The former Labour MP, who has sat as an independent since last year, said the Prime Minister’s Cabinet changes were “shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic”.
“I can say things that my former Labour colleagues can’t, but I’m obviously in WhatsApp groups with a lot of them,” she told Times Radio. “They’re my friends. I’ve known them a long time.
“We’re all doing that emoji, basically, which is because it’s shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic. I know that’s used a lot. But this government, I’m afraid, their days are numbered. It doesn’t really make a lot of difference which of the same five people are in which particular job title.”
The former Labour MP, who has sat as an independent since last year, said the Prime Minister’s Cabinet changes were “shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic”.
“I can say things that my former Labour colleagues can’t, but I’m obviously in WhatsApp groups with a lot of them,” she told Times Radio. “They’re my friends. I’ve known them a long time.
“We’re all doing that emoji, basically, which is because it’s shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic. I know that’s used a lot. But this government, I’m afraid, their days are numbered. It doesn’t really make a lot of difference which of the same five people are in which particular job title.”
The former Labour MP, who has sat as an independent since last year, said the Prime Minister’s Cabinet changes were “shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic”.
“I can say things that my former Labour colleagues can’t, but I’m obviously in WhatsApp groups with a lot of them,” she told Times Radio. “They’re my friends. I’ve known them a long time.
“We’re all doing that emoji, basically, which is because it’s shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic. I know that’s used a lot. But this government, I’m afraid, their days are numbered. It doesn’t really make a lot of difference which of the same five people are in which particular job title.”
Aspana Begum or Rosie Duffield?
Sorry, i meant to insert in brackets, Rosie Duffield
BBC impartial balancing is alive and well. An absolute but justified crushing indictment on Labour's awful week yesterday, balanced with some loving promotion of Farage today.
Do you think that the majority of hires at the BBC are Reformy types? The producers and correspondents who most people complain about being part of a London metropolitan elite and similar?
I think what is more likely is that they get all wet and excited about “stories” and “big news” as well as all the gossip - they meet with their political contacts and they will be excitable about Reform, Farage, all the news where the centre of it all is a newish disruptor party led by and supported by people they don’t actually understand.
To me it’s a case not of the BBC supporting or even liking Farage and reform but because the journalists and producers are so wedged up their own arses about the whirl of politics and wanting angles to report on, stories, gotchas, the works.
Reform are a constant source of news and stories. The Tories are covered in cobwebs and battered and moribund, Labour have a huge majority and although they are a mess the only big character was Rayner and that story is ending, the Lib Dem’s are very dull and worthy, the Greens and the Fruit and Nuts might become news but early doors. The only real constant source of excitement for the likes of the BBC politics lot are Reform.
You should be hoping that they do get a big spotlight on them as if people see them for real then they might realise they don’t have all the answers - like allowing Nick Griffin on newsnight etc burst the bubble. If they are as shit as a lot think then it’s good to let people see it, if they aren’t shit then traditional parties need to worry and work out why they have such support instead of trying to hide them in the attic and hope they go away.
Surgeon who destroyed his legs, and had them amputated, because of a fetish, then indulged in insurance fraud as an add-on, and ended up with years in prison.
When I interviewed surgeon Neil Hopper in 2023 for BBC News, I believed I was speaking to a man who had been humbled by the life-changing experience of losing his legs to sepsis.
Little did I know, Hopper had a sexual interest in amputation and had frozen his own legs so they would be removed.
Hopper, a consultant vascular surgeon who had carried out hundreds of amputation operations, told me he had come down with a mystery illness on a family camping trip which had led to sepsis and below-knee amputations of both his legs.
In reality, he had used ice and dry ice to freeze his own legs, causing damage that meant they eventually had to be amputated in hospital,
I wonder if all those amputations he had carried out were all necessary.
A bit like the transgender surgery trend of the past few years.
Hang on. I thought the issue was Trans-folk not having their goolies off?
The former Labour MP, who has sat as an independent since last year, said the Prime Minister’s Cabinet changes were “shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic”.
“I can say things that my former Labour colleagues can’t, but I’m obviously in WhatsApp groups with a lot of them,” she told Times Radio. “They’re my friends. I’ve known them a long time.
“We’re all doing that emoji, basically, which is because it’s shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic. I know that’s used a lot. But this government, I’m afraid, their days are numbered. It doesn’t really make a lot of difference which of the same five people are in which particular job title.”
Aspana Begum or Rosie Duffield?
Sorry, i meant to insert in brackets, Rosie Duffield
Farage having a total car crash on Sky News . He can’t bear any proper scrutiny .
That will end up as Ref +2 though. Big Nige versus the establishment innit. Hes one of our own etc
No if anyone saw that interview they’d think he’s making it up as he goes along . Now apparently the boats will stop two weeks after legislation passes , not two weeks after taking office which he spouted to the clapping seals yesterday . He doesn’t like scrutiny and he gets angry when any journalist asks difficult questions .
That’s it, reform is toast.
They’re not toast clearly because their base is similar to Maga . They’ll accept anything that Farage says , call any proper scrutiny a witch hunt and fake news.
Labour and the Tories need to try and get back some of the Reform support which is softer and still lives in the real world .
Maybe if Labour keep calling the Reformers racists and thickies theyll all come back.
Unlikely.
All the data we have are that there are very few Lab to Ref switchers since last year.
It's mainly Lab to Lib/Green/shrug and Con to Ref.
Can the Conservatives win back people who, despite everything, voted for them in 2024? Tricky. Can they do so without becoming Reform? Probably impossible, and if they do- what's the point?
One of the curiosities is that a lot of parties seem a bit ashamed of who their actual electorate are.
All the data ???
Sounds like you're trying to convince yourself.
There's some data here:
Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority Election North Lincolnshire Council count: HORSCROFT, Sally Anne, The Green Party – 1,604 JENKYNS, Andrea Marie, Reform UK – 12,993 OVERTON, Marianne Jane, Lincolnshire Independents – 977 STOCKWOOD, Jason, Labour and Co-operative Party – 4,825 WALTHAM, Rob, Local Conservatives – 14,003 YOUNG, Trevor, Liberal Democrats – 1021
Cumbria Today (or whatever its called up there) could do a feature on you. The guy who gave it all up to live in a service area. He dreams of opening a Tea Bay at Tebay
Farage having a total car crash on Sky News . He can’t bear any proper scrutiny .
That will end up as Ref +2 though. Big Nige versus the establishment innit. Hes one of our own etc
No if anyone saw that interview they’d think he’s making it up as he goes along . Now apparently the boats will stop two weeks after legislation passes , not two weeks after taking office which he spouted to the clapping seals yesterday . He doesn’t like scrutiny and he gets angry when any journalist asks difficult questions .
That’s it, reform is toast.
They’re not toast clearly because their base is similar to Maga . They’ll accept anything that Farage says , call any proper scrutiny a witch hunt and fake news.
Labour and the Tories need to try and get back some of the Reform support which is softer and still lives in the real world .
Maybe if Labour keep calling the Reformers racists and thickies theyll all come back.
Perhaps they should also use that edgy Rupert Murdoch biscuits meme to show them how thick they are too. Bound to make them see the error of their ways
Nah they would do better with dark web conspiracy theories that being on the electoral register means that your neighbourhood will be targeted for 15 minute neighbour hoods and mind altering vaccinations.
Farage having a total car crash on Sky News . He can’t bear any proper scrutiny .
That will end up as Ref +2 though. Big Nige versus the establishment innit. Hes one of our own etc
No if anyone saw that interview they’d think he’s making it up as he goes along . Now apparently the boats will stop two weeks after legislation passes , not two weeks after taking office which he spouted to the clapping seals yesterday . He doesn’t like scrutiny and he gets angry when any journalist asks difficult questions .
That’s it, reform is toast.
They’re not toast clearly because their base is similar to Maga . They’ll accept anything that Farage says , call any proper scrutiny a witch hunt and fake news.
Labour and the Tories need to try and get back some of the Reform support which is softer and still lives in the real world .
Maybe if Labour keep calling the Reformers racists and thickies theyll all come back.
Unlikely.
All the data we have are that there are very few Lab to Ref switchers since last year.
It's mainly Lab to Lib/Green/shrug and Con to Ref.
Can the Conservatives win back people who, despite everything, voted for them in 2024? Tricky. Can they do so without becoming Reform? Probably impossible, and if they do- what's the point?
One of the curiosities is that a lot of parties seem a bit ashamed of who their actual electorate are.
All the data ???
Sounds like you're trying to convince yourself.
There's some data here:
Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority Election North Lincolnshire Council count: HORSCROFT, Sally Anne, The Green Party – 1,604 JENKYNS, Andrea Marie, Reform UK – 12,993 OVERTON, Marianne Jane, Lincolnshire Independents – 977 STOCKWOOD, Jason, Labour and Co-operative Party – 4,825 WALTHAM, Rob, Local Conservatives – 14,003 YOUNG, Trevor, Liberal Democrats – 1021
Here's the key picture, because I like swirly pictures like this.
It's mad how people can't get this into their heads. There is a lot more to be optimistic about if you're a Labour supporter than a Conservative, because you can see a lot of that Labour vote coming back in a 1:1 with Farage.
The Conservatives... difficult to see it really. Their vote share was already low and they're losing most of their remainder to a proper challenger, rather than to DK and marginal parties like LDs and Greens.
BBC impartial balancing is alive and well. An absolute but justified crushing indictment on Labour's awful week yesterday, balanced with some loving promotion of Farage today.
Do you think that the majority of hires at the BBC are Reformy types? The producers and correspondents who most people complain about being part of a London metropolitan elite and similar?
I think what is more likely is that they get all wet and excited about “stories” and “big news” as well as all the gossip - they meet with their political contacts and they will be excitable about Reform, Farage, all the news where the centre of it all is a newish disruptor party led by and supported by people they don’t actually understand.
To me it’s a case not of the BBC supporting or even liking Farage and reform but because the journalists and producers are so wedged up their own arses about the whirl of politics and wanting angles to report on, stories, gotchas, the works.
Reform are a constant source of news and stories. The Tories are covered in cobwebs and battered and moribund, Labour have a huge majority and although they are a mess the only big character was Rayner and that story is ending, the Lib Dem’s are very dull and worthy, the Greens and the Fruit and Nuts might become news but early doors. The only real constant source of excitement for the likes of the BBC politics lot are Reform.
You should be hoping that they do get a big spotlight on them as if people see them for real then they might realise they don’t have all the answers - like allowing Nick Griffin on newsnight etc burst the bubble. If they are as shit as a lot think then it’s good to let people see it, if they aren’t shit then traditional parties need to worry and work out why they have such support instead of trying to hide them in the attic and hope they go away.
I suspect that is absolutely correct. Making the news rather than reporting it.
