Sir Keir Starmer has said he "understands what anchors" US President Donald Trump, having built a relationship on shared family values.
Despite "different political backgrounds" the prime minister said he found common ground with Trump, and that their "good personal relationship" helped land a vital US tariff deal.
One of the things that has surprised me about the last nearly 6 months of Trump is how unheated things have been between the US and China. China has remained relatively restrained and diplomatic. I suspect that they are willing to take some pain and to allow MAGA/GOP to get on with trashing America's soft-power and future economy.
One of the things that has surprised me about the last nearly 6 months of Trump is how unheated things have been between the US and China. China has remained relatively restrained and diplomatic. I suspect that they are willing to take some pain and to allow MAGA/GOP to get on with trashing America's soft-power and future economy.
Classic, “never interrupt your enemy whilst they are making a mistake” policy.
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.
Plus tax breaks for the rich. All funded on the never never. But don't worry, Andrew Bailey soon to be replaced by a party hack.
"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."
This is potentially a massive issue, as EMR's current stock is due to be cascaded to other operators. Someone may end up without enough trains to operate services...
Sir Keir Starmer has said he "understands what anchors" US President Donald Trump, having built a relationship on shared family values.
Despite "different political backgrounds" the prime minister said he found common ground with Trump, and that their "good personal relationship" helped land a vital US tariff deal.
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.
Plus tax breaks for the rich. All funded on the never never. But don't worry, Andrew Bailey soon to be replaced by a party hack.
You know it makes sense.
Many people will accept pain, if they think worse pain is being inflicted on those that they despise.
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.
Plus tax breaks for the rich. All funded on the never never. But don't worry, Andrew Bailey soon to be replaced by a party hack.
You know it makes sense.
Many people will accept pain, if they think worse pain is being inflicted on those that they despise.
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.
Plus tax breaks for the rich. All funded on the never never. But don't worry, Andrew Bailey soon to be replaced by a party hack.
You know it makes sense.
Many people will accept pain, if they think worse pain is being inflicted on those that they despise.
An iteration of "annoying the right people".
Sadly prevalent, and a ticket to nowhere.
I think it’s one of the hallmarks of a “sick society.”
Indy wipes everyone out in the last of this weeks locals - he came second to Reform in the county council version of this seat in May so even they have been cannibalised
One of the things that has surprised me about the last nearly 6 months of Trump is how unheated things have been between the US and China. China has remained relatively restrained and diplomatic. I suspect that they are willing to take some pain and to allow MAGA/GOP to get on with trashing America's soft-power and future economy.
Classic, “never interrupt your enemy whilst they are making a mistake” policy.
They can’t believe their luck at the amount of self-harm their chief rival is inflicting.
The recent behaviour of both the USA and Russia challenges the “Realist” doctrine that states are rational, in pursuit of foreign policy goals.
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.
RTA article 2 doesn't apply to bicycles
Unicycles are road legal...
But someone else made the point you can brake with your feet on a unicycle. Though that logic doesn't apply to someone cycling a fixie, which remains illegal unless you have brakes on your handlebar.
The whole thing is a bit silly. I enjoyed a drunken debate last weekend - if you swing your leg over your top tube at a red light are you now scooting, and therefore free from the provisions of the RTA?
Indy wipes everyone out in the last of this weeks locals - he came second to Reform in the county council version of this seat in May so even they have been cannibalised
Independent GAIN from Conservative. Changes w/ 2023.
Presumably it is a subset of the County seat and this Borough ward might be his/her specific area of support within the County ward. That is quite a common occurrence.
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.
RTA article 2 doesn't apply to bicycles
Unicycles are road legal...
But someone else made the point you can brake with your feet on a unicycle. Though that logic doesn't apply to someone cycling a fixie, which remains illegal unless you have brakes on your handlebar.
The whole thing is a bit silly. I enjoyed a drunken debate last weekend - if you swing your leg over your top tube at a red light are you now scooting, and therefore free from the provisions of the RTA?
I've just had bolt-on aerobars put onto my crummy bike. I'm really enjoying using them, but there're no brakes or gears on them (*), which means to brake you need to shift your hands onto the drops or hoods in order to brake.
