Thanks. I wonder which way the Indy votes would have gone; decent %age for such a candidate.
As per above, the independent candidate stood for Labour in May, but is complaining about the WFA and welfare changes and said she couldn't represent the ward from the constituency office.
Do we have any results from yesterday's by-elections yet. How did Reform do in Doncaster?
Doncaster counts this morning as does Renfrewshire Reform gained 3 - the two Runnymede DC seats and Addlestone Surrey CC from Con LD gained the other Surrey CC from Con and held in Hampshire Indy won Gwynedd from an Indy Labour held in Hounslow from Con
Thanks. Reform in Surrey...... hmmm.
Addlestone South (Runnymede) Council By-Election Result [2 Seats]:
Actually Addlestone isn't the leafiest place in Surrey and has a shit rail connection so probably has fewer people with well-paid London jobs. But Refuk smashed it.
You can go direct to Waterloo via Staines , or change at Weybridge. The latter is probably quicker.
Railplanner tells you to change at Weybridge or Staines (which is slower) so if there are direct trains they are very very slow and stop at everywhere in the Hounslow/Twickenham area.
I briefly considered it when moving out of London, and decided the buggeration factor was too high. I'm in Fleet and can get a train to Waterloo in 45 minutes stopping at Farnborough and Woking (it used to be slightly faster as it didn't stop at Woking)
That appears to be a previous Conservative vote approaching 60% splitting 60/40 Reform/Con with Reform taking the seats. Is this something that right wing PBers are welcoming?
Off-topic, why is Farnborough town centre so shit?
Do we have any results from yesterday's by-elections yet. How did Reform do in Doncaster?
Doncaster counts this morning as does Renfrewshire Reform gained 3 - the two Runnymede DC seats and Addlestone Surrey CC from Con LD gained the other Surrey CC from Con and held in Hampshire Indy won Gwynedd from an Indy Labour held in Hounslow from Con
Thanks. Reform in Surrey...... hmmm.
Addlestone South (Runnymede) Council By-Election Result [2 Seats]:
Actually Addlestone isn't the leafiest place in Surrey and has a shit rail connection so probably has fewer people with well-paid London jobs. But Refuk smashed it.
Thanks. Dare I ask, before I try Surrey's website, about the turnout?
The disttrict council turnout was well up on the Oct 2024 by election, the County Council had about 800 fewer votes than 2021 when last fought (don't have % sorry)
Turnout in Donny in 19%, just announced
Under 20% isn't at all good is it, no matter who wins. But, I'm not familiar with South Yorkshire; there aren't 'traditional' holiday weeks there, are there.
Traditional holiday weeks (wakes weeks) are in my head more associated with mills than mines, though I don't see why the same logic shouldn't apply - and of course many towns had both. In any case, it's sadly no longer the case that an entire town decamps to the seaside for a week in a way that happened up until the 1960s - though even now there is still a week in August in which Blackpool is disconcertingly full of Glaswegians.
Do we have any results from yesterday's by-elections yet. How did Reform do in Doncaster?
Doncaster counts this morning as does Renfrewshire Reform gained 3 - the two Runnymede DC seats and Addlestone Surrey CC from Con LD gained the other Surrey CC from Con and held in Hampshire Indy won Gwynedd from an Indy Labour held in Hounslow from Con
Thanks. Reform in Surrey...... hmmm.
Addlestone South (Runnymede) Council By-Election Result [2 Seats]:
Actually Addlestone isn't the leafiest place in Surrey and has a shit rail connection so probably has fewer people with well-paid London jobs. But Refuk smashed it.
Thanks. Dare I ask, before I try Surrey's website, about the turnout?
The disttrict council turnout was well up on the Oct 2024 by election, the County Council had about 800 fewer votes than 2021 when last fought (don't have % sorry)
Turnout in Donny in 19%, just announced
Under 20% isn't at all good is it, no matter who wins. But, I'm not familiar with South Yorkshire; there aren't 'traditional' holiday weeks there, are there.
Traditional holiday weeks (wakes weeks) are in my head more associated with mills than mines, though I don't see why the same logic shouldn't apply - and of course many towns had both. In any case, it's sadly no longer the case that an entire town decamps to the seaside for a week in a way that happened up until the 1960s - though even now there is still a week in August in which Blackpool is disconcertingly full of Glaswegians.
More likely to be a holiday from politics than a decamp to Skeggy.
That can’t be true. I read PB, it is only the Tory comms that are bad.
Labour’s social media game is TERRIBLE. Whether it’s via Starmer’s account or the official party accounts, everything they put out is clueless, awkward, laughable. Contrast with Jenrick, who might be a fiendish bounder, but he knows how to use X
Do we have any results from yesterday's by-elections yet. How did Reform do in Doncaster?
Doncaster counts this morning as does Renfrewshire Reform gained 3 - the two Runnymede DC seats and Addlestone Surrey CC from Con LD gained the other Surrey CC from Con and held in Hampshire Indy won Gwynedd from an Indy Labour held in Hounslow from Con
Thanks. Reform in Surrey...... hmmm.
Addlestone South (Runnymede) Council By-Election Result [2 Seats]:
Actually Addlestone isn't the leafiest place in Surrey and has a shit rail connection so probably has fewer people with well-paid London jobs. But Refuk smashed it.
You can go direct to Waterloo via Staines , or change at Weybridge. The latter is probably quicker.
Railplanner tells you to change at Weybridge or Staines (which is slower) so if there are direct trains they are very very slow and stop at everywhere in the Hounslow/Twickenham area.
I briefly considered it when moving out of London, and decided the buggeration factor was too high. I'm in Fleet and can get a train to Waterloo in 45 minutes stopping at Farnborough and Woking (it used to be slightly faster as it didn't stop at Woking)
That appears to be a previous Conservative vote approaching 60% splitting 60/40 Reform/Con with Reform taking the seats. Is this something that right wing PBers are welcoming?
Off-topic, why is Farnborough town centre so shit?
Correction, why is Farnborough town centre *still* so sh!t?
I grew up near there, it’s been crap for four decades. Go to Camberley three miles away, much better there.
A question from a football podcast I listen to; would Farage’s ‘Reform FC’ shirts be allowed in stadiums or is there a ban on political stuff at football grounds?
Depends on the club. It would be a convenient shortcut to getting deservingly filled in at Celtic Park or Anfield.
Simply turning up is a shortcut to getting filled in at Anfield.
I've never seen any agro at Anfield (as a Leeds and Olympiqe de Marseille supporter). Boundary Park or Saint Andrew's on the other hand...
I note the media are reporting wide scale flying of the union jack and the English flag as discontent with the established parties balloons, but I really did not expect to drive up Penrhyn Hill and over the Little Orme on my way into Llandudno this morning to find each and every lamp post between the carriageway on the way up adorned with the Welsh flag
It made me smile, but also has this started a movement of flag flying across the UK ?
Yes
I saw it in Norfolk, Cambs and Essex a couple of days ago, tho this was breathlessly disputed by others on here
It wasn’t on the scale you saw, but it was definitely noticeable
Again, after more driving, running and a long cycle ride, through towns and villages, not seen a single one.
I've got a long trip tomorrow, so shall report if I see any.
I saw a few on a 9 mile run round Farnborough on Sunday,struck me as a bit unusual
Do we have any results from yesterday's by-elections yet. How did Reform do in Doncaster?
Doncaster counts this morning as does Renfrewshire Reform gained 3 - the two Runnymede DC seats and Addlestone Surrey CC from Con LD gained the other Surrey CC from Con and held in Hampshire Indy won Gwynedd from an Indy Labour held in Hounslow from Con
Thanks. Reform in Surrey...... hmmm.
Addlestone South (Runnymede) Council By-Election Result [2 Seats]:
Actually Addlestone isn't the leafiest place in Surrey and has a shit rail connection so probably has fewer people with well-paid London jobs. But Refuk smashed it.
You can go direct to Waterloo via Staines , or change at Weybridge. The latter is probably quicker.
Railplanner tells you to change at Weybridge or Staines (which is slower) so if there are direct trains they are very very slow and stop at everywhere in the Hounslow/Twickenham area.
I briefly considered it when moving out of London, and decided the buggeration factor was too high. I'm in Fleet and can get a train to Waterloo in 45 minutes stopping at Farnborough and Woking (it used to be slightly faster as it didn't stop at Woking)
That appears to be a previous Conservative vote approaching 60% splitting 60/40 Reform/Con with Reform taking the seats. Is this something that right wing PBers are welcoming?
