Corbyn got 12,877,918 votes and 262 seats at GE 2017
TMay got 13,636,684 votes and 317 seats at GE 2017
Yes lost a comfortable majority and had to rely on the DUP to prop her up due to the biggest increase in the Lab vote since WW2.
Well pointed out Sunil
I really cannot believe people are still arguing alternative realities about 2017 as some kind of copium. Multiple things are true about it.
Yes, she lost a majority and needed propping up, and yes Corbyn increased the vote and gained seats very impressively. She still got more votes and thus was more popular than Jeremy Corbyn.
Theresa May was more popular with the people than Jeremy Corbyn. The voice of the people preferred Theresa May to Jeremy Corbyn.
His achievement in vote share increase and total votes received should not be ignored. But he still lost. People can celebrate the former without acting as though the latter did not happen, so why do they act as though the former, in isolation, cancels out the latter?
And if people don't intend to come across that way, why get orgasms over how many votes he got when bloody Theresa May got more? Are you suggesting that the Tories should forevermore try to follow the example of Theresa May because she got equivalent vote shares to Thatcher in the 80s? (42.3 to 42.4, 42.2, out of interest)? You'd laugh in their faces if they argued that. Why is rise in share the only factor that matters?
The whole argument is a classic case of 'the argument wouldn't work if applied to my opponent' logic.
I only posted the votes because there appears to be an assumption from some that Jezza has no electoral appeal whatsoever and therefore the new party launched today will do very poorly as only Crankies or Jezbollah supporters will vote for it.
IMO Jezza shouldn't be underestimated and could be a serious problem for a right wing like SKS's party that relies on left of centre voters.
For all his faults he is one of a handful of modern British politicians that know how to campaign and speak in public. Farage and Johnson can, but I can't think of another Labour MP with the same skills. All three are pretty hopeless at anything else of course.
So, I agree that we shouldn't underestimate Jezza, even at 80 next election.
The odd thing is, he only became the candidate of the far left because all the other more plausible, articulate, appealing candidates had already had their turn. Back on 2015, he seemed a less obvious candidate than any of the Campaign Group's five previous goes. I would argue his success was largely a symptom of the failure of Labour'a right and soft left to present a convincing candidate.
I think it was because he was the only candidate that was trying to be a change from Blairism and Brownism, both of which had been completely discredited.
Corbynmania didn't start then though, indeed May was so convinced that he was unpopular that she called an early election expecting a 3 figure majority.
Then Corbyn gave a short speech at a music festival at Tranmere Rovers ground. I think this one of the most consequential political speeches of recent decades despite its brevity and subject.
I think the thickies who can't tell the difference between a Parliamentry group and a new Party whose name will be decided democratically at the Conference should probably be quite.
Don't they know that you can be ill informed by far right Social Media from the comfort of a Primrose Hill flat, between nights out enjoying the balmy summer evenings of London's nightlife.
Lol, supported Brexit, then sods off to an EU country.
Not only that, can't speak the language and not yet got legal immigration status.
If they can avoid splits I do think the to be named party could be pretty successful, depending what their aims are. It's taken the Greens decades to get to where they are, and Reform have a pedigree going back a long way as well, but in the right moment and right atmosphere they may not need to be as patient.
They have one fundamental and, I think, insuperable problem
They are as it stands a fusion of radical Islam and hard or far left Marxism. These things are ultimately in profound opposition - the fact they both loathe Jewish western Anglo American capitalism will see them through a few years - but in the end they must explode when combined. Over things like homosexual rights, feminism
This indeed is true of the entire Islamic/left nexus across the west. It’s just a matter of how long they can sustain the contradiction
The history of the ultra-left is that they will make any accommodation, any compromise with nutcase variant Islam to try and stay with them. Everyone else is expendable.
Corbyn got 12,877,918 votes and 262 seats at GE 2017
TMay got 13,636,684 votes and 317 seats at GE 2017
Yes lost a comfortable majority and had to rely on the DUP to prop her up due to the biggest increase in the Lab vote since WW2.
Well pointed out Sunil
I really cannot believe people are still arguing alternative realities about 2017 as some kind of copium. Multiple things are true about it.
Yes, she lost a majority and needed propping up, and yes Corbyn increased the vote and gained seats very impressively. She still got more votes and thus was more popular than Jeremy Corbyn.
Theresa May was more popular with the people than Jeremy Corbyn. The voice of the people preferred Theresa May to Jeremy Corbyn.
His achievement in vote share increase and total votes received should not be ignored. But he still lost. People can celebrate the former without acting as though the latter did not happen, so why do they act as though the former, in isolation, cancels out the latter?
And if people don't intend to come across that way, why get orgasms over how many votes he got when bloody Theresa May got more? Are you suggesting that the Tories should forevermore try to follow the example of Theresa May because she got equivalent vote shares to Thatcher in the 80s? (42.3 to 42.4, 42.2, out of interest)? You'd laugh in their faces if they argued that. Why is rise in share the only factor that matters?
The whole argument is a classic case of 'the argument wouldn't work if applied to my opponent' logic.
I only posted the votes because there appears to be an assumption from some that Jezza has no electoral appeal whatsoever and therefore the new party launched today will do very poorly as only Crankies or Jezbollah supporters will vote for it.
IMO Jezza shouldn't be underestimated and could be a serious problem for a right wing like SKS's party that relies on left of centre voters.
For all his faults he is one of a handful of modern British politicians that know how to campaign and speak in public. Farage and Johnson can, but I can't think of another Labour MP with the same skills. All three are pretty hopeless at anything else of course.