(*) You can get gears on more expensive versions; but not brakes.
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.
Plus tax breaks for the rich. All funded on the never never. But don't worry, Andrew Bailey soon to be replaced by a party hack.
You know it makes sense.
Many people will accept pain, if they think worse pain is being inflicted on those that they despise.
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.
So that's about 6-7% of dwellings on Orkney (total ~10500). That's a good illustration of one end of the spectrum.
We've been debating them since the Green Buildings forum was running from about 2000, and there's lots of good advice. Two useful numbers to think about are that power is proportional to the cube of wind speed, and the swept area of the turbine. Places like Orkney get 15-20 hrs of wind daily aiui.
I'd use one for something like an LED lighting system and small winter dehumidifier in a shed, with suitable battery storage.
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.
RTA article 2 doesn't apply to bicycles
Unicycles are road legal...
But someone else made the point you can brake with your feet on a unicycle. Though that logic doesn't apply to someone cycling a fixie, which remains illegal unless you have brakes on your handlebar.
The whole thing is a bit silly. I enjoyed a drunken debate last weekend - if you swing your leg over your top tube at a red light are you now scooting, and therefore free from the provisions of the RTA?
I've just had bolt-on aerobars put onto my crummy bike. I'm really enjoying using them, but there're no brakes or gears on them (*), which means to brake you need to shift your hands onto the drops or hoods in order to brake.
(*) You can get gears on more expensive versions; but not brakes.
As long as you can get your hands on them as fast as you could your feet on the brakes in a car I guess it's fine.
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.
It might be a significant chunk but I really don't see this as a healthy development. It will masquerade as a far-left party but in reality it will be an islamic party that is more concerned with Gaza than with the issues that really concern most of the country.
An essentially Islamic party in the HoC will further fuel Reform's growth. I generally agree with you on most things (and love the avatar from Cabaret by the way -sums up exactly how I feel these days!) but I think you are dangerously naive about the effect that political islam is having everywhere across Europe.
Indy wipes everyone out in the last of this weeks locals - he came second to Reform in the county council version of this seat in May so even they have been cannibalised
Independent GAIN from Conservative. Changes w/ 2023.
Presumably it is a subset of the County seat and this Borough ward might be his/her specific area of support within the County ward. That is quite a common occurrence.
Still I agree with you, it is quite impressive.
Apparently he fancied his chances in the county ward but was delayed getting his leaflet out till after postals. He says he was better prepared this time! The Con collapse is eye watering and the LD getting 8 votes must be close to a record low for a major party in raw numbers in a council election??
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.
Plus tax breaks for the rich. All funded on the never never. But don't worry, Andrew Bailey soon to be replaced by a party hack.
You know it makes sense.
Many people will accept pain, if they think worse pain is being inflicted on those that they despise.
Also reminds me a bit of 'punching up/down', where 'down' = hitting a group I disapprove of being hit, and 'up' = hitting a group I approve of being hit.
Recent polling showed most voters supported the richest paying a higher rate of tax even if that led to more of them leaving, reducing the overall tax take. It's dumb as hell, but vindictive envy trumped (ahem) mathematics and logic.
Indy wipes everyone out in the last of this weeks locals - he came second to Reform in the county council version of this seat in May so even they have been cannibalised
Independent GAIN from Conservative. Changes w/ 2023.
A 55% swing from Conservative to Independent which, if repeated at a GE, wouldn't be...
Brave for the LD to stand for 8 votes as well which just goes to show there are no "no-go" areas for the party these days....
Good call on Fulham Town by the way - in the end, probably the best Conservative result of the evening though what it means for the London locals next year (if anything) I'm not sure. Newark was a win but only just and it was suggested the Conservatives threw the kitchen sink at the seat so how that portends for Jenrick's chances of holding Newark at a GE I'm not sure.
Indy wipes everyone out in the last of this weeks locals - he came second to Reform in the county council version of this seat in May so even they have been cannibalised
Independent GAIN from Conservative. Changes w/ 2023.
A 55% swing from Conservative to Independent which, if repeated at a GE, wouldn't be...
Brave for the LD to stand for 8 votes as well which just goes to show there are no "no-go" areas for the party these days....
