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It’s grim up North for Labour and the South isn’t any better – politicalbetting.com
It’s grim up North for Labour and the South isn’t any better – politicalbetting.com
If these results are a harbinger for next month’s locals then Labour and Sir Keir Starmer are going to going to to have a horrible night on the 1st of May.
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@atrupar.com
Alina Habba: "We are following executive orders."
https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3lmkbrjf4q32c
"An argument that didn't work for the Nazis at Nuremburg."
No third.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtEymx55dnU
Easter recess halted in order to pass bill taking assets into public control, with full nationalisation a possibility
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/apr/11/parliament-recalled-to-discuss-british-steel-nationalisation
The couple of small stone Peak villages are very much dominated by Hattersley council estate, which was thoroughly WWC when I knew it.
However, with plenty of other red wall wards, and a 20% lead here, it could be a happy hunting ground for Reform come 2026.
* Labour has made quite a bit of its own luck there by postponing so many elections.
https://www.nationalreview.com/bench-memos/some-observations-on-strong-supreme-court-ruling-requiring-trump-administration-to-facilitate-return-of-wrongly-deported-alien/
...Some observations:
1. The Trump administration completely deserves this loss. As Justice Sotomayor points out in her separate opinion, the Trump administration’s position “implies that it could deport and incarcerate any person, including U. S. citizens, without legal consequence, so long as it does so before a court can intervene.” (The fact that I am agreeing with Sotomayor signals how ludicrous DOJ’s position is.)
2. The notion that the Trump administration could not readily secure Abrego Garcia’s return is difficult to take seriously. Are we really to believe that the “Art of the Deal” president has struck a deal with El Salvador that prevents him from obtaining the return of individuals that have been wrongly deported?
3. Insofar as the district court’s order is (implausibly) interpreted to require President Trump to “effectuate” the return of Abrego Garcia by, say, threatening to break off diplomatic operations with El Salvador or ordering a military rescue, then it would not show “due regard for the deference owed to the Executive Branch in the conduct of foreign affairs.” But if the district court leaves it to the Trump administration to figure out the means and allows for the theoretical possibility that there might be no effective means available, it would be difficult to see any difficulty with the order.
4. Contrary to the DOJ statement, the Supreme Court did not “recognize” that “it is the exclusive prerogative of the President to conduct foreign affairs.” Further, unless it is very narrowly construed, that proposition is not sound. To cite just a few examples: Congress has the authority to “declare War … and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water.” The Senate has the authority to approve or reject treaties. The Senate has the authority to confirm or reject the president’s nominees to be ambassadors. Congress has the authority to “regulate Commerce with foreign Nations.” Congress has the authority to make immigration laws. The federal courts have the authority to interpret treaties as well as all the laws that Congress enacts that bear on foreign affairs.
As for the president’s non-exclusive power to conduct foreign affairs: That power has a core and a periphery. Dealing with a foreign country to serve as a prison contractor would sure seem to me to lie near the outer part of the periphery, if not entirely outside it...
And after the election? The real fun begins. We are going to see some amazing people elected to councils. A selection of types
Young and Outspoken - the world is broken and I will fix it
Dave - why can't these [deleted] just be sent home
Opportunist Middle Aged rider - Andrea Jenkyns et al riding Reform for their own personal reasons
Gammony Fool - older, angrier, stupider
Someone should open a book on what % of councillors elected in May have lost the whip by the end of the summer. It will be into double figures %
Pretty but also a tad touristy. As you can see
What places are left without tourists?!
I expect Labour to get a battering, and the Tories too, with the byelection bad for Labour and the Locals horrible for the Tories.
Anyway Mrs C and I are home now, courtesy of Eldest Granddaughter. Mrs C’s leg has been dressed and she’s been referred to the local surgery for re- dressing after the weekend, and that’s booked.
Apparently no need for referral to the Plastics Unit.
Thanks to all who expressed sympathy!
“It’s a race against time to save British Steel . “ Starmer finally getting to grips with politics !
Labour's "exposure" in three weeks time is nowhere near that of the Conservatives in terms of seats held and potential losses.
On a quick count of the County Councils due to hold elections, the Conservatives will be defending 554 seats and Labour just 128 so it's the former with much more skin in the game and much more to lose.
That's not to say it won't be a difficult night for Labour but in terms of counting the losses, I suspect the Conservatives will be doing more counting.
The country is in ruins. The Tories are going to get smashed. Labour should have been well placed to pick up many seats but now they are the ones smashing things up.
So everyone else will do very well.
For better or worse they need to spend time pointing at potholes and tutting over planning applications.
The UKIP experience, when they won 7 seats in the Senedd, (Neil Hamilton, Mark Reckless, etc) is not a happy omen.