Off-topic, why is Farnborough town centre so shit?
Correction, why is Farnborough town centre *still* so sh!t?
I grew up near there, it’s been crap for four decades. Go to Camberley three miles away, much better there.
Is that pre-Queensmead? Actually there is now a big Asian food supermarket which is about the only reason to go to Farnborough, other than the Prince of Wales pub and a couple of good Nepali/Indian restaurants. However I rarely go to Camberley, it's a PITA if I want a drink, and I prefer to shop online.
I note the media are reporting wide scale flying of the union jack and the English flag as discontent with the established parties balloons, but I really did not expect to drive up Penrhyn Hill and over the Little Orme on my way into Llandudno this morning to find each and every lamp post between the carriageway on the way up adorned with the Welsh flag
It made me smile, but also has this started a movement of flag flying across the UK ?
Yes
I saw it in Norfolk, Cambs and Essex a couple of days ago, tho this was breathlessly disputed by others on here
It wasn’t on the scale you saw, but it was definitely noticeable
Once special interest groups with agendas start flying flags that belong to us all, the best strategy is to join in, overcoming bad intentions with good ones. Most Church of England churches fly St George's flag on special days, and have done for centuries. We don't often get mistaken for nazis or people keen on setting fire to migrant hostels. Nor do our mostly innocent and harmless football fans. 'Cry God for Harry, England women's football and rugby and St George' as Shakespeare neatly puts it.
That’s a good idea. Might work
The flag hangers have come up with something very clever. Hanging a flag is a brilliant way to troll the left, the Woke, and a Labour government, because it’s very hard for anyone - especially in authority - to pull them down without looking painfully “anti patriotic”. Especially after they blithely allowed so many Palestinian flags to be festooned
Also it covers multiple motivations in one action. For some it will just be amusing provocation of the “powers that be”. For others it will be genuine discontent with migration/asylum. For some it will be simple patriotism. And for a few - let’s face it - this will be an aggressive assertion of ethnic identity
Might just fizzle out as the autumn rains come
Yes. people know perfectly well when a flag, which belongs to us all, is being used politically. The whole point about any institution that belongs to us all is that it is part of the 'pre-political' (see the philosopher Stephen Clark) realm. That is the realm of town, city, village, trade, church, faith, amateur sport, hobbies, friendship, family, child care, birth, marriage and death, crown, parliament when seen as it is in itself as a whole, fun.
(Larkin's poem 'Show Saturday' displays a deep understanding of that realm).
Politics of course exists as the servant of that realm, a realm which for most people takes up their time, emotion and energy. Which is why most have no special interest in it until something goes wrong with it, or election time.
With this flag-flying lark, Reform are getting closer to the old National Front by the day. I'm not blaming Nigel for this - no doubt he's aware of the political perils - but many of his allies seem hell bent on weaving Reform inextricably into vehicles for dark ethno-nationalist creeds. Nigel will want to be seen as breath of fresh air after years of neglect and wasted opportunity - not a rerun of 1970s bovver boys and glue sniffing.
Do we have any results from yesterday's by-elections yet. How did Reform do in Doncaster?
Doncaster counts this morning as does Renfrewshire Reform gained 3 - the two Runnymede DC seats and Addlestone Surrey CC from Con LD gained the other Surrey CC from Con and held in Hampshire Indy won Gwynedd from an Indy Labour held in Hounslow from Con
Thanks. Reform in Surrey...... hmmm.
Addlestone South (Runnymede) Council By-Election Result [2 Seats]:
Actually Addlestone isn't the leafiest place in Surrey and has a shit rail connection so probably has fewer people with well-paid London jobs. But Refuk smashed it.
You can go direct to Waterloo via Staines , or change at Weybridge. The latter is probably quicker.
Railplanner tells you to change at Weybridge or Staines (which is slower) so if there are direct trains they are very very slow and stop at everywhere in the Hounslow/Twickenham area.
I briefly considered it when moving out of London, and decided the buggeration factor was too high. I'm in Fleet and can get a train to Waterloo in 45 minutes stopping at Farnborough and Woking (it used to be slightly faster as it didn't stop at Woking)
That appears to be a previous Conservative vote approaching 60% splitting 60/40 Reform/Con with Reform taking the seats. Is this something that right wing PBers are welcoming?
Off-topic, why is Farnborough town centre so shit?
All town centres now have the problem that the original purpose of shops for shopping has moved online and they haven’t got a new purpose yet.
And the winners often don’t make much sense - in Teeside the winners have been Teeside retail park, and Darlington. Stockton’s town Centre was destroyed 20+ years ago and Boro’s over the past 5 or so years
And until 2021 or so we used to go to Boro for shopping if we couldn’t be arsed go to Metro, Newcastle or Leeds.
Do we have any results from yesterday's by-elections yet. How did Reform do in Doncaster?
Doncaster counts this morning as does Renfrewshire Reform gained 3 - the two Runnymede DC seats and Addlestone Surrey CC from Con LD gained the other Surrey CC from Con and held in Hampshire Indy won Gwynedd from an Indy Labour held in Hounslow from Con
Thanks. Reform in Surrey...... hmmm.
Addlestone South (Runnymede) Council By-Election Result [2 Seats]:
Actually Addlestone isn't the leafiest place in Surrey and has a shit rail connection so probably has fewer people with well-paid London jobs. But Refuk smashed it.
Thanks. Dare I ask, before I try Surrey's website, about the turnout?
The disttrict council turnout was well up on the Oct 2024 by election, the County Council had about 800 fewer votes than 2021 when last fought (don't have % sorry)
Turnout in Donny in 19%, just announced
Under 20% isn't at all good is it, no matter who wins. But, I'm not familiar with South Yorkshire; there aren't 'traditional' holiday weeks there, are there.
Traditional holiday weeks (wakes weeks) are in my head more associated with mills than mines, though I don't see why the same logic shouldn't apply - and of course many towns had both. In any case, it's sadly no longer the case that an entire town decamps to the seaside for a week in a way that happened up until the 1960s - though even now there is still a week in August in which Blackpool is disconcertingly full of Glaswegians.
I stayed with my then fiancée (later Mrs OKC) in Rochdale in the early 60's. I was working in Manchester and had to get a bus to work each morning. As a Southerner I was amazed at how deserted the town centre was during Holiday Week; even the paper-shops were closed!
Someone on X has suggested that it’s a great way to get pot holes fixed. Paint an England cross on them and the council comes out in an hour to sort it
With this flag-flying lark, Reform are getting closer to the old National Front by the day. I'm not blaming Nigel for this - no doubt he's aware of the political perils - but many of his allies seem hell bent on weaving Reform inextricably into vehicles for dark ethno-nationalist creeds. Nigel will want to be seen as breath of fresh air after years of neglect and wasted opportunity - not a rerun of 1970s bovver boys and glue sniffing.
This has absolutely nothing to do with Reform. They didn’t invent it, haven’t got officially involved, and aren’t even particularly roused by it (as far as I can see)
I’ve looked into the genesis and it seems flagging has been happening for a while in white areas of very diverse cities (sad echoes of Ulster) but this latest wave began with a small village near Brum, which festooned every single possible lamppost etc. Which caught social media attention
There's a lot of doom and gloom around at the moment but the one thing that makes me hopeful for civilization is that Channel 5 are revving Play for Today. Whilst some of the original Plays could be a bit identikit lefty, many have said with me longer than any big budget TV drama of recent years. There's one in particular with Charles Dance called 'Rainy Day Women' which haunts me to this day. It's set during WWII and portrays a local Home Guard unit that has become a vehicle for paranoia, old local vendettas and mistrust.
For me it was The Flipside of Dominick Hide. I know time travel causal loops are a cliche now, but my young teenage self was fascinated by the concept. And I was totally besotted with the young Caroline Langrishe, who played the female lead.
I note the media are reporting wide scale flying of the union jack and the English flag as discontent with the established parties balloons, but I really did not expect to drive up Penrhyn Hill and over the Little Orme on my way into Llandudno this morning to find each and every lamp post between the carriageway on the way up adorned with the Welsh flag
It made me smile, but also has this started a movement of flag flying across the UK ?