No one on the BBC called out Farage's spanking in Congress. Victoria Derbyshire did however call out Jamie Raskin as a hostile questioner of the great man. I very much doubt Derbyshire is anything but a One Nation Tory or a New Labour Blairite, but her interview of Raskin fitted your narrative.
BBC impartial balancing is alive and well. An absolute but justified crushing indictment on Labour's awful week yesterday, balanced with some loving promotion of Farage today.
Do you think that the majority of hires at the BBC are Reformy types? The producers and correspondents who most people complain about being part of a London metropolitan elite and similar?
I think what is more likely is that they get all wet and excited about “stories” and “big news” as well as all the gossip - they meet with their political contacts and they will be excitable about Reform, Farage, all the news where the centre of it all is a newish disruptor party led by and supported by people they don’t actually understand.
To me it’s a case not of the BBC supporting or even liking Farage and reform but because the journalists and producers are so wedged up their own arses about the whirl of politics and wanting angles to report on, stories, gotchas, the works.
Reform are a constant source of news and stories. The Tories are covered in cobwebs and battered and moribund, Labour have a huge majority and although they are a mess the only big character was Rayner and that story is ending, the Lib Dem’s are very dull and worthy, the Greens and the Fruit and Nuts might become news but early doors. The only real constant source of excitement for the likes of the BBC politics lot are Reform.
You should be hoping that they do get a big spotlight on them as if people see them for real then they might realise they don’t have all the answers - like allowing Nick Griffin on newsnight etc burst the bubble. If they are as shit as a lot think then it’s good to let people see it, if they aren’t shit then traditional parties need to worry and work out why they have such support instead of trying to hide them in the attic and hope they go away.
I think partly this - reporting on the “different” and the “happening”, while the two old main parties drone on about themselves. Starmer’s Twatter performance is a parody.
But also I think it is to do with a gap in diversity in the BBC. They are ethnically diverse. But with a very mono-cultural social culture. So when it comes to reporting on Reform, they are viewing it like Cultural Anthropology - “look at what the strange people, we know little of, are doing”.
So they don’t have the context to question things like Reform, deeply.
Farage having a total car crash on Sky News . He can’t bear any proper scrutiny .
That will end up as Ref +2 though. Big Nige versus the establishment innit. Hes one of our own etc
No if anyone saw that interview they’d think he’s making it up as he goes along . Now apparently the boats will stop two weeks after legislation passes , not two weeks after taking office which he spouted to the clapping seals yesterday . He doesn’t like scrutiny and he gets angry when any journalist asks difficult questions .
That’s it, reform is toast.
They’re not toast clearly because their base is similar to Maga . They’ll accept anything that Farage says , call any proper scrutiny a witch hunt and fake news.
Labour and the Tories need to try and get back some of the Reform support which is softer and still lives in the real world .
Maybe if Labour keep calling the Reformers racists and thickies theyll all come back.
Unlikely.
All the data we have are that there are very few Lab to Ref switchers since last year.
It's mainly Lab to Lib/Green/shrug and Con to Ref.
Can the Conservatives win back people who, despite everything, voted for them in 2024? Tricky. Can they do so without becoming Reform? Probably impossible, and if they do- what's the point?
One of the curiosities is that a lot of parties seem a bit ashamed of who their actual electorate are.
All the data ???
Sounds like you're trying to convince yourself.
There's some data here:
Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority Election North Lincolnshire Council count: HORSCROFT, Sally Anne, The Green Party – 1,604 JENKYNS, Andrea Marie, Reform UK – 12,993 OVERTON, Marianne Jane, Lincolnshire Independents – 977 STOCKWOOD, Jason, Labour and Co-operative Party – 4,825 WALTHAM, Rob, Local Conservatives – 14,003 YOUNG, Trevor, Liberal Democrats – 1021
Pic for the day. Pinot Meunier after full veraison, quickly gathering sugars and, er, dropping acid.
At this time of year the red varietal parts of the vineyard look properly bacchanalian. The white grapes less so, for now.
Harvest in mid October.
Should be the best for 50 years ?
I think it will be a big leap forward for English wine. Indeed all fruit seems to be having a bumper year.
Yes, we’re almost a month ahead of 2024 and we’re a relatively cool site. Several vineyards have already harvested their early varieties like Siegerrebe and Bacchus.
The crop isn’t huge either. So quality will be high.
Farage having a total car crash on Sky News . He can’t bear any proper scrutiny .
That will end up as Ref +2 though. Big Nige versus the establishment innit. Hes one of our own etc
No if anyone saw that interview they’d think he’s making it up as he goes along . Now apparently the boats will stop two weeks after legislation passes , not two weeks after taking office which he spouted to the clapping seals yesterday . He doesn’t like scrutiny and he gets angry when any journalist asks difficult questions .
That’s it, reform is toast.
They’re not toast clearly because their base is similar to Maga . They’ll accept anything that Farage says , call any proper scrutiny a witch hunt and fake news.
Labour and the Tories need to try and get back some of the Reform support which is softer and still lives in the real world .
Maybe if Labour keep calling the Reformers racists and thickies theyll all come back.
Perhaps they should also use that edgy Rupert Murdoch biscuits meme to show them how thick they are too. Bound to make them see the error of their ways
Nah they would do better with dark web conspiracy theories that being on the electoral register means that your neighbourhood will be targeted for 15 minute neighbour hoods and mind altering vaccinations.
Don't forget 5G and LTNs. As far as I understand it, the 5G is used to control the mechanites inside your head to force you to be within walking distance of a pub at all times.
Farage having a total car crash on Sky News . He can’t bear any proper scrutiny .
That will end up as Ref +2 though. Big Nige versus the establishment innit. Hes one of our own etc
No if anyone saw that interview they’d think he’s making it up as he goes along . Now apparently the boats will stop two weeks after legislation passes , not two weeks after taking office which he spouted to the clapping seals yesterday . He doesn’t like scrutiny and he gets angry when any journalist asks difficult questions .
That’s it, reform is toast.
They’re not toast clearly because their base is similar to Maga . They’ll accept anything that Farage says , call any proper scrutiny a witch hunt and fake news.
Labour and the Tories need to try and get back some of the Reform support which is softer and still lives in the real world .
Maybe if Labour keep calling the Reformers racists and thickies theyll all come back.
Unlikely.
All the data we have are that there are very few Lab to Ref switchers since last year.
It's mainly Lab to Lib/Green/shrug and Con to Ref.
Can the Conservatives win back people who, despite everything, voted for them in 2024? Tricky. Can they do so without becoming Reform? Probably impossible, and if they do- what's the point?
One of the curiosities is that a lot of parties seem a bit ashamed of who their actual electorate are.
All the data ???
Sounds like you're trying to convince yourself.
There's some data here:
Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority Election North Lincolnshire Council count: HORSCROFT, Sally Anne, The Green Party – 1,604 JENKYNS, Andrea Marie, Reform UK – 12,993 OVERTON, Marianne Jane, Lincolnshire Independents – 977 STOCKWOOD, Jason, Labour and Co-operative Party – 4,825 WALTHAM, Rob, Local Conservatives – 14,003 YOUNG, Trevor, Liberal Democrats – 1021
Populism often hoovers up a certain online contrarianism and we see that with the populist right in the US going antivax with the appointment of RFK Jr. Reform UK are now going down the same path, with noted antivaxxer Dr Aseem Malhotra, who believes mRNA vaccines have killed millions (they haven't), speaking at the Reform UK conference: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/09/05/rfk-adviser-to-claim-vaccines-cause-cancer-at-reform-confer/
This stuff will kill. The US is seeing record numbers of measles cases. Two children and an adult, all unvaccinated, have died already. That's just the start: this could go on to kill hundreds, possibly thousands. It is estimated that the COVID-19 vaccine has saved 14.5 million lives globally.
Farage having a total car crash on Sky News . He can’t bear any proper scrutiny .
That will end up as Ref +2 though. Big Nige versus the establishment innit. Hes one of our own etc
No if anyone saw that interview they’d think he’s making it up as he goes along . Now apparently the boats will stop two weeks after legislation passes , not two weeks after taking office which he spouted to the clapping seals yesterday . He doesn’t like scrutiny and he gets angry when any journalist asks difficult questions .
That’s it, reform is toast.
They’re not toast clearly because their base is similar to Maga . They’ll accept anything that Farage says , call any proper scrutiny a witch hunt and fake news.
Labour and the Tories need to try and get back some of the Reform support which is softer and still lives in the real world .
Maybe if Labour keep calling the Reformers racists and thickies theyll all come back.
Unlikely.
All the data we have are that there are very few Lab to Ref switchers since last year.
It's mainly Lab to Lib/Green/shrug and Con to Ref.
Can the Conservatives win back people who, despite everything, voted for them in 2024? Tricky. Can they do so without becoming Reform? Probably impossible, and if they do- what's the point?
One of the curiosities is that a lot of parties seem a bit ashamed of who their actual electorate are.
All the data ???
Sounds like you're trying to convince yourself.
There's some data here:
Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority Election North Lincolnshire Council count: HORSCROFT, Sally Anne, The Green Party – 1,604 JENKYNS, Andrea Marie, Reform UK – 12,993 OVERTON, Marianne Jane, Lincolnshire Independents – 977 STOCKWOOD, Jason, Labour and Co-operative Party – 4,825 WALTHAM, Rob, Local Conservatives – 14,003 YOUNG, Trevor, Liberal Democrats – 1021
Here's the key picture, because I like swirly pictures like this.
So they're totally ignoring some actual election results ?
Dangerous, very dangerous.
Not really.
Take Runcorn. In 2024, Reform and the Conservatives got about 7000 each, and Labour got 22000.
In the by-election, Reform got 12000 and the Conservatives 2000. With Labour's vote well down, that was enough to get them over the line. Total turnout was down 10000, and I wouldn't be surprised if that was overhelmingly on the red side. Partly pissed-offness with the government, partly wanting to hit them because of what their former MP did.
(I've done elections and by-elections. It's always mostly about identifying, motivating and dragooning your supporters to actually vote, and the lower the turnout, the more true that is.)
Of course there are some voters who have switched from Labour to Reform. But compared with the other switches that are going on, there really aren't many of them.
Farage having a total car crash on Sky News . He can’t bear any proper scrutiny .
That will end up as Ref +2 though. Big Nige versus the establishment innit. Hes one of our own etc
No if anyone saw that interview they’d think he’s making it up as he goes along . Now apparently the boats will stop two weeks after legislation passes , not two weeks after taking office which he spouted to the clapping seals yesterday . He doesn’t like scrutiny and he gets angry when any journalist asks difficult questions .
That’s it, reform is toast.
They’re not toast clearly because their base is similar to Maga . They’ll accept anything that Farage says , call any proper scrutiny a witch hunt and fake news.
Labour and the Tories need to try and get back some of the Reform support which is softer and still lives in the real world .
