In West Hampstead, Councillor Tiwari's new party finished a distant third to Labour and the LDs and I suspect he won't stand in that Ward in 2026 but we'll see.
I see Camden Labour is trying to limit the public right to participate in meetings, just as they typically do in councils they control. Even after years in opposition pushing for such rights to be expanded.
Not just Labour, Conservatives have done the same in some places.
The Tiwari story is a little odd - there's a suggestion he was at best a semi-detached member of the Camden Labour Group. There are stories circulating in Newham about huge disagreements within the ruling Labour Group and selections for 2026 will be interesting here.
Newham have imposed an 8.99% Council Tax rise - Sadiq's part of the tax (the GLA) has gone up just 4%.
The Newham Independents will fight some of the seats hard - whether they can put up a full slate of candidates I don't know. The Greens will also target some seats - Reform, LDs and Conservatives are irrelevant here.
South Korean company Hanwha, producer of K9 howitzers, intends to build, in two years, an armaments factory in Romania, with the prospect of it becoming a regional hub for components, maintenance and repairs, said Michael Coulter, CEO of Hanwha Global Defense, during a meeting with Romanian journalists https://x.com/AlexandruC4/status/1900863717459276214
"I intend to have my agents destroy that facility", said Vladimir Putin, CEO of Russian Smersh, during a meeting of the Smersh World Domination Council.
Tell me, who is that fat orange f***** stroking the white cat?
I don't think a pact is necessarily needed between Tories and Reform, the latest Electoral Calculus forecast has the Tories on 142 and Reform on 192 ie a majority combined which could make Farage PM if Kemi supported him for a senior job. A merger between the two though could see some Tories go LD and some Reformers go for a Tommy Robinson backed UKIP.
Do punters really 'agree with Farage' that there is a good chance of him being next PM? They reckon there's an 81% chance that he won't.
I think that is generous by the way. The current chances reflect the fact that no-one has a clue - so backing the horses will have the same fate as I did in Cheltenham week, complete oblivion - and that Farage is in a unique position so his bit of the iceberg peers above the waterline.
IMO Streeting might be value. But I am not going there.
Not Streeting. The selectorate will want something a bit more red in tooth and claw.
If Labour want a second term they have to motivate their voters to turn out, not offer a pastel shade of Reform policies. That's the lesson of the 2017 GE campaign.
Can you see anyone through all that grey porridge who measures up?
A quick contribution from me before our very own Vivian from the Young Ones stirs and smashes up the squat.
Angela Rayner for me. She is one of the few who can fight.
They're in government. Someone who can govern competently is rather more important.
They aren't showing much sign of that. Trash talking your own voters isn't a winning strategy.
Sure - so why aren't you prioritising competence in your theoretical replacement ?
Competence is about picking the right team
I think Angela Rayner is highly competent. She didn't get where she is without having tremendous political skills, and is one of the few on the front bench with strong Emotional Intelligence.. Never confuse lack of formal education for lack of intellect.
My photo of the day is Newcastle Central station last night.
Can you tell me how you post a photo?
Well, first you buy a stamp and, when you have recovered from the shock of that, you stick it in an envelope and find a post box. Sometimes it even arrives.
My photo of the day is Newcastle Central station last night.
Can you tell me how you post a photo?
See the mountain icon on the top right of the comment box ? Click on that, select "choose file", and upload the relevant JPEG (not too large or you'll annoy the admins) from your computer/device.
My photo of the day is Newcastle Central station last night.
Can you tell me how you post a photo?
See the mountain icon on the top right of the comment box ? Click on that, and upload the relevant JPEG (not too large or you'll annoy the admins) from your computer/device.
@Roger - to clarify the above, you need to be on the vanilla site for the above to work.
Do punters really 'agree with Farage' that there is a good chance of him being next PM? They reckon there's an 81% chance that he won't.
I think that is generous by the way. The current chances reflect the fact that no-one has a clue - so backing the horses will have the same fate as I did in Cheltenham week, complete oblivion - and that Farage is in a unique position so his bit of the iceberg peers above the waterline.
