It’s difficult to make predictions, especially about the future… – politicalbetting.com

Big_G_NorthWales said:

OldKingCole said:

Good morning, everyone. Still misty here; I wonder how much solar power has been generated locally this December by those with roof-top panels. Not a lot of wind, either.

Congratulations to No Offence Alan and thanks to Benpointer; I'll try and sort myself out to enter the next competition, although as my forecast of the GE date would still be in the future, I'm not too confident. At the moment, too, my survival to 31/12/2025 has to be slightly doubtful.

Our solar panels have performed poorly this December

And the wind farm blades are barely turning today and for many days in December as well

Dura_Ace said:

ohnotnow said:

Big_G_NorthWales said:

HYUFD said:

Nigelb said:

Jonathan said:

ydoethur said:

SandyRentool said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Foxy said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

bondegezou said:

Asma al-Assad not allowed to return to the UK: https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/asma-assad-no-return-uk-divorce-claims-3448114

See this is why the NHS is in crisis. We don't allow the family of doctors to come to the UK.

It's Mrs Assad who has the UK citizenship surely?

Surely she should be allowed to return, albeit for trial on complicity in war crimes, embezzlement etc?

Oh yes, like Kemi Badenoch she is also a computer scientist.

Have the Tories tried switching Kemi off and back on again?

It's only a matter of time before they reboot the leadership.

Farage must be absolutely delighted with Kemi.

It's becoming increasingly easy to see how the Tories might collapse from here.

A few more MP, and big business donor defections - the latter don't even have great reasons of either loyalty or ideology not to jump - could become a self-reinforcing trend.

"You can't win a majority starting with only five seats" might be true - but what if it's thirty ? Or more ?
And you have several years to spend £100m, before election restrictions ...

Yet the biggest gainers on seats on current polls will be the Tories from Labour due to big inroads Farage's party has made into the 2024 Labour vote while Kemi is holding the 2024 Tory vote

Good morning

I think that is fairly realistic, and I for one am quite happy with Kemi and not concerned she has Farage threatening legal action, as it is very important to this conservative that the two parties are not seen as one identity

There are many writing Kemi off , but they are not her audience and she has barely been in the job a few weeks

I expect that as 2025 progresses the extremes of the Trump Presidency and Musk's financial backing for Farage will not play as well for either him or Reform, but also I cannot see a boost for Labour as the dire economic position post Reeves miscalculated budget manifests itself

As long as Kemi retains the support of conservatives, [and she headed the last conhome table], then she will be OK

I expect reform to do well in red seats in the locals but it looks as if labour are considering cancelling some of these locals which is bizarre

Anyway, I may be a lone voice in support of Kemi, but I do think Farage and Reform during 2025 will face a difficult time with their support for Trump and Musk

Occurs to me that if Musk goes full-on Reform/Farage backing with cash and twitter, when Trump falls out with Musk it's going to leave Farage in a tricky spot. On the one hand - lovely cash and hordes of Musk fanboys, on the other - a constant barrage from the loyal MAGA hordes.

That won't be a problem at all as long as Farage continues the ritual obeisance toward DJT, which he surely will, then DJT won't give a fuck if Musk gives Farage money.

We are probably underestimating how much Musk will weigh in on the next British GE and what a profound effect it will have. He saw how the flattery and money formula worked with DJT and he clearly liked both the process and the outcome so why wouldn't he put his man in No.10?

kinabalu said:

bondegezou said:

kinabalu said:

Casino_Royale said:

JosiasJessop said:

Casino_Royale said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

MattW said:

What's Farage's record on previous legal actions, or threats thereof?

He's all fart and no follow through.

He threatened legal action against David Cameron when Dave rightly called UKIP 'fruitcakes and loonies - and closet racists mostly.'

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/apr/06/conservatives.politicalcolumnists

That was one of Cameron's biggest misjudgements. Saying that, and the reported comments of Lord Feldman, did a huge amount to alienate his base.

He was correct, though.

No, he wasn't.

It was his version of Hillary Clinton's deplorables.

It was substantially correct but poor politics. You can't diss the voters.

As Elon and Vivek are learning?

Yes there's a tension there by the sounds of it. Question is, is the typical Maga voter actually expecting Trump to make them better off or do they mainly just enjoy his persona?

Cicero said:

ohnotnow said:

Big_G_NorthWales said:

HYUFD said:

Nigelb said:

Jonathan said:

ydoethur said:

SandyRentool said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Foxy said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

bondegezou said:

Asma al-Assad not allowed to return to the UK: https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/asma-assad-no-return-uk-divorce-claims-3448114

See this is why the NHS is in crisis. We don't allow the family of doctors to come to the UK.

It's Mrs Assad who has the UK citizenship surely?

Surely she should be allowed to return, albeit for trial on complicity in war crimes, embezzlement etc?

Oh yes, like Kemi Badenoch she is also a computer scientist.

Have the Tories tried switching Kemi off and back on again?

It's only a matter of time before they reboot the leadership.

Farage must be absolutely delighted with Kemi.

It's becoming increasingly easy to see how the Tories might collapse from here.

A few more MP, and big business donor defections - the latter don't even have great reasons of either loyalty or ideology not to jump - could become a self-reinforcing trend.

"You can't win a majority starting with only five seats" might be true - but what if it's thirty ? Or more ?
And you have several years to spend £100m, before election restrictions ...

Yet the biggest gainers on seats on current polls will be the Tories from Labour due to big inroads Farage's party has made into the 2024 Labour vote while Kemi is holding the 2024 Tory vote

Good morning

I think that is fairly realistic, and I for one am quite happy with Kemi and not concerned she has Farage threatening legal action, as it is very important to this conservative that the two parties are not seen as one identity

There are many writing Kemi off , but they are not her audience and she has barely been in the job a few weeks

I expect that as 2025 progresses the extremes of the Trump Presidency and Musk's financial backing for Farage will not play as well for either him or Reform, but also I cannot see a boost for Labour as the dire economic position post Reeves miscalculated budget manifests itself

As long as Kemi retains the support of conservatives, [and she headed the last conhome table], then she will be OK

I expect reform to do well in red seats in the locals but it looks as if labour are considering cancelling some of these locals which is bizarre

Anyway, I may be a lone voice in support of Kemi, but I do think Farage and Reform during 2025 will face a difficult time with their support for Trump and Musk

Occurs to me that if Musk goes full-on Reform/Farage backing with cash and twitter, when Trump falls out with Musk it's going to leave Farage in a tricky spot. On the one hand - lovely cash and hordes of Musk fanboys, on the other - a constant barrage from the loyal MAGA hordes.

