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Reform’s leads falls by 5% if you exclude non-voters – politicalbetting.com

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  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 35,379
    ohnotnow said:

    Leon said:

    FF43 said:

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    Didn’t expect Luxembourg to be this… agreeable

    I’m putting it on my list of potential holiday places. You’re the second recommendation this week!
    It’s not mind blowing but it is rather pleasant and tranquil and makes an unusual change. The people are a nice mix of German calm and efficiency but with some more charm and humour but without French hauteur

    I guess being insanely rich adds to national gaiety

    Also it’s NOT expensive as far as I can see. They may have gdp per capita way higher than Switzerland but bars and restaurants are about French prices
    We are off tomorrow for a week in Germany (Bad Kreuznach), Switzerland (Leysin) and France (Epernay). Any hints and tips welcome. How much more expensive is Switzerland than Germany and France?
    Switzerland is v expensive but there are ways you can save money. If you do more than minimal travel invest in one of the passes. Also cafeterias in supermarkets and station buffets etc can do very acceptable dish of the day plus salad. Used to be about 15F, probably hasn't changed much. Thing about Switzerland, basic standards are high. You don't need to go upscale.
    I agree. In my experience Switzerland is all the same standard food wise

    Unless you’re actually going Michelin 3 star it will all be ok to quite pleasant but unexceptional, so there’s
    zero point in paying for posh

    What is worth paying for is a view. Eating besides glittering lake Lucerne or Lugano is wonderful. But you might as well eat a burger as you gaze

    Another way around insane Swiss prices is supermarkets. They are very good and full of great cheese and bread and charcuterie. You can’t move for brilliant picnic spots in Switzerland so why not stock up on picnic stuff and a bottle of wine and head for the hills over looking a sunlit waterfall that tumbles to an alpine lake

    THAT is bliss and will cost you a quarter what you’d pay in a restaurant. And you won’t ever forget it
    Last time I was in Geneva I had a 'Hello Kitty' rucksack with me (no - don't ask). The waitress in the Japanese restaurant near my hotel was very excited by it and arranged a massive discount on my bill.

    Almost made up for being in Geneva.
    This is the reason I read PB - to get tips like this. Next time I'm going to a Japanese restaurant I'll have a Hello Kitty badge on my luggage.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 27,613
    edited June 1

    Liz Truss
    @trussliz
    ·
    1h
    President Trump is right to target failing institutions like Harvard.

    I know from experience captured bureaucracies need to be taken on.

    We need a Trump style revolution in Europe.

    https://x.com/trussliz/status/1929247596595339609


    Lettuce hope Farage doesn't let this lunatic into Reform.

    That's at CPAC 2025.

    I wonder if I should write to Mr Anderson advocating for Liz to be let into Reform :smile: .
  • CiceroCicero Posts: 3,519
    edited June 1
    Barnesian said:

    Cicero said:

    Barnesian said:

    Barnesian said:

    Barnesian said:

    Many thanks DC.

    So we very much want Trzaskowski to win!

    With 0.4% counted it is nil, nil.

    https://polandelects.com/

    But exit poll Trzaskowski at 49.7%!
    No he was 50.3% in the exit poll.

    I wonder at what % counted they will release the vote totals? Poland doesn't show the live count IIRC.
    I stand corrected. But well within the margin of error.
    Live results have just come up.
    Trzaskowski at 48.70%
    Very early days!! 0.41% counted.
    Where are you getting Trzaskowski at 48.70% in live results from?
    Here. You gave me the link!

    https://polandelects.com/

    Trzaskowski is now at 53.68%
    That is only one Gmina, - Wloclawek, I think- not the national number.
    It's 222 out of 32143 stations. Tiny. Five ms reporting so far including Wloclawek where Trzaskowski is on 57.8%.
    Just over 72% turnout. No concession from Nawrocki... potential for protests being discussed.
  • isamisam Posts: 41,960
    edited June 1
    Hermer's case history is an absolute shocker...

    #Starmergeddon

    https://x.com/ramonagusta/status/1929176823893475783?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

    A future regime must properly investigate the likes of Hermer. Many lawyers work with our enemies to destroy the country and should be disbarred and/or jailed.

    See my blog for the lawyers in London who work with *active terrorists on the run from JSOC* in Afghan/PAK and get paid MILLIONS by the UK government to do so!!!

    The Cabinet Office has gone to great lengths to classify details, and keep legal cases secret, to hide the shocking truth and stop the ECHR role being exposed. With Hermer as AG, millions more of taxpayers money will be transferred to Range Rovers for lawyers in return for advancing the interests of terrorists


    https://x.com/dominic2306/status/1929247165555015839?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 66,127

    Liz Truss
    @trussliz
    ·
    1h
    President Trump is right to target failing institutions like Harvard.

    I know from experience captured bureaucracies need to be taken on.

    We need a Trump style revolution in Europe.

    https://x.com/trussliz/status/1929247596595339609


    Lettuce hope Farage doesn't let this lunatic into Reform.

    If Harvard is failing I wish my deoartment was failing as badly!
    Failing to goose step in line with the regime seems to be the problem.
  • DoubleCarpetDoubleCarpet Posts: 967
    Barnesian said:

    Barnesian said:

    Barnesian said:

    Many thanks DC.

    So we very much want Trzaskowski to win!

    With 0.4% counted it is nil, nil.

    https://polandelects.com/

    But exit poll Trzaskowski at 49.7%!
    No he was 50.3% in the exit poll.

    I wonder at what % counted they will release the vote totals? Poland doesn't show the live count IIRC.
    I stand corrected. But well within the margin of error.
    Live results have just come up.
    Trzaskowski at 48.70%
    Very early days!! 0.41% counted.
    Where are you getting Trzaskowski at 48.70% in live results from?
    Here. You gave me the link!

    https://polandelects.com/

    Trzaskowski is now at 53.68%
    Ah thanks mine wasn't working :(
  • CiceroCicero Posts: 3,519
    Cicero said:

    Barnesian said:

    Cicero said:

    Barnesian said:

    Barnesian said:

    Barnesian said:

    Many thanks DC.

    So we very much want Trzaskowski to win!

    With 0.4% counted it is nil, nil.

    https://polandelects.com/

    But exit poll Trzaskowski at 49.7%!
    No he was 50.3% in the exit poll.

    I wonder at what % counted they will release the vote totals? Poland doesn't show the live count IIRC.
    I stand corrected. But well within the margin of error.
    Live results have just come up.
    Trzaskowski at 48.70%
    Very early days!! 0.41% counted.
    Where are you getting Trzaskowski at 48.70% in live results from?
    Here. You gave me the link!

    https://polandelects.com/

    Trzaskowski is now at 53.68%
    That is only one Gmina, - Wloclawek, I think- not the national number.
    It's 222 out of 32143 stations. Tiny. Five ms reporting so far including Wloclawek where Trzaskowski is on 57.8%.
    Just over 72% turnout. No concession from Nawrocki... potential for protests being discussed.
    New exit estimate at 23.00 Warsaw time.
  • DoubleCarpetDoubleCarpet Posts: 967
    edited June 1
    Cicero said:

    Barnesian said:

    Cicero said:

    Barnesian said:

    Barnesian said:

    Barnesian said:

    Many thanks DC.

    So we very much want Trzaskowski to win!

    With 0.4% counted it is nil, nil.

    https://polandelects.com/

    But exit poll Trzaskowski at 49.7%!
    No he was 50.3% in the exit poll.

    I wonder at what % counted they will release the vote totals? Poland doesn't show the live count IIRC.
    I stand corrected. But well within the margin of error.
    Live results have just come up.
    Trzaskowski at 48.70%
    Very early days!! 0.41% counted.
    Where are you getting Trzaskowski at 48.70% in live results from?
    Here. You gave me the link!

    https://polandelects.com/

    Trzaskowski is now at 53.68%
    That is only one Gmina, - Wloclawek, I think- not the national number.
    It's 222 out of 32143 stations. Tiny. Five ms reporting so far including Wloclawek where Trzaskowski is on 57.8%.
    Just over 72% turnout. No concession from Nawrocki... potential for protests being discussed.
    Nor should he, when it's that close in the exit poll.

    1% counted after 98 mins with only two candidates feels very slow to me, Romania looked a lot quicker.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 27,613
    edited June 1
    I'm about to get buried; I was just retweeted by Mr Musk, when I compared Trump to Erdogan.

    Time for that walk.
  • another_richardanother_richard Posts: 27,696
    So I see people are still babbling about boats.

    Lets have a little thought experiment.

    If instead of a few thousand each week this summer they came over in a really big group.

    Perhaps 50k or even a 100k.

    And openly announced they were coming to settle and would each take £50k a year from the people of Britain.

    Would you say that would be enough to justify force to stop them landing ?
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 54,404
    Barnesian said:

    Sir Keir simply must stop the boats. I have every confidence he can.

    1) How?
    2) Why?
    I am surprised at how negative you are on this

    I did ask you earlier what is Ed Davey's position on this and it would be far more helpful if you would suggest solutions rather than prevarication

    How is multi facetted with some suggestions on here, but you ask why and to be honest maybe that shows your real attitude to the issue

    Why is simply answered by it is not acceptable to the vast majority of voters in this county including Labour and maybe even Lib Dem supporters
    I didn't see your comment earlier which is why I haven't answered. As I have said a few times, everyone wants the boat crossings to stop. We have a broadly positive view of migration because we know that our economy still relies on them.

    I have suggested solutions - we need to work internationally to manage asylum, we need legal and safe routes to apply for asylum, and we need to actually process claims so that people aren't left in limbo for years. And where we have people sat waiting on a decision and they have skills we need, why aren't we letting them work? We've had examples of Syrian doctors sat festering for extended periods unable to work at the exact same time as we have shortages of staff.

    But I am negative at the hopium / kill them all comments because they deserve to be negative.
    Thank you for your response but the way immigration is presently perceived, it has to be reduced further than the recently reduced figure under Sunak of 431,000 though I agree that migrants should be allowed to work once they have made an application

    However, we both know there are two immigration issues, legal and illegal, and the boats are a vivid example of illegal migration that is now in our media every day and is toxic for Starmer and labour

    Of course we shouldn't be distracted by extreme views of sinking the boats etc, as this will not happen even if Reform were in government

    Unfortunately, Starmer and Hermer are the wrong politicians at this time to resolve the issue, and I simply expect it to fester for a long time and not to labour's electoral advantage
    Pochdale Rioneers is just beginning to understand that his party isn't even at the races on this issue, or frankly on much else that's gone wrong with the country. Sir Ed thinks being more Centrist Dad than Labour and then jumping in a pond is going to get them anywhere - No, it's not.
    And yet we absolutely smashed it at the locals 😘
    Reform = 677 councillors won in 2025
    LDs = 370 councillors won in 2025
    Con lost 674 seats
    Lab lost 187 seats

    It's a two horse race!
    Reform control 10 of the councils contested this year
    LDs control only 3.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 54,404
    Barnesian said:

    Cicero said:

    Barnesian said:

    Barnesian said:

    Barnesian said:

    Many thanks DC.