Maybe if Labour keep calling the Reformers racists and thickies theyll all come back.
Unlikely.
All the data we have are that there are very few Lab to Ref switchers since last year.
It's mainly Lab to Lib/Green/shrug and Con to Ref.
Can the Conservatives win back people who, despite everything, voted for them in 2024? Tricky. Can they do so without becoming Reform? Probably impossible, and if they do- what's the point?
One of the curiosities is that a lot of parties seem a bit ashamed of who their actual electorate are.
All the data ???
Sounds like you're trying to convince yourself.
There's some data here:
Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority Election North Lincolnshire Council count: HORSCROFT, Sally Anne, The Green Party – 1,604 JENKYNS, Andrea Marie, Reform UK – 12,993 OVERTON, Marianne Jane, Lincolnshire Independents – 977 STOCKWOOD, Jason, Labour and Co-operative Party – 4,825 WALTHAM, Rob, Local Conservatives – 14,003 YOUNG, Trevor, Liberal Democrats – 1021
Here's the key picture, because I like swirly pictures like this.
So they're totally ignoring some actual election results ?
Dangerous, very dangerous.
Those election results are perfectly consistent with that analysis. A swing between two parties doesn't mean voters have switched between them.
Yes the biggest problem Labour has is getting out the vote.
Starmer is wooden, the policies are anodyne, the flag fondling and simping over Farage repulsive, and Labour activists are in general anti-austrrity, pro-Europe and pro-Palestinian and wanting to see real change domestically.
Farage having a total car crash on Sky News . He can’t bear any proper scrutiny .
That will end up as Ref +2 though. Big Nige versus the establishment innit. Hes one of our own etc
No if anyone saw that interview they’d think he’s making it up as he goes along . Now apparently the boats will stop two weeks after legislation passes , not two weeks after taking office which he spouted to the clapping seals yesterday . He doesn’t like scrutiny and he gets angry when any journalist asks difficult questions .
That’s it, reform is toast.
They’re not toast clearly because their base is similar to Maga . They’ll accept anything that Farage says , call any proper scrutiny a witch hunt and fake news.
Labour and the Tories need to try and get back some of the Reform support which is softer and still lives in the real world .
Maybe if Labour keep calling the Reformers racists and thickies theyll all come back.
Unlikely.
All the data we have are that there are very few Lab to Ref switchers since last year.
It's mainly Lab to Lib/Green/shrug and Con to Ref.
Can the Conservatives win back people who, despite everything, voted for them in 2024? Tricky. Can they do so without becoming Reform? Probably impossible, and if they do- what's the point?
One of the curiosities is that a lot of parties seem a bit ashamed of who their actual electorate are.
All the data ???
Sounds like you're trying to convince yourself.
There's some data here:
Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority Election North Lincolnshire Council count: HORSCROFT, Sally Anne, The Green Party – 1,604 JENKYNS, Andrea Marie, Reform UK – 12,993 OVERTON, Marianne Jane, Lincolnshire Independents – 977 STOCKWOOD, Jason, Labour and Co-operative Party – 4,825 WALTHAM, Rob, Local Conservatives – 14,003 YOUNG, Trevor, Liberal Democrats – 1021
Here's the key picture, because I like swirly pictures like this.
So they're totally ignoring some actual election results ?
Dangerous, very dangerous.
Not really.
Take Runcorn. In 2024, Reform and the Conservatives got about 7000 each, and Labour got 22000.
In the by-election, Reform got 12000 and the Conservatives 2000. With Labour's vote well down, that was enough to get them over the line. Total turnout was down 10000, and I wouldn't be surprised if that was overhelmingly on the red side. Partly pissed-offness with the government, partly wanting to hit them because of what their former MP did.
(I've done elections and by-elections. It's always mostly about identifying, motivating and dragooning your supporters to actually vote, and the lower the turnout, the more true that is.)
Of course there are some voters who have switched from Labour to Reform. But compared with the other switches that are going on, there really aren't many of them.
I think it depends on the location. In a medium-sized town in the Midlands, for example, there would be a fair number of Labour to Reform switchers. In big cities, very few.
I think Gloucester Services are better, because the layout isn't as cramped, although the view isn't nearly as spectacular.
Not sure what Cairnscross Services are like.
Last time we were in Gloucester services it was stupidly busy for 11am on a Friday morning.
Mind you we usually stop at the J38 Truck stop if we are driving past Tebay services something has gone seriously wrong..
Cairn Lodge is nice as it doesn't get the crowds being in Scotland and compared to how it was before Westmorland took over it's a completely different place.
Populism often hoovers up a certain online contrarianism and we see that with the populist right in the US going antivax with the appointment of RFK Jr. Reform UK are now going down the same path, with noted antivaxxer Dr Aseem Malhotra, who believes mRNA vaccines have killed millions (they haven't), speaking at the Reform UK conference: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/09/05/rfk-adviser-to-claim-vaccines-cause-cancer-at-reform-confer/
This stuff will kill. The US is seeing record numbers of measles cases. Two children and an adult, all unvaccinated, have died already. That's just the start: this could go on to kill hundreds, possibly thousands. It is estimated that the COVID-19 vaccine has saved 14.5 million lives globally.
We have to start banning algorithmic feeds. People are getting crazy
I seem to recall an episode of the Liver Birds where one of them did that by painting her bedroom canary yellow, and had to move in with Sandra at midnight.
I am not sure that is a healthy thing to do. It isn't much of a university experience having your older sister take you to every lecture for 3 years.
Definitely not. Universities shouldn’t accept anyone under 17/18.
In most of these outlier cases they don't actually go on to be "special". It must also be a nightmare for the university in terms of safe guarding issues, they aren't really set up to handle minors mingling with adults.
Terence Tao is the one I can think of. But he wasn't just getting equivalent of A* in his A-Levels, he was winning the biggest international maths prizes against people 5-6 years older than him.
You must have been got at by antisemitic hypnotists if you have forgotten Britain's own Ruth Lawrence who graduated from Oxford at age 13, and is now a maths professor in Israel. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Lawrence
Opinium are ramping their poll tonight as 'extraordinary numbers' out at 8 They haven't ramped a poll since the election so probably a massive Reform lead or record Lab or Tory lows
Farage having a total car crash on Sky News . He can’t bear any proper scrutiny .
That will end up as Ref +2 though. Big Nige versus the establishment innit. Hes one of our own etc
No if anyone saw that interview they’d think he’s making it up as he goes along . Now apparently the boats will stop two weeks after legislation passes , not two weeks after taking office which he spouted to the clapping seals yesterday . He doesn’t like scrutiny and he gets angry when any journalist asks difficult questions .
That’s it, reform is toast.
They’re not toast clearly because their base is similar to Maga . They’ll accept anything that Farage says , call any proper scrutiny a witch hunt and fake news.
Labour and the Tories need to try and get back some of the Reform support which is softer and still lives in the real world .
Maybe if Labour keep calling the Reformers racists and thickies theyll all come back.
Unlikely.
All the data we have are that there are very few Lab to Ref switchers since last year.
It's mainly Lab to Lib/Green/shrug and Con to Ref.
Can the Conservatives win back people who, despite everything, voted for them in 2024? Tricky. Can they do so without becoming Reform? Probably impossible, and if they do- what's the point?
One of the curiosities is that a lot of parties seem a bit ashamed of who their actual electorate are.
All the data ???
Sounds like you're trying to convince yourself.
There's some data here:
Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority Election North Lincolnshire Council count: HORSCROFT, Sally Anne, The Green Party – 1,604 JENKYNS, Andrea Marie, Reform UK – 12,993 OVERTON, Marianne Jane, Lincolnshire Independents – 977 STOCKWOOD, Jason, Labour and Co-operative Party – 4,825 WALTHAM, Rob, Local Conservatives – 14,003 YOUNG, Trevor, Liberal Democrats – 1021
Here's the key picture, because I like swirly pictures like this.
So they're totally ignoring some actual election results ?
Dangerous, very dangerous.
Those election results are perfectly consistent with that analysis. A swing between two parties doesn't mean voters have switched between them.
Yes the biggest problem Labour has is getting out the vote.
Starmer is wooden, the policies are anodyne, the flag fondling and simping over Farage repulsive, and Labour activists are in general anti-austrrity, pro-Europe and pro-Palestinian and wanting to see real change domestically.
T
I wonder whether Labour members will do as directed, and elect Lammy as deputy leader?
Certainly it's to the beat of a different drummer. From the Telegraph Liveblog:
Sarah Pochin: I iron Lee Anderson’s shirts because he can’t Sarah Pochin, the Reform MP for Runcorn and Helsby, joked it was an “honour and a privilege” to iron Lee Anderson’s shirts for him.
Ms Pochin said: “It is an honour and a privilege to be standing here as the first female Reform Member of Parliament.
“It’s also an honour and a privilege to be in a position where I can iron Lee Anderson’s shirts. He makes such a hash of it, I walked past his office and I said ‘give me the iron, Lee’. He was just hopeless.
“And sleeves first, everybody out there, there’s a big national debate going on now.”
(I think she's been got. Agent Anderson was a single dad for 17 years - of course he can iron things.)
Opinium are ramping their poll tonight as 'extraordinary numbers' out at 8 They haven't ramped a poll since the election so probably a massive Reform lead or record Lab or Tory lows
"Angela Rayner’s resignation over her tax affairs will only makes [a Reform government] more likely; she was the only senior Labour politician capable of leading a political agenda that would challenge Reform for working-class votes. While Farage’s focus on immigration and crime clearly appeals to working-class voters, Rayner’s Left-leaning policies on tax, the economy and welfare unquestionably resonate too. She could have put such a package together in ways that Starmer never could.
Her resignation will give voters yet more proof that all politicians are the same; she has been exposed as just another minister who tells everyone to do one thing, while doing another. And, for Rayner, the hostility is likely to be even more intense than it would be for other politicians because there was a sense that she was different from other MPs."
Opinium are ramping their poll tonight as 'extraordinary numbers' out at 8 They haven't ramped a poll since the election so probably a massive Reform lead or record Lab or Tory lows
It would be nice to have an MRP. We haven't had one for ages.
"Angela Rayner’s resignation over her tax affairs will only makes [a Reform government] more likely; she was the only senior Labour politician capable of leading a political agenda that would challenge Reform for working-class votes. While Farage’s focus on immigration and crime clearly appeals to working-class voters, Rayner’s Left-leaning policies on tax, the economy and welfare unquestionably resonate too. She could have put such a package together in ways that Starmer never could.
Her resignation will give voters yet more proof that all politicians are the same; she has been exposed as just another minister who tells everyone to do one thing, while doing another. And, for Rayner, the hostility is likely to be even more intense than it would be for other politicians because there was a sense that she was different from other MPs."
Of course, the Telegraph no doubt reported how Ange was a uniting champion of the working class and posed a lethal threat to Reform endlessly when she was in office.