IMO Streeting might be value. But I am not going there.
Not Streeting. The selectorate will want something a bit more red in tooth and claw.
If Labour want a second term they have to motivate their voters to turn out, not offer a pastel shade of Reform policies. That's the lesson of the 2017 GE campaign.
Can you see anyone through all that grey porridge who measures up?
A quick contribution from me before our very own Vivian from the Young Ones stirs and smashes up the squat.
Angela Rayner for me. She is one of the few who can fight.
They're in government. Someone who can govern competently is rather more important.
They aren't showing much sign of that. Trash talking your own voters isn't a winning strategy.
Sure - so why aren't you prioritising competence in your theoretical replacement ?
Competence is about picking the right team
I think Angela Rayner is highly competent. She didn't get where she is without having tremendous political skills, and is one of the few on the front bench with strong Emotional Intelligence.. Never confuse lack of formal education for lack of intellect.
My photo of the day is Newcastle Central station last night.
Can you tell me how you post a photo?
See the mountain icon on the top right of the comment box ? Click on that, select "choose file", and upload the relevant JPEG (not too large or you'll annoy the admins) from your computer/device.
“Those who buy Patriot systems should be offered the new generation Franco-Italian SAMP/T. Those who buy F-35s should be offered Rafale."
The statement was made after news about both Canada and Portugal potentially moving away from buying F-35s.
He’s just shilling for the French defence industry there
Good. Starmer should be doing the same for the British defence industry. What is wrong with promoting your own industries, particularly to allies who will be alongside you if things get hot?
I have a smidgen of sympathy for this. I'd like a world in which occupants of a military ceremony should be notable for their military achievments rather than their race or gender.
Do punters really 'agree with Farage' that there is a good chance of him being next PM? They reckon there's an 81% chance that he won't.
I think that is generous by the way. The current chances reflect the fact that no-one has a clue - so backing the horses will have the same fate as I did in Cheltenham week, complete oblivion - and that Farage is in a unique position so his bit of the iceberg peers above the waterline.
IMO Streeting might be value. But I am not going there.
I agree about Streeting.
I thought Hunt's intervention this week admiring the "boldness" of the abolition of NHS England was interesting. It suggests that he is both on the right track, not being shy about it and knows how to build a consensus.
Streeting is today indicating that NHS England is the first of a long list of Quangos to go. Boosting NHS efficiency would be a real and substantial achievement for the Labour government and is all the more important since Reeves seems determined to kill growth rather than promote it. There is simply not going to be much new money, especially with the Defence needs. Doing more with the same is the way forward and would make him the obvious contender if a change is needed.
All he did by abolishing NHS England was move more NHS management back under the politicians and Dept of Health. Most quangos are there for a reason, regulation, management etc real reform of the health service would move towards a more insurance based model which he won't do
Do punters really 'agree with Farage' that there is a good chance of him being next PM? They reckon there's an 81% chance that he won't.
I think that is generous by the way. The current chances reflect the fact that no-one has a clue - so backing the horses will have the same fate as I did in Cheltenham week, complete oblivion - and that Farage is in a unique position so his bit of the iceberg peers above the waterline.
IMO Streeting might be value. But I am not going there.
I agree about Streeting.
I thought Hunt's intervention this week admiring the "boldness" of the abolition of NHS England was interesting. It suggests that he is both on the right track, not being shy about it and knows how to build a consensus.
Streeting is today indicating that NHS England is the first of a long list of Quangos to go. Boosting NHS efficiency would be a real and substantial achievement for the Labour government and is all the more important since Reeves seems determined to kill growth rather than promote it. There is simply not going to be much new money, especially with the Defence needs. Doing more with the same is the way forward and would make him the obvious contender if a change is needed.
All he did by abolishing NHS England was move more NHS management back under the politicians and Dept of Health. Most quangos are there for a reason, regulation, management etc real reform of the health service would move towards a more insurance based model which he won't do
He seems to be gunning for the ICBs now. I am not clear how that improves things, unless you gut the internal market and run everything from the centre.
