If today you’re confidently predicting the next general election result… – politicalbetting.com

kinabalu said:

Andy_JS said:

This isn't a joke.

"Scottish government gives update on reports cats could be banned"

https://news.sky.com/story/cat-ban-could-be-tabled-in-scotland-as-ministers-urged-to-investigate-pets-risk-to-wildlife-13302273

And the update is that under no circumstances will cats be banned.

Malmesbury said:

a

williamglenn said:

Czech beavers build planned dams in protected landscape area, while local officials were still seeking permits

https://english.radio.cz/beavers-build-planned-dams-protected-landscape-area-while-local-officials-still-8841536

"The beavers saved us 30 million Czech korunas. They built the dams without any project documentation—and for free," said the head of the nature reserve administration.

Proposal - get the Wuhan lab to genetically modify beavers so they build nuclear reactors, railways, roads.

turbotubbs said:

Mexicanpete said:

turbotubbs said:

Scott_xP said:

turbotubbs said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

TimS said:

Nigelb said:

Until the little Transatlantic difficulty is sorted, I don't think any of this matters very much.

It’s only going to get more dramatic over the next few weeks. Project 2025 is well and truly happening. And you’re right, rather like Covid or the financial crisis or Iraq war, how European governments respond to the nouse coming out of the US is going to dominate everything else for a while.

Not for the first time, we appear to be positioned rather well due to Brexit.

Don't forget that Brexit is a failure, as I keep seeing on this forum. No one defines what that failure is, mind.

@whatukthinks

Latest @BMGResearch poll for @theipaper.
#EURef2 vi: Join 45 (+1); Stay Out 37 (-3). Fwork 28-29.1.25 (ch since 26-27.11.24).

Did they set out the terms of rejoin? I doubt it. Adopt the Euro, no rebate etc

Sweden are Euro-free and it is you Leavers who binned the rebate by leaving. Any future rejoin agreement will be inferior to what we threw away. Thanks Leavers.

I'm not a leaver - I voted remain.

ClippP said:

williamglenn said:

https://x.com/trumpdailyposts/status/1886440603996840266

I just spoke with President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico. It was a very friendly conversation wherein she agreed to immediately supply 10,000 Mexican Soldiers on the Border separating Mexico and the United States. These soldiers will be specifically designated to stop the flow of fentanyl, and illegal migrants into our Country. We further agreed to immediately pause the anticipated tariffs for a one month period during which we will have negotiations headed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent, and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and high-level Representatives of Mexico. I look forward to participating in those negotiations, with President Sheinbaum, as we attempt to achieve a “deal” between our two Countries.

And what does Claudia say about the conversation? I will believe her version.

tlg86 said:

Is Starmer in trouble over this voice coach thing?

Mexicanpete said:

rcs1000 said:

Mexicanpete said:

Scott_xP said:

@thetimes

Investors fleeing the cryptocurrency market after President Trump ignited a trade war have wiped more than $500bn off the value of digital assets ⬇️

https://x.com/basileuspi/status/1886410925684781431

You can bet your boots Trump and Musk have been shorting crypto and have each made a gazillion dollars today in hard cash by the time they were finished. Luvvly Jubbly.

Actually, I don't think that's true at all.

I doubt Trump has any positions other than in $TRUMP, and that he'll be trying to dump at high speed, and this trade war doesn't help him.

Musk is a true believer in Bitcoin, and a large chunk of Tesla's Q4 earnings came from revaluing its Bitcoin holdings upwards.

So they've f***** themselves? How did that happen?

JosiasJessop said:

tlg86 said:

Is Starmer in trouble over this voice coach thing?

On breaking lockdown rules? Who knows.

But his real problem is that his terrible vocal performance comes *after* having had voice coaching...

Casino_Royale said:

Gardenwalker said:

Casino_Royale said:

Gardenwalker said:

Casino_Royale said:

Gardenwalker said:

Casino_Royale said:

Gardenwalker said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

turbotubbs said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

TimS said:

Nigelb said:

Until the little Transatlantic difficulty is sorted, I don't think any of this matters very much.

It’s only going to get more dramatic over the next few weeks. Project 2025 is well and truly happening. And you’re right, rather like Covid or the financial crisis or Iraq war, how European governments respond to the nouse coming out of the US is going to dominate everything else for a while.

Not for the first time, we appear to be positioned rather well due to Brexit.

Don't forget that Brexit is a failure, as I keep seeing on this forum. No one defines what that failure is, mind.

It is one of those 'settled PB views'.

It’s the public’s settled view.
Ironically, the three or four people who still haven’t twigged that Brexit was a failure seem to post regularly on here.

And, yet, there is very little appetite to reopen or reverse it.

What you have to distinguish is those who think Brexit is a failure because it hasn't gone far enough, or the powers been taken advantage of enough, over those who think it was a fundamental mistake and should be reversed.

That's the bit your side keeps missing.

I personally don’t favour a re-entry.
The juice is not worth ten years of squeeze right now.

That’s distinct from Brexit, which has delivered ten years of squeeze with no juice whatsoever.

And, yet, it has. We have a more nimble foreign policy, we have different regulations on GM crops and on AI now, and this government has also taken advantage of some of the powers. We have a broader range of trade agreements. And our services exports to the EU are booming. Our domestic politics is no longer dominated by "ever closer union" federalism.

There is no form of EU membership I'd favour. Consider people like me dormant, but we'd absolutely rise up to fight again should a rejoin movement ever get political traction.

Not right for us then, not now, not ever.

