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An inauspicious start for the splitter – politicalbetting.com

SystemSystem Posts: 12,556
edited July 4 in General
An inauspicious start for the splitter – politicalbetting.com

Today, after 14 years, I’m resigning from the Labour Party.Jeremy Corbyn and I will co-lead the founding of a new party, with other Independent MPs, campaigners and activists across the country.Join us. The time is now. Sign up here to stay updated: https://t.co/MAwVBrHOzH pic.twitter.com/z91p0CkXW0

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Comments

  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 46,133
    edited July 4
    First...

    A poor start for the new party. They really couldn't find a turd in a sewage farm...
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 74,063
    edited July 4

    OMG. I think Donald Trump has discovered cricket.


    Yes Donald. When we measure first your waist and then your cock in centimetres.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 52,020

    To our American posters.

    Happy treason day you bunch of ungrateful colonials.

    To be fair, it's a good thing that they don't have representation in Westminster!
  • TheValiantTheValiant Posts: 2,008

    To our American posters.

    Happy treason day you bunch of ungrateful colonials.

    Given what has recently happened over there, I'd now say it's a good thing they've gone......
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 52,020
    It's a good thing that we have more parties that represent different strands of British politics. Whether it can work in a FPTP system is another matter.

    My 160/1 on Sultana as next Labour leader looks like money wasted.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 122,623
    Foxy said:

    To our American posters.

    Happy treason day you bunch of ungrateful colonials.

    To be fair, it's a good thing that they don't have representation in Westminster!
    We would never have let them have representation, they should have been governed by viceroys.
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 14,610
    The name seems kind of lame. Strong protein powder MLM energy. I guess they have to go with whatever Internet domain they can get.
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 46,133
    Foxy said:

    It's a good thing that we have more parties that represent different strands of British politics. Whether it can work in a FPTP system is another matter.

    My 160/1 on Sultana as next Labour leader looks like money wasted.

    This new party will not be representing different strands of British politics.

    It will be representing a strand of Middle Eastern politics.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 52,020

    Foxy said:

    It's a good thing that we have more parties that represent different strands of British politics. Whether it can work in a FPTP system is another matter.

    My 160/1 on Sultana as next Labour leader looks like money wasted.

    This new party will not be representing different strands of British politics.

    It will be representing a strand of Middle Eastern politics.
    10% of the electorate according to the polling. You may not like them much, but that is a significant chunk of our electorate.
  • eekeek Posts: 30,540
    For reasons unknown Ed seems to want mini wind turbines in people’s gardens. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/07/04/miliband-plots-garden-windfarm-revolution/

    Has anyone ever seen ones that are small enough to fit in a garden and actually work
  • WhisperingOracleWhisperingOracle Posts: 10,412
    Foxy said:

    Foxy said:

    It's a good thing that we have more parties that represent different strands of British politics. Whether it can work in a FPTP system is another matter.

    My 160/1 on Sultana as next Labour leader looks like money wasted.

    This new party will not be representing different strands of British politics.

    It will be representing a strand of Middle Eastern politics.
    10% of the electorate according to the polling. You may not like them much, but that is a significant chunk of our electorate.
    Morning PB.

    Yes, there are many young people of the left of thr majority community.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 62,715
    Good morning, everyone.
    eek said:

    For reasons unknown Ed seems to want mini wind turbines in people’s gardens. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/07/04/miliband-plots-garden-windfarm-revolution/

    Has anyone ever seen ones that are small enough to fit in a garden and actually work

    Maybe Ed Miliband doesn't actually like the environment. He just despises birds.
  • numbertwelvenumbertwelve Posts: 7,676
    It’s good and bad for Labour.

    Good because hopefully means they get rid of their troublesome left flank which might help them actually sound a bit more ideologically focussed.

    Bad because you can see Magic Grandpa nabbing enough young votes to cause a bit of a headache in some seats.
  • WhisperingOracleWhisperingOracle Posts: 10,412
    Or even:"the" majority community.
  • RochdalePioneersRochdalePioneers Posts: 30,567

    If Trump's poll numbers don't tank after passing the Big Beautiful Bill, then there's Starmer's answer to the nation's economic woes - take the entitlement to the NHS away from a big chunk of voters.

    Mostly in areas voting Labour.

    No no, the poor voted for Trump to take things off the illegals. Its their welfare being taken away. [checks notes] what, its MINE that has been taken? Hang on, I'm not an illegal?

    Morons, the lot of them. Similarly there is depression setting in amongst the Tesla Elon loyalists on Twitter who have realised that Trump has screwed electrification and is now coming after them. Comments like "we got played" being posted. Well duh - we saw this a mile away.
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 11,188
    edited July 4
    eek said:

    For reasons unknown Ed seems to want mini wind turbines in people’s gardens. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/07/04/miliband-plots-garden-windfarm-revolution/

    Has anyone ever seen ones that are small enough to fit in a garden and actually work

    A significant proportion of homes in the highlands and islands have them, and they work fine. A few of the remote hostels (e.g. Ossian, Allt Beithe) run their electricity entirely off solar and wind.

    (https://www.hostellingscotland.org.uk/hostels/glen-affric/)
  • MattWMattW Posts: 28,144
    FPT:
    scampi25 said:

    Good morning all. I don’t see much on the BBC about Reform’s bad night in yesterday’s council by-elections. It would have been different if it was the other way round. It will be easier for Reform to maintain their support with such help from the media.

    Does the BBC routinely report local by-elections? Ever? You're paranoid.
    The Local Democracy Reporting Service is a BBC project, which covers it I think. It created 165 jobs in local media at a time when it was going backwards, funded by the BBC.

    The Local Democracy Reporting Service created up to 165 new journalism jobs to help fill a gap in the reporting of local democracy issues across the UK.

    The journalists are funded by the BBC as part of its latest Charter commitment, but are employed by regional news organisations.

    A total of 165 reporters are allocated to news organisations in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

    These organisations range from television and radio stations to online media companies and established regional newspaper groups.

    Local Democracy Reporters cover top-tier local authorities, second-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.

    https://www.bbc.com/lnp/ldrs
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,924
    eek said:

    For reasons unknown Ed seems to want mini wind turbines in people’s gardens. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/07/04/miliband-plots-garden-windfarm-revolution/

    Has anyone ever seen ones that are small enough to fit in a garden and actually work

    Camberwick Green
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 66,652
    Fantastic timing for the Greens' leadership election. What's the point of Polanski now?
  • LeonLeon Posts: 62,560
    edited July 4
    Morning

    I’ve just been for a two hour walk in the western Rhodopes along a Thracian-Roman mule-path to the mouth of a sacred cave of the Orphic Mysteries

    Now, cappuccino
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 19,061

    If Trump's poll numbers don't tank after passing the Big Beautiful Bill, then there's Starmer's answer to the nation's economic woes - take the entitlement to the NHS away from a big chunk of voters.