I am not sure that is a healthy thing to do. It isn't much of a university experience having your older sister take you to every lecture for 3 years.
Definitely not. Universities shouldn’t accept anyone under 17/18.
In most of these outlier cases they don't actually go on to be "special". It must also be a nightmare for the university in terms of safe guarding issues, they aren't really set up to handle minors mingling with adults.
Terence Tao is the one I can think of. But he wasn't just getting equivalent of A* in his A-Levels, he was winning the biggest international maths prizes against people 5-6 years older than him.
You must have been got at by antisemitic hypnotists if you have forgotten Britain's own Ruth Lawrence who graduated from Oxford at age 13, and is now a maths professor in Israel. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Lawrence
Looking at her google scholar, its not exactly anything to be very excited about, certainly not past 25 years. That is what I meant by "special". Being an academic is certainly an achievement, but its not "special" tier. Her academic career shall we say normal.
Opinium are ramping their poll tonight as 'extraordinary numbers' out at 8 They haven't ramped a poll since the election so probably a massive Reform lead or record Lab or Tory lows
It would be nice to have an MRP. We haven't had one for ages.
An update on JLPs Polaris model maybe. Id imagine at least one of them will do an update by the end of conference season
Opinium are ramping their poll tonight as 'extraordinary numbers' out at 8 They haven't ramped a poll since the election so probably a massive Reform lead or record Lab or Tory lows
Opinium haven't headlined their VI in the fortnightly updates (whilst still issuing them in the tables) so it might be a catastrophic drop in Starmers approval etc
"Angela Rayner’s resignation over her tax affairs will only makes [a Reform government] more likely; she was the only senior Labour politician capable of leading a political agenda that would challenge Reform for working-class votes. While Farage’s focus on immigration and crime clearly appeals to working-class voters, Rayner’s Left-leaning policies on tax, the economy and welfare unquestionably resonate too. She could have put such a package together in ways that Starmer never could.
Her resignation will give voters yet more proof that all politicians are the same; she has been exposed as just another minister who tells everyone to do one thing, while doing another. And, for Rayner, the hostility is likely to be even more intense than it would be for other politicians because there was a sense that she was different from other MPs."
Certainly it's to the beat of a different drummer. From the Telegraph Liveblog:
Sarah Pochin: I iron Lee Anderson’s shirts because he can’t Sarah Pochin, the Reform MP for Runcorn and Helsby, joked it was an “honour and a privilege” to iron Lee Anderson’s shirts for him.
Ms Pochin said: “It is an honour and a privilege to be standing here as the first female Reform Member of Parliament.
“It’s also an honour and a privilege to be in a position where I can iron Lee Anderson’s shirts. He makes such a hash of it, I walked past his office and I said ‘give me the iron, Lee’. He was just hopeless.
“And sleeves first, everybody out there, there’s a big national debate going on now.”
(I think she's been got. Agent Anderson was a single dad for 17 years - of course he can iron things.)
That he refrains from buying non-iron shirts is the first positive thing I've heard about him.
Opinium are ramping their poll tonight as 'extraordinary numbers' out at 8 They haven't ramped a poll since the election so probably a massive Reform lead or record Lab or Tory lows
Opinium haven't headlined their VI in the fortnightly updates (whilst still issuing them in the tables) so it might be a catastrophic drop in Starmers approval etc
I’ll guess a 15 point lead for Reform . Starmers approval ratings would be less extraordinary as they’re in the pits already.
Pic for the day. Pinot Meunier after full veraison, quickly gathering sugars and, er, dropping acid.
At this time of year the red varietal parts of the vineyard look properly bacchanalian. The white grapes less so, for now.
Harvest in mid October.
Just been through the area around Reims and the harvest is almost over. Managed to grab a few bunches going past and they were the juiciest and sweetest grapes I’ve tasted.
Now on my way to Porto for a trip up the Douro valley just to check those too.
Also found this strange lighthouse in the middle of the fields there, hundreds of miles from the coast.
Opinium are ramping their poll tonight as 'extraordinary numbers' out at 8 They haven't ramped a poll since the election so probably a massive Reform lead or record Lab or Tory lows
Opinium haven't headlined their VI in the fortnightly updates (whilst still issuing them in the tables) so it might be a catastrophic drop in Starmers approval etc
I’ll guess a 15 point lead for Reform . Starmers approval ratings would be less extraordinary as they’re in the pits already.
Or maybe Labours vote collapsing (which would also be a big lead anyway) If the vox pop anger has crystallised into vote rage etc
Opinium are ramping their poll tonight as 'extraordinary numbers' out at 8 They haven't ramped a poll since the election so probably a massive Reform lead or record Lab or Tory lows
Opinium haven't headlined their VI in the fortnightly updates (whilst still issuing them in the tables) so it might be a catastrophic drop in Starmers approval etc
I’ll guess a 15 point lead for Reform . Starmers approval ratings would be less extraordinary as they’re in the pits already.
Or maybe Labours vote collapsing (which would also be a big lead anyway) If the vox pop anger has crystallised into vote rage etc
Opinium have shown the smallest Reform leads so far . The interest will be where Labours vote goes to show what’s likely to be a huge lead for Reform .
"'The English don't come any more...we miss their money': How Mallorca's war on British tourists backfired"
In fairness, I wouldn't want hoards of Reform voters coming to my neighbourhood to spew up on the pavements and torch the hotels eithers, but I guess there are also economic considerations to weigh up.
Opinium are ramping their poll tonight as 'extraordinary numbers' out at 8 They haven't ramped a poll since the election so probably a massive Reform lead or record Lab or Tory lows
Opinium haven't headlined their VI in the fortnightly updates (whilst still issuing them in the tables) so it might be a catastrophic drop in Starmers approval etc
I’ll guess a 15 point lead for Reform . Starmers approval ratings would be less extraordinary as they’re in the pits already.
Or maybe Labours vote collapsing (which would also be a big lead anyway) If the vox pop anger has crystallised into vote rage etc
Opinium have shown the smallest Reform leads so far . The interest will be where Labours vote goes to show what’s likely to be a huge lead for Reform .
Pic for the day. Pinot Meunier after full veraison, quickly gathering sugars and, er, dropping acid.
At this time of year the red varietal parts of the vineyard look properly bacchanalian. The white grapes less so, for now.
Harvest in mid October.
Just been through the area around Reims and the harvest is almost over. Managed to grab a few bunches going past and they were the juiciest and sweetest grapes I’ve tasted.
Now on my way to Porto for a trip up the Douro valley just to check those too.
Also found this strange lighthouse in the middle of the fields there, hundreds of miles from the coast.
Is it an old semaphore station?In The Count of Monte Cristo Dumas writes of the chain of semaphore towers across France so that Edmond Dantes is able to intercept and send fake news to Paris.
Opinium are ramping their poll tonight as 'extraordinary numbers' out at 8 They haven't ramped a poll since the election so probably a massive Reform lead or record Lab or Tory lows
Opinium haven't headlined their VI in the fortnightly updates (whilst still issuing them in the tables) so it might be a catastrophic drop in Starmers approval etc
I’ll guess a 15 point lead for Reform . Starmers approval ratings would be less extraordinary as they’re in the pits already.
Or maybe Labours vote collapsing (which would also be a big lead anyway) If the vox pop anger has crystallised into vote rage etc
Opinium have shown the smallest Reform leads so far . The interest will be where Labours vote goes to show what’s likely to be a huge lead for Reform .
Pic for the day. Pinot Meunier after full veraison, quickly gathering sugars and, er, dropping acid.
At this time of year the red varietal parts of the vineyard look properly bacchanalian. The white grapes less so, for now.
Harvest in mid October.
Just been through the area around Reims and the harvest is almost over. Managed to grab a few bunches going past and they were the juiciest and sweetest grapes I’ve tasted.
Now on my way to Porto for a trip up the Douro valley just to check those too.
Also found this strange lighthouse in the middle of the fields there, hundreds of miles from the coast.
Is it an old semaphore station?In The Count of Monte Cristo Dumas writes of the chain of semaphore towers across France so that Edmond Dantes is able to intercept and send fake news to Paris.
"'The English don't come any more...we miss their money': How Mallorca's war on British tourists backfired"
In fairness, I wouldn't want hoards of Reform voters coming to my neighbourhood to spew up on the pavements and torch the hotels eithers, but I guess there are also economic considerations to weigh up.
Speaking to people in Greece this year, the views of locals who have worked in Rhodes and Kos on British tourists from these islands are even lower than ten years ago. Fights every night, vomiting all over the streets. crime, jumping red lights and general chaos.
Pic for the day. Pinot Meunier after full veraison, quickly gathering sugars and, er, dropping acid.
At this time of year the red varietal parts of the vineyard look properly bacchanalian. The white grapes less so, for now.
Harvest in mid October.
Just been through the area around Reims and the harvest is almost over. Managed to grab a few bunches going past and they were the juiciest and sweetest grapes I’ve tasted.
Now on my way to Porto for a trip up the Douro valley just to check those too.
Also found this strange lighthouse in the middle of the fields there, hundreds of miles from the coast.
Do take the train up the Douro if possible - it's one of the great routes.
I recommend the bar here for a quiet air conditioned drink if Pinhão is too punishingly hot:
In Porto (well, nova de Gaia) do go to the Taylors tasting room. No entry fee (unless you want to see the museum), vintage port by the glass, and they have a nice rose garden.
Opinium are ramping their poll tonight as 'extraordinary numbers' out at 8 They haven't ramped a poll since the election so probably a massive Reform lead or record Lab or Tory lows
Opinium haven't headlined their VI in the fortnightly updates (whilst still issuing them in the tables) so it might be a catastrophic drop in Starmers approval etc
I’ll guess a 15 point lead for Reform . Starmers approval ratings would be less extraordinary as they’re in the pits already.
Or maybe Labours vote collapsing (which would also be a big lead anyway) If the vox pop anger has crystallised into vote rage etc
Opinium have shown the smallest Reform leads so far . The interest will be where Labours vote goes to show what’s likely to be a huge lead for Reform .
Not long to wait. Probably Con 13 after all that
Labour behind the Tories !
Tbf that would be extraordinary as opinium have Lab slightly higher than most and the Tories haven't got closer than 4 points behind since July 24 with them. However opinium also haven't shown the Tories above 18 since May
Farage having a total car crash on Sky News . He can’t bear any proper scrutiny .
That will end up as Ref +2 though. Big Nige versus the establishment innit. Hes one of our own etc
No if anyone saw that interview they’d think he’s making it up as he goes along . Now apparently the boats will stop two weeks after legislation passes , not two weeks after taking office which he spouted to the clapping seals yesterday . He doesn’t like scrutiny and he gets angry when any journalist asks difficult questions .
That’s it, reform is toast.
They’re not toast clearly because their base is similar to Maga . They’ll accept anything that Farage says , call any proper scrutiny a witch hunt and fake news.