Yes
I saw it in Norfolk, Cambs and Essex a couple of days ago, tho this was breathlessly disputed by others on here
It wasn’t on the scale you saw, but it was definitely noticeable
Once special interest groups with agendas start flying flags that belong to us all, the best strategy is to join in, overcoming bad intentions with good ones. Most Church of England churches fly St George's flag on special days, and have done for centuries. We don't often get mistaken for nazis or people keen on setting fire to migrant hostels. Nor do our mostly innocent and harmless football fans. 'Cry God for Harry, England women's football and rugby and St George' as Shakespeare neatly puts it.
That’s a good idea. Might work
The flag hangers have come up with something very clever. Hanging a flag is a brilliant way to troll the left, the Woke, and a Labour government, because it’s very hard for anyone - especially in authority - to pull them down without looking painfully “anti patriotic”. Especially after they blithely allowed so many Palestinian flags to be festooned
Also it covers multiple motivations in one action. For some it will just be amusing provocation of the “powers that be”. For others it will be genuine discontent with migration/asylum. For some it will be simple patriotism. And for a few - let’s face it - this will be an aggressive assertion of ethnic identity
Might just fizzle out as the autumn rains come
Yes. people know perfectly well when a flag, which belongs to us all, is being used politically. The whole point about any institution that belongs to us all is that it is part of the 'pre-political' (see the philosopher Stephen Clark) realm. That is the realm of town, city, village, trade, church, faith, amateur sport, hobbies, friendship, family, child care, birth, marriage and death, crown, parliament when seen as it is in itself as a whole, fun.
(Larkin's poem 'Show Saturday' displays a deep understanding of that realm).
Politics of course exists as the servant of that realm, a realm which for most people takes up their time, emotion and energy. Which is why most have no special interest in it until something goes wrong with it, or election time.
I’m sure there’s a point somewhere in this mellifluous waffle but I’m not sure I can be bothered to tease it out
Someone on X has suggested that it’s a great way to get pot holes fixed. Paint an England cross on them and the council comes out in an hour to sort it
But I wonder if he’s got this totally wrong. For a start these are saltires - so this might just be a very Nat community? And normal?
Can any of our North British correspondents elucidate?
With the caveat that this could be a small number of people putting up lots of flags, which has a different meaning to lots of people putting up one flag each...
What's the ratio of Union flags to English/Scottish/Welsh flags more generally? And what can we muse about from that?
I’ve got a couple of questions. You’re of Indian descent, and British, how do the Union Jack and Cross of St George make you feel, if I may rudely inquire?
You’re under no obligation to answer but my interest is sincere
Do you feel patriotic? Neutral? Sad? Angry about the empire?
And does it matter where you see them? Is it intimidating if you see them outside a pub or a shop or simply meaningless?
And, finally, do you have different emotional reactions to the two flags? There are suggestions on X that the England flag is now seen as the more “provocative”
I note the media are reporting wide scale flying of the union jack and the English flag as discontent with the established parties balloons, but I really did not expect to drive up Penrhyn Hill and over the Little Orme on my way into Llandudno this morning to find each and every lamp post between the carriageway on the way up adorned with the Welsh flag
It made me smile, but also has this started a movement of flag flying across the UK ?
Yes
I saw it in Norfolk, Cambs and Essex a couple of days ago, tho this was breathlessly disputed by others on here
It wasn’t on the scale you saw, but it was definitely noticeable
Again, after more driving, running and a long cycle ride, through towns and villages, not seen a single one.
I've got a long trip tomorrow, so shall report if I see any.
I am about to head up the A3 so we will see whether this is all stuff and nonsense
I’ve no idea where the A3 goes but it seems it is flagged
“I saw some union flags raised on bridges on the A3! #Operationraisethecolours !!”
Leon, in his own way, is as sadly flag obsessive as Emily Thornberry.
Or, I spot the possibility of an article, and I’m getting you guys to roadtest the arguments and do my research
Thanks!
Do we get a 10% commission?
You get to enjoy my amusing commentary and interior decoration photos, for free
There's no need. There's a guy on X who is copying your style to the T - I go there instead.
What I find weird is some times that person is a few minutes ahead of Leon and sometimes a few minutes after him.
Ignoring the fact I don’t see why anyone would so blindly follow someone, what I find surprising is how they end up going to the same holiday resorts at the same time
But I wonder if he’s got this totally wrong. For a start these are saltires - so this might just be a very Nat community? And normal?
Can any of our North British correspondents elucidate?
With the caveat that this could be a small number of people putting up lots of flags, which has a different meaning to lots of people putting up one flag each...
What's the ratio of Union flags to English/Scottish/Welsh flags more generally? And what can we muse about from that?
I dunno but I’m intrigued
Flagging has apparently spread to Ireland as well. Which has produced the superb irony of Sinn Fein type Irish nationalists COMPLAINING about Irish people putting up Irish flags “because they are just copying stupid Brits and loyalists”
With this flag-flying lark, Reform are getting closer to the old National Front by the day. I'm not blaming Nigel for this - no doubt he's aware of the political perils - but many of his allies seem hell bent on weaving Reform inextricably into vehicles for dark ethno-nationalist creeds. Nigel will want to be seen as breath of fresh air after years of neglect and wasted opportunity - not a rerun of 1970s bovver boys and glue sniffing.
Farage is the Medvedev of British politics. He has to be in the milieu of ethno-nationalist nutters yet not of them.
I note the media are reporting wide scale flying of the union jack and the English flag as discontent with the established parties balloons, but I really did not expect to drive up Penrhyn Hill and over the Little Orme on my way into Llandudno this morning to find each and every lamp post between the carriageway on the way up adorned with the Welsh flag
It made me smile, but also has this started a movement of flag flying across the UK ?
Yes
I saw it in Norfolk, Cambs and Essex a couple of days ago, tho this was breathlessly disputed by others on here
It wasn’t on the scale you saw, but it was definitely noticeable
Once special interest groups with agendas start flying flags that belong to us all, the best strategy is to join in, overcoming bad intentions with good ones. Most Church of England churches fly St George's flag on special days, and have done for centuries. We don't often get mistaken for nazis or people keen on setting fire to migrant hostels. Nor do our mostly innocent and harmless football fans. 'Cry God for Harry, England women's football and rugby and St George' as Shakespeare neatly puts it.
That’s a good idea. Might work
The flag hangers have come up with something very clever. Hanging a flag is a brilliant way to troll the left, the Woke, and a Labour government, because it’s very hard for anyone - especially in authority - to pull them down without looking painfully “anti patriotic”. Especially after they blithely allowed so many Palestinian flags to be festooned
Also it covers multiple motivations in one action. For some it will just be amusing provocation of the “powers that be”. For others it will be genuine discontent with migration/asylum. For some it will be simple patriotism. And for a few - let’s face it - this will be an aggressive assertion of ethnic identity
Might just fizzle out as the autumn rains come
Yes. people know perfectly well when a flag, which belongs to us all, is being used politically. The whole point about any institution that belongs to us all is that it is part of the 'pre-political' (see the philosopher Stephen Clark) realm. That is the realm of town, city, village, trade, church, faith, amateur sport, hobbies, friendship, family, child care, birth, marriage and death, crown, parliament when seen as it is in itself as a whole, fun.
(Larkin's poem 'Show Saturday' displays a deep understanding of that realm).
Politics of course exists as the servant of that realm, a realm which for most people takes up their time, emotion and energy. Which is why most have no special interest in it until something goes wrong with it, or election time.
I’m sure there’s a point somewhere in this mellifluous waffle but I’m not sure I can be bothered to tease it out
There certainly is. The first volume, Civil Peace and Sacred Order, of the three volume Limits and Renewals, by Stephen R L Clark (Clarendon OUP) is good starting point. As is the Larkin poem I mention.
You are not going to get politics without comprehending that people live pre-political lives.
Do we have any results from yesterday's by-elections yet. How did Reform do in Doncaster?
Doncaster counts this morning as does Renfrewshire Reform gained 3 - the two Runnymede DC seats and Addlestone Surrey CC from Con LD gained the other Surrey CC from Con and held in Hampshire Indy won Gwynedd from an Indy Labour held in Hounslow from Con
Thanks. Reform in Surrey...... hmmm.
Addlestone South (Runnymede) Council By-Election Result [2 Seats]:
Actually Addlestone isn't the leafiest place in Surrey and has a shit rail connection so probably has fewer people with well-paid London jobs. But Refuk smashed it.