General Calvin Rogers now safely dead was awarded the Medal of Honor, equivalent to the Victoria Cross, for acts of astonishing bravery during the Vietnam War.
An article from a couple of years ago on the Defense Department website about the medal and Rogers who was an at the time rare high ranking African American in the US Army who also campaigned for equality in the Army. This article now redirects to a broken page where the URL has been changed from Medal of Honor to DEI Medal of Honor. Presumably on the ultimate orders of a president who heroically avoided involvement in the Vietnam War thanks to his father's connections.
Went into my local HSBC a few weeks ago with all the shrapnel (bagged of course) collected over a couple of years. In the couple of years since my last visit to that branch, all the tellers have gone to be replaced by machines and soft chairs. Take it to the Post Office they stated - a Post Office that closed a few years ago and moved a few miles away to a Supermarket.
Cash is very difficult to handle unless the (current) facilities are close by.
My photo of the day is Newcastle Central station last night.
Can you tell me how you post a photo?
See the mountain icon on the top right of the comment box ? Click on that, select "choose file", and upload the relevant JPEG (not too large or you'll annoy the admins) from your computer/device.
Thanks! It worked
One a day is the limit, though. Otherwise the site makes everyone's pics about 1mm across.
General Calvin Rogers now safely dead was awarded the Medal of Honor, equivalent to the Victoria Cross, for acts of astonishing bravery during the Vietnam War.
An article from a couple of years ago on the Defense Department website about the medal and Rogers who was an at the time rare high ranking African American in the US Army who also campaigned for equality in the Army. This article now redirects to a broken page where the URL has been changed from Medal of Honor to DEI Medal of Honor. Presumably on the ultimate orders of a president who heroically avoided involvement in the Vietnam War thanks to his father's connections.
My photo of the day is Newcastle Central station last night.
Can you tell me how you post a photo?
Well, first you buy a stamp and, when you have recovered from the shock of that, you stick it in an envelope and find a post box. Sometimes it even arrives.
I think you are suppose to put the stamp on the *outside* of the envelope
“Those who buy Patriot systems should be offered the new generation Franco-Italian SAMP/T. Those who buy F-35s should be offered Rafale."
The statement was made after news about both Canada and Portugal potentially moving away from buying F-35s.
He’s just shilling for the French defence industry there
Good. Starmer should be doing the same for the British defence industry. What is wrong with promoting your own industries, particularly to allies who will be alongside you if things get hot?
There’s nothing wrong with it. I was just surprised that @Nigelb was surprised
I have a smidgen of sympathy for this. I'd like a world in which occupants of a military ceremony should be notable for their military achievments rather than their race or gender.
This issue is, AIUI, that they have decided that *all* non straight white male soldiers are there as a result of DEI rather than an assessment of their military achievements
General Calvin Rogers now safely dead was awarded the Medal of Honor, equivalent to the Victoria Cross, for acts of astonishing bravery during the Vietnam War.
An article from a couple of years ago on the Defense Department website about the medal and Rogers who was an at the time rare high ranking African American in the US Army who also campaigned for equality in the Army. This article now redirects to a broken page where the URL has been changed from Medal of Honor to DEI Medal of Honor. Presumably on the ultimate orders of a president who heroically avoided involvement in the Vietnam War thanks to his father's connections.
And Trump avoided conscription because of physical infirmity...... bone spurs. Allegedly.
Someone has gone to the effort of programming a misdirection on the main Defense Department website so it goes to an invalid location where the new location address contains the words DEI Medal of Honor.
I have a smidgen of sympathy for this. I'd like a world in which occupants of a military ceremony should be notable for their military achievments rather than their race or gender.
This issue is, AIUI, that they have decided that *all* non straight white male soldiers are there as a result of DEI rather than an assessment of their military achievements
Ah, I see. I wrongly inferred from the headline that they had removed specific 'here are the graves of black soldiers' etc.
On the header, I'm not sure I agree with the implied interpretation. Only 19% think Farage will be next PM, with a further 5% plumping for Rupert Lowe (unbelievable). 32%, however, think it will be a Tory - the combined % of Badenoch, Jenrick, Johnson and Cleverly. So actually more punters think we'll have a Tory PM than Farage (or Lowe). Or am I missing something?