Not to mention the contempt of those that think taking millions of dollars of foreign cash makes Farage at best disloyal ro Britain, and worst a treacherous %&*@. "What exactly is Musk buying?" is a question that needs to be made every single time the question is raised.

Big_G_NorthWales said:

SandyRentool said:

Big_G_NorthWales said:

OldKingCole said:

Good morning, everyone. Still misty here; I wonder how much solar power has been generated locally this December by those with roof-top panels. Not a lot of wind, either.

Congratulations to No Offence Alan and thanks to Benpointer; I'll try and sort myself out to enter the next competition, although as my forecast of the GE date would still be in the future, I'm not too confident. At the moment, too, my survival to 31/12/2025 has to be slightly doubtful.

Our solar panels have performed poorly this December

And the wind farm blades are barely turning today and for many days in December as well

This is why we will still need some dispatchable thermal generation in a net zero future. DESNZ is funding gas-fired CCGT capacity with CCS, but in my view hydrogen or ammonia fuelled plant would be a better option.

It needs less dogma and more practical thinking and certainly tidal and hydrogen should be considered

viewcode said:

Big_G_NorthWales said:

SandyRentool said:

Big_G_NorthWales said:

OldKingCole said:

Good morning, everyone. Still misty here; I wonder how much solar power has been generated locally this December by those with roof-top panels. Not a lot of wind, either.

Congratulations to No Offence Alan and thanks to Benpointer; I'll try and sort myself out to enter the next competition, although as my forecast of the GE date would still be in the future, I'm not too confident. At the moment, too, my survival to 31/12/2025 has to be slightly doubtful.

Our solar panels have performed poorly this December

And the wind farm blades are barely turning today and for many days in December as well

This is why we will still need some dispatchable thermal generation in a net zero future. DESNZ is funding gas-fired CCGT capacity with CCS, but in my view hydrogen or ammonia fuelled plant would be a better option.

It needs less dogma and more practical thinking and certainly tidal and hydrogen should be considered

I have carefully considered hydrogen, and my considered expert opinion is that it is bloody stupid and anybody who implements it should be torn apart by wolves. 😃

viewcode said:

Big_G_NorthWales said:

SandyRentool said:

Big_G_NorthWales said:

OldKingCole said:

Good morning, everyone. Still misty here; I wonder how much solar power has been generated locally this December by those with roof-top panels. Not a lot of wind, either.

Congratulations to No Offence Alan and thanks to Benpointer; I'll try and sort myself out to enter the next competition, although as my forecast of the GE date would still be in the future, I'm not too confident. At the moment, too, my survival to 31/12/2025 has to be slightly doubtful.

Our solar panels have performed poorly this December

And the wind farm blades are barely turning today and for many days in December as well

This is why we will still need some dispatchable thermal generation in a net zero future. DESNZ is funding gas-fired CCGT capacity with CCS, but in my view hydrogen or ammonia fuelled plant would be a better option.

It needs less dogma and more practical thinking and certainly tidal and hydrogen should be considered

I have carefully considered hydrogen, and my considered expert opinion is that it is bloody stupid and anybody who implements it should be torn apart by wolves. 😃

FF43 said:

kinabalu said:

bondegezou said:

kinabalu said:

Casino_Royale said:

JosiasJessop said:

Casino_Royale said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

MattW said:

What's Farage's record on previous legal actions, or threats thereof?

He's all fart and no follow through.

He threatened legal action against David Cameron when Dave rightly called UKIP 'fruitcakes and loonies - and closet racists mostly.'

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/apr/06/conservatives.politicalcolumnists

That was one of Cameron's biggest misjudgements. Saying that, and the reported comments of Lord Feldman, did a huge amount to alienate his base.

He was correct, though.

No, he wasn't.

It was his version of Hillary Clinton's deplorables.

It was substantially correct but poor politics. You can't diss the voters.

As Elon and Vivek are learning?

Yes there's a tension there by the sounds of it. Question is, is the typical Maga voter actually expecting Trump to make them better off or do they mainly just enjoy his persona?

I think the typical Trump voter is highly cynical and Trump both exploits and promotes that cynicism. These voters believe (wrongly in my view) it doesn't make any real difference who is in charge, so they will take the guy who panders to them.

Apart from all the shittery, the key creature of MAGA is self indulgence.

algarkirk said:

Nigelb said:

HYUFD said:

Nigelb said:

Jonathan said:

ydoethur said:

SandyRentool said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Foxy said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

bondegezou said:

Asma al-Assad not allowed to return to the UK: https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/asma-assad-no-return-uk-divorce-claims-3448114

See this is why the NHS is in crisis. We don't allow the family of doctors to come to the UK.

It's Mrs Assad who has the UK citizenship surely?

Surely she should be allowed to return, albeit for trial on complicity in war crimes, embezzlement etc?

Oh yes, like Kemi Badenoch she is also a computer scientist.

Have the Tories tried switching Kemi off and back on again?

It's only a matter of time before they reboot the leadership.

Farage must be absolutely delighted with Kemi.

It's becoming increasingly easy to see how the Tories might collapse from here.

A few more MP, and big business donor defections - the latter don't even have great reasons of either loyalty or ideology not to jump - could become a self-reinforcing trend.

"You can't win a majority starting with only five seats" might be true - but what if it's thirty ? Or more ?
And you have several years to spend £100m, before election restrictions ...

Yet the biggest gainers on seats on current polls will be the Tories from Labour due to big inroads Farage's party has made into the 2024 Labour vote while Kemi is holding the 2024 Tory vote

On current polls.

I'm not saying it will happen, but Labour have an irreducible core, which I don't think is as true of the Tories.
A panic run from Tory to RefUK - both MPs and base - is quite possible.

What would you do, if it was clearly your best chance of another conservative-ish government ?

At the moment the best way of predicting voters, parliament and government is to ask questions about perceived self interest (call it PSI for now).

There is, I think, an irreducable core of voters for whom Labour are in their PSI as the only bastion of both the consumer and the producer aspects of the social democratic welfare state.

I suspect the Tories have lost for now most of the automatic PSI vote, which they are sharing with/losing to Reform and others. In particular the Tories have lost their unique selling point of general competence on behalf of the middle and aspiring class.

Questions for 2025 and beyond:
Can Reform get the PSI vote, as being the only political outfit appealing to the popular vote (unlike LDs) who haven't failed.

Is there a point where, say 20+ Tory MPs change the weather altogether by defecting together to Reform, because it is in their PSI to do so.

Footnote: Musk's intervention makes no difference to most voters. PSI is what counts.

algarkirk said:

Nigelb said:

HYUFD said:

Nigelb said:

Jonathan said:

ydoethur said:

SandyRentool said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Foxy said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

bondegezou said:

Asma al-Assad not allowed to return to the UK: https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/asma-assad-no-return-uk-divorce-claims-3448114

See this is why the NHS is in crisis. We don't allow the family of doctors to come to the UK.