You can go direct to Waterloo via Staines , or change at Weybridge. The latter is probably quicker.
Railplanner tells you to change at Weybridge or Staines (which is slower) so if there are direct trains they are very very slow and stop at everywhere in the Hounslow/Twickenham area.
I briefly considered it when moving out of London, and decided the buggeration factor was too high. I'm in Fleet and can get a train to Waterloo in 45 minutes stopping at Farnborough and Woking (it used to be slightly faster as it didn't stop at Woking)
That appears to be a previous Conservative vote approaching 60% splitting 60/40 Reform/Con with Reform taking the seats. Is this something that right wing PBers are welcoming?
Off-topic, why is Farnborough town centre so shit?
All town centres now have the problem that the original purpose of shops for shopping has moved online and they haven’t got a new purpose yet.
And the winners often don’t make much sense - in Teeside the winners have been Teeside retail park, and Darlington. Stockton’s town Centre was destroyed 20+ years ago and Boro’s over the past 5 or so years
And until 2021 or so we used to go to Boro for shopping if we couldn’t be arsed go to Metro, Newcastle or Leeds.
Also it is easy to go into London, and many people have season tickets so can do it for free. And there are big local shopping centres in Camberley, Guildford and Reading, to a lesser extent Basingstoke and Woking. So local town centres struggle. We now have the usual preponderance of nail bars, Turkish barbers and coffee shops (I wish we'd get a Turkish cafe but for some reason that doesn't happen) Farnham just about manages a reasonable shopping centre but a large (but peripheral) bit of the high street now being redeveloped.
I note the media are reporting wide scale flying of the union jack and the English flag as discontent with the established parties balloons, but I really did not expect to drive up Penrhyn Hill and over the Little Orme on my way into Llandudno this morning to find each and every lamp post between the carriageway on the way up adorned with the Welsh flag
It made me smile, but also has this started a movement of flag flying across the UK ?
Yes
I saw it in Norfolk, Cambs and Essex a couple of days ago, tho this was breathlessly disputed by others on here
It wasn’t on the scale you saw, but it was definitely noticeable
Once special interest groups with agendas start flying flags that belong to us all, the best strategy is to join in, overcoming bad intentions with good ones. Most Church of England churches fly St George's flag on special days, and have done for centuries. We don't often get mistaken for nazis or people keen on setting fire to migrant hostels. Nor do our mostly innocent and harmless football fans. 'Cry God for Harry, England women's football and rugby and St George' as Shakespeare neatly puts it.
That’s a good idea. Might work
The flag hangers have come up with something very clever. Hanging a flag is a brilliant way to troll the left, the Woke, and a Labour government, because it’s very hard for anyone - especially in authority - to pull them down without looking painfully “anti patriotic”. Especially after they blithely allowed so many Palestinian flags to be festooned
Also it covers multiple motivations in one action. For some it will just be amusing provocation of the “powers that be”. For others it will be genuine discontent with migration/asylum. For some it will be simple patriotism. And for a few - let’s face it - this will be an aggressive assertion of ethnic identity
Might just fizzle out as the autumn rains come
Yes. people know perfectly well when a flag, which belongs to us all, is being used politically. The whole point about any institution that belongs to us all is that it is part of the 'pre-political' (see the philosopher Stephen Clark) realm. That is the realm of town, city, village, trade, church, faith, amateur sport, hobbies, friendship, family, child care, birth, marriage and death, crown, parliament when seen as it is in itself as a whole, fun.
(Larkin's poem 'Show Saturday' displays a deep understanding of that realm).
Politics of course exists as the servant of that realm, a realm which for most people takes up their time, emotion and energy. Which is why most have no special interest in it until something goes wrong with it, or election time.
I’m sure there’s a point somewhere in this mellifluous waffle but I’m not sure I can be bothered to tease it out
There certainly is. The first volume, Civil Peace and Sacred Order, of the three volume Limits and Renewals, by Stephen R L Clark (Clarendon OUP) is good starting point. As is the Larkin poem I mention.
You are not going to get politics without comprehending that people live pre-political lives.
You’ve still got to actually make your point. You get that?
With this flag-flying lark, Reform are getting closer to the old National Front by the day. I'm not blaming Nigel for this - no doubt he's aware of the political perils - but many of his allies seem hell bent on weaving Reform inextricably into vehicles for dark ethno-nationalist creeds. Nigel will want to be seen as breath of fresh air after years of neglect and wasted opportunity - not a rerun of 1970s bovver boys and glue sniffing.
A safety and legal tip from the Birmingham Mail for every PBer regarding the flying of their flegs.
With this flag-flying lark, Reform are getting closer to the old National Front by the day. I'm not blaming Nigel for this - no doubt he's aware of the political perils - but many of his allies seem hell bent on weaving Reform inextricably into vehicles for dark ethno-nationalist creeds. Nigel will want to be seen as breath of fresh air after years of neglect and wasted opportunity - not a rerun of 1970s bovver boys and glue sniffing.
Farage is the Medvedev of British politics. He has to be in the milieu of ethno-nationalist nutters yet not of them.
He closely resembles Medvedev, as well. Facially they could be brothers
Indeed people have sometimes got confused between the two of them
Yet since the general election the Scottish Tories have been losing voters to the even more reactionary Reform not Labour and the LDs
In which case, the Scottish Tories have two choices:
*) To chase Reform down into the reactionary pit. *) To choose a more practical position to the problems that face the country.
The problems with the former are that Reform are kings of that particular hill, and trying to beat them will only cause both of them to descend further into the pit as they become more extremist. That will not be good for the country.
The problems with the latter is that it is hard, and you need to sell it to a public that is intrigued by Reform's stupid, but easy, 'answers' to the problems that face them.
Would be an astonishing turnaround from 8 and a half months out if the Tories scraped any higher than the high teens in MSPs. The "vote for us to stop independence" spiel is now dead. Reform are pulling away the bulk of ex Torys, some Lab, and a handfuls of others/previous non voters.
Right now its like the Scottish Tories are losing on points in the 7th round to the invisible man. Couldn't name you a single Reform policltician/candidate based in Scotland
For the likes of Mr Balfour, polling reality is now hitting them
I'd say at once Michelle Ballantyne but tbf that was for her activities with the ScoTories (and, on checking, as an independent but presumably very non-independista).
I note the media are reporting wide scale flying of the union jack and the English flag as discontent with the established parties balloons, but I really did not expect to drive up Penrhyn Hill and over the Little Orme on my way into Llandudno this morning to find each and every lamp post between the carriageway on the way up adorned with the Welsh flag
It made me smile, but also has this started a movement of flag flying across the UK ?
Yes
I saw it in Norfolk, Cambs and Essex a couple of days ago, tho this was breathlessly disputed by others on here
It wasn’t on the scale you saw, but it was definitely noticeable
Again, after more driving, running and a long cycle ride, through towns and villages, not seen a single one.
I've got a long trip tomorrow, so shall report if I see any.
I am about to head up the A3 so we will see whether this is all stuff and nonsense
I’ve no idea where the A3 goes but it seems it is flagged
“I saw some union flags raised on bridges on the A3! #Operationraisethecolours !!”
But I wonder if he’s got this totally wrong. For a start these are saltires - so this might just be a very Nat community? And normal?
Can any of our North British correspondents elucidate?
With the caveat that this could be a small number of people putting up lots of flags, which has a different meaning to lots of people putting up one flag each...
What's the ratio of Union flags to English/Scottish/Welsh flags more generally? And what can we muse about from that?
I dunno but I’m intrigued
Flagging has apparently spread to Ireland as well. Which has produced the superb irony of Sinn Fein type Irish nationalists COMPLAINING about Irish people putting up Irish flags “because they are just copying stupid Brits and loyalists”
Um. That sounds a bit unlikely. There have always been more flags flown in Ireland than in Britain.
I note the media are reporting wide scale flying of the union jack and the English flag as discontent with the established parties balloons, but I really did not expect to drive up Penrhyn Hill and over the Little Orme on my way into Llandudno this morning to find each and every lamp post between the carriageway on the way up adorned with the Welsh flag
It made me smile, but also has this started a movement of flag flying across the UK ?
