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It’s a DOGE eat DOGE world – politicalbetting.com

SystemSystem Posts: 12,508
edited June 8 in General
It’s a DOGE eat DOGE world – politicalbetting.com

Reform UK have announced plans to implement 'DOGE'-style audits in councils they run – although the comparison may prove unpopular, given Britons tend to dislike DOGEFavourable: 15%Unfavourable: 47%Among 2024 Reform UK votersFavourable: 47%Unfavourable: 21%yougov.co.uk/topics/inter…

Read the full story here

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Comments

  • RogerRoger Posts: 20,662
    I've been waiting for that headline
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 31,040
    Rachel Reeves: I did well at school but I’m here for the girls who didn’t

    Her critics say the chancellor has no clear vision, but she tells our political editor that education is her true mission

    https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/rachel-reeves-i-did-well-at-school-but-im-here-for-the-girls-who-didnt

    Reshuffle incoming?
  • MattWMattW Posts: 27,663
    edited June 8
    Thanks for the second header - just like a railroad crash in the USA.

    On the header, they seem to have chosen the most negative title going, and then have magicked up a collection of klutzes to run it.

    The hesitant support from amongst the Reform base is palpable in those numbers.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,249
    edited June 8
    Roger said:

    I've been waiting for that headline

    I am well known for my subtle puns, particularly in headlines.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 27,663
    FPT, because I was threaded again:. On High-Low defence procurement.
    Nigelb said:

    Our defence procurement (and our manufacturers) should be taking a close look at this program.
    Something quite similar to Storm Shadow at (supposedly) less than a tenth of the price.

    https://breakingdefense.com/2025/03/anduril-and-zone-5-technologies-advance-for-air-force-diu-enterprise-test-vehicle/
    ..According to Mike Rothstein, Lockheed’s vice president of strategy and requirements for air weapons and sensors, the CMMT is designed to be an “upper subsonic” air vehicle with a range of “multiple hundreds of miles,” adding that larger variants can travel “upwards to 1,000-ish miles.” Besides features like scalability, the platform was also designed to more easily incorporate different payloads like warheads or sensors.

    Rothstein said the CMMT “fits very well inside [FAMM]” effort, and that the company was aiming to meet unit cost goals under the program of $150,000 per round. According to a Lockheed press release, the weapon comes in two air-launched variants: one configuration can deploy from airlifters, fighters and bombers, while a smaller version can act as a launched effect from rotary aircraft...

    I think TBH we are already on quite a lot of that, including innovation fed back from Ukraine.

    The SDSR talks about a "Hi-Low" mix (Chapter 1, Page 19, Section 30) - that is there are posh, excellent versions of whatever, that can do 100%, and further ones that do perhaps 80%, where 100% is not needed. Take the contrast between Type 45 frigates ("destroyers") at £1.2bn each from BAE and the Type 31 frigates from Babcock, at £313m each.

    The type 45s uses an anti-air missile from the French/Italians, Aster 15/30 at £1-2 million each. Type 23 / and the new Type 31 uses CAMM and CAMM-ER, British, at £200k or £1 million each. I'd describe that as High-Low. If I have it right, CAMM is also up for use on land and potentially in the air as well.

    I think that's a decent summary. There are perhaps better examples around.

    More to do, and new ideas coming up all the time, of course. But there's has imo been a measure of coherence in a fair amount of our defence procurement for some time.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 66,179

    Rachel Reeves: I did well at school but I’m here for the girls who didn’t

    Her critics say the chancellor has no clear vision, but she tells our political editor that education is her true mission

    https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/rachel-reeves-i-did-well-at-school-but-im-here-for-the-girls-who-didnt

    Reshuffle incoming?

    If education is her mission why is she doing nothing about the collapse in higher education institutions across the country?
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 11,100

    Rachel Reeves: I did well at school but I’m here for the girls who didn’t

    Her critics say the chancellor has no clear vision, but she tells our political editor that education is her true mission

    https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/rachel-reeves-i-did-well-at-school-but-im-here-for-the-girls-who-didnt

    Reshuffle incoming?

    I've always been all about food and rural affairs or local government or something she says
    If she accepts a lesser role she's more of a prat than I thought. Have some dignity!
  • RogerRoger Posts: 20,662
    edited June 8
    I can't imagine it being popular in the UK. Firstly echoes of 'Big Brother' and secondly the British are supportive of public service which this sounds like it wants to curtail.
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 11,100
    DOGE just means corporations and hedge funds would be much better off with this money than social care provision, parks, drop in centres or human beings like you, scumbags
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 55,047
    edited June 8
    Roger said:

    I can't imagine it being popular in the UK. Firstly echoes of 'Big Brother' and secondly the British are supportive of public service which this sounds like it wants to remove.

    I am expecting Reform to be generally tin-eared in their pursuit of cost-cutting, with only the Village Green Preservation Society being protected. I imagine there's a whole bunch of stuff that is alien to most Reform councillors that helps keep struggling families afloat. DOGE-UK will be as disastrous as DOGE-US in terms of actual savings/popularity.
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 34,945
    Roger said:

    I can't imagine it being popular in the UK. Firstly echoes of 'Big Brother' and secondly the British are supportive of public service which this sounds like it wants to remove.

    As I suggested on the previous thread, I wonder how matters in the Reform-led Councils in Durham, Kent and Lincolnshire are going to develop. From what I've seen of Kent I can't imagine there's much 'unnecessary' spending to cut, unless, of course, in the minds of Farage supporters, it's on 'caring' for boat people.
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 11,100
    edited June 8

    Roger said:

    I can't imagine it being popular in the UK. Firstly echoes of 'Big Brother' and secondly the British are supportive of public service which this sounds like it wants to remove.

    I am expecting Refrom to be generally tin-eared in their pursuit of cost-cutting, with only the Village Green Preservation Society being protected. I imagine there's a whole bunch of stuff that is alien to most Reform councillors that helps keep struggling families afloat. DOGE-UK will be as disastrous as DOGE-US in terms of actual savings/popularity.
    They'll just further blight the lives of the already blighted and call it a triumph because they can show themselves marching a librarian out to the firing squads
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 66,179
    On the topic:


    Sunder Katwala (sundersays)
    @sundersays.bsky.social‬

    Zia Yusuf praised for Reform role

    But totally out of his depth on local government finances in DOGE

    This is an absurd totally false claim about Kent County Council spending 87m a year. Yusuf only needed to ask anyone at KCC to avoid such a foolish error (/deliberate misrepresentation for clicks)


    ‪Sunder Katwala (sundersays)‬
    @sundersays.bsky.social‬
    · 5m
    I will ask Yusuf whether he has retracted this in this X thread each week for the next 4 weeks ... or the next 12 weeks ... or 52 weeks ... or 156 weeks. Doge can have no good faith standing/integrity - nor can Yusuf - until week one false headline about Kent CC is withdrawn

    https://bsky.app/profile/sundersays.bsky.social/post/3lr2cngod522l
  • MattWMattW Posts: 27,663
    edited June 8
    I think that in Kent they are calling it DOLGE - dept of local government efficiency.

    It's a touch ironic since Dolge is the dative case of an early English word meaning "wound" or "scar". I always associate Nigel F with a desire to embrace Old English, which is why I use Shakespearean comparisons and picture him retired to one of Robert Smythson's progidy houses, ready to receive a visit from Elizabeth I.

    https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/dolge
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 45,601
    I'm perturbed by how doing things slowly and carefully is becoming seen as somehow timid or wimpy. It isn't. It's how most things are best done.
  • RogerRoger Posts: 20,662

    Rachel Reeves: I did well at school but I’m here for the girls who didn’t

    Her critics say the chancellor has no clear vision, but she tells our political editor that education is her true mission

    https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/rachel-reeves-i-did-well-at-school-but-im-here-for-the-girls-who-didnt

    Reshuffle incoming?

    I fear it will. i like her but i think I might be in a minority of one.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 31,613

    Rachel Reeves: I did well at school but I’m here for the girls who didn’t

    Her critics say the chancellor has no clear vision, but she tells our political editor that education is her true mission

    https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/rachel-reeves-i-did-well-at-school-but-im-here-for-the-girls-who-didnt

    Reshuffle incoming?

    That would be quite in interesting way of stage-managing that move.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 31,613
    MattW said:

    I think that in Kent they are calling it DOLGE - dept of local government efficiency.

    It's a touch ironic since Dolge is the dative case of an early English word meaning "wound" or "scar". I always associate Nigel F with a desire to embrace Old English, which is why I use Shakespearean comparisons and picture him retired to one of Robert Smythson's progidy houses, ready to receive a visit from Elizabeth I.

    https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/dolge

    Hopefully they will be dolging lazy employees and greedy contractors, not each other.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 61,634
    kinabalu said:

    I'm perturbed by how doing things slowly and carefully is becoming seen as somehow timid or wimpy. It isn't. It's how most things are best done.

    You’ve clearly never had sex in the corridor of the 10.57pm train from Lewes
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 11,100

    Rachel Reeves: I did well at school but I’m here for the girls who didn’t

    Her critics say the chancellor has no clear vision, but she tells our political editor that education is her true mission

    https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/rachel-reeves-i-did-well-at-school-but-im-here-for-the-girls-who-didnt

    Reshuffle incoming?

    That would be quite in interesting way of stage-managing that move.
    I think it's just to advertise her pitiful increase in education spending incoming this week
  • MattWMattW Posts: 27,663

    Roger said:

    I can't imagine it being popular in the UK. Firstly echoes of 'Big Brother' and secondly the British are supportive of public service which this sounds like it wants to remove.

    As I suggested on the previous thread, I wonder how matters in the Reform-led Councils in Durham, Kent and Lincolnshire are going to develop. From what I've seen of Kent I can't imagine there's much 'unnecessary' spending to cut, unless, of course, in the minds of Farage supporters, it's on 'caring' for boat people.
    I had a phone call with a relative in Kent the other day), and they are buzzing about Reform cancelling all the committee meetings.

    I didn't get around to mentioning that the new Council Leader was an aspiring Tory Councillor who did not get as far as being elected. Though there are also some good things about the new Council Leader - notably that she recognises that she is critically dependent on the expert officers running the departments.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 43,833

    Roger said:

    I can't imagine it being popular in the UK. Firstly echoes of 'Big Brother' and secondly the British are supportive of public service which this sounds like it wants to remove.

    I am expecting Refrom to be generally tin-eared in their pursuit of cost-cutting, with only the Village Green Preservation Society being protected. I imagine there's a whole bunch of stuff that is alien to most Reform councillors that helps keep struggling families afloat. DOGE-UK will be as disastrous as DOGE-US in terms of actual savings/popularity.
    They'll just further blight the lives of the already blighted and call it a triumph because they can show themselves marching a librarian out to the firing squads
    'Have you heard of the Dewey Decimal System?'

    'Ye..'

    ☠️
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 31,613

    Rachel Reeves: I did well at school but I’m here for the girls who didn’t

    Her critics say the chancellor has no clear vision, but she tells our political editor that education is her true mission

    https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/rachel-reeves-i-did-well-at-school-but-im-here-for-the-girls-who-didnt

    Reshuffle incoming?

    That would be quite in interesting way of stage-managing that move.
    I think it's just to advertise her pitiful increase in education spending incoming this week
    On balance so do I, but this is another way of looking at it. Reeves goes voluntarily, feathering her own nest in the education department before she does. Poor Bridget Phillipson if so (oh dear how sad never mind).
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 24,758
    Leon said:

    kinabalu said:

    I'm perturbed by how doing things slowly and carefully is becoming seen as somehow timid or wimpy. It isn't. It's how most things are best done.