It's Mrs Assad who has the UK citizenship surely?

Surely she should be allowed to return, albeit for trial on complicity in war crimes, embezzlement etc?

Oh yes, like Kemi Badenoch she is also a computer scientist.

Have the Tories tried switching Kemi off and back on again?

It's only a matter of time before they reboot the leadership.

Farage must be absolutely delighted with Kemi.

It's becoming increasingly easy to see how the Tories might collapse from here.

A few more MP, and big business donor defections - the latter don't even have great reasons of either loyalty or ideology not to jump - could become a self-reinforcing trend.

"You can't win a majority starting with only five seats" might be true - but what if it's thirty ? Or more ?
And you have several years to spend £100m, before election restrictions ...

Yet the biggest gainers on seats on current polls will be the Tories from Labour due to big inroads Farage's party has made into the 2024 Labour vote while Kemi is holding the 2024 Tory vote

On current polls.

I'm not saying it will happen, but Labour have an irreducible core, which I don't think is as true of the Tories.
A panic run from Tory to RefUK - both MPs and base - is quite possible.

What would you do, if it was clearly your best chance of another conservative-ish government ?

At the moment the best way of predicting voters, parliament and government is to ask questions about perceived self interest (call it PSI for now).

There is, I think, an irreducable core of voters for whom Labour are in their PSI as the only bastion of both the consumer and the producer aspects of the social democratic welfare state.

I suspect the Tories have lost for now most of the automatic PSI vote, which they are sharing with/losing to Reform and others. In particular the Tories have lost their unique selling point of general competence on behalf of the middle and aspiring class.

Questions for 2025 and beyond:
Can Reform get the PSI vote, as being the only political outfit appealing to the popular vote (unlike LDs) who haven't failed.

Is there a point where, say 20+ Tory MPs change the weather altogether by defecting together to Reform, because it is in their PSI to do so.

Footnote: Musk's intervention makes no difference to most voters. PSI is what counts.

Nigelb said:

kinabalu said:

williamglenn said:

https://x.com/ronxyz00/status/1872647183578845492

Former Trump ambassador to Denmark on Greenland: The idea that little Denmark can afford to defend Greenland is preposterous. They can't afford to defend and develop it... What President Trump is suggesting is common sense solution.

I have seen the future and it's four years of Donald Trump spouting rubbish which all the people seeking to curry favour with him pretend is the wisdom of Solomon.

The loon himself has even noticed.

Trump marvels at embrace by CEOs, top tech bosses: ‘Everybody wants to be my friend!’
https://thehill.com/business/5054083-trump-embrace-ceos-friends/

Nigelb said:

HYUFD said:

Nigelb said:

Jonathan said:

ydoethur said:

SandyRentool said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Foxy said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

bondegezou said:

Asma al-Assad not allowed to return to the UK: https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/asma-assad-no-return-uk-divorce-claims-3448114

See this is why the NHS is in crisis. We don't allow the family of doctors to come to the UK.

It's Mrs Assad who has the UK citizenship surely?

Surely she should be allowed to return, albeit for trial on complicity in war crimes, embezzlement etc?

Oh yes, like Kemi Badenoch she is also a computer scientist.

Have the Tories tried switching Kemi off and back on again?

It's only a matter of time before they reboot the leadership.

Farage must be absolutely delighted with Kemi.

It's becoming increasingly easy to see how the Tories might collapse from here.

A few more MP, and big business donor defections - the latter don't even have great reasons of either loyalty or ideology not to jump - could become a self-reinforcing trend.

"You can't win a majority starting with only five seats" might be true - but what if it's thirty ? Or more ?
And you have several years to spend £100m, before election restrictions ...

Yet the biggest gainers on seats on current polls will be the Tories from Labour due to big inroads Farage's party has made into the 2024 Labour vote while Kemi is holding the 2024 Tory vote

On current polls.

I'm not saying it will happen, but Labour have an irreducible core, which I don't think is as true of the Tories.
A panic run from Tory to RefUK - both MPs and base - is quite possible.

What would you do, if it was clearly your best chance of another conservative-ish government ?

Luckyguy1983 said:

bondegezou said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

kinabalu said:

williamglenn said:

https://x.com/ronxyz00/status/1872647183578845492

Former Trump ambassador to Denmark on Greenland: The idea that little Denmark can afford to defend Greenland is preposterous. They can't afford to defend and develop it... What President Trump is suggesting is common sense solution.

I have seen the future and it's four years of Donald Trump spouting rubbish which all the people seeking to curry favour with him pretend is the wisdom of Solomon.

Quite often he spouts rubbish which is jumped on by a pack of crazed commentators saying 'SEEEEEEE!!' like this Greenland thing, and he does something completely different.

And do you think that’s a good thing? Do you think going on about Greenland like this has made the US or the world a better place?

I think it was probably a classic Trump shakedown - Denmark was perhaps uming and ahing over a lucrative US defence contract, and now after Trump's guff about Greenland, they will sign. I don't approve of it or think it's a good thing, but those of us who adore the US and want everyone to spend money keeping its defence companies in plentiful employment should be delighted.

Trump is all about the US balance of payments and their defence companies especially. He will do the same to us when it's our turn (he'll probably enjoy it especially because it's the loathed Starmer), but happily we will not be able to discern any difference, as we have always had the chequebook out with pen hovering where the US is concerned anyway.

No_Offence_Alan said:

Blood yell! I actually won!?

Sean_F said:

Nigelb said:

HYUFD said:

Nigelb said:

Jonathan said:

ydoethur said:

SandyRentool said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Foxy said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

bondegezou said:

Asma al-Assad not allowed to return to the UK: https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/asma-assad-no-return-uk-divorce-claims-3448114

See this is why the NHS is in crisis. We don't allow the family of doctors to come to the UK.

It's Mrs Assad who has the UK citizenship surely?

Surely she should be allowed to return, albeit for trial on complicity in war crimes, embezzlement etc?

Oh yes, like Kemi Badenoch she is also a computer scientist.

Have the Tories tried switching Kemi off and back on again?

It's only a matter of time before they reboot the leadership.

Farage must be absolutely delighted with Kemi.

It's becoming increasingly easy to see how the Tories might collapse from here.

A few more MP, and big business donor defections - the latter don't even have great reasons of either loyalty or ideology not to jump - could become a self-reinforcing trend.

"You can't win a majority starting with only five seats" might be true - but what if it's thirty ? Or more ?
And you have several years to spend £100m, before election restrictions ...

Yet the biggest gainers on seats on current polls will be the Tories from Labour due to big inroads Farage's party has made into the 2024 Labour vote while Kemi is holding the 2024 Tory vote

On current polls.

