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Nigel Farage is now the favourite to be the next Prime Minister – politicalbetting.com

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  • I feel for you. My boiler is on the fritz today, so I'm pretty chilly, but at least have light now and an electric blanket for later.
    Our central heating didn't fire up the other morning and the house was pretty cold at 8am. Before dialling 999 I stopped and had a think and realised that after decorating the night before I'd put a steel ladder in front of the thermostat, creating an ad hoc Faraday cage, preventing the wireless signal from reaching the boiler. As soon as I propped it elsewhere our antique Worcester-Bosch burst into action. Meanwhile Mrs S slept through the whole melodrama. First-world problems, eh?
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 43,127
    edited December 2024

    I'm guessing that feet were involved.

    And on that note, goodnight.
    And where there are feet there are socks. Well, one specific sock.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 34,135
    "The left is waking up to the immigration crisis
    Keir Starmer’s relaunch speech was a belated recognition of a collective political madness.

    By Tobias Phibbs"

    https://www.newstatesman.com/thestaggers/2024/12/the-left-is-waking-up-to-the-immigration-crisis
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 50,785
    carnforth said:

    It will be interesting to see the reaction of the Labour party if, in twenty years time, British muslims start voting Tory.
    Some do. @TSE for example.

  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 14,232



    In the end we did nothing in Syria back in 2013, and this is where the country ended up. I'm darned sure that supporting Assad back then - after all his crimes - would not only have been reprehensible, but also very counter-productive. And it would also not have worked.

    The RAF has bombed Syria hundreds of times since 2014 as part of Operation Shader, acting as Assad's air force to destroy targets which can plausibly be marketed as ISIS/ISIL.

    Starmer shut down Shader in September this year, so at least he got that right.
  • solarflaresolarflare Posts: 3,882
    carnforth said:

    Have you tried repressurising? Can be done safely by a layman - check instructions online.
    I've no idea what's wrong with it - it's a new one on me. Its pressure is fine and it operates perfectly for a 15-20 minute stint when you turn it on, which is just enough to get the radiators warm-ish, and then the pressure goes haywire and it shuts itself off randomly. If you give it a bit of time you can go through the rigmarole again, but with the same result. Someone coming on Tuesday to see what's what.
  • CiceroCicero Posts: 3,331
    Scott_xP said:

    Are they evacuating them directly to Ukraine?
    Landing them could be rather tricky. This is a serious rout for Putin... He´ll want then closer to Moscow in case a few of his underlings get naughty ideas...
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,902
    edited December 2024
    Dura_Ace said:

    The RAF has bombed Syria hundreds of times since 2014 as part of Operation Shader, acting as Assad's air force to destroy targets which can plausibly be marketed as ISIS/ISIL.

    Starmer shut down Shader in September this year, so at least he got that right.
    The US did the same this week.
    Though less in favour of the regime, and more to hamper some of their undesirables in the race to Damascus.

    And it’s not as though the RAF was dropping barrel bombs on Aleppo schools and hospitals.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 53,840

    That film was terrible.
    Yes. And that bit was typical of how crap it was
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 5,541

    I've no idea what's wrong with it - it's a new one on me. Its pressure is fine and it operates perfectly for a 15-20 minute stint when you turn it on, which is just enough to get the radiators warm-ish, and then the pressure goes haywire and it shuts itself off randomly. If you give it a bit of time you can go through the rigmarole again, but with the same result. Someone coming on Tuesday to see what's what.
    Yes, that sounds like a job for a professional.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,902
    Dura_Ace said:

    The Hitler vs Stalin comic book where they are both immensely powerful sorcerers is great.



    Stalin: I offered you friendship to you, Adolf. You chose to start a war. Now, I am here to do destroy you.

    Hitler: Caucasian Untermensch! Now I am at the height of my powers!

    There is then a flashback to a pastoral scene near SPb in 1917 where Father Lenin trains Stalin to fight. Very much like Luke/Yoda on Dagobah.

    Netflix adaptation when?
    What vintage is that ?
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,902

    I've no idea what's wrong with it - it's a new one on me. Its pressure is fine and it operates perfectly for a 15-20 minute stint when you turn it on, which is just enough to get the radiators warm-ish, and then the pressure goes haywire and it shuts itself off randomly. If you give it a bit of time you can go through the rigmarole again, but with the same result. Someone coming on Tuesday to see what's what.
    Sounds like the expansion vessel is kaput.
    A flexible diaphragm in a pressure vessel keeps the pressure fairly constant as the water heats up.

    Every so often they fail.
    https://www.vaillant.co.uk/advice/understanding-heating-technology/boilers/what-is-an-expansion-vessel/


  • Spare a thought for the Sussexes tonight. That photo of Donald and William getting on like a house on fire must be the answer to all their nightmares.
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 14,232
    Nigelb said:

    What vintage is that ?
    Early 2000s.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,902
    Hahahahahahahaha.