    So we very much want Trzaskowski to win!

    With 0.4% counted it is nil, nil.

    https://polandelects.com/

    But exit poll Trzaskowski at 49.7%!
    No he was 50.3% in the exit poll.

    I wonder at what % counted they will release the vote totals? Poland doesn't show the live count IIRC.
    I stand corrected. But well within the margin of error.
    Live results have just come up.
    Trzaskowski at 48.70%
    Very early days!! 0.41% counted.
    Where are you getting Trzaskowski at 48.70% in live results from?
    Here. You gave me the link!

    https://polandelects.com/

    Trzaskowski is now at 53.68%
    That is only one Gmina, - Wloclawek, I think- not the national number.
    It's 222 out of 32143 stations. Tiny. Five ms reporting so far including Wloclawek where Trzaskowski is on 57.8%.
    For a moment, I thought you were talking about railway stations!

    #OneTrackMind
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 35,379
    edited June 1
    That Sean Thomas fellow at the Spectator has written an article about the lost art of getting lost.

    https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-lost-art-of-getting-lost
  • isamisam Posts: 41,960
    Rentoul on Jenrick’s fare dodger video

    His video on Thursday, in which he intercepted fare-dodgers on the London Underground – “Do you want to go back and pay like everybody else?” – was the high point of his campaign so far. It was an instant classic in the art of the political stunt: simple, effective and watched by millions.

    Personally, I thought he overdid the “country is going to the dogs” element. I think London is the best city in the world and the Tube network is great, but it does annoy me to see people take advantage of lax enforcement, tailgating or pushing through the barriers to travel without paying.

    He struck a chord. He identified himself and his party with the message: the law-abiding majority shouldn’t pay for a rule-breaking minority.


    https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/robert-jenrick-faredodger-tfl-tube-b2761240.html
  • CiceroCicero Posts: 3,519

    Cicero said:

    Barnesian said:

    Cicero said:

    Barnesian said:

    Barnesian said:

    Barnesian said:

    Many thanks DC.

    So we very much want Trzaskowski to win!

    With 0.4% counted it is nil, nil.

    https://polandelects.com/

    But exit poll Trzaskowski at 49.7%!
    No he was 50.3% in the exit poll.

    I wonder at what % counted they will release the vote totals? Poland doesn't show the live count IIRC.
    I stand corrected. But well within the margin of error.
    Live results have just come up.
    Trzaskowski at 48.70%
    Very early days!! 0.41% counted.
    Where are you getting Trzaskowski at 48.70% in live results from?
    Here. You gave me the link!

    https://polandelects.com/

    Trzaskowski is now at 53.68%
    That is only one Gmina, - Wloclawek, I think- not the national number.
    It's 222 out of 32143 stations. Tiny. Five ms reporting so far including Wloclawek where Trzaskowski is on 57.8%.
    Just over 72% turnout. No concession from Nawrocki... potential for protests being discussed.
    Nor should he, when it's that close in the exit poll.

    1% counted after 98 mins with only two candidates feels very slow to me, Romania looked a lot quicker.
    This really is too close to call. The exit polls are generally pretty good in Poland, but some of these early results are extremely close indeed. Lets see what we get in 20 mins or so.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 66,127

    Dame Andrea Jenkyns 🇬🇧
    @andreajenkyns
    ·
    50m
    DOGE Lincolnshire coming soon. We are going to root out wastage and ensure your hard earned cash is not wasted. Its time to save local taxpayers money.

    https://x.com/andreajenkyns/status/1929263745068396749
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 66,127
    Andy_JS said:

    That Sean Thomas fellow at the Spectator has written an article about the lost art of getting lost.

    https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-lost-art-of-getting-lost

    I blame this three words thingy.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 43,794
    Andy_JS said:

    That Sean Thomas fellow at the Spectator has written an article about the lost art of getting lost.

    https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-lost-art-of-getting-lost

    I blame what3words.
  • RogerRoger Posts: 20,621
    isam said:

    Hermer's case history is an absolute shocker...

    #Starmergeddon

    https://x.com/ramonagusta/status/1929176823893475783?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

    A future regime must properly investigate the likes of Hermer. Many lawyers work with our enemies to destroy the country and should be disbarred and/or jailed.

    See my blog for the lawyers in London who work with *active terrorists on the run from JSOC* in Afghan/PAK and get paid MILLIONS by the UK government to do so!!!

    The Cabinet Office has gone to great lengths to classify details, and keep legal cases secret, to hide the shocking truth and stop the ECHR role being exposed. With Hermer as AG, millions more of taxpayers money will be transferred to Range Rovers for lawyers in return for advancing the interests of terrorists


    https://x.com/dominic2306/status/1929247165555015839?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

    Infantile rubbish as usual.
  • StereodogStereodog Posts: 975

    Stereodog said:

    MattW said:

    Stereodog said:

    Stereodog said:

    stodge said:

    stodge said:

    Eabhal said:

    Eabhal said:

    Ultimately neither Starmer or Hermer are going to do anything to recluse the ECHR or any other treaty as they are both human right lawyers who cannot imagine any challenge to the law, even though these laws are being questioned by many in Europe and not just on the right

    It would go against everything Starmer has been trained to believe but ultimately it will be his downfall if he does not stop the boats

    And I would just say to those arguing this is anti foreigner, it does not help your case as this is far from that but in most peoples eyes it is unfair and this is now even being expressed by Labour politicians who know they cannot make excuses anymore

    Starmer is exactly the kind of person who could sell a revised refugee convention to a domestic and international audience. Generous, robust and sensible.

    A bit like how the Conservatives did gay marriage.
    You may be right but that would take years and he doesn't have years to stop the boats

    And remarkably we are only a month away from Labour commencing their second year in office and owning their decisions
    I don't think stopping the boats is possible - or at least not within a 5 year period. A significant reduction? Maybe.

    But Labour can certainly make lots of cheap noise about it. Even a proposal would be valuable, particularly if they can challenge the French to sign up to it.
    And this is why people think the political system is broken. Stopping the boats could easily be done in practical terms but with the way we're governed it becomes impossible.
    "Could easily be done in practical terms" - really?

    On the assumption you're not advocating violence and on the assumption you can't get the French and others to play ball and on the third assumption an offshore facility in (fill in the blank) wouldn't be ready for months if not years, I'd genuinely welcome hearing a practical and coherent solution.
    What wrong with using violence to defend the integrity of our borders? Poland does it.
    Just so I'm clear - are you advocating the physical interdiction of migrant craft by, presumably, the Royal Navy or Border Patrol? Once intercepted, the migrants are taken back to French waters irrespective of location.

    Are you advocating something beyond even that? There's violence and there's something beyond violence.
    If you announce beforehand that from now on, boats will not be allowed to make the crossing and you will use all necessary means to prevent then, how long do you think it would be before they stop?
    But that would be a lie and everyone would know it. No UK government (even a Reform one) is going to take 'all means necessary ' if that means torpedoing boat loads of migrants or fighting the French navy to drop them back at Calais.
    It has to not be a lie. As for "no UK government" doing it, that's more evidence that we have a broken state that has forgotten what's its primary purpose is.
    Quite apart from anything else, I'm not sure the Navy would obey an order to open fire on unarmed civilians.
    In the middle of the Sunk Johnson Government (sorry), they were asked and rejected even "pushing back". They told Priti Patel to take a running jump.

    https://www.lbc.co.uk/hot-topics/migrant-crisis/channel-migrant-crossings-navy-rejects-push-back-plan/
    They should have been told to go fuck themselves. Since when has the Navy dictated what it wants to do?
    Since it was established that "only obeying orders" wasn't a valid defence?
    God help us when we need them to *actually* do anything, the useless shower.
    Yes they'll be totally unprepared for when we *actually* need them to intentionally drown civilians.
    A politicised paramilitary force to do the government's bidding - yes, there will be volunteers - is precisely where we'll end up one day if regular government departments refuse to enact the policies of the elected administration of the day.

    Let's hope it never comes to that.
    Ah another outing of the Leon 'If you don't collude in bad thing happening then really bad thing will happen' argument. Saying that the military needs to intentionally kill unarmed civilians otherwise a paramilitary group will do it for them isn't a very good policy proposal.
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 30,991

    nova said:

    Eabhal said:

    Eabhal said:

    Ultimately neither Starmer or Hermer are going to do anything to recluse the ECHR or any other treaty as they are both human right lawyers who cannot imagine any challenge to the law, even though these laws are being questioned by many in Europe and not just on the right

    It would go against everything Starmer has been trained to believe but ultimately it will be his downfall if he does not stop the boats

    And I would just say to those arguing this is anti foreigner, it does not help your case as this is far from that but in most peoples eyes it is unfair and this is now even being expressed by Labour politicians who know they cannot make excuses anymore

    Starmer is exactly the kind of person who could sell a revised refugee convention to a domestic and international audience. Generous, robust and sensible.

    A bit like how the Conservatives did gay marriage.
    You may be right but that would take years and he doesn't have years to stop the boats

    And remarkably we are only a month away from Labour commencing their second year in office and owning their decisions
    I don't think stopping the boats is possible - or at least not within a 5 year period. A significant reduction? Maybe.

    But Labour can certainly make lots of cheap noise about it. Even a proposal would be valuable, particularly if they can challenge the French to sign up to it.
    My plan to collapse the black economy would collapse demand.

    - doesn’t depend on the French
    - Breaks no law, international or national
    - Fucks up the scum who exploit
    - Offers the migrants justice against their abusers.
    - self enforcing

    How easy do you think that would be?

    Doesn't it involve stopping pretty much all crime?
    1) each instance of deliberately employing someone illegally is punishable by a £100k fine. This includes a number of crimes including visa sale
    2) use the Proceeds of Crime laws to prevent hiding assets from liability behind ltd companies etc. So the houses of directors of a chain of companies could be seized. As they are for drugs.
    3) half the fine goes to the person giving evidence, upon conviction.
    4) if they don’t have full U.K. status, give the. Indefinite leave to remain.
    5) legislation to prevent using contracting as a shield.

    Quite simply, every person you are employing illegally has a £50k motive (and a visa) to report you.

    The scale of the fines would make catching the employers *profitable* for the government.

    Private prosecutions via ambulance chaser lawyers would be fun to add to the mix.
    A lot of British people will be unable to get jobs under your regime, because they will not be able to prove their right to work here within a £50,000 margin of error. I myself have faced this problem.

