At the moment though, this does not appear to be the case in the UK, where the momentum remains with Reform.
For whatever reason, association with Trump is hurting Farage far less at the moment than counterparts in other countries. This is despite him being far closer to Trump than the opposition politicians in Australia and Canada.
So what is happening?
Firstly, our political landscape is more fragmented. You can have a big victory on 30-ish % of the vote at the moment, given opponents are polling in the low-to-mid 20s. It remains to be seen if RefUK can break into the mid to high 30s, which would put them in a very good position.
Secondly, I think that minds are less concentrated right now. Our election is 4 years away, and into a new presidential term. We cannot predict what will be happening at that point, and where Trump and Trump policies will be at that point.
And thirdly, I think this country is maybe just in a different phase of the cycle to others. We are uniquely fed up with both our major parties, Farage as a politician runs rings around any other high-profile political figure, the country has experienced a long malaise since at least Covid and people are casting around for alternatives.
We have an interesting period ahead of us. But Labour can perhaps take some comfort from the fact that very unpopular incumbents have managed remarkable turnarounds, and they’d be foolish not to study those blueprints carefully.
It might also be the case that we are fundamentally more secure in our own national identity, despite the political class seemingly being obsessed with the US. We are the mother country and not the other way round.
The obsession with immigration does not indicate security in our national identity (whatever that is).
There are lots of reasons apart from identity not to want thousands of boat people arriving each week. I don't particularly like the tent city of immigrants developing in our town centre, for example. Or seeing 23 kids bkown up at my local arena. Or pensioners in Hartlepool murdered. Or wages supressed in favour of capital. Or a massive housing shortage. Just, you know, off the top of my head. But just on identity, the election of a 'stop men and women mixing' candidate in Burnley Central on Thursday - well, British identity might be hard to pin down, but it isn't that. And that isn't down to native votes
It's coming down, immigration, although "boats" is a toughie.
Course, the last thing the Nat Pops want is any realism or perspective on any of this.
And of course we must finally deal with The Unmentionable
At the moment though, this does not appear to be the case in the UK, where the momentum remains with Reform.
For whatever reason, association with Trump is hurting Farage far less at the moment than counterparts in other countries. This is despite him being far closer to Trump than the opposition politicians in Australia and Canada.
So what is happening?
Firstly, our political landscape is more fragmented. You can have a big victory on 30-ish % of the vote at the moment, given opponents are polling in the low-to-mid 20s. It remains to be seen if RefUK can break into the mid to high 30s, which would put them in a very good position.
Secondly, I think that minds are less concentrated right now. Our election is 4 years away, and into a new presidential term. We cannot predict what will be happening at that point, and where Trump and Trump policies will be at that point.
And thirdly, I think this country is maybe just in a different phase of the cycle to others. We are uniquely fed up with both our major parties, Farage as a politician runs rings around any other high-profile political figure, the country has experienced a long malaise since at least Covid and people are casting around for alternatives.
We have an interesting period ahead of us. But Labour can perhaps take some comfort from the fact that very unpopular incumbents have managed remarkable turnarounds, and they’d be foolish not to study those blueprints carefully.
This deserved more likes than it got. (The solitary one from me.)
At the moment though, this does not appear to be the case in the UK, where the momentum remains with Reform.
For whatever reason, association with Trump is hurting Farage far less at the moment than counterparts in other countries. This is despite him being far closer to Trump than the opposition politicians in Australia and Canada.
So what is happening?
Firstly, our political landscape is more fragmented. You can have a big victory on 30-ish % of the vote at the moment, given opponents are polling in the low-to-mid 20s. It remains to be seen if RefUK can break into the mid to high 30s, which would put them in a very good position.
Secondly, I think that minds are less concentrated right now. Our election is 4 years away, and into a new presidential term. We cannot predict what will be happening at that point, and where Trump and Trump policies will be at that point.
And thirdly, I think this country is maybe just in a different phase of the cycle to others. We are uniquely fed up with both our major parties, Farage as a politician runs rings around any other high-profile political figure, the country has experienced a long malaise since at least Covid and people are casting around for alternatives.
We have an interesting period ahead of us. But Labour can perhaps take some comfort from the fact that very unpopular incumbents have managed remarkable turnarounds, and they’d be foolish not to study those blueprints carefully.
This deserved more likes than it got. (The solitary one from me.)
At the moment though, this does not appear to be the case in the UK, where the momentum remains with Reform.
For whatever reason, association with Trump is hurting Farage far less at the moment than counterparts in other countries. This is despite him being far closer to Trump than the opposition politicians in Australia and Canada.
So what is happening?
Firstly, our political landscape is more fragmented. You can have a big victory on 30-ish % of the vote at the moment, given opponents are polling in the low-to-mid 20s. It remains to be seen if RefUK can break into the mid to high 30s, which would put them in a very good position.
Secondly, I think that minds are less concentrated right now. Our election is 4 years away, and into a new presidential term. We cannot predict what will be happening at that point, and where Trump and Trump policies will be at that point.
And thirdly, I think this country is maybe just in a different phase of the cycle to others. We are uniquely fed up with both our major parties, Farage as a politician runs rings around any other high-profile political figure, the country has experienced a long malaise since at least Covid and people are casting around for alternatives.
We have an interesting period ahead of us. But Labour can perhaps take some comfort from the fact that very unpopular incumbents have managed remarkable turnarounds, and they’d be foolish not to study those blueprints carefully.
It might also be the case that we are fundamentally more secure in our own national identity, despite the political class seemingly being obsessed with the US. We are the mother country and not the other way round.
The obsession with immigration does not indicate security in our national identity (whatever that is).
There are lots of reasons apart from identity not to want thousands of boat people arriving each week. I don't particularly like the tent city of immigrants developing in our town centre, for example. Or seeing 23 kids bkown up at my local arena. Or pensioners in Hartlepool murdered. Or wages supressed in favour of capital. Or a massive housing shortage. Just, you know, off the top of my head. But just on identity, the election of a 'stop men and women mixing' candidate in Burnley Central on Thursday - well, British identity might be hard to pin down, but it isn't that. And that isn't down to native votes
It's coming down, immigration, although "boats" is a toughie.
Course, the last thing the Nat Pops want is any realism or perspective on any of this.
And of course we must finally deal with The Unmentionable
At the moment though, this does not appear to be the case in the UK, where the momentum remains with Reform.
For whatever reason, association with Trump is hurting Farage far less at the moment than counterparts in other countries. This is despite him being far closer to Trump than the opposition politicians in Australia and Canada.
So what is happening?
Firstly, our political landscape is more fragmented. You can have a big victory on 30-ish % of the vote at the moment, given opponents are polling in the low-to-mid 20s. It remains to be seen if RefUK can break into the mid to high 30s, which would put them in a very good position.
Secondly, I think that minds are less concentrated right now. Our election is 4 years away, and into a new presidential term. We cannot predict what will be happening at that point, and where Trump and Trump policies will be at that point.
And thirdly, I think this country is maybe just in a different phase of the cycle to others. We are uniquely fed up with both our major parties, Farage as a politician runs rings around any other high-profile political figure, the country has experienced a long malaise since at least Covid and people are casting around for alternatives.
We have an interesting period ahead of us. But Labour can perhaps take some comfort from the fact that very unpopular incumbents have managed remarkable turnarounds, and they’d be foolish not to study those blueprints carefully.
Farage is a very strong brand here. It's quite resilient. That said, I don't think he makes it unless a serious threat to Labour from their left emerges. This the keyest of the key factors imo. Unless it happens Labour's position is structurally strong and they will likely win again.
But Labour do have threats from the left - there are a growing amount of disillusioned voices going to the Greens and LDs. This is nowhere near the same issue as the Tories have with REFUK, but it is an issue for them. Do those voters hold their noses and vote Labour to stop Farage? That will be one of the big questions of the coming years.
As I paid on the last thread, we have to gamble that they do see sense and vote Labour to keep RefCon out, while making efforts of persuasion to win back those who have left us on the other flank.
Verona is nice, and has romantic associations. I really like Bologna, which is less than an hour away on the fast train, not too touristy or expensive, good food. The 62km (!) of arcades are apparently a UNESCO World Heritage Site https://www.bolognawelcome.com/en/information/unesco-porticoes-of-bologna-en
Another hour by train gets you to Ravenna, which is fantastic, especially if you have any liking for mosaics. A little bit further down that side of Italy, Marche is full of beautiful towns that are still relatively undiscovered, and I would say could be called romantic.
Or, pick somewhere in Italy you haven't been, and haven't (really) heard of, and see what it has to offer. There are so many really nice places that aren't well-known at all.
Bologna also home of Ducati and their great museum. Nothing more romantic than old motorbikes as I tell my partner (Mrs DavidL may not agree).
I see people are directly and indirectly talking about the grooming story, again.
Final warning, next time it happens, permanent bans, you have tested the patience of myself and OGH.
Like the phone hacking story and the Lord MacAlpine rumours I am not going to risk OGH's financial future because some people are too stupid to follow the rules..