Britain is a notably weaker power since 2016, since it is longer regarded as able to exert pressure on its European peers. The nimble foreign policy is merely your characterisation, though of course the Uk has repatriated the opportunity to apply trade sanctions.

Britain forfeited its opportunity to influence GM and AI policy inside the EU. Hopefully the different regulations you refer to pay dividends in the years ahead. In other areas, such as the chemical industry and with regard to the EU’s proposed carbon tax, Britain is essentially reduced to being a rule taker. It has no choice given the EU and EEA comprises ~50% of its trade. Likewise, the supposed broader range of trade agreements in no way compensate for the friction introduced to trade with the EU. It’s like comparing a bucket with a lake.

Services may be “booming” but British goods exports show significantly worse performance than G7 peers. Goods production, by the way, is relatively more focused on so-called “left behind” regions.

Disappointingly, Britain has not taken advantage of EU exit to initiate democratic reforms, and the Brexiter-in-chief attempted to prorogue parliament illegally while holding parliamentary procedure in contempt.

It may be true that removing the false discourse around “ever closer union” means the UK politics can focus on the much more vital question of a dysfunctional planning regime, lack of infrastructure investment, pension reform, and over-centralisation, but it seems like we’re still at the beginning of that journey.

But, do you accept that if Brexit can be seen as a failure for the reasons you post in your last two paragraphs that this does not naturally lead to "Rejoin", because it's about our failure to take full advantage of our scope for self-governance?

I’ve already said that I don’t believe it correct to “Rejoin”, at least right now.

Brexit is a failure economically, diplomatically, culturally, and politically. But it is what it is, and my own view is that Britain is best off working on a very close, bespoke partnership.

I thought Max’s post yesterday on joining Schengen was interesting.

Britain does have an opportunity to almost rethink its European position from a blank page, albeit thinking geopolitically doesn’t seem to come naturally to the British political mind since Blair, and his own geopolitical strategy must be regarded a failure.

Yeah, but it's not, is it?

That's just a list of superlatives the answer to all of which seem to be: full membership of the European Union. That hasn't been and has never been the case.

You massively overstate your case, which is why you don't get the hearing you want.

I agree a model of close (but sovereign) cooperation between the UK and EU that's bespoke for both makes sense. So why not work on that?

Scott_xP said:

@crampell.bsky.social‬

It seems like the trick to negotiating with Trump is to realize he doesn’t have any idea what the current facts are.
"Oh you want 10,000 troops?" says world leader who already deployed 15K. "Great 10k it is"

tlg86 said:

Is Starmer in trouble over this voice coach thing?

Gardenwalker said:

Casino_Royale said:

Gardenwalker said:

Casino_Royale said:

Gardenwalker said:

Casino_Royale said:

Gardenwalker said:

Casino_Royale said:

Gardenwalker said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

turbotubbs said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

TimS said:

Nigelb said:

Until the little Transatlantic difficulty is sorted, I don't think any of this matters very much.

It’s only going to get more dramatic over the next few weeks. Project 2025 is well and truly happening. And you’re right, rather like Covid or the financial crisis or Iraq war, how European governments respond to the nouse coming out of the US is going to dominate everything else for a while.

Not for the first time, we appear to be positioned rather well due to Brexit.

Don't forget that Brexit is a failure, as I keep seeing on this forum. No one defines what that failure is, mind.

It is one of those 'settled PB views'.

It’s the public’s settled view.
Ironically, the three or four people who still haven’t twigged that Brexit was a failure seem to post regularly on here.

And, yet, there is very little appetite to reopen or reverse it.

What you have to distinguish is those who think Brexit is a failure because it hasn't gone far enough, or the powers been taken advantage of enough, over those who think it was a fundamental mistake and should be reversed.

That's the bit your side keeps missing.

I personally don’t favour a re-entry.
The juice is not worth ten years of squeeze right now.

That’s distinct from Brexit, which has delivered ten years of squeeze with no juice whatsoever.

And, yet, it has. We have a more nimble foreign policy, we have different regulations on GM crops and on AI now, and this government has also taken advantage of some of the powers. We have a broader range of trade agreements. And our services exports to the EU are booming. Our domestic politics is no longer dominated by "ever closer union" federalism.

There is no form of EU membership I'd favour. Consider people like me dormant, but we'd absolutely rise up to fight again should a rejoin movement ever get political traction.

Not right for us then, not now, not ever.

Britain is a notably weaker power since 2016, since it is longer regarded as able to exert pressure on its European peers. The nimble foreign policy is merely your characterisation, though of course the Uk has repatriated the opportunity to apply trade sanctions.

Britain forfeited its opportunity to influence GM and AI policy inside the EU. Hopefully the different regulations you refer to pay dividends in the years ahead. In other areas, such as the chemical industry and with regard to the EU’s proposed carbon tax, Britain is essentially reduced to being a rule taker. It has no choice given the EU and EEA comprises ~50% of its trade. Likewise, the supposed broader range of trade agreements in no way compensate for the friction introduced to trade with the EU. It’s like comparing a bucket with a lake.

Services may be “booming” but British goods exports show significantly worse performance than G7 peers. Goods production, by the way, is relatively more focused on so-called “left behind” regions.

Disappointingly, Britain has not taken advantage of EU exit to initiate democratic reforms, and the Brexiter-in-chief attempted to prorogue parliament illegally while holding parliamentary procedure in contempt.

It may be true that removing the false discourse around “ever closer union” means the UK politics can focus on the much more vital question of a dysfunctional planning regime, lack of infrastructure investment, pension reform, and over-centralisation, but it seems like we’re still at the beginning of that journey.