    You’ve clearly never had sex in the corridor of the 10.57pm train from Lewes
    Lewes does not have a railway station
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 11,100

    Rachel Reeves: I did well at school but I’m here for the girls who didn’t

    Her critics say the chancellor has no clear vision, but she tells our political editor that education is her true mission

    https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/rachel-reeves-i-did-well-at-school-but-im-here-for-the-girls-who-didnt

    Reshuffle incoming?

    That would be quite in interesting way of stage-managing that move.
    I think it's just to advertise her pitiful increase in education spending incoming this week
    On balance so do I, but this is another way of looking at it. Reeves goes voluntarily, feathering her own nest in the education department before she does. Poor Bridget Phillipson if so (oh dear how sad never mind).
    Even SKS isnt enough of a turd to allow her to present the first spending review for 4 years then quit and reward her with another job
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 31,613

    Roger said:

    I can't imagine it being popular in the UK. Firstly echoes of 'Big Brother' and secondly the British are supportive of public service which this sounds like it wants to remove.

    I am expecting Refrom to be generally tin-eared in their pursuit of cost-cutting, with only the Village Green Preservation Society being protected. I imagine there's a whole bunch of stuff that is alien to most Reform councillors that helps keep struggling families afloat. DOGE-UK will be as disastrous as DOGE-US in terms of actual savings/popularity.
    They'll just further blight the lives of the already blighted and call it a triumph because they can show themselves marching a librarian out to the firing squads
    'Have you heard of the Dewey Decimal System?'

    'Ye..'

    ☠️
    I have a sentimental attachment to libraries myself, but I can't remember the last time I visited one. Not for over 8 years I suspect.
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 11,100

    Rachel Reeves: I did well at school but I’m here for the girls who didn’t

    Her critics say the chancellor has no clear vision, but she tells our political editor that education is her true mission

    https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/rachel-reeves-i-did-well-at-school-but-im-here-for-the-girls-who-didnt

    Reshuffle incoming?

    That would be quite in interesting way of stage-managing that move.
    I think it's just to advertise her pitiful increase in education spending incoming this week
    On balance so do I, but this is another way of looking at it. Reeves goes voluntarily, feathering her own nest in the education department before she does. Poor Bridget Phillipson if so (oh dear how sad never mind).
    Even SKS isnt enough of a turd to allow her to present the first spending review for 4 years then quit and reward her with another job
    Indeed he can't possibly reshuffle her now for some time so I think its Miliband for the chop
  • LeonLeon Posts: 61,634

    viewcode said:

    Leon said:

    kinabalu said:

    I'm perturbed by how doing things slowly and carefully is becoming seen as somehow timid or wimpy. It isn't. It's how most things are best done.

    You’ve clearly never had sex in the corridor of the 10.57pm train from Lewes
    Lewes does not have a railway station
    Most PB exchange evah.
    Lewes has a railway station

    https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/lewes/
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 31,613

    Rachel Reeves: I did well at school but I’m here for the girls who didn’t

    Her critics say the chancellor has no clear vision, but she tells our political editor that education is her true mission

    https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/rachel-reeves-i-did-well-at-school-but-im-here-for-the-girls-who-didnt

    Reshuffle incoming?

    That would be quite in interesting way of stage-managing that move.
    I think it's just to advertise her pitiful increase in education spending incoming this week
    On balance so do I, but this is another way of looking at it. Reeves goes voluntarily, feathering her own nest in the education department before she does. Poor Bridget Phillipson if so (oh dear how sad never mind).
    Even SKS isnt enough of a turd to allow her to present the first spending review for 4 years then quit and reward her with another job
    Indeed he can't possibly reshuffle her now for some time so I think its Miliband for the chop
    Don't tease.
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 11,100

    Rachel Reeves: I did well at school but I’m here for the girls who didn’t

    Her critics say the chancellor has no clear vision, but she tells our political editor that education is her true mission

    https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/rachel-reeves-i-did-well-at-school-but-im-here-for-the-girls-who-didnt

    Reshuffle incoming?

    That would be quite in interesting way of stage-managing that move.
    I think it's just to advertise her pitiful increase in education spending incoming this week
    On balance so do I, but this is another way of looking at it. Reeves goes voluntarily, feathering her own nest in the education department before she does. Poor Bridget Phillipson if so (oh dear how sad never mind).
    Even SKS isnt enough of a turd to allow her to present the first spending review for 4 years then quit and reward her with another job
    Indeed he can't possibly reshuffle her now for some time so I think its Miliband for the chop
    Don't tease.
    Fried green Milibands
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 11,100
    viewcode said:

    Leon said:

    kinabalu said:

    I'm perturbed by how doing things slowly and carefully is becoming seen as somehow timid or wimpy. It isn't. It's how most things are best done.

    You’ve clearly never had sex in the corridor of the 10.57pm train from Lewes
    Lewes does not have a railway station
    But it has a hell of a shunter
  • LeonLeon Posts: 61,634
    edited June 8
    viewcode said:

    Leon said:

    kinabalu said:

    I'm perturbed by how doing things slowly and carefully is becoming seen as somehow timid or wimpy. It isn't. It's how most things are best done.

    You’ve clearly never had sex in the corridor of the 10.57pm train from Lewes
    Lewes does not have a railway station
    https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/lewes

    At this point I would normally subject you to a brutal and humiliating stream of invective, so witheringly cruel you would never comment again

    However as this is the new “be nice” PB, I shall refrain

    You should thank @TSE

  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 34,945
    MattW said:

    Roger said:

    I can't imagine it being popular in the UK. Firstly echoes of 'Big Brother' and secondly the British are supportive of public service which this sounds like it wants to remove.

    As I suggested on the previous thread, I wonder how matters in the Reform-led Councils in Durham, Kent and Lincolnshire are going to develop. From what I've seen of Kent I can't imagine there's much 'unnecessary' spending to cut, unless, of course, in the minds of Farage supporters, it's on 'caring' for boat people.
    I had a phone call with a relative in Kent the other day), and they are buzzing about Reform cancelling all the committee meetings.

    I didn't get around to mentioning that the new Council Leader was an aspiring Tory Councillor who did not get as far as being elected. Though there are also some good things about the new Council Leader - notably that she recognises that she is critically dependent on the expert officers running the departments.
    I must ask my elder son, who lives in Kent, what he thinks. I think he had enough of politics when he was a teenager though, with me being involved.
    Glad to read of the self-awareness of the Council Leader though. However I don't see how they're going manage things with full council getting bogged down in detail.
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 23,013
    viewcode said:

    Leon said:

    kinabalu said:

    I'm perturbed by how doing things slowly and carefully is becoming seen as somehow timid or wimpy. It isn't. It's how most things are best done.

    You’ve clearly never had sex in the corridor of the 10.57pm train from Lewes
    Lewes does not have a railway station
    It does.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 27,663
    Leon said:

    viewcode said:

    Leon said:

    kinabalu said:

    I'm perturbed by how doing things slowly and carefully is becoming seen as somehow timid or wimpy. It isn't. It's how most things are best done.

    You’ve clearly never had sex in the corridor of the 10.57pm train from Lewes
    Lewes does not have a railway station
    Most PB exchange evah.
    Lewes has a railway station

    https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/lewes/
    Indeedy-doody.

    Perhaps they were punning on Lewis, which does not.

    But I suspect even you would have difficulty keeping going from Lewis to London.
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 34,945

    Rachel Reeves: I did well at school but I’m here for the girls who didn’t

    Her critics say the chancellor has no clear vision, but she tells our political editor that education is her true mission

    https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/rachel-reeves-i-did-well-at-school-but-im-here-for-the-girls-who-didnt

    Reshuffle incoming?

    That would be quite in interesting way of stage-managing that move.
    I think it's just to advertise her pitiful increase in education spending incoming this week
    On balance so do I, but this is another way of looking at it. Reeves goes voluntarily, feathering her own nest in the education department before she does. Poor Bridget Phillipson if so (oh dear how sad never mind).
    Even SKS isnt enough of a turd to allow her to present the first spending review for 4 years then quit and reward her with another job
    Indeed he can't possibly reshuffle her now for some time so I think its Miliband for the chop
    I used to listen to his podcast and I grew to think a lot more of him. I only stopped listening because I don't have anywhere near as much solitary free time nowadays.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 43,833

    Roger said:

    I can't imagine it being popular in the UK. Firstly echoes of 'Big Brother' and secondly the British are supportive of public service which this sounds like it wants to remove.

    I am expecting Refrom to be generally tin-eared in their pursuit of cost-cutting, with only the Village Green Preservation Society being protected. I imagine there's a whole bunch of stuff that is alien to most Reform councillors that helps keep struggling families afloat. DOGE-UK will be as disastrous as DOGE-US in terms of actual savings/popularity.
    They'll just further blight the lives of the already blighted and call it a triumph because they can show themselves marching a librarian out to the firing squads
    'Have you heard of the Dewey Decimal System?'

    'Ye..'

    ☠️
    I have a sentimental attachment to libraries myself, but I can't remember the last time I visited one. Not for over 8 years I suspect.
    I used to be a regular visitor to mine (which is 10 minutes walk away so no excuse) but the first sign of my disastrous falling out of love with reading was paying fines for late return of books which even then were unfinished. I still have a probably sentimental attachment to the idea that kids should be encouraged to read as early as possible even it means turning libraries into noisy crèches.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 31,613

    Rachel Reeves: I did well at school but I’m here for the girls who didn’t

    Her critics say the chancellor has no clear vision, but she tells our political editor that education is her true mission

    https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/rachel-reeves-i-did-well-at-school-but-im-here-for-the-girls-who-didnt

    Reshuffle incoming?

    That would be quite in interesting way of stage-managing that move.
    I think it's just to advertise her pitiful increase in education spending incoming this week
    On balance so do I, but this is another way of looking at it. Reeves goes voluntarily, feathering her own nest in the education department before she does. Poor Bridget Phillipson if so (oh dear how sad never mind).
    Even SKS isnt enough of a turd to allow her to present the first spending review for 4 years then quit and reward her with another job
    Indeed he can't possibly reshuffle her now for some time so I think its Miliband for the chop
    Don't tease.
    Fried green Milibands
    I think he's actually loony enough to defect to the greens if he gets sacked. I also don't see where he could be moved. Perhaps promotion to Foreign Sec?

    I don't actually know how you get rid of Miliband, except give him some vastly important sounding but meaningless job 'UK environmental emissary to the UN' or something and have him private jetting around the world (something loved by all environmentally inclined politicians) haranguing people about CO2.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 54,943
    On topic -

    The tragedy of DOGE style slashing goes beyond the damage it will do, in the short term.

    For a political generation or two, all reasonable attempts to increase productivity in government will be tarred with this shite.
  • SandraMcSandraMc Posts: 747
    You alight at Lewes for Glyndebourne and then take the coach.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 73,918

    Rachel Reeves: I did well at school but I’m here for the girls who didn’t

    Her critics say the chancellor has no clear vision, but she tells our political editor that education is her true mission

    https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/rachel-reeves-i-did-well-at-school-but-im-here-for-the-girls-who-didnt

    Reshuffle incoming?

    If education is her mission why is she doing nothing about the collapse in higher education institutions across the country?
    That's not true.

