They’re the most ideologically opposed to right-wing populism, they stand to gain from anti-Reform voting, and they know that both Labour and Tory are frightened of laying into reform for fear of losing their reform-curious voters.
If, come the next GE, reform has maintained its pole position (a big if), the issue of the election could be whether British is ready to flirt with the populist right, and the LDs will be well placed to fight a vigorous campaign.
That’s just not the case given their relative strength, with the exception of parts of Cornwall and Devon is in seats that are a desert for Reform.
The Lib Dem’s are a southern party, the party of Waitrose and NIMBYism. They have no chance of taking seats where reform are strong in the east coast, midlands or the north.
They have a strong presence, locally, in part of Durham but the national party doesn’t give a shit about the area. The city of Durham should be either a Lib Dem seat or competitive. Instead we have the cerebral Mary Kelly foy winning all the time
Yes, but there are voters concerned about reform in every seat.
Besides, more than half the struggle for the LibDems is coming up with distinctive positions that might register with the voters.
Free money for the WASPE women, no more building locally.
I see the PB brothers were wrong about the national mood, with strong support for the government over the Afghan super-injunction. Even Reform were only narrowly against.
Can you draw me a Venn diagram of the PBers criticising Starmer for removing the whip from his rebellious MPs and those PBers who praised Boris Johnson for removing the whip from his MPs in 2019.
I've not criticised either, but the two situations are not comparable.
Johnson made his vote a confidence one (following precedence of eg Major with Maastricht etc) which means anyone who votes against absolutely should lose the whip, following precedence . . . and all did.
Starmer did not make his vote a confidence one, and has removed the whip from just four of the forty seven rebels.
Not this bullshit again, if it was a vote of confidence then why didn't Boris Johnson resign as PM when the vote was lost?
This is a quite extraordinary number of fatalities for a passenger railway.
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article308679915.html ...Brightline is the nation’s most dangerous passenger train, reporters found, killing someone every 13 days of service, on average. In addition to those deaths, 99 people have been injured. In at least 101 cases, the train crashed into vehicles, but no one was hurt.
...In a written statement, Michael Lefevre, Brightline’s vice president of operations, reiterated what the company has been saying for years — that the deaths were self-inflicted. “These incidents are tragic and avoidable. More than half have been confirmed or suspected suicide — intentional acts of self-harm. All have been the result of illegal, deliberate and oftentimes reckless behavior by people putting themselves in harm’s way.” Lefevre said their actions “impact our guests who count on Brightline to get them to work, the theme parks, or special events.”..
I see the PB brothers were wrong about the national mood, with strong support for the government over the Afghan super-injunction. Even Reform were only narrowly against.
I see the PB brothers were wrong about the national mood, with strong support for the government over the Afghan super-injunction. Even Reform were only narrowly against.
They’re the most ideologically opposed to right-wing populism, they stand to gain from anti-Reform voting, and they know that both Labour and Tory are frightened of laying into reform for fear of losing their reform-curious voters.
If, come the next GE, reform has maintained its pole position (a big if), the issue of the election could be whether British is ready to flirt with the populist right, and the LDs will be well placed to fight a vigorous campaign.
That’s just not the case given their relative strength, with the exception of parts of Cornwall and Devon is in seats that are a desert for Reform.
The Lib Dem’s are a southern party, the party of Waitrose and NIMBYism. They have no chance of taking seats where reform are strong in the east coast, midlands or the north.
They have a strong presence, locally, in part of Durham but the national party doesn’t give a shit about the area. The city of Durham should be either a Lib Dem seat or competitive. Instead we have the cerebral Mary Kelly foy winning all the time
Yes, but there are voters concerned about reform in every seat.
Besides, more than half the struggle for the LibDems is coming up with distinctive positions that might register with the voters.
Free money for the WASPE women, no more building locally.
Awesome
Before the last locals, I discussed,with Andrew husband who now leads Durham Council, their DOGE plan which I was roundly abused for saying it was ridiculous and would only enrich the auditors.
Reform are not fiscally prudent.
They are NOTA but they are like the others, including the reprehensible Lib Dem’s. They promise people what they want with no idea how to deliver
I see the PB brothers were wrong about the national mood, with strong support for the government over the Afghan super-injunction. Even Reform were only narrowly against.
Can you draw me a Venn diagram of the PBers criticising Starmer for removing the whip from his rebellious MPs and those PBers who praised Boris Johnson for removing the whip from his MPs in 2019.
I've not criticised either, but the two situations are not comparable.
Johnson made his vote a confidence one (following precedence of eg Major with Maastricht etc) which means anyone who votes against absolutely should lose the whip, following precedence . . . and all did.
Starmer did not make his vote a confidence one, and has removed the whip from just four of the forty seven rebels.
They compete with them on a far more existential basis - being the 'none of the above' party.
The Lib Dems thought they owned the none of the above vote, and for a long time they did, but the Coalition killed that. They've since recovered, helped by the Tories declining, but if Reform stake out a claim to be the primary none of the above party then that is an existential threat to the Lib Dems primary raison d'etre.
I see the PB brothers were wrong about the national mood, with strong support for the government over the Afghan super-injunction. Even Reform were only narrowly against.
This is a quite extraordinary number of fatalities for a passenger railway.
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article308679915.html ...Brightline is the nation’s most dangerous passenger train, reporters found, killing someone every 13 days of service, on average. In addition to those deaths, 99 people have been injured. In at least 101 cases, the train crashed into vehicles, but no one was hurt.
...In a written statement, Michael Lefevre, Brightline’s vice president of operations, reiterated what the company has been saying for years — that the deaths were self-inflicted. “These incidents are tragic and avoidable. More than half have been confirmed or suspected suicide — intentional acts of self-harm. All have been the result of illegal, deliberate and oftentimes reckless behavior by people putting themselves in harm’s way.” Lefevre said their actions “impact our guests who count on Brightline to get them to work, the theme parks, or special events.”..
Florida, naturally.
The YouTube compilations are extraordinary. Many Americans have absolutely no concept of public transport - coupled with a libertarian streak and you get endless level crossing crashes.
Can you draw me a Venn diagram of the PBers criticising Starmer for removing the whip from his rebellious MPs and those PBers who praised Boris Johnson for removing the whip from his MPs in 2019.
I've not criticised either, but the two situations are not comparable.
Johnson made his vote a confidence one (following precedence of eg Major with Maastricht etc) which means anyone who votes against absolutely should lose the whip, following precedence . . . and all did.
Starmer did not make his vote a confidence one, and has removed the whip from just four of the forty seven rebels.
Not this bullshit again, if it was a vote of confidence then why didn't Boris Johnson resign as PM when the vote was lost?
Because there is no obligation to do so, the obligation is to do so or call for an election. He did the latter, but the Opposition were too frit to vote for it under the Fixed Term Parliament Act.
I see the PB brothers were wrong about the national mood, with strong support for the government over the Afghan super-injunction. Even Reform were only narrowly against.
I see the PB brothers were wrong about the national mood, with strong support for the government over the Afghan super-injunction. Even Reform were only narrowly against.
Regardless of the "national mood", I find it pretty hard to excuse misleading Parliament for such a length of time.
There are two separate issues here, and a two year super injunction is in no way justified by support for the Afghans in question, IMO.
I usually don't have a lot of time for Lewis Goodall, but hearing his experience and it wasn't just him, it was the Mail, the Times and more, I found rather dystopian. And they are still being silenced. The Mail has stated there is a second injunction against discussing what they know about individuals who have been brought here.