The replies are comical, half of them think it's something to do with Nottingham, the other half don't realise he's been a councillor for over a decade. Reform might fail here, but the writing off of them before they've even started is just lazy prejudice imo. I live here, didn't vote for them and hope very much they succeed
I hope they fail, because it’s far less damaging to the fabric of this wonderful country that they fail now in a few town and county councils, than that they fail, Trump style, in national government.
All political careers end in failure, but it's better to have the maximum level of success beforehand.
Replacing Badenoch would not be a silver bullet. Tryl said his recent focus groups with Tory-to-Reform switchers showed that even Jenrick would struggle to turn around the party’s fortunes. “The only Conservative politician who could muster affection was Boris Johnson. Some cannot forgive him for partygate, but among those who had switched from the Tories to Reform UK there was a sense that Johnson was the only Tory who “got it” and could speak to them.
Boris as Party chairman would be fun. He would certainly entertain the troops. Just keep him away from anything to do with policy. He'd certainly complement Kemi who appears to do little other than contemplate policy, or so the critics complain.
Japan: I've been abroad to Europe far less often in the last 20 years than I'd ever envisaged before my kids, but even early on I wanted to keep 'trip of a lifetime' mystique and rarity to longer range off continent adventures.
And Japan is one of very few forays out of Europe so far. Yes, it's otherness was striking, but I don't have the comparators tbh. And did the miles on a JR card, south to Hiroshima which felt, ironically, like the most oldest city I visited beyond a few hallowed courtyards and shrines then all the way up in steps to Sapporo for unlimited beer and (then unknown to me) Mongolian grill.
The BBC warned viewers that their report from Australia contained some rather strong language which turned out to be an interview with the leader of the opposition which asked "Are you up Donald Trump's arse?"
At the moment though, this does not appear to be the case in the UK, where the momentum remains with Reform.
For whatever reason, association with Trump is hurting Farage far less at the moment than counterparts in other countries. This is despite him being far closer to Trump than the opposition politicians in Australia and Canada.
So what is happening?
Firstly, our political landscape is more fragmented. You can have a big victory on 30-ish % of the vote at the moment, given opponents are polling in the low-to-mid 20s. It remains to be seen if RefUK can break into the mid to high 30s, which would put them in a very good position.
Secondly, I think that minds are less concentrated right now. Our election is 4 years away, and into a new presidential term. We cannot predict what will be happening at that point, and where Trump and Trump policies will be at that point.
And thirdly, I think this country is maybe just in a different phase of the cycle to others. We are uniquely fed up with both our major parties, Farage as a politician runs rings around any other high-profile political figure, the country has experienced a long malaise since at least Covid and people are casting around for alternatives.
We have an interesting period ahead of us. But Labour can perhaps take some comfort from the fact that very unpopular incumbents have managed remarkable turnarounds, and they’d be foolish not to study those blueprints carefully.
It might also be the case that we are fundamentally more secure in our own national identity, despite the political class seemingly being obsessed with the US. We are the mother country and not the other way round.
The obsession with immigration does not indicate security in our national identity (whatever that is).
There are lots of reasons apart from identity not to want thousands of boat people arriving each week. I don't particularly like the tent city of immigrants developing in our town centre, for example. Or seeing 23 kids bkown up at my local arena. Or pensioners in Hartlepool murdered. Or wages supressed in favour of capital. Or a massive housing shortage. Just, you know, off the top of my head. But just on identity, the election of a 'stop men and women mixing' candidate in Burnley Central on Thursday - well, British identity might be hard to pin down, but it isn't that. And that isn't down to native votes
It's coming down, immigration, although "boats" is a toughie.
Course, the last thing the Nat Pops want is any realism or perspective on any of this.
Immigration - well, certainly boat-people-immigration - is like inflation. It's simlly a measure of how quickly things are getting worse.
At the moment though, this does not appear to be the case in the UK, where the momentum remains with Reform.
For whatever reason, association with Trump is hurting Farage far less at the moment than counterparts in other countries. This is despite him being far closer to Trump than the opposition politicians in Australia and Canada.
So what is happening?
Firstly, our political landscape is more fragmented. You can have a big victory on 30-ish % of the vote at the moment, given opponents are polling in the low-to-mid 20s. It remains to be seen if RefUK can break into the mid to high 30s, which would put them in a very good position.
Secondly, I think that minds are less concentrated right now. Our election is 4 years away, and into a new presidential term. We cannot predict what will be happening at that point, and where Trump and Trump policies will be at that point.
And thirdly, I think this country is maybe just in a different phase of the cycle to others. We are uniquely fed up with both our major parties, Farage as a politician runs rings around any other high-profile political figure, the country has experienced a long malaise since at least Covid and people are casting around for alternatives.
We have an interesting period ahead of us. But Labour can perhaps take some comfort from the fact that very unpopular incumbents have managed remarkable turnarounds, and they’d be foolish not to study those blueprints carefully.
It might also be the case that we are fundamentally more secure in our own national identity, despite the political class seemingly being obsessed with the US. We are the mother country and not the other way round.
The obsession with immigration does not indicate security in our national identity (whatever that is).
There are lots of reasons apart from identity not to want thousands of boat people arriving each week. I don't particularly like the tent city of immigrants developing in our town centre, for example. Or seeing 23 kids bkown up at my local arena. Or pensioners in Hartlepool murdered. Or wages supressed in favour of capital. Or a massive housing shortage. Just, you know, off the top of my head. But just on identity, the election of a 'stop men and women mixing' candidate in Burnley Central on Thursday - well, British identity might be hard to pin down, but it isn't that. And that isn't down to native votes
It's coming down, immigration, although "boats" is a toughie.
Course, the last thing the Nat Pops want is any realism or perspective on any of this.
It doesn't just have to come down, it needs to go into REVERSE. You still don't get it
Nearly all the Boriswave people need to go back. Anyone that hasn't got ILR - go back. Any foreign criminals - immediately deport. Anyone with a dodgy visa - back they go. Students overstaying - sorry, but you're out
Legal immigration needs, in essence, to cease: we must have a pause for several years while we try to knit the country back together. We have to leave the ECHR. Sack any lawyers that stand in the way. We have to make life uncomfortable for those people here who clearly despise us and our values. Bulldoze ghettoes like the Danish social democrats
Meanwhile all boats must stop ASAFP - not just "bring them down a bit". Stop them. Zero boats. And of course we must finally deal with The Unmentionable
@MaxPB laid it all out in pretty much these exact terms a couple of days ago. The above needs to happen, and soon, or we will get far worse than Farage
Thank you, yes. I was just talking about obsession with immigration.
At the moment though, this does not appear to be the case in the UK, where the momentum remains with Reform.
For whatever reason, association with Trump is hurting Farage far less at the moment than counterparts in other countries. This is despite him being far closer to Trump than the opposition politicians in Australia and Canada.
So what is happening?
Firstly, our political landscape is more fragmented. You can have a big victory on 30-ish % of the vote at the moment, given opponents are polling in the low-to-mid 20s. It remains to be seen if RefUK can break into the mid to high 30s, which would put them in a very good position.
Secondly, I think that minds are less concentrated right now. Our election is 4 years away, and into a new presidential term. We cannot predict what will be happening at that point, and where Trump and Trump policies will be at that point.
And thirdly, I think this country is maybe just in a different phase of the cycle to others. We are uniquely fed up with both our major parties, Farage as a politician runs rings around any other high-profile political figure, the country has experienced a long malaise since at least Covid and people are casting around for alternatives.
We have an interesting period ahead of us. But Labour can perhaps take some comfort from the fact that very unpopular incumbents have managed remarkable turnarounds, and they’d be foolish not to study those blueprints carefully.
It might also be the case that we are fundamentally more secure in our own national identity, despite the political class seemingly being obsessed with the US. We are the mother country and not the other way round.
The obsession with immigration does not indicate security in our national identity (whatever that is).
There are lots of reasons apart from identity not to want thousands of boat people arriving each week. I don't particularly like the tent city of immigrants developing in our town centre, for example. Or seeing 23 kids bkown up at my local arena. Or pensioners in Hartlepool murdered. Or wages supressed in favour of capital. Or a massive housing shortage. Just, you know, off the top of my head. But just on identity, the election of a 'stop men and women mixing' candidate in Burnley Central on Thursday - well, British identity might be hard to pin down, but it isn't that. And that isn't down to native votes
It's coming down, immigration, although "boats" is a toughie.
Course, the last thing the Nat Pops want is any realism or perspective on any of this.
It doesn't just have to come down, it needs to go into REVERSE. You still don't get it
Nearly all the Boriswave people need to go back. Anyone that hasn't got ILR - go back. Any foreign criminals - immediately deport. Anyone with a dodgy visa - back they go. Students overstaying - sorry, but you're out
Legal immigration needs, in essence, to cease: we must have a pause for several years while we try to knit the country back together. We have to leave the ECHR. Sack any lawyers that stand in the way. We have to make life uncomfortable for those people here who clearly despise us and our values. Bulldoze ghettoes like the Danish social democrats
Meanwhile all boats must stop ASAFP - not just "bring them down a bit". Stop them. Zero boats. And of course we must finally deal with The Unmentionable
@MaxPB laid it all out in pretty much these exact terms a couple of days ago. The above needs to happen, and soon, or we will get far worse than Farage
Thank you, yes. I was just talking about obsession with immigration.