    Mostly in areas voting Labour.

    No no, the poor voted for Trump to take things off the illegals. Its their welfare being taken away. [checks notes] what, its MINE that has been taken? Hang on, I'm not an illegal?

    Morons, the lot of them. Similarly there is depression setting in amongst the Tesla Elon loyalists on Twitter who have realised that Trump has screwed electrification and is now coming after them. Comments like "we got played" being posted. Well duh - we saw this a mile away.
    There are people whose core talent is looking, sounding and behaving like a Leader. Some call it Charisma.

    They can get people to follow them anywhere, including off the cliff edge. It's a benefit to charismatic individuals, but often a disaster for everyone else.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 99,037
    MattW said:

    FPT:

    scampi25 said:

    Good morning all. I don’t see much on the BBC about Reform’s bad night in yesterday’s council by-elections. It would have been different if it was the other way round. It will be easier for Reform to maintain their support with such help from the media.

    Does the BBC routinely report local by-elections? Ever? You're paranoid.
    The Local Democracy Reporting Service is a BBC project, which covers it I think. It created 165 jobs in local media at a time when it was going backwards, funded by the BBC.

    The Local Democracy Reporting Service created up to 165 new journalism jobs to help fill a gap in the reporting of local democracy issues across the UK.

    The journalists are funded by the BBC as part of its latest Charter commitment, but are employed by regional news organisations.

    A total of 165 reporters are allocated to news organisations in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

    These organisations range from television and radio stations to online media companies and established regional newspaper groups.

    Local Democracy Reporters cover top-tier local authorities, second-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.

    https://www.bbc.com/lnp/ldrs
    It's a very good programme which has ensured a lot of local press coverage which otherwise would go unnoticed (the BBC seem to only publish the juicier stuff).

    I don't know whose idea it was but genuinely a good one.
  • FairlieredFairliered Posts: 5,918

    I am very excited to announce that I am starting a new party with Kylie Minogue. Not a political party, just a party. Mmmmm Kylie

    Ooh Kylie. Would you like to see my Tesla?
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 19,061

    Fantastic timing for the Greens' leadership election. What's the point of Polanski now?

    It rather looks like he's boobed.
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 46,133
    Foxy said:

    Foxy said:

    It's a good thing that we have more parties that represent different strands of British politics. Whether it can work in a FPTP system is another matter.

    My 160/1 on Sultana as next Labour leader looks like money wasted.

    This new party will not be representing different strands of British politics.

    It will be representing a strand of Middle Eastern politics.
    10% of the electorate according to the polling. You may not like them much, but that is a significant chunk of our electorate.
    My point remains.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 99,037

    It’s good and bad for Labour.

    Good because hopefully means they get rid of their troublesome left flank which might help them actually sound a bit more ideologically focussed.

    Bad because you can see Magic Grandpa nabbing enough young votes to cause a bit of a headache in some seats.

    Yes given the current state of things such a thing could get decentish poll numbers, at least to start.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 66,652
    kle4 said:

    It’s good and bad for Labour.

    Good because hopefully means they get rid of their troublesome left flank which might help them actually sound a bit more ideologically focussed.

    Bad because you can see Magic Grandpa nabbing enough young votes to cause a bit of a headache in some seats.

    Yes given the current state of things such a thing could get decentish poll numbers, at least to start.
    Farage will be very happy with this news I suspect.
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 12,419
    edited July 4
    Morning all.
    A new left party of the Gaza Indy/Green type as mooted could cause havoc for Labour in London especially. At 10% it would end any chance of a Starmer second term, at 5% it would cause major problems
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 99,037
    It is a funny start. I increasingly believe as states before that Corbyn doesn't want a new party, he just has to eventually if he's going to keep all the adoration and rally invites as those people want him to be more anti Labour than he is.
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 12,419

    Fantastic timing for the Greens' leadership election. What's the point of Polanski now?

    His 'enthusuastic' welcome of the news was about as genuine as Angies 'i never want to be Labour leader'
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,165

    If Trump's poll numbers don't tank after passing the Big Beautiful Bill, then there's Starmer's answer to the nation's economic woes - take the entitlement to the NHS away from a big chunk of voters.

    Mostly in areas voting Labour.

    No no, the poor voted for Trump to take things off the illegals. Its their welfare being taken away. [checks notes] what, its MINE that has been taken? Hang on, I'm not an illegal?

    Morons, the lot of them. Similarly there is depression setting in amongst the Tesla Elon loyalists on Twitter who have realised that Trump has screwed electrification and is now coming after them. Comments like "we got played" being posted. Well duh - we saw this a mile away.
    There are people whose core talent is looking, sounding and behaving like a Leader. Some call it Charisma.

    They can get people to follow them anywhere, including off the cliff edge. It's a benefit to charismatic individuals, but often a disaster for everyone else.
    A lot of Republicans who just voted to screw their constituents look like they swallowed poison.

    Didn't stop them
  • WhisperingOracleWhisperingOracle Posts: 10,412
    Leon said:

    Morning

    I’ve just been for a two hour walk in the western Rhodopes along a Thracian-Roman mule-path to the mouth of a sacred cave of the Orphic Mysteries

    Now, cappuccino

    Somewhere on either side of the Greek border you should find the Muslim Pomak people, who a British documentary the other year found shared wedding ceremony rituals with the Mycenean Greeks, from 3000 years ago.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 99,037

    If Trump's poll numbers don't tank after passing the Big Beautiful Bill, then there's Starmer's answer to the nation's economic woes - take the entitlement to the NHS away from a big chunk of voters.

    Mostly in areas voting Labour.

    No no, the poor voted for Trump to take things off the illegals. Its their welfare being taken away. [checks notes] what, its MINE that has been taken? Hang on, I'm not an illegal?

    Morons, the lot of them. Similarly there is depression setting in amongst the Tesla Elon loyalists on Twitter who have realised that Trump has screwed electrification and is now coming after them. Comments like "we got played" being posted. Well duh - we saw this a mile away.
    There are people whose core talent is looking, sounding and behaving like a Leader. Some call it Charisma.

    They can get people to follow them anywhere, including off the cliff edge. It's a benefit to charismatic individuals, but often a disaster for everyone else.
    Some don't like the idea Trump is both charismatic abd a leader, but you don't just luck in to such influence over so many people.
  • RochdalePioneersRochdalePioneers Posts: 30,567
    kle4 said:

    It is a funny start. I increasingly believe as states before that Corbyn doesn't want a new party, he just has to eventually if he's going to keep all the adoration and rally invites as those people want him to be more anti Labour than he is.