    There is also a perverse incentive to report any suspicions at all, so the police will spend all their time checking every single delivery driver just in case the informant can cop a £50,000 reward.
    I'm interested that you would gave faced such a problem.... Note that similar rules are in force at the moment, the fines are lower and there is no reward for reporting. Hence employers wanting photocopies of passports.

    A relative runs a building company and does a background check on his employees. The UK ones present a passport. The non-UK present their passports and their visa/right to work documentation.

    What would actually happen is that employing illegals would stop - simply not worth the risk.

    Deliveroo might collapse or put up its prices by a factor of 3. What a shame.
    Many of us have neither passport nor driving licence. Easier not to take the chance.
  • isamisam Posts: 41,960
    Here’s Sir Keir eleven months ago, boasting of how he has just introduced powers that no other country has dared to do in order to, you guessed it, “smash the gangs”

    https://x.com/suffragent_/status/1929117262146847088?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q
  • another_richardanother_richard Posts: 27,696


    Dame Andrea Jenkyns 🇬🇧
    @andreajenkyns
    ·
    50m
    DOGE Lincolnshire coming soon. We are going to root out wastage and ensure your hard earned cash is not wasted. Its time to save local taxpayers money.

    https://x.com/andreajenkyns/status/1929263745068396749

    The idea isn't bad if competently executed.

    The fact that she's referring to it as DOGE suggests that it will not be competent.

    She needs to get out of the echo chamber rather than trying to be a pound shop Trumpite wannabe.
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 6,218

    Leon said:

    ohnotnow said:

    Leon said:

    FF43 said:

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    Didn’t expect Luxembourg to be this… agreeable

    I’m putting it on my list of potential holiday places. You’re the second recommendation this week!
    It’s not mind blowing but it is rather pleasant and tranquil and makes an unusual change. The people are a nice mix of German calm and efficiency but with some more charm and humour but without French hauteur

    I guess being insanely rich adds to national gaiety

    Also it’s NOT expensive as far as I can see. They may have gdp per capita way higher than Switzerland but bars and restaurants are about French prices
    We are off tomorrow for a week in Germany (Bad Kreuznach), Switzerland (Leysin) and France (Epernay). Any hints and tips welcome. How much more expensive is Switzerland than Germany and France?
    Switzerland is v expensive but there are ways you can save money. If you do more than minimal travel invest in one of the passes. Also cafeterias in supermarkets and station buffets etc can do very acceptable dish of the day plus salad. Used to be about 15F, probably hasn't changed much. Thing about Switzerland, basic standards are high. You don't need to go upscale.
    I agree. In my experience Switzerland is all the same standard food wise

    Unless you’re actually going Michelin 3 star it will all be ok to quite pleasant but unexceptional, so there’s
    zero point in paying for posh

    What is worth paying for is a view. Eating besides glittering lake Lucerne or Lugano is wonderful. But you might as well eat a burger as you gaze

    Another way around insane Swiss prices is supermarkets. They are very good and full of great cheese and bread and charcuterie. You can’t move for brilliant picnic spots in Switzerland so why not stock up on picnic stuff and a bottle of wine and head for the hills over looking a sunlit waterfall that tumbles to an alpine lake

    THAT is bliss and will cost you a quarter what you’d pay in a restaurant. And you won’t ever forget it
    Last time I was in Geneva I had a 'Hello Kitty' rucksack with me (no - don't ask). The waitress in the Japanese restaurant near my hotel was very excited by it and arranged a massive discount on my bill.

    Almost made up for being in Geneva.
    lol

    The only good thing about Geneva is CERN. Which is genuinely amazing

    The rest is meh, and scrotum-tighteningly expensive meh

    Tbf to Switzerland it soon improves as you move away from the city
    Did the train from Geneva Airport to Geneva (free ride, at least it was back in 2014), and also the train from Geneva to Lausanne and on to Montreux.

    In 2009 and 2010, I did back to back rail trips from Zurich Airport to Zurich and on to Chur in the east of the country.
    Have booked the Bernina and Glacier expresses for this summer. On adjacent days, which isn't ideal, but Chur didn't look worth a two-night layover.
  • CiceroCicero Posts: 3,519
    The Polish presidential election looks like there is less than 70,000 votes in it. Next Exit poll at 23.00 Warsaw, but this is the closest election of the Third Republic, and underlines how polarised the country is right now.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 66,127

    Andy_JS said:

    That Sean Thomas fellow at the Spectator has written an article about the lost art of getting lost.

    https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-lost-art-of-getting-lost

    I blame what3words.
    LOL. Great minds...
  • isamisam Posts: 41,960
    Imane Khelif’s sex test results are published for the first time, with medical report appearing to indicate the boxer is biologically male.

    Credit to @alanabrahamson. Puts significant pressure on IOC to explain why it regards the tests as ‘not legitimate’


    https://x.com/oliverbrown_tel/status/1929245121561706985?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 14,299

    Look at me. I am the captain now.

    Is this the feared apocalypse TSE’s holiday caused?
  • LeonLeon Posts: 61,516
    More disturbing videos out of Paris. They’re STILL rioting because they WON?!

    All good news for Le Pen
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 6,218
    isam said:

    Imane Khelif’s sex test results are published for the first time, with medical report appearing to indicate the boxer is biologically male.

    Credit to @alanabrahamson. Puts significant pressure on IOC to explain why it regards the tests as ‘not legitimate’


    https://x.com/oliverbrown_tel/status/1929245121561706985?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

    Shocked, I tell you.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 31,541

    From https://migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/briefings/unauthorised-migration-in-the-uk/ , as linked to above:

    Most people who arrive in the UK by small boat subsequently apply for asylum – around 94% of those who arrived between 2018 and the end of September 2024. Of those who received an initial decision, around 70% were granted protection, similar to the grant rate for all asylum applications.

    That page, using ONS data, also gives about twice as many visa overstayers as asylum seekers.

    And that's why we have a boat crisis.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 66,127
    Zia Yusuf

    @ZiaYusufUK
    Reform’s UK DOGE has been formed.

    It’s a team of world class software engineers, data analysts and forensic auditors, working for free.

    They’ll identify and help eliminate wasteful spending

    They arrive at Kent Council tomorrow, and we respectfully make the following request:

    https://x.com/ZiaYusufUK/status/1929248578951618591
  • BarnesianBarnesian Posts: 9,179

    Barnesian said:

    Sir Keir simply must stop the boats. I have every confidence he can.

    1) How?
    2) Why?
    I am surprised at how negative you are on this

    I did ask you earlier what is Ed Davey's position on this and it would be far more helpful if you would suggest solutions rather than prevarication

    How is multi facetted with some suggestions on here, but you ask why and to be honest maybe that shows your real attitude to the issue

    Why is simply answered by it is not acceptable to the vast majority of voters in this county including Labour and maybe even Lib Dem supporters
    I didn't see your comment earlier which is why I haven't answered. As I have said a few times, everyone wants the boat crossings to stop. We have a broadly positive view of migration because we know that our economy still relies on them.

    I have suggested solutions - we need to work internationally to manage asylum, we need legal and safe routes to apply for asylum, and we need to actually process claims so that people aren't left in limbo for years. And where we have people sat waiting on a decision and they have skills we need, why aren't we letting them work? We've had examples of Syrian doctors sat festering for extended periods unable to work at the exact same time as we have shortages of staff.

    But I am negative at the hopium / kill them all comments because they deserve to be negative.
    Thank you for your response but the way immigration is presently perceived, it has to be reduced further than the recently reduced figure under Sunak of 431,000 though I agree that migrants should be allowed to work once they have made an application

    However, we both know there are two immigration issues, legal and illegal, and the boats are a vivid example of illegal migration that is now in our media every day and is toxic for Starmer and labour

    Of course we shouldn't be distracted by extreme views of sinking the boats etc, as this will not happen even if Reform were in government

    Unfortunately, Starmer and Hermer are the wrong politicians at this time to resolve the issue, and I simply expect it to fester for a long time and not to labour's electoral advantage
    Pochdale Rioneers is just beginning to understand that his party isn't even at the races on this issue, or frankly on much else that's gone wrong with the country. Sir Ed thinks being more Centrist Dad than Labour and then jumping in a pond is going to get them anywhere - No, it's not.
    And yet we absolutely smashed it at the locals 😘
    Reform = 677 councillors won in 2025
    LDs = 370 councillors won in 2025
    Con lost 674 seats
    Lab lost 187 seats

    It's a two horse race!
    Reform control 10 of the councils contested this year
    LDs control only 3.
    Cons control none (lost control of 16!)
    Lab control none (lost control of 1)

    It's a two horse race between Reform and LD.
    I'm not contesting that Reform is currently ahead.
    But they've peaked too soon in a very long race.
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 24,731

    Mexicanpete has been banned.

    About time Horse! He's not exactly on message. Good riddance I say!
    Mexicanpete has been exterminated.
    Oh God, another unplanned regeneration. Which reminds me, did you see it last night? It was[shuttup shuttup shuttup - Ed]
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 14,299
    edited June 1
    isam said:

    Rentoul on Jenrick’s fare dodger video

    His video on Thursday, in which he intercepted fare-dodgers on the London Underground – “Do you want to go back and pay like everybody else?” – was the high point of his campaign so far. It was an instant classic in the art of the political stunt: simple, effective and watched by millions.

    Personally, I thought he overdid the “country is going to the dogs” element. I think London is the best city in the world and the Tube network is great, but it does annoy me to see people take advantage of lax enforcement, tailgating or pushing through the barriers to travel without paying.

    He struck a chord. He identified himself and his party with the message: the law-abiding majority shouldn’t pay for a rule-breaking minority.


    https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/robert-jenrick-faredodger-tfl-tube-b2761240.html

    Did he ask Richard Desmond to repay the money?

    https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/article/comment/robert-jenrick-affair-has-potential-do-lasting-damage-government

    Trying to come back in the polls by distancing ourselves from the sleaze of the Boris years, the very last thing the Conservatives need is an operator like Robert Jenrick.
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 65,598
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 31,541
    MattW said:

    Liz Truss
    @trussliz
    ·
    1h
    President Trump is right to target failing institutions like Harvard.

    I know from experience captured bureaucracies need to be taken on.

    We need a Trump style revolution in Europe.

    https://x.com/trussliz/status/1929247596595339609


    Lettuce hope Farage doesn't let this lunatic into Reform.

    That's at CPAC 2025.

    I wonder if I should write to Mr Anderson advocating for Liz to be let into Reform :smile: .
    I think Reform will let Liz Truss run. She is (sadly) fairly toxic politically, so if things were on a knife-edge they might not allow it as it would play into Labour attacks. But if they're way ahead, they'll be glad of her and just take any hit. She'd win her former sear easily. And she'd be one of fairly few Reform MPs with top level ministerial experience.
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 6,218
    A gaffe I can get behind. Good for him.
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 14,299
    viewcode said:

    Mexicanpete has been banned.