I see the PB brothers were wrong about the national mood, with strong support for the government over the Afghan super-injunction. Even Reform were only narrowly against.
I was wrong. Brits really do care about this issue.
(Just not in the way Leon imagined).
Fuck them.
Collaborators.
Traitors to their own people for western money.
Most people are nice. If you ask a question in the way YouGov have done - "was it right to keep a secret to save the lives of our Afghan allies"? Of course they will say Yes
Indeed, given the way it is phrased I might have said Yes
The consequences of this monumental lie will occur downstream, as it all sinks in to the wider electorate. It is already scandalising the chatterati. Give it a few weeks and months to percolate
Anyone supporting the government here is a REDACTED REDACTED
I see the PB brothers were wrong about the national mood, with strong support for the government over the Afghan super-injunction. Even Reform were only narrowly against.
I see the PB brothers were wrong about the national mood, with strong support for the government over the Afghan super-injunction. Even Reform were only narrowly against.
I see the PB brothers were wrong about the national mood, with strong support for the government over the Afghan super-injunction. Even Reform were only narrowly against.
I see the PB brothers were wrong about the national mood, with strong support for the government over the Afghan super-injunction. Even Reform were only narrowly against.
I'm more interested to see the next few polls on this one. Reporter: Are you saying that you’re effectively disowning your supporters who keep asking to see the Epstein files?
I see the PB brothers were wrong about the national mood, with strong support for the government over the Afghan super-injunction. Even Reform were only narrowly against.
Trump: I call it the Epstein hoax. They’re talking about a guy who died 3-4 years ago. They want to talk about the Epstein hoax and the sad part, it is people that are doing Democrats work. They are stupid people.
That brings the number of things he and I agree on up to two.
Trump: I call it the Epstein hoax. They’re talking about a guy who died 3-4 years ago. They want to talk about the Epstein hoax and the sad part, it is people that are doing Democrats work. They are stupid people.
That brings the number of things he and I agree on up to two.
I see the PB brothers were wrong about the national mood, with strong support for the government over the Afghan super-injunction. Even Reform were only narrowly against.
You seem out of step with public opinion and even 30% of Reform voter's agree with the super injunction
And 63%/17% the public agreed the UK have a moral obligation to bring the Afghans here
Sometimes you have to accept you do not speak for the majority
Large chunks of the media thought this was Watergate-que level scandal.
It took months for Watergate to gather steam and to topple Nixon. This was revealed.... yesterday
However I do not think the best comparison here is "Watergate", indeed that's a terrible comparison for multiple reasons, and shows a paucity of imagination
The best comparison is something like LIBOR in the City, or even the GFC, where eventually people went to jail and enormous reputational damage was done - but done over time
I see the PB brothers were wrong about the national mood, with strong support for the government over the Afghan super-injunction. Even Reform were only narrowly against.
I see the PB brothers were wrong about the national mood, with strong support for the government over the Afghan super-injunction. Even Reform were only narrowly against.
They compete with them on a far more existential basis - being the 'none of the above' party.
The Lib Dems thought they owned the none of the above vote, and for a long time they did, but the Coalition killed that. They've since recovered, helped by the Tories declining, but if Reform stake out a claim to be the primary none of the above party then that is an existential threat to the Lib Dems primary raison d'etre.
Next time it could be sensible NOTA versus crazy NOTA
I see the PB brothers were wrong about the national mood, with strong support for the government over the Afghan super-injunction. Even Reform were only narrowly against.
You seem out of step with public opinion and even 30% of Reform voter's agree with the super injunction
And 63%/17% the public agreed the UK have a moral obligation to bring the Afghans here
Sometimes you have to accept you do not speak for the majority
The poll, nonetheless, is farcical
In more important news, it turns out painting radiators is EASY PEASY
Not always, did mine last summer, pain in the arse. Had to lift carpets, floorboards and put them all back down after. Don’t see why I bothered as I can’t see them anyway.
They compete with them on a far more existential basis - being the 'none of the above' party.
The Lib Dems thought they owned the none of the above vote, and for a long time they did, but the Coalition killed that. They've since recovered, helped by the Tories declining, but if Reform stake out a claim to be the primary none of the above party then that is an existential threat to the Lib Dems primary raison d'etre.
Next time it could be sensible NOTA versus crazy NOTA
Sensible NOTA?
So is there a third third party option that I'm not aware of that doesn't have the crazy NIMBY hang-ups that the Lib Dems have?
I see the PB brothers were wrong about the national mood, with strong support for the government over the Afghan super-injunction. Even Reform were only narrowly against.
You seem out of step with public opinion and even 30% of Reform voter's agree with the super injunction
And 63%/17% the public agreed the UK have a moral obligation to bring the Afghans here
Sometimes you have to accept you do not speak for the majority
The poll, nonetheless, is farcical
In more important news, it turns out painting radiators is EASY PEASY
Not always, did mine last summer, pain in the arse. Had to lift carpets, floorboards and put them all back down after. Don’t see why I bothered as I can’t see them anyway.
Why on earth? I just put a big cloth down, and painted around the radiator, Yes I didn't paint the bits almost no-one will ever see, but then almost no one will ever see them, except perhaps someone coming to repaint the radiator
I see the PB brothers were wrong about the national mood, with strong support for the government over the Afghan super-injunction. Even Reform were only narrowly against.
You seem out of step with public opinion and even 30% of Reform voter's agree with the super injunction
And 63%/17% the public agreed the UK have a moral obligation to bring the Afghans here
Sometimes you have to accept you do not speak for the majority
Large chunks of the media thought this was Watergate-que level scandal.
The media are morons though.
OGH once told me a couple of journalists thought David Cameron would have to resign over the Damien Green arrest because it was bigger than Watergate.
I remember when the Andy Coulson saga dominated the media, some PBers were absolutely obsessed with it, and talk abounded of Dave's resignation. Now does anyone remember it at all?
They compete with them on a far more existential basis - being the 'none of the above' party.
The Lib Dems thought they owned the none of the above vote, and for a long time they did, but the Coalition killed that. They've since recovered, helped by the Tories declining, but if Reform stake out a claim to be the primary none of the above party then that is an existential threat to the Lib Dems primary raison d'etre.
I disagree, because I know the rationale for the Lib Dems going hard on Reform. It’s straightforward politics and is not about existential threat: NOTA isn’t really the Lib Dem raison d’etre anymore.
Reform are a far more natural opponent for the party than Labour or the Tories. They overlap in a number of policy and philosophical areas with Labour, and a few with Conservatives too, besides which the latter are not currently a meaningful threat.
Reform by contrast are the perfect Yang to their ying. They are the direct antithesis of Lib Demmery in almost all areas of policy or public opinion, save possibly electoral reform.
The fight more directly mirrors the battles going on throughout the west: authoritarian populism with a degree of Trump and/or Putin adjacency vs liberal “pro-Western” internationalism. They are moving into the Macron space (hence markedly less cooperation with the Greens than before) and casting Reform as the Fico/Orban/Le Pen/Trump figures.
They’re the most ideologically opposed to right-wing populism, they stand to gain from anti-Reform voting, and they know that both Labour and Tory are frightened of laying into reform for fear of losing their reform-curious voters.
If, come the next GE, reform has maintained its pole position (a big if), the issue of the election could be whether British is ready to flirt with the populist right, and the LDs will be well placed to fight a vigorous campaign.