Can't recall, and am too lazy to look it up, whether the Germans occupied Svalbard in WWII. Have an idea that they didn't.
No, they did and the garrison was among the last places to surrender as everyone forget about them.
The general capitulation of German forces in Norway took place on May 8th but I think it wasn't until September a boat went to Svalbard and found the German garrison still in place.
As an aside, the last Germans to surrender on British soil were the small force on Les Minquiers who were rescued on May 23rd.
Do punters really 'agree with Farage' that there is a good chance of him being next PM? They reckon there's an 81% chance that he won't.
I think that is generous by the way. The current chances reflect the fact that no-one has a clue - so backing the horses will have the same fate as I did in Cheltenham week, complete oblivion - and that Farage is in a unique position so his bit of the iceberg peers above the waterline.
IMO Streeting might be value. But I am not going there.
I agree about Streeting.
I thought Hunt's intervention this week admiring the "boldness" of the abolition of NHS England was interesting. It suggests that he is both on the right track, not being shy about it and knows how to build a consensus.
Streeting is today indicating that NHS England is the first of a long list of Quangos to go. Boosting NHS efficiency would be a real and substantial achievement for the Labour government and is all the more important since Reeves seems determined to kill growth rather than promote it. There is simply not going to be much new money, especially with the Defence needs. Doing more with the same is the way forward and would make him the obvious contender if a change is needed.
All he did by abolishing NHS England was move more NHS management back under the politicians and Dept of Health. Most quangos are there for a reason, regulation, management etc real reform of the health service would move towards a more insurance based model which he won't do
He seems to be gunning for the ICBs now. I am not clear how that improves things, unless you gut the internal market and run everything from the centre.
It does have a modest DOGEy "feel the width" smell about it, but it's not a huge reorganisation afaics.
The proof will be in the pudding, but I guess it gives him an attack line on the Conservatives.
Getting to grips with care would be a better option. They could nick a few of the extensive hospital car parks for Travelodge style intermediate facilities, and deal with all the blockages that stop people wheeling and cycling to hospital. My local hospital has 100k people within walking or wheeling or cycling distance, and huge numbers of the visits are for things like blood tests, and visits to inpatients.
My photo of the day is Newcastle Central station last night.
Can you tell me how you post a photo?
Well, first you buy a stamp and, when you have recovered from the shock of that, you stick it in an envelope and find a post box. Sometimes it even arrives.
I think you are suppose to put the stamp on the *outside* of the envelope
Damn, that will explain why so few of the letters to my son ever arrive.
Above the guy in the tracksuit holding his arms up?
You've got good eyesight! Yes just above SAF on his left. Next to the attractive girl with specs directly behind him. Her family were given their choice of seats after the war which have been passed down and they have the five best seats in the ground
“At the moment of activating the so-called sprinklers, the sparks caught the ceiling that was made of easily flammable material after which for a very short period of time the fire spread across the whole discotheque, creating a thick smoke” he was quoted as having told reporters...
Above the guy in the tracksuit holding his arms up?
You've got good eyesight! Yes just above SAF on his left. Next to the attractive girl with specs directly behind him. Her family were given their choice of seats after the war which have been passed down and they have the five best seats in the ground
I was hoping you were the fella with 5 chins a few seats behind Ferguson.
Do punters really 'agree with Farage' that there is a good chance of him being next PM? They reckon there's an 81% chance that he won't.
I think that is generous by the way. The current chances reflect the fact that no-one has a clue - so backing the horses will have the same fate as I did in Cheltenham week, complete oblivion - and that Farage is in a unique position so his bit of the iceberg peers above the waterline.
IMO Streeting might be value. But I am not going there.
I agree about Streeting.
I thought Hunt's intervention this week admiring the "boldness" of the abolition of NHS England was interesting. It suggests that he is both on the right track, not being shy about it and knows how to build a consensus.