    About time Horse! He's not exactly on message. Good riddance I say!
    Mexicanpete has been exterminated.
    Oh God, another unplanned regeneration. Which reminds me, did you see it last night? It was[shuttup shuttup shuttup - Ed]
    Do You Hate Billie
  • CiceroCicero Posts: 3,519
    edited June 1
    Cicero said:

    The Polish presidential election looks like there is less than 70,000 votes in it. Next Exit poll at 23.00 Warsaw, but this is the closest election of the Third Republic, and underlines how polarised the country is right now.

    Latest exit poll showing Nawrocki ahead. Going to be a long night.

    Interestingly the percentages on this poll are exactly opposite. Trzaskowski 49.3, Nawrocki 50.7
  • TimSTimS Posts: 15,536

    Zia Yusuf

    @ZiaYusufUK
    Reform’s UK DOGE has been formed.

    It’s a team of world class software engineers, data analysts and forensic auditors, working for free.

    They’ll identify and help eliminate wasteful spending

    They arrive at Kent Council tomorrow, and we respectfully make the following request:

    https://x.com/ZiaYusufUK/status/1929248578951618591

    Do they really think DOGE is a popular brand? It seems like the sort of thing only the extremely online (and online in US MAGA circles) would suggest.
  • Stereodog said:

    Stereodog said:

    MattW said:

    Stereodog said:

    Stereodog said:

    stodge said:

    stodge said:

    Eabhal said:

    Eabhal said:

    Ultimately neither Starmer or Hermer are going to do anything to recluse the ECHR or any other treaty as they are both human right lawyers who cannot imagine any challenge to the law, even though these laws are being questioned by many in Europe and not just on the right

    It would go against everything Starmer has been trained to believe but ultimately it will be his downfall if he does not stop the boats

    And I would just say to those arguing this is anti foreigner, it does not help your case as this is far from that but in most peoples eyes it is unfair and this is now even being expressed by Labour politicians who know they cannot make excuses anymore

    Starmer is exactly the kind of person who could sell a revised refugee convention to a domestic and international audience. Generous, robust and sensible.

    A bit like how the Conservatives did gay marriage.
    You may be right but that would take years and he doesn't have years to stop the boats

    And remarkably we are only a month away from Labour commencing their second year in office and owning their decisions
    I don't think stopping the boats is possible - or at least not within a 5 year period. A significant reduction? Maybe.

    But Labour can certainly make lots of cheap noise about it. Even a proposal would be valuable, particularly if they can challenge the French to sign up to it.
    And this is why people think the political system is broken. Stopping the boats could easily be done in practical terms but with the way we're governed it becomes impossible.
    "Could easily be done in practical terms" - really?

    On the assumption you're not advocating violence and on the assumption you can't get the French and others to play ball and on the third assumption an offshore facility in (fill in the blank) wouldn't be ready for months if not years, I'd genuinely welcome hearing a practical and coherent solution.
    What wrong with using violence to defend the integrity of our borders? Poland does it.
    Just so I'm clear - are you advocating the physical interdiction of migrant craft by, presumably, the Royal Navy or Border Patrol? Once intercepted, the migrants are taken back to French waters irrespective of location.

    Are you advocating something beyond even that? There's violence and there's something beyond violence.
    If you announce beforehand that from now on, boats will not be allowed to make the crossing and you will use all necessary means to prevent then, how long do you think it would be before they stop?
    But that would be a lie and everyone would know it. No UK government (even a Reform one) is going to take 'all means necessary ' if that means torpedoing boat loads of migrants or fighting the French navy to drop them back at Calais.
    It has to not be a lie. As for "no UK government" doing it, that's more evidence that we have a broken state that has forgotten what's its primary purpose is.
    Quite apart from anything else, I'm not sure the Navy would obey an order to open fire on unarmed civilians.
    In the middle of the Sunk Johnson Government (sorry), they were asked and rejected even "pushing back". They told Priti Patel to take a running jump.

    https://www.lbc.co.uk/hot-topics/migrant-crisis/channel-migrant-crossings-navy-rejects-push-back-plan/
    They should have been told to go fuck themselves. Since when has the Navy dictated what it wants to do?
    Since it was established that "only obeying orders" wasn't a valid defence?
    God help us when we need them to *actually* do anything, the useless shower.
    Yes they'll be totally unprepared for when we *actually* need them to intentionally drown civilians.
    A politicised paramilitary force to do the government's bidding - yes, there will be volunteers - is precisely where we'll end up one day if regular government departments refuse to enact the policies of the elected administration of the day.

    Let's hope it never comes to that.
    Ah another outing of the Leon 'If you don't collude in bad thing happening then really bad thing will happen' argument. Saying that the military needs to intentionally kill unarmed civilians otherwise a paramilitary group will do it for them isn't a very good policy proposal.
    Casino's standing back and standing by.
  • DoubleCarpetDoubleCarpet Posts: 967
    Cicero said:

    Cicero said:

    The Polish presidential election looks like there is less than 70,000 votes in it. Next Exit poll at 23.00 Warsaw, but this is the closest election of the Third Republic, and underlines how polarised the country is right now.

    Latest exit poll showing Nawrocki ahead. Going to be a long night
    With 50.7%.

    I think he's got this.
  • BarnesianBarnesian Posts: 9,179
    edited June 1
    Cicero said:

    Cicero said:

    The Polish presidential election looks like there is less than 70,000 votes in it. Next Exit poll at 23.00 Warsaw, but this is the closest election of the Third Republic, and underlines how polarised the country is right now.

    Latest exit poll showing Nawrocki ahead. Going to be a long night.

    Interestingly the percentages on this poll are exactly opposite. Trzaskowski 49.3, Nawrocki 50.7
    I think they are the original exit poll percentages. Trzaskowski 49.3
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 66,127
    White House says they didn't know about the Ukr attack today on aircraft in Siberia.

    No kidding.

    Why on earth would the Ukrainians be stupid enough to tell this White House about such an operation?
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 30,113
    TimS said:

    Zia Yusuf

    @ZiaYusufUK
    Reform’s UK DOGE has been formed.

    It’s a team of world class software engineers, data analysts and forensic auditors, working for free.

    They’ll identify and help eliminate wasteful spending

    They arrive at Kent Council tomorrow, and we respectfully make the following request:

    https://x.com/ZiaYusufUK/status/1929248578951618591

    Do they really think DOGE is a popular brand? It seems like the sort of thing only the extremely online (and online in US MAGA circles) would suggest.
    It's a brand 90% of the UK population haven't heard of.
  • CiceroCicero Posts: 3,519
    Barnesian said:

    Cicero said:

    Cicero said:

    The Polish presidential election looks like there is less than 70,000 votes in it. Next Exit poll at 23.00 Warsaw, but this is the closest election of the Third Republic, and underlines how polarised the country is right now.

    Latest exit poll showing Nawrocki ahead. Going to be a long night.

    Interestingly the percentages on this poll are exactly opposite. Trzaskowski 49.3, Nawrocki 50.7
    I thin they are the original exit poll percentages
    No, this is the second poll. Nawrocki ahead
  • Pro_RataPro_Rata Posts: 5,634
    edited June 1

    Zia Yusuf

    @ZiaYusufUK
    Reform’s UK DOGE has been formed.

    It’s a team of world class software engineers, data analysts and forensic auditors, working for free.

    They’ll identify and help eliminate wasteful spending

    They arrive at Kent Council tomorrow, and we respectfully make the following request:

    https://x.com/ZiaYusufUK/status/1929248578951618591

    The letter tries to suggest it will be done professionally, but the fact it is issued from the national leadership of Reform means it will have to be backed up by communication from those within the council leadership, as the national party don't have authority over a council run by their local party.
  • CiceroCicero Posts: 3,519

    Cicero said:

    Cicero said:

    The Polish presidential election looks like there is less than 70,000 votes in it. Next Exit poll at 23.00 Warsaw, but this is the closest election of the Third Republic, and underlines how polarised the country is right now.

    Latest exit poll showing Nawrocki ahead. Going to be a long night
    With 50.7%.

    I think he's got this.
    This is really tight. Might not get a final result until mid morning, but looking bad for Trzaskowski
  • DoubleCarpetDoubleCarpet Posts: 967
    Cicero said:

    Barnesian said:

    Cicero said:

    Cicero said:

    The Polish presidential election looks like there is less than 70,000 votes in it. Next Exit poll at 23.00 Warsaw, but this is the closest election of the Third Republic, and underlines how polarised the country is right now.

    Latest exit poll showing Nawrocki ahead. Going to be a long night.

    Interestingly the percentages on this poll are exactly opposite. Trzaskowski 49.3, Nawrocki 50.7
    I thin they are the original exit poll percentages
    No, this is the second poll. Nawrocki ahead
    Kellner's Law strikes again...
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 31,541
    Pro_Rata said:

    Zia Yusuf

    @ZiaYusufUK
    Reform’s UK DOGE has been formed.

    It’s a team of world class software engineers, data analysts and forensic auditors, working for free.

    They’ll identify and help eliminate wasteful spending

    They arrive at Kent Council tomorrow, and we respectfully make the following request:

    https://x.com/ZiaYusufUK/status/1929248578951618591

    The letter tries to suggest it will be done professionally, but the fact it is issued from the national leadership of Reform means it will have to be backed up by communication from those within the council leadership, as the national party don't have authority over a council run by their local party.
    It is signed by the leader of Kent County Council.
  • BarnesianBarnesian Posts: 9,179
    edited June 1
    ..
  • CiceroCicero Posts: 3,519

    Cicero said:

    Barnesian said:

    Cicero said:

    Cicero said:

    The Polish presidential election looks like there is less than 70,000 votes in it. Next Exit poll at 23.00 Warsaw, but this is the closest election of the Third Republic, and underlines how polarised the country is right now.

    Latest exit poll showing Nawrocki ahead. Going to be a long night.

    Interestingly the percentages on this poll are exactly opposite. Trzaskowski 49.3, Nawrocki 50.7
    I thin they are the original exit poll percentages
    No, this is the second poll. Nawrocki ahead
    Kellner's Law strikes again...
    My mates in Warsaw say that it may come down to overseas votes... in which case it really will be a long count. Anyway its gone midnight here and a school night, so time for bed, alas.
  • DoubleCarpetDoubleCarpet Posts: 967
    Barnesian said:

    ..

    No it isn't, Nawrocki had 49.7% in the exit poll.
  • Pro_RataPro_Rata Posts: 5,634

    Pro_Rata said:

    Zia Yusuf

    @ZiaYusufUK
    Reform’s UK DOGE has been formed.

    It’s a team of world class software engineers, data analysts and forensic auditors, working for free.

