If “DOGE UK” finds significant amounts of legitimate waste I will be impressed. However I think it’s much more likely that it’s all performative and any “cuts” made will either cost councils more in the long run or cause services to further degrade.
So far they have uncovered the scandal of councils tendering collectively to save money, and Kent County Council outsourcing recruitment to a business owned by Kent County Council...
Top guys. Top, top guys. Working for free you know
And not stopping to check what they are talking about.
Now were I in Kent I would be asking my Reform councillor when I will see my share of that £375million saving - which given Kent has ~700,000 homes says I should be seeing £500 a year off my council tax bill.
Indeed. Or what local services will you be upgrading or providing with the savings? The Tories ended up deeply hated Labour are becoming despised Reform aren't ready for the absolute visceral reaction their inevitable failure will bring.
I'm happy to bet a shiny sixpence that, whatever goes wrong in Kent, Nigel will come out of it smelling of roses.
The councillors will get chucked in the pool full of genetically engineered piranhas, and Zia Yusuf might follow them, but who cares about them?
I don't think so. He's one zeitgeist shift from being seen as the racist wrecker many of us already see him as. The pendulum is going to move
Farage is the personification of every moderately successful fash-lite party since 1990.
These results do not pass the sniff test. How have they got Starmer so far ahead?
It's relative and Farage is poison to a large majority of voters. A group to which everyone I know belongs.
You need to get out more then
I utterly reject Farage but I am aware of people who are very much on board with him
There's a chap with whom I occasionally drink who seems to think he's the bees knees but otherwise others whom I discuss politics prod him metaphorically with a sharp stick. And we're not that far from Clacton!
Frinton are voting in a by election today, we can see what some of the good burghers of Clacton constituency think of him!
Once upon a time at least the 'good burghers' of Frinton would have regarded Farage with horror as a jumped up oik who certainly wasn't a 'gentleman'. Even though he went to a public school.
Frinton I think will be more Conservative than Clacton proper but I think the Reform tidal wave takes it. Tories took it in 2023 with 42% from an indy on 31%. Their only hope is if the indy voters (not standing this time) were all Tories who prefer to come home than go reform. Of course if they did hold on they'll be shoving it down Farages throat all summer
I must admit that, while I haven't been to Frinton for some years, it wasn't then, and by report isn't now, what it was. They've actually got a pub there now and I believe there was a report of a fight in it!
Shocking! Frinton was always a funny little corner of England
Apparently, as I discovered when refreshing my memory, it was the last place in England to be attacked by the Luftwaffe.
You can understand why they might be a bit less forgiving and a bit more Breixty than most then!
No-one who is alive in Frinton now would have been there in 1944.
E gates bullshit has been quietly dropped. At least we can still maybe one day get turned down for a small percentage of defence contracts *fingers crossed*
The fact the PB Centrist dads all admire the writing of..... Adrian Chiles.... is just DELICIOUSLY perfect
You complain at Chiles and his writing through the prism of bigging up that Sean guy. But that Sean guy writes from the perspective of a show off, a popinjay if you like, Chiles on the other hand is reliably self deprecating. I like that in a writer.
There's something quite un-British about a lot of the writing on the new Right, IMHO. A general tone of hysteria and paranoia, a tendency towards self-agrandisement rather than self-deprecation, an absence of humour or irony. Perhaps because a lot of the cultural DNA is American, where the paranoid style is dominant. Plus, the Right seems to have lost its self confidence, increasingly writing from a position of impotent rage rather than its traditional sense of entitlement.
E gates bullshit has been quietly dropped. At least we can still maybe one day get turned down for a small percentage of defence contracts *fingers crossed*
I remember the days when flashing a mauve passport had more cache than waving an AMEX Gold Card.
E gates bullshit has been quietly dropped. At least we can still maybe one day get turned down for a small percentage of defence contracts *fingers crossed*
I remember the days when flashing a mauve passport had more cache than waving an AMEX Gold Card.
The fact the PB Centrist dads all admire the writing of..... Adrian Chiles.... is just DELICIOUSLY perfect
You complain at Chiles and his writing through the prism of bigging up that Sean guy. But that Sean guy writes from the perspective of a show off, a popinjay if you like, Chiles on the other hand is reliably self deprecating. I like that in a writer.
There's something quite un-British about a lot of the writing on the new Right, IMHO. A general tone of hysteria and paranoia, a tendency towards self-agrandisement rather than self-deprecation, an absence of humour or irony. Perhaps because a lot of the cultural DNA is American, where the paranoid style is dominant. Plus, the Right seems to have lost its self confidence, increasingly writing from a position of impotent rage rather than its traditional sense of entitlement.
Toby Young is the same. Every angry paragraph confirms the belief that he may be an unpleasant knob.
These results do not pass the sniff test. How have they got Starmer so far ahead?
It's relative and Farage is poison to a large majority of voters. A group to which everyone I know belongs.
You need to get out more then
I utterly reject Farage but I am aware of people who are very much on board with him
There's a chap with whom I occasionally drink who seems to think he's the bees knees but otherwise others whom I discuss politics prod him metaphorically with a sharp stick. And we're not that far from Clacton!
Frinton are voting in a by election today, we can see what some of the good burghers of Clacton constituency think of him!
Once upon a time at least the 'good burghers' of Frinton would have regarded Farage with horror as a jumped up oik who certainly wasn't a 'gentleman'. Even though he went to a public school.
Frinton I think will be more Conservative than Clacton proper but I think the Reform tidal wave takes it. Tories took it in 2023 with 42% from an indy on 31%. Their only hope is if the indy voters (not standing this time) were all Tories who prefer to come home than go reform. Of course if they did hold on they'll be shoving it down Farages throat all summer
I must admit that, while I haven't been to Frinton for some years, it wasn't then, and by report isn't now, what it was. They've actually got a pub there now and I believe there was a report of a fight in it!
Shocking! Frinton was always a funny little corner of England
Apparently, as I discovered when refreshing my memory, it was the last place in England to be attacked by the Luftwaffe.
You can understand why they might be a bit less forgiving and a bit more Breixty than most then!
No-one who is alive in Frinton now would have been there in 1944.
Are you suggesting everyone over 81 is dead??? That kinda goes against the grain of expectation....
These results do not pass the sniff test. How have they got Starmer so far ahead?
It's relative and Farage is poison to a large majority of voters. A group to which everyone I know belongs.
You need to get out more then
I utterly reject Farage but I am aware of people who are very much on board with him
There's a chap with whom I occasionally drink who seems to think he's the bees knees but otherwise others whom I discuss politics prod him metaphorically with a sharp stick. And we're not that far from Clacton!
Frinton are voting in a by election today, we can see what some of the good burghers of Clacton constituency think of him!
Once upon a time at least the 'good burghers' of Frinton would have regarded Farage with horror as a jumped up oik who certainly wasn't a 'gentleman'. Even though he went to a public school.
Frinton I think will be more Conservative than Clacton proper but I think the Reform tidal wave takes it. Tories took it in 2023 with 42% from an indy on 31%. Their only hope is if the indy voters (not standing this time) were all Tories who prefer to come home than go reform. Of course if they did hold on they'll be shoving it down Farages throat all summer
I must admit that, while I haven't been to Frinton for some years, it wasn't then, and by report isn't now, what it was. They've actually got a pub there now and I believe there was a report of a fight in it!
Shocking! Frinton was always a funny little corner of England
Apparently, as I discovered when refreshing my memory, it was the last place in England to be attacked by the Luftwaffe.
You can understand why they might be a bit less forgiving and a bit more Breixty than most then!
No-one who is alive in Frinton now would have been there in 1944.
Are you suggesting everyone over 81 is dead??? That kinda goes against the grain of expectation....