    Note that the Sultana fundraiser is backed by Unite the Union. This is a serious schism in the Labour ranks.

    I would have said in terms of left, but Labour stopped being left when they turned into the Tories. Whilst I am sympathetic to all the left voters who want soft left policies back, the problem is that they aren't loud enough. The crank left are fucking mental but they get all the attention and make all the running.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 62,560
    edited July 4

    Morning all.
    A new left party of the Gaza Indy/Green type as mooted could cause havoc for Labour in London especially. At 10% it would end any chance of a Starmer second term, at 5% it would cause major problems

    And 5% looks certain

    Apparently a cheer went round the Spectator summer garden party when news of this new Corbynparty emerged
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 12,419
    edited July 4
    kle4 said:

    It is a funny start. I increasingly believe as states before that Corbyn doesn't want a new party, he just has to eventually if he's going to keep all the adoration and rally invites as those people want him to be more anti Labour than he is.

    I think he will front it briefly (until established and fighting elections) before announcing his retirement to the allotment to potter about happily
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 99,037
    edited July 4

    Fantastic timing for the Greens' leadership election. What's the point of Polanski now?

    His 'enthusuastic' welcome of the news was about as genuine as Angies 'i never want to be Labour leader'
    Talk of alliance among Greens, New Left and Gaza bros will surely follow.

    The LDs feel left out in the cold a bit, still a tad too centrist for that crowd but too left to take over from the Tories should Reform gobble up the right.
  • FairlieredFairliered Posts: 5,918

    kle4 said:

    It is a funny start. I increasingly believe as states before that Corbyn doesn't want a new party, he just has to eventually if he's going to keep all the adoration and rally invites as those people want him to be more anti Labour than he is.

    I think he will front it briefly (until established and fighting elections) before announcing his retirement to the allotment to potter about happily
    As long as it isn’t hijacked by Galloway.
  • kjhkjh Posts: 12,829
    @carnforth fpt. You make fun of the video of an argument between (presumably) a landlord and a person about access to drinking water and use of the loo, in particular the person who politely wanted access to the loo.

    It says a lot of people who side with the landlord who was very very aggressive and the person who was very calm and very polite and also of people who think this is reasonable. Just demonstrates the selfishness of some in society. The fact that you decided the polite person being verbally assaulted was typical of a LD and presumably the landlord was not, says a lot more about you than you might think.

    Accepting there is obviously a small cost to the landlord, but who in their right mind is not willing to give tap water or use of the loo?

    Also it is worth noting that the landlord who was so adamant about his rights was not completely correct. He can refuse access to the loo (although in some council areas it is actually a requirement) and is wrong regarding the tap water if he has a licensed premises.
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 12,419
    edited July 4
    Leon said:

    Morning all.
    A new left party of the Gaza Indy/Green type as mooted could cause havoc for Labour in London especially. At 10% it would end any chance of a Starmer second term, at 5% it would cause major problems

    And 5% looks certain

    Apparently a cheer went round the Spectator summer garden party when news of this new party emerged
    Yeah, if they start with MPs and attract a slew of the gaza indy councillors they are going to be a 'few percent' presence for certain, especially in London/the cities
  • MattWMattW Posts: 28,144
    kle4 said:

    MattW said:

    FPT:

    scampi25 said:

    Good morning all. I don’t see much on the BBC about Reform’s bad night in yesterday’s council by-elections. It would have been different if it was the other way round. It will be easier for Reform to maintain their support with such help from the media.

    Does the BBC routinely report local by-elections? Ever? You're paranoid.
    The Local Democracy Reporting Service is a BBC project, which covers it I think. It created 165 jobs in local media at a time when it was going backwards, funded by the BBC.

    The Local Democracy Reporting Service created up to 165 new journalism jobs to help fill a gap in the reporting of local democracy issues across the UK.

    The journalists are funded by the BBC as part of its latest Charter commitment, but are employed by regional news organisations.

    A total of 165 reporters are allocated to news organisations in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

    These organisations range from television and radio stations to online media companies and established regional newspaper groups.

    Local Democracy Reporters cover top-tier local authorities, second-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.

    https://www.bbc.com/lnp/ldrs
    It's a very good programme which has ensured a lot of local press coverage which otherwise would go unnoticed (the BBC seem to only publish the juicier stuff).

    I don't know whose idea it was but genuinely a good one.
    I think it was one of the quid pro quos in the last update of the BBC Charter.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 85,297
    I wonder what the situation is with all the Maomentum data Lansmann's company built up. Could it be used to contact all of the Magic Grandpa cult?
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,165
    A new party splitting before it forms does bring a bright moment of levity to an otherwise bleak World
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 99,037

    kle4 said:

    It is a funny start. I increasingly believe as states before that Corbyn doesn't want a new party, he just has to eventually if he's going to keep all the adoration and rally invites as those people want him to be more anti Labour than he is.

    I think he will front it briefly (until established and fighting elections) before announcing his retirement to the allotment to potter about happily
    As long as it isn’t hijacked by Galloway.
    He must have access to useful money given the ridiculous number of seats his WPB stood at the GE, 150 or so i think.
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 12,419

    kle4 said:

    It is a funny start. I increasingly believe as states before that Corbyn doesn't want a new party, he just has to eventually if he's going to keep all the adoration and rally invites as those people want him to be more anti Labour than he is.

    I think he will front it briefly (until established and fighting elections) before announcing his retirement to the allotment to potter about happily
    As long as it isn’t hijacked by Galloway.
    Galloway has ruled out the WPB joining due to fundamental differences on trans, LBGTQ+, Ukraine but offered to do deals on not standing in each others way to beat Labour
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,924
    One year of this shitshow government gone, what have we got ?

    Donorgate
    Imaginary black holes
    WFP cuts
    Tax rises galore
    NI armageddon
    Even more borrowing
    Public sector pay bonanza
    No public sector productivity
    Riots
    Two tier justice
    Small boats
    Child rape ganga
    Lunatic energy policies
    U turns
    More U turns
    No more housing
    No to growth growth growth
    Farmer taxes
    School taxes
    Chagos
    tax free Mauritius
    Crygate
    Backbenchers on the loose
    Real financial black holes

    Still only 4 years to go.