    They’ll identify and help eliminate wasteful spending

    They arrive at Kent Council tomorrow, and we respectfully make the following request:

    https://x.com/ZiaYusufUK/status/1929248578951618591

    The letter tries to suggest it will be done professionally, but the fact it is issued from the national leadership of Reform means it will have to be backed up by communication from those within the council leadership, as the national party don't have authority over a council run by their local party.
    It is signed by the leader of Kent County Council.
    OK. And headed on party rather than KCC notepaper?
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 38,703
    @HibaNasr

    @SecRubio
    spoke with Russian FM Lavrov, at Russia’s request, says
    @statedeptspox
    .

    The statement says "Rubio reiterated President Trump’s call for continued direct talks between Russia and Ukraine to achieve a lasting peace".

    https://x.com/HibaNasr/status/1929285320798867491
  • StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 10,110

    MattW said:

    Stereodog said:

    Stereodog said:

    stodge said:

    stodge said:

    Eabhal said:

    Eabhal said:

    Ultimately neither Starmer or Hermer are going to do anything to recluse the ECHR or any other treaty as they are both human right lawyers who cannot imagine any challenge to the law, even though these laws are being questioned by many in Europe and not just on the right

    It would go against everything Starmer has been trained to believe but ultimately it will be his downfall if he does not stop the boats

    And I would just say to those arguing this is anti foreigner, it does not help your case as this is far from that but in most peoples eyes it is unfair and this is now even being expressed by Labour politicians who know they cannot make excuses anymore

    Starmer is exactly the kind of person who could sell a revised refugee convention to a domestic and international audience. Generous, robust and sensible.

    A bit like how the Conservatives did gay marriage.
    You may be right but that would take years and he doesn't have years to stop the boats

    And remarkably we are only a month away from Labour commencing their second year in office and owning their decisions
    I don't think stopping the boats is possible - or at least not within a 5 year period. A significant reduction? Maybe.

    But Labour can certainly make lots of cheap noise about it. Even a proposal would be valuable, particularly if they can challenge the French to sign up to it.
    And this is why people think the political system is broken. Stopping the boats could easily be done in practical terms but with the way we're governed it becomes impossible.
    "Could easily be done in practical terms" - really?

    On the assumption you're not advocating violence and on the assumption you can't get the French and others to play ball and on the third assumption an offshore facility in (fill in the blank) wouldn't be ready for months if not years, I'd genuinely welcome hearing a practical and coherent solution.
    What wrong with using violence to defend the integrity of our borders? Poland does it.
    Just so I'm clear - are you advocating the physical interdiction of migrant craft by, presumably, the Royal Navy or Border Patrol? Once intercepted, the migrants are taken back to French waters irrespective of location.

    Are you advocating something beyond even that? There's violence and there's something beyond violence.
    If you announce beforehand that from now on, boats will not be allowed to make the crossing and you will use all necessary means to prevent then, how long do you think it would be before they stop?
    But that would be a lie and everyone would know it. No UK government (even a Reform one) is going to take 'all means necessary ' if that means torpedoing boat loads of migrants or fighting the French navy to drop them back at Calais.
    It has to not be a lie. As for "no UK government" doing it, that's more evidence that we have a broken state that has forgotten what's its primary purpose is.
    Quite apart from anything else, I'm not sure the Navy would obey an order to open fire
    on unarmed civilians.
    In the middle of the Sunk Johnson Government (sorry), they were asked and rejected even "pushing back". They told Priti Patel to take a running jump.

    https://www.lbc.co.uk/hot-topics/migrant-crisis/channel-migrant-crossings-navy-rejects-push-back-plan/
    They should have been told to go fuck themselves. Since when has the Navy dictated what it wants to do?
    What a wonderful manager you would make
  • StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 10,110

    MattW said:

    Stereodog said:

    Stereodog said:

    stodge said:

    stodge said:

    Eabhal said:

    Eabhal said:

    Ultimately neither Starmer or Hermer are going to do anything to recluse the ECHR or any other treaty as they are both human right lawyers who cannot imagine any challenge to the law, even though these laws are being questioned by many in Europe and not just on the right

    It would go against everything Starmer has been trained to believe but ultimately it will be his downfall if he does not stop the boats

    And I would just say to those arguing this is anti foreigner, it does not help your case as this is far from that but in most peoples eyes it is unfair and this is now even being expressed by Labour politicians who know they cannot make excuses anymore

    Starmer is exactly the kind of person who could sell a revised refugee convention to a domestic and international audience. Generous, robust and sensible.

    A bit like how the Conservatives did gay marriage.
    You may be right but that would take years and he doesn't have years to stop the boats

    And remarkably we are only a month away from Labour commencing their second year in office and owning their decisions
    I don't think stopping the boats is possible - or at least not within a 5 year period. A significant reduction? Maybe.

    But Labour can certainly make lots of cheap noise about it. Even a proposal would be valuable, particularly if they can challenge the French to sign up to it.
    And this is why people think the political system is broken. Stopping the boats could easily be done in practical terms but with the way we're governed it becomes impossible.
    "Could easily be done in practical terms" - really?

    On the assumption you're not advocating violence and on the assumption you can't get the French and others to play ball and on the third assumption an offshore facility in (fill in the blank) wouldn't be ready for months if not years, I'd genuinely welcome hearing a practical and coherent solution.
    What wrong with using violence to defend the integrity of our borders? Poland does it.
    Just so I'm clear - are you advocating the physical interdiction of migrant craft by, presumably, the Royal Navy or Border Patrol? Once intercepted, the migrants are taken back to French waters irrespective of location.

    Are you advocating something beyond even that? There's violence and there's something beyond violence.
    If you announce beforehand that from now on, boats will not be allowed to make the crossing and you will use all necessary means to prevent then, how long do you think it would be before they stop?
    But that would be a lie and everyone would know it. No UK government (even a Reform one) is going to take 'all means necessary ' if that means torpedoing boat loads of migrants or fighting the French navy to drop them back at Calais.
    It has to not be a lie. As for "no UK government" doing it, that's more evidence that we have a broken state that has forgotten what's its primary purpose is.
    Quite apart from anything else, I'm not sure the Navy would obey an order to open fire
    on unarmed civilians.
    In the middle of the Sunk Johnson Government (sorry), they were asked and rejected even "pushing back". They told Priti Patel to take a running jump.

    https://www.lbc.co.uk/hot-topics/migrant-crisis/channel-migrant-crossings-navy-rejects-push-back-plan/
    They should have been told to go fuck themselves. Since when has the Navy dictated what it wants to do?
    What a wonderful manager you would make
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,934

    Barnesian said:

    ..

    No it isn't, Nawrocki had 49.7% in the exit poll.
    'While women voted for pro-European centrist Warsaw mayor Rafał Trzaskowski (54 to 46%), men sided with Karol Nawrocki by, erm, the same ratio.

    When you look at the education levels, Trzaskowski came first among those with a bachelor degree or higher (63% to 37%), but Nawrocki won among all other groups.

    And so on. In almost every single category, you have extremely polarising results.

    Higher level executives? Trzaskowski win 65% to 35%. Company owners? Trzaskowski again, by 57% to 43%.

    But farmers? 79% to 21% for Nawrocki. Employees? 68% to 32% for Nawrocki.

    Finally, in the buildup to the vote, there was a lot of chat about vote transfers from other candidates, particularly the libertarian far-right candidate Sławomir Mentzen who came third in the first round, with 13.47% of the both.'
    https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jun/01/polls-set-to-close-in-tight-presidential-race-in-poland-live
  • Frank_BoothFrank_Booth Posts: 314
    Leon said:

    More disturbing videos out of Paris. They’re STILL rioting because they WON?!

    All good news for Le Pen

    Eh. I haven't followed that but seems weird.

    Just come across this. Richard Hermer AG appears to have paid a visit to a rather interesting Mosque in Liverpool.

    https://x.com/habibi_uk/status/1929183770239730032

    It doesn't appear that the Labour party has been properly decorbynised.
  • another_richardanother_richard Posts: 27,696

    Zia Yusuf

    @ZiaYusufUK
    Reform’s UK DOGE has been formed.

    It’s a team of world class software engineers, data analysts and forensic auditors, working for free.

    They’ll identify and help eliminate wasteful spending

    They arrive at Kent Council tomorrow, and we respectfully make the following request:

    https://x.com/ZiaYusufUK/status/1929248578951618591

    Wouldn't these people need to have legal contracts for any transactions they have with Kent CC ?

    There are all sort of professional duty of care issues involved.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 38,703
    @JakubKrupa

    Poland, late exit poll
    TOO CLOSE TO CALL

    🚨 PLOT TWIST KLAXON 🚨

    Ipsos/TVP, TVN, Polsat

    Karol Nawrocki 50.7%
    Rafał Trzaskowski 49.3%

    https://x.com/JakubKrupa/status/1929286589168906265
  • MonkeysMonkeys Posts: 772
    Barnesian said:

    Barnesian said:

    Sir Keir simply must stop the boats. I have every confidence he can.

    1) How?
    2) Why?
    I am surprised at how negative you are on this

    I did ask you earlier what is Ed Davey's position on this and it would be far more helpful if you would suggest solutions rather than prevarication

    How is multi facetted with some suggestions on here, but you ask why and to be honest maybe that shows your real attitude to the issue

    Why is simply answered by it is not acceptable to the vast majority of voters in this county including Labour and maybe even Lib Dem supporters
    I didn't see your comment earlier which is why I haven't answered. As I have said a few times, everyone wants the boat crossings to stop. We have a broadly positive view of migration because we know that our economy still relies on them.

    I have suggested solutions - we need to work internationally to manage asylum, we need legal and safe routes to apply for asylum, and we need to actually process claims so that people aren't left in limbo for years. And where we have people sat waiting on a decision and they have skills we need, why aren't we letting them work? We've had examples of Syrian doctors sat festering for extended periods unable to work at the exact same time as we have shortages of staff.