That’s just not the case given their relative strength, with the exception of parts of Cornwall and Devon is in seats that are a desert for Reform.
The Lib Dem’s are a southern party, the party of Waitrose and NIMBYism. They have no chance of taking seats where reform are strong in the east coast, midlands or the north.
They have a strong presence, locally, in part of Durham but the national party doesn’t give a shit about the area. The city of Durham should be either a Lib Dem seat or competitive. Instead we have the cerebral Mary Kelly foy winning all the time
Yes, but there are voters concerned about reform in every seat.
Besides, more than half the struggle for the LibDems is coming up with distinctive positions that might register with the voters.
Free money for the WASPE women, no more building locally.
Awesome
The WASPI position is stupid, but a bandwagon candidates of all parties have been jumping on, jumping off at the point when they get the chance to do anything about it.
The Tories are probably more NIMBY at local council level than the LibDems, even if the latter are the more assiduous campaigners.
I see the PB brothers were wrong about the national mood, with strong support for the government over the Afghan super-injunction. Even Reform were only narrowly against.
You seem out of step with public opinion and even 30% of Reform voter's agree with the super injunction
And 63%/17% the public agreed the UK have a moral obligation to bring the Afghans here
Sometimes you have to accept you do not speak for the majority
The poll, nonetheless, is farcical
In more important news, it turns out painting radiators is EASY PEASY
Not always, did mine last summer, pain in the arse. Had to lift carpets, floorboards and put them all back down after. Don’t see why I bothered as I can’t see them anyway.
Why on earth? I just put a big cloth down, and painted around the radiator, Yes I didn't paint the bits almost no-one will ever see, but then almost no one will ever see them, except perhaps someone coming to repaint the radiator
You can also save time when decorating by painting around the pictures on the wall and any abutting furniture, like bookcases or chests of drawers. Saves money on paint, too.
I see the PB brothers were wrong about the national mood, with strong support for the government over the Afghan super-injunction. Even Reform were only narrowly against.
I see the PB brothers were wrong about the national mood, with strong support for the government over the Afghan super-injunction. Even Reform were only narrowly against.
You seem out of step with public opinion and even 30% of Reform voter's agree with the super injunction
And 63%/17% the public agreed the UK have a moral obligation to bring the Afghans here
Sometimes you have to accept you do not speak for the majority
Large chunks of the media thought this was Watergate-que level scandal.
The media are morons though.
OGH once told me a couple of journalists thought David Cameron would have to resign over the Damien Green arrest because it was bigger than Watergate.
I remember when the Andy Coulson saga dominated the media, some PBers were absolutely obsessed with it, and talk abounded of Dave's resignation. Now does anyone remember it at all?
I remember a pollster telling me that at the height of the scandal they polled over ten thousands voters in a month and only person out of that ten thousand put phone hacking as one of the top ten issues facing the country.
Bit of a mare there. My excuse is I’m in Mallorca and slightly pissed on gin and wine
It was supposed to be some dreary Lib Dem on GMB droning on about how awful the two child cap is.
Can’t find the link now.
The two child cap is awful. It has the effect of putting larger families into small rented properties with barely enough money to feed and eat. It's simply vindictive.
I see the PB brothers were wrong about the national mood, with strong support for the government over the Afghan super-injunction. Even Reform were only narrowly against.
You seem out of step with public opinion and even 30% of Reform voter's agree with the super injunction
And 63%/17% the public agreed the UK have a moral obligation to bring the Afghans here
Sometimes you have to accept you do not speak for the majority
Large chunks of the media thought this was Watergate-que level scandal.
The media are morons though.
OGH once told me a couple of journalists thought David Cameron would have to resign over the Damien Green arrest because it was bigger than Watergate.
I remember when the Andy Coulson saga dominated the media, some PBers were absolutely obsessed with it, and talk abounded of Dave's resignation. Now does anyone remember it at all?
I remember a pollster telling me that at the height of the scandal they polled over ten thousands voters in a month and only person out of that ten thousand put phone hacking as one of the top ten issues facing the country.
They will have been a Guardian employee.
The thing with the whole phone hacking stuff, the Indy actually did a lot of good journalism about "real" hacking that effected business. Got totally lost in the noise.
I see the PB brothers were wrong about the national mood, with strong support for the government over the Afghan super-injunction. Even Reform were only narrowly against.
You seem out of step with public opinion and even 30% of Reform voter's agree with the super injunction
And 63%/17% the public agreed the UK have a moral obligation to bring the Afghans here
Sometimes you have to accept you do not speak for the majority
Large chunks of the media thought this was Watergate-que level scandal.
The media are morons though.
OGH once told me a couple of journalists thought David Cameron would have to resign over the Damien Green arrest because it was bigger than Watergate.
I remember when the Andy Coulson saga dominated the media, some PBers were absolutely obsessed with it, and talk abounded of Dave's resignation. Now does anyone remember it at all?
I remember a pollster telling me that at the height of the scandal they polled over ten thousands voters in a month and only person out of that ten thousand put phone hacking as one of the top ten issues facing the country.
I see the PB brothers were wrong about the national mood, with strong support for the government over the Afghan super-injunction. Even Reform were only narrowly against.
You seem out of step with public opinion and even 30% of Reform voter's agree with the super injunction
And 63%/17% the public agreed the UK have a moral obligation to bring the Afghans here
Sometimes you have to accept you do not speak for the majority
The poll, nonetheless, is farcical
In more important news, it turns out painting radiators is EASY PEASY
Not always, did mine last summer, pain in the arse. Had to lift carpets, floorboards and put them all back down after. Don’t see why I bothered as I can’t see them anyway.
Why on earth? I just put a big cloth down, and painted around the radiator, Yes I didn't paint the bits almost no-one will ever see, but then almost no one will ever see them, except perhaps someone coming to repaint the radiator
You can also save time when decorating by painting around the pictures on the wall and any abutting furniture, like bookcases or chests of drawers. Saves money on paint, too.
He could have saved money on carpeting by laying them up to the settees and not under them
I see the PB brothers were wrong about the national mood, with strong support for the government over the Afghan super-injunction. Even Reform were only narrowly against.
You seem out of step with public opinion and even 30% of Reform voter's agree with the super injunction
And 63%/17% the public agreed the UK have a moral obligation to bring the Afghans here
Sometimes you have to accept you do not speak for the majority
Large chunks of the media thought this was Watergate-que level scandal.
The media are morons though.
OGH once told me a couple of journalists thought David Cameron would have to resign over the Damien Green arrest because it was bigger than Watergate.
I remember when the Andy Coulson saga dominated the media, some PBers were absolutely obsessed with it, and talk abounded of Dave's resignation. Now does anyone remember it at all?
I remember a pollster telling me that at the height of the scandal they polled over ten thousands voters in a month and only person out of that ten thousand put phone hacking as one of the top ten issues facing the country.
I see the PB brothers were wrong about the national mood, with strong support for the government over the Afghan super-injunction. Even Reform were only narrowly against.
You seem out of step with public opinion and even 30% of Reform voter's agree with the super injunction
And 63%/17% the public agreed the UK have a moral obligation to bring the Afghans here
Sometimes you have to accept you do not speak for the majority
The poll, nonetheless, is farcical
In more important news, it turns out painting radiators is EASY PEASY
Not always, did mine last summer, pain in the arse. Had to lift carpets, floorboards and put them all back down after. Don’t see why I bothered as I can’t see them anyway.