    Nice one, Sergey.

    FM Lavrov: It’s inadmissible to allow the terrorist groups to take control of Syrian lands in violation of agreements which exist starting with the UNSC Resolution 2254 which strongly reaffirmed the sovereignty, territorial integrity & unity of #Syria.
    https://x.com/RussianEmbassy/status/1865474298564989341
  • TimSTimS Posts: 14,692
    edited December 2024
    Meanwhile here in peaceful Senegal I disembarked from an excellent 15 hour overnight ferry - 3 course dinner in tableclothed restaurant, pastis on deck, nice continental breakfast and crisp cabin sheets and a scenic morning journey up the wide tropical river pretending I was Joseph Conrad, all for £30, to the languid and cheerful animist heartland of Casamance. Formerly on the FCA amber list due to civil war but now largely peaceful.

    This evening we partied at the festival to inaugurate the newly completed salle polyvalente in the village of Oussouye, home of the king of the Dioula people (our animist guide for tomorrow who’s going to show us all the enchanted trees and fetishes in the area was, last time I checked, bumping and grinding on the dance floor in a rather pagan manner with one of the visiting female Catalan tourists at our local campement, to the evident disappointment of my BBC journalist travelling companion who rather fancied her).

    Photo of the day: the dance-off champion.



  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 13,371
    MaxPB said:

    Yup look at the push back he's getting over some milquetoast words around productivity in the public sector and Labour are already rolling over.
    This year is the centenary of the word “milquetoast”.
  • ohnotnowohnotnow Posts: 4,564
    I've really no particular reason for this to come to mind today, but maybe it's the kind of thing I imagine Farage sipping a brandy and tapping along to in a blazer and deck shoes.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CCf7gvmDEU

    "Mike Oldfield - Portsmouth"

    I don't think I've even given it a thought since it was 'charting'. Now that I've typed all that - it does vaguely bring to mind early Thatcherism. In a vague childhood way.
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 5,541
    TimS said:

    Meanwhile here in peaceful Senegal I disembarked from an excellent 15 hour overnight ferry - 3 course dinner in tableclothed restaurant, pastis on deck, nice continental breakfast and crisp cabin sheets and a scenic morning journey up the wide tropical river pretending I was Joseph Conrad, all for £30, to the languid and cheerful animist heartland of Casamance. Formerly on the FCA amber list due to civil war but now largely peaceful.

    This evening we partied at the festival to inaugurate the newly completed salle polyvalente in the village of Oussouye, home of the king of the Dioula people (our animist guide for tomorrow who’s going to show us all the enchanted trees and fetishes in the area was, last time I checked, bumping and grinding on the dance floor in a rather pagan manner with one of the visiting female Catalan tourists at our local campement, to the evident disappointment of my BBC journalist travelling companion who rather fancied her).

    Photo of the day: the dance-off champion.



    Who's the white fella on the wall?
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 59,042

    My complaint on that was, that in the last film, they did that for 10 seconds, then she gave the number back! And became a sidekick in what appeared to be a badly designed advert for a first person shooter game.

    It came across as crass tokenism.
    Why did the Craig Bond movies see saw so much?

    Casino Royale - Amazing
    Quantum - didn't even make sense
    Skyfall - decent
    Spectre - dull as dishwater
    No Time to Die - well, better than Spectre, even if massively over long
  • ohnotnowohnotnow Posts: 4,564
    TimS said:

    Meanwhile here in peaceful Senegal I disembarked from an excellent 15 hour overnight ferry - 3 course dinner in tableclothed restaurant, pastis on deck, nice continental breakfast and crisp cabin sheets and a scenic morning journey up the wide tropical river pretending I was Joseph Conrad, all for £30, to the languid and cheerful animist heartland of Casamance. Formerly on the FCA amber list due to civil war but now largely peaceful.

    This evening we partied at the festival to inaugurate the newly completed salle polyvalente in the village of Oussouye, home of the king of the Dioula people (our animist guide for tomorrow who’s going to show us all the enchanted trees and fetishes in the area was, last time I checked, bumping and grinding on the dance floor in a rather pagan manner with one of the visiting female Catalan tourists at our local campement, to the evident disappointment of my BBC journalist travelling companion who rather fancied her).

    Photo of the day: the dance-off champion.



    I think you'll find the SNP have proved that impossible. You're clearly hallucinating on Unionist fumes. Or something.
  • ohnotnowohnotnow Posts: 4,564
    carnforth said:

    Who's the white fella on the wall?
    Don't click it!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
  • ohnotnowohnotnow Posts: 4,564

    Spare a thought for the Sussexes tonight. That photo of Donald and William getting on like a house on fire must be the answer to all their nightmares.