    She's actively helping them over the edge.
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 11,100

    Rachel Reeves: I did well at school but I’m here for the girls who didn’t

    Her critics say the chancellor has no clear vision, but she tells our political editor that education is her true mission

    https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/rachel-reeves-i-did-well-at-school-but-im-here-for-the-girls-who-didnt

    Reshuffle incoming?

    That would be quite in interesting way of stage-managing that move.
    I think it's just to advertise her pitiful increase in education spending incoming this week
    On balance so do I, but this is another way of looking at it. Reeves goes voluntarily, feathering her own nest in the education department before she does. Poor Bridget Phillipson if so (oh dear how sad never mind).
    Even SKS isnt enough of a turd to allow her to present the first spending review for 4 years then quit and reward her with another job
    Indeed he can't possibly reshuffle her now for some time so I think its Miliband for the chop
    I used to listen to his podcast and I grew to think a lot more of him. I only stopped listening because I don't have anywhere near as much solitary free time nowadays.
    He's much more palatable when he's not on the front bench
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 43,833
    Leon said:

    viewcode said:

    Leon said:

    kinabalu said:

    I'm perturbed by how doing things slowly and carefully is becoming seen as somehow timid or wimpy. It isn't. It's how most things are best done.

    You’ve clearly never had sex in the corridor of the 10.57pm train from Lewes
    Lewes does not have a railway station
    Most PB exchange evah.
    Lewes has a railway station

    https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/lewes/
    You declaring that you’re right is the icing on the Platonic ideal of PB threads.
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 11,100

    Rachel Reeves: I did well at school but I’m here for the girls who didn’t

    Her critics say the chancellor has no clear vision, but she tells our political editor that education is her true mission

    https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/rachel-reeves-i-did-well-at-school-but-im-here-for-the-girls-who-didnt

    Reshuffle incoming?

    That would be quite in interesting way of stage-managing that move.
    I think it's just to advertise her pitiful increase in education spending incoming this week
    On balance so do I, but this is another way of looking at it. Reeves goes voluntarily, feathering her own nest in the education department before she does. Poor Bridget Phillipson if so (oh dear how sad never mind).
    Even SKS isnt enough of a turd to allow her to present the first spending review for 4 years then quit and reward her with another job
    Indeed he can't possibly reshuffle her now for some time so I think its Miliband for the chop
    Don't tease.
    Fried green Milibands
    I think he's actually loony enough to defect to the greens if he gets sacked. I also don't see where he could be moved. Perhaps promotion to Foreign Sec?

    I don't actually know how you get rid of Miliband, except give him some vastly important sounding but meaningless job 'UK environmental emissary to the UN' or something and have him private jetting around the world (something loved by all environmentally inclined politicians) haranguing people about CO2.
    My MP Clive Lewis is another potential Green. I could see a small group jumping if Polanski wins. Not if Ramsey and Chowns win though, they are ecology party 1983 leaders
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 24,758

    Roger said:

    I can't imagine it being popular in the UK. Firstly echoes of 'Big Brother' and secondly the British are supportive of public service which this sounds like it wants to remove.

    I am expecting Refrom to be generally tin-eared in their pursuit of cost-cutting, with only the Village Green Preservation Society being protected. I imagine there's a whole bunch of stuff that is alien to most Reform councillors that helps keep struggling families afloat. DOGE-UK will be as disastrous as DOGE-US in terms of actual savings/popularity.
    They'll just further blight the lives of the already blighted and call it a triumph because they can show themselves marching a librarian out to the firing squads
    'Have you heard of the Dewey Decimal System?'

    'Ye..'

    ☠️
    I have a sentimental attachment to libraries myself, but I can't remember the last time I visited one. Not for over 8 years I suspect.
    I'm in the public library the majority of Saturdays, and I'm in the library at work infrequently. In times of low finance they provide free computer, photocopier and printer access, and even when flush it provides masses of books for free.
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 24,758

    viewcode said:

    Leon said:

    kinabalu said:

    I'm perturbed by how doing things slowly and carefully is becoming seen as somehow timid or wimpy. It isn't. It's how most things are best done.

    You’ve clearly never had sex in the corridor of the 10.57pm train from Lewes
    Lewes does not have a railway station
    It does.
    Arse. Yes it does. My fault :(
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 23,013

    Rachel Reeves: I did well at school but I’m here for the girls who didn’t

    Her critics say the chancellor has no clear vision, but she tells our political editor that education is her true mission

    https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/rachel-reeves-i-did-well-at-school-but-im-here-for-the-girls-who-didnt

    Reshuffle incoming?

    That would be quite in interesting way of stage-managing that move.
    I think it's just to advertise her pitiful increase in education spending incoming this week
    On balance so do I, but this is another way of looking at it. Reeves goes voluntarily, feathering her own nest in the education department before she does. Poor Bridget Phillipson if so (oh dear how sad never mind).
    Even SKS isnt enough of a turd to allow her to present the first spending review for 4 years then quit and reward her with another job
    Indeed he can't possibly reshuffle her now for some time so I think its Miliband for the chop
    Don't tease.
    Fried green Milibands
    I think he's actually loony enough to defect to the greens if he gets sacked. I also don't see where he could be moved. Perhaps promotion to Foreign Sec?

    I don't actually know how you get rid of Miliband, except give him some vastly important sounding but meaningless job 'UK environmental emissary to the UN' or something and have him private jetting around the world (something loved by all environmentally inclined politicians) haranguing people about CO2.
    My MP Clive Lewis is another potential Green. I could see a small group jumping if Polanski wins. Not if Ramsey and Chowns win though, they are ecology party 1983 leaders
    These folk should just join the SWP, rather than trying to turn the Green Party into the SWP.
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 11,100
    edited June 8

    Rachel Reeves: I did well at school but I’m here for the girls who didn’t

    Her critics say the chancellor has no clear vision, but she tells our political editor that education is her true mission

    https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/rachel-reeves-i-did-well-at-school-but-im-here-for-the-girls-who-didnt

    Reshuffle incoming?

    That would be quite in interesting way of stage-managing that move.
    I think it's just to advertise her pitiful increase in education spending incoming this week
    On balance so do I, but this is another way of looking at it. Reeves goes voluntarily, feathering her own nest in the education department before she does. Poor Bridget Phillipson if so (oh dear how sad never mind).
    Even SKS isnt enough of a turd to allow her to present the first spending review for 4 years then quit and reward her with another job
    Indeed he can't possibly reshuffle her now for some time so I think its Miliband for the chop
    Don't tease.
    Fried green Milibands
    I think he's actually loony enough to defect to the greens if he gets sacked. I also don't see where he could be moved. Perhaps promotion to Foreign Sec?

    I don't actually know how you get rid of Miliband, except give him some vastly important sounding but meaningless job 'UK environmental emissary to the UN' or something and have him private jetting around the world (something loved by all environmentally inclined politicians) haranguing people about CO2.
    My MP Clive Lewis is another potential Green. I could see a small group jumping if Polanski wins. Not if Ramsey and Chowns win though, they are ecology party 1983 leaders
    These folk should just join the SWP, rather than trying to turn the Green Party into the SWP.
    The Greens are certainly becoming something not really Green. The Ecology party was Green
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 54,943
    MattW said:

    FPT, because I was threaded again:. On High-Low defence procurement.

    Nigelb said:

    Our defence procurement (and our manufacturers) should be taking a close look at this program.
    Something quite similar to Storm Shadow at (supposedly) less than a tenth of the price.

    https://breakingdefense.com/2025/03/anduril-and-zone-5-technologies-advance-for-air-force-diu-enterprise-test-vehicle/
    ..According to Mike Rothstein, Lockheed’s vice president of strategy and requirements for air weapons and sensors, the CMMT is designed to be an “upper subsonic” air vehicle with a range of “multiple hundreds of miles,” adding that larger variants can travel “upwards to 1,000-ish miles.” Besides features like scalability, the platform was also designed to more easily incorporate different payloads like warheads or sensors.

    Rothstein said the CMMT “fits very well inside [FAMM]” effort, and that the company was aiming to meet unit cost goals under the program of $150,000 per round. According to a Lockheed press release, the weapon comes in two air-launched variants: one configuration can deploy from airlifters, fighters and bombers, while a smaller version can act as a launched effect from rotary aircraft...

    I think TBH we are already on quite a lot of that, including innovation fed back from Ukraine.

    The SDSR talks about a "Hi-Low" mix (Chapter 1, Page 19, Section 30) - that is there are posh, excellent versions of whatever, that can do 100%, and further ones that do perhaps 80%, where 100% is not needed. Take the contrast between Type 45 frigates ("destroyers") at £1.2bn each from BAE and the Type 31 frigates from Babcock, at £313m each.

    The type 45s uses an anti-air missile from the French/Italians, Aster 15/30 at £1-2 million each. Type 23 / and the new Type 31 uses CAMM and CAMM-ER, British, at £200k or £1 million each. I'd describe that as High-Low. If I have it right, CAMM is also up for use on land and potentially in the air as well.

    I think that's a decent summary. There are perhaps better examples around.

    More to do, and new ideas coming up all the time, of course. But there's has imo been a measure of coherence in a fair amount of our defence procurement for some time.
    Hi-lo mix has been around since weapons were invented. See ancient armies with the Big Cheeses in expensive armour and various levels below them, down to the shepards with sling shots.

    The exceptions are mainly where the cost savings on the “lo” are not worth it. See MBTs in most countries.
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 23,013
    viewcode said:

    Roger said:

    I can't imagine it being popular in the UK. Firstly echoes of 'Big Brother' and secondly the British are supportive of public service which this sounds like it wants to remove.

    I am expecting Refrom to be generally tin-eared in their pursuit of cost-cutting, with only the Village Green Preservation Society being protected. I imagine there's a whole bunch of stuff that is alien to most Reform councillors that helps keep struggling families afloat. DOGE-UK will be as disastrous as DOGE-US in terms of actual savings/popularity.
    They'll just further blight the lives of the already blighted and call it a triumph because they can show themselves marching a librarian out to the firing squads
    'Have you heard of the Dewey Decimal System?'

    'Ye..'

    ☠️
    I have a sentimental attachment to libraries myself, but I can't remember the last time I visited one. Not for over 8 years I suspect.
    I'm in the public library the majority of Saturdays, and I'm in the library at work infrequently. In times of low finance they provide free computer, photocopier and printer access, and even when flush it provides masses of books for free.
    The book swap shelves at my local railway station provides books for free, and you can keep them as long as you like. And there is free wifi once you board the train and when you get off at Leeds.

    I will concede on the printing and photocopying, however.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 61,634
    edited June 8

    Leon said:

    viewcode said:

    Leon said:

    kinabalu said:

    I'm perturbed by how doing things slowly and carefully is becoming seen as somehow timid or wimpy. It isn't. It's how most things are best done.

    You’ve clearly never had sex in the corridor of the 10.57pm train from Lewes
    Lewes does not have a railway station
    Most PB exchange evah.
    Lewes has a railway station

    https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/lewes/
    You declaring that you’re right is the icing on the Platonic ideal of PB threads.
    You might be interested to know this sex on the last train from Lewes (yes, Lewes station, @viewcode, you miserable cur) was instigated by my young Scottish girlfriend. A daughter of Fife. I hope that makes you proud

    Looking back I realise she had a kink about sex al fresco/being caught in the act. Nonetheless there’s a limit, so we had to be hasty

    Only one person saw us. An older, well dressed Indian chap. He came down the corridor, saw us clearly having sex on the train, and - quite brilliantly and admirably - acted as if nothing was happening. He politely smiled and said Good Evening, and then walked round us and proceeded on his way

    A true gentleman
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 34,945

    Roger said:

    I can't imagine it being popular in the UK. Firstly echoes of 'Big Brother' and secondly the British are supportive of public service which this sounds like it wants to remove.