  • LeonLeon Posts: 62,560

    Leon said:

    Morning all.
    A new left party of the Gaza Indy/Green type as mooted could cause havoc for Labour in London especially. At 10% it would end any chance of a Starmer second term, at 5% it would cause major problems

    And 5% looks certain

    Apparently a cheer went round the Spectator summer garden party when news of this new party emerged
    Yeah, if they start with MPs and attract a slew of the gaza indy councillors they are going to be a 'few percent' presence for certain, especially in London/the cities
    Cheeringly, this is right on the “slide to civil war” schedule outlined by Prof David Betz

    He predicted “openly sectarian/religious parties” will get elected. It’s stage 3 of the 12 stage collapse
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 12,419
    edited July 4
    kle4 said:

    kle4 said:

    It is a funny start. I increasingly believe as states before that Corbyn doesn't want a new party, he just has to eventually if he's going to keep all the adoration and rally invites as those people want him to be more anti Labour than he is.

    I think he will front it briefly (until established and fighting elections) before announcing his retirement to the allotment to potter about happily
    As long as it isn’t hijacked by Galloway.
    He must have access to useful money given the ridiculous number of seats his WPB stood at the GE, 150 or so i think.
    They are aiming to stand 1000 potential councillors in May

    As for money - one of the Tate brothers made a sizeable donation in the GE run in from memory
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 66,652
    What John McDonnell does will be interesting.
  • TazTaz Posts: 19,494
    MattW said:

    FPT:

    scampi25 said:

    Good morning all. I don’t see much on the BBC about Reform’s bad night in yesterday’s council by-elections. It would have been different if it was the other way round. It will be easier for Reform to maintain their support with such help from the media.

    Does the BBC routinely report local by-elections? Ever? You're paranoid.
    The Local Democracy Reporting Service is a BBC project, which covers it I think. It created 165 jobs in local media at a time when it was going backwards, funded by the BBC.

    The Local Democracy Reporting Service created up to 165 new journalism jobs to help fill a gap in the reporting of local democracy issues across the UK.

    The journalists are funded by the BBC as part of its latest Charter commitment, but are employed by regional news organisations.

    A total of 165 reporters are allocated to news organisations in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

    These organisations range from television and radio stations to online media companies and established regional newspaper groups.

    Local Democracy Reporters cover top-tier local authorities, second-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.

    https://www.bbc.com/lnp/ldrs
    Why should the taxpayer subsidise these jobs, even indirectly

    Regional newspapers are just recycled clickbait

    I’ve seen the story of the woman in turkey who trashed her hotel room dozens of times for example
  • RochdalePioneersRochdalePioneers Posts: 30,567

    One year of this shitshow government gone, what have we got ?

    Donorgate
    Imaginary black holes
    WFP cuts
    Tax rises galore
    NI armageddon
    Even more borrowing
    Public sector pay bonanza
    No public sector productivity
    Riots
    Two tier justice
    Small boats
    Child rape ganga
    Lunatic energy policies
    U turns
    More U turns
    No more housing
    No to growth growth growth
    Farmer taxes
    School taxes
    Chagos
    tax free Mauritius
    Crygate
    Backbenchers on the loose
    Real financial black holes

    Still only 4 years to go.

    Smashing new lyrics for We Didn't Start the Fire
  • FeersumEnjineeyaFeersumEnjineeya Posts: 4,782
    Eabhal said:

    eek said:

    For reasons unknown Ed seems to want mini wind turbines in people’s gardens. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/07/04/miliband-plots-garden-windfarm-revolution/

    Has anyone ever seen ones that are small enough to fit in a garden and actually work

    A significant proportion of homes in the highlands and islands have them, and they work fine. A few of the remote hostels (e.g. Ossian, Allt Beithe) run their electricity entirely off solar and wind.

    (https://www.hostellingscotland.org.uk/hostels/glen-affric/)
    Other than at the kind of remote locations you mention, though, they don't make economic sense. There's a good reason why wind turbines are absolutely massive and built in particularly windy places.
  • TazTaz Posts: 19,494
    The home office doesn’t know how many foreign workers leave when their visas expire

    What a fucking clown show

    https://x.com/bbcpolitics/status/1941033925284929840?s=46&t=d8CnRhyZJ-m4vy0k55W8XQ
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,924

    What John McDonnell does will be interesting.

    stir the pot from inside Labour ?
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 32,723
    Scott_xP said:

    A new party splitting before it forms does bring a bright moment of levity to an otherwise bleak World

    It's got all the Ref and Con coalition fanbois foaming with excitement, which is nice for them. Should we add the Magic Grandpa (without Grandpa) Party votes to Labour?
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 14,610
    kle4 said:

    Fantastic timing for the Greens' leadership election. What's the point of Polanski now?

    His 'enthusuastic' welcome of the news was about as genuine as Angies 'i never want to be Labour leader'
    Talk of alliance among Greens, New Left and Gaza bros will surely follow.

    The LDs feel left out in the cold a bit, still a tad too centrist for that crowd but too left to take over from the Tories should Reform gobble up the right.
    Britain does need, and I'm quite surprised it hasn't yet eventuated, an explicitly Muslim political movement to fight the intrinsic and structurally embedded Islamophobia of the British state.
  • TazTaz Posts: 19,494
    edited July 4
    My pic of the day. Local woods to me, used to be a local dogging place apparently. Lovely this time of day.


  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 12,419
    edited July 4

    What John McDonnell does will be interesting.

    He wont leave Labour, whip or no whip. Total red rose obsessive
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,924

    What John McDonnell does will be interesting.

    He wont leave Labour, whip or no whip. Total red rose obsessive
    More fun will be Diane Abbott. No fan of Starmer and will happily embarass him if Mother of the House sits for Die Linke \ Hamas party
  • MattWMattW Posts: 28,144
    edited July 4
    eek said:

    For reasons unknown Ed seems to want mini wind turbines in people’s gardens. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/07/04/miliband-plots-garden-windfarm-revolution/

    Has anyone ever seen ones that are small enough to fit in a garden and actually work

    I can't find the consultation doc.

    The garden wind turbines are very niche indeed. I'd say only applicable in a 1-2 gardens per thousand or less. 125 were installed last year in England, where the UK Govt does planning and this wil lapply. It needs a smooth, sweeping wind across a plain landscape - ideally up a valley.

    The biggest limitation under the old rules, where the max for Permitted Development was iirc a 2m turbine on a 10m mast, and it was required to be 11m from any boundary (effectively so it could fall flat in your garden with no encroachment). That means any garden needs basically to accommodate an ~25m circle round the turbine mast.

    I looked back at Cameron-Husky time at putting one on one of the highest ridges in Notts (650ft) with such a wind, and the numbers and windspeeds were nowhere near. OTOH these are now much more widespread on small boats,and technology has moved forward, and lecky prices may make it more doable.

    It may get the crusties in the Cotswolds cackling at each other, and give the tabloids a diversionary dog chew, but what I think are proposals for communally owned wind generation are far more significant.

    I think most of these would be outskirts of villages, domestic gardens of farms and off grid houses.
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 12,419

    What John McDonnell does will be interesting.