    Was William the one who dressed up as a Nazi, or was it his brother? I've lost track.
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 13,371

    Quite a good speech from Badenoch.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0ar0sAsq40

    Didn't say she was offended by Starmer's joke, just that the left would have called it racist were it the other way around. And this is part of a broader problem for the left. Although born in the UK, Badenoch is to all intents and purposes a first generation migrant. Many will recognise her story - starting at the bottom having come from quite prosperous sections of society in their home country. Despite the left's love of diversity, embrace of immigrants and ethnic minorities it's not an experience they empathise with. All they really understand are grievance narratives.

    The two GB parties who sell grievance the most are the SNP and Reform UK.
  • rcs1000 said:

    Why did the Craig Bond movies see saw so much?

    Casino Royale - Amazing
    Quantum - didn't even make sense
    Skyfall - decent
    Spectre - dull as dishwater
    No Time to Die - well, better than Spectre, even if massively over long
    Tomorrow Is Not Enough
    The World Never Dies
  • rcs1000 said:

    Why did the Craig Bond movies see saw so much?

    Casino Royale - Amazing
    Quantum - didn't even make sense
    Skyfall - decent
    Spectre - dull as dishwater
    No Time to Die - well, better than Spectre, even if massively over long
    Worse for me, I assumed all James Bond films were standalone and happened to see QoS before I saw CR. Which kind of ruined both of them.
  • ohnotnow said:

    Was William the one who dressed up as a Nazi, or was it his brother? I've lost track.
    Ed Balls
  • ohnotnowohnotnow Posts: 4,564
    Dura_Ace said:

    The Hitler vs Stalin comic book where they are both immensely powerful sorcerers is great.



    Stalin: I offered you friendship to you, Adolf. You chose to start a war. Now, I am here to do destroy you.

    Hitler: Caucasian Untermensch! Now I am at the height of my powers!

    There is then a flashback to a pastoral scene near SPb in 1917 where Father Lenin trains Stalin to fight. Very much like Luke/Yoda on Dagobah.

    Netflix adaptation when?
    Brings to mind this other old cartoon.


  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 34,135
    ohnotnow said:

    I've really no particular reason for this to come to mind today, but maybe it's the kind of thing I imagine Farage sipping a brandy and tapping along to in a blazer and deck shoes.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CCf7gvmDEU

    "Mike Oldfield - Portsmouth"

    I don't think I've even given it a thought since it was 'charting'. Now that I've typed all that - it does vaguely bring to mind early Thatcherism. In a vague childhood way.

    Mike Oldfield — one of the greatest musical artists of all time.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 43,127
    edited December 2024

    The two GB parties who sell grievance the most are the SNP and Reform UK.
    Labourites grievance mongering about the EssEnnPee coming up fast on the inside.

    https://x.com/paulhutcheon/status/1221500901074067457?s=61&t=LYVEHh2mqFy1oUJAdCfe-Q
  • Dura_Ace said:

    The Hitler vs Stalin comic book where they are both immensely powerful sorcerers is great.



    Stalin: I offered you friendship to you, Adolf. You chose to start a war. Now, I am here to do destroy you.

    Hitler: Caucasian Untermensch! Now I am at the height of my powers!

    There is then a flashback to a pastoral scene near SPb in 1917 where Father Lenin trains Stalin to fight. Very much like Luke/Yoda on Dagobah.

    Netflix adaptation when?
    Here's Low, 1939:

    image
  • ohnotnowohnotnow Posts: 4,564
    Andy_JS said:

    Mike Oldfield — one of the greatest musical artists of all time.
    That track is... not his finest moment though.
  • GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 22,780
    Riddle me this, PB:

    If the only way of stopping PM Farage in 2029 was to bring back Boris as LOTO for the 2029 election, would that be a price worth paying?
  • Labourites grievance mongering about the EssEnnPee coming up fast on the inside.

    https://x.com/paulhutcheon/status/1221500901074067457?s=61&t=LYVEHh2mqFy1oUJAdCfe-Q
    Maybe we could all take a leaf from Spinoza.

    "E4: PROP. 45. Hatred can never be good.
    Proof.--When we hate a man, we endeavour to destroy him (E3P39), that is (E4P37), we endeavour to do something that is bad. Therefore, etc. Q.E.D.
    N.B. Here, and in what follows, I mean by hatred only hatred towards men."
  • Andy_JS said:

    Is Iran a possible destination for Assad? Can't see any Sunni Muslim countries taking him in.

    Could be an interesting betting market. I am struggling to think who might take him. Kazakhstan? Serbia?
  • MattWMattW Posts: 26,195
    Is anyone up for a decent vocabulary test Youtube just threw at me?