But, do you accept that if Brexit can be seen as a failure for the reasons you post in your last two paragraphs that this does not naturally lead to "Rejoin", because it's about our failure to take full advantage of our scope for self-governance?

I’ve already said that I don’t believe it correct to “Rejoin”, at least right now.

Brexit is a failure economically, diplomatically, culturally, and politically. But it is what it is, and my own view is that Britain is best off working on a very close, bespoke partnership.

I thought Max’s post yesterday on joining Schengen was interesting.

Britain does have an opportunity to almost rethink its European position from a blank page, albeit thinking geopolitically doesn’t seem to come naturally to the British political mind since Blair, and his own geopolitical strategy must be regarded a failure.

Yeah, but it's not, is it?

That's just a list of superlatives the answer to all of which seem to be: full membership of the European Union. That hasn't been and has never been the case.

You massively overstate your case, which is why you don't get the hearing you want.

I agree a model of close (but sovereign) cooperation between the UK and EU that's bespoke for both makes sense. So why not work on that?

You’ll never accept Brexit’s failure because your whole worldview is wrapped up in it. Of course that’s true of many on both sides.

Britain is poorer, less powerful, and culturally less vibrant as a result of Brexit. Brexit created 8 years of political polarisation and dysfunction (perhaps more, it may have killed off the Conservative party). It placed massive stress on the Union. Brexit put Boris Johnson in power and Brexit led to the Boriswave. Brexit undermined several British institutions.

I doubt anyone would have voted for it had they fully understood what it would deliver.

But, as I said, we are where we are.
There’s no good back.
Britain has to create a new model, although it probably looks quite similar to the old one, even if it’s not called “EU membership”.

Mexicanpete said:

rcs1000 said:

Mexicanpete said:

rcs1000 said:

Mexicanpete said:

Scott_xP said:

@thetimes

Investors fleeing the cryptocurrency market after President Trump ignited a trade war have wiped more than $500bn off the value of digital assets ⬇️

https://x.com/basileuspi/status/1886410925684781431

You can bet your boots Trump and Musk have been shorting crypto and have each made a gazillion dollars today in hard cash by the time they were finished. Luvvly Jubbly.

Actually, I don't think that's true at all.

I doubt Trump has any positions other than in $TRUMP, and that he'll be trying to dump at high speed, and this trade war doesn't help him.

Musk is a true believer in Bitcoin, and a large chunk of Tesla's Q4 earnings came from revaluing its Bitcoin holdings upwards.

So they've f***** themselves? How did that happen?

You're overthinking this.

Trump believes that tariffs are paid by exporters. He also believes that when America was truly great, it needed no income tax, and got all its taxes from tariffs.

He puts these two together and thinks TARIFFS ARE THE ANSWER.

But, but, has Trump ever paid income tax?

Did they not teach about the Great Depression and the casual effect of the Smoot Hawley Act at his elementary school?

Gallowgate said:

Bunch of snobs in here. I’m a fan of Spoons food although it isn’t as good as it was before COVID.

Leon said:

Trump is a huge Anglophile - his golf course etc

Musk is on record as identifying himself as “English” - not South African or American. He deems himself as ethnically English

Vance is an old English surname

We have here the most pro-British presidency in many decades. We should exploit it and bring their revolution home

numbertwelve said:

Gardenwalker said:

Casino_Royale said:

Gardenwalker said:

Casino_Royale said:

Gardenwalker said:

Casino_Royale said:

Gardenwalker said:

Casino_Royale said:

Gardenwalker said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

turbotubbs said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

TimS said:

Nigelb said:

Until the little Transatlantic difficulty is sorted, I don't think any of this matters very much.

It’s only going to get more dramatic over the next few weeks. Project 2025 is well and truly happening. And you’re right, rather like Covid or the financial crisis or Iraq war, how European governments respond to the nouse coming out of the US is going to dominate everything else for a while.

Not for the first time, we appear to be positioned rather well due to Brexit.

Don't forget that Brexit is a failure, as I keep seeing on this forum. No one defines what that failure is, mind.

It is one of those 'settled PB views'.

It’s the public’s settled view.
Ironically, the three or four people who still haven’t twigged that Brexit was a failure seem to post regularly on here.

And, yet, there is very little appetite to reopen or reverse it.

What you have to distinguish is those who think Brexit is a failure because it hasn't gone far enough, or the powers been taken advantage of enough, over those who think it was a fundamental mistake and should be reversed.

That's the bit your side keeps missing.

I personally don’t favour a re-entry.
The juice is not worth ten years of squeeze right now.

That’s distinct from Brexit, which has delivered ten years of squeeze with no juice whatsoever.

And, yet, it has. We have a more nimble foreign policy, we have different regulations on GM crops and on AI now, and this government has also taken advantage of some of the powers. We have a broader range of trade agreements. And our services exports to the EU are booming. Our domestic politics is no longer dominated by "ever closer union" federalism.

There is no form of EU membership I'd favour. Consider people like me dormant, but we'd absolutely rise up to fight again should a rejoin movement ever get political traction.

Not right for us then, not now, not ever.

Britain is a notably weaker power since 2016, since it is longer regarded as able to exert pressure on its European peers. The nimble foreign policy is merely your characterisation, though of course the Uk has repatriated the opportunity to apply trade sanctions.