    But I am negative at the hopium / kill them all comments because they deserve to be negative.
    Thank you for your response but the way immigration is presently perceived, it has to be reduced further than the recently reduced figure under Sunak of 431,000 though I agree that migrants should be allowed to work once they have made an application

    However, we both know there are two immigration issues, legal and illegal, and the boats are a vivid example of illegal migration that is now in our media every day and is toxic for Starmer and labour

    Of course we shouldn't be distracted by extreme views of sinking the boats etc, as this will not happen even if Reform were in government

    Unfortunately, Starmer and Hermer are the wrong politicians at this time to resolve the issue, and I simply expect it to fester for a long time and not to labour's electoral advantage
    Pochdale Rioneers is just beginning to understand that his party isn't even at the races on this issue, or frankly on much else that's gone wrong with the country. Sir Ed thinks being more Centrist Dad than Labour and then jumping in a pond is going to get them anywhere - No, it's not.
    And yet we absolutely smashed it at the locals 😘
    Reform = 677 councillors won in 2025
    LDs = 370 councillors won in 2025
    Con lost 674 seats
    Lab lost 187 seats

    It's a two horse race!
    Reform control 10 of the councils contested this year
    LDs control only 3.
    Cons control none (lost control of 16!)
    Lab control none (lost control of 1)

    It's a two horse race between Reform and LD.
    I'm not contesting that Reform is currently ahead.
    But they've peaked too soon in a very long race.
    Isn't saying Reform have peaked copium of the highest order until there's some sign of a top?
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 14,299

    Stereodog said:

    Stereodog said:

    MattW said:

    Stereodog said:

    Stereodog said:

    stodge said:

    stodge said:

    Eabhal said:

    Eabhal said:

    Ultimately neither Starmer or Hermer are going to do anything to recluse the ECHR or any other treaty as they are both human right lawyers who cannot imagine any challenge to the law, even though these laws are being questioned by many in Europe and not just on the right

    It would go against everything Starmer has been trained to believe but ultimately it will be his downfall if he does not stop the boats

    And I would just say to those arguing this is anti foreigner, it does not help your case as this is far from that but in most peoples eyes it is unfair and this is now even being expressed by Labour politicians who know they cannot make excuses anymore

    Starmer is exactly the kind of person who could sell a revised refugee convention to a domestic and international audience. Generous, robust and sensible.

    A bit like how the Conservatives did gay marriage.
    You may be right but that would take years and he doesn't have years to stop the boats

    And remarkably we are only a month away from Labour commencing their second year in office and owning their decisions
    I don't think stopping the boats is possible - or at least not within a 5 year period. A significant reduction? Maybe.

    But Labour can certainly make lots of cheap noise about it. Even a proposal would be valuable, particularly if they can challenge the French to sign up to it.
    And this is why people think the political system is broken. Stopping the boats could easily be done in practical terms but with the way we're governed it becomes impossible.
    "Could easily be done in practical terms" - really?

    On the assumption you're not advocating violence and on the assumption you can't get the French and others to play ball and on the third assumption an offshore facility in (fill in the blank) wouldn't be ready for months if not years, I'd genuinely welcome hearing a practical and coherent solution.
    What wrong with using violence to defend the integrity of our borders? Poland does it.
    Just so I'm clear - are you advocating the physical interdiction of migrant craft by, presumably, the Royal Navy or Border Patrol? Once intercepted, the migrants are taken back to French waters irrespective of location.

    Are you advocating something beyond even that? There's violence and there's something beyond violence.
    If you announce beforehand that from now on, boats will not be allowed to make the crossing and you will use all necessary means to prevent then, how long do you think it would be before they stop?
    But that would be a lie and everyone would know it. No UK government (even a Reform one) is going to take 'all means necessary ' if that means torpedoing boat loads of migrants or fighting the French navy to drop them back at Calais.
    It has to not be a lie. As for "no UK government" doing it, that's more evidence that we have a broken state that has forgotten what's its primary purpose is.
    Quite apart from anything else, I'm not sure the Navy would obey an order to open fire on unarmed civilians.
    In the middle of the Sunk Johnson Government (sorry), they were asked and rejected even "pushing back". They told Priti Patel to take a running jump.

    https://www.lbc.co.uk/hot-topics/migrant-crisis/channel-migrant-crossings-navy-rejects-push-back-plan/
    They should have been told to go fuck themselves. Since when has the Navy dictated what it wants to do?
    Since it was established that "only obeying orders" wasn't a valid defence?
    God help us when we need them to *actually* do anything, the useless shower.
    Yes they'll be totally unprepared for when we *actually* need them to intentionally drown civilians.
    A politicised paramilitary force to do the government's bidding - yes, there will be volunteers - is precisely where we'll end up one day if regular government departments refuse to enact the policies of the elected administration of the day.

    Let's hope it never comes to that.
    Ah another outing of the Leon 'If you don't collude in bad thing happening then really bad thing will happen' argument. Saying that the military needs to intentionally kill unarmed civilians otherwise a paramilitary group will do it for them isn't a very good policy proposal.
    Casino's standing back and standing by.
    On the boats are genuine asylum seekers, where, dumbly playing into the hands of the gangs, UK made it impossible to make asylum claim anywhere but on UK soil. Also in the boats are genuine 100% economic migrants. But also in the boats are people who aren’t either, not exactly fleeing persecution, but escape from where there just isn’t work and the whole way of life controlled by horrible gangs and militia.
    You can want tight immigration system, caps, rules, and cross at politicians who promise that but deliver million a year migration with rules easily ignored - but you can’t feel hatred for the people in the boats and wish harm on them.
    Too many people have lost their moral compass and embarrassing themselves.
  • DoubleCarpetDoubleCarpet Posts: 967
    Well unlike Trzaskowski (what a complete tool to do a victory speech on an exit poll result of 50.3% ! Dear oh dear) I won't claim a correct prediction yet, but I hope one or two people managed to hop onto the betting tip that I posted on Friday.

    I'm sure Sunil managed to sneak down to William Hill when his Mum wan't looking :wink:
  • BarnesianBarnesian Posts: 9,179
    HYUFD said:

    Barnesian said:

    ..

    No it isn't, Nawrocki had 49.7% in the exit poll.
    'While women voted for pro-European centrist Warsaw mayor Rafał Trzaskowski (54 to 46%), men sided with Karol Nawrocki by, erm, the same ratio.

    When you look at the education levels, Trzaskowski came first among those with a bachelor degree or higher (63% to 37%), but Nawrocki won among all other groups.

    And so on. In almost every single category, you have extremely polarising results.

    Higher level executives? Trzaskowski win 65% to 35%. Company owners? Trzaskowski again, by 57% to 43%.

    But farmers? 79% to 21% for Nawrocki. Employees? 68% to 32% for Nawrocki.

    Finally, in the buildup to the vote, there was a lot of chat about vote transfers from other candidates, particularly the libertarian far-right candidate Sławomir Mentzen who came third in the first round, with 13.47% of the both.'
    https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jun/01/polls-set-to-close-in-tight-presidential-race-in-poland-live
    Sounds like the Trump/Harris election unfortunately.
  • eekeek Posts: 30,213

    Zia Yusuf

    @ZiaYusufUK
    Reform’s UK DOGE has been formed.

    It’s a team of world class software engineers, data analysts and forensic auditors, working for free.

    They’ll identify and help eliminate wasteful spending

    They arrive at Kent Council tomorrow, and we respectfully make the following request:

    https://x.com/ZiaYusufUK/status/1929248578951618591

    Love to know who is going to pay them because it can't be Kent County Council - there would need to follow a procuement process that that group definitely wouldn't meet the criteria to enter a bid.
  • I wonder how the polling will look one year from now.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 66,127
    eek said:

    Zia Yusuf

    @ZiaYusufUK
    Reform’s UK DOGE has been formed.

    It’s a team of world class software engineers, data analysts and forensic auditors, working for free.

    They’ll identify and help eliminate wasteful spending

    They arrive at Kent Council tomorrow, and we respectfully make the following request:

    https://x.com/ZiaYusufUK/status/1929248578951618591

    Love to know who is going to pay them because it can't be Kent County Council - there would need to follow a procuement process that that group definitely wouldn't meet the criteria to enter a bid.
    They are doing it for free apparently as they are "patriots".

  • FlatlanderFlatlander Posts: 5,042
    https://ardupilot.org/
    https://ardupilot.org/planner/
    https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008007419041.html

    I assume this was discussed earlier but I don't have much time today to go through the threads.

    I built something very similar to today's amusements in 2013 but it lifted a big camera instead of a small bomb. The potential bad actor uses were entirely obvious.

    Today not many use such things for mapping because DJI is so cheap and easy but if you want to go rogue and run in "Failsafe" mode without a controller...then away you go.

    If the security services weren't quite having kittens earlier, they certainly are now.

    The technology is available to everyone for barely more than pennies.

    Have to admire the audacity to actually do it from inside Russia, though.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 66,127
    Loads of Russian bots on my X feed tonight.

  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 31,541

    MattW said:

    Stereodog said:

    Stereodog said:

    stodge said:

    stodge said:

    Eabhal said:

    Eabhal said:

    Ultimately neither Starmer or Hermer are going to do anything to recluse the ECHR or any other treaty as they are both human right lawyers who cannot imagine any challenge to the law, even though these laws are being questioned by many in Europe and not just on the right

    It would go against everything Starmer has been trained to believe but ultimately it will be his downfall if he does not stop the boats

    And I would just say to those arguing this is anti foreigner, it does not help your case as this is far from that but in most peoples eyes it is unfair and this is now even being expressed by Labour politicians who know they cannot make excuses anymore

    Starmer is exactly the kind of person who could sell a revised refugee convention to a domestic and international audience. Generous, robust and sensible.

    A bit like how the Conservatives did gay marriage.
    You may be right but that would take years and he doesn't have years to stop the boats

    And remarkably we are only a month away from Labour commencing their second year in office and owning their decisions
    I don't think stopping the boats is possible - or at least not within a 5 year period. A significant reduction? Maybe.

    But Labour can certainly make lots of cheap noise about it. Even a proposal would be valuable, particularly if they can challenge the French to sign up to it.
    And this is why people think the political system is broken. Stopping the boats could easily be done in practical terms but with the way we're governed it becomes impossible.
    "Could easily be done in practical terms" - really?

    On the assumption you're not advocating violence and on the assumption you can't get the French and others to play ball and on the third assumption an offshore facility in (fill in the blank) wouldn't be ready for months if not years, I'd genuinely welcome hearing a practical and coherent solution.
    What wrong with using violence to defend the integrity of our borders? Poland does it.
    Just so I'm clear - are you advocating the physical interdiction of migrant craft by, presumably, the Royal Navy or Border Patrol? Once intercepted, the migrants are taken back to French waters irrespective of location.

    Are you advocating something beyond even that? There's violence and there's something beyond violence.
    If you announce beforehand that from now on, boats will not be allowed to make the crossing and you will use all necessary means to prevent then, how long do you think it would be before they stop?
    But that would be a lie and everyone would know it. No UK government (even a Reform one) is going to take 'all means necessary ' if that means torpedoing boat loads of migrants or fighting the French navy to drop them back at Calais.
    It has to not be a lie. As for "no UK government" doing it, that's more evidence that we have a broken state that has forgotten what's its primary purpose is.
    Quite apart from anything else, I'm not sure the Navy would obey an order to open fire
    on unarmed civilians.
    In the middle of the Sunk Johnson Government (sorry), they were asked and rejected even "pushing back". They told Priti Patel to take a running jump.

    https://www.lbc.co.uk/hot-topics/migrant-crisis/channel-migrant-crossings-navy-rejects-push-back-plan/
    They should have been told to go fuck themselves. Since when has the Navy dictated what it wants to do?
    What a wonderful manager you would make
    I do make a wonderful manager - though I do ask for full stops at the end of sentences.
  • eekeek Posts: 30,213

    eek said:

    Zia Yusuf

    @ZiaYusufUK
    Reform’s UK DOGE has been formed.