    He wont leave Labour, whip or no whip. Total red rose obsessive
    More fun will be Diane Abbott. No fan of Starmer and will happily embarass him if Mother of the House sits for Die Linke \ Hamas party
    Especially after he tried so hard to deselect her
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 19,573

    To our American posters.

    Happy treason day you bunch of ungrateful colonials.

    It's also the anniversary of the British victory in the Battle of Ulundi, though I would guess that's the sort of Empire-era battle most people would have some qualms about celebrating these days.
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 11,188

    Eabhal said:

    eek said:

    For reasons unknown Ed seems to want mini wind turbines in people’s gardens. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/07/04/miliband-plots-garden-windfarm-revolution/

    Has anyone ever seen ones that are small enough to fit in a garden and actually work

    A significant proportion of homes in the highlands and islands have them, and they work fine. A few of the remote hostels (e.g. Ossian, Allt Beithe) run their electricity entirely off solar and wind.

    (https://www.hostellingscotland.org.uk/hostels/glen-affric/)
    Other than at the kind of remote locations you mention, though, they don't make economic sense. There's a good reason why wind turbines are absolutely massive and built in particularly windy places.
    Those wee domestic ones don't need much wind though - you just need a consistent breeze, so I guess most coastal communities would be suitable.

    But yes, you get better gains because of the cost of energy in remote areas - but remember that about 30% of houses don't have access to mains gas and heating oil/gas deliveries are expensive. I think it's why solar is more widespread in the wet and dark Highlands than it is elsewhere.
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 39,036

    Leon said:

    Morning

    I’ve just been for a two hour walk in the western Rhodopes along a Thracian-Roman mule-path to the mouth of a sacred cave of the Orphic Mysteries

    Now, cappuccino

    Somewhere on either side of the Greek border you should find the Muslim Pomak people, who a British documentary the other year found shared wedding ceremony rituals with the Mycenean Greeks, from 3000 years ago.
    It’s fascinating how ancient rituals can endure, even when Christianised or Islamified.

    I went to a curious bar called The Tabernacle, in Granada, full of icons, and playing endless religious programmes on television. There was this huge religious ceremony, in which men in white hoods were bearing a statue of the Madonna and Child, surrounded by dozens bearing torches, at night, and it struck me that their very distant ancestors would have adored the Roman Pantheon similarly.
  • SelebianSelebian Posts: 9,435
    kjh said:

    @carnforth fpt. You make fun of the video of an argument between (presumably) a landlord and a person about access to drinking water and use of the loo, in particular the person who politely wanted access to the loo.

    It says a lot of people who side with the landlord who was very very aggressive and the person who was very calm and very polite and also of people who think this is reasonable. Just demonstrates the selfishness of some in society. The fact that you decided the polite person being verbally assaulted was typical of a LD and presumably the landlord was not, says a lot more about you than you might think.

    Accepting there is obviously a small cost to the landlord, but who in their right mind is not willing to give tap water or use of the loo?

    Also it is worth noting that the landlord who was so adamant about his rights was not completely correct. He can refuse access to the loo (although in some council areas it is actually a requirement) and is wrong regarding the tap water if he has a licensed premises.

    I'm not sure it's even the landlord/staff member doing the berating, which makes it even more bizarre. Anyone want to name the pub so I can be sure to avoid it?

    Offering a pound was generous to be fair, as I believe the going rate is to spend a penny :wink:
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 99,037
    edited July 4
    Taz said:

    MattW said:

    FPT:

    scampi25 said:

    Good morning all. I don’t see much on the BBC about Reform’s bad night in yesterday’s council by-elections. It would have been different if it was the other way round. It will be easier for Reform to maintain their support with such help from the media.

    Does the BBC routinely report local by-elections? Ever? You're paranoid.
    The Local Democracy Reporting Service is a BBC project, which covers it I think. It created 165 jobs in local media at a time when it was going backwards, funded by the BBC.

    The Local Democracy Reporting Service created up to 165 new journalism jobs to help fill a gap in the reporting of local democracy issues across the UK.

    The journalists are funded by the BBC as part of its latest Charter commitment, but are employed by regional news organisations.

    A total of 165 reporters are allocated to news organisations in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

    These organisations range from television and radio stations to online media companies and established regional newspaper groups.

    Local Democracy Reporters cover top-tier local authorities, second-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.

    https://www.bbc.com/lnp/ldrs
    Why should the taxpayer subsidise these jobs, even indirectly

    Regional newspapers are just recycled clickbait

    I’ve seen the story of the woman in turkey who trashed her hotel room dozens of times for example
    And the local democracy reporters dont work on that stuff. They have to monitor and report on the local council activity only, ensuring at least some non click bait content.

    Without it the sad fact is most people would get very little info on what is happening with local government, making it easier to get away with things as no one is looking.

    Getting at least some genuine local gov news is a public service, not what people want but need, that's why it is taxpayer subsidised.

    And it will be cheap as they emply small numbers of mostly young people looking to get a foot in the industry.
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 11,188
    edited July 4
    MattW said:

    eek said:

    For reasons unknown Ed seems to want mini wind turbines in people’s gardens. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/07/04/miliband-plots-garden-windfarm-revolution/

    Has anyone ever seen ones that are small enough to fit in a garden and actually work

    I can't find the consultation doc.

    The garden wind turbines are very niche indeed. I'd say only applicable in a 1-2 gardens per thousand or less. 125 were installed last year in England, where the UK Govt does planning and this wil lapply. It needs a smooth, sweeping wind across a plain landscape - ideally up a valley.

    The biggest limitation under the old rules, where the max for Permitted Development was iirc a 2m turbine on a 10m mast, and it was required to be 11m from any boundary (effectively so it could fall flat in your garden with no encroachment). That means any garden needs basically to accommodate an ~25m circle round the turbine mast.

    I looked back at Cameron-Husky time at putting one on one of the highest ridges in Notts (650ft) with such a wind, and the numbers and windspeeds were nowhere near. OTOH these are now much more widespread on small boats,and technology has moved forward, and lecky prices may make it more doable.

    It may get the crusties in the Cotswolds cackling at each other, and give the tabloids a diversionary dog chew, but what I think are proposals for communally owned wind generation are far more significant.

    I think most of these would be outskirts of villages, domestic gardens of farms and off grid houses.
    There's quite a big range between community wind farms (Gigha etc), local farmers with quite a big turbine (Moray/Aberdeenshire), and houses on Orkney with tiny ones strapped to strainer posts at the end of the garden - I think there are about 700 on Orkney alone btw.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 99,037
    edited July 4
    Dura_Ace said:

    kle4 said:

    Fantastic timing for the Greens' leadership election. What's the point of Polanski now?