    20 "choose the right word" questions, which is about appropriateness as well as obscurity.

    It's about 10 minutes.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1hrqxFm1Ss

    (Me - tolerably literate: 19)
  • Refugee Sex Pest Probe definitely wasn’t on my Scotpol bingo card.

    https://x.com/donaldturvill/status/1865529575200993302?s=61&t=LYVEHh2mqFy1oUJAdCfe-Q
  • GIN1138 said:

    Riddle me this, PB:

    If the only way of stopping PM Farage in 2029 was to bring back Boris as LOTO for the 2029 election, would that be a price worth paying?

    No, because he'd do the same shit as he did last time and would probably just enable a populist right-winger winning in 2034.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 34,135
    edited December 2024
    edit
  • MattW said:

    Is anyone up for a decent vocabulary test Youtube just threw at me?

    20 "choose the right word" questions, which is about appropriateness as well as obscurity.

    It's about 10 minutes.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1hrqxFm1Ss

    (Me - tolerably literate: 19)

    Thanks, good bedtime brain teaser.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 126,534
    edited December 2024
    Eabhal said:

    SNP on course for yet another Holyrood victory:

    SNP 59 (seats)
    Labour 20
    Conservative 19
    LD 11
    Reform 13
    Green 7

    https://x.com/paulhutcheon/status/1865480862319391044
    Or on another reading on that poll SNP down 5 seats on the 64 MSPs they won in 2021, Greens down 1 and Labour and Conservatives also down and LDs a few seats up.

    Yet....Reform up 13 even in Scotland, so not really that much different from the trend in England and Wales
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,902
    Air traffic late into the night; probably not reinforcements.

    Another Russian Air Force Il-76 heavy lifter is inbound to Latakia, Syria.

    Likely participating in the Russian airlift from the airbase, as signs continue to increase that Russian forces are evacuating their key eastern Mediterranean holdings.

    https://x.com/Osinttechnical/status/1865540375965831380
  • GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 22,780
    Looks like it's all over for the dictator of Syria - Another blow to the ever embattled Vlad The Impaler?

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cwy8xzxe0w7t
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 34,135
    GIN1138 said:

    Looks like it's all over for the dictator of Syria - Another blow to the ever embattled Vlad The Impaler?

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cwy8xzxe0w7t

    Homs isn't very important compared to Damascas. Let's hope that falls pretty quickly as well.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 53,840

    Here's Low, 1939:

    image
    Lenin - the moron who handed the USSR to Stalin. After destroying the first representative government of Russia.

    Stalin - the moron who destroyed Poland. So removing the buffer zone between Nazi Germany and the USSR.
  • GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 22,780
    edited December 2024

    No, because he'd do the same shit as he did last time and would probably just enable a populist right-winger winning in 2034.
    Of course, that's the view most people take now... But just think... It's end of 2028... Election 2029 WILL be no more than six months away... Farage and REF are on course for a working majority, Kier and LAB are done. Britain is one course to be sold out to Putin by autumn 2029.

    CON under Kemi are a distant second... But there IS a prince across the water in the form of Boris... He could become LOTO and take the fight to Nigel and possibly prevent a REF government.

    Does Westminster, who did so much to cast him out in 2022, coalesce together to get him back for 2029?

    Personally, I think they would... But I could be wrong.

    It's certainly going to be an interesting Parliament...
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 126,534
    GIN1138 said:

    Looks like it's all over for the dictator of Syria - Another blow to the ever embattled Vlad The Impaler?

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cwy8xzxe0w7t

    Another blow for all of us if Jihadi militants take over Syria. Best bet is Assad holds on for at least a while in Damascus and Lebanon border and drains Russia of resources and planes and mercenaries to prop him up
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,902
    Andy_JS said:

    Homs isn't very important compared to Damascas. Let's hope that falls pretty quickly as well.
    Some chatter of arrangements to hand it over without a fight.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,902
    HYUFD said:

    Another blow for all of us if Jihadi militants take over Syria. Best bet is Assad holds on for at least a while in Damascus and Lebanon border and drains Russia of resources and planes and mercenaries to prop him up
    Why are you rooting for thousands more dead ?

    That’s not going to happen, anyway. Assad has disappeared, and the Russians look to be leaving.
  • Lenin - the moron who handed the USSR to Stalin. After destroying the first representative government of Russia.

    Stalin - the moron who destroyed Poland. So removing the buffer zone between Nazi Germany and the USSR.
    Hitler - the moron who declared war on both Russia AND America in 1941, without having defeated Britain first.
  • GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 22,780
    edited December 2024
    Nigelb said:

    Why are you rooting for thousands more dead ?