Good call on Fulham Town by the way - in the end, probably the best Conservative result of the evening though what it means for the London locals next year (if anything) I'm not sure. Newark was a win but only just and it was suggested the Conservatives threw the kitchen sink at the seat so how that portends for Jenrick's chances of holding Newark at a GE I'm not sure.
Some very close finishes in the other contests.
Newark was a 'headline' good result for the Tories but yeah, having had Kemi there on polling day it was much closer than i think they anticipated. Fulham - yes their vote held up from 2022, reform in fourth, Labour and LD votes slipping a bit. Probably means the ultra marginal Chelsea and Fulham becomes favourite for a London gain for Con in 2029, and if the inner western seats go similarly theyll feel more comfortable about holding Kensington council and gaining Westminster back and targetting Kensington and Bayswater at the GE
On topic, it will be interesting to see the impact of any "new" group on Inner London politics. Here in Newham, we have a Mayoral election next year as well as the local contests. With Councillor Fiaz looking to be on the way out, Labour will have to find a new candidate and I suspect the Newham Independents will be looking for a strong local candidate.
Whether we will see a single slate of anti-Labour candidates from the "left" is another question - could TUSC, Galloway's mob and the various Independents agree to stand single candidates in Wards in places like Newham, Redbridge, Hackney and Lewisham against Labour? What about the Greens?
Locally, I think we could be in for some surprises in Newham next year.
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.
Plus tax breaks for the rich. All funded on the never never. But don't worry, Andrew Bailey soon to be replaced by a party hack.
You know it makes sense.
Many people will accept pain, if they think worse pain is being inflicted on those that they despise.
Indy wipes everyone out in the last of this weeks locals - he came second to Reform in the county council version of this seat in May so even they have been cannibalised
Independent GAIN from Conservative. Changes w/ 2023.
A 55% swing from Conservative to Independent which, if repeated at a GE, wouldn't be...
Brave for the LD to stand for 8 votes as well which just goes to show there are no "no-go" areas for the party these days....
Good call on Fulham Town by the way - in the end, probably the best Conservative result of the evening though what it means for the London locals next year (if anything) I'm not sure. Newark was a win but only just and it was suggested the Conservatives threw the kitchen sink at the seat so how that portends for Jenrick's chances of holding Newark at a GE I'm not sure.
Some very close finishes in the other contests.
Newark was a 'headline' good result for the Tories but yeah, having had Kemi there on polling day it was much closer than i think they anticipated. Fulham - yes their vote held up from 2022, reform in fourth, Labour and LD votes slipping a bit. Probably means the ultra marginal Chelsea and Fulham becomes favourite for a London gain for Con in 2029, and if the inner western seats go similarly theyll feel more comfortable about holding Kensington council and gaining Westminster back and targetting Kensington and Bayswater at the GE
If there’s a safe Conservative seat these days, it’s probably well-heeled, and with a substantial and successful ethnic minority population - like Hertsmere.
Indy wipes everyone out in the last of this weeks locals - he came second to Reform in the county council version of this seat in May so even they have been cannibalised
Independent GAIN from Conservative. Changes w/ 2023.
A 55% swing from Conservative to Independent which, if repeated at a GE, wouldn't be...
Brave for the LD to stand for 8 votes as well which just goes to show there are no "no-go" areas for the party these days....
Good call on Fulham Town by the way - in the end, probably the best Conservative result of the evening though what it means for the London locals next year (if anything) I'm not sure. Newark was a win but only just and it was suggested the Conservatives threw the kitchen sink at the seat so how that portends for Jenrick's chances of holding Newark at a GE I'm not sure.
Some very close finishes in the other contests.
Newark was a 'headline' good result for the Tories but yeah, having had Kemi there on polling day it was much closer than i think they anticipated. Fulham - yes their vote held up from 2022, reform in fourth, Labour and LD votes slipping a bit. Probably means the ultra marginal Chelsea and Fulham becomes favourite for a London gain for Con in 2029, and if the inner western seats go similarly theyll feel more comfortable about holding Kensington council and gaining Westminster back and targetting Kensington and Bayswater at the GE
If there’s a safe Conservative seat these days, it’s probably well-heeled, and with a substantial and successful ethnic minority population - like Hertsmere.