That was a truly repulsive post by the house troll. Someone flagged it. It wasn't me, much to my eternal shame.
At the moment though, this does not appear to be the case in the UK, where the momentum remains with Reform.
For whatever reason, association with Trump is hurting Farage far less at the moment than counterparts in other countries. This is despite him being far closer to Trump than the opposition politicians in Australia and Canada.
So what is happening?
Firstly, our political landscape is more fragmented. You can have a big victory on 30-ish % of the vote at the moment, given opponents are polling in the low-to-mid 20s. It remains to be seen if RefUK can break into the mid to high 30s, which would put them in a very good position.
Secondly, I think that minds are less concentrated right now. Our election is 4 years away, and into a new presidential term. We cannot predict what will be happening at that point, and where Trump and Trump policies will be at that point.
And thirdly, I think this country is maybe just in a different phase of the cycle to others. We are uniquely fed up with both our major parties, Farage as a politician runs rings around any other high-profile political figure, the country has experienced a long malaise since at least Covid and people are casting around for alternatives.
We have an interesting period ahead of us. But Labour can perhaps take some comfort from the fact that very unpopular incumbents have managed remarkable turnarounds, and they’d be foolish not to study those blueprints carefully.
It might also be the case that we are fundamentally more secure in our own national identity, despite the political class seemingly being obsessed with the US. We are the mother country and not the other way round.
The obsession with immigration does not indicate security in our national identity (whatever that is).
There are lots of reasons apart from identity not to want thousands of boat people arriving each week. I don't particularly like the tent city of immigrants developing in our town centre, for example. Or seeing 23 kids bkown up at my local arena. Or pensioners in Hartlepool murdered. Or wages supressed in favour of capital. Or a massive housing shortage. Just, you know, off the top of my head. But just on identity, the election of a 'stop men and women mixing' candidate in Burnley Central on Thursday - well, British identity might be hard to pin down, but it isn't that. And that isn't down to native votes
It's coming down, immigration, although "boats" is a toughie.
Course, the last thing the Nat Pops want is any realism or perspective on any of this.
It doesn't just have to come down, it needs to go into REVERSE. You still don't get it
Nearly all the Boriswave people need to go back. Anyone that hasn't got ILR - go back. Any foreign criminals - immediately deport. Anyone with a dodgy visa - back they go. Students overstaying - sorry, but you're out
Legal immigration needs, in essence, to cease: we must have a pause for several years while we try to knit the country back together. We have to leave the ECHR. Sack any lawyers that stand in the way. We have to make life uncomfortable for those people here who clearly despise us and our values. Bulldoze ghettoes like the Danish social democrats
Meanwhile all boats must stop ASAFP - not just "bring them down a bit". Stop them. Zero boats. And of course we must finally deal with The Unmentionable
@MaxPB laid it all out in pretty much these exact terms a couple of days ago. The above needs to happen, and soon, or we will get far worse than Farage
Thank you, yes. I was just talking about obsession with immigration.
That was a truly repulsive post by the house troll. Someone flagged it. It wasn't me, much to my eternal shame.
The replies are comical, half of them think it's something to do with Nottingham, the other half don't realise he's been a councillor for over a decade. Reform might fail here, but the writing off of them before they've even started is just lazy prejudice imo. I live here, didn't vote for them and hope very much they succeed
I hope they fail, because it’s far less damaging to the fabric of this wonderful country that they fail now in a few town and county councils, than that they fail, Trump style, in national government.
All political careers end in failure, but it's better to have the maximum level of success beforehand.
The trouble is, the careers of far-right political leaders tend to fail spectacularly, with significant collateral damage, sometimes at the end of a war. They are not generally given to handing over power after an election.
At the moment though, this does not appear to be the case in the UK, where the momentum remains with Reform.
For whatever reason, association with Trump is hurting Farage far less at the moment than counterparts in other countries. This is despite him being far closer to Trump than the opposition politicians in Australia and Canada.
So what is happening?
Firstly, our political landscape is more fragmented. You can have a big victory on 30-ish % of the vote at the moment, given opponents are polling in the low-to-mid 20s. It remains to be seen if RefUK can break into the mid to high 30s, which would put them in a very good position.
Secondly, I think that minds are less concentrated right now. Our election is 4 years away, and into a new presidential term. We cannot predict what will be happening at that point, and where Trump and Trump policies will be at that point.
And thirdly, I think this country is maybe just in a different phase of the cycle to others. We are uniquely fed up with both our major parties, Farage as a politician runs rings around any other high-profile political figure, the country has experienced a long malaise since at least Covid and people are casting around for alternatives.
We have an interesting period ahead of us. But Labour can perhaps take some comfort from the fact that very unpopular incumbents have managed remarkable turnarounds, and they’d be foolish not to study those blueprints carefully.
It might also be the case that we are fundamentally more secure in our own national identity, despite the political class seemingly being obsessed with the US. We are the mother country and not the other way round.
The obsession with immigration does not indicate security in our national identity (whatever that is).
There are lots of reasons apart from identity not to want thousands of boat people arriving each week. I don't particularly like the tent city of immigrants developing in our town centre, for example. Or seeing 23 kids bkown up at my local arena. Or pensioners in Hartlepool murdered. Or wages supressed in favour of capital. Or a massive housing shortage. Just, you know, off the top of my head. But just on identity, the election of a 'stop men and women mixing' candidate in Burnley Central on Thursday - well, British identity might be hard to pin down, but it isn't that. And that isn't down to native votes
It's coming down, immigration, although "boats" is a toughie.
Course, the last thing the Nat Pops want is any realism or perspective on any of this.
It doesn't just have to come down, it needs to go into REVERSE. You still don't get it
Nearly all the Boriswave people need to go back. Anyone that hasn't got ILR - go back. Any foreign criminals - immediately deport. Anyone with a dodgy visa - back they go. Students overstaying - sorry, but you're out
Legal immigration needs, in essence, to cease: we must have a pause for several years while we try to knit the country back together. We have to leave the ECHR. Sack any lawyers that stand in the way. We have to make life uncomfortable for those people here who clearly despise us and our values. Bulldoze ghettoes like the Danish social democrats
Meanwhile all boats must stop ASAFP - not just "bring them down a bit". Stop them. Zero boats. And of course we must finally deal with The Unmentionable
@MaxPB laid it all out in pretty much these exact terms a couple of days ago. The above needs to happen, and soon, or we will get far worse than Farage
Thank you, yes. I was just talking about obsession with immigration.
That was a truly repulsive post by the house troll. Someone flagged it. It wasn't me, much to my eternal shame.
#accidentalBangleslyric
All the Japanese with their yen The party boys call the Kremlin And the Chinese know (Oh-way-oh)
I have just made the world's greatest cod and chorizo. This is LITERALLY no exaggeration
Fine but I just made stuffed pork chops filled with sage, basil and breadcrumbs, Parmesan and lots of butter, with some sagey pasta, and according to my children it was better than the one we had in Sicily.
The BBC warned viewers that their report from Australia contained some rather strong language which turned out to be an interview with the leader of the opposition which asked "Are you up Donald Trump's arse?"
They are at the mercy of the social media platforms now - is 'arse' going to get us blocked? Zero likes on FB! No engagement on TikTok! Journalistic disaster!
Reform revisit: I took the family from Yorkshire to Kent yesterday evening, to visit relations, but also on an Angry and Teal road trip through Don and Notts and Lincs and future points south.
It is the "they now have to govern" thought I come back to. Even at council level, and even with a smattering of old hand defectors, they have come from zero. These council chambers will be run by tyro leaders. What you get is going to be very dependent on the early local power plays within those groupings. I'm going to stick my neck out and say that one or two will make a very decent fist of this situation.
But equally it is probable that there will be big fallings out, majorities lost to defections and some badly directed DOGE nonsense. It's highly possible that we will see some of the most chaotic council leaderships seen since Hatton's Liverpool.
They are responsible for the Elderly Care of some 7.5 million people. Somewhere they could collapse this totally. They have more power over pensioner wellbeing in their hands than Rachel Reeves could dream of 2.5% fuel haircut off generous triple lock increases. I hope they take it seriously.
Surely we've all agreed long ago that AV is just different to FPTP. Better in some ways, and worse in others. I refer you to Donald G Saari!
Now if you say that you prefer AV, then I'm all with you.
STV all the way.
I wish Grampian TV was still about.
Jimmy Spanky!
I remember an old story from the other PB. Many years ago when The Krankies became retro-chic a London theatre phoned them up to try and book them. They asked for £xx. The booker on the other end paused for a bit then explained they couldn't possibly pay that. Krankies back down and say they'll take much less.
