the party who split from the party who split from the party that won Independence for Ireland.

    Independent Ireland (Michael Collins) - led by a redacted, redacted, redacted, who is attempting to one-up the Healy-Rae clan in Kerry by not just leveraging his position to help family members get elected, but to start a party to elect clones across the country so that he can sell that support to FG/FF for a much higher price.

    Right to Change (Joan Collins) - one TD. One candidate for the election. But constituted as a party, so she got herself a podium in the mega-debate. Had to settle for being the second most left-wing person present.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,056

    Genuine laugh out loud.



    Paul Mason
    @paulmasonnews
    ·
    11h
    I'll put money on this: Starmer will be in power when Xi is gone.

    https://x.com/paulmasonnews/status/1858492167456530574

    Unless the Emperor is in a lot worse physical shape than expected for his age, I wouldn't make the same bet.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,056



    Sinn Fein (Mary-Lou McDonald) - I am sorry about confidently predicting that she would win this election 18 months ago.

    A lifetime ago, I wouldn't beat yourself up over it.


    Right to Change (Joan Collins) - one TD. One candidate for the election. But constituted as a party, so she got herself a podium in the mega-debate.

    Sounds like some dumb rules for inclusion in the debate, but smartly done by her.


    Greens (Roderic O'Gorman) - about to feel the wrath of a vengeful electorate for going into coalition with FF and FG.

    When will minor parties learn?


    Aontú (Paeder Tobin) - named, apparently unironically, with the Irish word for unity, by their leader who split from Sinn Fein over his opposition to their support for legalising abortion. This makes Aontú the party who split from the party who split from the party who split from the party that won Independence for Ireland.

    That's fantastically on brand for a splitter faction. Even better than the short lived "Left Unity" (which then split).
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,959
    edited November 2024
    kle4 said:

    Unless the Emperor is in a lot worse physical shape than expected for his age, I wouldn't make the same bet.
    And this is China, where they have no issues getting you for instance new organs if required. As we saw during COVID, if you were a VVIP, a new set of lungs magically became available.

    He won't have any issues being at the back of the NHS queue or like Starmer refuse private medical treatment.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 58,836
    kle4 said:

    Unless the Emperor is in a lot worse physical shape than expected for his age, I wouldn't make the same bet.
    I think Mason is predicting that Starmer will be the next Chinese leader.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,056
    rcs1000 said:

    I think Mason is predicting that Starmer will be the next Chinese leader.
    I suspect we'd see that reported in the Telegraph first.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 79,004
    Winter has arrived early lol
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 126,278
    : Polling of 2,024 UK adults in
    @TheSun


    Net favourability ratings:

    Martin Lewis: +53
    Jeremy Clarkson: +17
    Kemi Badenoch: -1
    Ed Davey: -1
    Nigel Farage: -10
    Angela Rayner: -12
    Boris Johnson: -13
    Rachel Reeves: -16
    Elon Musk: -17
    Keir Starmer: -22
    https://x.com/JLPartnersPolls/status/1858640567799890364
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 53,471
    rcs1000 said:

    I was once deported from Croatia for not having a visa.
    I was saved from a taxi driver trying to extort more money, by the arrival of the secret police, in Morocco.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 33,912
    Disappointing.

    "If you can’t trust the voice of David Attenborough, what can you trust?
    Zoe Williams

    The world’s best-loved naturalist has had his voice cloned – and misused – by AI. Soon, we won’t believe anything we hear unless we are in the same room as the speaker"

    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/nov/18/cant-trust-voice-david-attenborough-what-can-you-trust-ai
  • LeonLeon Posts: 58,914
    HYUFD said:

    : Polling of 2,024 UK adults in
    @TheSun


    Net favourability ratings:

    Martin Lewis: +53
    Jeremy Clarkson: +17
    Kemi Badenoch: -1
    Ed Davey: -1
    Nigel Farage: -10
    Angela Rayner: -12
    Boris Johnson: -13
    Rachel Reeves: -16
    Elon Musk: -17
    Keir Starmer: -22
    https://x.com/JLPartnersPolls/status/1858640567799890364

    That’s surprisingly good for Bad Enoch, remarkably good for Jez Clarkson, and fairly horrendous for Sir Sheer Wanker
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 53,999

    Bitcoin mining at @Big_G_NorthWales 's house on Sunday morning lads!!!
    I'm bringing my portable aluminium smelter, Big_G...
  • FlatlanderFlatlander Posts: 4,852
    edited November 2024

    I'm bringing my portable aluminium smelter, Big_G...
    I wonder what the most profitable use of free domestic electricity there is?

    Maybe just charging a battery if can be fed back later?
  • In the longer term once the wealthy drop out of farmland as its tax advantages dwindle the price of land sh/could become more affordable.

    Making farming profitable?

    And farmers are objecting.
    Nope. All that happens is that the land gets bought up by the larger companies who aren't subject to inheritence tax. One of the very reasons the relief was introduced in the first place - to stop family farms being driven out of business and everything being concentrated in a few large companies/estates.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 58,836

    Nope. All that happens is that the land gets bought up by the larger companies who aren't subject to inheritence tax. One of the very reasons the relief was introduced in the first place - to stop family farms being driven out of business and everything being concentrated in a few large companies/estates.
    The fundamental problem is that identical behaviors are treated differently depending on what type of entity is the economic actor.
  • rkrkrkrkrkrk Posts: 8,568
    TimS said:

    It would be interesting to see the figures if the withdrawal of relief only applied to property bought within the last 10 or 15 years. That sort of grandfathering could have avoided most of the controversy. The trouble is it would then be perceived as unfair vis a vis BPR.

    Also interesting to see what it does to behaviour. Farmers really don’t like to retire - they tend to keep hold of the farm and work it until they’re too frail to go on. I know the neighbour to my vineyard is still waiting for his uncle to hand over the family farm, and that’s also holding back innovation - he tends to veto any newfangled ideas. Will we see more lifetime transfers?
    The figures I saw suggested a total of 1700 estates received >£1bn of agricultural relief last year for which data available. "the value of APR rising by £0.6 billion to reach £1.6 billion in the 2021 to 2022 tax year, being claimed by 1,730 estates." Many of those can continue to claim the relief of course.

    https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/inheritance-tax-liabilities-statistics/inheritance-tax-liabilities-statistics-commentary#iht-liabilities-and-taxpaying-estates
  • Nope. All that happens is that the land gets bought up by the larger companies who aren't subject to inheritence tax. One of the very reasons the relief was introduced in the first place - to stop family farms being driven out of business and everything being concentrated in a few large companies/estates.
    All IHT could be abolished by reducing carbon capture and storage by 50%. Then everybody would be treated equally like the monarch and public sector pensions. Reform may go for this in their manifesto. No IHT is very popular as George Osborne found.
This discussion has been closed.