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.
Happily, or otherwise, we're going to get an object lesson in the consequences of putting an idiot like that in charge of health policy.
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.
Also note it's associate professor which is equivalent to senior lecturer in the UK. So not a full prof.
Ben Habib claims Advance UK have just hit 29,900 members with 100 more to hit his 30,000 target triggering him putting in 100k of his own money and registering at the EC so they can begin standing candidates. A party with 30,000 paid up members ought to be hitting 2 to 3% in the polls, the greens have about 75,000.....
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.
Also note it's associate professor which is equivalent to senior lecturer in the UK. So not a full prof.
Where as Terence Tao not only has a billizion citations, he has managed to do that across a number of specialisms. Particularly in maths, that is very rare.
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.
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.
There’s a more appropriate windmill on the next hill along. Mumms the word though
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.
There’s a more appropriate windmill on the next hill along. Mumms the word though
"'The English don't come any more...we miss their money': How Mallorca's war on British tourists backfired"
What exactly did they expect would happen?
I don't think the Mallorcans campaigning against (British) tourists are the same Mallorcans as the Mallorcans lamenting their disappearance.
It isn't a campaign against British tourists, it is a campaign against excessive drinking, and loud loutish behaviour, which just happens to be Brits on holiday.
Mallorca has decided to move more upmarket, and probably rightly so. It is a lovely island and I have enjoyed a number of holidays there myself over the years. Different resorts cater to different markets and often different nationalities. There is a definite market for cheap booze and all night partying, and while not my thing am happy that this goes on elsewhere. I understand why the local residents get tired of it.
Two Brits in the men's doubles final starting now.
Doubles is considered largely irrelevant, but they get $500k each if they win, so not a bad living if you're at the top.
I’ve always wondered why the doubles seems to be so much less watched than the singles as I’m sure, but could be wrong, that most people who play tennis socially play doubles and generally a more fun game to play and watch. Unless your partner is my ex who was utterly shit.
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.
Happily, or otherwise, we're going to get an object lesson in the consequences of putting an idiot like that in charge of health policy.
With (probably) three years to show results.
Britons look across the pond and see an egotistical autocratic who has appointed a cabinet of cranks and sycophants, randomly applied tariffs to friendly countries, considers the dictators of the world to be his friends and disregards the rule of law.
It recognises her abilities as the senior Yes Man/Woman in the Labour Party. Also, she becomes the sacrificial lamb sent out to do the morning media round when things get tough.
"'The English don't come any more...we miss their money': How Mallorca's war on British tourists backfired"
What exactly did they expect would happen?
I don't think the Mallorcans campaigning against (British) tourists are the same Mallorcans as the Mallorcans lamenting their disappearance.
We came, we saw, we smashed up Palma.
Can you blame them?
Magaluf is a fair distance from Palma, which is a delightful small city with plenty of local flavour and excellent restaurants and culture. The cheap lager and all day breakfast crowd are elsewhere.
"'The English don't come any more...we miss their money': How Mallorca's war on British tourists backfired"
What exactly did they expect would happen?
I don't think the Mallorcans campaigning against (British) tourists are the same Mallorcans as the Mallorcans lamenting their disappearance.
It isn't a campaign against British tourists, it is a campaign against excessive drinking, and loud loutish behaviour, which just happens to be Brits on holiday.
Mallorca has decided to move more upmarket, and probably rightly so. It is a lovely island and I have enjoyed a number of holidays there myself over the years. Different resorts cater to different markets and often different nationalities. There is a definite market for cheap booze and all night partying, and while not my thing am happy that this goes on elsewhere. I understand why the local residents get tired of it.
So it’s all ok to want to get rid of a bunch of people who behave in a way you don’t like because it ruins people’s desire for order and being upmarket. Maybe Epping needs to claim they want to move upmarket and so these bothersome incomers in hotels need to be shoohed away.
Mallorca has long been “upmarket” outside of a few specific areas and it’s not, as much as we love bashing the Brits, just the Brits, the Mallorcans hate the German youth who behave exactly the same as the Nrits in their traditional party resorts.