Hertsmere is on my 'last 10' list of 'Tory wipeout scenario' seats
After 3 days with no access to questions (something about the website being accessed via a third party, which it wasn't), it's suddenly worked again - hooray! Any idea what went wrong?
After 3 days with no access to questions (something about the website being accessed via a third party, which it wasn't), it's suddenly worked again - hooray! Any idea what went wrong?
Vanilla engaged in some "upgrades" that broke it. They said it would be fixed by July 4, and 'lo, it was fixed.
Let’s go through — one by one — 16 of the most vulnerable Republican House incumbents for 2026 that voted for this abomination of a bill that cuts Medicaid & SNAP benefits for millions of Americans, while cutting taxes for the rich.
Let’s go through — one by one — 16 of the most vulnerable Republican House incumbents for 2026 that voted for this abomination of a bill that cuts Medicaid & SNAP benefits for millions of Americans, while cutting taxes for the rich.
Trump now appears to have declared war on Democrats and Democrat supporters. Voting against MAGA is very unAmerican and likely treasonous and perhaps un-Christian. The baby Jesus would want America to simply suspend the vote from these devil-worshipping heathens.
Let’s go through — one by one — 16 of the most vulnerable Republican House incumbents for 2026 that voted for this abomination of a bill that cuts Medicaid & SNAP benefits for millions of Americans, while cutting taxes for the rich.
Yes. I'm a possible recruit for the new party (after 54 years in Labour, and still chair of my CLP), but the "launch" seems quarter-cocked.
I suspect Sultana was bounced by imminent threat of expulsion and Jezza wasn't ready. My prediction is they cobble together a 'next steps' presser for Monday
The Democrats seem barely to be mentioning the debt ceiling rise this bill will slap on, presumably their "fix" when they get back in will be to up rack up even more debt to sort the Medicaid stuff they think needs sorting.
Yes. I'm a possible recruit for the new party (after 54 years in Labour, and still chair of my CLP), but the "launch" seems quarter-cocked.
I suspect Sultana was bounced by imminent threat of expulsion and Jezza wasn't ready. My prediction is they cobble together a 'next steps' presser for Monday
WHy does Sultana think there's a need for a new fruitcake party?
Yes. I'm a possible recruit for the new party (after 54 years in Labour, and still chair of my CLP), but the "launch" seems quarter-cocked.
I suspect Sultana was bounced by imminent threat of expulsion and Jezza wasn't ready. My prediction is they cobble together a 'next steps' presser for Monday
WHy does Sultana think there's a need for a new fruitcake party?
The Tealoafs is the official name if Jezza doesn't get off his boney old arse and front a statement soon
Edit - although maybe not as I'm actually rather partial to a slice of my homemade tea loaf
Looks like while we have FPTP Corbyn's preference is to stay Independent rather than start a new party so not sure Sultana's effort will get off the ground
Indy wipes everyone out in the last of this weeks locals - he came second to Reform in the county council version of this seat in May so even they have been cannibalised
Independent GAIN from Conservative. Changes w/ 2023.
A 55% swing from Conservative to Independent which, if repeated at a GE, wouldn't be...
Brave for the LD to stand for 8 votes as well which just goes to show there are no "no-go" areas for the party these days....
Good call on Fulham Town by the way - in the end, probably the best Conservative result of the evening though what it means for the London locals next year (if anything) I'm not sure. Newark was a win but only just and it was suggested the Conservatives threw the kitchen sink at the seat so how that portends for Jenrick's chances of holding Newark at a GE I'm not sure.
Some very close finishes in the other contests.
Newark was a 'headline' good result for the Tories but yeah, having had Kemi there on polling day it was much closer than i think they anticipated. Fulham - yes their vote held up from 2022, reform in fourth, Labour and LD votes slipping a bit. Probably means the ultra marginal Chelsea and Fulham becomes favourite for a London gain for Con in 2029, and if the inner western seats go similarly theyll feel more comfortable about holding Kensington council and gaining Westminster back and targetting Kensington and Bayswater at the GE
If there’s a safe Conservative seat these days, it’s probably well-heeled, and with a substantial and successful ethnic minority population - like Hertsmere.