Labour and the Tories need to try and get back some of the Reform support which is softer and still lives in the real world .
Maybe if Labour keep calling the Reformers racists and thickies theyll all come back.
Unlikely.
All the data we have are that there are very few Lab to Ref switchers since last year.
It's mainly Lab to Lib/Green/shrug and Con to Ref.
Can the Conservatives win back people who, despite everything, voted for them in 2024? Tricky. Can they do so without becoming Reform? Probably impossible, and if they do- what's the point?
One of the curiosities is that a lot of parties seem a bit ashamed of who their actual electorate are.
All the data ???
Sounds like you're trying to convince yourself.
There's some data here:
Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority Election North Lincolnshire Council count: HORSCROFT, Sally Anne, The Green Party – 1,604 JENKYNS, Andrea Marie, Reform UK – 12,993 OVERTON, Marianne Jane, Lincolnshire Independents – 977 STOCKWOOD, Jason, Labour and Co-operative Party – 4,825 WALTHAM, Rob, Local Conservatives – 14,003 YOUNG, Trevor, Liberal Democrats – 1021
Here's the key picture, because I like swirly pictures like this.
So they're totally ignoring some actual election results ?
Dangerous, very dangerous.
Not really.
Take Runcorn. In 2024, Reform and the Conservatives got about 7000 each, and Labour got 22000.
In the by-election, Reform got 12000 and the Conservatives 2000. With Labour's vote well down, that was enough to get them over the line. Total turnout was down 10000, and I wouldn't be surprised if that was overhelmingly on the red side. Partly pissed-offness with the government, partly wanting to hit them because of what their former MP did.
(I've done elections and by-elections. It's always mostly about identifying, motivating and dragooning your supporters to actually vote, and the lower the turnout, the more true that is.)
Of course there are some voters who have switched from Labour to Reform. But compared with the other switches that are going on, there really aren't many of them.
The BES suggests that about 800,000 Labour voters have switched to Reform, as have 1.5m Conservatives.
Labour’s problem is that Reform are a threat to them in scores of constituencies, whereas parties to the left of them are not. Losing 800,000 to Reform closes the gap between them by 1.6m. Added to that, a lot of the 1.5m Tory-Reform switchers are ex-Labour.
Added to former non-voters, that’s a perfect storm, in Red Wall seats, and places like the Thames Estuary.
Pic for the day. Pinot Meunier after full veraison, quickly gathering sugars and, er, dropping acid.
At this time of year the red varietal parts of the vineyard look properly bacchanalian. The white grapes less so, for now.
Harvest in mid October.
Just been through the area around Reims and the harvest is almost over. Managed to grab a few bunches going past and they were the juiciest and sweetest grapes I’ve tasted.
Now on my way to Porto for a trip up the Douro valley just to check those too.
Also found this strange lighthouse in the middle of the fields there, hundreds of miles from the coast.
The harvest chez Flatlander was last week. Only two plants, though, so about 15 litres of each colour.
Jason Stockwood as Minister of State (Minister for Investment) jointly in the Department for Business and Trade and HM Treasury
Dan Jarvis MP as Minister of State in the Cabinet Office. He will remain Minister of State for the Home Department
Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern as Minister of State (Minister for Skills) in the Department for Work and Pensions. She will remain Minister of State (Minister for Skills and Minister for Women and Equalities) in the Department for Education
Lord Vallance KCB as Minister of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. He will remain Minister of State in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Michael Shanks MP as Minister of State jointly in the Department for Business and Trade and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Alison McGovern MP as Minister of State in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Dame Angela Eagle DBE MP as Minister of State in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson DBE MP as Minister of State in the Department for Work and Pensions
Sarah Jones MP as Minister of State for the Home Department
"'The English don't come any more...we miss their money': How Mallorca's war on British tourists backfired"
In fairness, I wouldn't want hoards of Reform voters coming to my neighbourhood to spew up on the pavements and torch the hotels eithers, but I guess there are also economic considerations to weigh up.
That's off imo - if anything that would only be one tribe of Reform voters.
If I was the suspicious type I might have thought Starmer himself was the lawyer who gave Ange the advice! This has worked out perfectly for him. He's got a shiny new team none of whom eat peas with their knife. From a government POV this couldn't have worked out better. Angie was never up to the job and despite protestations Starmer's much more comfortable without that particular loose cannon swinging around Downing Street.....
....No the story is about Ange herself and the snobbery that brought her down. The Telegraph and Mail have been campaigning against her for months. Pure snobbery. Someone on here yesterday called her 'Gobby'. I'm afraid that's what females from her background who are climbing the ladder are having to put up with.It is so depressing.... Just another scalp for some double barrelled nobody at the Telegraph
If Labour and its supporters tell themselves that "snobbery that brought her down" then they're screwed. Rayner did something minorly wrong, but for a value that is eye-watering for many voters. She denied wrongdoing, and then tried to blame others. She was in denial. All MPs (of all parties, not just Labour) need to learn lessons from this. Many are too thick, or greedy, or self-important, to do so.
The government's media management, and management of its MPs, is awful. They need to fix this. They need to develop a few simple messages and deliver them effectively. Since Starmer is incapable of the messaging, they need someone else. Lammy isn't it.
I don't think Rayner did deny wrongdoing. She fessed up, and wanted to pay the £40k. And she promptly and quite graciously accepted the findings of the Independent Adviser, falling on her sword immediately and admitting she'd been negligent.
Rayner was naive and did not do this deliberately
Her problem was she didn't address it immediately and then blamed her solicitors and of course her own track record of condemning this type of behaviour
However, I think her supporters need to wonder who was leaking information not just to the Telegraph and Mail but also the Guardian
The initial leak of the Hove purchase was possibly a tip-off from an estate agent or member of the public, possibly via a reporter on the Hove Gazette (a fictional construct) because it has always been true that a local reporter with a juicy story's first thought is not hold the front page but is this my ticket into Fleet Street?
Once the fact of the Hove purchase is out, it immediately raises the question for any political hack, why is a northern MP who works in London buying in Hove? And from then it is either a hot gossip item because of her links to Sam Tarry who is based down there, or a political story because it hints at a chicken run.
So from the purchase all the way through to the reporting, this is not about separate conspiracies but a series of accidents forming a Greek tragedy.
Her choice of Hove is interesting. A world away from her drab origins in a Manchester slum to go to a rainbow flagged city that is perhaps the most socially liberal in the country. Her appearances on the Dance DJ and Pride events is not fake PR, she actually likes that stuff.
I suspect that there will be even more copying Farage and Trump by the Starmer team now that an important voice on Culture War issues has been relegated to the back benches.
Now we should ask the media to check if Ed Milliband has any dodgy housing issues.
Was Ed the one with two kitchens or was that David? I can't be bothered to check but according to TRiP, Ed Miliband was one of those who came out of the expenses scandal as squeaky-clean.
Ed had the two kitchens and yes he didn't do anything out of the ordinary with his expenses.
I always assumed the ”Two kitchens” thing was just coded anti-semitism. The endless reprinting of the picture of him eating a bacon sandwich likewise. Yes, it could be read as simply talking about a politicians property ownership, or a funny picture of them eating, but the underlying point was to remind readers that the Millibands were Jewish without saying so in a way that could be called out.
You may, obviously, think that I’m being wildly conspiratorial here, but given the Mail’s & other right wing press history I think it was probably deliberate in that alt-right edgy “look how easily triggered you are by my nodding & winking to anti-semitic tropes without actually saying them” kind of way.
Actually it was 3 kitchens.
They had a mini-kitchen off the lounge upstairs for refreshments-whilst-lounging.
And there was an extra one in the basement, because iirc they had reincorporated a previously separate flat into the main house.
Remember the hate campaign against Ms Sturgeon for having a upmarket coffeewotsit in her kitchen.
Anything will do.
Well thats Wings over Scotland for you.
Excellent example of the right-wing approach. Absolutely anything will do.
Farage having a total car crash on Sky News . He can’t bear any proper scrutiny .
That will end up as Ref +2 though. Big Nige versus the establishment innit. Hes one of our own etc
No if anyone saw that interview they’d think he’s making it up as he goes along . Now apparently the boats will stop two weeks after legislation passes , not two weeks after taking office which he spouted to the clapping seals yesterday . He doesn’t like scrutiny and he gets angry when any journalist asks difficult questions .
That’s it, reform is toast.
They’re not toast clearly because their base is similar to Maga . They’ll accept anything that Farage says , call any proper scrutiny a witch hunt and fake news.
Labour and the Tories need to try and get back some of the Reform support which is softer and still lives in the real world .
Maybe if Labour keep calling the Reformers racists and thickies theyll all come back.
Unlikely.
All the data we have are that there are very few Lab to Ref switchers since last year.
It's mainly Lab to Lib/Green/shrug and Con to Ref.
Can the Conservatives win back people who, despite everything, voted for them in 2024? Tricky. Can they do so without becoming Reform? Probably impossible, and if they do- what's the point?
One of the curiosities is that a lot of parties seem a bit ashamed of who their actual electorate are.
All the data ???
Sounds like you're trying to convince yourself.
There's some data here:
Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority Election North Lincolnshire Council count: HORSCROFT, Sally Anne, The Green Party – 1,604 JENKYNS, Andrea Marie, Reform UK – 12,993 OVERTON, Marianne Jane, Lincolnshire Independents – 977 STOCKWOOD, Jason, Labour and Co-operative Party – 4,825 WALTHAM, Rob, Local Conservatives – 14,003 YOUNG, Trevor, Liberal Democrats – 1021
Here's the key picture, because I like swirly pictures like this.
So they're totally ignoring some actual election results ?
Dangerous, very dangerous.
Not really.
Take Runcorn. In 2024, Reform and the Conservatives got about 7000 each, and Labour got 22000.
In the by-election, Reform got 12000 and the Conservatives 2000. With Labour's vote well down, that was enough to get them over the line. Total turnout was down 10000, and I wouldn't be surprised if that was overhelmingly on the red side. Partly pissed-offness with the government, partly wanting to hit them because of what their former MP did.
(I've done elections and by-elections. It's always mostly about identifying, motivating and dragooning your supporters to actually vote, and the lower the turnout, the more true that is.)
Of course there are some voters who have switched from Labour to Reform. But compared with the other switches that are going on, there really aren't many of them.
The BES suggests that about 800,000 Labour voters have switched to Reform, as have 1.5m Conservatives.
Labour’s problem is that Reform are a threat to them in scores of constituencies, whereas parties to the left of them are not. Losing 800,000 to Reform closes the gap between them by 1.6m. Added to that, a lot of the 1.5m Tory-Reform switchers are ex-Labour.
Added to former non-voters, that’s a perfect storm, in Red Wall seats, and places like the Thames Estuary.