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
We are all rooting for a Labour collapse and a Tory surge just to cheer our hypertensioned PB Tory friends.
This may be the exception, but pre-ramped polls are often disappointing.
It recognises her abilities as the senior Yes Man/Woman in the Labour Party. Also, she becomes the sacrificial lamb sent out to do the morning media round when things get tough.
"'The English don't come any more...we miss their money': How Mallorca's war on British tourists backfired"
What exactly did they expect would happen?
I don't think the Mallorcans campaigning against (British) tourists are the same Mallorcans as the Mallorcans lamenting their disappearance.
We came, we saw, we smashed up Palma.
Can you blame them?
Magaluf is a fair distance from Palma, which is a delightful small city with plenty of local flavour and excellent restaurants and culture. The cheap lager and all day breakfast crowd are elsewhere.
I've been to Palma several times, remarkably I have never been to Shagaluf. Isn't Palma Nova a bit lairy, or have I just made Palma Nova up?
"'The English don't come any more...we miss their money': How Mallorca's war on British tourists backfired"
What exactly did they expect would happen?
I don't think the Mallorcans campaigning against (British) tourists are the same Mallorcans as the Mallorcans lamenting their disappearance.
It isn't a campaign against British tourists, it is a campaign against excessive drinking, and loud loutish behaviour, which just happens to be Brits on holiday.
Mallorca has decided to move more upmarket, and probably rightly so. It is a lovely island and I have enjoyed a number of holidays there myself over the years. Different resorts cater to different markets and often different nationalities. There is a definite market for cheap booze and all night partying, and while not my thing am happy that this goes on elsewhere. I understand why the local residents get tired of it.
So it’s all ok to want to get rid of a bunch of people who behave in a way you don’t like because it ruins people’s desire for order and being upmarket. Maybe Epping needs to claim they want to move upmarket and so these bothersome incomers in hotels need to be shoohed away.
Mallorca has long been “upmarket” outside of a few specific areas and it’s not, as much as we love bashing the Brits, just the Brits, the Mallorcans hate the German youth who behave exactly the same as the Nrits in their traditional party resorts.
Yes, the German resorts are to the East of Palma, the Brits to the West. Perhaps deliberate and wise of the Mallorcans!
Though Mallorca is not the place to go if you don't like asylum seekers being accommodated in hotels:
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
We are all rooting for a Labour collapse and a Tory surge just to cheer our hypertensioned PB Tory friends.
This may be the exception, but pre-ramped polls are seldom earth shattering.
They do tend to underwhelm, yes. What's astonishing for Opinium has probably already happened with BMG and FoN. Opinium were total shits for this in the election, weekly ramping of their poll. They got a lot of criticism for it and have behaved ever since. Till today.
"'The English don't come any more...we miss their money': How Mallorca's war on British tourists backfired"
What exactly did they expect would happen?
I don't think the Mallorcans campaigning against (British) tourists are the same Mallorcans as the Mallorcans lamenting their disappearance.
We came, we saw, we smashed up Palma.
Can you blame them?
Magaluf is a fair distance from Palma, which is a delightful small city with plenty of local flavour and excellent restaurants and culture. The cheap lager and all day breakfast crowd are elsewhere.
I've been to Palma several times, remarkably I have never been to Shagaluf. Isn't Palma Nova a bit lairy, or have I just made Palma Nova up?
Palma Nova is a bit more of a family resort, though a bit cheap and cheerful, but a good few miles from Palma proper.
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.
Also note it's associate professor which is equivalent to senior lecturer in the UK. So not a full prof.
Where as Terence Tao not only has a billizion citations, he has managed to do that across a number of specialisms. Particularly in maths, that is very rare.
Yes but Tao is arguably the GOAT and certainly among them so it seems unreasonable to set the bar that high. It is like complaining English football has never produced a Maradona, Messi or Pele.
It recognises her abilities as the senior Yes Man/Woman in the Labour Party. Also, she becomes the sacrificial lamb sent out to do the morning media round when things get tough.
"'The English don't come any more...we miss their money': How Mallorca's war on British tourists backfired"
What exactly did they expect would happen?