Booker politely explains that they couldn't pay the original £xx as it was below minimum wage.
I have just made the world's greatest cod and chorizo. This is LITERALLY no exaggeration
Fine but I just made stuffed pork chops filled with sage, basil and breadcrumbs, Parmesan and lots of butter, with some sagey pasta, and according to my children it was better than the one we had in Sicily.
No, seriously, add fennel seeds, black mustard seeds, dry sherry, bird's eye chilis, sambek olek, smoked paprika - so it ALMOST becomes an Asian curry - but crucially it doesn't. Basically it is still Spanish cod and chorizo, just really spiced
I see people are directly and indirectly talking about the grooming story, again.
Final warning, next time it happens, permanent bans, you have tested the patience of myself and OGH.
Like the phone hacking story and the Lord MacAlpine rumours I am not going to risk OGH's financial future because some people are too stupid to follow the rules..
If someone refers to 'the thing that may not be named', they are surely not breaking the rule, nor could such a statement be legally actionable in any possible way.
With a few lapses, some accidental, as mine was the other day in reviewing PMQs, PBers have all accepted a pretty significant omerta, given the topicality and polling significance of the subject, and accepted your reasons for it. Perhaps you could meet us halfway and post good-natured reminders when we wander off piste rather than the above.
A massive rise in our bills, then they give us this shit:
"People are being urged to "use water wisely" in gardens as dry and warm weather continues in Yorkshire.
Reservoir levels are almost 15% lower than average for this time of year, Yorkshire Water said, after the region experienced its driest combined February, March and April for 90 years."
Russian would be unable to continue it's war in Europe without Chinese support The Houthis have been getting support from China to disrupt shipping in the Red Sea China has of course been helping to prop up the nuclear seeking Iranian regime by buying oil etc Victor Gao from the centre for China and globalisation says China is fully committed to defending Pakistan's sovereignty. Is China helping to exacerbate the migration crisis in the west? We know that Putin has been for a long time and he increasingly looks like a puppet. Taiwan makes a high percentage of the world's chips and is increasingly threatened.
Does the government/Treasury understand this? I assume Radakin is trying to lecture them on it.
Reform revisit: I took the family from Yorkshire to Kent yesterday evening, to visit relations, but also on an Angry and Teal road trip through Don and Notts and Lincs and future points south.
It is the "they now have to govern" thought I come back to. Even at council level, and even with a smattering of old hand defectors, they have come from zero. These council chambers will be run by tyro leaders. What you get is going to be very dependent on the early local power plays within those groupings. I'm going to stick my neck out and say that one or two will make a very decent fist of this situation.
But equally it is probable that there will be big fallings out, majorities lost to defections and some badly directed DOGE nonsense. It's highly possible that we will see some of the most chaotic council leaderships seen since Hatton's Liverpool.
They are responsible for the Elderly Care of some 7.5 million people. Somewhere they could collapse this totally. They have more power over pensioner wellbeing in their hands than Rachel Reeves could dream of 2.5% fuel haircut off generous triple lock increases. I hope they take it seriously.
Maybe. OTOH just as with central government, almost everything of a quotidien nature is in fact fashioned, decided and implemented by the paid staff to whom almost all the time the elected officials are barely noticed and almost completely irrelevant. they mostly neither know nor care who they are. Very few councillors could run any aspect of a complex operation themselves, any more than they could contract for, purchase, maintain and organise a fleet of dustcarts or read a hard book from one of their libraries. The chief officers will keep them entertained by giving them choices over where to put a set of swings in a playpark, while they pass undiscussed budgets of multiple millions contained in several hundred pages of documents politicians will never read.
Total chaos would ensue if this were not mostly true, most of the time.
The BBC warned viewers that their report from Australia contained some rather strong language which turned out to be an interview with the leader of the opposition which asked "Are you up Donald Trump's arse?"
By Australian politics standards, that's rather genteel.
It's instructive to think, compared to O'Sullivan's constant bizarre behaviour and unpleasant personality, and Higgins getting entrapped by that scumbag Mazher Mahmood into match fixing, the worst accusation levelled against Williams in a 33 year professional career is that he once said some rather terse things about the Crucible.
Not the best player of the three, but the best of them for all that.
A massive rise in our bills, then they give us this shit:
"People are being urged to "use water wisely" in gardens as dry and warm weather continues in Yorkshire.
Reservoir levels are almost 15% lower than average for this time of year, Yorkshire Water said, after the region experienced its driest combined February, March and April for 90 years."
We've been doing early morning walks and on the paths in the woods and fields there is dust. This was the case even in April. Don't recall ever seeing that at this stage of the year. Sometimes in August. Usually pretty muddy at this time of year.
There are going to be a lot of wildfires this year.
A massive rise in our bills, then they give us this shit:
"People are being urged to "use water wisely" in gardens as dry and warm weather continues in Yorkshire.
Reservoir levels are almost 15% lower than average for this time of year, Yorkshire Water said, after the region experienced its driest combined February, March and April for 90 years."
Hardly any rain in Cumbria for weeks. The complete opposite of last year which was six months of biblical rain, enough for Noah.
I see people are directly and indirectly talking about the grooming story, again.
Final warning, next time it happens, permanent bans, you have tested the patience of myself and OGH.
Like the phone hacking story and the Lord MacAlpine rumours I am not going to risk OGH's financial future because some people are too stupid to follow the rules..
If someone refers to 'the thing that may not be named', they are surely not breaking the rule, nor could such a statement be legally actionable in any possible way.
With a few lapses, some accidental, as mine was the other day in reviewing PMQs, PBers have all accepted a pretty significant omerta, given the topicality and polling significance of the subject, and accepted your reasons for it. Perhaps you could meet us halfway and post good-natured reminders when we wander off piste rather than the above.
I am getting annoyed because I seem to be warning the same handful of people, and you're not in that number.
When people start talking about the thing that cannot be named is that people reply to those posts and that's where the problems occur.
We've been through this with phone hacking and the Lord MacAlpine sagas.
A massive rise in our bills, then they give us this shit:
"People are being urged to "use water wisely" in gardens as dry and warm weather continues in Yorkshire.
Reservoir levels are almost 15% lower than average for this time of year, Yorkshire Water said, after the region experienced its driest combined February, March and April for 90 years."
We've been doing early morning walks and paths in the woods and fields there is dust. This was the case even in April. Don't recall ever seeing that at this stage of the year. Sometimes in August. Usually pretty muddy at this time of year.
There are going to be a lot of wildfires this year.
We've had a hugely wet winter. This is what happens when you build zero reservoirs.
I see people are directly and indirectly talking about the grooming story, again.
Final warning, next time it happens, permanent bans, you have tested the patience of myself and OGH.
Like the phone hacking story and the Lord MacAlpine rumours I am not going to risk OGH's financial future because some people are too stupid to follow the rules..
If someone refers to 'the thing that may not be named', they are surely not breaking the rule, nor could such a statement be legally actionable in any possible way.
With a few lapses, some accidental, as mine was the other day in reviewing PMQs, PBers have all accepted a pretty significant omerta, given the topicality and polling significance of the subject, and accepted your reasons for it. Perhaps you could meet us halfway and post good-natured reminders when we wander off piste rather than the above.
I am getting annoyed because I seem to be warning the same handful of people, and you're not in that number.
When people start talking about the thing that cannot be named is that people reply to those posts and that's where the problems occur.
We've been through this with phone hacking and the Lord MacAlpine sagas.
At the moment though, this does not appear to be the case in the UK, where the momentum remains with Reform.
For whatever reason, association with Trump is hurting Farage far less at the moment than counterparts in other countries. This is despite him being far closer to Trump than the opposition politicians in Australia and Canada.
So what is happening?
Firstly, our political landscape is more fragmented. You can have a big victory on 30-ish % of the vote at the moment, given opponents are polling in the low-to-mid 20s. It remains to be seen if RefUK can break into the mid to high 30s, which would put them in a very good position.
Secondly, I think that minds are less concentrated right now. Our election is 4 years away, and into a new presidential term. We cannot predict what will be happening at that point, and where Trump and Trump policies will be at that point.
And thirdly, I think this country is maybe just in a different phase of the cycle to others. We are uniquely fed up with both our major parties, Farage as a politician runs rings around any other high-profile political figure, the country has experienced a long malaise since at least Covid and people are casting around for alternatives.
We have an interesting period ahead of us. But Labour can perhaps take some comfort from the fact that very unpopular incumbents have managed remarkable turnarounds, and they’d be foolish not to study those blueprints carefully.
It might also be the case that we are fundamentally more secure in our own national identity, despite the political class seemingly being obsessed with the US. We are the mother country and not the other way round.
The obsession with immigration does not indicate security in our national identity (whatever that is).
There are lots of reasons apart from identity not to want thousands of boat people arriving each week. I don't particularly like the tent city of immigrants developing in our town centre, for example. Or seeing 23 kids bkown up at my local arena. Or pensioners in Hartlepool murdered. Or wages supressed in favour of capital. Or a massive housing shortage. Just, you know, off the top of my head. But just on identity, the election of a 'stop men and women mixing' candidate in Burnley Central on Thursday - well, British identity might be hard to pin down, but it isn't that. And that isn't down to native votes
It's coming down, immigration, although "boats" is a toughie.