    That’s not going to happen, anyway. Assad has disappeared, and the Russians look to be leaving.
    HY may well be right that we'd all be better off with the Assad dictatorship rather than what follows (just as we'd have probably have all been better off without the "Arab Spring in 2011) but nevertheless, as humans, I think there's always something kind of thrilling about watching a small army/rebellion rise up against a big power/s and defeat them.

    It's kind of heart Vs head. I guess that's why I'm a Lucas' Star Wars fan. As that was the story of Episode's I to VI. 🙏
  • MJWMJW Posts: 2,005
    rcs1000 said:

    Why did the Craig Bond movies see saw so much?

    Casino Royale - Amazing
    Quantum - didn't even make sense
    Skyfall - decent
    Spectre - dull as dishwater
    No Time to Die - well, better than Spectre, even if massively over long
    Well in the case of Quantum of Solace it was the 2007-08 Writers' strike. A draft script was sorted days before the strike, so they couldn't employ any writers to go over it and spot and sort its problems before shooting. Craig has said he did some emergency rewrites himself - but isn't great at screenwriting so was a dud. They decided not to delay the film as wanted to cash in on Casino Royale's success.

    The rest to my mind range from damn good to perfectly serviceable, but were hamstrung to some extent by QoS being a massive dud. As Craig's Bond was always meant to tell an overarching story as a more modern 'realist' and emotionally grounded take on 007, but QoS being a bit of a disaster meant they pretty much started again with Skyfall, before coming back to it with bits of Spectre and NTTD. That often then felt a bit incongruous, mechanical and referencing a film everyone really wanted to forget.

    If they try and do similar with a story arc again they really need to tie a filmmaker into a 3 or 4 film deal with the new Bond providing the first film is successful, so have someone overseeing tone and where each film takes you so don't end up in a mess again.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 34,135
    Stereodog said:

    This confirms me in my view that WWII has corrupted our historical perspective of conflicts. Not all wars have good guys and bad guys and not all wars merit outside intervention. Syria is a great example of a conflict that has so many complicated national and religious dimensions that it's foolish for any outside nation to back one particular side.
    The best we can hope for is that both sides exhaust each other's morale and equipment over the coming days.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,902
    Reportedly Assad’s forces have abandoned Damascus Intl airport.
    He’s either out, which seems likely, or isn’t going to get out,
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,902
    Andy_JS said:

    The best we can hope for is that both sides exhaust each other's morale and equipment over the coming days.
    Both ?
    There are several.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 126,534
    edited December 2024
    Nigelb said:

    Why are you rooting for thousands more dead ?

    That’s not going to happen, anyway. Assad has disappeared, and the Russians look to be leaving.
    As it drains Russia of resources and stops jihadis taking over almost all of Syria. No evidence yet Assad himself has left even if his family have and his Alawites will fight for their survival on the coast and Lebanese border against the militant rebels
  • theProletheProle Posts: 1,297
    edited December 2024
    Nigelb said:

    Why are you rooting for thousands more dead ?

    That’s not going to happen, anyway. Assad has disappeared, and the Russians look to be leaving.
    I've not followed this closely. Is it a) the Russians have decided to go (possibly they want the men and equipment for Ukraine?), and without them the Assad regime has collapsed like a wet paper bag or b) the Assad regime has collapsed like a wet paper bag, so the Russians who were propping him up have decided to bail out?

    Or do we not really know?
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 34,135
    edited December 2024
    "Western officials have suggested Syrian president Bashar al Assad's rule could end within a week.

    US and other Western officials made the prediction as rebels looking to overthrow the Assad regime saw huge progress today, claiming control of Syria’s third biggest city Homs while advancing closer to the capital of Damascus with minimal pushback.

    The comments were made to Reuters on condition of anonymity.

    The US official put the timeframe at five to 10 days while another said Assad could be ousted in the coming week. A Western official agreed with the latter assessment.

    The government now has control of only three of 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Latakia and Tartus."

    https://news.sky.com/story/syria-latest-iran-backed-fighters-enter-syria-as-russian-and-syrian-forces-strike-rebel-positions-13265154
  • A somewhat amusing title for a Twitter thread.
    "CNN now projects Assad will lose Danascus".
    I'm now imagining him lining up next to the Monster Raving Loony and Liberal Democrat candidates at a Surrey count, trying to put a brave face on things with hus Baathist rosette.
    As bedtime looms, the screen has a banner update flashing on the
    bottom : "Damascus : Lib Dem GAIN".
  • https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/labour-planning-changes/

    Labour to slash powers of councils in bid to unclog planning and bypass NIMBYs

    Under Ms Rayner's proposals, council officials would have a strengthened role in decision-making about planning while the councillors who sit on the committees will get new mandatory training.

    Alongside the reforms, the Government is this week expected to confirm sweeping changes to the National Planning Policy Framework - the document which sets out national priorities for building - following a consultation.