Sitting here in Lanarkshire chatting to my team about the byelection. I think the 5/1 on Reform is not a bad bet. There is a mood change which has led to SNP voters going underground and Reform being very visible. The Labour candidate is not up to the job and will lose many votes. SNP closing the neo natal unit at Wishaw is a local event that will upset some. This is possibly the most winnable seat for Reform in the whole of Scotland. Larkhall is core bear territory and they hate Humza who is still around destroying the SNP vote every time he talks. No student or immigrant vote to speak of. The Reform candidate a decent guy and Orange Order. Lots of publicity on the by election will help Reform as non voters more likely to support them.
The other bet is SNP getting less than 30% which again is quite possible even if they win the seat. Feel it will be close.
Thanks for the insight - but I can't see how a Labour collapse + Orange Order candidate can outweigh SNP unpopularity.
A very close result or even a Reform win will really sharpen minds in Scotland. It's a disaster for Labour either way, and I think PBers should consider how many of those 37 Westminster seats Labour will retain - I'd guess less than 10 at the moment.
I suspect Nats would rather Labour win than Reform if the SNP don't, the last thing they want is Farage gaining popularity in Scotland as well as England, they want to keep him as the monster from England threatening Scotland
The fact the PB Centrist dads all admire the writing of..... Adrian Chiles.... is just DELICIOUSLY perfect
You complain at Chiles and his writing through the prism of bigging up that Sean guy. But that Sean guy writes from the perspective of a show off, a popinjay if you like, Chiles on the other hand is reliably self deprecating. I like that in a writer.
No. It’s because you’re stupid
Chiles is a writer for stupid people. He writes inane drivel about everyday bollocks but wraps it up in a cosy middle aged centrist dad tone that consoles the confused. Like you
Trump: Putin actually said to me, ‘If you don’t mind, friend, I hate to see you as my enemy.’ He said it very strongly. I had a very good relationship with Putin. I had a very good relationship with President Xi. A very good relationship with Kim Jong Un https://x.com/highbrow_nobrow/status/1930377901683122513
Had a very good relationship with Xi, his big tariffs on Chinese imports ended that
Sitting here in Lanarkshire chatting to my team about the byelection. I think the 5/1 on Reform is not a bad bet. There is a mood change which has led to SNP voters going underground and Reform being very visible. The Labour candidate is not up to the job and will lose many votes. SNP closing the neo natal unit at Wishaw is a local event that will upset some. This is possibly the most winnable seat for Reform in the whole of Scotland. Larkhall is core bear territory and they hate Humza who is still around destroying the SNP vote every time he talks. No student or immigrant vote to speak of. The Reform candidate a decent guy and Orange Order. Lots of publicity on the by election will help Reform as non voters more likely to support them.
The other bet is SNP getting less than 30% which again is quite possible even if they win the seat. Feel it will be close.
Trump: Putin actually said to me, ‘If you don’t mind, friend, I hate to see you as my enemy.’ He said it very strongly. I had a very good relationship with Putin. I had a very good relationship with President Xi. A very good relationship with Kim Jong Un https://x.com/highbrow_nobrow/status/1930377901683122513
Had a very good relationship with Xi, his big tariffs on Chinese imports ended that
Not according to Trump. Yesterday, for example: "..I like President Xi of China, always have, and always will.."
The fact the PB Centrist dads all admire the writing of..... Adrian Chiles.... is just DELICIOUSLY perfect
You complain at Chiles and his writing through the prism of bigging up that Sean guy. But that Sean guy writes from the perspective of a show off, a popinjay if you like, Chiles on the other hand is reliably self deprecating. I like that in a writer.
No. It’s because you’re stupid
Chiles is a writer for stupid people. He writes inane drivel about everyday bollocks but wraps it up in a cosy middle aged centrist dad tone that consoles the confused. Like you
It’s radio 4 “comedy” turned into journalism
'Sir, there is no settling the point of precedence between a louse and a flea."
This is a risky strategy from Kemi. She won the leadership after all with the backing of the One Nation Sunakite Cameroon wing of the party in the final round to keep out Jenrick, who wanted to leave the ECHR (something Osborne for example backed Kemi on as she refused to commit to that). The One Nation wing really wanted Cleverly to be leader though.
If the review recommends leaving the ECHR and Kemi adopts that the One Nation wing of the party will swiftly abandon her and she likely would lose a VONC by the end of next year unless a drastic surge in Tory poll ratings and gains in the local elections next year. One Nation Tory MPs would then try and crown Cleverly or Stride themselves without involving members to ensure Jenrick is kept out of the leadership before the next general election
Sitting here in Lanarkshire chatting to my team about the byelection. I think the 5/1 on Reform is not a bad bet. There is a mood change which has led to SNP voters going underground and Reform being very visible. The Labour candidate is not up to the job and will lose many votes. SNP closing the neo natal unit at Wishaw is a local event that will upset some. This is possibly the most winnable seat for Reform in the whole of Scotland. Larkhall is core bear territory and they hate Humza who is still around destroying the SNP vote every time he talks. No student or immigrant vote to speak of. The Reform candidate a decent guy and Orange Order. Lots of publicity on the by election will help Reform as non voters more likely to support them.
The other bet is SNP getting less than 30% which again is quite possible even if they win the seat. Feel it will be close.
Is it okay to ask you which team you're on?
Move between Scottish Lib Dem and Scottish Tories. My Dad was Lib Dem councillor but have supported Tories before Boris came in. Politically homeless I would say now.
This is a risky strategy from Kemi. She won the leadership after all with the backing of the One Nation Sunakite Cameroon wing of the party in the final round to keep out Jenrick, who wanted to leave the ECHR (something Osborne for example backed Kemi on as she refused to commit to that). The One Nation wing really wanted Cleverly to be leader though.
If the review recommends leaving the ECHR and Kemi adopts that the One Nation wing of the party will swiftly abandon her and she likely would lose a VONC by the end of next year unless a drastic surge in Tory poll ratings and gains in the local elections next year. One Nation Tory MPs would then try and crown Cleverly or Stride themselves without involving members to ensure Jenrick is kept out of the leadership before the next general election
To many former Tories, that's all a bit 'my ex wife is launching a review into whether my new shirt suits me'
Sitting here in Lanarkshire chatting to my team about the byelection. I think the 5/1 on Reform is not a bad bet. There is a mood change which has led to SNP voters going underground and Reform being very visible. The Labour candidate is not up to the job and will lose many votes. SNP closing the neo natal unit at Wishaw is a local event that will upset some. This is possibly the most winnable seat for Reform in the whole of Scotland. Larkhall is core bear territory and they hate Humza who is still around destroying the SNP vote every time he talks. No student or immigrant vote to speak of. The Reform candidate a decent guy and Orange Order. Lots of publicity on the by election will help Reform as non voters more likely to support them.
The other bet is SNP getting less than 30% which again is quite possible even if they win the seat. Feel it will be close.
Is it okay to ask you which team you're on?
Move between Scottish Lib Dem and Scottish Tories. My Dad was Lib Dem councillor but have supported Tories before Boris came in. Politically homeless I would say now.
Thanks for the reply. I must have misunderstood when you said "chatting to my team", I thought you meant chatting to an election campaign team. Maybe it's a Scottish expression I'm not familiar with.
The fact the PB Centrist dads all admire the writing of..... Adrian Chiles.... is just DELICIOUSLY perfect
Perhaps they are comparing his writing to yours? I've read both and though not a fan of either his are more original.
I disagree. Sean Thomas in the Spectator is another writer with a regular column who has interesting things to say, in my view.
Sean Thomas? I read a paragraph and a sign comes up asking for money. I can't think of anything I'm less likely to subscribe to than 'The Spectator'.
I was judging by one book and half a million posts on here. Too lacking in wit and insight for my taste. I try to encourage copywriter friends to come on here who invariably have both but few are interested in politics
Some of the articles in the Spectator are free to read, and you shouldn't judge on how people comment on here.
The test to me is whether a regular columnist can churn out an article a week with an interesting angle each time. Adrian Chiles and Sean Thomas can usually do this; most can't. Actually the two columnists are quite similar but I guess at least one of them wouldn't thank me for the comparison.