2.5m fewer people voted in 2024 than 2019. Most of them were surely 2019 Tories who were pissed off w Boris/Boris going or 2019 Lab pissed off at no Jezza. Either way they aren't going to be voting Labour next time, if they do vote
Populism often hoovers up a certain online contrarianism and we see that with the populist right in the US going antivax with the appointment of RFK Jr. Reform UK are now going down the same path, with noted antivaxxer Dr Aseem Malhotra, who believes mRNA vaccines have killed millions (they haven't), speaking at the Reform UK conference: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/09/05/rfk-adviser-to-claim-vaccines-cause-cancer-at-reform-confer/
This stuff will kill. The US is seeing record numbers of measles cases. Two children and an adult, all unvaccinated, have died already. That's just the start: this could go on to kill hundreds, possibly thousands. It is estimated that the COVID-19 vaccine has saved 14.5 million lives globally.
This shit actually makes Truss look comparatively sane. She would fit right in.
“It’s highly likely that the Covid vaccines have been a significant factor in the cancers of members of the royal family” says Dr Aseem Malhotra on the main stage at Reform’s party conference https://x.com/harry_horton/status/1964326246726123713
Either a nutter or another deeply cynical grifter.
Jason Stockwood as Minister of State (Minister for Investment) jointly in the Department for Business and Trade and HM Treasury
Dan Jarvis MP as Minister of State in the Cabinet Office. He will remain Minister of State for the Home Department
Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern as Minister of State (Minister for Skills) in the Department for Work and Pensions. She will remain Minister of State (Minister for Skills and Minister for Women and Equalities) in the Department for Education
Lord Vallance KCB as Minister of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. He will remain Minister of State in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Michael Shanks MP as Minister of State jointly in the Department for Business and Trade and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Alison McGovern MP as Minister of State in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Dame Angela Eagle DBE MP as Minister of State in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson DBE MP as Minister of State in the Department for Work and Pensions
Sarah Jones MP as Minister of State for the Home Department
Pic for the day. Pinot Meunier after full veraison, quickly gathering sugars and, er, dropping acid.
At this time of year the red varietal parts of the vineyard look properly bacchanalian. The white grapes less so, for now.
Harvest in mid October.
Just been through the area around Reims and the harvest is almost over. Managed to grab a few bunches going past and they were the juiciest and sweetest grapes I’ve tasted.
Now on my way to Porto for a trip up the Douro valley just to check those too.
Also found this strange lighthouse in the middle of the fields there, hundreds of miles from the coast.
Here’s an even stranger one (image copied from Man in Seat 61 website) at the summit if the Glacier Express rail route:
Populism often hoovers up a certain online contrarianism and we see that with the populist right in the US going antivax with the appointment of RFK Jr. Reform UK are now going down the same path, with noted antivaxxer Dr Aseem Malhotra, who believes mRNA vaccines have killed millions (they haven't), speaking at the Reform UK conference: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/09/05/rfk-adviser-to-claim-vaccines-cause-cancer-at-reform-confer/
This stuff will kill. The US is seeing record numbers of measles cases. Two children and an adult, all unvaccinated, have died already. That's just the start: this could go on to kill hundreds, possibly thousands. It is estimated that the COVID-19 vaccine has saved 14.5 million lives globally.
This shit actually makes Truss look comparatively sane. She would fit right in.
“It’s highly likely that the Covid vaccines have been a significant factor in the cancers of members of the royal family” says Dr Aseem Malhotra on the main stage at Reform’s party conference https://x.com/harry_horton/status/1964326246726123713
Either a nutter or another deeply cynical grifter.
They aren't far off suggesting that Chris Whitty killed the Queen.
Populism often hoovers up a certain online contrarianism and we see that with the populist right in the US going antivax with the appointment of RFK Jr. Reform UK are now going down the same path, with noted antivaxxer Dr Aseem Malhotra, who believes mRNA vaccines have killed millions (they haven't), speaking at the Reform UK conference: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/09/05/rfk-adviser-to-claim-vaccines-cause-cancer-at-reform-confer/
This stuff will kill. The US is seeing record numbers of measles cases. Two children and an adult, all unvaccinated, have died already. That's just the start: this could go on to kill hundreds, possibly thousands. It is estimated that the COVID-19 vaccine has saved 14.5 million lives globally.
This shit actually makes Truss look comparatively sane. She would fit right in.
“It’s highly likely that the Covid vaccines have been a significant factor in the cancers of members of the royal family” says Dr Aseem Malhotra on the main stage at Reform’s party conference https://x.com/harry_horton/status/1964326246726123713
Either a nutter or another deeply cynical grifter.
Not sure that was wise. There will be a sizeable number of pro-royal Reform supporters and attempting to weaponize Charles and Kate's respective cancers would be regarded as poor taste at best. Nigel needs to issue a statement.
Opinium are ramping their poll tonight as 'extraordinary numbers' out at 8 They haven't ramped a poll since the election so probably a massive Reform lead or record Lab or Tory lows
Populism often hoovers up a certain online contrarianism and we see that with the populist right in the US going antivax with the appointment of RFK Jr. Reform UK are now going down the same path, with noted antivaxxer Dr Aseem Malhotra, who believes mRNA vaccines have killed millions (they haven't), speaking at the Reform UK conference: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/09/05/rfk-adviser-to-claim-vaccines-cause-cancer-at-reform-confer/
This stuff will kill. The US is seeing record numbers of measles cases. Two children and an adult, all unvaccinated, have died already. That's just the start: this could go on to kill hundreds, possibly thousands. It is estimated that the COVID-19 vaccine has saved 14.5 million lives globally.
This shit actually makes Truss look comparatively sane. She would fit right in.
“It’s highly likely that the Covid vaccines have been a significant factor in the cancers of members of the royal family” says Dr Aseem Malhotra on the main stage at Reform’s party conference https://x.com/harry_horton/status/1964326246726123713
Either a nutter or another deeply cynical grifter.
They aren't far off suggesting that Chris Whitty killed the Queen.
They are throwing out chaff to cover for their girl Liz.
Pic for the day. Pinot Meunier after full veraison, quickly gathering sugars and, er, dropping acid.
At this time of year the red varietal parts of the vineyard look properly bacchanalian. The white grapes less so, for now.
Harvest in mid October.
Just been through the area around Reims and the harvest is almost over. Managed to grab a few bunches going past and they were the juiciest and sweetest grapes I’ve tasted.
Now on my way to Porto for a trip up the Douro valley just to check those too.
Also found this strange lighthouse in the middle of the fields there, hundreds of miles from the coast.
Is it an old semaphore station?In The Count of Monte Cristo Dumas writes of the chain of semaphore towers across France so that Edmond Dantes is able to intercept and send fake news to Paris.
Seems a bit substantial for Peninsular War time but it could be one of the optical telegraph (not semaphore but shutter array - the linky muddles the two) built by Francisco Antonio Ciera. A peactime upgrade? But I can't find a map of locations apart from the pdf below.
In the middle of reading an account of the early C19 but peacetime semaphore lines operated by the UK Admiralty, replacing the shutter system used during the war (and having been to see the shutter signal site at Lambert's Castle in North Dorset btw last autumn).
Edit: misread, but wouldn't surprise me to see one in Reims for all that the one in the photo is a folly. The French had them all over.
Pic for the day. Pinot Meunier after full veraison, quickly gathering sugars and, er, dropping acid.
At this time of year the red varietal parts of the vineyard look properly bacchanalian. The white grapes less so, for now.
Harvest in mid October.
Just been through the area around Reims and the harvest is almost over. Managed to grab a few bunches going past and they were the juiciest and sweetest grapes I’ve tasted.
Now on my way to Porto for a trip up the Douro valley just to check those too.
Also found this strange lighthouse in the middle of the fields there, hundreds of miles from the coast.
Here’s an even stranger one (image copied from Man in Seat 61 website) at the summit if the Glacier Express rail route:
It seems the one near Reims was a promotional folly for the owner of the local Champagne house.
If I was the suspicious type I might have thought Starmer himself was the lawyer who gave Ange the advice! This has worked out perfectly for him. He's got a shiny new team none of whom eat peas with their knife. From a government POV this couldn't have worked out better. Angie was never up to the job and despite protestations Starmer's much more comfortable without that particular loose cannon swinging around Downing Street.....
....No the story is about Ange herself and the snobbery that brought her down. The Telegraph and Mail have been campaigning against her for months. Pure snobbery. Someone on here yesterday called her 'Gobby'. I'm afraid that's what females from her background who are climbing the ladder are having to put up with.It is so depressing.... Just another scalp for some double barrelled nobody at the Telegraph
If Labour and its supporters tell themselves that "snobbery that brought her down" then they're screwed. Rayner did something minorly wrong, but for a value that is eye-watering for many voters. She denied wrongdoing, and then tried to blame others. She was in denial. All MPs (of all parties, not just Labour) need to learn lessons from this. Many are too thick, or greedy, or self-important, to do so.
The government's media management, and management of its MPs, is awful. They need to fix this. They need to develop a few simple messages and deliver them effectively. Since Starmer is incapable of the messaging, they need someone else. Lammy isn't it.
I don't think Rayner did deny wrongdoing. She fessed up, and wanted to pay the £40k. And she promptly and quite graciously accepted the findings of the Independent Adviser, falling on her sword immediately and admitting she'd been negligent.
Yes but the narrative of those hostile to Rayner is to paint as negative a picture of her as possible to forestall any attempt at rehabilitation in a year or two.
The fact remains she breached the Ministerial Code and that made her position untenable. Whether said Code is fit for purpose is another question - we want to ensure Government is as free as possible from allegations of corruption or inappropriate influence such as from third party lobbying companies - but the notion complex non-Government related private financial transactions need to be held to such a high standard - well, I understand why many would wish our Ministers to be beyond any kind of reproach especially since the Expenses Scandal - doesn't sit well with me and some latitude for genuine errors should exist (as distinct from deliberate and planned tax evasion).
If as soon as this story broke she had got legal advice, found to have paid the incorrect amount, paid up, said sorry. I don't think she should have lost her job. Slap on the wrist, then she could have done the sit down interview with Rigby and explained her complex situation, end of story. I would also hope that it would have been a learning experience that not every thing a politician does is my team good / their team bad, as she (and Kemi) seem to play the game.
If she had taken and followed professional advice (following giving the pros. all the relevant data) and still ended up on the wrong side of HMRC, she wouldn’t have deserved a slap on the wrist.
She would have tried to do the right thing and been let down by the experts.
Populism often hoovers up a certain online contrarianism and we see that with the populist right in the US going antivax with the appointment of RFK Jr. Reform UK are now going down the same path, with noted antivaxxer Dr Aseem Malhotra, who believes mRNA vaccines have killed millions (they haven't), speaking at the Reform UK conference: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/09/05/rfk-adviser-to-claim-vaccines-cause-cancer-at-reform-confer/
This stuff will kill. The US is seeing record numbers of measles cases. Two children and an adult, all unvaccinated, have died already. That's just the start: this could go on to kill hundreds, possibly thousands. It is estimated that the COVID-19 vaccine has saved 14.5 million lives globally.