    I am expecting Refrom to be generally tin-eared in their pursuit of cost-cutting, with only the Village Green Preservation Society being protected. I imagine there's a whole bunch of stuff that is alien to most Reform councillors that helps keep struggling families afloat. DOGE-UK will be as disastrous as DOGE-US in terms of actual savings/popularity.
    They'll just further blight the lives of the already blighted and call it a triumph because they can show themselves marching a librarian out to the firing squads
    'Have you heard of the Dewey Decimal System?'

    'Ye..'

    ☠️
    I have a sentimental attachment to libraries myself, but I can't remember the last time I visited one. Not for over 8 years I suspect.
    I used to be a regular visitor to mine (which is 10 minutes walk away so no excuse) but the first sign of my disastrous falling out of love with reading was paying fines for late return of books which even then were unfinished. I still have a probably sentimental attachment to the idea that kids should be encouraged to read as early as possible even it means turning libraries into noisy crèches.
    I goto a discussion group (!) in mine, which is supposed to be about writing but very often seem to be about anything else. It can be very informative about education, though.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 43,833

    Rachel Reeves: I did well at school but I’m here for the girls who didn’t

    Her critics say the chancellor has no clear vision, but she tells our political editor that education is her true mission

    https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/rachel-reeves-i-did-well-at-school-but-im-here-for-the-girls-who-didnt

    Reshuffle incoming?

    That would be quite in interesting way of stage-managing that move.
    I think it's just to advertise her pitiful increase in education spending incoming this week
    On balance so do I, but this is another way of looking at it. Reeves goes voluntarily, feathering her own nest in the education department before she does. Poor Bridget Phillipson if so (oh dear how sad never mind).
    Even SKS isnt enough of a turd to allow her to present the first spending review for 4 years then quit and reward her with another job
    Indeed he can't possibly reshuffle her now for some time so I think its Miliband for the chop
    Don't tease.
    Fried green Milibands
    I think he's actually loony enough to defect to the greens if he gets sacked. I also don't see where he could be moved. Perhaps promotion to Foreign Sec?

    I don't actually know how you get rid of Miliband, except give him some vastly important sounding but meaningless job 'UK environmental emissary to the UN' or something and have him private jetting around the world (something loved by all environmentally inclined politicians) haranguing people about CO2.
    My MP Clive Lewis is another potential Green. I could see a small group jumping if Polanski wins. Not if Ramsey and Chowns win though, they are ecology party 1983 leaders
    These folk should just join the SWP, rather than trying to turn the Green Party into the SWP.
    The Greens are certainly becoming something not really Green. The Ecology party was Green
    Well, the Cons aren’t really Conservative, Lab aren’t really Labour etc etc.
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 11,100

    Rachel Reeves: I did well at school but I’m here for the girls who didn’t

    Her critics say the chancellor has no clear vision, but she tells our political editor that education is her true mission

    https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/rachel-reeves-i-did-well-at-school-but-im-here-for-the-girls-who-didnt

    Reshuffle incoming?

    That would be quite in interesting way of stage-managing that move.
    I think it's just to advertise her pitiful increase in education spending incoming this week
    On balance so do I, but this is another way of looking at it. Reeves goes voluntarily, feathering her own nest in the education department before she does. Poor Bridget Phillipson if so (oh dear how sad never mind).
    Even SKS isnt enough of a turd to allow her to present the first spending review for 4 years then quit and reward her with another job
    Indeed he can't possibly reshuffle her now for some time so I think its Miliband for the chop
    Don't tease.
    Fried green Milibands
    I think he's actually loony enough to defect to the greens if he gets sacked. I also don't see where he could be moved. Perhaps promotion to Foreign Sec?

    I don't actually know how you get rid of Miliband, except give him some vastly important sounding but meaningless job 'UK environmental emissary to the UN' or something and have him private jetting around the world (something loved by all environmentally inclined politicians) haranguing people about CO2.
    My MP Clive Lewis is another potential Green. I could see a small group jumping if Polanski wins. Not if Ramsey and Chowns win though, they are ecology party 1983 leaders
    These folk should just join the SWP, rather than trying to turn the Green Party into the SWP.
    The Greens are certainly becoming something not really Green. The Ecology party was Green
    Well, the Cons aren’t really Conservative, Lab aren’t really Labour etc etc.
    Also true
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 54,943

    Rachel Reeves: I did well at school but I’m here for the girls who didn’t

    Her critics say the chancellor has no clear vision, but she tells our political editor that education is her true mission

    https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/rachel-reeves-i-did-well-at-school-but-im-here-for-the-girls-who-didnt

    Reshuffle incoming?

    That would be quite in interesting way of stage-managing that move.
    I think it's just to advertise her pitiful increase in education spending incoming this week
    On balance so do I, but this is another way of looking at it. Reeves goes voluntarily, feathering her own nest in the education department before she does. Poor Bridget Phillipson if so (oh dear how sad never mind).
    Even SKS isnt enough of a turd to allow her to present the first spending review for 4 years then quit and reward her with another job
    Indeed he can't possibly reshuffle her now for some time so I think its Miliband for the chop
    Don't tease.
    Fried green Milibands
    I think he's actually loony enough to defect to the greens if he gets sacked. I also don't see where he could be moved. Perhaps promotion to Foreign Sec?

    I don't actually know how you get rid of Miliband, except give him some vastly important sounding but meaningless job 'UK environmental emissary to the UN' or something and have him private jetting around the world (something loved by all environmentally inclined politicians) haranguing people about CO2.
    My MP Clive Lewis is another potential Green. I could see a small group jumping if Polanski wins. Not if Ramsey and Chowns win though, they are ecology party 1983 leaders
    These folk should just join the SWP, rather than trying to turn the Green Party into the SWP.
    After Iraq, an number used the LDs as “spare Labour”

    They were shocked and upset over the coalition. The collapse of the LDs when such returned to Labour, over tuition fees, was more of an excuse to “go home” than a matter of principal.

    Looks like the Greens are getting the same thing.
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 23,013
    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    viewcode said:

    Leon said:

    kinabalu said:

    I'm perturbed by how doing things slowly and carefully is becoming seen as somehow timid or wimpy. It isn't. It's how most things are best done.

    You’ve clearly never had sex in the corridor of the 10.57pm train from Lewes
    Lewes does not have a railway station
    Most PB exchange evah.
    Lewes has a railway station

    https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/lewes/
    You declaring that you’re right is the icing on the Platonic ideal of PB threads.
    You might be interested to know this sex on the last train from Lewes (yes, Lewes station, @viewcode, you miserable cur) was instigated by my young Scottish girlfriend. A daughter of Fife. I hope that makes you proud

    Looking back I realise she had a kink about sex al fresco/being caught in the act. Nonetheless there’s a limit, so we had to be hasty

    Only one person saw us. An older, well dressed Indian chap. He came down the corridor, saw us clearly having sex on the train, and - quite brilliantly and admirably - acted as if nothing was happening. He politely smiled and said Good Evening, and then walked round us and proceeded on his way

    A true gentleman
    I once heard a story about a couple who had sex in their seats on the train. Afterwards, they lit cigarettes. It was at this point that other passengers complained about their behaviour.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 54,943

    Roger said:

    I can't imagine it being popular in the UK. Firstly echoes of 'Big Brother' and secondly the British are supportive of public service which this sounds like it wants to remove.

    I am expecting Refrom to be generally tin-eared in their pursuit of cost-cutting, with only the Village Green Preservation Society being protected. I imagine there's a whole bunch of stuff that is alien to most Reform councillors that helps keep struggling families afloat. DOGE-UK will be as disastrous as DOGE-US in terms of actual savings/popularity.
    They'll just further blight the lives of the already blighted and call it a triumph because they can show themselves marching a librarian out to the firing squads
    'Have you heard of the Dewey Decimal System?'

    'Ye..'

    ☠️
    I have a sentimental attachment to libraries myself, but I can't remember the last time I visited one. Not for over 8 years I suspect.
    I used to be a regular visitor to mine (which is 10 minutes walk away so no excuse) but the first sign of my disastrous falling out of love with reading was paying fines for late return of books which even then were unfinished. I still have a probably sentimental attachment to the idea that kids should be encouraged to read as early as possible even it means turning libraries into noisy crèches.
    I goto a discussion group (!) in mine, which is supposed to be about writing but very often seem to be about anything else. It can be very informative about education, though.
    PB Unplugged?

    (Who doesn’t wish we had the quality that was MTV Unplugged, now?)
  • another_richardanother_richard Posts: 27,706

    Rachel Reeves: I did well at school but I’m here for the girls who didn’t

    Her critics say the chancellor has no clear vision, but she tells our political editor that education is her true mission

    https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/rachel-reeves-i-did-well-at-school-but-im-here-for-the-girls-who-didnt

    Reshuffle incoming?

    If education is her mission why is she doing nothing about the collapse in higher education institutions across the country?
    The default of governments is to spend on health, oldies and the health of oldies.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 27,663
    edited June 8

    MattW said:

    Roger said:

    I can't imagine it being popular in the UK. Firstly echoes of 'Big Brother' and secondly the British are supportive of public service which this sounds like it wants to remove.

    As I suggested on the previous thread, I wonder how matters in the Reform-led Councils in Durham, Kent and Lincolnshire are going to develop. From what I've seen of Kent I can't imagine there's much 'unnecessary' spending to cut, unless, of course, in the minds of Farage supporters, it's on 'caring' for boat people.
    I had a phone call with a relative in Kent the other day), and they are buzzing about Reform cancelling all the committee meetings.

    I didn't get around to mentioning that the new Council Leader was an aspiring Tory Councillor who did not get as far as being elected. Though there are also some good things about the new Council Leader - notably that she recognises that she is critically dependent on the expert officers running the departments.
    I must ask my elder son, who lives in Kent, what he thinks. I think he had enough of politics when he was a teenager though, with me being involved.
    Glad to read of the self-awareness of the Council Leader though. However I don't see how they're going manage things with full council getting bogged down in detail.
    I've been digging into a bit of broad-brush data about RefUK controlled Councils to see if there are opportunities for efficiency improvements, and I'm fascinated to know why eg Kent County has a Council tax precept lower than Notts County, (£1600 vs £1900), but a budget of £2.6 billion for 1.3 million people vs the corresponding £670 million for 825k people for Notts.

    There will be a multitude of reasons for local variation - not least Nottingham is carved out of Notts CC, and Canterbury is a District, whilst Medway in Geographical Kent is a Unitary. Also Kent's four Universities are inside the County Council's area, whilst in Notts they the 2 Universities are in Nottingham City.

    But the differences look big enough at first glance for some comparisons to be worth it if DOGE is actually interested in efficiency, rather than being about marketing.

    I may try and finagle a header, if it looks interesting.
  • StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 10,135
    Leon said:

    kinabalu said:

    I'm perturbed by how doing things slowly and carefully is becoming seen as somehow timid or wimpy. It isn't. It's how most things are best done.

    You’ve clearly never had sex in the corridor of the 10.57pm train from Lewes
    Surely you just lean in and let the train take the strain?
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 54,943
    viewcode said:

    Roger said:

    I can't imagine it being popular in the UK. Firstly echoes of 'Big Brother' and secondly the British are supportive of public service which this sounds like it wants to remove.