Trump: Putin actually said to me, ‘If you don’t mind, friend, I hate to see you as my enemy.’ He said it very strongly. I had a very good relationship with Putin. I had a very good relationship with President Xi. A very good relationship with Kim Jong Un https://x.com/highbrow_nobrow/status/1930377901683122513
Had a very good relationship with Xi, his big tariffs on Chinese imports ended that
Not according to Trump. Yesterday, for example: "..I like President Xi of China, always have, and always will.."
'The call comes as tensions between China and the United States have ratcheted up again nearly a month after the two sides met in Geneva and agreed to a pause in the trade war.
The fact the PB Centrist dads all admire the writing of..... Adrian Chiles.... is just DELICIOUSLY perfect
You complain at Chiles and his writing through the prism of bigging up that Sean guy. But that Sean guy writes from the perspective of a show off, a popinjay if you like, Chiles on the other hand is reliably self deprecating. I like that in a writer.
No. It’s because you’re stupid
Chiles is a writer for stupid people. He writes inane drivel about everyday bollocks but wraps it up in a cosy middle aged centrist dad tone that consoles the confused. Like you
It’s radio 4 “comedy” turned into journalism
Isn't there something somewhere about 'the daily round, the common task furnishing all we need to ask'?
These results do not pass the sniff test. How have they got Starmer so far ahead?
It's relative and Farage is poison to a large majority of voters. A group to which everyone I know belongs.
You need to get out more then
I utterly reject Farage but I am aware of people who are very much on board with him
There's a chap with whom I occasionally drink who seems to think he's the bees knees but otherwise others whom I discuss politics prod him metaphorically with a sharp stick. And we're not that far from Clacton!
Frinton are voting in a by election today, we can see what some of the good burghers of Clacton constituency think of him!
Once upon a time at least the 'good burghers' of Frinton would have regarded Farage with horror as a jumped up oik who certainly wasn't a 'gentleman'. Even though he went to a public school.
Frinton I think will be more Conservative than Clacton proper but I think the Reform tidal wave takes it. Tories took it in 2023 with 42% from an indy on 31%. Their only hope is if the indy voters (not standing this time) were all Tories who prefer to come home than go reform. Of course if they did hold on they'll be shoving it down Farages throat all summer
I must admit that, while I haven't been to Frinton for some years, it wasn't then, and by report isn't now, what it was. They've actually got a pub there now and I believe there was a report of a fight in it!
Shocking! Frinton was always a funny little corner of England
Apparently, as I discovered when refreshing my memory, it was the last place in England to be attacked by the Luftwaffe.
You can understand why they might be a bit less forgiving and a bit more Breixty than most then!
No-one who is alive in Frinton now would have been there in 1944.
Are you suggesting everyone over 81 is dead??? That kinda goes against the grain of expectation....
I have noticed it is the place to get a great deal on a secondhand mobility scooter.
The fact the PB Centrist dads all admire the writing of..... Adrian Chiles.... is just DELICIOUSLY perfect
Perhaps they are comparing his writing to yours? I've read both and though not a fan of either his are more original.
I disagree. Sean Thomas in the Spectator is another writer with a regular column who has interesting things to say, in my view.
Sean Thomas? I read a paragraph and a sign comes up asking for money. I can't think of anything I'm less likely to subscribe to than 'The Spectator'.
I was judging by one book and half a million posts on here. Too lacking in wit and insight for my taste. I try to encourage copywriter friends to come on here who invariably have both but few are interested in politics
Some of the articles in the Spectator are free to read, and you shouldn't judge on how people comment on here.
The test to me is whether a regular columnist can churn out an article a week with an interesting angle each time. Adrian Chiles and Sean Thomas can usually do this; most can't. Actually the two columnists are quite similar but I guess at least one of them wouldn't thank me for the comparison.
Chiles would be outraged although I doubt he has even heard of Thomas.
Trump: Putin actually said to me, ‘If you don’t mind, friend, I hate to see you as my enemy.’ He said it very strongly. I had a very good relationship with Putin. I had a very good relationship with President Xi. A very good relationship with Kim Jong Un https://x.com/highbrow_nobrow/status/1930377901683122513
Had a very good relationship with Xi, his big tariffs on Chinese imports ended that
Not according to Trump. Yesterday, for example: "..I like President Xi of China, always have, and always will.."
'The call comes as tensions between China and the United States have ratcheted up again nearly a month after the two sides met in Geneva and agreed to a pause in the trade war.
US House Speaker Mike Johnson and @ElonMusk to talk today, @finnygo reports. The call comes as Musk continues to bash the "one big beautiful bill." @CBSNews
The fact the PB Centrist dads all admire the writing of..... Adrian Chiles.... is just DELICIOUSLY perfect
You complain at Chiles and his writing through the prism of bigging up that Sean guy. But that Sean guy writes from the perspective of a show off, a popinjay if you like, Chiles on the other hand is reliably self deprecating. I like that in a writer.
No. It’s because you’re stupid
Chiles is a writer for stupid people. He writes inane drivel about everyday bollocks but wraps it up in a cosy middle aged centrist dad tone that consoles the confused. Like you
It’s radio 4 “comedy” turned into journalism
I like Radio 4 comedy too, except of course for Count Arthur Strong.
The fact the PB Centrist dads all admire the writing of..... Adrian Chiles.... is just DELICIOUSLY perfect
Perhaps they are comparing his writing to yours? I've read both and though not a fan of either his are more original.
I disagree. Sean Thomas in the Spectator is another writer with a regular column who has interesting things to say, in my view.
Sean Thomas? I read a paragraph and a sign comes up asking for money. I can't think of anything I'm less likely to subscribe to than 'The Spectator'.
I was judging by one book and half a million posts on here. Too lacking in wit and insight for my taste. I try to encourage copywriter friends to come on here who invariably have both but few are interested in politics
Some of the articles in the Spectator are free to read, and you shouldn't judge on how people comment on here.
The test to me is whether a regular columnist can churn out an article a week with an interesting angle each time. Adrian Chiles and Sean Thomas can usually do this; most can't. Actually the two columnists are quite similar but I guess at least one of them wouldn't thank me for the comparison.
Chiles would be outraged although I doubt he has even heard of Thomas.
This is a risky strategy from Kemi. She won the leadership after all with the backing of the One Nation Sunakite Cameroon wing of the party in the final round to keep out Jenrick, who wanted to leave the ECHR (something Osborne for example backed Kemi on as she refused to commit to that). The One Nation wing really wanted Cleverly to be leader though.
If the review recommends leaving the ECHR and Kemi adopts that the One Nation wing of the party will swiftly abandon her and she likely would lose a VONC by the end of next year unless a drastic surge in Tory poll ratings and gains in the local elections next year. One Nation Tory MPs would then try and crown Cleverly or Stride themselves without involving members to ensure Jenrick is kept out of the leadership before the next general election
Sitting here in Lanarkshire chatting to my team about the byelection. I think the 5/1 on Reform is not a bad bet. There is a mood change which has led to SNP voters going underground and Reform being very visible. The Labour candidate is not up to the job and will lose many votes. SNP closing the neo natal unit at Wishaw is a local event that will upset some. This is possibly the most winnable seat for Reform in the whole of Scotland. Larkhall is core bear territory and they hate Humza who is still around destroying the SNP vote every time he talks. No student or immigrant vote to speak of. The Reform candidate a decent guy and Orange Order. Lots of publicity on the by election will help Reform as non voters more likely to support them.
The other bet is SNP getting less than 30% which again is quite possible even if they win the seat. Feel it will be close.
Thanks for the insight - but I can't see how a Labour collapse + Orange Order candidate can outweigh SNP unpopularity.
A very close result or even a Reform win will really sharpen minds in Scotland. It's a disaster for Labour either way, and I think PBers should consider how many of those 37 Westminster seats Labour will retain - I'd guess less than 10 at the moment.
wishful thinking, Farage is a clown , against independence and wants budget cut. Can imagine the knuckle draggers in Larkhall voting that way but not normal humans.