Yes
I saw it in Norfolk, Cambs and Essex a couple of days ago, tho this was breathlessly disputed by others on here
It wasn’t on the scale you saw, but it was definitely noticeable
Again, after more driving, running and a long cycle ride, through towns and villages, not seen a single one.
I've got a long trip tomorrow, so shall report if I see any.
I am about to head up the A3 so we will see whether this is all stuff and nonsense
I’ve no idea where the A3 goes but it seems it is flagged
“I saw some union flags raised on bridges on the A3! #Operationraisethecolours !!”
But I wonder if he’s got this totally wrong. For a start these are saltires - so this might just be a very Nat community? And normal?
Can any of our North British correspondents elucidate?
With the caveat that this could be a small number of people putting up lots of flags, which has a different meaning to lots of people putting up one flag each...
What's the ratio of Union flags to English/Scottish/Welsh flags more generally? And what can we muse about from that?
I dunno but I’m intrigued
Flagging has apparently spread to Ireland as well. Which has produced the superb irony of Sinn Fein type Irish nationalists COMPLAINING about Irish people putting up Irish flags “because they are just copying stupid Brits and loyalists”
Um. That sounds a bit unlikely. There have always been more flags flown in Ireland than in Britain.
It’s real. If I can be arsed I’ll try and find the tweet
F1: not officially confirmed but there are reports Bottas has been signed by Cadillac.
They’ve got about a dozen drivers if you believe all the rumours, but it now looks increasingly like they’re going with experience in Bottas and Perez. Makes sense for a new team to hire two drivers who know how to win races.
With this flag-flying lark, Reform are getting closer to the old National Front by the day. I'm not blaming Nigel for this - no doubt he's aware of the political perils - but many of his allies seem hell bent on weaving Reform inextricably into vehicles for dark ethno-nationalist creeds. Nigel will want to be seen as breath of fresh air after years of neglect and wasted opportunity - not a rerun of 1970s bovver boys and glue sniffing.
Farage is the Medvedev of British politics. He has to be in the milieu of ethno-nationalist nutters yet not of them.
He closely resembles Medvedev, as well. Facially they could be brothers
Indeed people have sometimes got confused between the two of them
Nigel Farrage also has a look of the late George VI about him, particularly when he laughs. Have a look at photos of the old King touring the blitzed east end and meeting cheerful cockneys. Fast forward 80 years and in colour, it could be Nigel meeting their granddaughters in Clacton imo!
Do we have any results from yesterday's by-elections yet. How did Reform do in Doncaster?
Doncaster counts this morning as does Renfrewshire Reform gained 3 - the two Runnymede DC seats and Addlestone Surrey CC from Con LD gained the other Surrey CC from Con and held in Hampshire Indy won Gwynedd from an Indy Labour held in Hounslow from Con
Thanks. Reform in Surrey...... hmmm.
Addlestone South (Runnymede) Council By-Election Result [2 Seats]:
Actually Addlestone isn't the leafiest place in Surrey and has a shit rail connection so probably has fewer people with well-paid London jobs. But Refuk smashed it.
Thanks. Dare I ask, before I try Surrey's website, about the turnout?
The disttrict council turnout was well up on the Oct 2024 by election, the County Council had about 800 fewer votes than 2021 when last fought (don't have % sorry)
Turnout in Donny in 19%, just announced
Under 20% isn't at all good is it, no matter who wins. But, I'm not familiar with South Yorkshire; there aren't 'traditional' holiday weeks there, are there.
Traditional holiday weeks (wakes weeks) are in my head more associated with mills than mines, though I don't see why the same logic shouldn't apply - and of course many towns had both. In any case, it's sadly no longer the case that an entire town decamps to the seaside for a week in a way that happened up until the 1960s - though even now there is still a week in August in which Blackpool is disconcertingly full of Glaswegians.
Wakes weeks (fortnights) existed in mining towns where I grew up. I went to school in Bolton ( mills) and our Summer holidays had two early weeks whilst my parents taught in Wigan (coal). I then went back for two, while their Summer holidays began. After that we had the final four together. I don't think that ludicrous arrangement still happens...
I note the media are reporting wide scale flying of the union jack and the English flag as discontent with the established parties balloons, but I really did not expect to drive up Penrhyn Hill and over the Little Orme on my way into Llandudno this morning to find each and every lamp post between the carriageway on the way up adorned with the Welsh flag
It made me smile, but also has this started a movement of flag flying across the UK ?
Yes
I saw it in Norfolk, Cambs and Essex a couple of days ago, tho this was breathlessly disputed by others on here
It wasn’t on the scale you saw, but it was definitely noticeable
Again, after more driving, running and a long cycle ride, through towns and villages, not seen a single one.
I've got a long trip tomorrow, so shall report if I see any.
I am about to head up the A3 so we will see whether this is all stuff and nonsense
I’ve no idea where the A3 goes but it seems it is flagged
“I saw some union flags raised on bridges on the A3! #Operationraisethecolours !!”
But I wonder if he’s got this totally wrong. For a start these are saltires - so this might just be a very Nat community? And normal?
Can any of our North British correspondents elucidate?
With the caveat that this could be a small number of people putting up lots of flags, which has a different meaning to lots of people putting up one flag each...
What's the ratio of Union flags to English/Scottish/Welsh flags more generally? And what can we muse about from that?
I dunno but I’m intrigued
Flagging has apparently spread to Ireland as well. Which has produced the superb irony of Sinn Fein type Irish nationalists COMPLAINING about Irish people putting up Irish flags “because they are just copying stupid Brits and loyalists”
Um. That sounds a bit unlikely. There have always been more flags flown in Ireland than in Britain.
“Oh SHIT ! The flag shaggers have arrived in Dublin. We’re doomed !”
“The insecurity of these clowns. Wouldn’t know what Irish culture is if it slapped them in the face. For many they think it’s freckles and red hair. Following the worst behaviour of loyalists and Brit nationalists. Marking their patch. Pathetic.”
I've been advised of a Zoom talk on Migration and Climate Change. Could be interesting. Anyone interested, PM me for log-in details. "Over the past million years human migration has been largely driven by climate change. Since the industrial revolution green house has emissions have resulted in human generated climate change. Average global temperature have risen to 1.4C above pre-industrial levels, with a projected rise of 2.5-2.9C by 2100. This will generate an estimated >1 billion climate migrants (external & internal) mainly from poorer equatorial countries. A managed population retreat to cooler northern countries is needed to minimise conflict."
With this flag-flying lark, Reform are getting closer to the old National Front by the day. I'm not blaming Nigel for this - no doubt he's aware of the political perils - but many of his allies seem hell bent on weaving Reform inextricably into vehicles for dark ethno-nationalist creeds. Nigel will want to be seen as breath of fresh air after years of neglect and wasted opportunity - not a rerun of 1970s bovver boys and glue sniffing.
Farage is the Medvedev of British politics. He has to be in the milieu of ethno-nationalist nutters yet not of them.
He closely resembles Medvedev, as well. Facially they could be brothers
Indeed people have sometimes got confused between the two of them
I note the media are reporting wide scale flying of the union jack and the English flag as discontent with the established parties balloons, but I really did not expect to drive up Penrhyn Hill and over the Little Orme on my way into Llandudno this morning to find each and every lamp post between the carriageway on the way up adorned with the Welsh flag
It made me smile, but also has this started a movement of flag flying across the UK ?
Yes
I saw it in Norfolk, Cambs and Essex a couple of days ago, tho this was breathlessly disputed by others on here
It wasn’t on the scale you saw, but it was definitely noticeable
Again, after more driving, running and a long cycle ride, through towns and villages, not seen a single one.
I've got a long trip tomorrow, so shall report if I see any.
I am about to head up the A3 so we will see whether this is all stuff and nonsense
I’ve no idea where the A3 goes but it seems it is flagged
“I saw some union flags raised on bridges on the A3! #Operationraisethecolours !!”
But I wonder if he’s got this totally wrong. For a start these are saltires - so this might just be a very Nat community? And normal?
Can any of our North British correspondents elucidate?
With the caveat that this could be a small number of people putting up lots of flags, which has a different meaning to lots of people putting up one flag each...
What's the ratio of Union flags to English/Scottish/Welsh flags more generally? And what can we muse about from that?
I dunno but I’m intrigued
Flagging has apparently spread to Ireland as well. Which has produced the superb irony of Sinn Fein type Irish nationalists COMPLAINING about Irish people putting up Irish flags “because they are just copying stupid Brits and loyalists”
Um. That sounds a bit unlikely. There have always been more flags flown in Ireland than in Britain.