    I am expecting Refrom to be generally tin-eared in their pursuit of cost-cutting, with only the Village Green Preservation Society being protected. I imagine there's a whole bunch of stuff that is alien to most Reform councillors that helps keep struggling families afloat. DOGE-UK will be as disastrous as DOGE-US in terms of actual savings/popularity.
    They'll just further blight the lives of the already blighted and call it a triumph because they can show themselves marching a librarian out to the firing squads
    'Have you heard of the Dewey Decimal System?'

    'Ye..'

    ☠️
    I have a sentimental attachment to libraries myself, but I can't remember the last time I visited one. Not for over 8 years I suspect.
    I'm in the public library the majority of Saturdays, and I'm in the library at work infrequently. In times of low finance they provide free computer, photocopier and printer access, and even when flush it provides masses of books for free.
    Our local library has a very popular thing, in the week day time, of story telling and sing-alongs for kids. The chap doing it rather resembled Michael Palin.

    This was then chopped on the grounds of it being too middle class. Seriously.

    The same idiots tried binning all the expensive reference books for DVDs. Yes, just in time for streaming.

    A separate area for kids to do homework was shut down as well. The kids were given access cards for the room - which had computers and printers. Some people got very upset about exclusion of those who were violent to those trying to study and/or stole equipment.

    Yes, now the library is nice and silent. Not many customers. I wonder why?
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 43,833
    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    viewcode said:

    Leon said:

    kinabalu said:

    I'm perturbed by how doing things slowly and carefully is becoming seen as somehow timid or wimpy. It isn't. It's how most things are best done.

    You’ve clearly never had sex in the corridor of the 10.57pm train from Lewes
    Lewes does not have a railway station
    Most PB exchange evah.
    Lewes has a railway station

    https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/lewes/
    You declaring that you’re right is the icing on the Platonic ideal of PB threads.
    You might be interested to know this sex on the last train from Lewes (yes, Lewes station, @viewcode, you miserable cur) was instigated by my young Scottish girlfriend. A daughter of Fife. I hope that makes you proud

    Looking back I realise she had a kink about sex al fresco/being caught in the act. Nonetheless there’s a limit, so we had to be hasty

    Only one person saw us. An older, well dressed Indian chap. He came down the corridor, saw us clearly having sex on the train, and - quite brilliantly and admirably - acted as if nothing was happening. He politely smiled and said Good Evening, and then walked round us and proceeded on his way

    A true gentleman
    More predictably mine was on the last train from Glasgow to Edinburgh (a long time ago), open plan carriages,, but quite sparsely occupied. We thought we were far enough away from the nearest fellow passenger, but unlike your discreet Indian gentleman one of the tipsy travellers bellowed ‘Ah smell SEX!’
    Deflation of my youthful priapism.
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 23,013

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    viewcode said:

    Leon said:

    kinabalu said:

    I'm perturbed by how doing things slowly and carefully is becoming seen as somehow timid or wimpy. It isn't. It's how most things are best done.

    You’ve clearly never had sex in the corridor of the 10.57pm train from Lewes
    Lewes does not have a railway station
    Most PB exchange evah.
    Lewes has a railway station

    https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/lewes/
    You declaring that you’re right is the icing on the Platonic ideal of PB threads.
    You might be interested to know this sex on the last train from Lewes (yes, Lewes station, @viewcode, you miserable cur) was instigated by my young Scottish girlfriend. A daughter of Fife. I hope that makes you proud

    Looking back I realise she had a kink about sex al fresco/being caught in the act. Nonetheless there’s a limit, so we had to be hasty

    Only one person saw us. An older, well dressed Indian chap. He came down the corridor, saw us clearly having sex on the train, and - quite brilliantly and admirably - acted as if nothing was happening. He politely smiled and said Good Evening, and then walked round us and proceeded on his way

    A true gentleman
    To get to the selective secondary school I attended I had to take a 10 minute train ride. There was a girls school next door so when, at about 16 I started going out with a girl who had the same journey we used to jump into a compartment..... no corridors in those trains ..... and stop anyone else getting in. We then had a few uninterruptible minutes. It stopped though when we broke up and I took to cycling to school.
    There are some of those non-corridor compartment coaches preserved at the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway. Not everyone goes for the thrill of steam!
  • BartholomewRobertsBartholomewRoberts Posts: 24,336

    On topic -

    The tragedy of DOGE style slashing goes beyond the damage it will do, in the short term.

    For a political generation or two, all reasonable attempts to increase productivity in government will be tarred with this shite.

    The main saving the US DOGE seems to have made is the shuttering of USAID.

    That can't be done in the UK as between the asylum bills, Sunak’s cut, and Starmer’s cut, UK aid has already been shuttered.

    Good.

    The corrupt circlejerk of "charities" hiring the likes of David Miliband, who then lobby for taxpayers money to go to those charities, should never return.

    Taxpayers money should go on public services.

    Charity should be something people choose to donate to, not get taxed to go towards.

    If you donate to Water Aid, or World Vision, or Comic Relief, or CAFOD or anything else then all power to your elbow. I regularly do too. But that's a choice, it shouldn't be compelled by the State, and those donations shouldn't be funding ex-politicians who exist to lobby for more taxpayers money.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 61,634
    edited June 8

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    viewcode said:

    Leon said:

    kinabalu said:

    I'm perturbed by how doing things slowly and carefully is becoming seen as somehow timid or wimpy. It isn't. It's how most things are best done.

    You’ve clearly never had sex in the corridor of the 10.57pm train from Lewes
    Lewes does not have a railway station
    Most PB exchange evah.
    Lewes has a railway station

    https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/lewes/
    You declaring that you’re right is the icing on the Platonic ideal of PB threads.
    You might be interested to know this sex on the last train from Lewes (yes, Lewes station, @viewcode, you miserable cur) was instigated by my young Scottish girlfriend. A daughter of Fife. I hope that makes you proud

    Looking back I realise she had a kink about sex al fresco/being caught in the act. Nonetheless there’s a limit, so we had to be hasty

    Only one person saw us. An older, well dressed Indian chap. He came down the corridor, saw us clearly having sex on the train, and - quite brilliantly and admirably - acted as if nothing was happening. He politely smiled and said Good Evening, and then walked round us and proceeded on his way

    A true gentleman
    I once heard a story about a couple who had sex in their seats on the train. Afterwards, they lit cigarettes. It was at this point that other passengers complained about their behaviour.
    I wonder about the psychology of sex “outdoors”

    Sorry if this is a bit fruity for a Sunday morning but it’s an interesting subject. I like sex Al fresco but mainly because it can be a lovely sensation, out in the open, fresh air, the sun on your back, less nice for anyone underneath maybe but hey

    Occasionally I like the taboo nature of it. Doing it somewhere ridiculously inappropriate

    But for my Scottish girlfriend (as was) - the thrill was definitely in the chance of being caught. Of being seen. I don’t mind either way but for her it was a buzz

    Ah, the endless variety of human life!

    And now, coffee
  • LeonLeon Posts: 61,634

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    viewcode said:

    Leon said:

    kinabalu said:

    I'm perturbed by how doing things slowly and carefully is becoming seen as somehow timid or wimpy. It isn't. It's how most things are best done.

    You’ve clearly never had sex in the corridor of the 10.57pm train from Lewes
    Lewes does not have a railway station
    Most PB exchange evah.
    Lewes has a railway station

    https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/lewes/
    You declaring that you’re right is the icing on the Platonic ideal of PB threads.
    You might be interested to know this sex on the last train from Lewes (yes, Lewes station, @viewcode, you miserable cur) was instigated by my young Scottish girlfriend. A daughter of Fife. I hope that makes you proud

    Looking back I realise she had a kink about sex al fresco/being caught in the act. Nonetheless there’s a limit, so we had to be hasty

    Only one person saw us. An older, well dressed Indian chap. He came down the corridor, saw us clearly having sex on the train, and - quite brilliantly and admirably - acted as if nothing was happening. He politely smiled and said Good Evening, and then walked round us and proceeded on his way

    A true gentleman
    More predictably mine was on the last train from Glasgow to Edinburgh (a long time ago), open plan carriages,, but quite sparsely occupied. We thought we were far enough away from the nearest fellow passenger, but unlike your discreet Indian gentleman one of the tipsy travellers bellowed ‘Ah smell SEX!’
    Deflation of my youthful priapism.
    lol!
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 66,179
    edited June 8

    viewcode said:

    Roger said:

    I can't imagine it being popular in the UK. Firstly echoes of 'Big Brother' and secondly the British are supportive of public service which this sounds like it wants to remove.

    I am expecting Refrom to be generally tin-eared in their pursuit of cost-cutting, with only the Village Green Preservation Society being protected. I imagine there's a whole bunch of stuff that is alien to most Reform councillors that helps keep struggling families afloat. DOGE-UK will be as disastrous as DOGE-US in terms of actual savings/popularity.
    They'll just further blight the lives of the already blighted and call it a triumph because they can show themselves marching a librarian out to the firing squads
    'Have you heard of the Dewey Decimal System?'

    'Ye..'

    ☠️
    I have a sentimental attachment to libraries myself, but I can't remember the last time I visited one. Not for over 8 years I suspect.
    I'm in the public library the majority of Saturdays, and I'm in the library at work infrequently. In times of low finance they provide free computer, photocopier and printer access, and even when flush it provides masses of books for free.
    Our local library has a very popular thing, in the week day time, of story telling and sing-alongs for kids. The chap doing it rather resembled Michael Palin.

    This was then chopped on the grounds of it being too middle class. Seriously.

    The same idiots tried binning all the expensive reference books for DVDs. Yes, just in time for streaming.

    A separate area for kids to do homework was shut down as well. The kids were given access cards for the room - which had computers and printers. Some people got very upset about exclusion of those who were violent to those trying to study and/or stole equipment.

    Yes, now the library is nice and silent. Not many customers. I wonder why?
    Stories and their telling are too middle class? No wonder this country is ***bleep***.
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 34,945

    viewcode said:

    Roger said:

    I can't imagine it being popular in the UK. Firstly echoes of 'Big Brother' and secondly the British are supportive of public service which this sounds like it wants to remove.

    I am expecting Refrom to be generally tin-eared in their pursuit of cost-cutting, with only the Village Green Preservation Society being protected. I imagine there's a whole bunch of stuff that is alien to most Reform councillors that helps keep struggling families afloat. DOGE-UK will be as disastrous as DOGE-US in terms of actual savings/popularity.
    They'll just further blight the lives of the already blighted and call it a triumph because they can show themselves marching a librarian out to the firing squads
    'Have you heard of the Dewey Decimal System?'

    'Ye..'

    ☠️
    I have a sentimental attachment to libraries myself, but I can't remember the last time I visited one. Not for over 8 years I suspect.
    I'm in the public library the majority of Saturdays, and I'm in the library at work infrequently. In times of low finance they provide free computer, photocopier and printer access, and even when flush it provides masses of books for free.
    Our local library has a very popular thing, in the week day time, of story telling and sing-alongs for kids. The chap doing it rather resembled Michael Palin.

    This was then chopped on the grounds of it being too middle class. Seriously.

    The same idiots tried binning all the expensive reference books for DVDs. Yes, just in time for streaming.

    A separate area for kids to do homework was shut down as well. The kids were given access cards for the room - which had computers and printers. Some people got very upset about exclusion of those who were violent to those trying to study and/or stole equipment.