E gates bullshit has been quietly dropped. At least we can still maybe one day get turned down for a small percentage of defence contracts *fingers crossed*
I remember the days when flashing a mauve passport had more cache than waving an AMEX Gold Card.
They exempt athletes going to the World Cup and Olympics but not any of their fans, which directly contradicts Trump's own promise when the US won the right to host those events!!.. https://x.com/David_J_Bier/status/1930445318107078882
Is Goodwin teeing up for an enormous Reform lead next month?
6 billion percents for all the Nigels!
I had Reform 36 in mind.
No indication of it, they are drifting down gently with most of the pollsters now. FoN had them at 33 after the LEs now in to 31 and FoN have been their best pollster (tbf they were the most accurate mayoralty pollsters if very slightly overstating Reform generally by 2 or 3 points)
Sitting here in Lanarkshire chatting to my team about the byelection. I think the 5/1 on Reform is not a bad bet. There is a mood change which has led to SNP voters going underground and Reform being very visible. The Labour candidate is not up to the job and will lose many votes. SNP closing the neo natal unit at Wishaw is a local event that will upset some. This is possibly the most winnable seat for Reform in the whole of Scotland. Larkhall is core bear territory and they hate Humza who is still around destroying the SNP vote every time he talks. No student or immigrant vote to speak of. The Reform candidate a decent guy and Orange Order. Lots of publicity on the by election will help Reform as non voters more likely to support them.
The other bet is SNP getting less than 30% which again is quite possible even if they win the seat. Feel it will be close.
Thanks for the insight - but I can't see how a Labour collapse + Orange Order candidate can outweigh SNP unpopularity.
A very close result or even a Reform win will really sharpen minds in Scotland. It's a disaster for Labour either way, and I think PBers should consider how many of those 37 Westminster seats Labour will retain - I'd guess less than 10 at the moment.
I suspect Nats would rather Labour win than Reform if the SNP don't, the last thing they want is Farage gaining popularity in Scotland as well as England, they want to keep him as the monster from England threatening Scotland
This is a risky strategy from Kemi. She won the leadership after all with the backing of the One Nation Sunakite Cameroon wing of the party in the final round to keep out Jenrick, who wanted to leave the ECHR (something Osborne for example backed Kemi on as she refused to commit to that). The One Nation wing really wanted Cleverly to be leader though.
If the review recommends leaving the ECHR and Kemi adopts that the One Nation wing of the party will swiftly abandon her and she likely would lose a VONC by the end of next year unless a drastic surge in Tory poll ratings and gains in the local elections next year. One Nation Tory MPs would then try and crown Cleverly or Stride themselves without involving members to ensure Jenrick is kept out of the leadership before the next general election
That's all a bit nebulous HY.
No, just a reflection of the fact Kemi has to recognise she won the Tory leadership from the moderate lane, the right lane is already now occupied by Jenrick even if she wanted to run in it more. If she promises to leave the ECHR then Cleverly or Stride will swiftly overtake her on the moderate lane and her leadership will be over sooner rather than later
If even FON have Reform down I think we can safely say it is has not been a great week for Farage and his promise to end the 2 child benefit cap for those on UC has bombed
We know why - they wanted to avoid race riots and the perp was white.
Where the debate was - next time the perp is NOT white, what happens. And we already had a case in Leicester (not identical, but 'car' attacking people) where the perp's ethnicity was NOT reported.
Clearly the police are doing their best, but to suggest that there is a new spirit of openness is false, in my eyes.
You're agreeing with the article. It says that was the reason.
I think there is a difficulty with this. The bigger problem the police are trying prevent is racially motivated violence incited by Farage and his followers. There isn't an equivalent problem on the other side. So they can hopefully nip that violence in the bud by establishing the perpetrator as white before Farage starts "asking his legitimate questions"
Issue is, sooner or later one of these perpetrators will turn out to be brown, Muslim or a refugee. Then the police doesn't have a good choice between releasing or not releasing the ethnicity of the perpetrator.
"...the police are trying to prevent racially motivated violence incited by Farage and his followers"
Sitting here in Lanarkshire chatting to my team about the byelection. I think the 5/1 on Reform is not a bad bet. There is a mood change which has led to SNP voters going underground and Reform being very visible. The Labour candidate is not up to the job and will lose many votes. SNP closing the neo natal unit at Wishaw is a local event that will upset some. This is possibly the most winnable seat for Reform in the whole of Scotland. Larkhall is core bear territory and they hate Humza who is still around destroying the SNP vote every time he talks. No student or immigrant vote to speak of. The Reform candidate a decent guy and Orange Order. Lots of publicity on the by election will help Reform as non voters more likely to support them.
The other bet is SNP getting less than 30% which again is quite possible even if they win the seat. Feel it will be close.
Thanks for the insight - but I can't see how a Labour collapse + Orange Order candidate can outweigh SNP unpopularity.
A very close result or even a Reform win will really sharpen minds in Scotland. It's a disaster for Labour either way, and I think PBers should consider how many of those 37 Westminster seats Labour will retain - I'd guess less than 10 at the moment.
wishful thinking, Farage is a clown , against independence and wants budget cut. Can imagine the knuckle draggers in Larkhall voting that way but not normal humans.
If Reform was Farage they would have no hope in Scotland. You also have to consider that West Scotland can be very tribal a bit like N Ireland. Reform in Scotland is definitely more male and younger. To say they are knuckle draggers they would probably take as a back handed compliment. The term normal humans is an interesting phrase, We have different tribes in Scotland and hard to say which one is normal.
You should watch some of the TV clips from the by election. The one I enjoyed most was a posh Labour student arguing with a middle aged working class Reform voting couple in Hamilton centre. Both made valid comments but they were from different worlds. Which one is more normal?
Funny if Reform cause a political earthquake in Scotland with a win in Hamilton because IIRC one of the first political earthquakes in Scotland was caused by the SNP winning Hamilton in a by-election in 1969.
This is a risky strategy from Kemi. She won the leadership after all with the backing of the One Nation Sunakite Cameroon wing of the party in the final round to keep out Jenrick, who wanted to leave the ECHR (something Osborne for example backed Kemi on as she refused to commit to that). The One Nation wing really wanted Cleverly to be leader though.
If the review recommends leaving the ECHR and Kemi adopts that the One Nation wing of the party will swiftly abandon her and she likely would lose a VONC by the end of next year unless a drastic surge in Tory poll ratings and gains in the local elections next year. One Nation Tory MPs would then try and crown Cleverly or Stride themselves without involving members to ensure Jenrick is kept out of the leadership before the next general election
That's all a bit nebulous HY.
No, just a reflection of the fact Kemi has to recognise she won the Tory leadership from the moderate lane, the right lane is already now occupied by Jenrick even if she wanted to run in it more. If she promises to leave the ECHR then Cleverly or Stride will swiftly overtake her on the moderate lane and her leadership will be over sooner rather than later
I suspect you are wish casting. Would the Tories dare to blow out Jenrick? He'd be straight off to Reform.
Lots of modern parallels in there - need for regulation; limits of competition; costs of planning; how we fell behind our leading competitors...
One bit that's no longer true, thanks to power electronics: ..The two most common forms of current are alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC). AC works by running a current back and forth, contrasting with DC, which flows in only one direction. Thanks to these frequent direction reversals, AC creates a changing magnetic field that induces voltage in another coil of wire through electromagnetic induction. This field means it is easy to step voltage up or down, depending on the number of coils in this transformer wire. DC, with a static magnetic field, is unable to do this efficiently.
AC is the backbone of modern electricity systems..
If even FON have Reform down I think we can safely say it is has not been a great week for Farage and his promise to end the 2 child benefit cap for those on UC has bombed
I think we can safely file both those movements as noise for now. The overall picture is that Reform have peaked for now and the rest are in holding patterns. The post local election enthusiasm is settling (leads to a natural flattening and comedown) *Tess May ON* NOTHING HAS CHANGED *Tess May OFF*
Funny if Reform cause a political earthquake in Scotland with a win in Hamilton because IIRC one of the first political earthquakes in Scotland was caused by the SNP winning Hamilton in a by-election in 1969.