Britain forfeited its opportunity to influence GM and AI policy inside the EU. Hopefully the different regulations you refer to pay dividends in the years ahead. In other areas, such as the chemical industry and with regard to the EU’s proposed carbon tax, Britain is essentially reduced to being a rule taker. It has no choice given the EU and EEA comprises ~50% of its trade. Likewise, the supposed broader range of trade agreements in no way compensate for the friction introduced to trade with the EU. It’s like comparing a bucket with a lake.

Services may be “booming” but British goods exports show significantly worse performance than G7 peers. Goods production, by the way, is relatively more focused on so-called “left behind” regions.

Disappointingly, Britain has not taken advantage of EU exit to initiate democratic reforms, and the Brexiter-in-chief attempted to prorogue parliament illegally while holding parliamentary procedure in contempt.

It may be true that removing the false discourse around “ever closer union” means the UK politics can focus on the much more vital question of a dysfunctional planning regime, lack of infrastructure investment, pension reform, and over-centralisation, but it seems like we’re still at the beginning of that journey.

But, do you accept that if Brexit can be seen as a failure for the reasons you post in your last two paragraphs that this does not naturally lead to "Rejoin", because it's about our failure to take full advantage of our scope for self-governance?

I’ve already said that I don’t believe it correct to “Rejoin”, at least right now.

Brexit is a failure economically, diplomatically, culturally, and politically. But it is what it is, and my own view is that Britain is best off working on a very close, bespoke partnership.

I thought Max’s post yesterday on joining Schengen was interesting.

Britain does have an opportunity to almost rethink its European position from a blank page, albeit thinking geopolitically doesn’t seem to come naturally to the British political mind since Blair, and his own geopolitical strategy must be regarded a failure.

Yeah, but it's not, is it?

That's just a list of superlatives the answer to all of which seem to be: full membership of the European Union. That hasn't been and has never been the case.

You massively overstate your case, which is why you don't get the hearing you want.

I agree a model of close (but sovereign) cooperation between the UK and EU that's bespoke for both makes sense. So why not work on that?

You’ll never accept Brexit’s failure because your whole worldview is wrapped up in it. Of course that’s true of many on both sides.

Britain is poorer, less powerful, and culturally less vibrant as a result of Brexit. Brexit created 8 years of political polarisation and dysfunction (perhaps more, it may have killed off the Conservatives party). Brexit put Boris Johnson in power and Brexit led to the Boriswave.

I doubt anyone would have voted for it had they fully understood what it would deliver.

But, as I said, we are where we are.
There’s no good back.
Britain has to create a new model, although it probably looks quite similar to the old one, even if it’s not called “EU membership”.

I don’t blame people for voting for Brexit. I think, like the majority it appears, it was in hindsight the wrong decision, but there was and still is lots wrong with the EU too.

Like my view in 2016, and why I voted remain, I think our long term interests were to stay in the club and seek reform from the inside - and while lots of people scoff at that because of the inflexible bureaucracy, I think the winds of change are starting to blow at that level nowadays.

The final thing I’ll say is that I can at least entertain the argument that the Brexit we got was the worst of all worlds - a system where we appear dogmatically opposed to the best bits of Europe whilst simultaneously remaining tied to the worst bits. The Tories started off on the wrong foot under May and just exacerbated the problems under Johnson.

Gallowgate said:

Bunch of snobs in here. I’m a fan of Spoons food although it isn’t as good as it was before COVID.

Gardenwalker said:

I can’t help thinking that Trump simply woke up, saw the stock market down, and various anti-tariff noises from the business community, and - decided to twist.

TimS said:

OnlyLivingBoy said:

Taz said:

maxh said:

Can I defend Wetherspoon's please?

As one of those unfortunate types (I know, I know, we're a rare breed on this forum) who definitely have to watch their pennies when going to the pub, the 'double breakfast' whereby one can order two whole Wetherspoon's breakfasts and not have to chop off one's own toenails for sale on the black market in recompense pleases me greatly.

Easy to be sniffy at Spoons. Nothing wrong with it. The beer is decent and doesn't cost the earth. The food is fine for what it is.

Plenty of remainers knock Spoons for no better reason than they don't like the owner.

The young people love Spoons. Once my daughter turned 18 she practically lived at the Brockley Barge.

There was I time I also frequented the Barge. Back then it was just about the only pub in the area where you didn’t get stared at when you walked in. Didn’t realise it is now a youth hang out though.

And you are wrong on McDonald’s. It’s excellent. Knocks spots off KFC, BK, Morley’s, even Pizza Hut (to which I’m a bit partial). So much so that last weekend I bought some chuck steak, got it minced, and am going to do a snackmasters-style attempt with my daughter (who’s a big McD fan) to perfectly replicate a McDonald’s cheeseburger. Complete with tiny slivers of iceberg lettuce, microwaved (it works) tiny chopped onions, gherkin, the works.

rcs1000 said:

Mexicanpete said:

Scott_xP said:

@thetimes

Investors fleeing the cryptocurrency market after President Trump ignited a trade war have wiped more than $500bn off the value of digital assets ⬇️

https://x.com/basileuspi/status/1886410925684781431

You can bet your boots Trump and Musk have been shorting crypto and have each made a gazillion dollars today in hard cash by the time they were finished. Luvvly Jubbly.

Actually, I don't think that's true at all.

I doubt Trump has any positions other than in $TRUMP, and that he'll be trying to dump at high speed, and this trade war doesn't help him.

Musk is a true believer in Bitcoin, and a large chunk of Tesla's Q4 earnings came from revaluing its Bitcoin holdings upwards.