So, I agree that we shouldn't underestimate Jezza, even at 80 next election.
The odd thing is, he only became the candidate of the far left because all the other more plausible, articulate, appealing candidates had already had their turn. Back on 2015, he seemed a less obvious candidate than any of the Campaign Group's five previous goes. I would argue his success was largely a symptom of the failure of Labour'a right and soft left to present a convincing candidate.
No it was entirely about all the other Candidates endorsing austerity in the campaign. I was voting Burnham until he fell into line with Cooper and L4%K support of austerity
Polanski is has youth on his side, as well as passion, optimism and is very articulate. This is a very powerful and well put together campaign video. I think he will win the leadership at a canter.
Don't they know that you can be ill informed by far right Social Media from the comfort of a Primrose Hill flat, between nights out enjoying the balmy summer evenings of London's nightlife.
Lol, supported Brexit, then sods off to an EU country.
"Small town just west of Lisbon"
Sweetie, I think people have heard of Cascais.
She won't have to learn Portuguese at least.
I once spent an amusing rainy afternoon in a Cascais hotel lobby listening to a rich Northern Iraqi emigré complaining to her rich Northern Iraqi emigré friend about how her son had fallen in love with a Portuguese girl. Beneath contempt, the Portuguese, apparently. Perhaps not as bad as a southern Iraqi though, who knows?
Evening all. Just want to report a really, really good day at the cricket. I'd say - after day 2 vs Australia, 2005, Old Trafford - it's tbe second best day I've ever seen. I've seen days with 15+ wickets, I've seen centuries and double centuries, I've seen landmarks reached and games and series concluded, I've seen improbable wags of the tail - but I've rarely seen a game in which every single over was engrossing in the same way. For me, there really is no more entertaining sport. Highlight of the day - despite all Duckworth amd Crawley's flair, despite Archer's thunder and grace, despite Stokes's heroics in Making Things Happen AGAIN - was seeing Rishbah Pant batting stoically with one foot. Amazing and awe inspiring and painful but joyous to watch. What a hero.
Sounds like a great day. I might go on Sunday for £20 if the match is still going on at that time.
Don't they know that you can be ill informed by far right Social Media from the comfort of a Primrose Hill flat, between nights out enjoying the balmy summer evenings of London's nightlife.
Lol, supported Brexit, then sods off to an EU country.
"Small town just west of Lisbon"
Sweetie, I think people have heard of Cascais.
She won't have to learn Portuguese at least.
I once spent an amusing rainy afternoon in a Cascais hotel lobby listening to a rich Northern Iraqi emigré complaining to her rich Northern Iraqi emigré friend about how her son had fallen in love with a Portuguese girl. Beneath contempt, the Portuguese, apparently. Perhaps not as bad as a southern Iraqi though, who knows?
Just down the road from Estoril where Ian Fleming stayed in WW2, and supposedly invented the “shaken not stirred” martini
Good luck to Corbyn and Sultana with their new party. Don't agree with any of their policies but it's good for democracy to have more parties offering choice to the electorate.
As a person who covered Ghislaine Maxwell's criminal trial, and who has read through pretty much every single Jeffrey Epstein lawsuit, I find the current discourse to be in bizarro land... https://x.com/JayShams/status/1948192038060454089
I’m watching Children of Men for the first time. Wanted something cheerful and uplifting. Hear it’s a blast
Written by the same person who wrote endless twee middle class murder mysteries/love triangles/Detective stories which were an ITV staple all through the nineties, for goodness sake !
I wouldn´t call P D James "twee", though her early books did get a bit formulaic at times. The books are, I think, better than the telly.
There is a run of her novels, starting with a Shroud for a Nightingale that put her in the front rank of detective fiction.
She had a middle to late renaissance where she produced some great work.
If they can avoid splits I do think the to be named party could be pretty successful, depending what their aims are. It's taken the Greens decades to get to where they are, and Reform have a pedigree going back a long way as well, but in the right moment and right atmosphere they may not need to be as patient.
They have one fundamental and, I think, insuperable problem
They are as it stands a fusion of radical Islam and hard or far left Marxism. These things are ultimately in profound opposition - the fact they both loathe Jewish western Anglo American capitalism will see them through a few years - but in the end they must explode when combined. Over things like homosexual rights, feminism
This indeed is true of the entire Islamic/left nexus across the west. It’s just a matter of how long they can sustain the contradiction
To assemble a winning majority, or even a sizeable minority, in a diverse democracy you often have to build incompatible coalitions though.
Boris Johnson brought together free market Thatcherites and subsidy-junkie northerners. Now the same contradictions are visible in Reform.
Starmer relied on the remnants of the socialist WWC, Guardianistas and ethnic minorities for his landslide.
The Lib Dems have never really resolved the debate between Liberal Orange Bookers and Social Democrats.
Etc etc etc.
As long as you can unite the elements of your coalition against an external enemy, and give them at least something of what they want, you have a shot at keeping it together.
The real problem Corbyn faces isn't the inherent fractiousness of his coalition, it's that the two elements aren't nearly numerous enough to get anywhere - political Islamists and the radical left are pretty small slivers of the electorate (I'd guess 2% and 5% and the latter will be shared with the Greens), no matter how disproportionately noisy they are on Twitter.
Good luck to Corbyn and Sultana with their new party. Don't agree with any of their policies but it's good for democracy to have more parties offering choice to the electorate.