The fact the PB Centrist dads all admire the writing of..... Adrian Chiles.... is just DELICIOUSLY perfect
You complain at Chiles and his writing through the prism of bigging up that Sean guy. But that Sean guy writes from the perspective of a show off, a popinjay if you like, Chiles on the other hand is reliably self deprecating. I like that in a writer.
No. It’s because you’re stupid
Chiles is a writer for stupid people. He writes inane drivel about everyday bollocks but wraps it up in a cosy middle aged centrist dad tone that consoles the confused. Like you
It’s radio 4 “comedy” turned into journalism
He came to prominence on five live, then the One Show. It’s a perfect career path to the witless drivel he now comes out with.
He’s a reformed drinker so, of course, is now a tedious puritan on the matter.
He’s also a West Brom fan, he tries to keep it quiet.
The fact the PB Centrist dads all admire the writing of..... Adrian Chiles.... is just DELICIOUSLY perfect
You complain at Chiles and his writing through the prism of bigging up that Sean guy. But that Sean guy writes from the perspective of a show off, a popinjay if you like, Chiles on the other hand is reliably self deprecating. I like that in a writer.
There's something quite un-British about a lot of the writing on the new Right, IMHO. A general tone of hysteria and paranoia, a tendency towards self-agrandisement rather than self-deprecation, an absence of humour or irony. Perhaps because a lot of the cultural DNA is American, where the paranoid style is dominant. Plus, the Right seems to have lost its self confidence, increasingly writing from a position of impotent rage rather than its traditional sense of entitlement.
The notable thing about the populist right is that they are no longer a theoretical threat. They are in government in various places and, with one exception, abysmal. We're not talking Starmer levels of crap here. Poland, Hungary, Trump, Wilders, Farage, if he gets in.
The one exception is Meloni in Italy. I despise her politics but uniquely she does think competence matters, and possibly more dangerous because of it. Why is no-one else on far right interested?
The fact the PB Centrist dads all admire the writing of..... Adrian Chiles.... is just DELICIOUSLY perfect
You complain at Chiles and his writing through the prism of bigging up that Sean guy. But that Sean guy writes from the perspective of a show off, a popinjay if you like, Chiles on the other hand is reliably self deprecating. I like that in a writer.
There's something quite un-British about a lot of the writing on the new Right, IMHO. A general tone of hysteria and paranoia, a tendency towards self-agrandisement rather than self-deprecation, an absence of humour or irony. Perhaps because a lot of the cultural DNA is American, where the paranoid style is dominant. Plus, the Right seems to have lost its self confidence, increasingly writing from a position of impotent rage rather than its traditional sense of entitlement.
The notable thing about the populist right is that they are no longer a theoretical threat. They are in government in various places and, with one exception, abysmal. We're not talking Starmer levels of crap here. Poland, Hungary, Trump, Wilders, Farage, if he gets in.
The one exception is Meloni in Italy. I despise her politics but uniquely she does think competence matters, and possibly more dangerous because of it. Why is no-one else on far right interested?
What exactly is the danger posed by Meloni's competence?
If even FON have Reform down I think we can safely say it is has not been a great week for Farage and his promise to end the 2 child benefit cap for those on UC has bombed
I bet if you asked 100 people to link 'Nigel Farage' '2 child benefit cap' and 'universal credit', 99 would fail to accurately do so. This is not a story which is getting the voters riled up.
Using today's photo quota to post a pic I found on the internet. I love my local radio telescope - always makes me happy to see it - but I've never seen this view of it before.
I see that Reform are doubling down on 'ban the burqa'/'don't be allowed to conceal face in public' nonsense.
Curious if they'd propose the banning of motorcycle helmets then?
The burqa is a horrid, misogynistic garment but we shouldn't ban that which we dislike, and its not illegal to wear a balaclava or motorcycle helmet or otherwise conceal the face in most public situations.
The fact the PB Centrist dads all admire the writing of..... Adrian Chiles.... is just DELICIOUSLY perfect
Perhaps they are comparing his writing to yours? I've read both and though not a fan of either his are more original.
I disagree. Sean Thomas in the Spectator is another writer with a regular column who has interesting things to say, in my view.
Sean Thomas? I read a paragraph and a sign comes up asking for money. I can't think of anything I'm less likely to subscribe to than 'The Spectator'.
I was judging by one book and half a million posts on here. Too lacking in wit and insight for my taste. I try to encourage copywriter friends to come on here who invariably have both but few are interested in politics
Some of the articles in the Spectator are free to read, and you shouldn't judge on how people comment on here.
The test to me is whether a regular columnist can churn out an article a week with an interesting angle each time. Adrian Chiles and Sean Thomas can usually do this; most can't. Actually the two columnists are quite similar but I guess at least one of them wouldn't thank me for the comparison.
For a couple of years I had a weekly column in a specialist magazine. Lord Someone-or-other was a particular fan, apparently. Finding something to write about was generally easy enough. The problem for me, not a natural writer, was punching up the first draft, and the second and 17th, but I should imagine that a skilled novelist can knock it out almost at dictation speed.
This is a risky strategy from Kemi. She won the leadership after all with the backing of the One Nation Sunakite Cameroon wing of the party in the final round to keep out Jenrick, who wanted to leave the ECHR (something Osborne for example backed Kemi on as she refused to commit to that). The One Nation wing really wanted Cleverly to be leader though.
If the review recommends leaving the ECHR and Kemi adopts that the One Nation wing of the party will swiftly abandon her and she likely would lose a VONC by the end of next year unless a drastic surge in Tory poll ratings and gains in the local elections next year. One Nation Tory MPs would then try and crown Cleverly or Stride themselves without involving members to ensure Jenrick is kept out of the leadership before the next general election
That's all a bit nebulous HY.
No, just a reflection of the fact Kemi has to recognise she won the Tory leadership from the moderate lane, the right lane is already now occupied by Jenrick even if she wanted to run in it more. If she promises to leave the ECHR then Cleverly or Stride will swiftly overtake her on the moderate lane and her leadership will be over sooner rather than later
I suspect you are wish casting. Would the Tories dare to blow out Jenrick? He'd be straight off to Reform.
Some Tories would be straight off to the LDs if Jenrick took over, indeed Jenrick might even pitch the Tories right of Farage and get Lowe to join him.
I suspect if the One Nation wing removed Kemi the 1922 would say 2/3 of Tory MPs backing Cleverly would give him the crown without Jenrick getting the chance to pitch to members (though Cleverly narrowly beat Jenrick in the final Conhome Tory members poll after the party conference anyway)
The fact the PB Centrist dads all admire the writing of..... Adrian Chiles.... is just DELICIOUSLY perfect
You complain at Chiles and his writing through the prism of bigging up that Sean guy. But that Sean guy writes from the perspective of a show off, a popinjay if you like, Chiles on the other hand is reliably self deprecating. I like that in a writer.
There's something quite un-British about a lot of the writing on the new Right, IMHO. A general tone of hysteria and paranoia, a tendency towards self-agrandisement rather than self-deprecation, an absence of humour or irony. Perhaps because a lot of the cultural DNA is American, where the paranoid style is dominant. Plus, the Right seems to have lost its self confidence, increasingly writing from a position of impotent rage rather than its traditional sense of entitlement.
The notable thing about the populist right is that they are no longer a theoretical threat. They are in government in various places and, with one exception, abysmal. We're not talking Starmer levels of crap here. Poland, Hungary, Trump, Wilders, Farage, if he gets in.
The one exception is Meloni in Italy. I despise her politics but uniquely she does think competence matters, and possibly more dangerous because of it. Why is no-one else on far right interested?
Meloni is also in government with centre right Forza Italia, she does not have a majority for her Brothers of Italy party on its own even if it has most seats.