Why on earth? I just put a big cloth down, and painted around the radiator, Yes I didn't paint the bits almost no-one will ever see, but then almost no one will ever see them, except perhaps someone coming to repaint the radiator
You can also save time when decorating by painting around the pictures on the wall and any abutting furniture, like bookcases or chests of drawers. Saves money on paint, too.
He could have saved money on carpeting by laying them up to the settees and not under them
I once viewed a house where they did that with wardrobes. Which would have been fine if they were built-in ones, but these ones were freestanding and the current owners planned on taking them with them.
I see the PB brothers were wrong about the national mood, with strong support for the government over the Afghan super-injunction. Even Reform were only narrowly against.
You seem out of step with public opinion and even 30% of Reform voter's agree with the super injunction
And 63%/17% the public agreed the UK have a moral obligation to bring the Afghans here
Sometimes you have to accept you do not speak for the majority
Large chunks of the media thought this was Watergate-que level scandal.
The media are morons though.
OGH once told me a couple of journalists thought David Cameron would have to resign over the Damien Green arrest because it was bigger than Watergate.
You are joking?! Almost from the minute that story broke it smelt of an over the top and heavy handed stitch up of an Opposition politician simple doing their day job? If anyone should have resigned that day it was the then Speaker of the House!
Bit of a mare there. My excuse is I’m in Mallorca and slightly pissed on gin and wine
It was supposed to be some dreary Lib Dem on GMB droning on about how awful the two child cap is.
Can’t find the link now.
The two child cap is awful. It has the effect of putting larger families into small rented properties with barely enough money to feed and eat. It's simply vindictive.
Bit of a mare there. My excuse is I’m in Mallorca and slightly pissed on gin and wine
It was supposed to be some dreary Lib Dem on GMB droning on about how awful the two child cap is.
Can’t find the link now.
The two child cap is awful. It has the effect of putting larger families into small rented properties with barely enough money to feed and eat. It's simply vindictive.
But enjoy your gin and wine.
I’ve worked for it, I’ve earned it, I most certainly will
This is a quite extraordinary number of fatalities for a passenger railway.
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article308679915.html ...Brightline is the nation’s most dangerous passenger train, reporters found, killing someone every 13 days of service, on average. In addition to those deaths, 99 people have been injured. In at least 101 cases, the train crashed into vehicles, but no one was hurt.
...In a written statement, Michael Lefevre, Brightline’s vice president of operations, reiterated what the company has been saying for years — that the deaths were self-inflicted. “These incidents are tragic and avoidable. More than half have been confirmed or suspected suicide — intentional acts of self-harm. All have been the result of illegal, deliberate and oftentimes reckless behavior by people putting themselves in harm’s way.” Lefevre said their actions “impact our guests who count on Brightline to get them to work, the theme parks, or special events.”..
Florida, naturally.
Here in the UK, we are spending many, many millions getting rid of as many level crossings over our railways as possible. It is a significant negative factor in the reopening of railways (negative in terms of expense...). Looking at some of the videos from the USA, they just don't care, with some awful level crossing 'designs' that are bound to cause accidents. And many, many of them, despite fewer space constraints. This is infrastructure, not operator.
The big question here is: "Who owns the tracks?" Trespass onto lines, and level crossing safety, is generally the responsibility of whoever runs the infrastructure, not the operator - as long as the train was running at the proper speed and according to signalling.
There is a large anti-rail movement in the USA, and especially what they laughably call 'high speed'. Musky Baby's ludicrous Hyperloop was only envisaged in order to kill California's High Speed Rail line.
I see the PB brothers were wrong about the national mood, with strong support for the government over the Afghan super-injunction. Even Reform were only narrowly against.
You seem out of step with public opinion and even 30% of Reform voter's agree with the super injunction
And 63%/17% the public agreed the UK have a moral obligation to bring the Afghans here
Sometimes you have to accept you do not speak for the majority
The poll, nonetheless, is farcical
In more important news, it turns out painting radiators is EASY PEASY
Not always, did mine last summer, pain in the arse. Had to lift carpets, floorboards and put them all back down after. Don’t see why I bothered as I can’t see them anyway.
Why on earth? I just put a big cloth down, and painted around the radiator, Yes I didn't paint the bits almost no-one will ever see, but then almost no one will ever see them, except perhaps someone coming to repaint the radiator
You can also save time when decorating by painting around the pictures on the wall and any abutting furniture, like bookcases or chests of drawers. Saves money on paint, too.
He could have saved money on carpeting by laying them up to the settees and not under them
Also avoids getting carpet moth under furniture, their favourite place.
Powell should change his name to Mr Secret Epstein List and the investigation will be dropped immediately.
Spencer Hakimian @SpencerHakimian · 1h *TRUMP LIKELY TO FIRE POWELL SOON: WHITE HOUSE
There goes the bond market, the dollar, and all monetary credibility for a generation.
FFS my pension had finally recovered... someone needs to explain to Rachel Reeves that factors like Trump are why most people are quite happy with 3-4% in a cash ISA.
I see the PB brothers were wrong about the national mood, with strong support for the government over the Afghan super-injunction. Even Reform were only narrowly against.
You seem out of step with public opinion and even 30% of Reform voter's agree with the super injunction
And 63%/17% the public agreed the UK have a moral obligation to bring the Afghans here
Sometimes you have to accept you do not speak for the majority
The poll, nonetheless, is farcical
In more important news, it turns out painting radiators is EASY PEASY
Not always, did mine last summer, pain in the arse. Had to lift carpets, floorboards and put them all back down after. Don’t see why I bothered as I can’t see them anyway.
Why on earth? I just put a big cloth down, and painted around the radiator, Yes I didn't paint the bits almost no-one will ever see, but then almost no one will ever see them, except perhaps someone coming to repaint the radiator
Pbers tales of manual labour, I thought we all had hired help for such things?
A friend of mine insisted I would find it therapeutic and "fun"
There is something in what he says. It's quite soothing to paint a radiator and watch it melt into the wall
It helps that the whole job takes about 30 minutes, then wait for it to dry, then another 30 minutes. Bosh
Painting an entire room would, I fancy, be less engaging
Depends on the rooms. We did the kids rooms over the Easter break. They both got to pick a colour then on one day of consecutive weekends we did it all.
Changing the colour of the walls is quite satisfying and relatively quick with a roller.
Its the edging that takes much longer and more concentration.
This is a quite extraordinary number of fatalities for a passenger railway.
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article308679915.html ...Brightline is the nation’s most dangerous passenger train, reporters found, killing someone every 13 days of service, on average. In addition to those deaths, 99 people have been injured. In at least 101 cases, the train crashed into vehicles, but no one was hurt.
...In a written statement, Michael Lefevre, Brightline’s vice president of operations, reiterated what the company has been saying for years — that the deaths were self-inflicted. “These incidents are tragic and avoidable. More than half have been confirmed or suspected suicide — intentional acts of self-harm. All have been the result of illegal, deliberate and oftentimes reckless behavior by people putting themselves in harm’s way.” Lefevre said their actions “impact our guests who count on Brightline to get them to work, the theme parks, or special events.”..
Florida, naturally.
Here in the UK, we are spending many, many millions getting rid of as many level crossings over our railways as possible. It is a significant negative factor in the reopening of railways (negative in terms of expense...). Looking at some of the videos from the USA, they just don't care, with some awful level crossing 'designs' that are bound to cause accidents. And many, many of them, despite fewer space constraints. This is infrastructure, not operator.