I'm not saying it will happen, but Labour have an irreducible core, which I don't think is as true of the Tories.
A panic run from Tory to RefUK - both MPs and base - is quite possible.

What would you do, if it was clearly your best chance of another conservative-ish government ?

The Labour core is probably 20%, the Conservative core probably 10%.

Foxy said:

kinabalu said:

Nigelb said:

kinabalu said:

williamglenn said:

https://x.com/ronxyz00/status/1872647183578845492

Former Trump ambassador to Denmark on Greenland: The idea that little Denmark can afford to defend Greenland is preposterous. They can't afford to defend and develop it... What President Trump is suggesting is common sense solution.

I have seen the future and it's four years of Donald Trump spouting rubbish which all the people seeking to curry favour with him pretend is the wisdom of Solomon.

The loon himself has even noticed.

Trump marvels at embrace by CEOs, top tech bosses: ‘Everybody wants to be my friend!’
https://thehill.com/business/5054083-trump-embrace-ceos-friends/

He certainly has. Which only puffs him up even more. This is uncharted territory for a mature western democracy, becoming the toy of an ageing despot, and unfortunately it's the biggest wealthiest most powerful one. I hope the checks and balances are resting up and eating well because they're about to face a hell of a battle.

It will be a real test of the Constitution.

Part of America's political sclerosis is down the rigidities of the US Constitution, which has almost Holy Writ in US minds.

In particular, I think the Supreme Court will be a check on Trumps power. Theres only so far that they can bend interpretation.

bondegezou said:

Foxy said:

kinabalu said:

Nigelb said:

kinabalu said:

williamglenn said:

https://x.com/ronxyz00/status/1872647183578845492

Former Trump ambassador to Denmark on Greenland: The idea that little Denmark can afford to defend Greenland is preposterous. They can't afford to defend and develop it... What President Trump is suggesting is common sense solution.

I have seen the future and it's four years of Donald Trump spouting rubbish which all the people seeking to curry favour with him pretend is the wisdom of Solomon.

The loon himself has even noticed.

Trump marvels at embrace by CEOs, top tech bosses: ‘Everybody wants to be my friend!’
https://thehill.com/business/5054083-trump-embrace-ceos-friends/

He certainly has. Which only puffs him up even more. This is uncharted territory for a mature western democracy, becoming the toy of an ageing despot, and unfortunately it's the biggest wealthiest most powerful one. I hope the checks and balances are resting up and eating well because they're about to face a hell of a battle.

It will be a real test of the Constitution.

Part of America's political sclerosis is down the rigidities of the US Constitution, which has almost Holy Writ in US minds.

In particular, I think the Supreme Court will be a check on Trumps power. Theres only so far that they can bend interpretation.

I don’t see much reason to be hopeful that the Supreme Court will be some bulwark of common sense. Has everyone read https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/press/releases/senate-judiciary-committee-releases-revealing-investigative-report-on-ethical-crisis-at-the-supreme-court ?

Driver said:

bondegezou said:

Foxy said:

kinabalu said:

Nigelb said:

kinabalu said:

williamglenn said:

https://x.com/ronxyz00/status/1872647183578845492

Former Trump ambassador to Denmark on Greenland: The idea that little Denmark can afford to defend Greenland is preposterous. They can't afford to defend and develop it... What President Trump is suggesting is common sense solution.

I have seen the future and it's four years of Donald Trump spouting rubbish which all the people seeking to curry favour with him pretend is the wisdom of Solomon.

The loon himself has even noticed.

Trump marvels at embrace by CEOs, top tech bosses: ‘Everybody wants to be my friend!’
https://thehill.com/business/5054083-trump-embrace-ceos-friends/

He certainly has. Which only puffs him up even more. This is uncharted territory for a mature western democracy, becoming the toy of an ageing despot, and unfortunately it's the biggest wealthiest most powerful one. I hope the checks and balances are resting up and eating well because they're about to face a hell of a battle.

It will be a real test of the Constitution.

Part of America's political sclerosis is down the rigidities of the US Constitution, which has almost Holy Writ in US minds.

In particular, I think the Supreme Court will be a check on Trumps power. Theres only so far that they can bend interpretation.

I don’t see much reason to be hopeful that the Supreme Court will be some bulwark of common sense. Has everyone read https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/press/releases/senate-judiciary-committee-releases-revealing-investigative-report-on-ethical-crisis-at-the-supreme-court ?

Majority Dem committee thinks majority Rep SCOTUS has an "ethical crisis"?

bondegezou said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

bondegezou said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

kinabalu said:

williamglenn said:

https://x.com/ronxyz00/status/1872647183578845492

Former Trump ambassador to Denmark on Greenland: The idea that little Denmark can afford to defend Greenland is preposterous. They can't afford to defend and develop it... What President Trump is suggesting is common sense solution.

I have seen the future and it's four years of Donald Trump spouting rubbish which all the people seeking to curry favour with him pretend is the wisdom of Solomon.

Quite often he spouts rubbish which is jumped on by a pack of crazed commentators saying 'SEEEEEEE!!' like this Greenland thing, and he does something completely different.

And do you think that’s a good thing? Do you think going on about Greenland like this has made the US or the world a better place?

I think it was probably a classic Trump shakedown - Denmark was perhaps uming and ahing over a lucrative US defence contract, and now after Trump's guff about Greenland, they will sign. I don't approve of it or think it's a good thing, but those of us who adore the US and want everyone to spend money keeping its defence companies in plentiful employment should be delighted.

Trump is all about the US balance of payments and their defence companies especially. He will do the same to us when it's our turn (he'll probably enjoy it especially because it's the loathed Starmer), but happily we will not be able to discern any difference, as we have always had the chequebook out with pen hovering where the US is concerned anyway.

You’ve just made that up out of thin air. There is zero evidence of any such Danish-US defence contract.

Mexicanpete said:

Foxy said:

kinabalu said:

Nigelb said:

kinabalu said:

williamglenn said:

https://x.com/ronxyz00/status/1872647183578845492

Former Trump ambassador to Denmark on Greenland: The idea that little Denmark can afford to defend Greenland is preposterous. They can't afford to defend and develop it... What President Trump is suggesting is common sense solution.

I have seen the future and it's four years of Donald Trump spouting rubbish which all the people seeking to curry favour with him pretend is the wisdom of Solomon.

The loon himself has even noticed.

Trump marvels at embrace by CEOs, top tech bosses: ‘Everybody wants to be my friend!’
https://thehill.com/business/5054083-trump-embrace-ceos-friends/

He certainly has. Which only puffs him up even more. This is uncharted territory for a mature western democracy, becoming the toy of an ageing despot, and unfortunately it's the biggest wealthiest most powerful one. I hope the checks and balances are resting up and eating well because they're about to face a hell of a battle.