Tariq Ali @TariqAli_News · 3h It'll be the largest political party in the country sooner than people think. Congrats to Jeremy and Zarah.
Don't they know that you can be ill informed by far right Social Media from the comfort of a Primrose Hill flat, between nights out enjoying the balmy summer evenings of London's nightlife.
Lol, supported Brexit, then sods off to an EU country.
"Small town just west of Lisbon"
Sweetie, I think people have heard of Cascais.
She won't have to learn Portuguese at least.
I once spent an amusing rainy afternoon in a Cascais hotel lobby listening to a rich Northern Iraqi emigré complaining to her rich Northern Iraqi emigré friend about how her son had fallen in love with a Portuguese girl. Beneath contempt, the Portuguese, apparently. Perhaps not as bad as a southern Iraqi though, who knows?
Just down the road from Estoril where Ian Fleming stayed in WW2, and supposedly invented the “shaken not stirred” martini
Shame about the ugly casino. Nice town otherwise.
Close to Monte Estoril station is a locally famous WW2 emigré restaurant still operated by the same family:
Clarkson was right. Unless it's for work or a spectacular pay rise, emigration just turns you into somebody who constantly moans.
It didn't turn me into someone who constantly moans.
She had already emigrated to the UK, amongst other places, and moaned about that. I also note that she supported Brexit then, having deprived others of the option, moved to the EU. Now she's left can we keep her out?
Clarkson was right. Unless it's for work or a spectacular pay rise, emigration just turns you into somebody who constantly moans.
It didn't turn me into someone who constantly moans.
She had already emigrated to the UK, amongst other places, and moaned about that. I also note that she supported Brexit then, having deprived others of the option, moved to the EU. Now she's left can we keep her out?
Say what you like about Rod Liddle but he seems to be the only Speccie columnist prepared to actually live in this country.
Evening all. Just want to report a really, really good day at the cricket. I'd say - after day 2 vs Australia, 2005, Old Trafford - it's tbe second best day I've ever seen. I've seen days with 15+ wickets, I've seen centuries and double centuries, I've seen landmarks reached and games and series concluded, I've seen improbable wags of the tail - but I've rarely seen a game in which every single over was engrossing in the same way. For me, there really is no more entertaining sport. Highlight of the day - despite all Duckworth amd Crawley's flair, despite Archer's thunder and grace, despite Stokes's heroics in Making Things Happen AGAIN - was seeing Rishbah Pant batting stoically with one foot. Amazing and awe inspiring and painful but joyous to watch. What a hero.
Sounds like a great day. I might go on Sunday for £20 if the match is still going on at that time.
Is OT £20 on the final day? Oval only seems to have "hospitality packages" left at £700+, even with free buffet and bar that must be close to £500 pure profit/ticket.
The results of the Llanrumney by-election are as follows: ELLIOTT - Welsh Conservative Party 64 FITZPATRICK - Wales Green Party 47 GNAGBO - Plaid Cymru 138 MALIK - Reform UK 630 ELECTED POCKNELL - Welsh Labour 755 STREET - Welsh Liberal Democrats 281
The results of the Llanrumney by-election are as follows:
ELECTED POCKNELL - Welsh Labour 755 MALIK - Reform UK 630 STREET - Welsh Liberal Democrats 281 GNAGBO - Plaid Cymru 138 ELLIOTT - Welsh Conservative Party 64 FITZPATRICK - Wales Green Party 47
The results of the Llanrumney by-election are as follows: ELLIOTT - Welsh Conservative Party 64 FITZPATRICK - Wales Green Party 47 GNAGBO - Plaid Cymru 138 MALIK - Reform UK 630 ELECTED POCKNELL - Welsh Labour 755 STREET - Welsh Liberal Democrats 281
Lab 39.43% Ref 32.90% LD 14.67% PC 7.21% Con 3.34% Grn 2.45%
Clarkson was right. Unless it's for work or a spectacular pay rise, emigration just turns you into somebody who constantly moans.
It didn't turn me into someone who constantly moans.
She had already emigrated to the UK, amongst other places, and moaned about that. I also note that she supported Brexit then, having deprived others of the option, moved to the EU. Now she's left can we keep her out?
Say what you like about Rod Liddle but he seems to be the only Speccie columnist prepared to actually live in this country.
Nowhere else would take him. He'd set off the [redacted] alarm as he squeezed his spittle-flecked purulent lardy flesh through the security gates whilst leaving a slime trail behind that admits of no light nor hope.
Evening all. Just want to report a really, really good day at the cricket. I'd say - after day 2 vs Australia, 2005, Old Trafford - it's tbe second best day I've ever seen. I've seen days with 15+ wickets, I've seen centuries and double centuries, I've seen landmarks reached and games and series concluded, I've seen improbable wags of the tail - but I've rarely seen a game in which every single over was engrossing in the same way. For me, there really is no more entertaining sport. Highlight of the day - despite all Duckworth amd Crawley's flair, despite Archer's thunder and grace, despite Stokes's heroics in Making Things Happen AGAIN - was seeing Rishbah Pant batting stoically with one foot. Amazing and awe inspiring and painful but joyous to watch. What a hero.
Sounds like a great day. I might go on Sunday for £20 if the match is still going on at that time.
Is OT £20 on the final day? Oval only seems to have "hospitality packages" left at £700+, even with free buffet and bar that must be close to £500 pure profit/ticket.
The final day at test matches is usually £20 or £25, and they all usually have tickets left with perhaps the exception of The Oval. Best bargain you can find anywhere in sport imo. (It can only be a matter of time before they realise they could charge more).