I don't think the Mallorcans campaigning against (British) tourists are the same Mallorcans as the Mallorcans lamenting their disappearance.
We came, we saw, we smashed up Palma.
Can you blame them?
Magaluf is a fair distance from Palma, which is a delightful small city with plenty of local flavour and excellent restaurants and culture. The cheap lager and all day breakfast crowd are elsewhere.
I've been to Palma several times, remarkably I have never been to Shagaluf. Isn't Palma Nova a bit lairy, or have I just made Palma Nova up?
Palma Nova is a bit more of a family resort, though a bit cheap and cheerful, but a good few miles from Palma proper.
I used to rent a villa near Puerto Pollenca each year for three years but haven't been back since, so I know that area and Alcudia. I took the train to Soller a couple of times too, but save for a business launch in Palma in the 1980s I am not too familiar with the South of the Island.
41% of Brits say Farage looks like a PM in waiting 39% say Reform is ready to be government
On most key issues facing Britain, voters say Reform UK will improve the situation including 51% of Brits who say issues around immigration would improve."
"'The English don't come any more...we miss their money': How Mallorca's war on British tourists backfired"
What exactly did they expect would happen?
I don't think the Mallorcans campaigning against (British) tourists are the same Mallorcans as the Mallorcans lamenting their disappearance.
We came, we saw, we smashed up Palma.
Can you blame them?
Magaluf is a fair distance from Palma, which is a delightful small city with plenty of local flavour and excellent restaurants and culture. The cheap lager and all day breakfast crowd are elsewhere.
I've been to Palma several times, remarkably I have never been to Shagaluf. Isn't Palma Nova a bit lairy, or have I just made Palma Nova up?
Palma Nova is a bit more of a family resort, though a bit cheap and cheerful, but a good few miles from Palma proper.
I used to rent a villa near Puerto Pollenca each year for three years but haven't been back since, so I know that area and Alcudia. I took the train to Soller a couple of times too, but save for a business launch in Palma in the 1980s I am not too familiar with the South of the Island.
Puerto Pollenca is nicer in the summer as it gets a cooling breeze from facing north. I like Soller too, though Puerto Soller is a bit of a furnace.
I first went to Mallorca when Fox Jr was one, as we wanted a short daytime flight, guaranteed sun and a pool. We had a great time and I have been a half dozen times since with the family. I can see why it is so popular as it is a magnificent island, and big enough to absorb a lot of tourists. Magaluf is a different kettle of fish. My best man had a week there on an 18-30 holiday, pulled every night and came back sunburnt and with a cold of the willy.
"'The English don't come any more...we miss their money': How Mallorca's war on British tourists backfired"
What exactly did they expect would happen?
I don't think the Mallorcans campaigning against (British) tourists are the same Mallorcans as the Mallorcans lamenting their disappearance.
We came, we saw, we smashed up Palma.
Can you blame them?
Magaluf is a fair distance from Palma, which is a delightful small city with plenty of local flavour and excellent restaurants and culture. The cheap lager and all day breakfast crowd are elsewhere.
I've been to Palma several times, remarkably I have never been to Shagaluf. Isn't Palma Nova a bit lairy, or have I just made Palma Nova up?
Palma Nova is a bit more of a family resort, though a bit cheap and cheerful, but a good few miles from Palma proper.
I used to rent a villa near Puerto Pollenca each year for three years but haven't been back since, so I know that area and Alcudia. I took the train to Soller a couple of times too, but save for a business launch in Palma in the 1980s I am not too familiar with the South of the Island.
Puerto Pollenca is nicer in the summer as it gets a cooling breeze from facing north. I like Soller too, though Puerto Soller is a bit of a furnace.
I first went to Mallorca when Fox Jr was one, as we wanted a short daytime flight, guaranteed sun and a pool. We had a great time and I have been a half dozen times since with the family. I can see why it is so popular as it is a magnificent island, and big enough to absorb a lot of tourists. Magaluf is a different kettle of fish. My best man had a week there on an 18-30 holiday, pulled every night and came back sunburnt and with a cold of the willy.