Pulpstar said:

rcs1000 said:

Mexicanpete said:

Scott_xP said:

@thetimes

Investors fleeing the cryptocurrency market after President Trump ignited a trade war have wiped more than $500bn off the value of digital assets ⬇️

https://x.com/basileuspi/status/1886410925684781431

You can bet your boots Trump and Musk have been shorting crypto and have each made a gazillion dollars today in hard cash by the time they were finished. Luvvly Jubbly.

Actually, I don't think that's true at all.

I doubt Trump has any positions other than in $TRUMP, and that he'll be trying to dump at high speed, and this trade war doesn't help him.

Musk is a true believer in Bitcoin, and a large chunk of Tesla's Q4 earnings came from revaluing its Bitcoin holdings upwards.

Well we don't hold any BTC but we do revalue our foreign co assets and liabilities at quarter/year end (EUR/USD). So revaluing BTC holdings at period ends makes sense to me and (though it's not explicitly spelled out) US GAAP/FRS

If our suppliers and customers started using BTC I suppose we'd hold some.

Taz said:

Taz said:

Mexicanpete said:

rcs1000 said:

Mexicanpete said:

rcs1000 said:

Mexicanpete said:

Scott_xP said:

@thetimes

Investors fleeing the cryptocurrency market after President Trump ignited a trade war have wiped more than $500bn off the value of digital assets ⬇️

https://x.com/basileuspi/status/1886410925684781431

You can bet your boots Trump and Musk have been shorting crypto and have each made a gazillion dollars today in hard cash by the time they were finished. Luvvly Jubbly.

Actually, I don't think that's true at all.

I doubt Trump has any positions other than in $TRUMP, and that he'll be trying to dump at high speed, and this trade war doesn't help him.

Musk is a true believer in Bitcoin, and a large chunk of Tesla's Q4 earnings came from revaluing its Bitcoin holdings upwards.

So they've f***** themselves? How did that happen?

You're overthinking this.

Trump believes that tariffs are paid by exporters. He also believes that when America was truly great, it needed no income tax, and got all its taxes from tariffs.

He puts these two together and thinks TARIFFS ARE THE ANSWER.

But, but, has Trump ever paid income tax?

Did they not teach about the Great Depression and the casual effect of the Smoot Hawley Act at his elementary school?

Andrew Neil on savage form about the stupidity of Trumps tariffs.

I get the impression this is a rare topic here as there’s near unanimity on the inherent stupidity of it.

https://x.com/timesradio/status/1886357823145046462?s=61

Fairliered said:

Carnyx said:

Fairliered said:

TimS said:

Fairliered said:

Sandpit said:

maxh said:

Can I defend Wetherspoon's please?

As one of those unfortunate types (I know, I know, we're a rare breed on this forum) who definitely have to watch their pennies when going to the pub, the 'double breakfast' whereby one can order two whole Wetherspoon's breakfasts and not have to chop off one's own toenails for sale on the black market in recompense pleases me greatly.

Wetherspoons is the McDonald’s of pubs. It’s not brilliant, but you know it’s going to be okay and you’ll get good value for money.

In pretty much any town, the cheapest pub is always going to be a focus for those who society has mostly left behind.

In a beer desert, such as many towns in the West of Scotland, spoons is the only place that sells a decent pint.

I assume the beer desert extends to the far Northwest. I’m off on my long weekend to Assynt in a few days. Shall stock up on drinks at the supermarket in Inverness rather than relying on the pubs of Lochinver.

AFAIK the nearest real ale to Lochinver is the Inchnanamph Hotel. You may wish to check this link. https://camra.org.uk/pubs
If you’re buying beer in Inverness, I recommend Cromarty.

Famous to anyone with an interest in geology and scenery!

https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/Geoscientist/Archive/January-2007/Peach-and-Horne-the-memoir-at-100

Assynt rocks!

eek said:

Pulpstar said:

rcs1000 said:

Mexicanpete said:

Scott_xP said:

@thetimes

Investors fleeing the cryptocurrency market after President Trump ignited a trade war have wiped more than $500bn off the value of digital assets ⬇️

https://x.com/basileuspi/status/1886410925684781431

You can bet your boots Trump and Musk have been shorting crypto and have each made a gazillion dollars today in hard cash by the time they were finished. Luvvly Jubbly.

Actually, I don't think that's true at all.

I doubt Trump has any positions other than in $TRUMP, and that he'll be trying to dump at high speed, and this trade war doesn't help him.

Musk is a true believer in Bitcoin, and a large chunk of Tesla's Q4 earnings came from revaluing its Bitcoin holdings upwards.

Well we don't hold any BTC but we do revalue our foreign co assets and liabilities at quarter/year end (EUR/USD). So revaluing BTC holdings at period ends makes sense to me and (though it's not explicitly spelled out) US GAAP/FRS

If our suppliers and customers started using BTC I suppose we'd hold some.

i'm at a loss as to what the economic value/purpose of a BTC actually is.

As a method of moving money across borders it makes sense but beyond that what else does it offer.

Fairliered said:

Carnyx said:

Fairliered said:

TimS said:

Fairliered said:

Sandpit said:

maxh said:

Can I defend Wetherspoon's please?

As one of those unfortunate types (I know, I know, we're a rare breed on this forum) who definitely have to watch their pennies when going to the pub, the 'double breakfast' whereby one can order two whole Wetherspoon's breakfasts and not have to chop off one's own toenails for sale on the black market in recompense pleases me greatly.