It will be a real test of the Constitution.

Part of America's political sclerosis is down the rigidities of the US Constitution, which has almost Holy Writ in US minds.

In particular, I think the Supreme Court will be a check on Trumps power. Theres only so far that they can bend interpretation.

Foxy said:

kinabalu said:

Nigelb said:

kinabalu said:

williamglenn said:

https://x.com/ronxyz00/status/1872647183578845492

Former Trump ambassador to Denmark on Greenland: The idea that little Denmark can afford to defend Greenland is preposterous. They can't afford to defend and develop it... What President Trump is suggesting is common sense solution.

I have seen the future and it's four years of Donald Trump spouting rubbish which all the people seeking to curry favour with him pretend is the wisdom of Solomon.

The loon himself has even noticed.

Trump marvels at embrace by CEOs, top tech bosses: ‘Everybody wants to be my friend!’
https://thehill.com/business/5054083-trump-embrace-ceos-friends/

He certainly has. Which only puffs him up even more. This is uncharted territory for a mature western democracy, becoming the toy of an ageing despot, and unfortunately it's the biggest wealthiest most powerful one. I hope the checks and balances are resting up and eating well because they're about to face a hell of a battle.

It will be a real test of the Constitution.

Part of America's political sclerosis is down the rigidities of the US Constitution, which has almost Holy Writ in US minds.

In particular, I think the Supreme Court will be a check on Trumps power. Theres only so far that they can bend interpretation.

The insanity of the judgement that President Trump is beyond any reproach suggests the SC can bend interpretation however they desire. The Founding Fathers never anticipated Trump.

Nigelb said:

bondegezou said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

bondegezou said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

kinabalu said:

williamglenn said:

https://x.com/ronxyz00/status/1872647183578845492

Former Trump ambassador to Denmark on Greenland: The idea that little Denmark can afford to defend Greenland is preposterous. They can't afford to defend and develop it... What President Trump is suggesting is common sense solution.

I have seen the future and it's four years of Donald Trump spouting rubbish which all the people seeking to curry favour with him pretend is the wisdom of Solomon.

Quite often he spouts rubbish which is jumped on by a pack of crazed commentators saying 'SEEEEEEE!!' like this Greenland thing, and he does something completely different.

And do you think that’s a good thing? Do you think going on about Greenland like this has made the US or the world a better place?

I think it was probably a classic Trump shakedown - Denmark was perhaps uming and ahing over a lucrative US defence contract, and now after Trump's guff about Greenland, they will sign. I don't approve of it or think it's a good thing, but those of us who adore the US and want everyone to spend money keeping its defence companies in plentiful employment should be delighted.

Trump is all about the US balance of payments and their defence companies especially. He will do the same to us when it's our turn (he'll probably enjoy it especially because it's the loathed Starmer), but happily we will not be able to discern any difference, as we have always had the chequebook out with pen hovering where the US is concerned anyway.

You’ve just made that up out of thin air. There is zero evidence of any such Danish-US defence contract.

Big recent orders have been with Rheinmetal and BAE's Swedish subsidiary.

Denmark bought the F35, of course. In 2017.

bondegezou said:

Driver said:

bondegezou said:

Driver said:

bondegezou said:

Foxy said:

kinabalu said:

Nigelb said:

kinabalu said:

williamglenn said:

https://x.com/ronxyz00/status/1872647183578845492

Former Trump ambassador to Denmark on Greenland: The idea that little Denmark can afford to defend Greenland is preposterous. They can't afford to defend and develop it... What President Trump is suggesting is common sense solution.

I have seen the future and it's four years of Donald Trump spouting rubbish which all the people seeking to curry favour with him pretend is the wisdom of Solomon.

The loon himself has even noticed.

Trump marvels at embrace by CEOs, top tech bosses: ‘Everybody wants to be my friend!’
https://thehill.com/business/5054083-trump-embrace-ceos-friends/

He certainly has. Which only puffs him up even more. This is uncharted territory for a mature western democracy, becoming the toy of an ageing despot, and unfortunately it's the biggest wealthiest most powerful one. I hope the checks and balances are resting up and eating well because they're about to face a hell of a battle.

It will be a real test of the Constitution.

Part of America's political sclerosis is down the rigidities of the US Constitution, which has almost Holy Writ in US minds.

In particular, I think the Supreme Court will be a check on Trumps power. Theres only so far that they can bend interpretation.

I don’t see much reason to be hopeful that the Supreme Court will be some bulwark of common sense. Has everyone read https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/press/releases/senate-judiciary-committee-releases-revealing-investigative-report-on-ethical-crisis-at-the-supreme-court ?

Majority Dem committee thinks majority Rep SCOTUS has an "ethical crisis"?

They provide evidence. It’s all detailed in the report.

I'm certain that they found things they could portray in such a way as to support the conclusion they started from, yes.

Here’s the summary:

[big block of text completely missing my point]

Which of these are misleading or wrong?

Foxy said:

Mexicanpete said:

Foxy said:

kinabalu said:

Nigelb said:

kinabalu said:

williamglenn said:

https://x.com/ronxyz00/status/1872647183578845492

Former Trump ambassador to Denmark on Greenland: The idea that little Denmark can afford to defend Greenland is preposterous. They can't afford to defend and develop it... What President Trump is suggesting is common sense solution.

I have seen the future and it's four years of Donald Trump spouting rubbish which all the people seeking to curry favour with him pretend is the wisdom of Solomon.

The loon himself has even noticed.

Trump marvels at embrace by CEOs, top tech bosses: ‘Everybody wants to be my friend!’
https://thehill.com/business/5054083-trump-embrace-ceos-friends/

He certainly has. Which only puffs him up even more. This is uncharted territory for a mature western democracy, becoming the toy of an ageing despot, and unfortunately it's the biggest wealthiest most powerful one. I hope the checks and balances are resting up and eating well because they're about to face a hell of a battle.

It will be a real test of the Constitution.

Part of America's political sclerosis is down the rigidities of the US Constitution, which has almost Holy Writ in US minds.

In particular, I think the Supreme Court will be a check on Trumps power. Theres only so far that they can bend interpretation.

Foxy said:

kinabalu said:

Nigelb said:

kinabalu said:

williamglenn said:

https://x.com/ronxyz00/status/1872647183578845492

Former Trump ambassador to Denmark on Greenland: The idea that little Denmark can afford to defend Greenland is preposterous. They can't afford to defend and develop it... What President Trump is suggesting is common sense solution.