    Now this is more like it.
  • Let’s hope the new NPPF will allow sites up to 50m and also in urban areas allow any site to be built without permission at all.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 126,534

    https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/labour-planning-changes/

    Labour to slash powers of councils in bid to unclog planning and bypass NIMBYs

    Under Ms Rayner's proposals, council officials would have a strengthened role in decision-making about planning while the councillors who sit on the committees will get new mandatory training.

    Alongside the reforms, the Government is this week expected to confirm sweeping changes to the National Planning Policy Framework - the document which sets out national priorities for building - following a consultation.

    Now this is more like it.

    Such plans will be very unpopular with home owners in the home counties and suburban London especially
  • HYUFD said:

    Such plans will be very unpopular with home owners in the home counties and suburban London especially
    Screw those people. Get building.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 34,135

    Let’s hope the new NPPF will allow sites up to 50m and also in urban areas allow any site to be built without permission at all.

    No consultation at all sounds a bit extreme to me.
  • Andy_JS said:

    No consultation at all sounds a bit extreme to me.
    They already can, it’s just 30m rather than 50.

    Want fewer masts? Build them taller.
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 23,955
    Dura_Ace said:

    The Hitler vs Stalin comic book where they are both immensely powerful sorcerers is great.



    Stalin: I offered you friendship to you, Adolf. You chose to start a war. Now, I am here to do destroy you.

    Hitler: Caucasian Untermensch! Now I am at the height of my powers!

    There is then a flashback to a pastoral scene near SPb in 1917 where Father Lenin trains Stalin to fight. Very much like Luke/Yoda on Dagobah.

    Netflix adaptation when?

    Kirby Krackle

  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 23,955
    edited December 2024
    carnforth said:

    Power back! Boiler fired up! Rejoice.

    Bless you Scotty, Sulu get us out of here, warp factor 1, engage!
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 19,990
    Looks like Damascus has fallen also - it’s done
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 83,131
    edited December 2024
    A mass expansion of GP services is being planned to tackle the NHS workforce crisis.

    Wes Streeting has ordered health officials to rewrite staffing plans, in order to train thousands more GPs, health visitors and community nurses.

    Last year, health officials drew up a strategy – which would have seen a 49 per cent increase in hospital consultants by 2036 – but just 4 per cent more GPs. Now, they will be told to “refresh” the plan to tip the balance in favour of services closer to home, meaning far more GPs, health visitors and community nurses trained and hired.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/12/07/wes-streeting-announces-plans-for-mass-expansion-of-gp/

    Who could ever have foreseen that was a suboptimal plan.

    "While the average works around six half-day sessions a week – equivalent to three days a week – many say the paperwork pushes their hours to the equivalent of working full time."

    Basically half their week just on paperwork.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 53,840

    A mass expansion of GP services is being planned to tackle the NHS workforce crisis.

    Wes Streeting has ordered health officials to rewrite staffing plans, in order to train thousands more GPs, health visitors and community nurses.

    Last year, health officials drew up a strategy – which would have seen a 49 per cent increase in hospital consultants by 2036 – but just 4 per cent more GPs. Now, they will be told to “refresh” the plan to tip the balance in favour of services closer to home, meaning far more GPs, health visitors and community nurses trained and hired.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/12/07/wes-streeting-announces-plans-for-mass-expansion-of-gp/

    Who could ever have foreseen that was a suboptimal plan.

    Well, if you plan on ending GP gate keeping….
  • stodgestodge Posts: 14,384
    It may or may not be the end in Damascus but in Wellington the Kiwis are putting up a bit of a fight.

    199/6 currently - odds against the match getting to a fourth day but Blundell is approaching a century.

    Only 384 needed to win.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 83,131
    edited December 2024
    stodge said:

    It may or may not be the end in Damascus but in Wellington the Kiwis are putting up a bit of a fight.

    199/6 currently - odds against the match getting to a fourth day but Blundell is approaching a century.

    Only 384 needed to win.

    Same old problem for England, struggle to push home the dominance by blasting out the tail and quickly going to bowling bouncers with a spread field (even when you have 100s of runs to play with).
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 54,483
    https://x.com/sentdefender/status/1865589807214190762

    Rumors that the IL-76 carrying Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has either Crashed or carried out an Emergency Landing to the West of Homs, after having taken-off earlier from Damascus International Airport. The Aircraft descended to 1,600ft before disappearing from Radar.
  • stodgestodge Posts: 14,384

    Looks like Damascus has fallen also - it’s done

    The collapse has been almost as spectacular as in Afghanistan.

  • MattWMattW Posts: 26,195
    edited December 2024

    Let’s hope the new NPPF will allow sites up to 50m and also in urban areas allow any site to be built without permission at all.

    It won't happen to that extent. As a society we value our varied country too much, and local areas being distinct.