The big question here is: "Who owns the tracks?" Trespass onto lines, and level crossing safety, is generally the responsibility of whoever runs the infrastructure, not the operator - as long as the train was running at the proper speed and according to signalling.
There is a large anti-rail movement in the USA, and especially what they laughably call 'high speed'. Musky Baby's ludicrous Hyperloop was only envisaged in order to kill California's High Speed Rail line.
Anyone living near a railway line has to put up with that awful clanging bell, because they can’t do level crossings properly. And despite the lack of passenger services, a lot of their lines get heavily used.
Pbers tales of manual labour, I thought we all had hired help for such things?
A friend of mine insisted I would find it therapeutic and "fun"
There is something in what he says. It's quite soothing to paint a radiator and watch it melt into the wall
It helps that the whole job takes about 30 minutes, then wait for it to dry, then another 30 minutes. Bosh
Painting an entire room would, I fancy, be less engaging
Depends on the rooms. We did the kids rooms over the Easter break. They both got to pick a colour then on one day of consecutive weekends we did it all.
Changing the colour of the walls is quite satisfying and relatively quick with a roller.
Its the edging that takes much longer and more concentration.
When you’re decorating, things like wobbly edges are intensely annoying, but once you are back living in the room you never notice or worry. At all.
Powell should change his name to Mr Secret Epstein List and the investigation will be dropped immediately.
Spencer Hakimian @SpencerHakimian · 1h *TRUMP LIKELY TO FIRE POWELL SOON: WHITE HOUSE
There goes the bond market, the dollar, and all monetary credibility for a generation.
FFS my pension had finally recovered... someone needs to explain to Rachel Reeves that factors like Trump are why most people are quite happy with 3-4% in a cash ISA.
Seems he may already be TACOing on this one.
Well, that's until he changes his mind again later.
Trump is apparently saying it was a really stupid mistake for Biden to appoint an idiot like Powell.
I see the PB brothers were wrong about the national mood, with strong support for the government over the Afghan super-injunction. Even Reform were only narrowly against.
You seem out of step with public opinion and even 30% of Reform voter's agree with the super injunction
And 63%/17% the public agreed the UK have a moral obligation to bring the Afghans here
Sometimes you have to accept you do not speak for the majority
The poll, nonetheless, is farcical
In more important news, it turns out painting radiators is EASY PEASY
Not always, did mine last summer, pain in the arse. Had to lift carpets, floorboards and put them all back down after. Don’t see why I bothered as I can’t see them anyway.
Why on earth? I just put a big cloth down, and painted around the radiator, Yes I didn't paint the bits almost no-one will ever see, but then almost no one will ever see them, except perhaps someone coming to repaint the radiator
I was joking, I have underfloor heating.
Ooh, posh
When I was in the Faroes I noticed that EVERYWHERE has underfloor heating. As you would, if you lived in basically the most miserable climate on earth BUT everyone is a millionaire from halibut fishing
It was very satisfying, getting up and going to the shower, and feeling the warmth underfoot. It made the Faroes slightly more bearable for about an hour
Sadly impossible where I live. Grade 2 listed, dontchaknow, "including railings"
Astonished to see people writing this story off. It’s early in a potentially long hot summer. My benchmark of cut through is whether I find out a story from someone messaging me before I’ve realised it’s happening myself. I had 30+ messages yesterday from people who are largely fairly bored and apathetic about politics.
Wait for the gory details to have time to percolate. Sunak calling the inexplicable snap election the day after the high court judgement to cancel the super injunction is proving a major lightbulb moment for people I know. Then there’s the rumoured sexual offenders element.
Some old guard honourable Tory types that are responding positively to that poll might feel differently when they realise that the 1100 Afghan special forces are still stuck there while a big number of the many thousands admitted in the various schemes have no obvious right to have been approved.
We’re not looking at a single mighty fatal blow that takes down a pair of political Goliaths. But a continual series of wounds to two exhausted animals. Fascinating to see what emerges. I’ve always thought a modern Blair would be better served with a hostile takeover of the Greens than Labour, perhaps that’s next.
Bit of a mare there. My excuse is I’m in Mallorca and slightly pissed on gin and wine
It was supposed to be some dreary Lib Dem on GMB droning on about how awful the two child cap is.
Can’t find the link now.
The two child cap is awful. It has the effect of putting larger families into small rented properties with barely enough money to feed and eat. It's simply vindictive.
But enjoy your gin and wine.
Have smaller families then.
Thanks for the opportunity to discuss demographics. There is a large lump of boomers who have retired like Taz or about to retire. They'll want supported by current and future taxpayers. So where are the future taxpayers to come from? Shall we continue to import them, especially the lower skilled ones for Care Homes whose contribution to Tax and GDP would be marginal. Or shall we 'grow our own'?
This graph of UC claimants shows that 10% of the current working population is so knackered that they are not expected to seek work and will be supported by the current and future taxpayers. This is in addition to supporting the Boomer pensioners. There is a second group of UC claimants who are mostly in work but are paid so little that they have to be supported (aka subsidised workforce). They are to be supported by the same tax base. So we come to the issue of if you're actively discouraging growth in the indigenous population and you don't want to bring anyone in, and the demographics are against you, you need a miracle.
We could reskill our workforce or improve productivity by investing but we are not doing that either. Running an economy requires someone to provide added value as we can't run the sort of deficits that the US can. So it would be in our own interests to encourage larger families, support them, educate their children and allow them to contribute to this country and even if it does mean supporting the ungrateful.
Pbers tales of manual labour, I thought we all had hired help for such things?
A friend of mine insisted I would find it therapeutic and "fun"
There is something in what he says. It's quite soothing to paint a radiator and watch it melt into the wall
It helps that the whole job takes about 30 minutes, then wait for it to dry, then another 30 minutes. Bosh
Painting an entire room would, I fancy, be less engaging
Depends on the rooms. We did the kids rooms over the Easter break. They both got to pick a colour then on one day of consecutive weekends we did it all.
Changing the colour of the walls is quite satisfying and relatively quick with a roller.
Its the edging that takes much longer and more concentration.
When you’re decorating, things like wobbly edges are intensely annoying, but once you are back living in the room you never notice or worry. At all.
I'd like to say that's true, but it isn't
A few years ago I did my bedroom Hague Blue, as was the fash
Trouble is I (again) decided to do it myself for the soothing lolz, and also it was lockdown so I was bored. So I got the paint and read the guides and got to work and,,,, Wow, I did it badly. And I didn't do the ceiling. so I had fucking great Hague Blue splotches all over the ceiling, and drips of Hague Blue on my lovely wooden floor and skirting boards
For a few days I didn't mind, then I minded, and I've minded ever since. This time I got a pro to do the whole room, ceiling included, and he was well pricey but he was good and it looks gorgeous. I can cope with just the radiator
Pbers tales of manual labour, I thought we all had hired help for such things?
A friend of mine insisted I would find it therapeutic and "fun"
There is something in what he says. It's quite soothing to paint a radiator and watch it melt into the wall
It helps that the whole job takes about 30 minutes, then wait for it to dry, then another 30 minutes. Bosh
Painting an entire room would, I fancy, be less engaging
Depends on the rooms. We did the kids rooms over the Easter break. They both got to pick a colour then on one day of consecutive weekends we did it all.
Changing the colour of the walls is quite satisfying and relatively quick with a roller.
Its the edging that takes much longer and more concentration.
When you’re decorating, things like wobbly edges are intensely annoying, but once you are back living in the room you never notice or worry. At all.