Richard John @RichardJohnRJ · 1h Con GAIN from Labour in Wyesham, Monmouth Town Council. Congratulations Cllr Xavier Turner Conservative 39.5% Reform 24.4% Independent 36.1%
Richard John @RichardJohnRJ · 1h Con GAIN from Labour in Wyesham, Monmouth Town Council. Congratulations Cllr Xavier Turner Conservative 39.5% Reform 24.4% Independent 36.1%
Richard John @RichardJohnRJ · 1h Con GAIN from Labour in Wyesham, Monmouth Town Council. Congratulations Cllr Xavier Turner Conservative 39.5% Reform 24.4% Independent 36.1%
The BBC has decided not to send its flagship Politics Live programme to party conferences this year, PolHome understands
A former culture secretary said it was a "further erosion" of the BBC's political coverage, and urged the corporation to think again
From one point of view this is understandable, which is the very small number of people who watch party conferences.
So what. If there is any reason for the BBC to not become just one more stream subscription (as many on PB would like) it is that it does the work that no one else does because it is a fucking public duty and helps a functioning and richer and democratic society. Inform, entertain, educate etc etc.
It has totally lost its way imho.
It's 'race around the world' shite vs hard core news such as Steven Sackur.
Richard John @RichardJohnRJ · 1h Con GAIN from Labour in Wyesham, Monmouth Town Council. Congratulations Cllr Xavier Turner Conservative 39.5% Reform 24.4% Independent 36.1%
Thats a town /parish council ward rather than district or county/unitary level The Tories also beat Reform in a similar Monmouth seat in Caerwent last week for town council
I think the thickies who can't tell the difference between a Parliamentry group and a new Party whose name will be decided democratically at the Conference should probably be quite.
"Be quite" what?
What are smug Grandpa's two pet interests? The Soviet Union and Palestine. He talks a good job about redistribution of wealth, but every previous Conservative government he has delivered and any future Conservative/Reform government he will deliver aren't interested in redistribution.
The BBC has decided not to send its flagship Politics Live programme to party conferences this year, PolHome understands
A former culture secretary said it was a "further erosion" of the BBC's political coverage, and urged the corporation to think again
From one point of view this is understandable, which is the very small number of people who watch party conferences.
So what. If there is any reason for the BBC to not become just one more stream subscription (as many on PB would like) it is that it does the work that no one else does because it is a fucking public duty and helps a functioning and richer and democratic society. Inform, entertain, educate etc etc.
It has totally lost its way imho.
It's 'race around the world' shite vs hard core news such as Steven Sackur.
The BBC has decided not to send its flagship Politics Live programme to party conferences this year, PolHome understands
A former culture secretary said it was a "further erosion" of the BBC's political coverage, and urged the corporation to think again
From one point of view this is understandable, which is the very small number of people who watch party conferences.
So what. If there is any reason for the BBC to not become just one more stream subscription (as many on PB would like) it is that it does the work that no one else does because it is a fucking public duty and helps a functioning and richer and democratic society. Inform, entertain, educate etc etc.
It has totally lost its way imho.
It's 'race around the world' shite vs hard core news such as Steven Sackur.
Borehamwood and Swanage results pending tonight, Rutland count tomorrow
Swanage could be good for RefUK.
It shouid be i think. They could take Borehamwood too. Bromley was bang in line with current polling in that its a ward they were projected to take on average current swing. Meand Bromley council and the GE seat will likely be very tight
Borehamwood and Swanage results pending tonight, Rutland count tomorrow
Swanage could be good for RefUK.
It shouid be i think. They could take Borehamwood too. Bromley was bang in line with current polling in that its a ward they were projected to take on average current swing. Meand Bromley council and the GE seat will likely be very tight
Tory support in Hertsmere tends to be very sticky compared to most places.
Borehamwood and Swanage results pending tonight, Rutland count tomorrow
Swanage could be good for RefUK.
It shouid be i think. They could take Borehamwood too. Bromley was bang in line with current polling in that its a ward they were projected to take on average current swing. Meand Bromley council and the GE seat will likely be very tight
Tory support in Hertsmere tends to be very sticky compared to most places.
It will be interesting to see what impact if any the new Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana party have on the Labour vote if they put forward a candidate in the next London Mayor elections in 2028?
I’m watching Children of Men for the first time. Wanted something cheerful and uplifting. Hear it’s a blast
It's actually very good. One of the few films where I've saw the trailer at the time and not been disappointed by what I ultimately saw. Though not so cheery.
The book's good too, but is a little different.
A couple of friends “in the media” told me to watch it for its scarily prescient portrayal of London in total societal decline - the grot, graffiti, the exciting cultural diversity, the garbage - and the way it looks like london now
They’re not wrong. Christ
I think your friends should have been more protective, it’s a great film but perhaps not for those susceptible to febrile pessimism.
Haven’t you twigged, yet, that all these anecdotal people don’t actually exist?
It just sounds better than admitting he deliberately went trawling for it.
Clarkson was right. Unless it's for work or a spectacular pay rise, emigration just turns you into somebody who constantly moans.
I find this slightly weird that did they not do any reading about Portugal before they went? There is a reason is is consistently one of the poorest countries in Europe and nothing ever really improves. Its a bit like moving to the US and getting moany about the tipping culture.
For the record, I like Portugal, I go a few times a year. But it isn't a big hidden secret that as a country it runs extremely poorly from top to bottom. Nothing really works efficiently. The UK isn't there...yet.