Wetherspoons is the McDonald’s of pubs. It’s not brilliant, but you know it’s going to be okay and you’ll get good value for money.

In pretty much any town, the cheapest pub is always going to be a focus for those who society has mostly left behind.

In a beer desert, such as many towns in the West of Scotland, spoons is the only place that sells a decent pint.

I assume the beer desert extends to the far Northwest. I’m off on my long weekend to Assynt in a few days. Shall stock up on drinks at the supermarket in Inverness rather than relying on the pubs of Lochinver.

AFAIK the nearest real ale to Lochinver is the Inchnanamph Hotel. You may wish to check this link. https://camra.org.uk/pubs
If you’re buying beer in Inverness, I recommend Cromarty.

Famous to anyone with an interest in geology and scenery!

https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/Geoscientist/Archive/January-2007/Peach-and-Horne-the-memoir-at-100

Assynt rocks!

Richard_Tyndall said:

On topic observation:

Reform will not break the glass ceiling and achieve wider popularity as long as Farage is still a possible future PM. Indeed I would suggest this is the Reform conundrum. They need Farage to get to 25% plus but he actively stops them getting past 35% plus.

Richard_Tyndall said:

Carnyx said:

Fairliered said:

Carnyx said:

Fairliered said:

TimS said:

Fairliered said:

Sandpit said:

maxh said:

Can I defend Wetherspoon's please?

As one of those unfortunate types (I know, I know, we're a rare breed on this forum) who definitely have to watch their pennies when going to the pub, the 'double breakfast' whereby one can order two whole Wetherspoon's breakfasts and not have to chop off one's own toenails for sale on the black market in recompense pleases me greatly.

Wetherspoons is the McDonald’s of pubs. It’s not brilliant, but you know it’s going to be okay and you’ll get good value for money.

In pretty much any town, the cheapest pub is always going to be a focus for those who society has mostly left behind.

In a beer desert, such as many towns in the West of Scotland, spoons is the only place that sells a decent pint.

I assume the beer desert extends to the far Northwest. I’m off on my long weekend to Assynt in a few days. Shall stock up on drinks at the supermarket in Inverness rather than relying on the pubs of Lochinver.

AFAIK the nearest real ale to Lochinver is the Inchnanamph Hotel. You may wish to check this link. https://camra.org.uk/pubs
If you’re buying beer in Inverness, I recommend Cromarty.

Famous to anyone with an interest in geology and scenery!

https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/Geoscientist/Archive/January-2007/Peach-and-Horne-the-memoir-at-100

Assynt rocks!

That's pretty much the thrust of the matter.

That is clearly your opinion and it would also be Moine.

eek said:

Pulpstar said:

rcs1000 said:

Mexicanpete said:

Scott_xP said:

@thetimes

Investors fleeing the cryptocurrency market after President Trump ignited a trade war have wiped more than $500bn off the value of digital assets ⬇️

https://x.com/basileuspi/status/1886410925684781431

You can bet your boots Trump and Musk have been shorting crypto and have each made a gazillion dollars today in hard cash by the time they were finished. Luvvly Jubbly.

Actually, I don't think that's true at all.

I doubt Trump has any positions other than in $TRUMP, and that he'll be trying to dump at high speed, and this trade war doesn't help him.

Musk is a true believer in Bitcoin, and a large chunk of Tesla's Q4 earnings came from revaluing its Bitcoin holdings upwards.

Well we don't hold any BTC but we do revalue our foreign co assets and liabilities at quarter/year end (EUR/USD). So revaluing BTC holdings at period ends makes sense to me and (though it's not explicitly spelled out) US GAAP/FRS

If our suppliers and customers started using BTC I suppose we'd hold some.

i'm at a loss as to what the economic value/purpose of a BTC actually is.

As a method of moving money across borders it makes sense but beyond that what else does it offer.

Luckyguy1983 said:

Gardenwalker said:

I can’t help thinking that Trump simply woke up, saw the stock market down, and various anti-tariff noises from the business community, and - decided to twist.

Mexico had a deal with Biden to hold back the migrants using their army in his tough re‐election year, thereafter to be released, presumably especially in the event of a wrong result. Trump was well aware of this fact and has used the threat of tariffs to keep the inevitable flood from being allowed to happen. It's fairly sensible (unlike the Canada thing as far as I can see), and some PBers need better info sources on Trump. The Spectator's Americano podcast is pretty good .

MaxPB said:

maxh said:

Can I defend Wetherspoon's please?

As one of those unfortunate types (I know, I know, we're a rare breed on this forum) who definitely have to watch their pennies when going to the pub, the 'double breakfast' whereby one can order two whole Wetherspoon's breakfasts and not have to chop off one's own toenails for sale on the black market in recompense pleases me greatly.

Wetherspoons is unfairly maligned, it provides okay meals on a budget for when people are out and about with a good pint of bitter. It saved me a lot when I was at uni on a budget and there's a lot of remainer snobbishness about it since Brexit.

Casino_Royale said:

Gardenwalker said:

Casino_Royale said:

Gardenwalker said:

Casino_Royale said:

Gardenwalker said:

Casino_Royale said:

Gardenwalker said:

Casino_Royale said:

Gardenwalker said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

turbotubbs said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

TimS said:

Nigelb said:

Until the little Transatlantic difficulty is sorted, I don't think any of this matters very much.

It’s only going to get more dramatic over the next few weeks. Project 2025 is well and truly happening. And you’re right, rather like Covid or the financial crisis or Iraq war, how European governments respond to the nouse coming out of the US is going to dominate everything else for a while.