I have seen the future and it's four years of Donald Trump spouting rubbish which all the people seeking to curry favour with him pretend is the wisdom of Solomon.

The loon himself has even noticed.

Trump marvels at embrace by CEOs, top tech bosses: ‘Everybody wants to be my friend!’
https://thehill.com/business/5054083-trump-embrace-ceos-friends/

He certainly has. Which only puffs him up even more. This is uncharted territory for a mature western democracy, becoming the toy of an ageing despot, and unfortunately it's the biggest wealthiest most powerful one. I hope the checks and balances are resting up and eating well because they're about to face a hell of a battle.

It will be a real test of the Constitution.

Part of America's political sclerosis is down the rigidities of the US Constitution, which has almost Holy Writ in US minds.

In particular, I think the Supreme Court will be a check on Trumps power. Theres only so far that they can bend interpretation.

The insanity of the judgement that President Trump is beyond any reproach suggests the SC can bend interpretation however they desire. The Founding Fathers never anticipated Trump.

On the contrary, the Constitution was specifically written in anticipation of potential tyrants.

The question is whether they are willing to enforce its meausures.

Driver said:

bondegezou said:

Driver said:

bondegezou said:

Driver said:

bondegezou said:

Foxy said:

kinabalu said:

Nigelb said:

kinabalu said:

williamglenn said:

https://x.com/ronxyz00/status/1872647183578845492

Former Trump ambassador to Denmark on Greenland: The idea that little Denmark can afford to defend Greenland is preposterous. They can't afford to defend and develop it... What President Trump is suggesting is common sense solution.

I have seen the future and it's four years of Donald Trump spouting rubbish which all the people seeking to curry favour with him pretend is the wisdom of Solomon.

The loon himself has even noticed.

Trump marvels at embrace by CEOs, top tech bosses: ‘Everybody wants to be my friend!’
https://thehill.com/business/5054083-trump-embrace-ceos-friends/

He certainly has. Which only puffs him up even more. This is uncharted territory for a mature western democracy, becoming the toy of an ageing despot, and unfortunately it's the biggest wealthiest most powerful one. I hope the checks and balances are resting up and eating well because they're about to face a hell of a battle.

It will be a real test of the Constitution.

Part of America's political sclerosis is down the rigidities of the US Constitution, which has almost Holy Writ in US minds.

In particular, I think the Supreme Court will be a check on Trumps power. Theres only so far that they can bend interpretation.

I don’t see much reason to be hopeful that the Supreme Court will be some bulwark of common sense. Has everyone read https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/press/releases/senate-judiciary-committee-releases-revealing-investigative-report-on-ethical-crisis-at-the-supreme-court ?

Majority Dem committee thinks majority Rep SCOTUS has an "ethical crisis"?

They provide evidence. It’s all detailed in the report.

I'm certain that they found things they could portray in such a way as to support the conclusion they started from, yes.

Here’s the summary:

[big block of text completely missing my point]

Which of these are misleading or wrong?

Well, congratulations on spectacularly missing my point.

bondegezou said:

Driver said:

bondegezou said:

Driver said:

bondegezou said:

Driver said:

bondegezou said:

Foxy said:

kinabalu said:

Nigelb said:

kinabalu said:

williamglenn said:

https://x.com/ronxyz00/status/1872647183578845492

Former Trump ambassador to Denmark on Greenland: The idea that little Denmark can afford to defend Greenland is preposterous. They can't afford to defend and develop it... What President Trump is suggesting is common sense solution.

I have seen the future and it's four years of Donald Trump spouting rubbish which all the people seeking to curry favour with him pretend is the wisdom of Solomon.

The loon himself has even noticed.

Trump marvels at embrace by CEOs, top tech bosses: ‘Everybody wants to be my friend!’
https://thehill.com/business/5054083-trump-embrace-ceos-friends/

He certainly has. Which only puffs him up even more. This is uncharted territory for a mature western democracy, becoming the toy of an ageing despot, and unfortunately it's the biggest wealthiest most powerful one. I hope the checks and balances are resting up and eating well because they're about to face a hell of a battle.

It will be a real test of the Constitution.

Part of America's political sclerosis is down the rigidities of the US Constitution, which has almost Holy Writ in US minds.

In particular, I think the Supreme Court will be a check on Trumps power. Theres only so far that they can bend interpretation.

I don’t see much reason to be hopeful that the Supreme Court will be some bulwark of common sense. Has everyone read https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/press/releases/senate-judiciary-committee-releases-revealing-investigative-report-on-ethical-crisis-at-the-supreme-court ?

Majority Dem committee thinks majority Rep SCOTUS has an "ethical crisis"?

They provide evidence. It’s all detailed in the report.

I'm certain that they found things they could portray in such a way as to support the conclusion they started from, yes.

Here’s the summary:

[big block of text completely missing my point]

Which of these are misleading or wrong?

Well, congratulations on spectacularly missing my point.

You keep repeating the same assertion, but you don’t provide any evidence, you don’t specify any examples. Can you point to an error in the report? It appears not.

Driver said:

bondegezou said:

Driver said:

bondegezou said:

Driver said:

bondegezou said:

Driver said:

bondegezou said:

Foxy said:

kinabalu said:

Nigelb said:

kinabalu said:

williamglenn said:

https://x.com/ronxyz00/status/1872647183578845492

Former Trump ambassador to Denmark on Greenland: The idea that little Denmark can afford to defend Greenland is preposterous. They can't afford to defend and develop it... What President Trump is suggesting is common sense solution.

I have seen the future and it's four years of Donald Trump spouting rubbish which all the people seeking to curry favour with him pretend is the wisdom of Solomon.

The loon himself has even noticed.

Trump marvels at embrace by CEOs, top tech bosses: ‘Everybody wants to be my friend!’
https://thehill.com/business/5054083-trump-embrace-ceos-friends/

He certainly has. Which only puffs him up even more. This is uncharted territory for a mature western democracy, becoming the toy of an ageing despot, and unfortunately it's the biggest wealthiest most powerful one. I hope the checks and balances are resting up and eating well because they're about to face a hell of a battle.

It will be a real test of the Constitution.

Part of America's political sclerosis is down the rigidities of the US Constitution, which has almost Holy Writ in US minds.

In particular, I think the Supreme Court will be a check on Trumps power. Theres only so far that they can bend interpretation.

I don’t see much reason to be hopeful that the Supreme Court will be some bulwark of common sense. Has everyone read https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/press/releases/senate-judiciary-committee-releases-revealing-investigative-report-on-ethical-crisis-at-the-supreme-court ?

Majority Dem committee thinks majority Rep SCOTUS has an "ethical crisis"?

They provide evidence. It’s all detailed in the report.

I'm certain that they found things they could portray in such a way as to support the conclusion they started from, yes.