Donald Trump apparently isn’t the only president that sent a birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein. “The biggest name in the album” was Bill Clinton, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday. The ex-president’s letter appeared alongside nearly 50 others, including other prominent celebrities and executives.
In Thursday’s article, the Wall Street Journal provided additional details on the album, including names of some of the nearly 50 people who wrote to Epstein. They reportedly include billionaire investor Leon Black, fashion designer Vera Wang, billionaire media owner Mortimer Zuckerman, billionaire former Victoria’s Secret owner Les Wexner, attorney Alan Dershowitz, model scout Jean-Luc Brunel and billionaire former Microsoft executive Nathan Myhrvold.
It also includes the British ambassador to the United States and Labour party politician Peter Mandelson in a section titled “friends”. Epstein’s former co-workers, Alan “Ace” Greenberg and James “Jimmy” Cayne, who he worked with at the investment firm Bear Stearns in the 1970s, also sent letters.
Clarkson was right. Unless it's for work or a spectacular pay rise, emigration just turns you into somebody who constantly moans.
I find this slightly weird that did they not do any reading about Portugal before they went? There is a reason is is consistently one of the poorest countries in Europe and nothing ever really improves. Its a bit like moving to the US and getting moany about the tipping culture.
For the record, I like Portugal, I go a few times a year. But it isn't a big hidden secret that as a country it runs extremely poorly from top to bottom. Nothing really works efficiently. The UK isn't there...yet.
A friend of mine - a tech entrepreneur - moved there three years ago, and he loves it.
But he's also always been gifted with both computer and human languages. And he's on an amazing tax deal
Clarkson was right. Unless it's for work or a spectacular pay rise, emigration just turns you into somebody who constantly moans.
I find this slightly weird that did they not do any reading about Portugal before they went? There is a reason is is consistently one of the poorest countries in Europe and nothing ever really improves. Its a bit like moving to the US and getting moany about the tipping culture.
For the record, I like Portugal, I go a few times a year. But it isn't a big hidden secret that as a country it runs extremely poorly from top to bottom. Nothing really works efficiently. The UK isn't there...yet.
A friend of mine - a tech entrepreneur - moved there three years ago, and he loves it.
But he's also always been gifted with both computer and human languages. And he's on an amazing tax deal
Well in Portugal it depends on a) where exactly you go and b) how much money you have. If you move to the Algarve and money isn't any real object, life will be wonderful. In places like Quinta do Lago, shit does get done because the big money talks and the lack of Portuguese language will be far less of an issue. I noticed an uptick in Americans there when I have been over the past couple of years, and I assume it is all the great tax deals they offered.
One of the biggest problems in Portugal is basically 5 companies control everything. There isn't really any competition. Need to hire a crane for construction, there will be 1 or 2 of those 5 mega corps that run crane hire. Fall out with them by getting too aggro on time or money and all of a sudden your construction business becomes very slow to get these done because the cranes are never available.
I remember speaking to a British guy who did landscape gardening for rich people, so gets hired to go out there. You can't hire things like the small JCB digger things, you must hire the digger with a driver, no matter if you are experienced / qualified to drive the digger. And of course the digger driver only works 30hrs a week, will only work between certain hours of the day.....and if you are seen using the digger without the driver even out of his working hours, they won't hire to you again and well good luck finding anybody else who hires out diggers who isn't owned or totally reliant on the big 5 corps.
There is this painful friction of getting anything done throughout society.
Clarkson was right. Unless it's for work or a spectacular pay rise, emigration just turns you into somebody who constantly moans.
I find this slightly weird that did they not do any reading about Portugal before they went? There is a reason is is consistently one of the poorest countries in Europe and nothing ever really improves. Its a bit like moving to the US and getting moany about the tipping culture.
For the record, I like Portugal, I go a few times a year. But it isn't a big hidden secret that as a country it runs extremely poorly from top to bottom. Nothing really works efficiently. The UK isn't there...yet.
A friend of mine - a tech entrepreneur - moved there three years ago, and he loves it.
But he's also always been gifted with both computer and human languages. And he's on an amazing tax deal
I know someone who went off to live their long held dream, restoring a tumbledown mill in the middle of Portuguese nowhere, but sadly it didn’t work out and within six months she was back in the UK, both poorer and wiser.
Don't they know that you can be ill informed by far right Social Media from the comfort of a Primrose Hill flat, between nights out enjoying the balmy summer evenings of London's nightlife.
Lol, supported Brexit, then sods off to an EU country.
"Small town just west of Lisbon"
Sweetie, I think people have heard of Cascais.
She won't have to learn Portuguese at least.
I once spent an amusing rainy afternoon in a Cascais hotel lobby listening to a rich Northern Iraqi emigré complaining to her rich Northern Iraqi emigré friend about how her son had fallen in love with a Portuguese girl. Beneath contempt, the Portuguese, apparently. Perhaps not as bad as a southern Iraqi though, who knows?
Just down the road from Estoril where Ian Fleming stayed in WW2, and supposedly invented the “shaken not stirred” martini
Donald Trump apparently isn’t the only president that sent a birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein. “The biggest name in the album” was Bill Clinton, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday. The ex-president’s letter appeared alongside nearly 50 others, including other prominent celebrities and executives.
In Thursday’s article, the Wall Street Journal provided additional details on the album, including names of some of the nearly 50 people who wrote to Epstein. They reportedly include billionaire investor Leon Black, fashion designer Vera Wang, billionaire media owner Mortimer Zuckerman, billionaire former Victoria’s Secret owner Les Wexner, attorney Alan Dershowitz, model scout Jean-Luc Brunel and billionaire former Microsoft executive Nathan Myhrvold.