Streeting is today indicating that NHS England is the first of a long list of Quangos to go. Boosting NHS efficiency would be a real and substantial achievement for the Labour government and is all the more important since Reeves seems determined to kill growth rather than promote it. There is simply not going to be much new money, especially with the Defence needs. Doing more with the same is the way forward and would make him the obvious contender if a change is needed.
All he did by abolishing NHS England was move more NHS management back under the politicians and Dept of Health. Most quangos are there for a reason, regulation, management etc real reform of the health service would move towards a more insurance based model which he won't do
The reason that most Quangos are there, plausible deniability for the Minister otherwise responsible, is not a good reason.
What we have found is that these autonomous bodies become prone to mission creep, empire building, justifying their own existence by demanding ever more of those that they are regulating or providing a service to and expensive. And that's the good ones!
"...By taking a tough line on immigration, welfare cuts and net zero, McSweeney’s strategy is to neutralise issues where the Tories and Reform might get traction and keep working-class voters in the red wall onside..."
Giving Ed Miliband £22bn to suck magic gas from the air and burn it in underground caves (yes, that's really the plan) is not "a tough line on...net zero"
Reform is actually quite fond of things like disability payments for people in wheelchairs and pensioners' heating. Looking after the old and sick is a core Labour value and when they cut those benefits their polls go down, not up. Blairism doesn't work in the 2020s.
However, while he was one of many Reform candidates whose comments caused controversy and led to many being sacked, he is now head of vetting at Reform UK.
The role includes scouring prospective candidates’ social media outputs and advising them on what should be deleted.
Reform UK’s leader, Nigel Farage, told his party conference in September that it would be vetting candidates “rigorously at all levels” in future after more than 100 were removed before the general election..
...Days after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Aaron said that those who called Putin insane “do not understand him and limit their ability to oppose him”.
He said: “The motivation to acquire and wield force is legitimate, and there is a whole group of personality types inclined to this, and they have historically shaped the world we live in.”
In a comment on Reddit, he said that Assad was “gentle by nature” and not “some bloodthirsty tyrant who exercises control over his people with an iron fist”, adding that the dictator had been “led astray” by social stereotyping...
My photo of the day is Newcastle Central station last night.
Can't be Newcastle - they've got too many clothes on.
Must be visitors from somewhere soft and Southern, like Hartlepool.
Mackems
Hartlepudlians are 'Monkey Hangers'.
Hence the election of their mayor, Monkey "Angus".
If you wanted to start a fight with Hartlepudlians in my student days in Sunderland you asked the 'Who 'anged the monkey, then?' Back in the 50's they were very sensitive about it.
Above the guy in the tracksuit holding his arms up?
You've got good eyesight! Yes just above SAF on his left. Next to the attractive girl with specs directly behind him. Her family were given their choice of seats after the war which have been passed down and they have the five best seats in the ground
I was hoping you were the fella with 5 chins a few seats behind Ferguson.
5 chins or not even he got a full page in the Guardian!
My photo of the day is Newcastle Central station last night.
Can't be Newcastle - they've got too many clothes on.
Must be visitors from somewhere soft and Southern, like Hartlepool.
Mackems
Hartlepudlians are 'Monkey Hangers'.
Hence the election of their mayor, Monkey "Angus".
If you wanted to start a fight with Hartlepudlians in my student days in Sunderland you asked the 'Who 'anged the monkey, then?' Back in the 50's they were very sensitive about it.
Do punters really 'agree with Farage' that there is a good chance of him being next PM? They reckon there's an 81% chance that he won't.
I think that is generous by the way. The current chances reflect the fact that no-one has a clue - so backing the horses will have the same fate as I did in Cheltenham week, complete oblivion - and that Farage is in a unique position so his bit of the iceberg peers above the waterline.
IMO Streeting might be value. But I am not going there.
In the article Farage rates his chances of becoming PM at 40%. That's bullish imo.
Do punters really 'agree with Farage' that there is a good chance of him being next PM? They reckon there's an 81% chance that he won't.
I think that is generous by the way. The current chances reflect the fact that no-one has a clue - so backing the horses will have the same fate as I did in Cheltenham week, complete oblivion - and that Farage is in a unique position so his bit of the iceberg peers above the waterline.