    His 'enthusuastic' welcome of the news was about as genuine as Angies 'i never want to be Labour leader'
    Talk of alliance among Greens, New Left and Gaza bros will surely follow.

    The LDs feel left out in the cold a bit, still a tad too centrist for that crowd but too left to take over from the Tories should Reform gobble up the right.
    Britain does need, and I'm quite surprised it hasn't yet eventuated, an explicitly Muslim political movement to fight the intrinsic and structurally embedded Islamophobia of the British state.
    Sure it does Mr Edgy. I see no drawbacks to religiously sectarian political parties.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 36,133
    "‘Police said I violated the Human Rights Act for cycling no-handed’

    Cyclist claims he was given a ticket because he contravened Article 2 which covers the right to life"

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/07/04/police-cyclist-human-rights-act-no-hands-ticket/
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 52,010

    Cicero said:

    Young Europeans losing faith in democracy, poll finds

    Support is lowest in France, Spain and Poland, while 21% back authoritarian rule under certain circumstances

    Only half of young people in France and Spain believe that democracy is the best form of government, with support even lower among their Polish counterparts, a study has found.

    A majority from Europe’s generation Z – 57% – prefer democracy to any other form of government. Rates of support varied significantly, however, reaching just 48% in Poland and only about 51-52% in Spain and France, with Germany highest at 71%.

    More than one in five – 21% – would favour authoritarian rule under certain, unspecified circumstances. This was highest in Italy at 24% and lowest in Germany with 15%. In France, Spain and Poland the figure was 23%.

    Nearly one in 10 across the nations said they did not care whether their government was democratic or not, while another 14% did not know or did not answer.

    https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jul/04/young-europeans-losing-faith-in-democracy-poll-finds

    The impact of the nihilism and cynicism of the media/industrial complex is clear here. In a way it is a good thing, since it forces the proponents of democracy to make a positive case. However, when we still see lazy nonsense- "Reform will storm the next election"- leading the news agenda, then it should remind us that there are still plenty of headwinds.

    Reform will not be able to come close to being the next government and may well even disappear before the next general election even happens. Lib Dems learned the lesson of the Alliance- you have to win seats, not votes. Reform and the Popular People´s front of Judea (Sultana Branch) have yet to show that they understand this. The county elections for Reform may well be like the last European Parliament elections for UKIP- a flash in the pan, but of remarkably little long term significance.

    In the meantime, the case for a responsive, inclusive and open democracy still needs to be made and electoral reform is only part of the package.
    While like you I want Reform to disappear, and I voted Lib Dem in the Locals partially because they were the best placed candidate to defeat Reform, the idea "Reform will not be able to come close to being the next government" is entirely false I'm afraid.

    Will they form the next government? Probably not.
    Will they come close to it? Probably not.

    Is it possible they are able to? Absolutely.

    The threat is real and needs to be defeated. Don't count your chickens. Anyone standing 326+ candidates is able to form the next government if they get enough people to vote for them.
    Nevertheless they did just lose both of the first two council seats they have defended in by-elections.
  • AnneJGPAnneJGP Posts: 3,720
    Good morning, everyone. On my smartphone, on the 'main site'. Hopefully no longer subhuman.

    That's not a good piece of coordination for launching a new party, indeed. Mistake or deliberate sabotage?
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 39,036

    Cicero said:

    Young Europeans losing faith in democracy, poll finds

    Support is lowest in France, Spain and Poland, while 21% back authoritarian rule under certain circumstances

    Only half of young people in France and Spain believe that democracy is the best form of government, with support even lower among their Polish counterparts, a study has found.

    A majority from Europe’s generation Z – 57% – prefer democracy to any other form of government. Rates of support varied significantly, however, reaching just 48% in Poland and only about 51-52% in Spain and France, with Germany highest at 71%.

    More than one in five – 21% – would favour authoritarian rule under certain, unspecified circumstances. This was highest in Italy at 24% and lowest in Germany with 15%. In France, Spain and Poland the figure was 23%.

    Nearly one in 10 across the nations said they did not care whether their government was democratic or not, while another 14% did not know or did not answer.

    https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jul/04/young-europeans-losing-faith-in-democracy-poll-finds

    The impact of the nihilism and cynicism of the media/industrial complex is clear here. In a way it is a good thing, since it forces the proponents of democracy to make a positive case. However, when we still see lazy nonsense- "Reform will storm the next election"- leading the news agenda, then it should remind us that there are still plenty of headwinds.

    Reform will not be able to come close to being the next government and may well even disappear before the next general election even happens. Lib Dems learned the lesson of the Alliance- you have to win seats, not votes. Reform and the Popular People´s front of Judea (Sultana Branch) have yet to show that they understand this. The county elections for Reform may well be like the last European Parliament elections for UKIP- a flash in the pan, but of remarkably little long term significance.

    In the meantime, the case for a responsive, inclusive and open democracy still needs to be made and electoral reform is only part of the package.
    While like you I want Reform to disappear, and I voted Lib Dem in the Locals partially because they were the best placed candidate to defeat Reform, the idea "Reform will not be able to come close to being the next government" is entirely false I'm afraid.

    Will they form the next government? Probably not.
    Will they come close to it? Probably not.

    Is it possible they are able to? Absolutely.

    The threat is real and needs to be defeated. Don't count your chickens. Anyone standing 326+ candidates is able to form the next government if they get enough people to vote for them.
    One would think, given the events of the past 20 years, that “It can’t happen because I don’t want it to happen” had been tested to destruction.

    If the Conservatives poll under 20%, they will go the same way as the Liberals in 1924, and Reform will be the main party on the right.

    I detect no great loyalty to the Conservatives that would prevent this from happening.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 28,144
    edited July 4
    Dura_Ace said:

    kle4 said:

    Fantastic timing for the Greens' leadership election. What's the point of Polanski now?

    His 'enthusuastic' welcome of the news was about as genuine as Angies 'i never want to be Labour leader'
    Talk of alliance among Greens, New Left and Gaza bros will surely follow.

    The LDs feel left out in the cold a bit, still a tad too centrist for that crowd but too left to take over from the Tories should Reform gobble up the right.
    Britain does need, and I'm quite surprised it hasn't yet eventuated, an explicitly Muslim political movement to fight the intrinsic and structurally embedded Islamophobia of the British state.
    There have been a few, but afaics they tend to be rather nutter driven. I'm thinking eg of Kalim Siddiqui's Muslim Parliament, or the various things Ken Livingstone got into bed with around the East London Mosque iirc, or the Tower Hamlets lot, or the various groups aligned with Middle East Governments. I think MCB has never been clear what it wants to be.

    The most interesting one I have seen was when the Muslim Parliament brand was taken over by Ghayasuddin Siddiqui (not related afaik), who also founded British Muslims for Secular Democracy, but that turned into more of a policy operation cum think tank.