It also includes the British ambassador to the United States and Labour party politician Peter Mandelson in a section titled “friends”. Epstein’s former co-workers, Alan “Ace” Greenberg and James “Jimmy” Cayne, who he worked with at the investment firm Bear Stearns in the 1970s, also sent letters.
Everyone would have guessed, or at least everyone who'd read the original report that these 50th birthday greetings had been solicited by Ghislaine Maxwell.
Corbyn got 12,877,918 votes and 262 seats at GE 2017
TMay got 13,636,684 votes and 317 seats at GE 2017
Yes lost a comfortable majority and had to rely on the DUP to prop her up due to the biggest increase in the Lab vote since WW2.
Well pointed out Sunil
I really cannot believe people are still arguing alternative realities about 2017 as some kind of copium. Multiple things are true about it.
Yes, she lost a majority and needed propping up, and yes Corbyn increased the vote and gained seats very impressively. She still got more votes and thus was more popular than Jeremy Corbyn.
Theresa May was more popular with the people than Jeremy Corbyn. The voice of the people preferred Theresa May to Jeremy Corbyn.
His achievement in vote share increase and total votes received should not be ignored. But he still lost. People can celebrate the former without acting as though the latter did not happen, so why do they act as though the former, in isolation, cancels out the latter?
And if people don't intend to come across that way, why get orgasms over how many votes he got when bloody Theresa May got more? Are you suggesting that the Tories should forevermore try to follow the example of Theresa May because she got equivalent vote shares to Thatcher in the 80s? (42.3 to 42.4, 42.2, out of interest)? You'd laugh in their faces if they argued that. Why is rise in share the only factor that matters?
The whole argument is a classic case of 'the argument wouldn't work if applied to my opponent' logic.
I only posted the votes because there appears to be an assumption from some that Jezza has no electoral appeal whatsoever and therefore the new party launched today will do very poorly as only Crankies or Jezbollah supporters will vote for it.
IMO Jezza shouldn't be underestimated and could be a serious problem for a right wing like SKS's party that relies on left of centre voters.
For all his faults he is one of a handful of modern British politicians that know how to campaign and speak in public. Farage and Johnson can, but I can't think of another Labour MP with the same skills. All three are pretty hopeless at anything else of course.
So, I agree that we shouldn't underestimate Jezza, even at 80 next election.
The odd thing is, he only became the candidate of the far left because all the other more plausible, articulate, appealing candidates had already had their turn. Back on 2015, he seemed a less obvious candidate than any of the Campaign Group's five previous goes. I would argue his success was largely a symptom of the failure of Labour'a right and soft left to present a convincing candidate.
I think it was because he was the only candidate that was trying to be a change from Blairism and Brownism, both of which had been completely discredited.
Corbynmania didn't start then though, indeed May was so convinced that he was unpopular that she called an early election expecting a 3 figure majority.
Then Corbyn gave a short speech at a music festival at Tranmere Rovers ground. I think this one of the most consequential political speeches of recent decades despite its brevity and subject.
All the young people in the crowd going totally crazy.
There is one older guy at the back of the crowd, though, with his arms folded - who isn't impressed. Which reminds me of that famous Nuremberg Rally photo.
I did have to chuckle that Jezza was banging on about the party name must be "inclusive" but they are setting up a committee to decide upon it. And well can people please send in ideas because errhhhhh (obviously he doesn't have any).
As a person who covered Ghislaine Maxwell's criminal trial, and who has read through pretty much every single Jeffrey Epstein lawsuit, I find the current discourse to be in bizarro land... https://x.com/JayShams/status/1948192038060454089
I’m watching Children of Men for the first time. Wanted something cheerful and uplifting. Hear it’s a blast
Written by the same person who wrote endless twee middle class murder mysteries/love triangles/Detective stories which were an ITV staple all through the nineties, for goodness sake !
I wouldn´t call P D James "twee", though her early books did get a bit formulaic at times. The books are, I think, better than the telly.
There is a run of her novels, starting with a Shroud for a Nightingale that put her in the front rank of detective fiction.
She had a middle to late renaissance where she produced some great work.
Yes- her short story collection is good too. I think Death in Holy Orders is possibly my favourite of her later novels.
Something of a nothingburger tbh if anyone wants to get angry (which is probably not you). There have been gluten-free staples available through the prescription system since the late 1960s, as they can be difficult to obtain; you need a diagnosis of coeliac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis.
It's a reform, I think - no change of principle and following a long pilot. Perhaps because the pilot shows it is now practical to use general supply chains? There will be a Cost-Benefit analysis. (Of course you may have views on the principle.)
People with some conditions need gluten free food as I need insulin. If my insulin stops, I will die. Depending on the condition, gluten can have very serious consequences. So back in the 1960s gluten-free basics were made available via the NHS. England is more restricted than NiSW. Are they seeking to make that less complicated?
England In England, gluten free prescriptions are limited to bread and flour mixes only and some local areas may restrict further. For example, your local area may limit what is available based on your age or other factors like pregnancy. In some places, it has been withdrawn altogether and is available only on a case by case basis.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, anyone with a diagnosis of coeliac disease can access gluten free staple products such as bread, flour and pasta in line with national prescribing guidelines. How this is provided differs between the nations though. For example, in Scotland prescriptions are delivered through your pharmacy as part of the Scottish Gluten Free Food Service while if you live in Hywel dda health board, in Wales, there is a top up card scheme available. All other eligible areas use the GP led approach laid out above.