One of the things that has surprised me about the last nearly 6 months of Trump is how unheated things have been between the US and China. China has remained relatively restrained and diplomatic. I suspect that they are willing to take some pain and to allow MAGA/GOP to get on with trashing America's soft-power and future economy.
The tariff on most Chinese goods to the US remains at 30% and they have in turn imposed higher tariffs on US imports
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.
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.
And all that led to was more Conservative governments, there were fewer Labour governments in the 20th century than Liberal or Whig governments in the 19th century as many middle class ex Liberal voters would refuse to vote for Labour socialism.
I suspect if we kept FPTP and Reform overtook the Conservatives that would mean more Labour or Labour and Liberal Democrat governments in the 21st century as fewer centrist swing voters would vote Reform as have been willing to vote Conservative
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.
Well we should be doing exit checks. Who on earth decided not to.
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.
Plus tax breaks for the rich. All funded on the never never. But don't worry, Andrew Bailey soon to be replaced by a party hack.
You know it makes sense.
Many people will accept pain, if they think worse pain is being inflicted on those that they despise.
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.
Well we should be doing exit checks. Who on earth decided not to.
The airline data - on who has boarded the planes - is used for security purposes.
The airlines make damn sure they check - they are liable for flying people back (and fines), who don't have the proper papers to enter at the other end. Same for the ferries.
There is a reason that people spend 4 figures on a ride on a RIB across the channel.
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.
Well we should be doing exit checks. Who on earth decided not to.
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.
Well we should be doing exit checks. Who on earth decided not to.
Back in 2003 I got a small fine for overstaying my 30 day Thailand visa by a day. So obviously exit checks aren't beyond the wit of man.
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.
Well we should be doing exit checks. Who on earth decided not to.
Back in 2003 I got a small fine for overstaying my 30 day Thailand visa by a day. So obviously exit checks aren't beyond the wit of man.
Presumably based on the datestamp in your passport?
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.
Well we should be doing exit checks. Who on earth decided not to.
Back in 2003 I got a small fine for overstaying my 30 day Thailand visa by a day. So obviously exit checks aren't beyond the wit of man.
Most countries, other than the UK and US, simply make you go through passport control on the way out of the country, as well as on the way in.
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.
Well we should be doing exit checks. Who on earth decided not to.
Back in 2003 I got a small fine for overstaying my 30 day Thailand visa by a day. So obviously exit checks aren't beyond the wit of man.
We did, too. Exit checks there are thorough. Took quite a long time to process, and cut the time we could spend in the free lounge.
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 and a leader, but you don't just luck in to such influence over so many people.
You can not like the idea, while accepting its reality. But it's certainly true that those who are immune to his undeniable appeal find it very hard to understand how anyone can continue, against all rational evidence, to fall for it.
The Democrats seem barely to be mentioning the debt ceiling rise this bill will slap on, presumably their "fix" when they get back in will be to up rack up even more debt to sort the Medicaid stuff they think needs sorting.
Voters don't care about the debt levels until it effects them directly via the bond markets blowing up.
..The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which scrutinises government spending, said the Home Office had failed to analyse exit checks since the skilled worker visa route was introduced in 2020 under the Conservatives. Some 1.18 million people have applied to come to the UK via this route between its launch in December 2020 and the end of 2024. The Home Office said it had inherited a "broken immigration system" and that it was working to "repair the public's trust"...
Sir Keir Starmer has said he "understands what anchors" US President Donald Trump, having built a relationship on shared family values.
Despite "different political backgrounds" the prime minister said he found common ground with Trump, and that their "good personal relationship" helped land a vital US tariff deal.
That's a better grade of insincere but necessary flattery than most.
We all know the only thing which anchors Trump, but it would be impolitic for our PM to say so.
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 and a leader, but you don't just luck in to such influence over so many people.
You can not like the idea, while accepting its reality. But it's certainly true that those who are immune to his undeniable appeal find it very hard to understand how anyone can continue, against all rational evidence, to fall for it.