Course, the last thing the Nat Pops want is any realism or perspective on any of this.
It doesn't just have to come down, it needs to go into REVERSE. You still don't get it
Nearly all the Boriswave people need to go back. Anyone that hasn't got ILR - go back. Any foreign criminals - immediately deport. Anyone with a dodgy visa - back they go. Students overstaying - sorry, but you're out
Legal immigration needs, in essence, to cease: we must have a pause for several years while we try to knit the country back together. We have to leave the ECHR. Sack any lawyers that stand in the way. We have to make life uncomfortable for those people here who clearly despise us and our values. Bulldoze ghettoes like the Danish social democrats
Meanwhile all boats must stop ASAFP - not just "bring them down a bit". Stop them. Zero boats. And of course we must finally deal with The Unmentionable
@MaxPB laid it all out in pretty much these exact terms a couple of days ago. The above needs to happen, and soon, or we will get far worse than Farage
Thank you, yes. I was just talking about obsession with immigration.
That was a truly repulsive post by the house troll. Someone flagged it. It wasn't me, much to my eternal shame.
Thank goodness that isn't our "national identity". Least not of any nation I want to be a part of.
A massive rise in our bills, then they give us this shit:
"People are being urged to "use water wisely" in gardens as dry and warm weather continues in Yorkshire.
Reservoir levels are almost 15% lower than average for this time of year, Yorkshire Water said, after the region experienced its driest combined February, March and April for 90 years."
We've been doing early morning walks and on the paths in the woods and fields there is dust. This was the case even in April. Don't recall ever seeing that at this stage of the year. Sometimes in August. Usually pretty muddy at this time of year.
There are going to be a lot of wildfires this year.
Check out the SEPA water shortage warning map. And the Scotland Outdoors podcast has featured wildfires/water in a few episodes recently - really interesting stuff about fuel load, different types of grasses, muirburn and so on.
I spend a lot of time in the Highlands and everything is looking very low.
Reform revisit: I took the family from Yorkshire to Kent yesterday evening, to visit relations, but also on an Angry and Teal road trip through Don and Notts and Lincs and future points south.
It is the "they now have to govern" thought I come back to. Even at council level, and even with a smattering of old hand defectors, they have come from zero. These council chambers will be run by tyro leaders. What you get is going to be very dependent on the early local power plays within those groupings. I'm going to stick my neck out and say that one or two will make a very decent fist of this situation.
But equally it is probable that there will be big fallings out, majorities lost to defections and some badly directed DOGE nonsense. It's highly possible that we will see some of the most chaotic council leaderships seen since Hatton's Liverpool.
They are responsible for the Elderly Care of some 7.5 million people. Somewhere they could collapse this totally. They have more power over pensioner wellbeing in their hands than Rachel Reeves could dream of 2.5% fuel haircut off generous triple lock increases. I hope they take it seriously.
Maybe. OTOH just as with central government, almost everything of a quotidien nature is in fact fashioned, decided and implemented by the paid staff to whom almost all the time the elected officials are barely noticed and almost completely irrelevant. they mostly neither know nor care who they are. Very few councillors could run any aspect of a complex operation themselves, any more than they could contract for, purchase, maintain and organise a fleet of dustcarts or read a hard book from one of their libraries. The chief officers will keep them entertained by giving them choices over where to put a set of swings in a playpark, while they pass undiscussed budgets of multiple millions contained in several hundred pages of documents politicians will never read.
Total chaos would ensue if this were not mostly true, most of the time.
If you accept the rules of the game, accept the blob, this is true. Even if you are trying to chip it away at the edges. The question is the extent to which you don't accept it.
At the moment though, this does not appear to be the case in the UK, where the momentum remains with Reform.
For whatever reason, association with Trump is hurting Farage far less at the moment than counterparts in other countries. This is despite him being far closer to Trump than the opposition politicians in Australia and Canada.
So what is happening?
Firstly, our political landscape is more fragmented. You can have a big victory on 30-ish % of the vote at the moment, given opponents are polling in the low-to-mid 20s. It remains to be seen if RefUK can break into the mid to high 30s, which would put them in a very good position.
Secondly, I think that minds are less concentrated right now. Our election is 4 years away, and into a new presidential term. We cannot predict what will be happening at that point, and where Trump and Trump policies will be at that point.
And thirdly, I think this country is maybe just in a different phase of the cycle to others. We are uniquely fed up with both our major parties, Farage as a politician runs rings around any other high-profile political figure, the country has experienced a long malaise since at least Covid and people are casting around for alternatives.
We have an interesting period ahead of us. But Labour can perhaps take some comfort from the fact that very unpopular incumbents have managed remarkable turnarounds, and they’d be foolish not to study those blueprints carefully.
It might also be the case that we are fundamentally more secure in our own national identity, despite the political class seemingly being obsessed with the US. We are the mother country and not the other way round.
The obsession with immigration does not indicate security in our national identity (whatever that is).
There are lots of reasons apart from identity not to want thousands of boat people arriving each week. I don't particularly like the tent city of immigrants developing in our town centre, for example. Or seeing 23 kids bkown up at my local arena. Or pensioners in Hartlepool murdered. Or wages supressed in favour of capital. Or a massive housing shortage. Just, you know, off the top of my head. But just on identity, the election of a 'stop men and women mixing' candidate in Burnley Central on Thursday - well, British identity might be hard to pin down, but it isn't that. And that isn't down to native votes
It's coming down, immigration, although "boats" is a toughie.
Course, the last thing the Nat Pops want is any realism or perspective on any of this.
It doesn't just have to come down, it needs to go into REVERSE. You still don't get it
Nearly all the Boriswave people need to go back. Anyone that hasn't got ILR - go back. Any foreign criminals - immediately deport. Anyone with a dodgy visa - back they go. Students overstaying - sorry, but you're out
Legal immigration needs, in essence, to cease: we must have a pause for several years while we try to knit the country back together. We have to leave the ECHR. Sack any lawyers that stand in the way. We have to make life uncomfortable for those people here who clearly despise us and our values. Bulldoze ghettoes like the Danish social democrats
Meanwhile all boats must stop ASAFP - not just "bring them down a bit". Stop them. Zero boats. And of course we must finally deal with The Unmentionable
@MaxPB laid it all out in pretty much these exact terms a couple of days ago. The above needs to happen, and soon, or we will get far worse than Farage
Thank you, yes. I was just talking about obsession with immigration.
That was a truly repulsive post by the house troll. Someone flagged it. It wasn't me, much to my eternal shame.
Thank goodness that isn't our "national identity". Least not of any nation I want to be a part of.
You don't believe "national identity" exists, you said exactly that, you soulless zombie
I have just made the world's greatest cod and chorizo. This is LITERALLY no exaggeration
Fine but I just made stuffed pork chops filled with sage, basil and breadcrumbs, Parmesan and lots of butter, with some sagey pasta, and according to my children it was better than the one we had in Sicily.
No, seriously, add fennel seeds, black mustard seeds, dry sherry, bird's eye chilis, sambek olek, smoked paprika - so it ALMOST becomes an Asian curry - but crucially it doesn't. Basically it is still Spanish cod and chorizo, just really spiced
It is fucking brilliant
I don’t disagree. Cod and chorizo is a delicious classic. I just saw the golden opportunity to boast about my own dinner.
A massive rise in our bills, then they give us this shit:
"People are being urged to "use water wisely" in gardens as dry and warm weather continues in Yorkshire.
Reservoir levels are almost 15% lower than average for this time of year, Yorkshire Water said, after the region experienced its driest combined February, March and April for 90 years."
We've been doing early morning walks and on the paths in the woods and fields there is dust. This was the case even in April. Don't recall ever seeing that at this stage of the year. Sometimes in August. Usually pretty muddy at this time of year.
There are going to be a lot of wildfires this year.
Check out the SEPA water shortage warning map. And the Scotland Outdoors podcast has featured wildfires/water in a few episodes recently - really interesting stuff about fuel load, different types of grasses, muirburn and so on.
I spend a lot of time in the Highlands and everything is looking very low.
A massive rise in our bills, then they give us this shit:
"People are being urged to "use water wisely" in gardens as dry and warm weather continues in Yorkshire.
Reservoir levels are almost 15% lower than average for this time of year, Yorkshire Water said, after the region experienced its driest combined February, March and April for 90 years."
We've been doing early morning walks and on the paths in the woods and fields there is dust. This was the case even in April. Don't recall ever seeing that at this stage of the year. Sometimes in August. Usually pretty muddy at this time of year.
There are going to be a lot of wildfires this year.
Check out the SEPA water shortage warning map. And the Scotland Outdoors podcast has featured wildfires/water in a few episodes recently - really interesting stuff about fuel load, different types of grasses, muirburn and so on.
I spend a lot of time in the Highlands and everything is looking very low.