I’m watching Children of Men for the first time. Wanted something cheerful and uplifting. Hear it’s a blast
Written by the same person who wrote endless twee middle class murder mysteries/love triangles/Detective stories which were an ITV staple all through the nineties, for goodness sake !
I wouldn´t call P D James "twee", though her early books did get a bit formulaic at times. The books are, I think, better than the telly.
There is a run of her novels, starting with a Shroud for a Nightingale that put her in the front rank of detective fiction.
Ah, my error. I thought it Ruth Rendell.
I wouldn't describe the work of either Ruth Rendell or P.D. James as twee, although some of their novels are not as good as others. It is possible for a writer to produce detective novels and also novels with psychological depth. I remember a review of Rendell's "Master of the Moor" by Auberon Waugh, which praised it and he claimed that if it had been written by a bright young thing just down from Oxford, it would be up for various literary prizes. Because it had been written by a woman who turned out umpteen dectective novels, it had not had the literary recognition it deserved.
I sense a twinge of sexism and snobbery in Taz's comments. Neither woman came from a priviledged background and P.D. James, particularly, had to overcome struggles in her life.
Comments
Corbynmania didn't start then though, indeed May was so convinced that he was unpopular that she called an early election expecting a 3 figure majority.
Then Corbyn gave a short speech at a music festival at Tranmere Rovers ground. I think this one of the most consequential political speeches of recent decades despite its brevity and subject.
https://youtu.be/uHDmskeGARk?si=T3A7kznG0zmqcCQy
Saw this at UCL in the 90s. Nothings changed.
But maybe he got it a charity shop?
Plus, family run NE business of numerous generations iirc.
https://bsky.app/profile/zackpolanski.bsky.social/post/3lumgckfut22e
Sweetie, I think people have heard of Cascais.
She won't have to learn Portuguese at least.
I once spent an amusing rainy afternoon in a Cascais hotel lobby listening to a rich Northern Iraqi emigré complaining to her rich Northern Iraqi emigré friend about how her son had fallen in love with a Portuguese girl. Beneath contempt, the Portuguese, apparently. Perhaps not as bad as a southern Iraqi though, who knows?
Clarkson was right. Unless it's for work or a spectacular pay rise, emigration just turns you into somebody who constantly moans.
As a person who covered Ghislaine Maxwell's criminal trial, and who has read through pretty much every single Jeffrey Epstein lawsuit, I find the current discourse to be in bizarro land...
https://x.com/JayShams/status/1948192038060454089
I suspect it will be very boring, because Candace will essentially refuse to answer any questions.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/07/24/move-migrants-from-epping-demands-essex-police-chief
Boris Johnson brought together free market Thatcherites and subsidy-junkie northerners. Now the same contradictions are visible in Reform.
Starmer relied on the remnants of the socialist WWC, Guardianistas and ethnic minorities for his landslide.
The Lib Dems have never really resolved the debate between Liberal Orange Bookers and Social Democrats.
Etc etc etc.
As long as you can unite the elements of your coalition against an external enemy, and give them at least something of what they want, you have a shot at keeping it together.
The real problem Corbyn faces isn't the inherent fractiousness of his coalition, it's that the two elements aren't nearly numerous enough to get anywhere - political Islamists and the radical left are pretty small slivers of the electorate (I'd guess 2% and 5% and the latter will be shared with the Greens), no matter how disproportionately noisy they are on Twitter.
Tariq Ali
@TariqAli_News
·
3h
It'll be the largest political party in the country sooner than people think. Congrats to Jeremy and Zarah.
https://x.com/TariqAli_News/status/1948454462550401121
Close to Monte Estoril station is a locally famous WW2 emigré restaurant still operated by the same family:
https://www.cimas.com.pt/pt/
I stayed at the hotel next door for a few weeks during Covid for pennies, but Cimas was too rich for my blood.
Now she's left can we keep her out?
Zia Yusuf
@ZiaYusufUK
We will have thousands of pages of legislation oven-ready for when
@Nigel_Farage becomes PM.
Oval only seems to have "hospitality packages" left at £700+, even with free buffet and bar that must be close to £500 pure profit/ticket.
ELLIOTT - Welsh Conservative Party 64
FITZPATRICK - Wales Green Party 47
GNAGBO - Plaid Cymru 138
MALIK - Reform UK 630
ELECTED POCKNELL - Welsh Labour 755
STREET - Welsh Liberal Democrats 281
Con 690
RefUK 439
Lab 314
LD 185
PoliticsHome
@politicshome
The BBC has decided not to send its flagship Politics Live programme to party conferences this year, PolHome understands
A former culture secretary said it was a "further erosion" of the BBC's political coverage, and urged the corporation to think again
Ref 26.97%
Lab 19.29%
LD 11.36%
Ref 32.90%
LD 14.67%
PC 7.21%
Con 3.34%
Grn 2.45%
Richard John
@RichardJohnRJ
·
1h
Con GAIN from Labour in Wyesham, Monmouth Town Council. Congratulations Cllr Xavier Turner
Conservative 39.5%
Reform 24.4%
Independent 36.1%
It has totally lost its way imho.
It's 'race around the world' shite vs hard core news such as Steven Sackur.