    Yes, now the library is nice and silent. Not many customers. I wonder why?
    As well as the 'discussion' group mentioned earlier there are all sorts of activities at our library, and the librarian really seems to look out for ideas.
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 14,616

    Rachel Reeves: I did well at school but I’m here for the girls who didn’t

    Her critics say the chancellor has no clear vision, but she tells our political editor that education is her true mission

    https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/rachel-reeves-i-did-well-at-school-but-im-here-for-the-girls-who-didnt

    Reshuffle incoming?

    That would be quite in interesting way of stage-managing that move.
    I think it's just to advertise her pitiful increase in education spending incoming this week
    On balance so do I, but this is another way of looking at it. Reeves goes voluntarily, feathering her own nest in the education department before she does. Poor Bridget Phillipson if so (oh dear how sad never mind).
    Even SKS isnt enough of a turd to allow her to present the first spending review for 4 years then quit and reward her with another job
    Indeed he can't possibly reshuffle her now for some time so I think its Miliband for the chop
    Don't tease.
    Fried green Milibands
    I think he's actually loony enough to defect to the greens if he gets sacked. I also don't see where he could be moved. Perhaps promotion to Foreign Sec?

    I don't actually know how you get rid of Miliband, except give him some vastly important sounding but meaningless job 'UK environmental emissary to the UN' or something and have him private jetting around the world (something loved by all environmentally inclined politicians) haranguing people about CO2.
    Given you literally believe that climate change/net zero is a conspiracy by elites, possibly your opinion here is not worth much.
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 14,616

    Rachel Reeves: I did well at school but I’m here for the girls who didn’t

    Her critics say the chancellor has no clear vision, but she tells our political editor that education is her true mission

    https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/rachel-reeves-i-did-well-at-school-but-im-here-for-the-girls-who-didnt

    Reshuffle incoming?

    That would be quite in interesting way of stage-managing that move.
    I think it's just to advertise her pitiful increase in education spending incoming this week
    On balance so do I, but this is another way of looking at it. Reeves goes voluntarily, feathering her own nest in the education department before she does. Poor Bridget Phillipson if so (oh dear how sad never mind).
    Even SKS isnt enough of a turd to allow her to present the first spending review for 4 years then quit and reward her with another job
    Indeed he can't possibly reshuffle her now for some time so I think its Miliband for the chop
    Don't tease.
    Fried green Milibands
    I think he's actually loony enough to defect to the greens if he gets sacked. I also don't see where he could be moved. Perhaps promotion to Foreign Sec?

    I don't actually know how you get rid of Miliband, except give him some vastly important sounding but meaningless job 'UK environmental emissary to the UN' or something and have him private jetting around the world (something loved by all environmentally inclined politicians) haranguing people about CO2.
    My MP Clive Lewis is another potential Green. I could see a small group jumping if Polanski wins. Not if Ramsey and Chowns win though, they are ecology party 1983 leaders
    Don’t you think Polanski is too unserious for the likes of Clive Lewis?
  • MattWMattW Posts: 27,663
    edited June 8

    viewcode said:

    Roger said:

    I can't imagine it being popular in the UK. Firstly echoes of 'Big Brother' and secondly the British are supportive of public service which this sounds like it wants to remove.

    I am expecting Refrom to be generally tin-eared in their pursuit of cost-cutting, with only the Village Green Preservation Society being protected. I imagine there's a whole bunch of stuff that is alien to most Reform councillors that helps keep struggling families afloat. DOGE-UK will be as disastrous as DOGE-US in terms of actual savings/popularity.
    They'll just further blight the lives of the already blighted and call it a triumph because they can show themselves marching a librarian out to the firing squads
    'Have you heard of the Dewey Decimal System?'

    'Ye..'

    ☠️
    I have a sentimental attachment to libraries myself, but I can't remember the last time I visited one. Not for over 8 years I suspect.
    I'm in the public library the majority of Saturdays, and I'm in the library at work infrequently. In times of low finance they provide free computer, photocopier and printer access, and even when flush it provides masses of books for free.
    Our local library has a very popular thing, in the week day time, of story telling and sing-alongs for kids. The chap doing it rather resembled Michael Palin.

    This was then chopped on the grounds of it being too middle class. Seriously.

    The same idiots tried binning all the expensive reference books for DVDs. Yes, just in time for streaming.

    A separate area for kids to do homework was shut down as well. The kids were given access cards for the room - which had computers and printers. Some people got very upset about exclusion of those who were violent to those trying to study and/or stole equipment.

    Yes, now the library is nice and silent. Not many customers. I wonder why?
    This is our library, laid out by my dad and his colleagues around 1970, next to the bus station. The sequence is town centre square -> shopping centre with indoor market, car parks underneath and offices on top -> bus station.

    Designed so that people walk from the town through the centre to catch their bus, and can spend time in the library in the meantime. One amusing anecdote is that someone tried to make the centre walkways 30ft wide, and dad had to point out that they only needed 20ft and that the other 5ft each side would be better inside the shops.

    As an urban setup it still works effectively, despite challenges such as Macarthur Glen 3 miles away drawing 4 million people pa. Businesses and footfall in the town centre need some TLC.

    https://maps.app.goo.gl/44Ktc7zorKfUDkkV7
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 34,945
    MattW said:

    viewcode said:

    Roger said:

    I can't imagine it being popular in the UK. Firstly echoes of 'Big Brother' and secondly the British are supportive of public service which this sounds like it wants to remove.

    I am expecting Refrom to be generally tin-eared in their pursuit of cost-cutting, with only the Village Green Preservation Society being protected. I imagine there's a whole bunch of stuff that is alien to most Reform councillors that helps keep struggling families afloat. DOGE-UK will be as disastrous as DOGE-US in terms of actual savings/popularity.
    They'll just further blight the lives of the already blighted and call it a triumph because they can show themselves marching a librarian out to the firing squads
    'Have you heard of the Dewey Decimal System?'

    'Ye..'

    ☠️
    I have a sentimental attachment to libraries myself, but I can't remember the last time I visited one. Not for over 8 years I suspect.
    I'm in the public library the majority of Saturdays, and I'm in the library at work infrequently. In times of low finance they provide free computer, photocopier and printer access, and even when flush it provides masses of books for free.
    Our local library has a very popular thing, in the week day time, of story telling and sing-alongs for kids. The chap doing it rather resembled Michael Palin.

    This was then chopped on the grounds of it being too middle class. Seriously.

    The same idiots tried binning all the expensive reference books for DVDs. Yes, just in time for streaming.

    A separate area for kids to do homework was shut down as well. The kids were given access cards for the room - which had computers and printers. Some people got very upset about exclusion of those who were violent to those trying to study and/or stole equipment.

    Yes, now the library is nice and silent. Not many customers. I wonder why?
    This is our library, laid out by my dad and his colleagues around 1970, next to the bus station. The sequence is town centre square -> shopping centre with indoor market, car parks underneath and offices on top -> bus station.

    Designed so that people walk from the town through the centre to catch their bus, and can spend time in the library in the meantime. One amusing anecdote is that someone tried to make the centre walkways 30ft wide, and dad had to point out that they only needed 20ft and that the other 5ft each side would be better inside the shops.

    As an urban setup it still works effectively, despite challenges such as Macarthur Glen 3 miles away drawing 4 million people pa. Businesses and footfall in the town centre need some TLC.

    https://maps.app.goo.gl/44Ktc7zorKfUDkkV7
    Very useful. Ours is somewhat smaller, but then we're a much smaller town. It's a former Quaker Meeting Hall, so it always has been fairly quiet!
  • MattWMattW Posts: 27,663
    edited June 8
    Heh. What Bluesky is for, sometimes.

    "Fuck your concrete .."

    https://bsky.app/profile/slendersherbet.bsky.social/post/3lr2awwjeic22
  • LeonLeon Posts: 61,634
    edited June 8

    MattW said:

    viewcode said:

    Roger said:

    I can't imagine it being popular in the UK. Firstly echoes of 'Big Brother' and secondly the British are supportive of public service which this sounds like it wants to remove.

    I am expecting Refrom to be generally tin-eared in their pursuit of cost-cutting, with only the Village Green Preservation Society being protected. I imagine there's a whole bunch of stuff that is alien to most Reform councillors that helps keep struggling families afloat. DOGE-UK will be as disastrous as DOGE-US in terms of actual savings/popularity.
    They'll just further blight the lives of the already blighted and call it a triumph because they can show themselves marching a librarian out to the firing squads
    'Have you heard of the Dewey Decimal System?'

    'Ye..'

    ☠️
    I have a sentimental attachment to libraries myself, but I can't remember the last time I visited one. Not for over 8 years I suspect.
    I'm in the public library the majority of Saturdays, and I'm in the library at work infrequently. In times of low finance they provide free computer, photocopier and printer access, and even when flush it provides masses of books for free.
    Our local library has a very popular thing, in the week day time, of story telling and sing-alongs for kids. The chap doing it rather resembled Michael Palin.

    This was then chopped on the grounds of it being too middle class. Seriously.

    The same idiots tried binning all the expensive reference books for DVDs. Yes, just in time for streaming.

    A separate area for kids to do homework was shut down as well. The kids were given access cards for the room - which had computers and printers. Some people got very upset about exclusion of those who were violent to those trying to study and/or stole equipment.

    Yes, now the library is nice and silent. Not many customers. I wonder why?
    This is our library, laid out by my dad and his colleagues around 1970, next to the bus station. The sequence is town centre square -> shopping centre with indoor market, car parks underneath and offices on top -> bus station.

    Designed so that people walk from the town through the centre to catch their bus, and can spend time in the library in the meantime. One amusing anecdote is that someone tried to make the centre walkways 30ft wide, and dad had to point out that they only needed 20ft and that the other 5ft each side would be better inside the shops.

    As an urban setup it still works effectively, despite challenges such as Macarthur Glen 3 miles away drawing 4 million people pa. Businesses and footfall in the town centre need some TLC.

    https://maps.app.goo.gl/44Ktc7zorKfUDkkV7
    Very useful. Ours is somewhat smaller, but then we're a much smaller town. It's a former Quaker Meeting Hall, so it always has been fairly quiet!
    I want to go back to that small humble beautiful green England. A land of giant woodlands and exquisite market towns. Of proper forests and maybe highwaymen. London can still be big but there will be lynx in Dorset, you’ll hear wolves from Ely cathedral, and bears will rove the uplands by Bamburgh Castle

    We just need to reduce the human population by about 94%

    Enough people now. Most people are dull. Depopulate

  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 78,040

    MattW said:

    FPT, because I was threaded again:. On High-Low defence procurement.

    Nigelb said:

    Our defence procurement (and our manufacturers) should be taking a close look at this program.
    Something quite similar to Storm Shadow at (supposedly) less than a tenth of the price.

    https://breakingdefense.com/2025/03/anduril-and-zone-5-technologies-advance-for-air-force-diu-enterprise-test-vehicle/
    ..According to Mike Rothstein, Lockheed’s vice president of strategy and requirements for air weapons and sensors, the CMMT is designed to be an “upper subsonic” air vehicle with a range of “multiple hundreds of miles,” adding that larger variants can travel “upwards to 1,000-ish miles.” Besides features like scalability, the platform was also designed to more easily incorporate different payloads like warheads or sensors.