“Oh SHIT ! The flag shaggers have arrived in Dublin. We’re doomed !”
“The insecurity of these clowns. Wouldn’t know what Irish culture is if it slapped them in the face. For many they think it’s freckles and red hair. Following the worst behaviour of loyalists and Brit nationalists. Marking their patch. Pathetic.”
If they’re not careful, Sinn Fein are going to be deeply damaged or destroyed as an electoral force in the south - by a nationalist party much more concerned with migration than reunification
But I wonder if he’s got this totally wrong. For a start these are saltires - so this might just be a very Nat community? And normal?
Can any of our North British correspondents elucidate?
With the caveat that this could be a small number of people putting up lots of flags, which has a different meaning to lots of people putting up one flag each...
What's the ratio of Union flags to English/Scottish/Welsh flags more generally? And what can we muse about from that?
I dunno but I’m intrigued
Flagging has apparently spread to Ireland as well. Which has produced the superb irony of Sinn Fein type Irish nationalists COMPLAINING about Irish people putting up Irish flags “because they are just copying stupid Brits and loyalists”
Um. That sounds a bit unlikely. There have always been more flags flown in Ireland than in Britain.
“Oh SHIT ! The flag shaggers have arrived in Dublin. We’re doomed !”
“The insecurity of these clowns. Wouldn’t know what Irish culture is if it slapped them in the face. For many they think it’s freckles and red hair. Following the worst behaviour of loyalists and Brit nationalists. Marking their patch. Pathetic.”
They’re said to be based on an existing bomb and an engine that’s produced in Ukraine, for which there are vast stocks of both and production can be scaled up quickly once the design is proven.
But I wonder if he’s got this totally wrong. For a start these are saltires - so this might just be a very Nat community? And normal?
Can any of our North British correspondents elucidate?
With the caveat that this could be a small number of people putting up lots of flags, which has a different meaning to lots of people putting up one flag each...
What's the ratio of Union flags to English/Scottish/Welsh flags more generally? And what can we muse about from that?
I dunno but I’m intrigued
Flagging has apparently spread to Ireland as well. Which has produced the superb irony of Sinn Fein type Irish nationalists COMPLAINING about Irish people putting up Irish flags “because they are just copying stupid Brits and loyalists”
Um. That sounds a bit unlikely. There have always been more flags flown in Ireland than in Britain.
“Oh SHIT ! The flag shaggers have arrived in Dublin. We’re doomed !”
“The insecurity of these clowns. Wouldn’t know what Irish culture is if it slapped them in the face. For many they think it’s freckles and red hair. Following the worst behaviour of loyalists and Brit nationalists. Marking their patch. Pathetic.”
Yet since the general election the Scottish Tories have been losing voters to the even more reactionary Reform not Labour and the LDs
In which case, the Scottish Tories have two choices:
*) To chase Reform down into the reactionary pit. *) To choose a more practical position to the problems that face the country.
The problems with the former are that Reform are kings of that particular hill, and trying to beat them will only cause both of them to descend further into the pit as they become more extremist. That will not be good for the country.
The problems with the latter is that it is hard, and you need to sell it to a public that is intrigued by Reform's stupid, but easy, 'answers' to the problems that face them.
Scottish Tories do have the benefit of PR though, so even 13% of the vote would give them about 13% of MSPs.
Whereas UK Tories have the problem of FPTP which means 13% of the vote sees them with near zero MPs.
That's interesting, wiki does make reference to him being a baptist minister. Haven't fully researched but crossing the floor to another party at Holyrood seems to be less common that sitting out your remaining term as an independent.
There's no real mechanism for a by election under the Holyrood list as it uses the D'Hondt system , and you can keep serving as an MSP until the next election.
What's the odds Reform manage to find a full slate of loyal candidates for potential MSPs who can serve out their full term, will one or two Tory MSPs think about jumping ship?
If they’re not careful, Sinn Fein are going to be deeply damaged or destroyed as an electoral force in the south - by a nationalist party much more concerned with migration than reunification
Which will be quite the irony
Nah, the shinners are too clever for that, if they sense Ireland is going in that direction they will have a chameleon like adjustment to all of their policies. They are the original anti-immigration party of Ireland, there won't be a major party that can outflank them on it.
I note the media are reporting wide scale flying of the union jack and the English flag as discontent with the established parties balloons, but I really did not expect to drive up Penrhyn Hill and over the Little Orme on my way into Llandudno this morning to find each and every lamp post between the carriageway on the way up adorned with the Welsh flag
It made me smile, but also has this started a movement of flag flying across the UK ?
Yes
I saw it in Norfolk, Cambs and Essex a couple of days ago, tho this was breathlessly disputed by others on here
It wasn’t on the scale you saw, but it was definitely noticeable
Again, after more driving, running and a long cycle ride, through towns and villages, not seen a single one.
I've got a long trip tomorrow, so shall report if I see any.
I am about to head up the A3 so we will see whether this is all stuff and nonsense
I’ve no idea where the A3 goes but it seems it is flagged
“I saw some union flags raised on bridges on the A3! #Operationraisethecolours !!”
EVER so many years ago I read a history of the AA up to about 1940 and remember the reason why the patrolman didn't salute.
Apparently back when the AA was founded there were still overall speed limits in force, and initially patrolmen would warn members of speed traps. One one occasion the police prosecuted a patrolman for doing so and it was decided that in future patrols would do nothing, since doing nothing couldn't be a prosecutable offence.
[Full details on posting; Reform on 22% first pref but hard to know what to make of it all as the first runner in the constituency in the 2022 election was an Independent and I've no idea who was voting for him]
Do we have any results from yesterday's by-elections yet. How did Reform do in Doncaster?
Doncaster counts this morning as does Renfrewshire Reform gained 3 - the two Runnymede DC seats and Addlestone Surrey CC from Con LD gained the other Surrey CC from Con and held in Hampshire Indy won Gwynedd from an Indy Labour held in Hounslow from Con
Thanks. Reform in Surrey...... hmmm.
Addlestone South (Runnymede) Council By-Election Result [2 Seats]:
Actually Addlestone isn't the leafiest place in Surrey and has a shit rail connection so probably has fewer people with well-paid London jobs. But Refuk smashed it.
Thanks. Dare I ask, before I try Surrey's website, about the turnout?
The disttrict council turnout was well up on the Oct 2024 by election, the County Council had about 800 fewer votes than 2021 when last fought (don't have % sorry)
Turnout in Donny in 19%, just announced
Under 20% isn't at all good is it, no matter who wins. But, I'm not familiar with South Yorkshire; there aren't 'traditional' holiday weeks there, are there.
Traditional holiday weeks (wakes weeks) are in my head more associated with mills than mines, though I don't see why the same logic shouldn't apply - and of course many towns had both. In any case, it's sadly no longer the case that an entire town decamps to the seaside for a week in a way that happened up until the 1960s - though even now there is still a week in August in which Blackpool is disconcertingly full of Glaswegians.
I stayed with my then fiancée (later Mrs OKC) in Rochdale in the early 60's. I was working in Manchester and had to get a bus to work each morning. As a Southerner I was amazed at how deserted the town centre was during Holiday Week; even the paper-shops were closed!
I went to Blackpool in the late 40s for Oldham Wakes Week. We all did. I didn't go on my own.
But I wonder if he’s got this totally wrong. For a start these are saltires - so this might just be a very Nat community? And normal?
Can any of our North British correspondents elucidate?
With the caveat that this could be a small number of people putting up lots of flags, which has a different meaning to lots of people putting up one flag each...
What's the ratio of Union flags to English/Scottish/Welsh flags more generally? And what can we muse about from that?
I dunno but I’m intrigued
Flagging has apparently spread to Ireland as well. Which has produced the superb irony of Sinn Fein type Irish nationalists COMPLAINING about Irish people putting up Irish flags “because they are just copying stupid Brits and loyalists”
Um. That sounds a bit unlikely. There have always been more flags flown in Ireland than in Britain.
“Oh SHIT ! The flag shaggers have arrived in Dublin. We’re doomed !”
“The insecurity of these clowns. Wouldn’t know what Irish culture is if it slapped them in the face. For many they think it’s freckles and red hair. Following the worst behaviour of loyalists and Brit nationalists. Marking their patch. Pathetic.”