We used to go to places like Magaluf and Benidorm out of season, February/March mostly, with our young kids, and they were actually quite pleasant at that time of year. Still had the beaches that caused their original popularity, lots of cheap places to eat, but no louts.
I watched about five minutes of Arsenal ladies. That shouty Vicki Sparkes is unlistenable.
You are Joey Barton and I claim my £5 ;-)
Pourquoi?
He is always banging on about how women commentators are unlistenable.
They generally are though. There seems to be a general belief amongst a large proportion of them that shouting is necessary and so combined with the pitch it can be gruesome. Vicki Sparks is unlistenable. It’s not sexist to find higher pitched voices shouting and screaming unpleasant.
There are plenty of female sports pundits who sound good, Gabby Logan, Kelly Cates, Eiliedh Barber, Pien. MEulensteen all have fine voices but too many of the commentators are painful.
I can’t bear listening to Lyse Doucet or Mariko Oi when they get wheeled out on the Today programme either but there are other women like Mishal Hussein who have great voices.
I wonder what the reaction would have been in the media if Labour invited someone of inciting people to burn a hotel down to their conference.
The fact that the media are ignoring what Reform did today is quite astonishing.
It's comedy gold:
“I too came from a poorish family,” says the 3rd Viscount Monckton of Brenchley, eldest son of Major-General Gilbert Monckton, 2nd Viscount Monckton of Brenchley and Marianna Letitia, Viscountess Monckton of Brenchley.
I wonder what the reaction would have been in the media if Labour invited someone of inciting people to burn a hotel down to their conference.
The fact that the media are ignoring what Reform did today is quite astonishing.
It's comedy gold:
“I too came from a poorish family,” says the 3rd Viscount Monckton of Brenchley, eldest son of Major-General Gilbert Monckton, 2nd Viscount Monckton of Brenchley and Marianna Letitia, Viscountess Monckton of Brenchley.
I wonder what the reaction would have been in the media if Labour invited someone of inciting people to burn a hotel down to their conference.
The fact that the media are ignoring what Reform did today is quite astonishing.
I've always found it a useful maxim that things you think ought to be important, often aren't.
Surely inviting a convicted criminal and then lauding her as the return of Mother Teresa should be a step too far.
Then they topped it off with the anti-vaxxer .
And all the time winning the public over
No point in arguing reason when the public have lost faith in both main parties
You will see a lot more that really upsets you [ and me ] and the way to defeat it is with action not words by Starmer and Reeves who after all they are in government
And Ashton seems to have turned against Rayner in a big way
I wonder what the reaction would have been in the media if Labour invited someone of inciting people to burn a hotel down to their conference.
The fact that the media are ignoring what Reform did today is quite astonishing.
It's comedy gold:
“I too came from a poorish family,” says the 3rd Viscount Monckton of Brenchley, eldest son of Major-General Gilbert Monckton, 2nd Viscount Monckton of Brenchley and Marianna Letitia, Viscountess Monckton of Brenchley.
Lucky he didn’t mispeak and say “I too came from a Moorish family”. Would have been drummed out PDQ.
Or even "I too came from a boorish family"
But that criticism deflection field, where you can be as mad or unpleasant as you like, and it's the person calling you out on it who is in the wrong... It's a heck of a superpower. It's not unique to politics, but it's blooming terrifying.
I wonder what the reaction would have been in the media if Labour invited someone of inciting people to burn a hotel down to their conference.
The fact that the media are ignoring what Reform did today is quite astonishing.
I've always found it a useful maxim that things you think ought to be important, often aren't.
Surely inviting a convicted criminal and then lauding her as the return of Mother Teresa should be a step too far.
Then they topped it off with the anti-vaxxer .
And all the time winning the public over
No point in arguing reason when the public have lost faith in both main parties
You will see a lot more that really upsets you [ and me ] and the way to defeat it is with action not words by Starmer and Reeves who after all they are in government
And Ashton seems to have turned against Rayner in a big way
Rabbits in headlights Big G. Both the former big 2 continue to drop the ball. Play on lads, play on!