We’ve had an extreme pattern for most of the spring. High pressure and dry over Northern Europe and low pressure and wet over the South.
My worry, aside from the frost risk next week, is that negative NAO springs like this often lead to negative NAO summers which, when the jet heads a tad North, can sometimes mean horrendous washouts and cold weather for us.
A massive rise in our bills, then they give us this shit:
"People are being urged to "use water wisely" in gardens as dry and warm weather continues in Yorkshire.
Reservoir levels are almost 15% lower than average for this time of year, Yorkshire Water said, after the region experienced its driest combined February, March and April for 90 years."
We've been doing early morning walks and paths in the woods and fields there is dust. This was the case even in April. Don't recall ever seeing that at this stage of the year. Sometimes in August. Usually pretty muddy at this time of year.
There are going to be a lot of wildfires this year.
We've had a hugely wet winter. This is what happens when you build zero reservoirs.
Is that true? I think we've been below average rainfall every single month since June last year, with the exception of December. Varies by which bit of Scotland you're in but it's been a very dry 9 months.
Reform revisit: I took the family from Yorkshire to Kent yesterday evening, to visit relations, but also on an Angry and Teal road trip through Don and Notts and Lincs and future points south.
It is the "they now have to govern" thought I come back to. Even at council level, and even with a smattering of old hand defectors, they have come from zero. These council chambers will be run by tyro leaders. What you get is going to be very dependent on the early local power plays within those groupings. I'm going to stick my neck out and say that one or two will make a very decent fist of this situation.
But equally it is probable that there will be big fallings out, majorities lost to defections and some badly directed DOGE nonsense. It's highly possible that we will see some of the most chaotic council leaderships seen since Hatton's Liverpool.
They are responsible for the Elderly Care of some 7.5 million people. Somewhere they could collapse this totally. They have more power over pensioner wellbeing in their hands than Rachel Reeves could dream of 2.5% fuel haircut off generous triple lock increases. I hope they take it seriously.
Maybe. OTOH just as with central government, almost everything of a quotidien nature is in fact fashioned, decided and implemented by the paid staff to whom almost all the time the elected officials are barely noticed and almost completely irrelevant. they mostly neither know nor care who they are. Very few councillors could run any aspect of a complex operation themselves, any more than they could contract for, purchase, maintain and organise a fleet of dustcarts or read a hard book from one of their libraries. The chief officers will keep them entertained by giving them choices over where to put a set of swings in a playpark, while they pass undiscussed budgets of multiple millions contained in several hundred pages of documents politicians will never read.
Total chaos would ensue if this were not mostly true, most of the time.
If you accept the rules of the game, accept the blob, this is true. Even if you are trying to chip it away at the edges. The question is the extent to which you don't accept it.
The actual running of actual systems that actually work and do the actual things they are supposed to do is the actual work of the actual people, not politicians, who do stuff.
Tesco, for example, manages without any elected politicans in the system. So can nearly everything that happens in local government.
A massive rise in our bills, then they give us this shit:
"People are being urged to "use water wisely" in gardens as dry and warm weather continues in Yorkshire.
Reservoir levels are almost 15% lower than average for this time of year, Yorkshire Water said, after the region experienced its driest combined February, March and April for 90 years."
We've been doing early morning walks and paths in the woods and fields there is dust. This was the case even in April. Don't recall ever seeing that at this stage of the year. Sometimes in August. Usually pretty muddy at this time of year.
There are going to be a lot of wildfires this year.
We've had a hugely wet winter. This is what happens when you build zero reservoirs.
Is that true? I think we've been below average rainfall every single month since June last year, with the exception of December. Varies by which bit of Scotland you're in but it's been a very dry 9 months.
I am speaking about my lived experience. I give way to the actual stats without hesitation.
A massive rise in our bills, then they give us this shit:
"People are being urged to "use water wisely" in gardens as dry and warm weather continues in Yorkshire.
Reservoir levels are almost 15% lower than average for this time of year, Yorkshire Water said, after the region experienced its driest combined February, March and April for 90 years."
We've been doing early morning walks and paths in the woods and fields there is dust. This was the case even in April. Don't recall ever seeing that at this stage of the year. Sometimes in August. Usually pretty muddy at this time of year.
There are going to be a lot of wildfires this year.
We've had a hugely wet winter. This is what happens when you build zero reservoirs.
Is that true? I think we've been below average rainfall every single month since June last year, with the exception of December. Varies by which bit of Scotland you're in but it's been a very dry 9 months.
I am speaking about my lived experience. I give way to the actual stats without hesitation.
I remember November in particular being spectacularly wet around here. But its been pretty dry since the turn of the year. Different everywhere I suppose.
A massive rise in our bills, then they give us this shit:
"People are being urged to "use water wisely" in gardens as dry and warm weather continues in Yorkshire.
Reservoir levels are almost 15% lower than average for this time of year, Yorkshire Water said, after the region experienced its driest combined February, March and April for 90 years."
We've been doing early morning walks and paths in the woods and fields there is dust. This was the case even in April. Don't recall ever seeing that at this stage of the year. Sometimes in August. Usually pretty muddy at this time of year.
There are going to be a lot of wildfires this year.
We've had a hugely wet winter. This is what happens when you build zero reservoirs.
Is that true? I think we've been below average rainfall every single month since June last year, with the exception of December. Varies by which bit of Scotland you're in but it's been a very dry 9 months.
Ditto Cumbria, and record sweltering heat of about 18C too, though it's cooled now. Though it's all still quite green and not too dreid up. I think nature is still using up the Noah quantity of rain last year, when it never stopped.
A massive rise in our bills, then they give us this shit:
"People are being urged to "use water wisely" in gardens as dry and warm weather continues in Yorkshire.
Reservoir levels are almost 15% lower than average for this time of year, Yorkshire Water said, after the region experienced its driest combined February, March and April for 90 years."
We've been doing early morning walks and paths in the woods and fields there is dust. This was the case even in April. Don't recall ever seeing that at this stage of the year. Sometimes in August. Usually pretty muddy at this time of year.
There are going to be a lot of wildfires this year.
We've had a hugely wet winter. This is what happens when you build zero reservoirs.
Is that true? I think we've been below average rainfall every single month since June last year, with the exception of December. Varies by which bit of Scotland you're in but it's been a very dry 9 months.
I am speaking about my lived experience. I give way to the actual stats without hesitation.
I remember November in particular being spectacularly wet around here. But its been pretty dry since the turn of the year. Different everywhere I suppose.
A massive rise in our bills, then they give us this shit:
"People are being urged to "use water wisely" in gardens as dry and warm weather continues in Yorkshire.
Reservoir levels are almost 15% lower than average for this time of year, Yorkshire Water said, after the region experienced its driest combined February, March and April for 90 years."
We've been doing early morning walks and paths in the woods and fields there is dust. This was the case even in April. Don't recall ever seeing that at this stage of the year. Sometimes in August. Usually pretty muddy at this time of year.
There are going to be a lot of wildfires this year.
We've had a hugely wet winter. This is what happens when you build zero reservoirs.
Is that true? I think we've been below average rainfall every single month since June last year, with the exception of December. Varies by which bit of Scotland you're in but it's been a very dry 9 months.
Ditto Cumbria, and record sweltering heat of about 18C too, though it's cooled now. Though it's all still quite green and not too dreid up. I think nature is still using up the Noah quantity of rain last year, when it never stopped.
As we should be. We have followed a policy (the EU Water Framework Directive) of a de facto ban on new water infrastructure, so that as soon as we get sustained sunshine (which is a blessing) we go into panic mode, and as soon as we get lots of rain (also a blessing for different reasons) we get flooding and go into panic mode. The result is a general feeling of depression and panic, along with nostalgia for the good old climate where nothing bad ever happened. This is absolutely and verifiably a deliberate policy, and we can choose another one.
Manage rivers, and build reservoirs. I'd even be happy if those reservoirs had solar panels to generate a bit of energy and slow evaporation. I can hardly say fairer than that.
What is this terrible thing than can't be mentioned? Sorry I am a rare visitor to the site but when i do come i enjoy it greatly, but many things mystify me, it is like i am in a car full of freemasons. Because you are all being so coy i am unable to identify what possibly is so bad it cannot be named even as 'a thing that cannot be named'?
For clarity i am an american and I work in London, in tech, so maybe i am missing huge nuances. Story of my life, if so.
I can't remember the last time rain (of sufficient volume) stopped me cycling to work. That's a bit scary.
Our last very dry spell was in 2022 when we also had an exceptionally hot summer.
2023 and especially 2024 were very wet.
It seems we go through blocks of very wet and very dry so it probably averages out overall but the unevenness is becoming increasingly notable along with the consistent year round warmth.
There's definitely an anti-Trump vibe going on but not sure what it means for British politics given Trump will be history in 2029?
Depends on how much damage Colonel Bat Guano does in the meanwhile.
If he wrecks the US economy as he seems intent on doing, it will take some explaining by his admirers.
Indeed! Will be interesting to see who gets the blame for any recession.