The Tories also beat Reform in a similar Monmouth seat in Caerwent last week for town council
@aldc
Berkhamsted West- Dacorum Borough Council
🔶LD- 643- 56%- -2%
🔵CON- 357- 31%- +8.5%
🟢GRN- 99- 8%- -0.4
🔴LAB- 41- 3%- -6%"
x.com/ALDC/status/1948526188369969384
What are smug Grandpa's two pet interests? The Soviet Union and Palestine. He talks a good job about redistribution of wealth, but every previous Conservative government he has delivered and any future Conservative/Reform government he will deliver aren't interested in redistribution.
RefUK GAIN from Con
➡️RFM- 1342- 34%- New
🔵CON- 1161- 29%- -11.8%
🔴LAB- 720- 18%- -10.4%
🔶LD- 540- 13%- -2.2%
🟢GRN- 185- 4.7%- 9.7%"
Ref 33.99%
Con 29.41%
Lab 18.24%
LD 13.68%
Grn 4.69%
Ref +33.99%
Con -11.75%
Lab -10.38%
LD -2.15%
Grn -9.70%
Third party voters tend to be more volatile than we imagine.
Glenn Briski – Conservative Party – 478 votes
Gus Channer – Reform UK - 394 votes
Rosalind Carmel Levine – Liberal Democrat – 47 votes
Bala Mere – Labour Party – 295 votes
Lawrence Stack – Independent – 26 votes
Michelle Vince – Independent – 339 votes
Con 29.58%
Ref 24.38%
Ind Vince 20.98%
Lab 18.25%
LD 2.91%
Grn 2.29%
Ind Stack 1.61%
It just sounds better than admitting he deliberately went trawling for it.
For the record, I like Portugal, I go a few times a year. But it isn't a big hidden secret that as a country it runs extremely poorly from top to bottom. Nothing really works efficiently. The UK isn't there...yet.
Donald Trump apparently isn’t the only president that sent a birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein. “The biggest name in the album” was Bill Clinton, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday. The ex-president’s letter appeared alongside nearly 50 others, including other prominent celebrities and executives.
In Thursday’s article, the Wall Street Journal provided additional details on the album, including names of some of the nearly 50 people who wrote to Epstein. They reportedly include billionaire investor Leon Black, fashion designer Vera Wang, billionaire media owner Mortimer Zuckerman, billionaire former Victoria’s Secret owner Les Wexner, attorney Alan Dershowitz, model scout Jean-Luc Brunel and billionaire former Microsoft executive Nathan Myhrvold.
It also includes the British ambassador to the United States and Labour party politician Peter Mandelson in a section titled “friends”. Epstein’s former co-workers, Alan “Ace” Greenberg and James “Jimmy” Cayne, who he worked with at the investment firm Bear Stearns in the 1970s, also sent letters.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/24/bill-clinton-jeffrey-epstein-wall-street-journal-report
But he's also always been gifted with both computer and human languages. And he's on an amazing tax deal
One of the biggest problems in Portugal is basically 5 companies control everything. There isn't really any competition. Need to hire a crane for construction, there will be 1 or 2 of those 5 mega corps that run crane hire. Fall out with them by getting too aggro on time or money and all of a sudden your construction business becomes very slow to get these done because the cranes are never available.
I remember speaking to a British guy who did landscape gardening for rich people, so gets hired to go out there. You can't hire things like the small JCB digger things, you must hire the digger with a driver, no matter if you are experienced / qualified to drive the digger. And of course the digger driver only works 30hrs a week, will only work between certain hours of the day.....and if you are seen using the digger without the driver even out of his working hours, they won't hire to you again and well good luck finding anybody else who hires out diggers who isn't owned or totally reliant on the big 5 corps.
There is this painful friction of getting anything done throughout society.
Where have I heard that before !!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK3fiKkVYlY
Yep.
There is one older guy at the back of the crowd, though, with his arms folded - who isn't impressed. Which reminds me of that famous Nuremberg Rally photo.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0l4d3g4p2do
Umpteen Order in Councill? (Yes there are checks and balances, but ...)
His mushrooms would not even notice, until it hit them personally.
It's a reform, I think - no change of principle and following a long pilot. Perhaps because the pilot shows it is now practical to use general supply chains? There will be a Cost-Benefit analysis. (Of course you may have views on the principle.)
People with some conditions need gluten free food as I need insulin. If my insulin stops, I will die. Depending on the condition, gluten can have very serious consequences. So back in the 1960s gluten-free basics were made available via the NHS.
England is more restricted than NiSW. Are they seeking to make that less complicated?
Cost evaluations and history etc available here I think for England (approx £25m pa):
https://www.nhsconfed.org/system/files/media/DHSC-Gluten-free-foods-on-NHS-prescription.pdf
England
In England, gluten free prescriptions are limited to bread and flour mixes only and some local areas may restrict further. For example, your local area may limit what is available based on your age or other factors like pregnancy. In some places, it has been withdrawn altogether and is available only on a case by case basis.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, anyone with a diagnosis of coeliac disease can access gluten free staple products such as bread, flour and pasta in line with national prescribing guidelines. How this is provided differs between the nations though. For example, in Scotland prescriptions are delivered through your pharmacy as part of the Scottish Gluten Free Food Service while if you live in Hywel dda health board, in Wales, there is a top up card scheme available. All other eligible areas use the GP led approach laid out above.
https://www.coeliac.org.uk/information-and-support/coeliac-disease/once-diagnosed/prescriptions/?&&type=rfst&set=true#cookie-widget
I sense a twinge of sexism and snobbery in Taz's comments. Neither woman came from a priviledged background and P.D. James, particularly, had to overcome struggles in her life.