This is a risky strategy from Kemi. She won the leadership after all with the backing of the One Nation Sunakite Cameroon wing of the party in the final round to keep out Jenrick, who wanted to leave the ECHR (something Osborne for example backed Kemi on as she refused to commit to that). The One Nation wing really wanted Cleverly to be leader though.
If the review recommends leaving the ECHR and Kemi adopts that the One Nation wing of the party will swiftly abandon her and she likely would lose a VONC by the end of next year unless a drastic surge in Tory poll ratings and gains in the local elections next year. One Nation Tory MPs would then try and crown Cleverly or Stride themselves without involving members to ensure Jenrick is kept out of the leadership before the next general election
That's all a bit nebulous HY.
No, just a reflection of the fact Kemi has to recognise she won the Tory leadership from the moderate lane, the right lane is already now occupied by Jenrick even if she wanted to run in it more. If she promises to leave the ECHR then Cleverly or Stride will swiftly overtake her on the moderate lane and her leadership will be over sooner rather than later
I suspect you are wish casting. Would the Tories dare to blow out Jenrick? He'd be straight off to Reform.
Let him go. I suspect his ego would soon rub against that of Farage.
The fact the PB Centrist dads all admire the writing of..... Adrian Chiles.... is just DELICIOUSLY perfect
You complain at Chiles and his writing through the prism of bigging up that Sean guy. But that Sean guy writes from the perspective of a show off, a popinjay if you like, Chiles on the other hand is reliably self deprecating. I like that in a writer.
There's something quite un-British about a lot of the writing on the new Right, IMHO. A general tone of hysteria and paranoia, a tendency towards self-agrandisement rather than self-deprecation, an absence of humour or irony. Perhaps because a lot of the cultural DNA is American, where the paranoid style is dominant. Plus, the Right seems to have lost its self confidence, increasingly writing from a position of impotent rage rather than its traditional sense of entitlement.
The notable thing about the populist right is that they are no longer a theoretical threat. They are in government in various places and, with one exception, abysmal. We're not talking Starmer levels of crap here. Poland, Hungary, Trump, Wilders, Farage, if he gets in.
The one exception is Meloni in Italy. I despise her politics but uniquely she does think competence matters, and possibly more dangerous because of it. Why is no-one else on far right interested?
Meloni is also in government with centre right Forza Italia, she does not have a majority for her Brothers of Italy party on its own even if it has most seats.
Credit where it's due, Meloni's FdL continues to poll around 30% and enjoy a solid lead in the polls and with both Lega and Forza around 8% each, the governing coalition would be comfortably re-elected if there were an election now (more likely to be late 2026/early 2027).
If even FON have Reform down I think we can safely say it is has not been a great week for Farage and his promise to end the 2 child benefit cap for those on UC has bombed
I bet if you asked 100 people to link 'Nigel Farage' '2 child benefit cap' and 'universal credit', 99 would fail to accurately do so. This is not a story which is getting the voters riled up.
I just think the public have lost all patience with all politicians and frankly who can blame them
I cannot think of a time when trust has been at such a low ebb and the common census everything is broken is hard to deny
I have no idea who will win the next election, but it is amazing that Starmer is near his first anniversary from a landslide win and has fallen further and faster than any previous government
To be honest I really did hope his pre election promises of honesty, integrity and good governance would come about but it hasn't, but more worryingly nobody else seems to have a clue
As for Farage, his aura will disappear as he is found out to be a politician with no real answers other than division and wholly idiotic Truss plus ideas
My wife and I are at a time of life that is unlikely to be affected by any political outcomes but we do worry about the debts and future prospects for our grandchildren
At present we just want to live quietly with our family in our family home of near 50 years, tending the garden, employing tradespeople for the jobs I could do just a couple of years ago, and trying not to fall over with limited success at times
Anyway, we have booked an away day with TFW later this month with a late lunch in Barmouth before returning in time for Emmerdale !!!!!!
The fact the PB Centrist dads all admire the writing of..... Adrian Chiles.... is just DELICIOUSLY perfect
Perhaps they are comparing his writing to yours? I've read both and though not a fan of either his are more original.
I disagree. Sean Thomas in the Spectator is another writer with a regular column who has interesting things to say, in my view.
Sean Thomas? I read a paragraph and a sign comes up asking for money. I can't think of anything I'm less likely to subscribe to than 'The Spectator'.
I was judging by one book and half a million posts on here. Too lacking in wit and insight for my taste. I try to encourage copywriter friends to come on here who invariably have both but few are interested in politics
Some of the articles in the Spectator are free to read, and you shouldn't judge on how people comment on here.
The test to me is whether a regular columnist can churn out an article a week with an interesting angle each time. Adrian Chiles and Sean Thomas can usually do this; most can't. Actually the two columnists are quite similar but I guess at least one of them wouldn't thank me for the comparison.
For a couple of years I had a weekly column in a specialist magazine. Lord Someone-or-other was a particular fan, apparently. Finding something to write about was generally easy enough. The problem for me, not a natural writer, was punching up the first draft, and the second and 17th, but I should imagine that a skilled novelist can knock it out almost at dictation speed.
For some time I had a column in a 'professional' magazine and my experience was similar. I now belong to a couple of u3a Creative Writing groups and sometimes I find writing the monthly contribution quite difficult. One or two other members of the groups seem to have no trouble whatsoever, although they were not, in their careers, professional writers. Interestingly one member, who never wrote before retirement, is now writing some very imaginative pieces. In one of the groups, too, are a couple of members who spent some time in their working lives writing reports and they find fiction quite challenging.
I had no problem switching to fiction, and people who knew me in my working days, and read my columns, were not at all surprised!
The fact the PB Centrist dads all admire the writing of..... Adrian Chiles.... is just DELICIOUSLY perfect
You complain at Chiles and his writing through the prism of bigging up that Sean guy. But that Sean guy writes from the perspective of a show off, a popinjay if you like, Chiles on the other hand is reliably self deprecating. I like that in a writer.
There's something quite un-British about a lot of the writing on the new Right, IMHO. A general tone of hysteria and paranoia, a tendency towards self-agrandisement rather than self-deprecation, an absence of humour or irony. Perhaps because a lot of the cultural DNA is American, where the paranoid style is dominant. Plus, the Right seems to have lost its self confidence, increasingly writing from a position of impotent rage rather than its traditional sense of entitlement.
The notable thing about the populist right is that they are no longer a theoretical threat. They are in government in various places and, with one exception, abysmal. We're not talking Starmer levels of crap here. Poland, Hungary, Trump, Wilders, Farage, if he gets in.
The one exception is Meloni in Italy. I despise her politics but uniquely she does think competence matters, and possibly more dangerous because of it. Why is no-one else on far right interested?
The question in that case would be this: What exactly has Meloni done or enacted (as opposed to talked about) which has been dramatically outside the western European social/liberal/Christian democrat consensus.
Has she for example: left the EU, left the ECHR, stopped FoM, repatriated asylum seekers home without due process, abolished the welfare state, abolished the state broadcaster, militarized the state, decultured the universities, introduced the death penalty? I have no idea but if she is genuinely populist right in deeds not words it has not been over reported here.
I see that Reform are doubling down on 'ban the burqa'/'don't be allowed to conceal face in public' nonsense.
Curious if they'd propose the banning of motorcycle helmets then?
The burqa is a horrid, misogynistic garment but we shouldn't ban that which we dislike, and its not illegal to wear a balaclava or motorcycle helmet or otherwise conceal the face in most public situations.
This is where I really have an issue with Reform and the like. Stuff like this. It’s just an Islamophobic dog whistle. I also don’t see it’s anyones business to tell people they can’t wear one.
I see that Reform are doubling down on 'ban the burqa'/'don't be allowed to conceal face in public' nonsense.
Curious if they'd propose the banning of motorcycle helmets then?
The burqa is a horrid, misogynistic garment but we shouldn't ban that which we dislike, and its not illegal to wear a balaclava or motorcycle helmet or otherwise conceal the face in most public situations.
This is where I really have an issue with Reform and the like. Stuff like this. It’s just an Islamophobic dog whistle. I also don’t see it’s anyones business to tell people they can’t wear one.