This shit actually makes Truss look comparatively sane. She would fit right in.
“It’s highly likely that the Covid vaccines have been a significant factor in the cancers of members of the royal family” says Dr Aseem Malhotra on the main stage at Reform’s party conference https://x.com/harry_horton/status/1964326246726123713
Either a nutter or another deeply cynical grifter.
Or both.
The dilemma of democracy.
Fruitcakes, loons and closet racists are people, and in a democracy they should have the vote. The same as smug centrists are people and should have the vote.
And in a system where you win by getting lots of votes, it can be good politics to court the votes of fruitcakes, loons and closet racists. And very bad politics to point out to people who don't consider themselves fruitcakes, loons or closet racists, that they might be supporting a party that panders to fruitcakes, loons and closet racists.
If I was the suspicious type I might have thought Starmer himself was the lawyer who gave Ange the advice! This has worked out perfectly for him. He's got a shiny new team none of whom eat peas with their knife. From a government POV this couldn't have worked out better. Angie was never up to the job and despite protestations Starmer's much more comfortable without that particular loose cannon swinging around Downing Street.....
....No the story is about Ange herself and the snobbery that brought her down. The Telegraph and Mail have been campaigning against her for months. Pure snobbery. Someone on here yesterday called her 'Gobby'. I'm afraid that's what females from her background who are climbing the ladder are having to put up with.It is so depressing.... Just another scalp for some double barrelled nobody at the Telegraph
If Labour and its supporters tell themselves that "snobbery that brought her down" then they're screwed. Rayner did something minorly wrong, but for a value that is eye-watering for many voters. She denied wrongdoing, and then tried to blame others. She was in denial. All MPs (of all parties, not just Labour) need to learn lessons from this. Many are too thick, or greedy, or self-important, to do so.
The government's media management, and management of its MPs, is awful. They need to fix this. They need to develop a few simple messages and deliver them effectively. Since Starmer is incapable of the messaging, they need someone else. Lammy isn't it.
I don't think Rayner did deny wrongdoing. She fessed up, and wanted to pay the £40k. And she promptly and quite graciously accepted the findings of the Independent Adviser, falling on her sword immediately and admitting she'd been negligent.
Yes but the narrative of those hostile to Rayner is to paint as negative a picture of her as possible to forestall any attempt at rehabilitation in a year or two.
The fact remains she breached the Ministerial Code and that made her position untenable. Whether said Code is fit for purpose is another question - we want to ensure Government is as free as possible from allegations of corruption or inappropriate influence such as from third party lobbying companies - but the notion complex non-Government related private financial transactions need to be held to such a high standard - well, I understand why many would wish our Ministers to be beyond any kind of reproach especially since the Expenses Scandal - doesn't sit well with me and some latitude for genuine errors should exist (as distinct from deliberate and planned tax evasion).
If as soon as this story broke she had got legal advice, found to have paid the incorrect amount, paid up, said sorry. I don't think she should have lost her job. Slap on the wrist, then she could have done the sit down interview with Rigby and explained her complex situation, end of story. I would also hope that it would have been a learning experience that not every thing a politician does is my team good / their team bad, as she (and Kemi) seem to play the game.
If she had taken and followed professional advice (following giving the pros. all the relevant data) and still ended up on the wrong side of HMRC, she wouldn’t have deserved a slap on the wrist.
She would have tried to do the right thing and been let down by the experts.
No you are misunderstanding. I have said if she got professional advice when buying the house and presented the paperwork, and that paperwork said lower rate is due, absolutely should not be an issue for her (based upon what she said to the lawyer about her personal situation).
I actually presumed that is what we would have seen. It might have been that the lawyer had some incomplete view of her affairs, but then I still think she would have been ok politically. Its a cock-up.
What I am saying is, if when the story broke, she got tax advice, paid up straight away ....she did go and get expert advice, but then decided to try and throw out all this nonsense about previous legal advice being wrong (when it didn't exist).
Populism often hoovers up a certain online contrarianism and we see that with the populist right in the US going antivax with the appointment of RFK Jr. Reform UK are now going down the same path, with noted antivaxxer Dr Aseem Malhotra, who believes mRNA vaccines have killed millions (they haven't), speaking at the Reform UK conference: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/09/05/rfk-adviser-to-claim-vaccines-cause-cancer-at-reform-confer/
This stuff will kill. The US is seeing record numbers of measles cases. Two children and an adult, all unvaccinated, have died already. That's just the start: this could go on to kill hundreds, possibly thousands. It is estimated that the COVID-19 vaccine has saved 14.5 million lives globally.
This shit actually makes Truss look comparatively sane. She would fit right in.
“It’s highly likely that the Covid vaccines have been a significant factor in the cancers of members of the royal family” says Dr Aseem Malhotra on the main stage at Reform’s party conference https://x.com/harry_horton/status/1964326246726123713
Either a nutter or another deeply cynical grifter.
Dunno about the cancer bit but it's not new for him to criticise covid vax.
Opinium are ramping their poll tonight as 'extraordinary numbers' out at 8 They haven't ramped a poll since the election so probably a massive Reform lead or record Lab or Tory lows
Opinium are ramping their poll tonight as 'extraordinary numbers' out at 8 They haven't ramped a poll since the election so probably a massive Reform lead or record Lab or Tory lows
My guess would be Labour drop to third or Cons to fourth - or both!😂
Green surge on the back of Polanski landslide?
Opinium arent a particularly Green friendly pollster - all 8s and 9s with one 10 several weeks ago. A surge seems unlikely unless its in tandem with a lab collapse
Connolly outs herself as a Reform 2024 voter and 'wants to work with them'
I can't help feeling that it was better for Nigel when she was just an ordinary citizen victim. If the vibe now is that she's a partisan figure with career ambitions within Reform then a bit of the mystique is lost.
If I remember correctly, they also had either a nanny or basically full time help (as Mrs Miliband has her own very success career) and when they arrived for the interview the "help" was outside cleaning the car. I think it was most likely the sparse kitchen shown was actually the "helps" kitchen to make teas and snacks.
But Miliband was trying to portray himself as man of the people vs Cameron the elite.
That’s the correct way of doing two kitchens, you have the “Staff” kitchen and the “Show” kitchen next to it.
The first one is where stuff actually gets cooked, and the second is where you take photos of your fancy island.
When I lived in Hampstead, we used to get invited round to houses with top of the line kitchens with double width chef ovens etc.
Universally, the clocks on the ovens would be blinking in that “time never see” fashion. I’d sneak a look and most of the time the manuals etc were in the oven, shrink wrapped to a shelf, as it came from the factory. The only wear on appliances would be the microwave - judging from the freezer (when looking for ice) they lived on frozen meals when not dinning out or getting cattering in for parties.
Connolly outs herself as a Reform 2024 voter and 'wants to work with them'
I can't help feeling that it was better for Nigel when she was just an ordinary citizen victim. If the vibe now is that she's a partisan figure with career ambitions within Reform then a bit of the mystique is lost.
It’s going from bad to worse for your mate Nigel recently
Farage having a total car crash on Sky News . He can’t bear any proper scrutiny .
That will end up as Ref +2 though. Big Nige versus the establishment innit. Hes one of our own etc
No if anyone saw that interview they’d think he’s making it up as he goes along . Now apparently the boats will stop two weeks after legislation passes , not two weeks after taking office which he spouted to the clapping seals yesterday . He doesn’t like scrutiny and he gets angry when any journalist asks difficult questions .
That’s it, reform is toast.
They’re not toast clearly because their base is similar to Maga . They’ll accept anything that Farage says , call any proper scrutiny a witch hunt and fake news.
Labour and the Tories need to try and get back some of the Reform support which is softer and still lives in the real world .
Trump MAGA comparisons cut both ways. MAGA didn’t win the election for Trump last year, Biden did.
Opinium are ramping their poll tonight as 'extraordinary numbers' out at 8 They haven't ramped a poll since the election so probably a massive Reform lead or record Lab or Tory lows
My guess would be Labour drop to third or Cons to fourth - or both!😂
Green surge on the back of Polanski landslide?
Opinium arent a particularly Green friendly pollster - all 8s and 9s with one 10 several weeks ago. A surge seems unlikely unless its in tandem with a lab collapse
Connolly outs herself as a Reform 2024 voter and 'wants to work with them'
I can't help feeling that it was better for Nigel when she was just an ordinary citizen victim. If the vibe now is that she's a partisan figure with career ambitions within Reform then a bit of the mystique is lost.
Its a potential problem. A bit like Laura Jones comments on binning the Senedd. Farage is apparently pissed off but that's what you get when you take in any old shit defection to grab a short term headline. None of them are buying the product, just its employment possibilities
Populism often hoovers up a certain online contrarianism and we see that with the populist right in the US going antivax with the appointment of RFK Jr. Reform UK are now going down the same path, with noted antivaxxer Dr Aseem Malhotra, who believes mRNA vaccines have killed millions (they haven't), speaking at the Reform UK conference: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/09/05/rfk-adviser-to-claim-vaccines-cause-cancer-at-reform-confer/
This stuff will kill. The US is seeing record numbers of measles cases. Two children and an adult, all unvaccinated, have died already. That's just the start: this could go on to kill hundreds, possibly thousands. It is estimated that the COVID-19 vaccine has saved 14.5 million lives globally.
This shit actually makes Truss look comparatively sane. She would fit right in.
“It’s highly likely that the Covid vaccines have been a significant factor in the cancers of members of the royal family” says Dr Aseem Malhotra on the main stage at Reform’s party conference https://x.com/harry_horton/status/1964326246726123713
Either a nutter or another deeply cynical grifter.
Not sure that was wise. There will be a sizeable number of pro-royal Reform supporters and attempting to weaponize Charles and Kate's respective cancers would be regarded as poor taste at best. Nigel needs to issue a statement.
"Wise" and "poor taste" doesn't come into it. They are platforming nutter conspiracy theorists.
Opinium are ramping their poll tonight as 'extraordinary numbers' out at 8 They haven't ramped a poll since the election so probably a massive Reform lead or record Lab or Tory lows
My guess would be Labour drop to third or Cons to fourth - or both!😂
Green surge on the back of Polanski landslide?
Opinium arent a particularly Green friendly pollster - all 8s and 9s with one 10 several weeks ago. A surge seems unlikely unless its in tandem with a lab collapse
Populism often hoovers up a certain online contrarianism and we see that with the populist right in the US going antivax with the appointment of RFK Jr. Reform UK are now going down the same path, with noted antivaxxer Dr Aseem Malhotra, who believes mRNA vaccines have killed millions (they haven't), speaking at the Reform UK conference: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/09/05/rfk-adviser-to-claim-vaccines-cause-cancer-at-reform-confer/
This stuff will kill. The US is seeing record numbers of measles cases. Two children and an adult, all unvaccinated, have died already. That's just the start: this could go on to kill hundreds, possibly thousands. It is estimated that the COVID-19 vaccine has saved 14.5 million lives globally.