Not for the first time, we appear to be positioned rather well due to Brexit.

Don't forget that Brexit is a failure, as I keep seeing on this forum. No one defines what that failure is, mind.

It is one of those 'settled PB views'.

It’s the public’s settled view.
Ironically, the three or four people who still haven’t twigged that Brexit was a failure seem to post regularly on here.

And, yet, there is very little appetite to reopen or reverse it.

What you have to distinguish is those who think Brexit is a failure because it hasn't gone far enough, or the powers been taken advantage of enough, over those who think it was a fundamental mistake and should be reversed.

That's the bit your side keeps missing.

I personally don’t favour a re-entry.
The juice is not worth ten years of squeeze right now.

That’s distinct from Brexit, which has delivered ten years of squeeze with no juice whatsoever.

And, yet, it has. We have a more nimble foreign policy, we have different regulations on GM crops and on AI now, and this government has also taken advantage of some of the powers. We have a broader range of trade agreements. And our services exports to the EU are booming. Our domestic politics is no longer dominated by "ever closer union" federalism.

There is no form of EU membership I'd favour. Consider people like me dormant, but we'd absolutely rise up to fight again should a rejoin movement ever get political traction.

Not right for us then, not now, not ever.

Britain is a notably weaker power since 2016, since it is longer regarded as able to exert pressure on its European peers. The nimble foreign policy is merely your characterisation, though of course the Uk has repatriated the opportunity to apply trade sanctions.

Britain forfeited its opportunity to influence GM and AI policy inside the EU. Hopefully the different regulations you refer to pay dividends in the years ahead. In other areas, such as the chemical industry and with regard to the EU’s proposed carbon tax, Britain is essentially reduced to being a rule taker. It has no choice given the EU and EEA comprises ~50% of its trade. Likewise, the supposed broader range of trade agreements in no way compensate for the friction introduced to trade with the EU. It’s like comparing a bucket with a lake.

Services may be “booming” but British goods exports show significantly worse performance than G7 peers. Goods production, by the way, is relatively more focused on so-called “left behind” regions.

Disappointingly, Britain has not taken advantage of EU exit to initiate democratic reforms, and the Brexiter-in-chief attempted to prorogue parliament illegally while holding parliamentary procedure in contempt.

It may be true that removing the false discourse around “ever closer union” means the UK politics can focus on the much more vital question of a dysfunctional planning regime, lack of infrastructure investment, pension reform, and over-centralisation, but it seems like we’re still at the beginning of that journey.

But, do you accept that if Brexit can be seen as a failure for the reasons you post in your last two paragraphs that this does not naturally lead to "Rejoin", because it's about our failure to take full advantage of our scope for self-governance?

I’ve already said that I don’t believe it correct to “Rejoin”, at least right now.

Brexit is a failure economically, diplomatically, culturally, and politically. But it is what it is, and my own view is that Britain is best off working on a very close, bespoke partnership.

I thought Max’s post yesterday on joining Schengen was interesting.

Britain does have an opportunity to almost rethink its European position from a blank page, albeit thinking geopolitically doesn’t seem to come naturally to the British political mind since Blair, and his own geopolitical strategy must be regarded a failure.

Yeah, but it's not, is it?

That's just a list of superlatives the answer to all of which seem to be: full membership of the European Union. That hasn't been and has never been the case.

You massively overstate your case, which is why you don't get the hearing you want.

I agree a model of close (but sovereign) cooperation between the UK and EU that's bespoke for both makes sense. So why not work on that?

You’ll never accept Brexit’s failure because your whole worldview is wrapped up in it. Of course that’s true of many on both sides.

Britain is poorer, less powerful, and culturally less vibrant as a result of Brexit. Brexit created 8 years of political polarisation and dysfunction (perhaps more, it may have killed off the Conservative party). It placed massive stress on the Union. Brexit put Boris Johnson in power and Brexit led to the Boriswave. Brexit undermined several British institutions.

I doubt anyone would have voted for it had they fully understood what it would deliver.

But, as I said, we are where we are.
There’s no good back.
Britain has to create a new model, although it probably looks quite similar to the old one, even if it’s not called “EU membership”.

Absolute nonsense.

I could say, and far more accurately, that your whole worldview is invested in Britain's membership of the EU.

It's pathetic, as well as desperate.

Luckyguy1983 said:

kinabalu said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

Gardenwalker said:

I can’t help thinking that Trump simply woke up, saw the stock market down, and various anti-tariff noises from the business community, and - decided to twist.

Mexico had a deal with Biden to hold back the migrants using their army in his tough re‐election year, thereafter to be released, presumably especially in the event of a wrong result. Trump was well aware of this fact and has used the threat of tariffs to keep the inevitable flood from being allowed to happen. It's fairly sensible (unlike the Canada thing as far as I can see), and some PBers need better info sources on Trump. The Spectator's Americano podcast is pretty good .

I'll venture it isn't.

Well there is a lamentable lack of Rory Stewart or Alistair Campbell, so I could see you finding it a tough listen.

Luckyguy1983 said:

Leon said:

Trump is a huge Anglophile - his golf course etc

Musk is on record as identifying himself as “English” - not South African or American. He deems himself as ethnically English

Vance is an old English surname

We have here the most pro-British presidency in many decades. We should exploit it and bring their revolution home

Biden is an old English surname too - that didn't stop the senile old coot being rabidly anti-British.

Taz said:

Andrew Neil on savage form about the stupidity of Trumps tariffs.