One of Matt's greatest ever cartoons (can't find it, it's from years ago) was of French police chasing burka wearers across a French beach full of nude sunbathers.
I see that Reform are doubling down on 'ban the burqa'/'don't be allowed to conceal face in public' nonsense.
Curious if they'd propose the banning of motorcycle helmets then?
The burqa is a horrid, misogynistic garment but we shouldn't ban that which we dislike, and its not illegal to wear a balaclava or motorcycle helmet or otherwise conceal the face in most public situations.
This is where I really have an issue with Reform and the like. Stuff like this. It’s just an Islamophobic dog whistle. I also don’t see it’s anyones business to tell people they can’t wear one.
I agree, but I'm not keen on burqas on people who are working in health care situations..... nurses, doctors etc. I do think it makes communication difficult. Trying to recall if I've ever worked with a pharmacist who wore one and don't think I have. I've tried to advise a lady wearing one about something or other on occasion and to be fair I think the language was the bigger problem.
"Conor Burns, a fomer Tory minister who lost his seat at the election, has welcomed Mel Stride’s speech this morning, but urged the party to go further – and rule out Liz Truss ever again being allowed to stand as a candidate for the Conservatives."
Goes well beyond stealing the Ws from the White House keyboards. And it sounds as though there was wholesale (and likely illegal) destruction of records.
New Korean presidency begins in disarray amid claims of sabotage
While a degree of transitional friction is not uncommon during a shift in presidential power, the alleged state of the office has drawn sharp criticism from lawmakers, watchdogs and various civic groups. Some have accused the outgoing Yoon Suk Yeol administration of sabotaging the transition deliberately, with particularly grave concerns raised about the potential destruction of sensitive documents related to the Dec. 3 martial law declaration.
Unlike past handovers that preserved at least minimal operational capacity, the Yongsan presidential office was “completely stripped,” officials said. Desks sat empty, printers were gone, there was no internet connectivity and security systems were shut down. No Cabinet documents or briefing materials were left behind for the incoming administration.
“It looked like a war zone after a retreat,” one official said. “There wasn’t even an ink pad left for official use.”..
I see that Reform are doubling down on 'ban the burqa'/'don't be allowed to conceal face in public' nonsense.
Curious if they'd propose the banning of motorcycle helmets then?
The burqa is a horrid, misogynistic garment but we shouldn't ban that which we dislike, and its not illegal to wear a balaclava or motorcycle helmet or otherwise conceal the face in most public situations.
This is where I really have an issue with Reform and the like. Stuff like this. It’s just an Islamophobic dog whistle. I also don’t see it’s anyones business to tell people they can’t wear one.
One of Matt's greatest ever cartoons (can't find it, it's from years ago) was of French police chasing burka wearers across a French beach full of nude sunbathers.
You'd have to add a set of packed small boats absconding from the same coastline in the background to make it up to date.
"Conor Burns, a fomer Tory minister who lost his seat at the election, has welcomed Mel Stride’s speech this morning, but urged the party to go further – and rule out Liz Truss ever again being allowed to stand as a candidate for the Conservatives."
The good folk of Thetford and Swaffham etc did that in July
Rants against the modern world. My MIL died in January. SSE are now threatening to cut her off. They have sent a letter saying "please get in touch if you need help" No phone number. Go on their website and they say that the customer number on their letter is too short. Chat has an option of speak to an advisor. When you click on it you can go back or close. No other options. Advising re bereavement is an option but nothing happens.
We are changing our account.
Bit late to this one but don't give up on SSE. Utilities have a nasty habit of popping along to the Magistrates Court to get a warrant to enter and replace the credit meter with a pre-pay at the owners cost. The warrant is issued on 'safety' grounds and it's a pain to get them to remove the pre-pay.
The legislation for a government owned utility was rolled over to allow a private utility quasi-government powers. Privatisation was a bit rushed - or they didn't care.
"Conor Burns, a fomer Tory minister who lost his seat at the election, has welcomed Mel Stride’s speech this morning, but urged the party to go further – and rule out Liz Truss ever again being allowed to stand as a candidate for the Conservatives."
Sensible request. At the moment the Tories are in a complete muddle. They don't know if they're pro/anti Truss, pro/anti Trump, pro/anti Farage... If they don't know how the hell are the voters supposed to work if they're deserving of a vote? Some clarity is desperately needed.
Using today's photo quota to post a pic I found on the internet. I love my local radio telescope - always makes me happy to see it - but I've never seen this view of it before.
This is a risky strategy from Kemi. She won the leadership after all with the backing of the One Nation Sunakite Cameroon wing of the party in the final round to keep out Jenrick, who wanted to leave the ECHR (something Osborne for example backed Kemi on as she refused to commit to that). The One Nation wing really wanted Cleverly to be leader though.
If the review recommends leaving the ECHR and Kemi adopts that the One Nation wing of the party will swiftly abandon her and she likely would lose a VONC by the end of next year unless a drastic surge in Tory poll ratings and gains in the local elections next year. One Nation Tory MPs would then try and crown Cleverly or Stride themselves without involving members to ensure Jenrick is kept out of the leadership before the next general election
That's all a bit nebulous HY.
No, just a reflection of the fact Kemi has to recognise she won the Tory leadership from the moderate lane, the right lane is already now occupied by Jenrick even if she wanted to run in it more. If she promises to leave the ECHR then Cleverly or Stride will swiftly overtake her on the moderate lane and her leadership will be over sooner rather than later
I suspect you are wish casting. Would the Tories dare to blow out Jenrick? He'd be straight off to Reform.
Let him go. I suspect his ego would soon rub against that of Farage.
Not a marriage made in heaven that.
This has surely put a stop to the Jenrick bandwagon......
This is a risky strategy from Kemi. She won the leadership after all with the backing of the One Nation Sunakite Cameroon wing of the party in the final round to keep out Jenrick, who wanted to leave the ECHR (something Osborne for example backed Kemi on as she refused to commit to that). The One Nation wing really wanted Cleverly to be leader though.
If the review recommends leaving the ECHR and Kemi adopts that the One Nation wing of the party will swiftly abandon her and she likely would lose a VONC by the end of next year unless a drastic surge in Tory poll ratings and gains in the local elections next year. One Nation Tory MPs would then try and crown Cleverly or Stride themselves without involving members to ensure Jenrick is kept out of the leadership before the next general election
That's all a bit nebulous HY.
No, just a reflection of the fact Kemi has to recognise she won the Tory leadership from the moderate lane, the right lane is already now occupied by Jenrick even if she wanted to run in it more. If she promises to leave the ECHR then Cleverly or Stride will swiftly overtake her on the moderate lane and her leadership will be over sooner rather than later
I suspect you are wish casting. Would the Tories dare to blow out Jenrick? He'd be straight off to Reform.
Let him go. I suspect his ego would soon rub against that of Farage.
Not a marriage made in heaven that.
This has surely put a stop to the Jenrick bandwagon......
Using today's photo quota to post a pic I found on the internet. I love my local radio telescope - always makes me happy to see it - but I've never seen this view of it before.
Using today's photo quota to post a pic I found on the internet. I love my local radio telescope - always makes me happy to see it - but I've never seen this view of it before.
When it was built it could point vertically downwards
If I was the Cons' campaign manager (the horror) I would ban talk of anything other than the economy.
Get this right, get everything right.
Could be the slogan.
Ban all talk about anything other than how they are going to fix the economy. Because everything leads off from or follows a healthy economy. And point out Lab's flaws in this area.
Comments
Was it evacuated?
Chiles is a writer for stupid people. He writes inane drivel about everyday bollocks but wraps it up in a cosy middle aged centrist dad tone that consoles the confused. Like you
It’s radio 4 “comedy” turned into journalism
Yesterday, for example: "..I like President Xi of China, always have, and always will.."
https://news.sky.com/story/kemi-badenoch-to-launch-review-into-echr-exit-13379434
This is a risky strategy from Kemi. She won the leadership after all with the backing of the One Nation Sunakite Cameroon wing of the party in the final round to keep out Jenrick, who wanted to leave the ECHR (something Osborne for example backed Kemi on as she refused to commit to that). The One Nation wing really wanted Cleverly to be leader though.