I've been advised of a Zoom talk on Migration and Climate Change. Could be interesting. Anyone interested, PM me for log-in details. "Over the past million years human migration has been largely driven by climate change. Since the industrial revolution green house has emissions have resulted in human generated climate change. Average global temperature have risen to 1.4C above pre-industrial levels, with a projected rise of 2.5-2.9C by 2100. This will generate an estimated >1 billion climate migrants (external & internal) mainly from poorer equatorial countries. A managed population retreat to cooler northern countries is needed to minimise conflict."
It's going to take a long time for the penny to drop with the right wing populists. Do nothing on climate change and there will be a billion climate refugees by the end of the century. But anything other than short term thinking defeats their low IQs.
But I wonder if he’s got this totally wrong. For a start these are saltires - so this might just be a very Nat community? And normal?
Can any of our North British correspondents elucidate?
With the caveat that this could be a small number of people putting up lots of flags, which has a different meaning to lots of people putting up one flag each...
What's the ratio of Union flags to English/Scottish/Welsh flags more generally? And what can we muse about from that?
I dunno but I’m intrigued
Flagging has apparently spread to Ireland as well. Which has produced the superb irony of Sinn Fein type Irish nationalists COMPLAINING about Irish people putting up Irish flags “because they are just copying stupid Brits and loyalists”
Um. That sounds a bit unlikely. There have always been more flags flown in Ireland than in Britain.
“Oh SHIT ! The flag shaggers have arrived in Dublin. We’re doomed !”
“The insecurity of these clowns. Wouldn’t know what Irish culture is if it slapped them in the face. For many they think it’s freckles and red hair. Following the worst behaviour of loyalists and Brit nationalists. Marking their patch. Pathetic.”
If they’re not careful, Sinn Fein are going to be deeply damaged or destroyed as an electoral force in the south - by a nationalist party much more concerned with migration than reunification
Which will be quite the irony
Nah, the shinners are too clever for that, if they sense Ireland is going in that direction they will have a chameleon like adjustment to all of their policies. They are the original anti-immigration party of Ireland, there won't be a major party that can outflank them on it.
Perhaps. But I wonder if they’ve been colonised by their own Marxism and wokery and are now incapable of pivoting. They show no sign of it so far (in the south)
With this flag-flying lark, Reform are getting closer to the old National Front by the day. I'm not blaming Nigel for this - no doubt he's aware of the political perils - but many of his allies seem hell bent on weaving Reform inextricably into vehicles for dark ethno-nationalist creeds. Nigel will want to be seen as breath of fresh air after years of neglect and wasted opportunity - not a rerun of 1970s bovver boys and glue sniffing.
Farage is the Medvedev of British politics. He has to be in the milieu of ethno-nationalist nutters yet not of them.
He closely resembles Medvedev, as well. Facially they could be brothers
Indeed people have sometimes got confused between the two of them
I’ve got a couple of questions. You’re of Indian descent, and British, how do the Union Jack and Cross of St George make you feel, if I may rudely inquire?
You’re under no obligation to answer but my interest is sincere
Do you feel patriotic? Neutral? Sad? Angry about the empire?
And does it matter where you see them? Is it intimidating if you see them outside a pub or a shop or simply meaningless?
And, finally, do you have different emotional reactions to the two flags? There are suggestions on X that the England flag is now seen as the more “provocative”
Little busy now, reached Carnaby Street, but questions duly noted and will get back to you ASAP
Maybe it would be better if instead of Reform winning the election, instead by getting to 40% in the polls pretty soon they force the mainstream parties to radically change their policies.
F1: not officially confirmed but there are reports Bottas has been signed by Cadillac.
They’ve got about a dozen drivers if you believe all the rumours, but it now looks increasingly like they’re going with experience in Bottas and Perez. Makes sense for a new team to hire two drivers who know how to win races.
I'm inclined to agree. Plus, I bet Perez still has a ton of sponsors.
That can’t be true. I read PB, it is only the Tory comms that are bad.
Labour’s social media game is TERRIBLE. Whether it’s via Starmer’s account or the official party accounts, everything they put out is clueless, awkward, laughable. Contrast with Jenrick, who might be a fiendish bounder, but he knows how to use X
Whichever intern is running the Starmer Twitter account this month, is writing Reform billboards and adverts for the next four years. A hostage to fortune doesn’t come close to describing it.
A question from a football podcast I listen to; would Farage’s ‘Reform FC’ shirts be allowed in stadiums or is there a ban on political stuff at football grounds?
Game’s gone, WTF , a number 10 is a right winger, it’s utter woke nonsense.
Maybe it would be better if instead of Reform winning the election, instead by getting to 40% in the polls pretty soon they force the mainstream parties to radically change their policies.
But to what? Reform policies are cakeism. There’s not a meaningful policy platform for the other parties to adopt. The reason to vote Reform is not policy, it’s identity. Same as voting for Gaza independents.
[Full details on posting; Reform on 22% first pref but hard to know what to make of it all as the first runner in the constituency in the 2022 election was an Independent and I've no idea who was voting for him]
One of the grittier East Ren seats I guess. Council website says the seat had been held by the late Cllr Betty Cunningham, who was 26 years as a councillor, she would have a decent personal vote. Mr Sarwar will be pleased with the result
F1: not officially confirmed but there are reports Bottas has been signed by Cadillac.
They’ve got about a dozen drivers if you believe all the rumours, but it now looks increasingly like they’re going with experience in Bottas and Perez. Makes sense for a new team to hire two drivers who know how to win races.
I'm inclined to agree. Plus, I bet Perez still has a ton of sponsors.
He’s been traditionally backed by Carlos Slim, the richest man in Mexico. I’m sure Cadillac will be happy to take his money.
I’ve got a couple of questions. You’re of Indian descent, and British, how do the Union Jack and Cross of St George make you feel, if I may rudely inquire?
You’re under no obligation to answer but my interest is sincere
Do you feel patriotic? Neutral? Sad? Angry about the empire?
And does it matter where you see them? Is it intimidating if you see them outside a pub or a shop or simply meaningless?
And, finally, do you have different emotional reactions to the two flags? There are suggestions on X that the England flag is now seen as the more “provocative”
Little busy now, reached Carnaby Street, but questions duly noted and will get back to you ASAP
But I wonder if he’s got this totally wrong. For a start these are saltires - so this might just be a very Nat community? And normal?
Can any of our North British correspondents elucidate?
With the caveat that this could be a small number of people putting up lots of flags, which has a different meaning to lots of people putting up one flag each...
What's the ratio of Union flags to English/Scottish/Welsh flags more generally? And what can we muse about from that?
I dunno but I’m intrigued
Flagging has apparently spread to Ireland as well. Which has produced the superb irony of Sinn Fein type Irish nationalists COMPLAINING about Irish people putting up Irish flags “because they are just copying stupid Brits and loyalists”
Um. That sounds a bit unlikely. There have always been more flags flown in Ireland than in Britain.
“Oh SHIT ! The flag shaggers have arrived in Dublin. We’re doomed !”
“The insecurity of these clowns. Wouldn’t know what Irish culture is if it slapped them in the face. For many they think it’s freckles and red hair. Following the worst behaviour of loyalists and Brit nationalists. Marking their patch. Pathetic.”
Why are people on the extreme right and extreme left obsessed with sex. Is it because they don’t get much ?
The extreme right think everyone’s a nonce and the extreme left thinks flying a flag shows a sexual inclination towards it.
Odd.
Projection.
The extreme right are all nonces. The extreme left shag the USSR flag every morning.
Perhaps they should hook up and expand all that pent up sexual energy together. Only take a few minutes 👍
They may both be a little less stressed after.
I believe the far right have a more interesting sexual narrative. The story of Unity Mitford's willing availability to Senior Nazis is quite fascinating.
If they’re not careful, Sinn Fein are going to be deeply damaged or destroyed as an electoral force in the south - by a nationalist party much more concerned with migration than reunification
Which will be quite the irony
Nah, the shinners are too clever for that, if they sense Ireland is going in that direction they will have a chameleon like adjustment to all of their policies. They are the original anti-immigration party of Ireland, there won't be a major party that can outflank them on it.