Correct me if I'm wrong but AIUI the "Big Beautiful Bill" brings in immediate tax cuts for the rich, but the cuts to Medicaid etc don't take place until AFTER the 2026 elections. Howls of rage for the 2028 ones of course but suggests Trump isn't bothered about them.
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.
Well we should be doing exit checks. Who on earth decided not to.
Presumably the argument is that we don't care too much if people leave the country
One of the things that has surprised me about the last nearly 6 months of Trump is how unheated things have been between the US and China. China has remained relatively restrained and diplomatic. I suspect that they are willing to take some pain and to allow MAGA/GOP to get on with trashing America's soft-power and future economy.
They're not taking that much pain, though, are they ?
There's occasional pushback over stuff that matters to them (eg over chip technology sanctions) - and Trump has usually accommodated them when there is.
After 3 days with no access to questions (something about the website being accessed via a third party, which it wasn't), it's suddenly worked again - hooray! Any idea what went wrong?
Vanilla engaged in some "upgrades" that broke it. They said it would be fixed by July 4, and 'lo, it was fixed.
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.
Well we should be doing exit checks. Who on earth decided not to.
Presumably the argument is that we don't care too much if people leave the country
Comments
Sir Keir Starmer has said he "understands what anchors" US President Donald Trump, having built a relationship on shared family values.
Despite "different political backgrounds" the prime minister said he found common ground with Trump, and that their "good personal relationship" helped land a vital US tariff deal.
You know it makes sense.
"New trains connecting Derby, Nottingham, Leicester and Sheffield with London are facing more delays before they are introduced.
East Midlands Railway's fleet of Class 810 Aurora trains were originally meant to enter service in 2022 but have yet to be used by passengers."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq53z6gnqjyo
This is potentially a massive issue, as EMR's current stock is due to be cascaded to other operators. Someone may end up without enough trains to operate services...
Unicycles are road legal...
Sadly prevalent, and a ticket to nowhere.
Up there with "railway passenger bus replacement service"!
Calverton (Gedling) Council By-Election Result:
🙋 Ind: 66.3% (New)
➡️ RFM: 17.9% (New)
🌹 LAB: 8.0% (-20.6)
🌳 CON: 6.2% (-44.1)
🌍 GRN: 1.1% (New)
🔶 LDM: 0.4% (New)
No Ind (-21.1) as previous.
Independent GAIN from Conservative.
Changes w/ 2023.
For those that don't know: https://vf.politicalbetting.com
The recent behaviour of both the USA and Russia challenges the “Realist” doctrine that states are rational, in pursuit of foreign policy goals.
The whole thing is a bit silly. I enjoyed a drunken debate last weekend - if you swing your leg over your top tube at a red light are you now scooting, and therefore free from the provisions of the RTA?
Still I agree with you, it is quite impressive.
(*) You can get gears on more expensive versions; but not brakes.
https://x.com/atrupar/status/1940932231221932507
A recent Buildhub thread, with a couple of accounts from the Highlands and Islands.
https://forum.buildhub.org.uk/topic/25118-has-anyone-got-a-wind-turbine/
We've been debating them since the Green Buildings forum was running from about 2000, and there's lots of good advice. Two useful numbers to think about are that power is proportional to the cube of wind speed, and the swept area of the turbine. Places like Orkney get 15-20 hrs of wind daily aiui.
I'd use one for something like an LED lighting system and small winter dehumidifier in a shed, with suitable battery storage.
An essentially Islamic party in the HoC will further fuel Reform's growth. I generally agree with you on most things (and love the avatar from Cabaret by the way -sums up exactly how I feel these days!) but I think you are dangerously naive about the effect that political islam is having everywhere across Europe.
The Con collapse is eye watering and the LD getting 8 votes must be close to a record low for a major party in raw numbers in a council election??
Recent polling showed most voters supported the richest paying a higher rate of tax even if that led to more of them leaving, reducing the overall tax take. It's dumb as hell, but vindictive envy trumped (ahem) mathematics and logic.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg5dgr4mepo
Reminds me how good Robinson was as political editor. Not a great read for Starmer though.
Brave for the LD to stand for 8 votes as well which just goes to show there are no "no-go" areas for the party these days....