IMO Streeting might be value. But I am not going there.
In the article Farage rates his chances of becoming PM at 40%. That's bullish imo. But I guess he has to be.
However, while he was one of many Reform candidates whose comments caused controversy and led to many being sacked, he is now head of vetting at Reform UK.
The role includes scouring prospective candidates’ social media outputs and advising them on what should be deleted.
Reform UK’s leader, Nigel Farage, told his party conference in September that it would be vetting candidates “rigorously at all levels” in future after more than 100 were removed before the general election..
...Days after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Aaron said that those who called Putin insane “do not understand him and limit their ability to oppose him”.
He said: “The motivation to acquire and wield force is legitimate, and there is a whole group of personality types inclined to this, and they have historically shaped the world we live in.”
In a comment on Reddit, he said that Assad was “gentle by nature” and not “some bloodthirsty tyrant who exercises control over his people with an iron fist”, adding that the dictator had been “led astray” by social stereotyping...
At the Election 2024 they dealt with those who hit the media bigly, and mainly ignored the rest.
This I think will be a problem for them this time.
Is he related to the Trump's Head of Homeland Security? She says things like that, and is a crack shot when it is her pet dog on the receiving end.
However, while he was one of many Reform candidates whose comments caused controversy and led to many being sacked, he is now head of vetting at Reform UK.
The role includes scouring prospective candidates’ social media outputs and advising them on what should be deleted.
Reform UK’s leader, Nigel Farage, told his party conference in September that it would be vetting candidates “rigorously at all levels” in future after more than 100 were removed before the general election..
...Days after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Aaron said that those who called Putin insane “do not understand him and limit their ability to oppose him”.
He said: “The motivation to acquire and wield force is legitimate, and there is a whole group of personality types inclined to this, and they have historically shaped the world we live in.”
In a comment on Reddit, he said that Assad was “gentle by nature” and not “some bloodthirsty tyrant who exercises control over his people with an iron fist”, adding that the dictator had been “led astray” by social stereotyping...
Whilst his comments on Assad are just weird, his comments on Putin might, from an academic point of view, be considered valid. Simply dismissing someone like Putin as insane does indeed limit ones ability to oppose him because too many people equate insanity with lackof logical thought. That means his opponents may well underestimate him. He is also sadly correct about personality types (whether 16 or 6,000 I have no idea) who are motivated to acquire and wield force and how they dominate history.
I see nothing in those specific comments on Putin that excuses or supports him. Simply making observations which appear to me to be unfortunately, quite valid.
Do punters really 'agree with Farage' that there is a good chance of him being next PM? They reckon there's an 81% chance that he won't.
I think that is generous by the way. The current chances reflect the fact that no-one has a clue - so backing the horses will have the same fate as I did in Cheltenham week, complete oblivion - and that Farage is in a unique position so his bit of the iceberg peers above the waterline.
IMO Streeting might be value. But I am not going there.
In the article Farage rates his chances of becoming PM at 40%. That's bullish imo. But I guess he has to be.
The White House has loosened Biden-era restrictions on military commanders in conducting airstrikes on militant targets. Commanders in the Middle East and Africa now can take strikes where they see fit, without asking the White House to approve them.
Sadly the Svalbard Treaty is rather confused so this is not perhaps as straight forward as either Norway or Russia would like to make out. It is covered by Article 9.
"Subject to the rights and duties resulting from the admission of Norway to the League of Nations, Norway undertakes not to create nor to allow the establishment of any naval base in the territories specified in Article 1 and not to construct any fortification in the said territories, which may never be used for warlike purposes."
I suppose the question that arises is whether conducting NATO exercises up there constitutes 'warlike purposes'.
Do punters really 'agree with Farage' that there is a good chance of him being next PM? They reckon there's an 81% chance that he won't.
I think that is generous by the way. The current chances reflect the fact that no-one has a clue - so backing the horses will have the same fate as I did in Cheltenham week, complete oblivion - and that Farage is in a unique position so his bit of the iceberg peers above the waterline.