Just seeing into it at the DMZ was creepy and exciting
My problem is that I am an ardent traveller but I have now travelled most of the world
Except Africa. Large chunks of Africa are unknown to me but I don’t have much desire to go. Because, Africa
But steel is also a strategic industry and productive capacity needs retaining. I'm not a great fan of public ownership but there are times where if it's the only option then that option has to be accepted.
The production capacity of 155mm artillery shells will increase fifteenfold by 2027 compared to the level at the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in 2022. Production of 120 mm caliber ammunition for battle tanks will increase fourfold.
It is also noted that at the new 155 mm ammunition factory in Unterluss, built in just 13 months, the first ammunition is expected to be produced as early as April-May 2025. The factory will eventually manufacture some 200,000 artillery shells a year.
https://x.com/Gerashchenko_en/status/1910575502735057325
Ok now, in my little shepherds hut in the Saty valley of the lower Tien Shan - with excellent wifi - I’m going to watch the 2nd episode of White Lotus, which is perfect viewing on multiple levels
So as you can imagine my reaction this week as the USD collapsed was (AARGH!) not good. But I neglected to check on EUR, and incredibly EUR has risen as fast as USD has fallen. Although I don't know how far down USD will go (I keep thinking I should buy USD around £1=$1.35), it appears that my EUR holding more than compensates, and it appears that I am £300 up on the past 10 days.
Which is nice.
https://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=GBP&to=EUR&view=1M
https://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=GBP&to=USD&view=1M
I am going to try growing apricots. The lemons, fig and orange trees have done ok so far. I've now acquired a cherry tree as well.
https://x.com/trump_repost/status/1910728548434010244
Russia has to get moving. Too many people ere DYING, thousands a week, in a terrible and senseless war - A war that should have never happened, and wouldn't have happened, if I were President!!!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/creq99l218do
Insubordination will not be tolerated..😏
https://vf.politicalbetting.com/discussion/comment/5169245#Comment_5169245
https://vf.politicalbetting.com/discussion/comment/5169246#Comment_5169246
https://vf.politicalbetting.com/discussion/comment/5169256#Comment_5169256
https://vf.politicalbetting.com/discussion/comment/5169263#Comment_5169263
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus#Orbit_and_rotation
Honestly, Sweetie, we'd miss you if you didn't.
@atrupar.com
more law firms have just sold out to Trump
https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3lmkhqymloc2z
The Secret Service stopped him taking another shot though.
I require at least three months notice.
I hope. My vendors are playing silly buggers at the moment and I am not happy with them.
Three months sounds about right the way they've behaved over the last six.
Just reinforces how much the US is now our enemy in foreign policy as well as trade.
If I had to pick a single other country to exile myself to it would be Italy.
So we can still blame the French and avoid TSE spontaneously combusting.
As an example, Kent - it seems likely the Conservatives will lose seats to Reform but they could also lose seats to the LDs and Greens leaving Reform short of an overall majority. If they are, however, the largest party on the new county council, what would the Reform caucus do?
Admittedly having scored 163.
France has of course fielded the most magnificent armies - Agincourt, Crecy, Waterloo - amazing legendary warriors all round.. but not British.
Magnificent naval prowess too... ok so nobody will buy that.
Air? They had the biggest airforce in the world once. As Gene Hackman would say Gerrmans!
Ironically, I don't actually think DT really follows in this vein. He wants his pound of flesh, but he doesn't discriminate.
Because that would open up 2/3 of a continent I’ve never seen (I’ve seen south and east Africa, and Ethiopia, Egypt and Morocco - ie the good bits)
The trouble is when anyone I trust goes to central/west/Islamy Africa they come back saying Hmm, yeah, not great, I had one decent curry, etc
Two Metropolitan Police officers have gone undercover in unconventional fashion by dressing as Batman and Robin to tackle illegal gambling on Westminster Bridge.
They donned the unusual uniforms to target suspects familiar with their usual patrols, the Met said.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/c5yg6q0861ro (10-second video included)
...
A Somali criminal seeking asylum in the UK has avoided deportation after a judge ruled that returning him to his home country would cause him too much “stress”.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/04/11/deporting-migrant-would-stress-him-out-judge-rules/ (£££)
...
- The classic: PX sherry with vanilla
- Surprise red wine pairing: Pinot noir with chocolate and cherry
- Fruity sweet wine with fruit: Spätlese riesling with peach melba
- Dairy and tawny: Tawny port with millionaire’s ice cream
- French twist: Sauternes with coconut ice cream
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/wine/wine-and-ice-cream-pairings/ (£££)PB needs its own food, wine and travel correspondent.
If you're going to change something like this, have the courage to put it to Parliament and legislate accordingly.
I've been told.
Philip Collins
@PhilipJCollins1
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1h
For anyone who once really liked The Times you might like the new incarnation of The Observer. I am going to join soon and that's where I will be doing my writing.
Who they presumably hate with a passion.
Roy Sloane, Whizzer and Chips: Are you concerned you've lost your strongest ally in the Cabinet?
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/d9CQRinbxLo