Here’s the summary:

[big block of text completely missing my point]

Which of these are misleading or wrong?

Well, congratulations on spectacularly missing my point.

You keep repeating the same assertion, but you don’t provide any evidence, you don’t specify any examples. Can you point to an error in the report? It appears not.

The error is yours - by portraying a partisan hit job as in any way worthy of consideration.

Maybe there is an "ethical crisis" in SCOTUS. If there is, a Democrat-majority committee that the public has just voted out of office which assumes the worst from the beginning isn't going to find it.

Or, in short: "Dems say GOP bad" is "well, duh".

Cyclefree said:

Heavy rain forecast for later. So the sheep which graze on the marsh lands were being moved to higher ground this morning.



This is what passes for a traffic jam round here.

A few weeks ago we had roast leg of lamb from one of the lambs in this flock.

Cyclefree said:

DecrepiterJohnL said:

williamglenn said:

https://news.sky.com/story/starmer-throws-down-gauntlet-to-watchdogs-with-growth-edict-13280738

The PM, chancellor and business secretary have written to watchdogs including Ofgem, the FCA and CMA to demand ideas for growth

This is what's wrong with the government and its budget. Labour has no policies, just some vague aspirations. It wants savings but does not know from where. It wants growth but does not know how. This is a motherhood and apple pie government.

It's not the job of regulators to do this. Did no-one in Labour do any thinking at all while in opposition?

Cyclefree said:

DecrepiterJohnL said:

williamglenn said:

https://news.sky.com/story/starmer-throws-down-gauntlet-to-watchdogs-with-growth-edict-13280738

The PM, chancellor and business secretary have written to watchdogs including Ofgem, the FCA and CMA to demand ideas for growth

This is what's wrong with the government and its budget. Labour has no policies, just some vague aspirations. It wants savings but does not know from where. It wants growth but does not know how. This is a motherhood and apple pie government.

It's not the job of regulators to do this. Did no-one in Labour do any thinking at all while in opposition?

Casino_Royale said:

JosiasJessop said:

Casino_Royale said:

Sean_F said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

bondegezou said:

Asma al-Assad not allowed to return to the UK: https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/asma-assad-no-return-uk-divorce-claims-3448114

See this is why the NHS is in crisis. We don't allow the family of doctors to come to the UK.

It’s funny. Assad would probably have led an entirely uneventful life, as an eye-doctor in the UK, had his brother not died in a car crash.

So what turned him to the Dark Side?

I know f-all about him. so I don't know if he was a 'good' person beforehand. But I guess the system he was working within would not have helped. His father was an atrocious dictator, and the system of government he inherited would have been built to handle citizens and events in a certain way. The path of least resistance was to continue his father's regime pretty much as it was. And it worked for a little over a decade.

The really scary version: would we be any different?

Of course, we'd all like to think we would be, but would we?

bondegezou said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

bondegezou said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

kinabalu said:

williamglenn said:

https://x.com/ronxyz00/status/1872647183578845492

Former Trump ambassador to Denmark on Greenland: The idea that little Denmark can afford to defend Greenland is preposterous. They can't afford to defend and develop it... What President Trump is suggesting is common sense solution.

I have seen the future and it's four years of Donald Trump spouting rubbish which all the people seeking to curry favour with him pretend is the wisdom of Solomon.

Quite often he spouts rubbish which is jumped on by a pack of crazed commentators saying 'SEEEEEEE!!' like this Greenland thing, and he does something completely different.

And do you think that’s a good thing? Do you think going on about Greenland like this has made the US or the world a better place?

I think it was probably a classic Trump shakedown - Denmark was perhaps uming and ahing over a lucrative US defence contract, and now after Trump's guff about Greenland, they will sign. I don't approve of it or think it's a good thing, but those of us who adore the US and want everyone to spend money keeping its defence companies in plentiful employment should be delighted.

Trump is all about the US balance of payments and their defence companies especially. He will do the same to us when it's our turn (he'll probably enjoy it especially because it's the loathed Starmer), but happily we will not be able to discern any difference, as we have always had the chequebook out with pen hovering where the US is concerned anyway.

You’ve just made that up out of thin air. There is zero evidence of any such Danish-US defence contract.

bondegezou said:

Cyclefree said:

DecrepiterJohnL said:

williamglenn said:

https://news.sky.com/story/starmer-throws-down-gauntlet-to-watchdogs-with-growth-edict-13280738

The PM, chancellor and business secretary have written to watchdogs including Ofgem, the FCA and CMA to demand ideas for growth

This is what's wrong with the government and its budget. Labour has no policies, just some vague aspirations. It wants savings but does not know from where. It wants growth but does not know how. This is a motherhood and apple pie government.

It's not the job of regulators to do this. Did no-one in Labour do any thinking at all while in opposition?

It is a foundation of politics to the right of the centre that regulation impedes growth, so presumably looking at what regulators do (or don't do) should be relevant to a growth agenda. If you're going to make changes in this area, then it makes sense to get input first from the regulators. So, I don't see what's so terrible about this.

bondegezou said:

Cyclefree said:

DecrepiterJohnL said:

williamglenn said:

https://news.sky.com/story/starmer-throws-down-gauntlet-to-watchdogs-with-growth-edict-13280738

The PM, chancellor and business secretary have written to watchdogs including Ofgem, the FCA and CMA to demand ideas for growth

This is what's wrong with the government and its budget. Labour has no policies, just some vague aspirations. It wants savings but does not know from where. It wants growth but does not know how. This is a motherhood and apple pie government.

It's not the job of regulators to do this. Did no-one in Labour do any thinking at all while in opposition?

It is a foundation of politics to the right of the centre that regulation impedes growth, so presumably looking at what regulators do (or don't do) should be relevant to a growth agenda. If you're going to make changes in this area, then it makes sense to get input first from the regulators. So, I don't see what's so terrible about this.

Foxy said:

bondegezou said:

Cyclefree said:

DecrepiterJohnL said:

williamglenn said:

https://news.sky.com/story/starmer-throws-down-gauntlet-to-watchdogs-with-growth-edict-13280738

The PM, chancellor and business secretary have written to watchdogs including Ofgem, the FCA and CMA to demand ideas for growth

This is what's wrong with the government and its budget. Labour has no policies, just some vague aspirations. It wants savings but does not know from where. It wants growth but does not know how. This is a motherhood and apple pie government.

It's not the job of regulators to do this. Did no-one in Labour do any thinking at all while in opposition?

It is a foundation of politics to the right of the centre that regulation impedes growth, so presumably looking at what regulators do (or don't do) should be relevant to a growth agenda. If you're going to make changes in this area, then it makes sense to get input first from the regulators. So, I don't see what's so terrible about this.