    Rothstein said the CMMT “fits very well inside [FAMM]” effort, and that the company was aiming to meet unit cost goals under the program of $150,000 per round. According to a Lockheed press release, the weapon comes in two air-launched variants: one configuration can deploy from airlifters, fighters and bombers, while a smaller version can act as a launched effect from rotary aircraft...

    I think TBH we are already on quite a lot of that, including innovation fed back from Ukraine.

    The SDSR talks about a "Hi-Low" mix (Chapter 1, Page 19, Section 30) - that is there are posh, excellent versions of whatever, that can do 100%, and further ones that do perhaps 80%, where 100% is not needed. Take the contrast between Type 45 frigates ("destroyers") at £1.2bn each from BAE and the Type 31 frigates from Babcock, at £313m each.

    The type 45s uses an anti-air missile from the French/Italians, Aster 15/30 at £1-2 million each. Type 23 / and the new Type 31 uses CAMM and CAMM-ER, British, at £200k or £1 million each. I'd describe that as High-Low. If I have it right, CAMM is also up for use on land and potentially in the air as well.

    I think that's a decent summary. There are perhaps better examples around.

    More to do, and new ideas coming up all the time, of course. But there's has imo been a measure of coherence in a fair amount of our defence procurement for some time.
    Hi-lo mix has been around since weapons were invented. See ancient armies with the Big Cheeses in expensive armour and various levels below them, down to the shepards with sling shots.

    The exceptions are mainly where the cost savings on the “lo” are not worth it. See MBTs in most countries.
    It's the detail that counts.
    What's new is the speed of iteration, and the volumes required at the low end.

    Aster, for example is semi-obsolete against the latest threats - France and Italy have upgraded in the works, but at £2m a throw, it's an expensive system, and for true anti-ballistic missile capability it's probably nearer £10m.

    At the low end, BAE has the APKWS, but we don't have much in the way of cheap air to surface missiles.
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 11,100

    Rachel Reeves: I did well at school but I’m here for the girls who didn’t

    Her critics say the chancellor has no clear vision, but she tells our political editor that education is her true mission

    https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/rachel-reeves-i-did-well-at-school-but-im-here-for-the-girls-who-didnt

    Reshuffle incoming?

    That would be quite in interesting way of stage-managing that move.
    I think it's just to advertise her pitiful increase in education spending incoming this week
    On balance so do I, but this is another way of looking at it. Reeves goes voluntarily, feathering her own nest in the education department before she does. Poor Bridget Phillipson if so (oh dear how sad never mind).
    Even SKS isnt enough of a turd to allow her to present the first spending review for 4 years then quit and reward her with another job
    Indeed he can't possibly reshuffle her now for some time so I think its Miliband for the chop
    Don't tease.
    Fried green Milibands
    I think he's actually loony enough to defect to the greens if he gets sacked. I also don't see where he could be moved. Perhaps promotion to Foreign Sec?

    I don't actually know how you get rid of Miliband, except give him some vastly important sounding but meaningless job 'UK environmental emissary to the UN' or something and have him private jetting around the world (something loved by all environmentally inclined politicians) haranguing people about CO2.
    My MP Clive Lewis is another potential Green. I could see a small group jumping if Polanski wins. Not if Ramsey and Chowns win though, they are ecology party 1983 leaders
    Don’t you think Polanski is too unserious for the likes of Clive Lewis?
    Probably, yeah. There's been rumours about Lewis since before the GE. I dunno, just seems a way out for some perhaps, but not rating it a high chance
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 31,613

    Rachel Reeves: I did well at school but I’m here for the girls who didn’t

    Her critics say the chancellor has no clear vision, but she tells our political editor that education is her true mission

    https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/rachel-reeves-i-did-well-at-school-but-im-here-for-the-girls-who-didnt

    Reshuffle incoming?

    That would be quite in interesting way of stage-managing that move.
    I think it's just to advertise her pitiful increase in education spending incoming this week
    On balance so do I, but this is another way of looking at it. Reeves goes voluntarily, feathering her own nest in the education department before she does. Poor Bridget Phillipson if so (oh dear how sad never mind).
    Even SKS isnt enough of a turd to allow her to present the first spending review for 4 years then quit and reward her with another job
    Indeed he can't possibly reshuffle her now for some time so I think its Miliband for the chop
    Don't tease.
    Fried green Milibands
    I think he's actually loony enough to defect to the greens if he gets sacked. I also don't see where he could be moved. Perhaps promotion to Foreign Sec?

    I don't actually know how you get rid of Miliband, except give him some vastly important sounding but meaningless job 'UK environmental emissary to the UN' or something and have him private jetting around the world (something loved by all environmentally inclined politicians) haranguing people about CO2.
    Given you literally believe that climate change/net zero is a conspiracy by elites, possibly your opinion here is not worth much.
    Um, OK dear.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 27,663
    edited June 8
    On topic, a piece looking at Doge's difficulty with getting to grips with Council finances.

    TLDR: Simplistic assumptions, lack of relevant skills, no domain knowledge.

    https://eastangliabylines.co.uk/politics/local-government/exposed-reform-uk-doesnt-know-how-government-spending-works/
    Reform UK just confused a procurement framework with a spending scandal – and revealed they don’t understand government

    It's sunny - have a good day everyone.
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 34,945
    Leon said:

    MattW said:

    viewcode said:

    Roger said:

    I can't imagine it being popular in the UK. Firstly echoes of 'Big Brother' and secondly the British are supportive of public service which this sounds like it wants to remove.

    I am expecting Refrom to be generally tin-eared in their pursuit of cost-cutting, with only the Village Green Preservation Society being protected. I imagine there's a whole bunch of stuff that is alien to most Reform councillors that helps keep struggling families afloat. DOGE-UK will be as disastrous as DOGE-US in terms of actual savings/popularity.
    They'll just further blight the lives of the already blighted and call it a triumph because they can show themselves marching a librarian out to the firing squads
    'Have you heard of the Dewey Decimal System?'

    'Ye..'

    ☠️
    I have a sentimental attachment to libraries myself, but I can't remember the last time I visited one. Not for over 8 years I suspect.
    I'm in the public library the majority of Saturdays, and I'm in the library at work infrequently. In times of low finance they provide free computer, photocopier and printer access, and even when flush it provides masses of books for free.
    Our local library has a very popular thing, in the week day time, of story telling and sing-alongs for kids. The chap doing it rather resembled Michael Palin.

    This was then chopped on the grounds of it being too middle class. Seriously.

    The same idiots tried binning all the expensive reference books for DVDs. Yes, just in time for streaming.

    A separate area for kids to do homework was shut down as well. The kids were given access cards for the room - which had computers and printers. Some people got very upset about exclusion of those who were violent to those trying to study and/or stole equipment.

    Yes, now the library is nice and silent. Not many customers. I wonder why?
    This is our library, laid out by my dad and his colleagues around 1970, next to the bus station. The sequence is town centre square -> shopping centre with indoor market, car parks underneath and offices on top -> bus station.

    Designed so that people walk from the town through the centre to catch their bus, and can spend time in the library in the meantime. One amusing anecdote is that someone tried to make the centre walkways 30ft wide, and dad had to point out that they only needed 20ft and that the other 5ft each side would be better inside the shops.

    As an urban setup it still works effectively, despite challenges such as Macarthur Glen 3 miles away drawing 4 million people pa. Businesses and footfall in the town centre need some TLC.

    https://maps.app.goo.gl/44Ktc7zorKfUDkkV7
    Very useful. Ours is somewhat smaller, but then we're a much smaller town. It's a former Quaker Meeting Hall, so it always has been fairly quiet!
    I want to go back to that small humble beautiful green England. A land of giant woodlands and exquisite market towns. Of proper forests and maybe highwaymen. London can still be big but there will be lynx in Dorset, you’ll hear wolves from Ely cathedral, and bears will rove the uplands by Bamburgh Castle

    We just need to reduce the human population by about 94%

    Enough people now. Most people are dull. Depopulate

    Back in the 19th C we had a local 'Gang'. Evil b*st*rds; used to prey on the moderately wealthy elderly. Finally they were caught and, there being no honour among thieves, informed on each other. They were eventually caught, prosecuted and sentenced to various terms of transportation, from seven years to life.
    So it wasn't all sweetness and light.
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 18,863
    edited June 8
    MattW said:

    On topic, a piece looking at Doge's difficulty with getting to grips with Council finances.

    TLDR: Simplistic assumptions, lack of relevant skills, no domain knowledge.

    https://eastangliabylines.co.uk/politics/local-government/exposed-reform-uk-doesnt-know-how-government-spending-works/
    Reform UK just confused a procurement framework with a spending scandal – and revealed they don’t understand government

    It's sunny - have a good day everyone.

    So there isn't £350 million (the cursed quantity again) to painlessly cut?

    Shocked, I tells you. Shocked.
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 14,616

    Rachel Reeves: I did well at school but I’m here for the girls who didn’t

    Her critics say the chancellor has no clear vision, but she tells our political editor that education is her true mission

    https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/rachel-reeves-i-did-well-at-school-but-im-here-for-the-girls-who-didnt

    Reshuffle incoming?

    That would be quite in interesting way of stage-managing that move.
    I think it's just to advertise her pitiful increase in education spending incoming this week
    On balance so do I, but this is another way of looking at it. Reeves goes voluntarily, feathering her own nest in the education department before she does. Poor Bridget Phillipson if so (oh dear how sad never mind).
    Even SKS isnt enough of a turd to allow her to present the first spending review for 4 years then quit and reward her with another job
    Indeed he can't possibly reshuffle her now for some time so I think its Miliband for the chop
    Don't tease.
    Fried green Milibands
    I think he's actually loony enough to defect to the greens if he gets sacked. I also don't see where he could be moved. Perhaps promotion to Foreign Sec?

    I don't actually know how you get rid of Miliband, except give him some vastly important sounding but meaningless job 'UK environmental emissary to the UN' or something and have him private jetting around the world (something loved by all environmentally inclined politicians) haranguing people about CO2.
    Given you literally believe that climate change/net zero is a conspiracy by elites, possibly your opinion here is not worth much.
    Um, OK dear.
    That is the view you previously expressed here. Have you changed your mind?
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 78,040

    viewcode said:

    Roger said:

    I can't imagine it being popular in the UK. Firstly echoes of 'Big Brother' and secondly the British are supportive of public service which this sounds like it wants to remove.

    I am expecting Refrom to be generally tin-eared in their pursuit of cost-cutting, with only the Village Green Preservation Society being protected. I imagine there's a whole bunch of stuff that is alien to most Reform councillors that helps keep struggling families afloat. DOGE-UK will be as disastrous as DOGE-US in terms of actual savings/popularity.
    They'll just further blight the lives of the already blighted and call it a triumph because they can show themselves marching a librarian out to the firing squads
    'Have you heard of the Dewey Decimal System?'

    'Ye..'

    ☠️
    I have a sentimental attachment to libraries myself, but I can't remember the last time I visited one. Not for over 8 years I suspect.
    I'm in the public library the majority of Saturdays, and I'm in the library at work infrequently. In times of low finance they provide free computer, photocopier and printer access, and even when flush it provides masses of books for free.
    Our local library has a very popular thing, in the week day time, of story telling and sing-alongs for kids. The chap doing it rather resembled Michael Palin.

    This was then chopped on the grounds of it being too middle class. Seriously.

    The same idiots tried binning all the expensive reference books for DVDs. Yes, just in time for streaming.

    A separate area for kids to do homework was shut down as well. The kids were given access cards for the room - which had computers and printers. Some people got very upset about exclusion of those who were violent to those trying to study and/or stole equipment.