    It’s a team of world class software engineers, data analysts and forensic auditors, working for free.

    They’ll identify and help eliminate wasteful spending

    They arrive at Kent Council tomorrow, and we respectfully make the following request:

    https://x.com/ZiaYusufUK/status/1929248578951618591

    Love to know who is going to pay them because it can't be Kent County Council - there would need to follow a procuement process that that group definitely wouldn't meet the criteria to enter a bid.
    They are doing it for free apparently as they are "patriots".

    In which case their advice is going to be biased and completely worthless...
  • Frank_BoothFrank_Booth Posts: 314
    eek said:

    eek said:

    Zia Yusuf

    @ZiaYusufUK
    Reform’s UK DOGE has been formed.

    It’s a team of world class software engineers, data analysts and forensic auditors, working for free.

    They’ll identify and help eliminate wasteful spending

    They arrive at Kent Council tomorrow, and we respectfully make the following request:

    https://x.com/ZiaYusufUK/status/1929248578951618591

    Love to know who is going to pay them because it can't be Kent County Council - there would need to follow a procuement process that that group definitely wouldn't meet the criteria to enter a bid.
    They are doing it for free apparently as they are "patriots".

    In which case their advice is going to be biased and completely worthless...
    Interesting. Why would it necessarily be biased? I mean patriotism could be a sign of putting emotional feelings above reality or it could just be people wanting to do the best for their country.
  • BarnesianBarnesian Posts: 9,179
    edited June 1
    Monkeys said:

    Barnesian said:

    Barnesian said:

    Sir Keir simply must stop the boats. I have every confidence he can.

    1) How?
    2) Why?
    I am surprised at how negative you are on this

    I did ask you earlier what is Ed Davey's position on this and it would be far more helpful if you would suggest solutions rather than prevarication

    How is multi facetted with some suggestions on here, but you ask why and to be honest maybe that shows your real attitude to the issue

    Why is simply answered by it is not acceptable to the vast majority of voters in this county including Labour and maybe even Lib Dem supporters
    I didn't see your comment earlier which is why I haven't answered. As I have said a few times, everyone wants the boat crossings to stop. We have a broadly positive view of migration because we know that our economy still relies on them.

    I have suggested solutions - we need to work internationally to manage asylum, we need legal and safe routes to apply for asylum, and we need to actually process claims so that people aren't left in limbo for years. And where we have people sat waiting on a decision and they have skills we need, why aren't we letting them work? We've had examples of Syrian doctors sat festering for extended periods unable to work at the exact same time as we have shortages of staff.

    But I am negative at the hopium / kill them all comments because they deserve to be negative.
    Thank you for your response but the way immigration is presently perceived, it has to be reduced further than the recently reduced figure under Sunak of 431,000 though I agree that migrants should be allowed to work once they have made an application

    However, we both know there are two immigration issues, legal and illegal, and the boats are a vivid example of illegal migration that is now in our media every day and is toxic for Starmer and labour

    Of course we shouldn't be distracted by extreme views of sinking the boats etc, as this will not happen even if Reform were in government

    Unfortunately, Starmer and Hermer are the wrong politicians at this time to resolve the issue, and I simply expect it to fester for a long time and not to labour's electoral advantage
    Pochdale Rioneers is just beginning to understand that his party isn't even at the races on this issue, or frankly on much else that's gone wrong with the country. Sir Ed thinks being more Centrist Dad than Labour and then jumping in a pond is going to get them anywhere - No, it's not.
    And yet we absolutely smashed it at the locals 😘
    Reform = 677 councillors won in 2025
    LDs = 370 councillors won in 2025
    Con lost 674 seats
    Lab lost 187 seats

    It's a two horse race!
    Reform control 10 of the councils contested this year
    LDs control only 3.
    Cons control none (lost control of 16!)
    Lab control none (lost control of 1)

    It's a two horse race between Reform and LD.
    I'm not contesting that Reform is currently ahead.
    But they've peaked too soon in a very long race.
    Isn't saying Reform have peaked copium of the highest order until there's some sign of a top?
    I should have said they are peaking too soon. I don't know when the peak will come but I believe it will be well before the next GE.

    I'm using the LD experience in early 2010, leading by 34%.
    And Change UK outpolling the LDs in early 2019.
    And the rapid change in T May's polls in 2017 as she called the GE and lost her majority.
    And the impact of Trump in coming months.
    These all inform my belief in a change in the Reform weather.
    But you may be right and it is wishful thinking.
    Time will tell.
    I'm quite humble after my Harris fiasco.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 31,541
    eek said:

    eek said:

    Zia Yusuf

    @ZiaYusufUK
    Reform’s UK DOGE has been formed.

    It’s a team of world class software engineers, data analysts and forensic auditors, working for free.

    They’ll identify and help eliminate wasteful spending

    They arrive at Kent Council tomorrow, and we respectfully make the following request:

    https://x.com/ZiaYusufUK/status/1929248578951618591

    Love to know who is going to pay them because it can't be Kent County Council - there would need to follow a procuement process that that group definitely wouldn't meet the criteria to enter a bid.
    They are doing it for free apparently as they are "patriots".

    In which case their advice is going to be biased and completely worthless...
    This sneering session with no actual material to sneer about is most unbecoming.
  • BarnesianBarnesian Posts: 9,179

    Loads of Russian bots on my X feed tonight.

    They are out in force. I wonder what stirred them up?
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 66,127
    eek said:

    eek said:

    Zia Yusuf

    @ZiaYusufUK
    Reform’s UK DOGE has been formed.

    It’s a team of world class software engineers, data analysts and forensic auditors, working for free.

    They’ll identify and help eliminate wasteful spending

    They arrive at Kent Council tomorrow, and we respectfully make the following request:

    https://x.com/ZiaYusufUK/status/1929248578951618591

    Love to know who is going to pay them because it can't be Kent County Council - there would need to follow a procuement process that that group definitely wouldn't meet the criteria to enter a bid.
    They are doing it for free apparently as they are "patriots".

    In which case their advice is going to be biased and completely worthless...
    So, just like the original DOGE which they claim needs to be copied and applied to our county councils.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 38,703
    @sgfmann.bsky.social‬

    The Sun: Liz Truss flogging whiskey for ex-con in Scunthorpe

    https://bsky.app/profile/sgfmann.bsky.social/post/3lql6sgnoc224
  • CatManCatMan Posts: 3,281
    isam said:

    Imane Khelif’s sex test results are published for the first time, with medical report appearing to indicate the boxer is biologically male.

    Credit to @alanabrahamson. Puts significant pressure on IOC to explain why it regards the tests as ‘not legitimate’


    https://x.com/oliverbrown_tel/status/1929245121561706985?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

    Whatever Imane Khelif's gender, she was raised as a woman, because that's what she looks like. She deserves sympathy, not to be made part of a culture war.
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 6,218
    CatMan said:

    isam said:

    Imane Khelif’s sex test results are published for the first time, with medical report appearing to indicate the boxer is biologically male.

    Credit to @alanabrahamson. Puts significant pressure on IOC to explain why it regards the tests as ‘not legitimate’


    https://x.com/oliverbrown_tel/status/1929245121561706985?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

    Whatever Imane Khelif's gender, she was raised as a woman, because that's what she looks like. She deserves sympathy, not to be made part of a culture war.


    I look more feminine than this.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 27,613

    Zia Yusuf

    @ZiaYusufUK
    Reform’s UK DOGE has been formed.

    It’s a team of world class software engineers, data analysts and forensic auditors, working for free.

    They’ll identify and help eliminate wasteful spending

    They arrive at Kent Council tomorrow, and we respectfully make the following request:

    https://x.com/ZiaYusufUK/status/1929248578951618591

    Wouldn't these people need to have legal contracts for any transactions they have with Kent CC ?

    There are all sort of professional duty of care issues involved.
    Yes. Also VB checks, which I think are needed for each organisation - maybe dependent on contractual arrangements.

    If they try to do it all illegally, Trump-Musk style, that will be huge collateral damage for Reform.

    But I think they know that.
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 18,843
    Pro_Rata said:

    Zia Yusuf

    @ZiaYusufUK
    Reform’s UK DOGE has been formed.

    It’s a team of world class software engineers, data analysts and forensic auditors, working for free.

    They’ll identify and help eliminate wasteful spending

    They arrive at Kent Council tomorrow, and we respectfully make the following request:

    https://x.com/ZiaYusufUK/status/1929248578951618591

    The letter tries to suggest it will be done professionally, but the fact it is issued from the national leadership of Reform means it will have to be backed up by communication from those within the council leadership, as the national party don't have authority over a council run by their local party.
    One of the mysteries of Reform. Is it trying to grow into a political party, with multiple capable people having independent ideas, or is it still Farage + franchisees?

    If the leadership of Kent County Council wish to do this, best of luck to them. There are various commercial and personnel confidentiality things that really ought to be sorted first, but best of luck to them in finding savings.

    But it has not much to do with Farage (an MP in Essex), yet alone Yusuf (an unelected rich bloke who seems to have the hots for Elon Musk).

    Stunts like this letter point towards Farage still being a gadfly, not a PM in waiting.
  • CatManCatMan Posts: 3,281
    carnforth said:

    CatMan said:

    isam said:

    Imane Khelif’s sex test results are published for the first time, with medical report appearing to indicate the boxer is biologically male.

    Credit to @alanabrahamson. Puts significant pressure on IOC to explain why it regards the tests as ‘not legitimate’


    https://x.com/oliverbrown_tel/status/1929245121561706985?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

    Whatever Imane Khelif's gender, she was raised as a woman, because that's what she looks like. She deserves sympathy, not to be made part of a culture war.


    I look more feminine than this.
    She was born and raised in Algeria. Why would her parents engage in a conspiracy where they would pretend that she wasn't born a man, but actually a woman in a society where the major belief system is Islam, which I think I'm right in saying is considered by a lot of people of favouring Men over Women?
  • eekeek Posts: 30,213
    MattW said:

    Zia Yusuf

    @ZiaYusufUK
    Reform’s UK DOGE has been formed.

    It’s a team of world class software engineers, data analysts and forensic auditors, working for free.

    They’ll identify and help eliminate wasteful spending

    They arrive at Kent Council tomorrow, and we respectfully make the following request:

    https://x.com/ZiaYusufUK/status/1929248578951618591

    Wouldn't these people need to have legal contracts for any transactions they have with Kent CC ?

    There are all sort of professional duty of care issues involved.
    Yes. Also VB checks, which I think are needed for each organisation - maybe dependent on contractual arrangements.

    If they try to do it all illegally, Trump-Musk style, that will be huge collateral damage for Reform.

    But I think they know that.
    They already seemed to have issued a threat to senior membership of allow us to do this or we will fire you.