Similarly every year my department has to come up with 4% savings as part of the "Cost Improvement Programme" each year.

Asking bodies to look at what they are doing and considering savings and efficiencies is pretty standard management practice.

williamglenn said:

Foxy said:

MattW said:

kinabalu said:

Dura_Ace said:

ohnotnow said:

Big_G_NorthWales said:

HYUFD said:

Nigelb said:

Jonathan said:

ydoethur said:

SandyRentool said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Foxy said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

bondegezou said:

Asma al-Assad not allowed to return to the UK: https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/asma-assad-no-return-uk-divorce-claims-3448114

See this is why the NHS is in crisis. We don't allow the family of doctors to come to the UK.

It's Mrs Assad who has the UK citizenship surely?

Surely she should be allowed to return, albeit for trial on complicity in war crimes, embezzlement etc?

Oh yes, like Kemi Badenoch she is also a computer scientist.

Have the Tories tried switching Kemi off and back on again?

It's only a matter of time before they reboot the leadership.

Farage must be absolutely delighted with Kemi.

It's becoming increasingly easy to see how the Tories might collapse from here.

A few more MP, and big business donor defections - the latter don't even have great reasons of either loyalty or ideology not to jump - could become a self-reinforcing trend.

"You can't win a majority starting with only five seats" might be true - but what if it's thirty ? Or more ?
And you have several years to spend £100m, before election restrictions ...

Yet the biggest gainers on seats on current polls will be the Tories from Labour due to big inroads Farage's party has made into the 2024 Labour vote while Kemi is holding the 2024 Tory vote

Good morning

I think that is fairly realistic, and I for one am quite happy with Kemi and not concerned she has Farage threatening legal action, as it is very important to this conservative that the two parties are not seen as one identity

There are many writing Kemi off , but they are not her audience and she has barely been in the job a few weeks

I expect that as 2025 progresses the extremes of the Trump Presidency and Musk's financial backing for Farage will not play as well for either him or Reform, but also I cannot see a boost for Labour as the dire economic position post Reeves miscalculated budget manifests itself

As long as Kemi retains the support of conservatives, [and she headed the last conhome table], then she will be OK

I expect reform to do well in red seats in the locals but it looks as if labour are considering cancelling some of these locals which is bizarre

Anyway, I may be a lone voice in support of Kemi, but I do think Farage and Reform during 2025 will face a difficult time with their support for Trump and Musk

Occurs to me that if Musk goes full-on Reform/Farage backing with cash and twitter, when Trump falls out with Musk it's going to leave Farage in a tricky spot. On the one hand - lovely cash and hordes of Musk fanboys, on the other - a constant barrage from the loyal MAGA hordes.

That won't be a problem at all as long as Farage continues the ritual obeisance toward DJT, which he surely will, then DJT won't give a fuck if Musk gives Farage money.

We are probably underestimating how much Musk will weigh in on the next British GE and what a profound effect it will have. He saw how the flattery and money formula worked with DJT and he clearly liked both the process and the outcome so why wouldn't he put his man in No.10?

I'm very much expecting it. Apparently we have a special place in Musk's heart as the "mothership of the English speaking peoples."

Chest puffing out as I was typing there.

I fee left out; no one in Europe has had a threat of invasion yet.

Trump has outsourced that to Putin and the North Koreans.

Maybe he should invite Ukraine to become an American state.

Foxy said:

bondegezou said:

Cyclefree said:

DecrepiterJohnL said:

williamglenn said:

https://news.sky.com/story/starmer-throws-down-gauntlet-to-watchdogs-with-growth-edict-13280738

The PM, chancellor and business secretary have written to watchdogs including Ofgem, the FCA and CMA to demand ideas for growth

This is what's wrong with the government and its budget. Labour has no policies, just some vague aspirations. It wants savings but does not know from where. It wants growth but does not know how. This is a motherhood and apple pie government.

It's not the job of regulators to do this. Did no-one in Labour do any thinking at all while in opposition?

It is a foundation of politics to the right of the centre that regulation impedes growth, so presumably looking at what regulators do (or don't do) should be relevant to a growth agenda. If you're going to make changes in this area, then it makes sense to get input first from the regulators. So, I don't see what's so terrible about this.

Similarly every year my department has to come up with 4% savings as part of the "Cost Improvement Programme" each year.

Asking bodies to look at what they are doing and considering savings and efficiencies is pretty standard management practice.

MattW said:

Cyclefree said:

DecrepiterJohnL said:

williamglenn said:

https://news.sky.com/story/starmer-throws-down-gauntlet-to-watchdogs-with-growth-edict-13280738

The PM, chancellor and business secretary have written to watchdogs including Ofgem, the FCA and CMA to demand ideas for growth

This is what's wrong with the government and its budget. Labour has no policies, just some vague aspirations. It wants savings but does not know from where. It wants growth but does not know how. This is a motherhood and apple pie government.

It's not the job of regulators to do this. Did no-one in Labour do any thinking at all while in opposition?

It seems to me to be quite in order to ask regulators how regulation can be improved; they are the ones who are closest to their industries or sectors.

And it seems that it is in the remit:

Most of Britain's economic regulators already have a Growth Duty enshrined in their statute, having come into effect in March 2017 under the Deregulation Act of two years earlier.

bondegezou said:

Cyclefree said:

DecrepiterJohnL said:

williamglenn said:

https://news.sky.com/story/starmer-throws-down-gauntlet-to-watchdogs-with-growth-edict-13280738

The PM, chancellor and business secretary have written to watchdogs including Ofgem, the FCA and CMA to demand ideas for growth

This is what's wrong with the government and its budget. Labour has no policies, just some vague aspirations. It wants savings but does not know from where. It wants growth but does not know how. This is a motherhood and apple pie government.

It's not the job of regulators to do this. Did no-one in Labour do any thinking at all while in opposition?

It is a foundation of politics to the right of the centre that regulation impedes growth, so presumably looking at what regulators do (or don't do) should be relevant to a growth agenda. If you're going to make changes in this area, then it makes sense to get input first from the regulators. So, I don't see what's so terrible about this.

Pulpstar said:

Nigelb said:

williamglenn said:

https://news.sky.com/story/starmer-throws-down-gauntlet-to-watchdogs-with-growth-edict-13280738

The PM, chancellor and business secretary have written to watchdogs including Ofgem, the FCA and CMA to demand ideas for growth

Some of the last places I’d be seeking ideas.

Yes it's a bit bonkers. The job of regulators is to err (Well try and) ... regulate ?!?

DecrepiterJohnL said:

Handy medical tip.

Any paper cuts on your finger tips can be quickly discovered by groping around in a jar of vinegar to grab the last remaining pickled onion.