If I was Farage I'd manufacture a bust up with Trump over one of his mad policies. Maybe his behaviour towards Canada?
Nigel should go on Fox and remind POTUS Canada is a Commonwealth country and King Charles III is it's head of state.
Reform voters are surprisingly ambivalent about the Monarchy. They are not (c)onservatives. I can't remember a single time Farage has made significant Royalist noises, even before Charles.
In fact, didn't he do a big protest against him on climate change a few years ago? But yes, a manufactured argument would be useful - perhaps over American privatisation of the NHS via a trade deal, which is serious weakness for Reform at the moment.
What is this terrible thing than can't be mentioned? Sorry I am a rare visitor to the site but when i do come i enjoy it greatly, but many things mystify me, it is like i am in a car full of freemasons. Because you are all being so coy i am unable to identify what possibly is so bad it cannot be named even as 'a thing that cannot be named'?
For clarity i am an american and I work in London, in tech, so maybe i am missing huge nuances. Story of my life, if so.
I would think about 50% of PBers are Masons... That's probably down from around 70% ten years ago as a lot left in a fit of pique after Brexit! 😂
What is this terrible thing than can't be mentioned? Sorry I am a rare visitor to the site but when i do come i enjoy it greatly, but many things mystify me, it is like i am in a car full of freemasons. Because you are all being so coy i am unable to identify what possibly is so bad it cannot be named even as 'a thing that cannot be named'?
For clarity i am an american and I work in London, in tech, so maybe i am missing huge nuances. Story of my life, if so.
I would think about 50% of PBers are Masons... That's probably down from around 70% ten years ago as a lot left in a fit of pique after Brexit! 😂
There's definitely an anti-Trump vibe going on but not sure what it means for British politics given Trump will be history in 2029?
Depends on how much damage Colonel Bat Guano does in the meanwhile.
If he wrecks the US economy as he seems intent on doing, it will take some explaining by his admirers.
Indeed! Will be interesting to see who gets the blame for any recession.
If I was Farage I'd manufacture a bust up with Trump over one of his mad policies. Maybe his behaviour towards Canada?
Nigel should go on Fox and remind POTUS Canada is a Commonwealth country and King Charles III is it's head of state.
Reform voters are surprisingly ambivalent about the Monarchy. They are not (c)onservatives. I can't remember a single time Farage has made significant Royalist noises, even before Charles.
In fact, didn't he do a big protest against him on climate change a few years ago? But yes, a manufactured argument would be useful - perhaps over American privatisation of the NHS via a trade deal, which is serious weakness for Reform at the moment.
Yeah, a bust up over the NHS would do Farage/Ref a lot of good.
What is this terrible thing than can't be mentioned? Sorry I am a rare visitor to the site but when i do come i enjoy it greatly, but many things mystify me, it is like i am in a car full of freemasons. Because you are all being so coy i am unable to identify what possibly is so bad it cannot be named even as 'a thing that cannot be named'?
For clarity i am an american and I work in London, in tech, so maybe i am missing huge nuances. Story of my life, if so.
The idea of such things is that they aren’t mentioned. The clue is in the name.
What is this terrible thing than can't be mentioned? Sorry I am a rare visitor to the site but when i do come i enjoy it greatly, but many things mystify me, it is like i am in a car full of freemasons. Because you are all being so coy i am unable to identify what possibly is so bad it cannot be named even as 'a thing that cannot be named'?
For clarity i am an american and I work in London, in tech, so maybe i am missing huge nuances. Story of my life, if so.
I would think about 50% of PBers are Masons... That's probably down from around 70% ten years ago as a lot left in a fit of pique after Brexit! 😂
Left here or left the Masons?
Here?
Edit: Mind you, Nigel is obviously Masonic, so I could be wrong on that, lol..
What is this terrible thing than can't be mentioned? Sorry I am a rare visitor to the site but when i do come i enjoy it greatly, but many things mystify me, it is like i am in a car full of freemasons. Because you are all being so coy i am unable to identify what possibly is so bad it cannot be named even as 'a thing that cannot be named'?
For clarity i am an american and I work in London, in tech, so maybe i am missing huge nuances. Story of my life, if so.
I would think about 50% of PBers are Masons... That's probably down from around 70% ten years ago as a lot left in a fit of pique after Brexit! 😂
Left here or left the Masons?
Here?
Edit: Mind you, Nigel is obviously Masonic, so I could be wrong on that, lol..
It wasn't clear. I was envisaging our PexicanMete storming out of his lodge without even putting his left nipple back in following a heated debate about the Prorogation of Parliament.
What is this terrible thing than can't be mentioned? Sorry I am a rare visitor to the site but when i do come i enjoy it greatly, but many things mystify me, it is like i am in a car full of freemasons. Because you are all being so coy i am unable to identify what possibly is so bad it cannot be named even as 'a thing that cannot be named'?
For clarity i am an american and I work in London, in tech, so maybe i am missing huge nuances. Story of my life, if so.
I would think about 50% of PBers are Masons... That's probably down from around 70% ten years ago as a lot left in a fit of pique after Brexit! 😂
What is this terrible thing than can't be mentioned? Sorry I am a rare visitor to the site but when i do come i enjoy it greatly, but many things mystify me, it is like i am in a car full of freemasons. Because you are all being so coy i am unable to identify what possibly is so bad it cannot be named even as 'a thing that cannot be named'?
For clarity i am an american and I work in London, in tech, so maybe i am missing huge nuances. Story of my life, if so.
I would think about 50% of PBers are Masons... That's probably down from around 70% ten years ago as a lot left in a fit of pique after Brexit! 😂
Never been a Mason
Evening Big G.
How are you and Mrs G doing? Hope you're both feeling better?
I can't remember the last time rain (of sufficient volume) stopped me cycling to work. That's a bit scary.
Our last very dry spell was in 2022 when we also had an exceptionally hot summer.
2023 and especially 2024 were very wet.
It seems we go through blocks of very wet and very dry so it probably averages out overall but the unevenness is becoming increasingly notable along with the consistent year round warmth.
I've been tracking the England Wales precipitation series. It's generally been getting wetter.
There's definitely an anti-Trump vibe going on but not sure what it means for British politics given Trump will be history in 2029?
Depends on how much damage Colonel Bat Guano does in the meanwhile.
If he wrecks the US economy as he seems intent on doing, it will take some explaining by his admirers.
Indeed! Will be interesting to see who gets the blame for any recession.
If I was Farage I'd manufacture a bust up with Trump over one of his mad policies. Maybe his behaviour towards Canada?
Nigel should go on Fox and remind POTUS Canada is a Commonwealth country and King Charles III is it's head of state.
Reform voters are surprisingly ambivalent about the Monarchy. They are not (c)onservatives. I can't remember a single time Farage has made significant Royalist noises, even before Charles.
In fact, didn't he do a big protest against him on climate change a few years ago? But yes, a manufactured argument would be useful - perhaps over American privatisation of the NHS via a trade deal, which is serious weakness for Reform at the moment.
Yeah, a bust up over the NHS would do Farage/Ref a lot of good.
I do not know Reform's policy on the NHS but Farage did say a couple of days ago it will remain free to use but indicated millionaires would have to pay no doubt with some insurance based policy
There's definitely an anti-Trump vibe going on but not sure what it means for British politics given Trump will be history in 2029?
Depends on how much damage Colonel Bat Guano does in the meanwhile.
If he wrecks the US economy as he seems intent on doing, it will take some explaining by his admirers.
Indeed! Will be interesting to see who gets the blame for any recession.
If I was Farage I'd manufacture a bust up with Trump over one of his mad policies. Maybe his behaviour towards Canada?
Nigel should go on Fox and remind POTUS Canada is a Commonwealth country and King Charles III is it's head of state.
Reform voters are surprisingly ambivalent about the Monarchy. They are not (c)onservatives. I can't remember a single time Farage has made significant Royalist noises, even before Charles.
In fact, didn't he do a big protest against him on climate change a few years ago? But yes, a manufactured argument would be useful - perhaps over American privatisation of the NHS via a trade deal, which is serious weakness for Reform at the moment.
No, quite wrong. Farrage gets on well with the King. They have a private joke about the time Farrage refused to stand to give the then Prince a standing ovation the EU parliament.
Nigel Farrage has also spoken publicly about his admiration for the late Queen and the late Queen Mother. He has irreverently, but truthfully, alluded to the fact that both occasionally enjoyed a cigarette, but that is it. A monarchist to his bootstraps.
What is this terrible thing than can't be mentioned? Sorry I am a rare visitor to the site but when i do come i enjoy it greatly, but many things mystify me, it is like i am in a car full of freemasons. Because you are all being so coy i am unable to identify what possibly is so bad it cannot be named even as 'a thing that cannot be named'?
For clarity i am an american and I work in London, in tech, so maybe i am missing huge nuances. Story of my life, if so.
I would think about 50% of PBers are Masons... That's probably down from around 70% ten years ago as a lot left in a fit of pique after Brexit! 😂
Never been a Mason
Evening Big G.