    If something could come out of the Ahmadiyya Community, or Muslim Women, that could be interesting.

    I have always found Yahya Birt impressive, but again he is an intellectual.
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 19,573
    eek said:

    For reasons unknown Ed seems to want mini wind turbines in people’s gardens. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/07/04/miliband-plots-garden-windfarm-revolution/

    Has anyone ever seen ones that are small enough to fit in a garden and actually work

    There was a house down Lisheen way that had one of the vertical axis ones that work better in choppy wind, but they actually took it down a couple of years ago.

    My father-in-law has the parts for a turbine tower in the garden, which I think add up to more than 20m in height (I think they were originally part of a crane tower). He wanted to put it up within a few metres of the kitchen window, but my mother-in-law wasn't happy about it. A bit too big for the garden of a suburban semi, anyway.

    Given the trajectory of the cost of solar it feels like a lot of wasted effort to spend time on small-scale wind. There's tidal that could do with government attention, as well as boosting development of storage.
  • Taz said:

    My pic of the day. Local woods to me, used to be a local dogging place apparently. Lovely this time of day.


    This is the sort of high quality local reporting we want, not that subsidised BBC rubbish ;)
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 39,036
    Dura_Ace said:

    kle4 said:

    Fantastic timing for the Greens' leadership election. What's the point of Polanski now?

    His 'enthusuastic' welcome of the news was about as genuine as Angies 'i never want to be Labour leader'
    Talk of alliance among Greens, New Left and Gaza bros will surely follow.

    The LDs feel left out in the cold a bit, still a tad too centrist for that crowd but too left to take over from the Tories should Reform gobble up the right.
    Britain does need, and I'm quite surprised it hasn't yet eventuated, an explicitly Muslim political movement to fight the intrinsic and structurally embedded Islamophobia of the British state.
    In reality, that just divides the left wing vote, and achieves nothing in a country where 94% are not Muslim.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 66,652
    "America has just dropped a big, beautiful, bunker-busting bomb on its own economy."

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/07/03/trump-has-dropped-big-beautiful-bomb-on-americas-economy
  • LeonLeon Posts: 62,560
    Dura_Ace said:

    kle4 said:

    Fantastic timing for the Greens' leadership election. What's the point of Polanski now?

    His 'enthusuastic' welcome of the news was about as genuine as Angies 'i never want to be Labour leader'
    Talk of alliance among Greens, New Left and Gaza bros will surely follow.

    The LDs feel left out in the cold a bit, still a tad too centrist for that crowd but too left to take over from the Tories should Reform gobble up the right.
    Britain does need, and I'm quite surprised it hasn't yet eventuated, an explicitly Muslim political movement to fight the intrinsic and structurally embedded Islamophobia of the British state.
    Indeed. Bring it on
  • Andy_JS said:

    "‘Police said I violated the Human Rights Act for cycling no-handed’

    Cyclist claims he was given a ticket because he contravened Article 2 which covers the right to life"

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/07/04/police-cyclist-human-rights-act-no-hands-ticket/

    Haven't we debunked this ? Officer misspoke, it's RTA not HRA, cycling without due care...

    Bloke is lucky that "being a bellend" isn't a specific offence.
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,924
    Leon said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    kle4 said:

    Fantastic timing for the Greens' leadership election. What's the point of Polanski now?

    His 'enthusuastic' welcome of the news was about as genuine as Angies 'i never want to be Labour leader'
    Talk of alliance among Greens, New Left and Gaza bros will surely follow.

    The LDs feel left out in the cold a bit, still a tad too centrist for that crowd but too left to take over from the Tories should Reform gobble up the right.
    Britain does need, and I'm quite surprised it hasn't yet eventuated, an explicitly Muslim political movement to fight the intrinsic and structurally embedded Islamophobia of the British state.
    Indeed. Bring it on
    We could then have a parallel justice system based on Sharia and all those shoplifters could have their hands chopped off. It would certainly cut crime.
  • FeersumEnjineeyaFeersumEnjineeya Posts: 4,782
    edited July 4

    Cicero said:

    Young Europeans losing faith in democracy, poll finds

    Support is lowest in France, Spain and Poland, while 21% back authoritarian rule under certain circumstances

    Only half of young people in France and Spain believe that democracy is the best form of government, with support even lower among their Polish counterparts, a study has found.

    A majority from Europe’s generation Z – 57% – prefer democracy to any other form of government. Rates of support varied significantly, however, reaching just 48% in Poland and only about 51-52% in Spain and France, with Germany highest at 71%.

    More than one in five – 21% – would favour authoritarian rule under certain, unspecified circumstances. This was highest in Italy at 24% and lowest in Germany with 15%. In France, Spain and Poland the figure was 23%.

    Nearly one in 10 across the nations said they did not care whether their government was democratic or not, while another 14% did not know or did not answer.

    https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jul/04/young-europeans-losing-faith-in-democracy-poll-finds

    The impact of the nihilism and cynicism of the media/industrial complex is clear here. In a way it is a good thing, since it forces the proponents of democracy to make a positive case. However, when we still see lazy nonsense- "Reform will storm the next election"- leading the news agenda, then it should remind us that there are still plenty of headwinds.

    Reform will not be able to come close to being the next government and may well even disappear before the next general election even happens. Lib Dems learned the lesson of the Alliance- you have to win seats, not votes. Reform and the Popular People´s front of Judea (Sultana Branch) have yet to show that they understand this. The county elections for Reform may well be like the last European Parliament elections for UKIP- a flash in the pan, but of remarkably little long term significance.

    In the meantime, the case for a responsive, inclusive and open democracy still needs to be made and electoral reform is only part of the package.
    While like you I want Reform to disappear, and I voted Lib Dem in the Locals partially because they were the best placed candidate to defeat Reform, the idea "Reform will not be able to come close to being the next government" is entirely false I'm afraid.

    Will they form the next government? Probably not.
    Will they come close to it? Probably not.

    Is it possible they are able to? Absolutely.

    The threat is real and needs to be defeated. Don't count your chickens. Anyone standing 326+ candidates is able to form the next government if they get enough people to vote for them.
    Yes, Reform are a real danger to British society, and I will probably hold my nose and vote Conservative for the first time in my life in the next general election in order to help keep them at bay, given that my local MP is a moderate Tory in a safe (or maybe not so safe these days) Conservative seat.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 44,218

    Foxy said:

    It's a good thing that we have more parties that represent different strands of British politics. Whether it can work in a FPTP system is another matter.

    My 160/1 on Sultana as next Labour leader looks like money wasted.

    This new party will not be representing different strands of British politics.