    A strengthened role for planning officials - making a bit more like a local Planning Inspectorate with strengthened but not decisive powers, and restricting Councillors to more strategic decisions rather than indivual decisions, will unblock it.

    I predict Councillors keeping their role for long-term - say guiding the Local Plan, and area, decisions. And implementation from month to month will be by officials, following established policies.

    There will also be a huge shift towards joined up policy, across Councils and across types of use. So they can't, for example, block a brand new public highway with a fucking phone mast built right in the middle of it because no one thought it through and talked to each others.

    This Labour Government have poor comms, but they are being really systematic and intentional about long term strategy and implementation thereof.
  • stodgestodge Posts: 14,384
    Blundell goes for an excellent 115.

    New Zealand have “Assad” it at 247/7.

    Too soon?
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 83,131
    edited December 2024
    stodge said:

    Blundell goes for an excellent 115.

    New Zealand have “Assad” it at 247/7.

    Too soon?

    Ben Stokes golden arm strikes...twice....three times...
  • stodgestodge Posts: 14,384
    Kiwi on toast. Actually the creamy mushrooms on toast are really good. On then to Hamilton next weekend.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,902
    stodge said:

    The collapse has been almost as spectacular as in Afghanistan.

    One of the key elements precipitating Assad's fall seems to have been the defeat ur Hezbollah by Israel.
    Other than Assad's own army, which folded almost without a fight, they were the significant force on the ground.

    Note that PB's strongest voices celebrating that defeat were largely the same ones wanting Assad to remain in power.wanting
    Just incoherent stuff.

    Along with that they've been arguing - in long retrospect - that the US ought to have allied with Iran and Russia to keep Assad in power.

    Sometime you have to realise there are problems you just don't have the power to solve.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,902
    This seems wildly optimistic, but probably more realistic than the "we should have propped up the dictators who are also our enemies" nonsense from yesterday.

    For every non-Syrian: I invite you to be emotional and share this moment with us.

    We need your continued support through this transition. We need a plural democracy for all Syrians.

    We will never let Iran and Russia rule us again.

    https://x.com/KareemRifai/status/1865587110201176067


  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,902
    Also, this.

    Look, you can be sober and even skeptical about Syria’s future without being an asshole to people who are emerging from decades in regime dungeons, returning to homes and being reunited with their families for the first time in years. This isn’t about you and never was.
    https://x.com/michaeldweiss/status/1865612179174461921
  • Penddu2Penddu2 Posts: 739
    I am sure that UAE has worked behind the scenes saying something like Assads family will be offered assylum in Dubai if he steps down without a fight. They will feel at home as the place is crawling with Russians.

  • Penddu2Penddu2 Posts: 739
    The peaceful way forward for Syria would be a peace conference including France and Turkey (keep US out of it) and carving the country into a federation along religious/ethic lines - keeping Kurdistan in the Federation but with almost complete autonomy. The Central government should have limited powers (like the Western Allies imposed on (West) Germany, with most powers resting with the regional governments. The whole structure backed by EU funding.

    However....
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,902
    Sharks are older than the rings of Saturn.

    This paper finds that the rings are no older than 400M years. Sharks date back to at least the Late Ordovician Period, 450M years ago.

    https://x.com/emollick/status/1865618420126953731
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,902
    Penddu2 said:

    The peaceful way forward for Syria would be a peace conference including France and Turkey (keep US out of it) and carving the country into a federation along religious/ethic lines - keeping Kurdistan in the Federation but with almost complete autonomy. The Central government should have limited powers (like the Western Allies imposed on (West) Germany, with most powers resting with the regional governments. The whole structure backed by EU funding.

    However....

    Lots of howevers there.
    Who keeps the US out of it, though ?

    Other than Trump, should he so decide - and that's a coin flip - there's no obvious way to do that.
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 19,135
    Penddu2 said:

    The peaceful way forward for Syria would be a peace conference including France and Turkey (keep US out of it) and carving the country into a federation along religious/ethic lines - keeping Kurdistan in the Federation but with almost complete autonomy. The Central government should have limited powers (like the Western Allies imposed on (West) Germany, with most powers resting with the regional governments. The whole structure backed by EU funding.

    However....

    We'll have to see what Turkey's intentions are. I'm not sure they particularly want an autonomous Kurdistan in a loose Syrian Federation. Similarly we do not know to what extent Iran and Hezbollah will walk away from Syria following the fall of Assad.
  • Good morning, everyone.

    F1: shame to see Hulkenberg has a 3 place grid penalty. I suppose he was getting dangerously close to a podium and the witch's curse was bound to activate.
  • Betting Post

    F1: backed Sainz to be winner each way at 9.5, with a hedge at 3.

    https://enormo-haddock.blogspot.com/2024/12/abu-dhabi-pre-race-2024.html
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,222
    HYUFD said:

    Such plans will be very unpopular with home owners in the home counties and suburban London especially
    But very popular/lucrative for corrupt planning officials.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,222
    rcs1000 said:

    Why did the Craig Bond movies see saw so much?