    Yes, now the library is nice and silent. Not many customers. I wonder why?
    Stories and their telling are too middle class? No wonder this country is ***bleep***.
    My wife taught for several years in a primary school in one of Huddersfield's poorest areas.

    She can confirm that stories and their telling are most definitely not the sole preserve of the middle class.
  • stodgestodge Posts: 14,668
    Afternoon all :)

    The new KCC Leader was impressive on the Telegraph podcast. She’s obviously been listening to her senior officers and not to the shrills.

    The areas she mentioned were teaching English to migrants (symbolic as financially it would be a drop in the proverbial), potholes or rather the quality of Highway Maintenance, and Home to School Transport.

    The latter costs Kent £98 million of a total spend of £2.5 billion which in turn is offset by Government grants and credits of a further £1 billion so the actual expenditure in the Budget Book is £1.5 billion.
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 11,100

    Leon said:

    MattW said:

    viewcode said:

    Roger said:

    I can't imagine it being popular in the UK. Firstly echoes of 'Big Brother' and secondly the British are supportive of public service which this sounds like it wants to remove.

    I am expecting Refrom to be generally tin-eared in their pursuit of cost-cutting, with only the Village Green Preservation Society being protected. I imagine there's a whole bunch of stuff that is alien to most Reform councillors that helps keep struggling families afloat. DOGE-UK will be as disastrous as DOGE-US in terms of actual savings/popularity.
    They'll just further blight the lives of the already blighted and call it a triumph because they can show themselves marching a librarian out to the firing squads
    'Have you heard of the Dewey Decimal System?'

    'Ye..'

    ☠️
    I have a sentimental attachment to libraries myself, but I can't remember the last time I visited one. Not for over 8 years I suspect.
    I'm in the public library the majority of Saturdays, and I'm in the library at work infrequently. In times of low finance they provide free computer, photocopier and printer access, and even when flush it provides masses of books for free.
    Our local library has a very popular thing, in the week day time, of story telling and sing-alongs for kids. The chap doing it rather resembled Michael Palin.

    This was then chopped on the grounds of it being too middle class. Seriously.

    The same idiots tried binning all the expensive reference books for DVDs. Yes, just in time for streaming.

    A separate area for kids to do homework was shut down as well. The kids were given access cards for the room - which had computers and printers. Some people got very upset about exclusion of those who were violent to those trying to study and/or stole equipment.

    Yes, now the library is nice and silent. Not many customers. I wonder why?
    This is our library, laid out by my dad and his colleagues around 1970, next to the bus station. The sequence is town centre square -> shopping centre with indoor market, car parks underneath and offices on top -> bus station.

    Designed so that people walk from the town through the centre to catch their bus, and can spend time in the library in the meantime. One amusing anecdote is that someone tried to make the centre walkways 30ft wide, and dad had to point out that they only needed 20ft and that the other 5ft each side would be better inside the shops.

    As an urban setup it still works effectively, despite challenges such as Macarthur Glen 3 miles away drawing 4 million people pa. Businesses and footfall in the town centre need some TLC.

    https://maps.app.goo.gl/44Ktc7zorKfUDkkV7
    Very useful. Ours is somewhat smaller, but then we're a much smaller town. It's a former Quaker Meeting Hall, so it always has been fairly quiet!
    I want to go back to that small humble beautiful green England. A land of giant woodlands and exquisite market towns. Of proper forests and maybe highwaymen. London can still be big but there will be lynx in Dorset, you’ll hear wolves from Ely cathedral, and bears will rove the uplands by Bamburgh Castle

    We just need to reduce the human population by about 94%

    Enough people now. Most people are dull. Depopulate

    Back in the 19th C we had a local 'Gang'. Evil b*st*rds; used to prey on the moderately wealthy elderly. Finally they were caught and, there being no honour among thieves, informed on each other. They were eventually caught, prosecuted and sentenced to various terms of transportation, from seven years to life.
    So it wasn't all sweetness and light.
    My great great grandfather lived in a cottage less than a half mile straight up the road from me now where he looked after the woodland for the local bigwigs. It's said he had great issues with a local gang of ratbags who eventually got their comeuppance. And he then married my Great great grandmother and their daughter, my great grandmother, I knew as a small Woolie as she lived beyond 100.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 35,435
    "BBC Journalist asks Danish Politician how Denmark is able to maintain trust in its Democracy - “Give voters what they want. If they want lower immigration lower it”"

    https://x.com/kunley_drukpa/status/1930279793552941532
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 35,435

    Roger said:

    I can't imagine it being popular in the UK. Firstly echoes of 'Big Brother' and secondly the British are supportive of public service which this sounds like it wants to remove.

    I am expecting Refrom to be generally tin-eared in their pursuit of cost-cutting, with only the Village Green Preservation Society being protected. I imagine there's a whole bunch of stuff that is alien to most Reform councillors that helps keep struggling families afloat. DOGE-UK will be as disastrous as DOGE-US in terms of actual savings/popularity.
    They'll just further blight the lives of the already blighted and call it a triumph because they can show themselves marching a librarian out to the firing squads
    'Have you heard of the Dewey Decimal System?'

    'Ye..'

    ☠️
    I have a sentimental attachment to libraries myself, but I can't remember the last time I visited one. Not for over 8 years I suspect.
    I still visit them quite often but haven't actually borrowed a book from one for at least 10 years.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 55,465

    Rachel Reeves: I did well at school but I’m here for the girls who didn’t

    Her critics say the chancellor has no clear vision, but she tells our political editor that education is her true mission

    https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/rachel-reeves-i-did-well-at-school-but-im-here-for-the-girls-who-didnt

    Reshuffle incoming?

    If education is her mission why is she doing nothing about the collapse in higher education institutions across the country?
    Well, she is. She is causing them. Between private schools (particularly those with lots of children with additional needs) to bankrupt Universities and colleges, she is doing a lot. None of it good, unfortunately.
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 6,237
    kinabalu said:

    I'm perturbed by how doing things slowly and carefully is becoming seen as somehow timid or wimpy. It isn't. It's how most things are best done.

    The muppet doing 30 in front of me on the sliproad this morning thought so too.

    Timidity can be dangerous.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 31,613
    edited June 8
    ...
    MattW said:

    On topic, a piece looking at Doge's difficulty with getting to grips with Council finances.

    TLDR: Simplistic assumptions, lack of relevant skills, no domain knowledge.

    https://eastangliabylines.co.uk/politics/local-government/exposed-reform-uk-doesnt-know-how-government-spending-works/
    Reform UK just confused a procurement framework with a spending scandal – and revealed they don’t understand government

    It's sunny - have a good day everyone.

    Thanks, you too!

    My Dad has been on the contractor side of Government and local Government procurement for years (building industry). Framework agreements replacing compulsory competitive tendering have afaicr been a total disaster for value for money, with many property developers doubling and more than doubling their prices for school buildings (as an example). So they don't 'make sense' in the way the glib and frankly rather naive article describes.

    I don't have the inside scoop on the £350mn - and frankly that article does little to clarify the matter. It appears to me that a tenders were requested for recruitment services, and the 'winning bidder' was an arms-length organisation set up by the council itself. It seems at the very least to show a lack of transparency and competition.

    It is absolutely right that Reform questions everything they see in the local Government accounts, and whether Yusuf is right specifically to identify that tender process as an abuse of taxpayers' money will become clear in time. I would rather Reform make the odd embarassing mistake than not give a shit.

    I will say in the Tories' favour that I think Tory councils are marginally better run than Labour ones, so they will probably find a lot more under the floorboards when they win control of Labour councils following the next set of locals.
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 14,616
    The drones in the recent Ukrainian attack on Russian airbases used some degree of AI, which I thought was interesting: https://web.archive.org/web/20250606052857/https://www.kyivpost.com/post/53784
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 66,179
    stodge said:

    Afternoon all :)

    The new KCC Leader was impressive on the Telegraph podcast. She’s obviously been listening to her senior officers and not to the shrills.

    The areas she mentioned were teaching English to migrants (symbolic as financially it would be a drop in the proverbial), potholes or rather the quality of Highway Maintenance, and Home to School Transport.

    The latter costs Kent £98 million of a total spend of £2.5 billion which in turn is offset by Government grants and credits of a further £1 billion so the actual expenditure in the Budget Book is £1.5 billion.

    Do other countries do this home to school transport thing with taxi zooming around all over the place?
  • Northern_AlNorthern_Al Posts: 8,872
    On libraries, Brighton central library is large, relatively new, and hugely popular. They run all sorts of community-based activities, and books etc. are well-stocked. It's also a haven in winter for those struggling to heat their homes.

    I visit most weeks, mainly to catch up on magazines and papers, particularly those that are paywalled online. I've even been known to skim The Spectator and the DT, after which I feel the need to stop at the fine pub around the corner for a couple of pints to cleanse my soul.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,954
    Interesting to see even Tory voters not just Labour and LD voters view DOGE unfavourably, showing that Niall Ferguson's plans for an uber libertarian slash the state platform for Kemi would not be electorally beneficial for the party. Reform voters do view DOGE favourably but they are already pursuing such a policy in county councils they now control like Kent anyway.

    Meanwhile in the US DOGE is starting to unravel, with Musk abandoning his leadership of it as he says Trump is not pursuing it hard enough with his budget leading to a level of government spending Elon still sees as too high
  • MattWMattW Posts: 27,663
    stodge said:

    Afternoon all :)

    The new KCC Leader was impressive on the Telegraph podcast. She’s obviously been listening to her senior officers and not to the shrills.

    The areas she mentioned were teaching English to migrants (symbolic as financially it would be a drop in the proverbial), potholes or rather the quality of Highway Maintenance, and Home to School Transport.

    The latter costs Kent £98 million of a total spend of £2.5 billion which in turn is offset by Government grants and credits of a further £1 billion so the actual expenditure in the Budget Book is £1.5 billion.

    I think the challenge on Home to School is that it is subject to a legal / appeals process, and they have lost a lot of appeals.

    I do not have any other profiles of their Councillors, but I think there will be considerable differences across areas - Leicestershire have trouble incoming I think as they have eg put a teeny-bopping far right type in as Deputy Leader.

    They are all getting modest amounts of serious scrutiny however, which is important.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 66,179
    We may or may not be sitting at the death bed of the world’s oldest and historically most successful party. We are definitely moving closer to the point where a critical mass of Tories conclude that Kemi Badenoch has been given enough time to prove that she hasn’t got what it takes.

    https://observer.co.uk/news/opinion-and-ideas/article/andrew-rawnsley-kemis-tory-party-is-in-crisis
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 55,047
    HYUFD said:

    Interesting to see even Tory voters not just Labour and LD voters view DOGE unfavourably, showing that Niall Ferguson's plans for an uber libertarian slash the state platform for Kemi would not be electorally beneficial for the party. Reform voters do view DOGE favourably but they are already pursuing such a policy in county councils they now control like Kent anyway.

    Meanwhile in the US DOGE is starting to unravel, with Musk abandoning his leadership of it as he says Trump is not pursuing it hard enough with his budget leading to a level of government spending Elon still sees as too high

    DOGE wasl always going to find it impossible to deliver even a tenth of the deficit increase Trump seems determined to engineer. Musk has ttashed his reputation and the demand for his products on the back of slogan that was vacuous.

    Musk would have been given some very grounded advice if he had only stood a round at the next pb.com gathering.
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