I get the impression this is a rare topic here as there’s near unanimity on the inherent stupidity of it.

SandraMc said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

Leon said:

Trump is a huge Anglophile - his golf course etc

Musk is on record as identifying himself as “English” - not South African or American. He deems himself as ethnically English

Vance is an old English surname

We have here the most pro-British presidency in many decades. We should exploit it and bring their revolution home

Biden is an old English surname too - that didn't stop the senile old coot being rabidly anti-British.

Some of Biden's ancestors came from the Sussex village quarter of a mile from me. Two are buried in the local Churchyard. But it was only his Irish ancestors he was interested in.

Richard_Tyndall said:

Fairliered said:

Carnyx said:

Fairliered said:

TimS said:

Fairliered said:

Sandpit said:

maxh said:

Can I defend Wetherspoon's please?

As one of those unfortunate types (I know, I know, we're a rare breed on this forum) who definitely have to watch their pennies when going to the pub, the 'double breakfast' whereby one can order two whole Wetherspoon's breakfasts and not have to chop off one's own toenails for sale on the black market in recompense pleases me greatly.

Wetherspoons is the McDonald’s of pubs. It’s not brilliant, but you know it’s going to be okay and you’ll get good value for money.

In pretty much any town, the cheapest pub is always going to be a focus for those who society has mostly left behind.

In a beer desert, such as many towns in the West of Scotland, spoons is the only place that sells a decent pint.

I assume the beer desert extends to the far Northwest. I’m off on my long weekend to Assynt in a few days. Shall stock up on drinks at the supermarket in Inverness rather than relying on the pubs of Lochinver.

AFAIK the nearest real ale to Lochinver is the Inchnanamph Hotel. You may wish to check this link. https://camra.org.uk/pubs
If you’re buying beer in Inverness, I recommend Cromarty.

Famous to anyone with an interest in geology and scenery!

https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/Geoscientist/Archive/January-2007/Peach-and-Horne-the-memoir-at-100

Assynt rocks!

One of my favourite places in the whole British Isles.

rottenborough said:

Luke Tryl omits to mention the elephant in the room.

Trump 2.0 upending the world economic system makes predicting next GE even harder.

If his madness actually works then maybe good for Reform and Farage.

If it results in late 1920s depression then probably good for steady Starmer.

OnlyLivingBoy said:

TimS said:

OnlyLivingBoy said:

Taz said:

maxh said:

Can I defend Wetherspoon's please?

As one of those unfortunate types (I know, I know, we're a rare breed on this forum) who definitely have to watch their pennies when going to the pub, the 'double breakfast' whereby one can order two whole Wetherspoon's breakfasts and not have to chop off one's own toenails for sale on the black market in recompense pleases me greatly.

Easy to be sniffy at Spoons. Nothing wrong with it. The beer is decent and doesn't cost the earth. The food is fine for what it is.

Plenty of remainers knock Spoons for no better reason than they don't like the owner.

The young people love Spoons. Once my daughter turned 18 she practically lived at the Brockley Barge.

There was I time I also frequented the Barge. Back then it was just about the only pub in the area where you didn’t get stared at when you walked in. Didn’t realise it is now a youth hang out though.

And you are wrong on McDonald’s. It’s excellent. Knocks spots off KFC, BK, Morley’s, even Pizza Hut (to which I’m a bit partial). So much so that last weekend I bought some chuck steak, got it minced, and am going to do a snackmasters-style attempt with my daughter (who’s a big McD fan) to perfectly replicate a McDonald’s cheeseburger. Complete with tiny slivers of iceberg lettuce, microwaved (it works) tiny chopped onions, gherkin, the works.

Pizza Hut?!

Luckyguy1983 said:

Fairliered said:

Richard_Tyndall said:

Carnyx said:

Fairliered said:

Carnyx said:

Fairliered said:

TimS said:

Fairliered said:

Sandpit said:

maxh said:

Can I defend Wetherspoon's please?

As one of those unfortunate types (I know, I know, we're a rare breed on this forum) who definitely have to watch their pennies when going to the pub, the 'double breakfast' whereby one can order two whole Wetherspoon's breakfasts and not have to chop off one's own toenails for sale on the black market in recompense pleases me greatly.

Wetherspoons is the McDonald’s of pubs. It’s not brilliant, but you know it’s going to be okay and you’ll get good value for money.

In pretty much any town, the cheapest pub is always going to be a focus for those who society has mostly left behind.

In a beer desert, such as many towns in the West of Scotland, spoons is the only place that sells a decent pint.

I assume the beer desert extends to the far Northwest. I’m off on my long weekend to Assynt in a few days. Shall stock up on drinks at the supermarket in Inverness rather than relying on the pubs of Lochinver.

AFAIK the nearest real ale to Lochinver is the Inchnanamph Hotel. You may wish to check this link. https://camra.org.uk/pubs
If you’re buying beer in Inverness, I recommend Cromarty.

Famous to anyone with an interest in geology and scenery!

https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/Geoscientist/Archive/January-2007/Peach-and-Horne-the-memoir-at-100

Assynt rocks!

That's pretty much the thrust of the matter.

That is clearly your opinion and it would also be Moine.

That’s a gneiss comment.

Sedimentary my dear Watson.*

*I know it's probably not sedimentary. #geologydunce

Richard_Tyndall said:

On topic observation:

Reform will not break the glass ceiling and achieve wider popularity as long as Farage is still a possible future PM. Indeed I would suggest this is the Reform conundrum. They need Farage to get to 25% plus but he actively stops them getting past 35% plus.