If the review recommends leaving the ECHR and Kemi adopts that the One Nation wing of the party will swiftly abandon her and she likely would lose a VONC by the end of next year unless a drastic surge in Tory poll ratings and gains in the local elections next year. One Nation Tory MPs would then try and crown Cleverly or Stride themselves without involving members to ensure Jenrick is kept out of the leadership before the next general election
The test to me is whether a regular columnist can churn out an article a week with an interesting angle each time. Adrian Chiles and Sean Thomas can usually do this; most can't. Actually the two columnists are quite similar but I guess at least one of them wouldn't thank me for the comparison.
On Wednesday, Mr. Trump wrote on social media that Mr. Xi was “VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/05/world/asia/xi-trump-talks-china-us-trade.html
Westminster Voting Intention:
RFM: 31% (-1)
LAB: 22% (=)
CON: 16% (=)
LDM: 15% (+2)
GRN: 11% (=)
SNP: 3% (=)
Via @FindoutnowUK, 4 Jun.
Changes w/ 28 May.
@JenniferJJacobs
US House Speaker Mike Johnson and @ElonMusk to talk today, @finnygo reports. The call comes as Musk continues to bash the "one big beautiful bill."
@CBSNews
‘You know you we’re asking about edgelords..’
They exempt athletes going to the World Cup and Olympics but not any of their fans, which directly contradicts Trump's own promise when the US won the right to host those events!!..
https://x.com/David_J_Bier/status/1930445318107078882
Okay. Interesting view.
If Reform was Farage they would have no hope in Scotland. You also have to consider that West Scotland can be very tribal a bit like N Ireland. Reform in Scotland is definitely more male and younger. To say they are knuckle draggers they would probably take as a back handed compliment. The term normal humans is an interesting phrase, We have different tribes in Scotland and hard to say which one is normal.
You should watch some of the TV clips from the by election. The one I enjoyed most was a posh Labour student arguing with a middle aged working class Reform voting couple in Hamilton centre. Both made valid comments but they were from different worlds. Which one is more normal?
How the world's first electric grid was built
https://www.worksinprogress.news/p/how-the-worlds-first-electric-grid
Lots of modern parallels in there - need for regulation; limits of competition; costs of planning; how we fell behind our leading competitors...
One bit that's no longer true, thanks to power electronics:
..The two most common forms of current are alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC). AC works by running a current back and forth, contrasting with DC, which flows in only one direction. Thanks to these frequent direction reversals, AC creates a changing magnetic field that induces voltage in another coil of wire through electromagnetic induction. This field means it is easy to step voltage up or down, depending on the number of coils in this transformer wire. DC, with a static magnetic field, is unable to do this efficiently.
AC is the backbone of modern electricity systems..
Times Radio
@TimesRadio
·
9h
📢NEWS📢
Two of Britain’s best-known news presenters, Jo Coburn and Stephen Sackur, are joining Times Radio.
The overall picture is that Reform have peaked for now and the rest are in holding patterns. The post local election enthusiasm is settling (leads to a natural flattening and comedown)
*Tess May ON* NOTHING HAS CHANGED *Tess May OFF*
Good luck to the two of them. They’re fine journalist/presenters.
Merger by breakfast tomorrow
He’s a reformed drinker so, of course, is now a tedious puritan on the matter.
He’s also a West Brom fan, he tries to keep it quiet.
The one exception is Meloni in Italy. I despise her politics but uniquely she does think competence matters, and possibly more dangerous because of it. Why is no-one else on far right interested?
Curious if they'd propose the banning of motorcycle helmets then?
The burqa is a horrid, misogynistic garment but we shouldn't ban that which we dislike, and its not illegal to wear a balaclava or motorcycle helmet or otherwise conceal the face in most public situations.
I suspect if the One Nation wing removed Kemi the 1922 would say 2/3 of Tory MPs backing Cleverly would give him the crown without Jenrick getting the chance to pitch to members (though Cleverly narrowly beat Jenrick in the final Conhome Tory members poll after the party conference anyway)
Not a marriage made in heaven that.
I cannot think of a time when trust has been at such a low ebb and the common census everything is broken is hard to deny
I have no idea who will win the next election, but it is amazing that Starmer is near his first anniversary from a landslide win and has fallen further and faster than any previous government
To be honest I really did hope his pre election promises of honesty, integrity and good governance would come about but it hasn't, but more worryingly nobody else seems to have a clue
As for Farage, his aura will disappear as he is found out to be a politician with no real answers other than division and wholly idiotic Truss plus ideas
My wife and I are at a time of life that is unlikely to be affected by any political outcomes but we do worry about the debts and future prospects for our grandchildren
At present we just want to live quietly with our family in our family home of near 50 years, tending the garden, employing tradespeople for the jobs I could do just a couple of years ago, and trying not to fall over with limited success at times
Anyway, we have booked an away day with TFW later this month with a late lunch in Barmouth before returning in time for Emmerdale !!!!!!
In one of the groups, too, are a couple of members who spent some time in their working lives writing reports and they find fiction quite challenging.
I had no problem switching to fiction, and people who knew me in my working days, and read my columns, were not at all surprised!
https://x.com/guramitsingh01/status/1930597958665310267
Has she for example: left the EU, left the ECHR, stopped FoM, repatriated asylum seekers home without due process, abolished the welfare state, abolished the state broadcaster, militarized the state, decultured the universities, introduced the death penalty? I have no idea but if she is genuinely populist right in deeds not words it has not been over reported here.
I asked - What happened on this day in 1989
This was what I got. Would have posted yesterday but I’d used my picture.
And it sounds as though there was wholesale (and likely illegal) destruction of records.
New Korean presidency begins in disarray amid claims of sabotage
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/politics/20250605/new-korean-presidency-begins-in-disarray-amid-claims-of-sabotage
Upon assuming office, Korea's new administration under President Lee Jae-myung reportedly found itself in a near-total administrative void, as the presidential compound in Yongsan was said to be devoid of staff, essential supplies and even fundamental work systems.
While a degree of transitional friction is not uncommon during a shift in presidential power, the alleged state of the office has drawn sharp criticism from lawmakers, watchdogs and various civic groups. Some have accused the outgoing Yoon Suk Yeol administration of sabotaging the transition deliberately, with particularly grave concerns raised about the potential destruction of sensitive documents related to the Dec. 3 martial law declaration.
Unlike past handovers that preserved at least minimal operational capacity, the Yongsan presidential office was “completely stripped,” officials said. Desks sat empty, printers were gone, there was no internet connectivity and security systems were shut down. No Cabinet documents or briefing materials were left behind for the incoming administration.
“It looked like a war zone after a retreat,” one official said. “There wasn’t even an ink pad left for official use.”..
https://www.racingpost.com/news/britain/competition-watchdog-finds-issues-again-after-reconsidering-spreadex-takeover-of-sporting-index-axw7l3Y0gwT6/
The legislation for a government owned utility was rolled over to allow a private utility quasi-government powers. Privatisation was a bit rushed - or they didn't care.
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=lewis+goodall+interviews+jenrick#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:ac1c1496,vid:BZKO1VZgJsM,st:0
https://x.com/annmarie/status/1930653048734388351
Get this right, get everything right.
Could be the slogan.
Ban all talk about anything other than how they are going to fix the economy. Because everything leads off from or follows a healthy economy. And point out Lab's flaws in this area.
Would be my plan.
Trump addressing Elon’s criticism of the BBB for the first time —
He says: “Elon & I *had* a great relationship, I don’t know if we will anymore”
Trump said he’d rather Musk have criticized him and not the spending bill
“I was very surprised” by Musk’s attacks, POTUS says
https://x.com/alaynatreene/status/1930656698563273083