IMO Streeting might be value. But I am not going there.
I agree about Streeting.
I thought Hunt's intervention this week admiring the "boldness" of the abolition of NHS England was interesting. It suggests that he is both on the right track, not being shy about it and knows how to build a consensus.
Streeting is today indicating that NHS England is the first of a long list of Quangos to go. Boosting NHS efficiency would be a real and substantial achievement for the Labour government and is all the more important since Reeves seems determined to kill growth rather than promote it. There is simply not going to be much new money, especially with the Defence needs. Doing more with the same is the way forward and would make him the obvious contender if a change is needed.
All he did by abolishing NHS England was move more NHS management back under the politicians and Dept of Health. Most quangos are there for a reason, regulation, management etc real reform of the health service would move towards a more insurance based model which he won't do
The reason that most Quangos are there, plausible deniability for the Minister otherwise responsible, is not a good reason.
What we have found is that these autonomous bodies become prone to mission creep, empire building, justifying their own existence by demanding ever more of those that they are regulating or providing a service to and expensive. And that's the good ones!
Nurses need regulating, doctors need regulating, ministers cannot control all aspects of the health service, indeed many of the quangos have health professionals in them who can give professional experience of what is needed in terms of delivery on the ground.
Can't recall, and am too lazy to look it up, whether the Germans occupied Svalbard in WWII. Have an idea that they didn't.
The Norwegians evacuated the archipelago but had a garrison up there during WW2 for propaganda purposes and the Germans had a series of Weather stations. I have visited one of them.
Comments
The Tiwari story is a little odd - there's a suggestion he was at best a semi-detached member of the Camden Labour Group. There are stories circulating in Newham about huge disagreements within the ruling Labour Group and selections for 2026 will be interesting here.
Newham have imposed an 8.99% Council Tax rise - Sadiq's part of the tax (the GLA) has gone up just 4%.
The Newham Independents will fight some of the seats hard - whether they can put up a full slate of candidates I don't know. The Greens will also target some seats - Reform, LDs and Conservatives are irrelevant here.
https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/prediction_main.html
I think Angela Rayner is highly competent. She didn't get where she is without having tremendous political skills, and is one of the few on the front bench with strong Emotional Intelligence.. Never confuse lack of formal education for lack of intellect.
They're wearing coats on a Saturday night.
Click on that, select "choose file", and upload the relevant JPEG (not too large or you'll annoy the admins) from your computer/device.
PS I'm in the photo!
And Good Morning everyone
Edit: Curses, beaten again!
General Calvin Rogers now safely dead was awarded the Medal of Honor, equivalent to the Victoria Cross, for acts of astonishing bravery during the Vietnam War.
An article from a couple of years ago on the Defense Department website about the medal and Rogers who was an at the time rare high ranking African American in the US Army who also campaigned for equality in the Army. This article now redirects to a broken page where the URL has been changed from Medal of Honor to DEI Medal of Honor. Presumably on the ultimate orders of a president who heroically avoided involvement in the Vietnam War thanks to his father's connections.
https://www.defense.gov/News/Feature-Stories/Story/Article/2824721/medal-of-honor-monday-army-maj-gen-charles-calvin-rogers/
One for the now flounced @Anabobazina
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/mar/16/sweden-cash-digital-payments-electronic-banking-security
Otherwise the site makes everyone's pics about 1mm across.
And Trump avoided conscription because of physical infirmity...... bone spurs. Allegedly.
(Can't post a pic because I used my quota, and if I did TSE would send me to Sheffield.)
Norway responds to Russia having summoned the Norwegian Ambassador to protest against ”Norway’s militarization of the Svalbard Archipelago.”
Norway replied:
”Svalbard is part of Norway and part of NATO"
https://x.com/visegrad24/status/1900865460075200941
Or am I missing something?
The general capitulation of German forces in Norway took place on May 8th but I think it wasn't until September a boat went to Svalbard and found the German garrison still in place.
As an aside, the last Germans to surrender on British soil were the small force on Les Minquiers who were rescued on May 23rd.