This shit actually makes Truss look comparatively sane. She would fit right in.
“It’s highly likely that the Covid vaccines have been a significant factor in the cancers of members of the royal family” says Dr Aseem Malhotra on the main stage at Reform’s party conference https://x.com/harry_horton/status/1964326246726123713
Either a nutter or another deeply cynical grifter.
They aren't far off suggesting that Chris Whitty killed the Queen.
They are throwing out chaff to cover for their girl Liz.
Comments
“I can say things that my former Labour colleagues can’t, but I’m obviously in WhatsApp groups with a lot of them,” she told Times Radio. “They’re my friends. I’ve known them a long time.
“We’re all doing that emoji, basically, which is because it’s shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic. I know that’s used a lot. But this government, I’m afraid, their days are numbered. It doesn’t really make a lot of difference which of the same five people are in which particular job title.”
I think what is more likely is that they get all wet and excited about “stories” and “big news” as well as all the gossip - they meet with their political contacts and they will be excitable about Reform, Farage, all the news where the centre of it all is a newish disruptor party led by and supported by people they don’t actually understand.
To me it’s a case not of the BBC supporting or even liking Farage and reform but because the journalists and producers are so wedged up their own arses about the whirl of politics and wanting angles to report on, stories, gotchas, the works.
Reform are a constant source of news and stories. The Tories are covered in cobwebs and battered and moribund, Labour have a huge majority and although they are a mess the only big character was Rayner and that story is ending, the Lib Dem’s are very dull and worthy, the Greens and the Fruit and Nuts might become news but early doors. The only real constant source of excitement for the likes of the BBC politics lot are Reform.
You should be hoping that they do get a big spotlight on them as if people see them for real then they might realise they don’t have all the answers - like allowing Nick Griffin on newsnight etc burst the bubble. If they are as shit as a lot think then it’s good to let people see it, if they aren’t shit then traditional parties need to worry and work out why they have such support instead of trying to hide them in the attic and hope they go away.
Pointy-head boffins at the British Election Study;
https://www.britishelectionstudy.com/uncategorized/looking-for-labours-lost-voters/
Here's the key picture, because I like swirly pictures like this.
Most concerning
Not sure what Cairnscross Services are like.
The Conservatives... difficult to see it really. Their vote share was already low and they're losing most of their remainder to a proper challenger, rather than to DK and marginal parties like LDs and Greens.
No one on the BBC called out Farage's spanking in Congress. Victoria Derbyshire did however call out Jamie Raskin as a hostile questioner of the great man. I very much doubt Derbyshire is anything but a One Nation Tory or a New Labour Blairite, but her interview of Raskin fitted your narrative.
But also I think it is to do with a gap in diversity in the BBC. They are ethnically diverse. But with a very mono-cultural social culture. So when it comes to reporting on Reform, they are viewing it like Cultural Anthropology - “look at what the strange people, we know little of, are doing”.
So they don’t have the context to question things like Reform, deeply.
Dangerous, very dangerous.
The crop isn’t huge either. So quality will be high.
That's after this, https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/george-finch-chickenpox-vaccine-5HjdBdt_2/ , Cllr George Finch, the party's teenage leader of Warwickshire County Council, criticising the new chickenpox vaccine.
This stuff will kill. The US is seeing record numbers of measles cases. Two children and an adult, all unvaccinated, have died already. That's just the start: this could go on to kill hundreds, possibly thousands. It is estimated that the COVID-19 vaccine has saved 14.5 million lives globally.
Take Runcorn. In 2024, Reform and the Conservatives got about 7000 each, and Labour got 22000.
In the by-election, Reform got 12000 and the Conservatives 2000. With Labour's vote well down, that was enough to get them over the line. Total turnout was down 10000, and I wouldn't be surprised if that was overhelmingly on the red side. Partly pissed-offness with the government, partly wanting to hit them because of what their former MP did.
(I've done elections and by-elections. It's always mostly about identifying, motivating and dragooning your supporters to actually vote, and the lower the turnout, the more true that is.)
Of course there are some voters who have switched from Labour to Reform. But compared with the other switches that are going on, there really aren't many of them.
Starmer is wooden, the policies are anodyne, the flag fondling and simping over Farage repulsive, and Labour activists are in general anti-austrrity, pro-Europe and pro-Palestinian and wanting to see real change domestically.
T
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/09/06/britain-apolitical-town-turned-on-starmer-supports-reform
- if they do cut their goolies off then it's an amputation fetish and it's wrong
- if they don't cut their goolies then they are predators and it's wrong
If I ever get Visio on my PC I'll do a flow chart. Although isn't there another way of doing flow charts these days?Mind you we usually stop at the J38 Truck stop if we are driving past Tebay services something has gone seriously wrong..
Cairn Lodge is nice as it doesn't get the crowds being in Scotland and compared to how it was before Westmorland took over it's a completely different place.
I seem to recall an episode of the Liver Birds where one of them did that by painting her bedroom canary yellow, and had to move in with Sandra at midnight.
'We want to return women to Afghanistan'
Apparently he is trying to work out what to do with children and will stop the boats in 2 weeks but only after legislation
How can anyone support this or even be remotely associated with it ?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Lawrence
They haven't ramped a poll since the election so probably a massive Reform lead or record Lab or Tory lows
Sarah Pochin: I iron Lee Anderson’s shirts because he can’t
Sarah Pochin, the Reform MP for Runcorn and Helsby, joked it was an “honour and a privilege” to iron Lee Anderson’s shirts for him.
Ms Pochin said: “It is an honour and a privilege to be standing here as the first female Reform Member of Parliament.
“It’s also an honour and a privilege to be in a position where I can iron Lee Anderson’s shirts. He makes such a hash of it, I walked past his office and I said ‘give me the iron, Lee’. He was just hopeless.
“And sleeves first, everybody out there, there’s a big national debate going on now.”
(I think she's been got. Agent Anderson was a single dad for 17 years - of course he can iron things.)
"Angela Rayner’s resignation over her tax affairs will only makes [a Reform government] more likely; she was the only senior Labour politician capable of leading a political agenda that would challenge Reform for working-class votes. While Farage’s focus on immigration and crime clearly appeals to working-class voters, Rayner’s Left-leaning policies on tax, the economy and welfare unquestionably resonate too. She could have put such a package together in ways that Starmer never could.
Her resignation will give voters yet more proof that all politicians are the same; she has been exposed as just another minister who tells everyone to do one thing, while doing another. And, for Rayner, the hostility is likely to be even more intense than it would be for other politicians because there was a sense that she was different from other MPs."
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15070229/Mallorcas-war-British-tourists-backfired.html
"'The English don't come any more...we miss their money': How Mallorca's war on British tourists backfired"
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/38842cce5114fcf9
Now on my way to Porto for a trip up the Douro valley just to check those too.
Also found this strange lighthouse in the middle of the fields there, hundreds of miles from the coast.
If the vox pop anger has crystallised into vote rage etc
Probably Con 13 after all that
The French may have been more archaic I concede.
I recommend the bar here for a quiet air conditioned drink if Pinhão is too punishingly hot:
https://www.vintagehousehotel.com/en/
In Porto (well, nova de Gaia) do go to the Taylors tasting room. No entry fee (unless you want to see the museum), vintage port by the glass, and they have a nice rose garden.
Labour’s problem is that Reform are a threat to them in scores of constituencies, whereas parties to the left of them are not. Losing 800,000 to Reform closes the gap between them by 1.6m. Added to that, a lot of the 1.5m Tory-Reform switchers are ex-Labour.
Added to former non-voters, that’s a perfect storm, in Red Wall seats, and places like the Thames Estuary.
Makes a difference being on a patio...
Baroness Gustafsson CBE, Jim McMahon MP, and Daniel Zeichner MP have left the Government., Justin Madders sacked
Dan Jarvis MP as Minister of State in the Cabinet Office. He will remain Minister of State for the Home Department
Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern as Minister of State (Minister for Skills) in the Department for Work and Pensions. She will remain Minister of State (Minister for Skills and Minister for Women and Equalities) in the Department for Education
Lord Vallance KCB as Minister of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. He will remain Minister of State in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Michael Shanks MP as Minister of State jointly in the Department for Business and Trade and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Alison McGovern MP as Minister of State in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Dame Angela Eagle DBE MP as Minister of State in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson DBE MP as Minister of State in the Department for Work and Pensions
Sarah Jones MP as Minister of State for the Home Department
“It’s highly likely that the Covid vaccines have been a significant factor in the cancers of members of the royal family” says Dr Aseem Malhotra on the main stage at Reform’s party conference
https://x.com/harry_horton/status/1964326246726123713
Either a nutter or another deeply cynical grifter.
https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/optical-semaphore-telegraph-francisco-antónio-ciera/rgElSOjwY9GM0w?hl=en
https://repositorio.ulisboa.pt/bitstream/10451/40114/1/LUNA__SOUSA__LEAL_-_2008-libre.pdf
In the middle of reading an account of the early C19 but peacetime semaphore lines operated by the UK Admiralty, replacing the shutter system used during the war (and having been to see the shutter signal site at Lambert's Castle in North Dorset btw last autumn).
Edit: misread, but wouldn't surprise me to see one in Reims for all that the one in the photo is a folly. The French had them all over.
She would have tried to do the right thing and been let down by the experts.
The dilemma of democracy.
Fruitcakes, loons and closet racists are people, and in a democracy they should have the vote. The same as smug centrists are people and should have the vote.
And in a system where you win by getting lots of votes, it can be good politics to court the votes of fruitcakes, loons and closet racists. And very bad politics to point out to people who don't consider themselves fruitcakes, loons or closet racists, that they might be supporting a party that panders to fruitcakes, loons and closet racists.
I actually presumed that is what we would have seen. It might have been that the lawyer had some incomplete view of her affairs, but then I still think she would have been ok politically. Its a cock-up.
What I am saying is, if when the story broke, she got tax advice, paid up straight away ....she did go and get expert advice, but then decided to try and throw out all this nonsense about previous legal advice being wrong (when it didn't exist).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aseem_Malhotra#Too_Much_Medicine_campaign
Universally, the clocks on the ovens would be blinking in that “time never see” fashion. I’d sneak a look and most of the time the manuals etc were in the oven, shrink wrapped to a shelf, as it came from the factory. The only wear on appliances would be the microwave - judging from the freezer (when looking for ice) they lived on frozen meals when not dinning out or getting cattering in for parties.
Seemed a bit sad to me.
None of them are buying the product, just its employment possibilities
They are platforming nutter conspiracy theorists.