I'd like to say that's true, but it isn't
A few years ago I did my bedroom Hague Blue, as was the fash
Trouble is I (again) decided to do it myself for the soothing lolz, and also it was lockdown so I was bored. So I got the paint and read the guides and got to work and,,,, Wow, I did it badly. And I didn't do the ceiling. so I had fucking great Hague Blue splotches all over the ceiling, and drips of Hague Blue on my lovely wooden floor and skirting boards
For a few days I didn't mind, then I minded, and I've minded ever since. This time I got a pro to do the whole room, ceiling included, and he was well pricey but he was good and it looks gorgeous. I can cope with just the radiator
It’s true if you have a basic level of common sense and hand to eye co-ordination; my comment wasn’t aimed at edge cases. And anyway no-one sensible decorates a room without doing the ceiling, which will otherwise just look grubby. Especially yours, with all your bad habits.
Anyhow, Hague blue is well out of fashion now, and you should be looking at Farage fuchsia…
Astonished to see people writing this story off. It’s early in a potentially long hot summer. My benchmark of cut through is whether I find out a story from someone messaging me before I’ve realised it’s happening myself. I had 30+ messages yesterday from people who are largely fairly bored and apathetic about politics.
Wait for the gory details to have time to percolate. Sunak calling the inexplicable snap election the day after the high court judgement to cancel the super injunction is proving a major lightbulb moment for people I know. Then there’s the rumoured sexual offenders element.
Some old guard honourable Tory types that are responding positively to that poll might feel differently when they realise that the 1100 Afghan special forces are still stuck there while a big number of the many thousands admitted in the various schemes have no obvious right to have been approved.
We’re not looking at a single mighty fatal blow that takes down a pair of political Goliaths. But a continual series of wounds to two exhausted animals. Fascinating to see what emerges. I’ve always thought a modern Blair would be better served with a hostile takeover of the Greens than Labour, perhaps that’s next.
Yes, exactly. It takes brains to realise that this is big.... but a slow burner
The obvious horrors are only obvious to people who are unusually engaged and politically aware. But more people will slowly twig, and even those who don't get it will grasp second order effects. Imagine the first terror attack or gang rape arising from this cohort. How do you even begin to handle that? Because it will happen, sadly. The stats are ineluctable
Bit of a mare there. My excuse is I’m in Mallorca and slightly pissed on gin and wine
It was supposed to be some dreary Lib Dem on GMB droning on about how awful the two child cap is.
Can’t find the link now.
The two child cap is awful. It has the effect of putting larger families into small rented properties with barely enough money to feed and eat. It's simply vindictive.
But enjoy your gin and wine.
Then increase child benefit for all parents not just give higher benefits to UC parents with at least one more child than the average UK family now has
Astonished to see people writing this story off. It’s early in a potentially long hot summer. My benchmark of cut through is whether I find out a story from someone messaging me before I’ve realised it’s happening myself. I had 30+ messages yesterday from people who are largely fairly bored and apathetic about politics.
Wait for the gory details to have time to percolate. Sunak calling the inexplicable snap election the day after the high court judgement to cancel the super injunction is proving a major lightbulb moment for people I know. Then there’s the rumoured sexual offenders element.
Some old guard honourable Tory types that are responding positively to that poll might feel differently when they realise that the 1100 Afghan special forces are still stuck there while a big number of the many thousands admitted in the various schemes have no obvious right to have been approved.
We’re not looking at a single mighty fatal blow that takes down a pair of political Goliaths. But a continual series of wounds to two exhausted animals. Fascinating to see what emerges. I’ve always thought a modern Blair would be better served with a hostile takeover of the Greens than Labour, perhaps that’s next.
The people on trial for placing bets on the date of the GE three days before it was called rather disproves the 'Sunak ran out to call a GE the next day because of the judge' theories
Starmer appears to have stripped three or four MPs of trade envoy status which surprised me.
Is it a massive coincidence that three or four pests in the party all just happen to be UK Trade Envoys or is being a trade envoy a wheeze, that they dish out to loads of back benchers, where you can go on paid-for jollies to examine how we can develop trade with the Turks and Caicos, especially if anything can be learnt over New Year, or if the region of France you have bought a pad in would like to buy more English wines and cheeses?
Pbers tales of manual labour, I thought we all had hired help for such things?
A friend of mine insisted I would find it therapeutic and "fun"
There is something in what he says. It's quite soothing to paint a radiator and watch it melt into the wall
It helps that the whole job takes about 30 minutes, then wait for it to dry, then another 30 minutes. Bosh
Painting an entire room would, I fancy, be less engaging
Depends on the rooms. We did the kids rooms over the Easter break. They both got to pick a colour then on one day of consecutive weekends we did it all.
Changing the colour of the walls is quite satisfying and relatively quick with a roller.
Its the edging that takes much longer and more concentration.
When you’re decorating, things like wobbly edges are intensely annoying, but once you are back living in the room you never notice or worry. At all.
I'd like to say that's true, but it isn't
A few years ago I did my bedroom Hague Blue, as was the fash
Trouble is I (again) decided to do it myself for the soothing lolz, and also it was lockdown so I was bored. So I got the paint and read the guides and got to work and,,,, Wow, I did it badly. And I didn't do the ceiling. so I had fucking great Hague Blue splotches all over the ceiling, and drips of Hague Blue on my lovely wooden floor and skirting boards
For a few days I didn't mind, then I minded, and I've minded ever since. This time I got a pro to do the whole room, ceiling included, and he was well pricey but he was good and it looks gorgeous. I can cope with just the radiator
It’s true if you have a basic level of common sense and hand to eye co-ordination; my comment wasn’t aimed at edge cases.
Anyhow, Hague blue is well out of fashion now, and you should be looking at Farage fuchsia…
I'm going to ignore your uncharacteristic ad hominem, and focus on our burgeoning friendship
I agree on Hague Blue. I told the decorator to go with his instincts and do something with the richness of Hague Blue but more fun and brighter
He did a brilliant job. I love it. Some weird Dulux Heritage mix that he devised himself. All the woodwork is Farrow and Ball burgundy job, Precedence Red, I think, or something like that
Pbers tales of manual labour, I thought we all had hired help for such things?
A friend of mine insisted I would find it therapeutic and "fun"
There is something in what he says. It's quite soothing to paint a radiator and watch it melt into the wall
It helps that the whole job takes about 30 minutes, then wait for it to dry, then another 30 minutes. Bosh
Painting an entire room would, I fancy, be less engaging
A little hint: if you can, take the radiator off the wall - ours just lift off - and check behind them. They can appear fine on the front, but have rust patches at the rear. Clean the cobwebs off and just check. From experience, more likely in bathrooms and kitchens, where steam can condense on a cold radiator.
Pbers tales of manual labour, I thought we all had hired help for such things?
A friend of mine insisted I would find it therapeutic and "fun"
There is something in what he says. It's quite soothing to paint a radiator and watch it melt into the wall
It helps that the whole job takes about 30 minutes, then wait for it to dry, then another 30 minutes. Bosh
Painting an entire room would, I fancy, be less engaging
A little hint: if you can, take the radiator off the wall - ours just lift off - and check behind them. They can appear fine on the front, but have rust patches at the rear. Clean the cobwebs off and just check. From experience, more likely in bathrooms and kitchens, where steam can condense on a cold radiator.
Taking the grille off the top and hoovering out all the long settled fluff is also very satisfying.