Good call on Fulham Town by the way - in the end, probably the best Conservative result of the evening though what it means for the London locals next year (if anything) I'm not sure. Newark was a win but only just and it was suggested the Conservatives threw the kitchen sink at the seat so how that portends for Jenrick's chances of holding Newark at a GE I'm not sure.
Some very close finishes in the other contests.
Gordon Brown seems the closest analog, looking at this.
Fulham - yes their vote held up from 2022, reform in fourth, Labour and LD votes slipping a bit. Probably means the ultra marginal Chelsea and Fulham becomes favourite for a London gain for Con in 2029, and if the inner western seats go similarly theyll feel more comfortable about holding Kensington council and gaining Westminster back and targetting Kensington and Bayswater at the GE
On topic, it will be interesting to see the impact of any "new" group on Inner London politics. Here in Newham, we have a Mayoral election next year as well as the local contests. With Councillor Fiaz looking to be on the way out, Labour will have to find a new candidate and I suspect the Newham Independents will be looking for a strong local candidate.
Whether we will see a single slate of anti-Labour candidates from the "left" is another question - could TUSC, Galloway's mob and the various Independents agree to stand single candidates in Wards in places like Newham, Redbridge, Hackney and Lewisham against Labour? What about the Greens?
Locally, I think we could be in for some surprises in Newham next year.
Britons could soon install balcony solar panels in flats and rental homes
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jun/30/britons-could-soon-install-balcony-solar-panels-in-flats-and-rental-homes
https://x.com/bbcbreakfast/status/1941034588652163169
'You can break one stick, but if you get a bundle of sticks tied together you can't break them'
I'm sorry about the issues.
@admcrlsn
Let’s go through — one by one — 16 of the most vulnerable Republican House incumbents for 2026 that voted for this abomination of a bill that cuts Medicaid & SNAP benefits for millions of Americans, while cutting taxes for the rich.
Remember this day.
Remember these names.
https://x.com/admcrlsn/status/1940876558128107523
Keir Starmer reveals to @bbcnickrobinson that he considers himself to be a ‘hard bastard’
https://x.com/jasongroves1/status/1941039583711445440?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q
'You can break one stick, but if you get a bundle of sticks tied together you can't break them'
Actor Steve Coogan told #BBCBreakfast why he believes the co-operative movement still has a significant role to play in society
TL;DR : Trump's America just opted out of the high tech future of energy, EV and AI and a ton of other stuff and China are laughing their faces off.
My prediction is they cobble together a 'next steps' presser for Monday
Have a few thoughts - if they can get a big trade union then they might possibly co-label with them ?
A Russian oil tycoon has reportedly died after falling from a window in his home in Moscow.
Edit - although maybe not as I'm actually rather partial to a slice of my homemade tea loaf
I suspect if we kept FPTP and Reform overtook the Conservatives that would mean more Labour or Labour and Liberal Democrat governments in the 21st century as fewer centrist swing voters would vote Reform as have been willing to vote Conservative
The airlines make damn sure they check - they are liable for flying people back (and fines), who don't have the proper papers to enter at the other end. Same for the ferries.
There is a reason that people spend 4 figures on a ride on a RIB across the channel.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/exit-checks-on-passengers-leaving-the-uk/exit-checks-fact-sheet
The above links said the coalition were due to put them back into place, but I guess they never did ?
https://www.betfair.com/exchange/plus/cricket/market/1.245074690
But it's certainly true that those who are immune to his undeniable appeal find it very hard to understand how anyone can continue, against all rational evidence, to fall for it.
Introduced by guess who ?
..The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which scrutinises government spending, said the Home Office had failed to analyse exit checks since the skilled worker visa route was introduced in 2020 under the Conservatives.
Some 1.18 million people have applied to come to the UK via this route between its launch in December 2020 and the end of 2024.
The Home Office said it had inherited a "broken immigration system" and that it was working to "repair the public's trust"...
We all know the only thing which anchors Trump, but it would be impolitic for our PM to say so.
Howls of rage for the 2028 ones of course but suggests Trump isn't bothered about them.
There's occasional pushback over stuff that matters to them (eg over chip technology sanctions) - and Trump has usually accommodated them when there is.