How are you and Mrs G doing? Hope you're both feeling better?
Thanks GIN1138 but still struggling especially my good lady after 2 weeks
What is this terrible thing than can't be mentioned? Sorry I am a rare visitor to the site but when i do come i enjoy it greatly, but many things mystify me, it is like i am in a car full of freemasons. Because you are all being so coy i am unable to identify what possibly is so bad it cannot be named even as 'a thing that cannot be named'?
For clarity i am an american and I work in London, in tech, so maybe i am missing huge nuances. Story of my life, if so.
I would think about 50% of PBers are Masons... That's probably down from around 70% ten years ago as a lot left in a fit of pique after Brexit! 😂
Never been a Mason
Evening Big G.
How are you and Mrs G doing? Hope you're both feeling better?
Thanks GIN1138 but still struggling especially my good lady after 2 weeks
We are improving but it is taking time
Oh dear! Sorry to hear that. Sounds like this particular virus has knocked you both for six!
I can't remember the last time rain (of sufficient volume) stopped me cycling to work. That's a bit scary.
Our last very dry spell was in 2022 when we also had an exceptionally hot summer.
2023 and especially 2024 were very wet.
It seems we go through blocks of very wet and very dry so it probably averages out overall but the unevenness is becoming increasingly notable along with the consistent year round warmth.
I've been tracking the England Wales precipitation series. It's generally been getting wetter.
Yes, marginally wetter especially in Autumn and winter. Not as pronounced as the E&W temperature trend, but still an incline.
What is this terrible thing than can't be mentioned? Sorry I am a rare visitor to the site but when i do come i enjoy it greatly, but many things mystify me, it is like i am in a car full of freemasons. Because you are all being so coy i am unable to identify what possibly is so bad it cannot be named even as 'a thing that cannot be named'?
For clarity i am an american and I work in London, in tech, so maybe i am missing huge nuances. Story of my life, if so.
The idea of such things is that they aren’t mentioned. The clue is in the name.
But it isn’t your Trump, terrible though he is.
Thankyou for answering. I have one more question: why does everyone tease you about having only a dog and no friends at all? You seem friendly to me and I don't quite get that, but then coming to this site as a newbie is quite daunting, you all seem to know each other very well.
Oh gee I think I have two questions. What the heck is an OGH? I promise after this I will simply try and fit in, and stop asking dumb stuff. Believe it or not i have a serious job and a masters, but this seems like a fun community. I would like to join in. Also I am female and it seems you lack them
Comments
P.S. What a horrid, horrid post!
https://x.com/mikediplockre/status/1918732788401840153
Ngl Reform's camp and garish aesthetic is growing on me. They don't pretend to be high culture. They're low culture Britain and happy to lean into it.
They're Dancing on Ice on ITV. They're slush puppies at Butlin's. They're Deano's crushed velvet sofa in his Essex new build.
Australia: didn't follow it. But, need I care - I mean, 3 year terms, come on.
I can just wait for next week's election.
Final warning, next time it happens, permanent bans, you have tested the patience of myself and OGH.
Like the phone hacking story and the Lord MacAlpine rumours I am not going to risk OGH's financial future because some people are too stupid to follow the rules..
Just keep him away from anything to do with policy.
He'd certainly complement Kemi who appears to do little other than contemplate policy, or so the critics complain.
And Japan is one of very few forays out of Europe so far. Yes, it's otherness was striking, but I don't have the comparators tbh. And did the miles on a JR card, south to Hiroshima which felt, ironically, like the most oldest city I visited beyond a few hallowed courtyards and shrines then all the way up in steps to Sapporo for unlimited beer and (then unknown to me) Mongolian grill.
The party boys call the Kremlin
And the Chinese know (Oh-way-oh)
The Judges' Table has called it so.
I took the family from Yorkshire to Kent yesterday evening, to visit relations, but also on an Angry and Teal road trip through Don and Notts and Lincs and future points south.
It is the "they now have to govern" thought I come back to. Even at council level, and even with a smattering of old hand defectors, they have come from zero. These council chambers will be run by tyro leaders. What you get is going to be very dependent on the early local power plays within those groupings. I'm going to stick my neck out and say that one or two will make a very decent fist of this situation.
But equally it is probable that there will be big fallings out, majorities lost to defections and some badly directed DOGE nonsense. It's highly possible that we will see some of the most chaotic council leaderships seen since Hatton's Liverpool.
They are responsible for the Elderly Care of some 7.5 million people. Somewhere they could collapse this totally. They have more power over pensioner wellbeing in their hands than Rachel Reeves could dream of 2.5% fuel haircut off generous triple lock increases. I hope they take it seriously.
Booker politely explains that they couldn't pay the original £xx as it was below minimum wage.
It is fucking brilliant
With a few lapses, some accidental, as mine was the other day in reviewing PMQs, PBers have all accepted a pretty significant omerta, given the topicality and polling significance of the subject, and accepted your reasons for it. Perhaps you could meet us halfway and post good-natured reminders when we wander off piste rather than the above.
"People are being urged to "use water wisely" in gardens as dry and warm weather continues in Yorkshire.
Reservoir levels are almost 15% lower than average for this time of year, Yorkshire Water said, after the region experienced its driest combined February, March and April for 90 years."
Two days ago I made a really disappointing Keralan fish curry. Forgot the tamarind amongst other things
But this? THIS? I have always liked cod and chorizo but never really adored it. This version is adorable. I had significant help from a cheffy friend
Russian would be unable to continue it's war in Europe without Chinese support
The Houthis have been getting support from China to disrupt shipping in the Red Sea
China has of course been helping to prop up the nuclear seeking Iranian regime by buying oil etc
Victor Gao from the centre for China and globalisation says China is fully committed to defending Pakistan's sovereignty.
Is China helping to exacerbate the migration crisis in the west? We know that Putin has been for a long time and he increasingly looks like a puppet.
Taiwan makes a high percentage of the world's chips and is increasingly threatened.
Does the government/Treasury understand this? I assume Radakin is trying to lecture them on it.
Total chaos would ensue if this were not mostly true, most of the time.
Not the best player of the three, but the best of them for all that.
There are going to be a lot of wildfires this year.
When people start talking about the thing that cannot be named is that people reply to those posts and that's where the problems occur.
We've been through this with phone hacking and the Lord MacAlpine sagas.
There is no weird subterfuge. I am multitasking - eatng my dinenr and sipping wine and also watching a rather good new Netflix docu about Jamie Oliver
I spend a lot of time in the Highlands and everything is looking very low.
Sadly, one of the few UK producers shut down again after just a year or two. Was glorious while it lasted.
https://foodanddrink.scotsman.com/producers/artisan/scotlands-larder-thule-ventus/
For anyone who likes Spanish food - I quite enjoy this YT channel "Spain on a Fork" :
https://www.youtube.com/@SpainonaFork
Not pretentious or overly 'Influencer'. Just a lot of simple tasty dishes.
My worry, aside from the frost risk next week, is that negative NAO springs like this often lead to negative NAO summers which, when the jet heads a tad North, can sometimes mean horrendous washouts and cold weather for us.
I think that's called finishing in style.
Tesco, for example, manages without any elected politicans in the system. So can nearly everything that happens in local government.
There's definitely an anti-Trump vibe going on but not sure what it means for British politics given Trump will be history in 2029?
If he wrecks the US economy as he seems intent on doing, it will take some explaining by his admirers.
This is what I'm going by.
If I was Farage I'd manufacture a bust up with Trump over one of his mad policies. Maybe his behaviour towards Canada?
Nigel should go on Fox and remind POTUS Canada is a Commonwealth country and King Charles III is it's head of state.
Manage rivers, and build reservoirs. I'd even be happy if those reservoirs had solar panels to generate a bit of energy and slow evaporation. I can hardly say fairer than that.
For clarity i am an american and I work in London, in tech, so maybe i am missing huge nuances. Story of my life, if so.
2023 and especially 2024 were very wet.
It seems we go through blocks of very wet and very dry so it probably averages out overall but the unevenness is becoming increasingly notable along with the consistent year round warmth.
In fact, didn't he do a big protest against him on climate change a few years ago? But yes, a manufactured argument would be useful - perhaps over American privatisation of the NHS via a trade deal, which is serious weakness for Reform at the moment.
But it isn’t your Trump, terrible though he is.
Edit: Mind you, Nigel is obviously Masonic, so I could be wrong on that, lol..
How are you and Mrs G doing? Hope you're both feeling better?
Prince a standing ovation the EU parliament.
Nigel Farrage has also spoken publicly about his admiration for the late Queen and the late Queen Mother. He has irreverently, but truthfully, alluded to the fact that both occasionally enjoyed a cigarette, but that is it. A monarchist to his bootstraps.
We are improving but it is taking time
Hope you both feel soon.
Oh gee I think I have two questions. What the heck is an OGH? I promise after this I will simply try and fit in, and stop asking dumb stuff. Believe it or not i have a serious job and a masters, but this seems like a fun community. I would like to join in. Also I am female and it seems you lack them