Astonished to see people writing this story off. It’s early in a potentially long hot summer. My benchmark of cut through is whether I find out a story from someone messaging me before I’ve realised it’s happening myself. I had 30+ messages yesterday from people who are largely fairly bored and apathetic about politics.
Wait for the gory details to have time to percolate. Sunak calling the inexplicable snap election the day after the high court judgement to cancel the super injunction is proving a major lightbulb moment for people I know. Then there’s the rumoured sexual offenders element.
Some old guard honourable Tory types that are responding positively to that poll might feel differently when they realise that the 1100 Afghan special forces are still stuck there while a big number of the many thousands admitted in the various schemes have no obvious right to have been approved.
We’re not looking at a single mighty fatal blow that takes down a pair of political Goliaths. But a continual series of wounds to two exhausted animals. Fascinating to see what emerges. I’ve always thought a modern Blair would be better served with a hostile takeover of the Greens than Labour, perhaps that’s next.
The people on trial for placing bets on the date of the GE three days before it was called rather disproves the 'Sunak ran out to call a GE the next day because of the judge' theories
Sunak would have known what way the wind was blowing in the high court based upon his own legal advice and starting making noises about a potential snap election with key staffers.
I quite liked Sunak for what it’s worth. He eventually found a backbone and squashed an omicron lockdown (two lockdowns too late but still). I think he’s at heart probably a decent enough chap. But you’re being naively generous to him here.
Starmer appears to have stripped three or four MPs of trade envoy status which surprised me.
Is it a massive coincidence that three or four pests in the party all just happen to be UK Trade Envoys or is being a trade envoy a wheeze, that they dish out to loads of back benchers, where you can go on paid-for jollies to examine how we can develop trade with the Turks and Caicos, especially if anything can be learnt over New Year, or if the region of France you have bought a pad in would like to buy more English wines and cheeses?
Sending potential trouble makers on foreign trips…elementary, Mr Watson…
Astonished to see people writing this story off. It’s early in a potentially long hot summer. My benchmark of cut through is whether I find out a story from someone messaging me before I’ve realised it’s happening myself. I had 30+ messages yesterday from people who are largely fairly bored and apathetic about politics.
Wait for the gory details to have time to percolate. Sunak calling the inexplicable snap election the day after the high court judgement to cancel the super injunction is proving a major lightbulb moment for people I know. Then there’s the rumoured sexual offenders element.
Some old guard honourable Tory types that are responding positively to that poll might feel differently when they realise that the 1100 Afghan special forces are still stuck there while a big number of the many thousands admitted in the various schemes have no obvious right to have been approved.
We’re not looking at a single mighty fatal blow that takes down a pair of political Goliaths. But a continual series of wounds to two exhausted animals. Fascinating to see what emerges. I’ve always thought a modern Blair would be better served with a hostile takeover of the Greens than Labour, perhaps that’s next.
The people on trial for placing bets on the date of the GE three days before it was called rather disproves the 'Sunak ran out to call a GE the next day because of the judge' theories
Sunak would have known what way the wind was blowing in the high court based upon his own legal advice and starting making noises about a potential snap election with key staffers.
I quite liked Sunak for what it’s worth. He eventually found a backbone and squashed an omicron lockdown (two lockdowns too late but still). I think he’s at heart probably a decent enough chap. But you’re being naively generous to him here.
The injunction hearing is a one day affair, not a multi day bobbins. If his legal advice was 'it will be lifted' and he was worried, he'd have called the election before the hearing and hidden it all under purdah/court would have extended beyond the election as the parliament scrutiny could now not occur anyway. Im sorry but whilst there are clear questions to answer, Sunak calling the election because of the hearing the day before is barking
Reform splitter latest. Rael braverman has tweeted he'll explain his departure in due course and reposted a Dan Wootton post 'what does Zia Yusuf have on Nigel Farage?' Popcorntastic
They’re the most ideologically opposed to right-wing populism, they stand to gain from anti-Reform voting, and they know that both Labour and Tory are frightened of laying into reform for fear of losing their reform-curious voters.
If, come the next GE, reform has maintained its pole position (a big if), the issue of the election could be whether British is ready to flirt with the populist right, and the LDs will be well placed to fight a vigorous campaign.
That’s just not the case given their relative strength, with the exception of parts of Cornwall and Devon is in seats that are a desert for Reform.
The Lib Dem’s are a southern party, the party of Waitrose and NIMBYism. They have no chance of taking seats where reform are strong in the east coast, midlands or the north.
They have a strong presence, locally, in part of Durham but the national party doesn’t give a shit about the area. The city of Durham should be either a Lib Dem seat or competitive. Instead we have the cerebral Mary Kelly foy winning all the time
Yes, but there are voters concerned about reform in every seat.
Besides, more than half the struggle for the LibDems is coming up with distinctive positions that might register with the voters.
Free money for the WASPE women, no more building locally.
Awesome
I got a leaflet from my local Labour councillors boasting about how they had stopped a proposed development at the end of my street. A lot of NIMBYism round my way. I'm tempted to vote for anyone who promises to NOT block development at the local elections next year.
Reform splitter latest. Rael braverman has tweeted he'll explain his departure in due course and reposted a Dan Wootton post 'what does Zia Yusuf have on Nigel Farage?' Popcorntastic
I don’t really understand the attitude that revels in wanting Farage to implode. It’s very far from obvious that the old parties will be ready to step back up. And who knows what fills the vacuum if they don’t. Farage would essentially not have looked out of place in a thatcher or major cabinet. There are far worse than him about.
Comments
Awesome
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article308679915.html
...Brightline is the nation’s most dangerous passenger train, reporters found, killing someone every 13 days of service, on average. In addition to those deaths, 99 people have been injured. In at least 101 cases, the train crashed into vehicles, but no one was hurt.
...In a written statement, Michael Lefevre, Brightline’s vice president of operations, reiterated what the company has been saying for years — that the deaths were self-inflicted. “These incidents are tragic and avoidable. More than half have been confirmed or suspected suicide — intentional acts of self-harm. All have been the result of illegal, deliberate and oftentimes reckless behavior by people putting themselves in harm’s way.” Lefevre said their actions “impact our guests who count on Brightline to get them to work, the theme parks, or special events.”..
Florida, naturally.
(Just not in the way Leon imagined).
Reform are not fiscally prudent.
They are NOTA but they are like the others, including the reprehensible Lib Dem’s. They promise people what they want with no idea how to deliver
Collaborators.
Traitors to their own people for western money.
The Lib Dems thought they owned the none of the above vote, and for a long time they did, but the Coalition killed that. They've since recovered, helped by the Tories declining, but if Reform stake out a claim to be the primary none of the above party then that is an existential threat to the Lib Dems primary raison d'etre.
There are two separate issues here, and a two year super injunction is in no way justified by support for the Afghans in question, IMO.
Any other questions?
https://x.com/Nigel_Farage/status/1945094485215457502
Nigel Farage replies to Chris Philp's Jenrick-alike walk-n-talk tweet.
Indeed, given the way it is phrased I might have said Yes
The consequences of this monumental lie will occur downstream, as it all sinks in to the wider electorate. It is already scandalising the chatterati. Give it a few weeks and months to percolate
Anyone supporting the government here is a REDACTED REDACTED
You seem out of step with public opinion and even 30% of Reform voter's agree with the super injunction
And 63%/17% the public agreed the UK have a moral obligation to bring the Afghans here
Sometimes you have to accept you do not speak for the majority
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahgjEjJkZks
In more important news, it turns out painting radiators is EASY PEASY
Reporter: Are you saying that you’re effectively disowning your supporters who keep asking to see the Epstein files?