Perhaps. But I wonder if they’ve been colonised by their own Marxism and wokery and are now incapable of pivoting. They show no sign of it so far (in the south)
They fought the British bitterly for a hundred years to protect Irish culture only let it be overrun by African and Asian migrants? Nah, they'll definitely lead the charge once they realise.
I've been advised of a Zoom talk on Migration and Climate Change. Could be interesting. Anyone interested, PM me for log-in details. "Over the past million years human migration has been largely driven by climate change. Since the industrial revolution green house has emissions have resulted in human generated climate change. Average global temperature have risen to 1.4C above pre-industrial levels, with a projected rise of 2.5-2.9C by 2100. This will generate an estimated >1 billion climate migrants (external & internal) mainly from poorer equatorial countries. A managed population retreat to cooler northern countries is needed to minimise conflict."
It's going to take a long time for the penny to drop with the right wing populists. Do nothing on climate change and there will be a billion climate refugees by the end of the century. But anything other than short term thinking defeats their low IQs.
I’m not sure I agree with the premise that climate-driven migration will be “mainly from poorer equatorial countries”. It’ll be from poorer countries in climatically marginal parts of the seasonal tropics and subtropics, where climate change will increase drought frequency. Actual Equatorial areas in many cases look more secure.
Comments
So RFM it is.
https://x.com/thebritlad/status/1958837855540625528?s=46&t=bulOICNH15U6kB0MwE6Lfw
But I wonder if he’s got this totally wrong. For a start these are saltires - so this might just be a very Nat community? And normal?
Can any of our North British correspondents elucidate?
I grew up near there, it’s been crap for four decades. Go to Camberley three miles away, much better there.
Free Palletline.
Thanks!
(Larkin's poem 'Show Saturday' displays a deep understanding of that realm).
Politics of course exists as the servant of that realm, a realm which for most people takes up their time, emotion and energy. Which is why most have no special interest in it until something goes wrong with it, or election time.
And the winners often don’t make much sense - in Teeside the winners have been Teeside retail park, and Darlington. Stockton’s town Centre was destroyed 20+ years ago and Boro’s over the past 5 or so years
And until 2021 or so we used to go to Boro for shopping if we couldn’t be arsed go to Metro, Newcastle or Leeds.
😂😂😂😂
https://davidallengreen.com/2025/08/everything-is-going-to-be-alright-conflict-balance-and-resolution-in-law-and-policy/
I’ve looked into the genesis and it seems flagging has been happening for a while in white areas of very diverse cities (sad echoes of Ulster) but this latest wave began with a small village near Brum, which festooned every single possible lamppost etc. Which caught social media attention
Another Flip For Dominick: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eokggzFfRU
Of course on one flip he got trapped in the 20th century, and after fighting space vampires in London, he became head of MI5
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-48068866
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/aug/22/noel-clarke-loses-libel-case-against-guardian-over-sexual-misconduct-investigation
What's the ratio of Union flags to English/Scottish/Welsh flags more generally? And what can we muse about from that?
I’ve got a couple of questions. You’re of Indian descent, and British, how do the Union Jack and Cross of St George make you feel, if I may rudely inquire?
You’re under no obligation to answer but my interest is sincere
Do you feel patriotic? Neutral? Sad? Angry about the empire?
And does it matter where you see them? Is it intimidating if you see them outside a pub or a shop or simply meaningless?
And, finally, do you have different emotional reactions to the two flags? There are suggestions on X that the England flag is now seen as the more “provocative”
Ignoring the fact I don’t see why anyone would so blindly follow someone, what I find surprising is how they end up going to the same holiday resorts at the same time
Flagging has apparently spread to Ireland as well. Which has produced the superb irony of Sinn Fein type Irish nationalists COMPLAINING about Irish people putting up Irish flags “because they are just copying stupid Brits and loyalists”
You are not going to get politics without comprehending that people live pre-political lives.
https://x.com/tomhfh/status/1958827401942643158?s=61
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/uk-news/strict-rule-uk-households-flying-32324669
Indeed people have sometimes got confused between the two of them
https://order-order.com/2014/04/22/when-nigel-farage-was-mistaken-for-the-russian-pm/
https://www.parliament.scot/msps/current-and-previous-msps/michelle-ballantyne
I went to school in Bolton ( mills) and our Summer holidays had two early weeks whilst my parents taught in Wigan (coal).
I then went back for two, while their Summer holidays began.
After that we had the final four together.
I don't think that ludicrous arrangement still happens...
Motoring wouldn't be motoring without an AA phonebox key on your fob.
https://x.com/lil_doza/status/1958485804260483489?s=46&t=bulOICNH15U6kB0MwE6Lfw
“Following their English masters. They're an embarrassment”
https://x.com/gingerbobag/status/1958634830272635085?s=46&t=bulOICNH15U6kB0MwE6Lfw
“The insecurity of these clowns. Wouldn’t know what Irish culture is if it slapped them in the face. For many they think it’s freckles and red hair. Following the worst behaviour of loyalists and Brit nationalists. Marking their patch. Pathetic.”
https://x.com/irelandsaysyes/status/1958624296147832972?s=46&t=bulOICNH15U6kB0MwE6Lfw
"Over the past million years human migration has been largely driven by climate change. Since the industrial revolution green house has emissions have resulted in human generated climate change. Average global temperature have risen to 1.4C above pre-industrial levels, with a projected rise of 2.5-2.9C by 2100. This will generate an estimated >1 billion climate migrants (external & internal) mainly from poorer equatorial countries. A managed population retreat to cooler northern countries is needed to minimise conflict."
Edit: And a patrolman to salute you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0xvI0olmko
Someone flies a flag. Whatever.
Which will be quite the irony
One managed to find an oil refinery in Russia.
https://x.com/nexta_tv/status/1958832559405625465
They’re said to be based on an existing bomb and an engine that’s produced in Ukraine, for which there are vast stocks of both and production can be scaled up quickly once the design is proven.
Ref hold
REASBECK, Isaiah-John (Reform UK) 1,062
JONES, Matthew Peter (Labour Party) 912
NIGHTINGALE, Jane (Independent) 169
LUNNEY, Christine Helen (The Conservative Party Candidate) 121
ARADIA, Vanessa (Green Party) 79
SAVINI, Giulia (Liberal Democrats) 39
HILES, Andy (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition) 29
JAMIL, Ahsan (Workers Party) 15
Reform 43.8 (+4.2)
Labour 37.6 (+4.7)
Ind 7.0 NEW
Conservative 5.0 (-5.8)
Green 3.3 (-5.6)
Lib Dem 1.6 (-3.1)
TUSC 1.2 (-1.9)
WP 0.6 NEW"
The extreme right think everyone’s a nonce and the extreme left thinks flying a flag shows a sexual inclination towards it.
Odd.
There's no real mechanism for a by election under the Holyrood list as it uses the D'Hondt system , and you can keep serving as an MSP until the next election.
What's the odds Reform manage to find a full slate of loyal candidates for potential MSPs who can serve out their full term, will one or two Tory MSPs think about jumping ship?
Apparently back when the AA was founded there were still overall speed limits in force, and initially patrolmen would warn members of speed traps. One one occasion the police prosecuted a patrolman for doing so and it was decided that in future patrols would do nothing, since doing nothing couldn't be a prosecutable offence.
Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor (East Renfrewshire) by-election transfers, votes at final head-to-head stage (vs same pairing 2022):
Labour: 2217 (48.8%, +8.8)
SNP: 1431 (31.5%, -10.4)
Didn't Transfer: 894 (19.7%, +1.6)
[Full details on posting; Reform on 22% first pref but hard to know what to make of it all as the first runner in the constituency in the 2022 election was an Independent and I've no idea who was voting for him]
I didn't go on my own.
The extreme right are all nonces. The extreme left shag the USSR flag every morning.
Now, once they're actually running things, they demonstrate to any objective observer that was a straightforward lie.
F.B.I. Plans to Lower Recruiting Standards
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/us/politics/fbi-agent-recruitment-requirements-trump.html
I don't expect Reform's similar obsession with "woke" to turn out any different.
Same mendacious culture war shit.
This prick, who had a TV show that mercilessly punched down on people, is going to the conference. Jeremy fucking Kyle.
https://x.com/nigel_farage/status/1958827540107170300?s=61
Feel free to put out more flags, by all means,
They may both be a little less stressed after.
https://x.com/danwootton/status/1958850506144592039
Allison Pearson, Lucy Connolly, Dan Wootton.