Guns of the Second World War, by R. Tillery
The proof will be in the pudding, but I guess it gives him an attack line on the Conservatives.
Getting to grips with care would be a better option. They could nick a few of the extensive hospital car parks for Travelodge style intermediate facilities, and deal with all the blockages that stop people wheeling and cycling to hospital. My local hospital has 100k people within walking or wheeling or cycling distance, and huge numbers of the visits are for things like blood tests, and visits to inpatients.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/16/william-shakespeare-birthplace-trust-white-supremacy-empire/
We they all Dennis the Menace, or inmates on day release?
Is it old enough to be be ripe for recycling?
It's the way things were. It's how we measure change today.
Pillocks.
He gets joined from time to time by a rare migrant bird in the surrounding trees. And as a result, a few dozen birders.
The famous snooker players Bill Yardque and his Russian cousin Inoff the Red
The IRA man Dick O'Stynamite
And the lorry driver Art Ticulatedlorry
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/mar/16/north-macedonia-nightclub-fire-pulse-kocani-europe-live
...Toskovski said the fire was probably caused by the use of pyrotechnic devices “used for light effect at the concert”.
“At the moment of activating the so-called sprinklers, the sparks caught the ceiling that was made of easily flammable material after which for a very short period of time the fire spread across the whole discotheque, creating a thick smoke” he was quoted as having told reporters...
What we have found is that these autonomous bodies become prone to mission creep, empire building, justifying their own existence by demanding ever more of those that they are regulating or providing a service to and expensive. And that's the good ones!
The newspaper baron Sir Culation
The accountant N. N. Tree
I spent more time thinking up the names for problems I set, than writing the actual course.
"...By taking a tough line on immigration, welfare cuts and net zero, McSweeney’s strategy is to neutralise issues where the Tories and Reform might get traction and keep working-class voters in the red wall onside..."
Reform UK candidate who praised Hitler and Assad put in charge of vetting
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/mar/16/reform-uk-candidate-who-praised-hitler-and-assad-put-in-charge-of-vetting
...Aaron made the comments as part of a pseudoscientific theory of personality types. He is the president of the self-styled World Socionics Society – a group promoting the idea that there are 16 personality types.
However, while he was one of many Reform candidates whose comments caused controversy and led to many being sacked, he is now head of vetting at Reform UK.
The role includes scouring prospective candidates’ social media outputs and advising them on what should be deleted.
Reform UK’s leader, Nigel Farage, told his party conference in September that it would be vetting candidates “rigorously at all levels” in future after more than 100 were removed before the general election..
...Days after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Aaron said that those who called Putin insane “do not understand him and limit their ability to oppose him”.
He said: “The motivation to acquire and wield force is legitimate, and there is a whole group of personality types inclined to this, and they have historically shaped the world we live in.”
In a comment on Reddit, he said that Assad was “gentle by nature” and not “some bloodthirsty tyrant who exercises control over his people with an iron fist”, adding that the dictator had been “led astray” by social stereotyping...
If.
Back in the 50's they were very sensitive about it.
Just been reading Liz Truss's former lover, Mark Field's, gloriously indiscreet account of their affair at the Rant's website.
What a cad! 😂
But I guess he does.
This I think will be a problem for them this time.
Is he related to the Trump's Head of Homeland Security? She says things like that, and is a crack shot when it is her pet dog on the receiving end.
I see nothing in those specific comments on Putin that excuses or supports him. Simply making observations which appear to me to be unfortunately, quite valid.
The White House has loosened Biden-era restrictions on military commanders in conducting airstrikes on militant targets. Commanders in the Middle East and Africa now can take strikes where they see fit, without asking the White House to approve them.
"Subject to the rights and duties resulting from the admission of Norway to the League of Nations, Norway undertakes not to create nor to allow the establishment of any naval base in the territories specified in Article 1 and not to construct any fortification in the said territories, which may never be used for warlike purposes."
I suppose the question that arises is whether conducting NATO exercises up there constitutes 'warlike purposes'.
@shashj
Being wounded in combat while black is now “DEI woke shit”.
https://x.com/shashj/status/1901175303851975016