Trump: I’ve lost a lot of faith in certain people, yeah
https://x.com/SollenbergerRC/status/1945519657047273512
How would Leon pose the question ?
OGH once told me a couple of journalists thought David Cameron would have to resign over the Damien Green arrest because it was bigger than Watergate.
However I do not think the best comparison here is "Watergate", indeed that's a terrible comparison for multiple reasons, and shows a paucity of imagination
The best comparison is something like LIBOR in the City, or even the GFC, where eventually people went to jail and enormous reputational damage was done - but done over time
Trump: No, a simple redrawing so we pick up five seats
https://x.com/highbrow_nobrow/status/1945342951220969812
I'm shocked william didn't post this one.
https://x.com/e_casalicchio/status/1945525526203973953
So is there a third third party option that I'm not aware of that doesn't have the crazy NIMBY hang-ups that the Lib Dems have?
Reform are a far more natural opponent for the party than Labour or the Tories. They overlap in a number of policy and philosophical areas with Labour, and a few with Conservatives too, besides which the latter are not currently a meaningful threat.
Reform by contrast are the perfect Yang to their ying. They are the direct antithesis of Lib Demmery in almost all areas of policy or public opinion, save possibly electoral reform.
The fight more directly mirrors the battles going on throughout the west: authoritarian populism with a degree of Trump and/or Putin adjacency vs liberal “pro-Western” internationalism. They are moving into the Macron space (hence markedly less cooperation with the Greens than before) and casting Reform as the Fico/Orban/Le Pen/Trump figures.
How does that reassure the bond markets
The Tories are probably more NIMBY at local council level than the LibDems, even if the latter are the more assiduous campaigners.
MAGA have ending the fed as one of their aims
There is something in what he says. It's quite soothing to paint a radiator and watch it melt into the wall
It helps that the whole job takes about 30 minutes, then wait for it to dry, then another 30 minutes. Bosh
Painting an entire room would, I fancy, be less engaging
But enjoy your gin and wine.
The thing with the whole phone hacking stuff, the Indy actually did a lot of good journalism about "real" hacking that effected business. Got totally lost in the noise.
Spencer Hakimian
@SpencerHakimian
·
1h
*TRUMP LIKELY TO FIRE POWELL SOON: WHITE HOUSE
There goes the bond market, the dollar, and all monetary credibility for a generation.
Betcha can't wait
The big question here is: "Who owns the tracks?" Trespass onto lines, and level crossing safety, is generally the responsibility of whoever runs the infrastructure, not the operator - as long as the train was running at the proper speed and according to signalling.
There is a large anti-rail movement in the USA, and especially what they laughably call 'high speed'. Musky Baby's ludicrous Hyperloop was only envisaged in order to kill California's High Speed Rail line.
Changing the colour of the walls is quite satisfying and relatively quick with a roller.
Its the edging that takes much longer and more concentration.
Well, that's until he changes his mind again later.
Trump is apparently saying it was a really stupid mistake for Biden to appoint an idiot like Powell.
It was actually Trump who appointed him.
When I was in the Faroes I noticed that EVERYWHERE has underfloor heating. As you would, if you lived in basically the most miserable climate on earth BUT everyone is a millionaire from halibut fishing
It was very satisfying, getting up and going to the shower, and feeling the warmth underfoot. It made the Faroes slightly more bearable for about an hour
Sadly impossible where I live. Grade 2 listed, dontchaknow, "including railings"
Wait for the gory details to have time to percolate. Sunak calling the inexplicable snap election the day after the high court judgement to cancel the super injunction is proving a major lightbulb moment for people I know. Then there’s the rumoured sexual offenders element.
Some old guard honourable Tory types that are responding positively to that poll might feel differently when they realise that the 1100 Afghan special forces are still stuck there while a big number of the many thousands admitted in the various schemes have no obvious right to have been approved.
We’re not looking at a single mighty fatal blow that takes down a pair of political Goliaths. But a continual series of wounds to two exhausted animals. Fascinating to see what emerges. I’ve always thought a modern Blair would be better served with a hostile takeover of the Greens than Labour, perhaps that’s next.
https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/11/22/president-biden-nominates-jerome-powell-to-serve-as-chair-of-the-federal-reserve-dr-lael-brainard-to-serve-as-vice-chair/
This graph of UC claimants shows that 10% of the current working population is so knackered that they are not expected to seek work and will be supported by the current and future taxpayers. This is in addition to supporting the Boomer pensioners. There is a second group of UC claimants who are mostly in work but are paid so little that they have to be supported (aka subsidised workforce). They are to be supported by the same tax base. So we come to the issue of if you're actively discouraging growth in the indigenous population and you don't want to bring anyone in, and the demographics are against you, you need a miracle.
We could reskill our workforce or improve productivity by investing but we are not doing that either. Running an economy requires someone to provide added value as we can't run the sort of deficits that the US can. So it would be in our own interests to encourage larger families, support them, educate their children and allow them to contribute to this country and even if it does mean supporting the ungrateful.
A few years ago I did my bedroom Hague Blue, as was the fash
Trouble is I (again) decided to do it myself for the soothing lolz, and also it was lockdown so I was bored. So I got the paint and read the guides and got to work and,,,, Wow, I did it badly. And I didn't do the ceiling. so I had fucking great Hague Blue splotches all over the ceiling, and drips of Hague Blue on my lovely wooden floor and skirting boards
For a few days I didn't mind, then I minded, and I've minded ever since. This time I got a pro to do the whole room, ceiling included, and he was well pricey but he was good and it looks gorgeous. I can cope with just the radiator
Anyhow, Hague blue is well out of fashion now, and you should be looking at Farage fuchsia…
The obvious horrors are only obvious to people who are unusually engaged and politically aware. But more people will slowly twig, and even those who don't get it will grasp second order effects. Imagine the first terror attack or gang rape arising from this cohort. How do you even begin to handle that? Because it will happen, sadly. The stats are ineluctable
Besides, you can't sit back and admire someone else's work. Well, unless it was van Gogh.
Is it a massive coincidence that three or four pests in the party all just happen to be UK Trade Envoys or is being a trade envoy a wheeze, that they dish out to loads of back benchers, where you can go on paid-for jollies to examine how we can develop trade with the Turks and Caicos, especially if anything can be learnt over New Year, or if the region of France you have bought a pad in would like to buy more English wines and cheeses?
I agree on Hague Blue. I told the decorator to go with his instincts and do something with the richness of Hague Blue but more fun and brighter
He did a brilliant job. I love it. Some weird Dulux Heritage mix that he devised himself. All the woodwork is Farrow and Ball burgundy job, Precedence Red, I think, or something like that
Tune in later for more exciting DIY updates
I quite liked Sunak for what it’s worth. He eventually found a backbone and squashed an omicron lockdown (two lockdowns too late but still). I think he’s at heart probably a decent enough chap. But you’re being naively generous to him here.
If his legal advice was 'it will be lifted' and he was worried, he'd have called the election before the hearing and hidden it all under purdah/court would have extended beyond the election as the parliament scrutiny could now not occur anyway.
Im sorry but whilst there are clear questions to answer, Sunak calling the election because of the hearing the day before is barking
I'm going to make cupcakes for @Richard_Tyndall as a surprise. DON'T TELL HIM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1tTeRhZCt0