    It will be representing a strand of Middle Eastern politics.
    At least we can be confident that here won’t be a *New Party X* Friends of Israel.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 36,133
    AnneJGP said:

    Good morning, everyone. On my smartphone, on the 'main site'. Hopefully no longer subhuman.

    That's not a good piece of coordination for launching a new party, indeed. Mistake or deliberate sabotage?

    Good morning. The main site still isn't working for me.
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 39,036

    Leon said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    kle4 said:

    Fantastic timing for the Greens' leadership election. What's the point of Polanski now?

    His 'enthusuastic' welcome of the news was about as genuine as Angies 'i never want to be Labour leader'
    Talk of alliance among Greens, New Left and Gaza bros will surely follow.

    The LDs feel left out in the cold a bit, still a tad too centrist for that crowd but too left to take over from the Tories should Reform gobble up the right.
    Britain does need, and I'm quite surprised it hasn't yet eventuated, an explicitly Muslim political movement to fight the intrinsic and structurally embedded Islamophobia of the British state.
    Indeed. Bring it on
    We could then have a parallel justice system based on Sharia and all those shoplifters could have their hands chopped off. It would certainly cut crime.
    I see a potential flaw though: how will handcuffs work in the event of any further arrest ?
    Nail the stumps together.
  • eekeek Posts: 30,540
    AnneJGP said:

    Good morning, everyone. On my smartphone, on the 'main site'. Hopefully no longer subhuman.

    That's not a good piece of coordination for launching a new party, indeed. Mistake or deliberate sabotage?

    I wonder if they've been negotiating for so long that the others have got fed up and felt it's time to bounce Corbyn into making his mind up..
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,165
    Harsh, but fair...

    @mocent0

    If the answer is Zarah Sultana, what the fuck was the question?!

    https://x.com/mocent0/status/1941036925370138749
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 36,133
    edited July 4
    Oh no, don't believe it.

    "TfL boss refuses to explain new Piccadilly line trains delay

    Transport for London's Andy Lord has refused to publicly explain why the introduction of new Piccadilly line trains has been delayed by a year. The commissioner, when pressed by London Assembly member Keith Prince, said the exact reasons are 'complicated' but that he is willing to provide information off-camera."

    https://www.mylondon.news/news/transport/tfl-boss-apologises-delay-new-31987292
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,165
    ...
  • MattWMattW Posts: 28,144
    edited July 4
    Eabhal said:

    Eabhal said:

    eek said:

    For reasons unknown Ed seems to want mini wind turbines in people’s gardens. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/07/04/miliband-plots-garden-windfarm-revolution/

    Has anyone ever seen ones that are small enough to fit in a garden and actually work

    A significant proportion of homes in the highlands and islands have them, and they work fine. A few of the remote hostels (e.g. Ossian, Allt Beithe) run their electricity entirely off solar and wind.

    (https://www.hostellingscotland.org.uk/hostels/glen-affric/)
    Other than at the kind of remote locations you mention, though, they don't make economic sense. There's a good reason why wind turbines are absolutely massive and built in particularly windy places.
    Those wee domestic ones don't need much wind though - you just need a consistent breeze, so I guess most coastal communities would be suitable.

    But yes, you get better gains because of the cost of energy in remote areas - but remember that about 30% of houses don't have access to mains gas and heating oil/gas deliveries are expensive. I think it's why solar is more widespread in the wet and dark Highlands than it is elsewhere.
    There's a calculator here:
    https://www.omnicalculator.com/ecology/wind-turbine

    Ideally it wants a consistent wind speed of perhaps 6.5-7.5 m/s.

    If you look there is good wind speed data from pro and am weather stations all over the country.

    In general imo the money is better spent on improving the fabric, and particularly on micro hydro if you can do it and MUST generate.

    There's a beautiful blog from a chap who lives even more in the back of beyond that anywhere in Scotland (except Rockall) here, Life at the End of the Road. I stopped in 2022 after about 15 years, but is a great read in which to time travel.
    https://lifeattheendoftheroad.wordpress.com/
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 46,133
    Eabhal said:

    Eabhal said:

    eek said:

    For reasons unknown Ed seems to want mini wind turbines in people’s gardens. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/07/04/miliband-plots-garden-windfarm-revolution/

    Has anyone ever seen ones that are small enough to fit in a garden and actually work

    A significant proportion of homes in the highlands and islands have them, and they work fine. A few of the remote hostels (e.g. Ossian, Allt Beithe) run their electricity entirely off solar and wind.

    (https://www.hostellingscotland.org.uk/hostels/glen-affric/)
    Other than at the kind of remote locations you mention, though, they don't make economic sense. There's a good reason why wind turbines are absolutely massive and built in particularly windy places.
    Those wee domestic ones don't need much wind though - you just need a consistent breeze, so I guess most coastal communities would be suitable.

    But yes, you get better gains because of the cost of energy in remote areas - but remember that about 30% of houses don't have access to mains gas and heating oil/gas deliveries are expensive. I think it's why solar is more widespread in the wet and dark Highlands than it is elsewhere.
    We have a couple of small wind turbines in the village; I think they are used to pump water up to the allotments / playing fields rather than generate electricity. When the wind is strongish, they make one heck of a racket. I can imagine noise being a problem for neighbouring properties if placed in the 'wrong' place.
  • eekeek Posts: 30,540
    Andy_JS said:

    Oh no, don't believe it.

    "TfL boss refuses to explain new Piccadilly line trains delay

    Transport for London's Andy Lord has refused to publicly explain why the introduction of new Piccadilly line trains has been delayed by a year. The commissioner, when pressed by London Assembly member Keith Prince, said the exact reasons are 'complicated' but that he is willing to provide information off-camera."

    https://www.mylondon.news/news/transport/tfl-boss-apologises-delay-new-31987292

    I can believe that - press want a simple story and I suspect the real story is 4 or 6 niggles that are somehow impacting each other.
  • Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 33,438
    Andy_JS said:

    AnneJGP said:

    Good morning, everyone. On my smartphone, on the 'main site'. Hopefully no longer subhuman.

    That's not a good piece of coordination for launching a new party, indeed. Mistake or deliberate sabotage?

    Good morning. The main site still isn't working for me.
    Morning all.

    Finally managed to get back on the site after more than a week without access.
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 6,541
    edited July 4
    Taz said:

    The home office doesn’t know how many foreign workers leave when their visas expire

    What a fucking clown show

    https://x.com/bbcpolitics/status/1941033925284929840?s=46&t=d8CnRhyZJ-m4vy0k55W8XQ

    Well, unlike most countries, we don't do exit checks (other than on Eurostar and ferries). So they can only know indirectly - by survey and asking the airlines.

    I suspect analysing the airline data well is difficult.
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