    I wonder if any of the senior management are approaching retirement and would like a nice payoff or an easily won employment tribunal with a large payoff...
  • ohnotnowohnotnow Posts: 4,858

    Loads of Russian bots on my X feed tonight.

    Thank goodness none of them are here.

    👀
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 18,843
    MattW said:

    Zia Yusuf

    @ZiaYusufUK
    Reform’s UK DOGE has been formed.

    It’s a team of world class software engineers, data analysts and forensic auditors, working for free.

    They’ll identify and help eliminate wasteful spending

    They arrive at Kent Council tomorrow, and we respectfully make the following request:

    https://x.com/ZiaYusufUK/status/1929248578951618591

    Wouldn't these people need to have legal contracts for any transactions they have with Kent CC ?

    There are all sort of professional duty of care issues involved.
    Yes. Also VB checks, which I think are needed for each organisation - maybe dependent on contractual arrangements.

    If they try to do it all illegally, Trump-Musk style, that will be huge collateral damage for Reform.

    But I think they know that.
    "We only wanted to save the hard-pressed taxpayers of Kent some money, but THEY are stopping us."

    A stunt as old as time.
  • ohnotnowohnotnow Posts: 4,858
    carnforth said:

    CatMan said:

    isam said:

    Imane Khelif’s sex test results are published for the first time, with medical report appearing to indicate the boxer is biologically male.

    Credit to @alanabrahamson. Puts significant pressure on IOC to explain why it regards the tests as ‘not legitimate’


    https://x.com/oliverbrown_tel/status/1929245121561706985?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

    Whatever Imane Khelif's gender, she was raised as a woman, because that's what she looks like. She deserves sympathy, not to be made part of a culture war.


    I look more feminine than this.
    Are you single? Asking for a friend.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 43,794
    CatMan said:

    isam said:

    Imane Khelif’s sex test results are published for the first time, with medical report appearing to indicate the boxer is biologically male.

    Credit to @alanabrahamson. Puts significant pressure on IOC to explain why it regards the tests as ‘not legitimate’


    https://x.com/oliverbrown_tel/status/1929245121561706985?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

    Whatever Imane Khelif's gender, she was raised as a woman, because that's what she looks like. She deserves sympathy, not to be made part of a culture war.
    The nine women who won their bouts against Khelif must feel pretty stoked.
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 6,218
    CatMan said:

    carnforth said:

    CatMan said:

    isam said:

    Imane Khelif’s sex test results are published for the first time, with medical report appearing to indicate the boxer is biologically male.

    Credit to @alanabrahamson. Puts significant pressure on IOC to explain why it regards the tests as ‘not legitimate’


    https://x.com/oliverbrown_tel/status/1929245121561706985?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

    Whatever Imane Khelif's gender, she was raised as a woman, because that's what she looks like. She deserves sympathy, not to be made part of a culture war.


    I look more feminine than this.
    She was born and raised in Algeria. Why would her parents engage in a conspiracy where they would pretend that she wasn't born a man, but actually a woman in a society where the major belief system is Islam, which I think I'm right in saying is considered by a lot of people of favouring Men over Women?
    I cannot say; I am not Algerian. Perhaps they were told Imane could never father a child? Who knows?
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 51,628
    edited June 1
    carnforth said:

    Leon said:

    ohnotnow said:

    Leon said:

    FF43 said:

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    Didn’t expect Luxembourg to be this… agreeable

    I’m putting it on my list of potential holiday places. You’re the second recommendation this week!
    It’s not mind blowing but it is rather pleasant and tranquil and makes an unusual change. The people are a nice mix of German calm and efficiency but with some more charm and humour but without French hauteur

    I guess being insanely rich adds to national gaiety

    Also it’s NOT expensive as far as I can see. They may have gdp per capita way higher than Switzerland but bars and restaurants are about French prices
    We are off tomorrow for a week in Germany (Bad Kreuznach), Switzerland (Leysin) and France (Epernay). Any hints and tips welcome. How much more expensive is Switzerland than Germany and France?
    Switzerland is v expensive but there are ways you can save money. If you do more than minimal travel invest in one of the passes. Also cafeterias in supermarkets and station buffets etc can do very acceptable dish of the day plus salad. Used to be about 15F, probably hasn't changed much. Thing about Switzerland, basic standards are high. You don't need to go upscale.
    I agree. In my experience Switzerland is all the same standard food wise

    Unless you’re actually going Michelin 3 star it will all be ok to quite pleasant but unexceptional, so there’s
    zero point in paying for posh

    What is worth paying for is a view. Eating besides glittering lake Lucerne or Lugano is wonderful. But you might as well eat a burger as you gaze

    Another way around insane Swiss prices is supermarkets. They are very good and full of great cheese and bread and charcuterie. You can’t move for brilliant picnic spots in Switzerland so why not stock up on picnic stuff and a bottle of wine and head for the hills over looking a sunlit waterfall that tumbles to an alpine lake

    THAT is bliss and will cost you a quarter what you’d pay in a restaurant. And you won’t ever forget it
    Last time I was in Geneva I had a 'Hello Kitty' rucksack with me (no - don't ask). The waitress in the Japanese restaurant near my hotel was very excited by it and arranged a massive discount on my bill.

    Almost made up for being in Geneva.
    lol

    The only good thing about Geneva is CERN. Which is genuinely amazing

    The rest is meh, and scrotum-tighteningly expensive meh

    Tbf to Switzerland it soon improves as you move away from the city
    Did the train from Geneva Airport to Geneva (free ride, at least it was back in 2014), and also the train from Geneva to Lausanne and on to Montreux.

    In 2009 and 2010, I did back to back rail trips from Zurich Airport to Zurich and on to Chur in the east of the country.
    Have booked the Bernina and Glacier expresses for this summer. On adjacent days, which isn't ideal, but Chur didn't look worth a two-night layover.
    Here’s a photo taken along the route of the Bernina, just a few days over a year ago

  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 6,218
    IanB2 said:

    carnforth said:

    Leon said:

    ohnotnow said:

    Leon said:

    FF43 said:

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    Didn’t expect Luxembourg to be this… agreeable

    I’m putting it on my list of potential holiday places. You’re the second recommendation this week!
    It’s not mind blowing but it is rather pleasant and tranquil and makes an unusual change. The people are a nice mix of German calm and efficiency but with some more charm and humour but without French hauteur

    I guess being insanely rich adds to national gaiety

    Also it’s NOT expensive as far as I can see. They may have gdp per capita way higher than Switzerland but bars and restaurants are about French prices
    We are off tomorrow for a week in Germany (Bad Kreuznach), Switzerland (Leysin) and France (Epernay). Any hints and tips welcome. How much more expensive is Switzerland than Germany and France?
    Switzerland is v expensive but there are ways you can save money. If you do more than minimal travel invest in one of the passes. Also cafeterias in supermarkets and station buffets etc can do very acceptable dish of the day plus salad. Used to be about 15F, probably hasn't changed much. Thing about Switzerland, basic standards are high. You don't need to go upscale.
    I agree. In my experience Switzerland is all the same standard food wise

    Unless you’re actually going Michelin 3 star it will all be ok to quite pleasant but unexceptional, so there’s
    zero point in paying for posh

    What is worth paying for is a view. Eating besides glittering lake Lucerne or Lugano is wonderful. But you might as well eat a burger as you gaze

    Another way around insane Swiss prices is supermarkets. They are very good and full of great cheese and bread and charcuterie. You can’t move for brilliant picnic spots in Switzerland so why not stock up on picnic stuff and a bottle of wine and head for the hills over looking a sunlit waterfall that tumbles to an alpine lake

    THAT is bliss and will cost you a quarter what you’d pay in a restaurant. And you won’t ever forget it
    Last time I was in Geneva I had a 'Hello Kitty' rucksack with me (no - don't ask). The waitress in the Japanese restaurant near my hotel was very excited by it and arranged a massive discount on my bill.

    Almost made up for being in Geneva.
    lol

    The only good thing about Geneva is CERN. Which is genuinely amazing

    The rest is meh, and scrotum-tighteningly expensive meh

    Tbf to Switzerland it soon improves as you move away from the city
    Did the train from Geneva Airport to Geneva (free ride, at least it was back in 2014), and also the train from Geneva to Lausanne and on to Montreux.

    In 2009 and 2010, I did back to back rail trips from Zurich Airport to Zurich and on to Chur in the east of the country.
    Have booked the Bernina and Glacier expresses for this summer. On adjacent days, which isn't ideal, but Chur didn't look worth a two-night layover.
    Here’s a photo taken along the route of the Bernina, almost a year ago

    Lovely! Apparently they should be done twice in a lifetime: once in Summer and once in Winter. Winter at least will be cheaper for Hotels, at least in non-Ski parts of the country.
  • eekeek Posts: 30,213
    Going back to Reform's DOGE

    The review will look at contractual arrangements with suppliers and consultants, all capital expenditure, any off-book or contingent liabilities, the use of reserves and financial resilience, and any problems flagged by internal or external auditors in the last three years.

    So it's going to try to access commercially sensitive data and then open a whole can of worms which will likely reveal that the council management is performing miracles keeping things going.

    I suspect Reform are going to be spending next year trying to explain why council tax is going up 10%...
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 6,218
    edited June 1
    "FBI says it is investigating 'targeted terror attack' in Colorado, US, after reports people injured"

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cjdx44kx5zxt

    BBC has a live page, so presumably serious.
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 6,218
    eek said:

    Going back to Reform's DOGE

    The review will look at contractual arrangements with suppliers and consultants, all capital expenditure, any off-book or contingent liabilities, the use of reserves and financial resilience, and any problems flagged by internal or external auditors in the last three years.

    So it's going to try to access commercially sensitive data and then open a whole can of worms which will likely reveal that the council management is performing miracles keeping things going.

    I suspect Reform are going to be spending next year trying to explain why council tax is going up 10%...

    I would imagine it's bull in a china shop nonsense.

    Having said that, if councils are spending 90% of their money on mandatory programs, even 1% saved gives 10%-ish increase in spending on the non-mandatory stuff.
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 6,218
    edited June 1
    carnforth said:

    "FBI says it is investigating 'targeted terror attack' in Colorado, US, after reports people injured"

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cjdx44kx5zxt

    BBC has a live page, so presumably serious.

    Suspect was "setting people on fire". Pro-Israel march was happening at the time.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 55,549
    carnforth said:

    "FBI says it is investigating 'targeted terror attack' in Colorado, US, after reports people injured"

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cjdx44kx5zxt

    BBC has a live page, so presumably serious.

    https://x.com/afpost/status/1929299898131734992

    A man hurled Molotov cocktails at a pro-Israel hostage protest in Boulder, Colorado, setting multiple people on fire in what the FBI is calling a targeted terror attack.
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