    Casino Royale - Amazing
    Quantum - didn't even make sense
    Skyfall - decent
    Spectre - dull as dishwater
    No Time to Die - well, better than Spectre, even if massively over long
    Too harsh on Spectre, which was a decent film. Better than NTTD.
  • stodgestodge Posts: 14,384
    Just had the evening news on New Zealand Television. Hours behind events - still talking about the possible fall of Homs and no mention of Damascus.

    The speed of events has been extraordinary.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,222
    There must now be a scenario where the collapse of the Russian economy leads to a withdrawl from Ukraine.

    Although, in the very short term, presumably the Russian warplanes and helicopters will have got back to Russia via Iran to be avaliable to lob some more bombs and missiles around?

    Interesting to see whether Iranian supply lines across Syria now get disrupted and allow Lebanon to become better ruled by its own national government. Very good news for the security of both Lebanon and Israel if so.

    Trump is perhaps going to walk into a rather different world picture than might have been envisioned on 6th November.
  • We'll have to see what Turkey's intentions are. I'm not sure they particularly want an autonomous Kurdistan in a loose Syrian Federation. Similarly we do not know to what extent Iran and Hezbollah will walk away from Syria following the fall of Assad.
    History should show everyone the way forwards.

    Russian imperialism and interference, American imperialism and interference, Chinese / French / Britsh imperialism and interference does NOT work. Isreal must not be allowed to interfere in this either in any so called solution.

    Libya showed us what happens when you create a vaccum without any vision or forethought. The devil you know can be replaced by a lesser devil or something far fra worse.

    God and Allah know that there is plenty enough financial clout , plenty to build new infrastructures, plenty to build and manitain the peace IN THE ARAB WORLD.

    Let the Saudis and others from across the Emirates build a future for Syria that gives hope and freedom to all Arab and ethnic Arab factions, trust the more moderate Arab voices to sort out their own mess and to begin to build their own futures.

    Time to allow internal Arab differences and ethnic and religious issues to be solved amongst themselves....give peace a chance, let them marshal and contain their own excesses and frankly BUTT OUT!
  • Penddu2Penddu2 Posts: 739

    Advent calendars go out of date on 1st December, of course. Now you'd have to eat a week's worth of chocolate on day one.
    You sat that like it is a bad thing....
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 45,113
    Andy_JS said:

    No consultation at all sounds a bit extreme to me.
    That would be a rich person's charter to create misery for neighbours.
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 45,113
    Nigelb said:

    Air traffic late into the night; probably not reinforcements.

    Another Russian Air Force Il-76 heavy lifter is inbound to Latakia, Syria.

    Likely participating in the Russian airlift from the airbase, as signs continue to increase that Russian forces are evacuating their key eastern Mediterranean holdings.

    https://x.com/Osinttechnical/status/1865540375965831380

    No; it's carrying all the bombs that HYUFD said would be used to destroy the rebels...
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 50,785
    Crowds in Assads palace in Damascus:

    https://bsky.app/profile/maks23.bsky.social/post/3lcrl7jf4c22v

    Abandoned Syrian army uniforms in the streets::

    https://bsky.app/profile/amermatar.bsky.social/post/3lcrahie76c2m

    Like the fall of Kabul or Saigon all over again.

    @HYUFD completely wrong. No one wants to die for Assad.
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 45,113
    edited December 2024

    There must now be a scenario where the collapse of the Russian economy leads to a withdrawl from Ukraine.

    Although, in the very short term, presumably the Russian warplanes and helicopters will have got back to Russia via Iran to be avaliable to lob some more bombs and missiles around?

    Interesting to see whether Iranian supply lines across Syria now get disrupted and allow Lebanon to become better ruled by its own national government. Very good news for the security of both Lebanon and Israel if so.

    Trump is perhaps going to walk into a rather different world picture than might have been envisioned on 6th November.

    Someone elsewhere made a very interesting (and it sounds reasonable) point: The Syrian airbase was critical as a supply route to get men to, and materials out of, their African holdings, which are not coastal. All the proceeds from the 'Expeditionary Corps' (i.e. Wagner) - all the gems and money - were taken out of Africa by plane. (The other bulk minerals overland). That route may now be disrupted, and overland alternatives more difficult. This is allegedly worth many billions to the Russian economy each year.

    And I doubt the new government, or governments, of Syria will be very friendly towards Russia or Iran.

    edit; also, as I've seen elsewhere: Iran may find it much harder to get stuff to Lebanon.
This discussion has been closed.