Corbyn’s a friend of mine but I just don’t see how his party makes sense right now…we don’t need more vote splitting on the left, we need more unity. We are (collectively) a big majority in our country.
Corbyn’s a friend of mine but I just don’t see how his party makes sense right now…we don’t need more vote splitting on the left, we need more unity. We are (collectively) a big majority in our country.
Corbyn’s a friend of mine but I just don’t see how his party makes sense right now…we don’t need more vote splitting on the left, we need more unity. We are (collectively) a big majority in our country.
I wonder what the reaction would have been in the media if Labour invited someone of inciting people to burn a hotel down to their conference.
The fact that the media are ignoring what Reform did today is quite astonishing.
I suspect the party of the next government giving a platform to an anti-vax conspiracy crank and a convicted arson inciter will generate considerably less media coverage than Bob Vylan, even though the latter's utterances probably constitute a much lower risk to life. So even from a utilitarian perspective it's regrettable.
Corbyn’s a friend of mine but I just don’t see how his party makes sense right now…we don’t need more vote splitting on the left, we need more unity. We are (collectively) a big majority in our country.
I wonder what the reaction would have been in the media if Labour invited someone of inciting people to burn a hotel down to their conference.
The fact that the media are ignoring what Reform did today is quite astonishing.
A strange Any Questions today. Zack Polanski is definitely one to watch. A bit too much student politics about him but an infectious enthusiasm. Could he make a difference? He hasn't got the baggage of the Sultanas and his critique on Farage bordered on hatred and every shot landed
....So its possible. I'm pretty sure Farage is miles from a certainty. There are just to many haters and ridiculers and under any sort of scrutiny he folds.
I wonder what the reaction would have been in the media if Labour invited someone of inciting people to burn a hotel down to their conference.
The fact that the media are ignoring what Reform did today is quite astonishing.
I've always found it a useful maxim that things you think ought to be important, often aren't.
Surely inviting a convicted criminal and then lauding her as the return of Mother Teresa should be a step too far.
Then they topped it off with the anti-vaxxer .
And all the time winning the public over
No point in arguing reason when the public have lost faith in both main parties
You will see a lot more that really upsets you [ and me ] and the way to defeat it is with action not words by Starmer and Reeves who after all they are in government
And Ashton seems to have turned against Rayner in a big way
Actually, I don't think this is true at all. Reform voters are significant outliers on most issues such as this, but even then they aren't as MAGA as you might think - e.g. a majority of Reform voters backed Net Zero policies back in May.
Like all parties, their members are far more extreme than their voters, so I think anti-vaxxer type stuff is likely to put their own voters off. I'm not sure about Lucy Connolly but I vaguely recall a majority of Reform voters being against the rioting, arson etc
Iain Dale @IainDale · 43m So today ReformUK platformed an antivaccine conspiracy theorist, a lady who pled guilty to inciting people to burn down a migrant hotel, had an elected mayor butcher the national anthem, and whose leader wants sanctions imposed on his own country. Indeed, the party of patriotism.
Corbyn’s a friend of mine but I just don’t see how his party makes sense right now…we don’t need more vote splitting on the left, we need more unity. We are (collectively) a big majority in our country.
Iain Dale @IainDale · 43m So today ReformUK platformed an antivaccine conspiracy theorist, a lady who pled guilty to inciting people to burn down a migrant hotel, had an elected mayor butcher the national anthem, and whose leader wants sanctions imposed on his own country. Indeed, the party of patriotism.
I wonder what the reaction would have been in the media if Labour invited someone of inciting people to burn a hotel down to their conference.
The fact that the media are ignoring what Reform did today is quite astonishing.
A strange Any Questions today. Zack Polanski is definitely one to watch. A bit too much student politics about him but an infectious enthusiasm. Could he make a difference? He hasn't got the baggage of the Sultanas and his critique on Farage bordered on hatred and every shot landed
....So its possible. I'm pretty sure Farage is miles from a certainty. There are just to many haters and ridiculers and under any sort of scrutiny he folds.
Mr P had better have lawyered up for everything he's done financially, ever since playing supermarket tellers with plastic coins at kindergarten. That's the right wing media after him now.
Iain Dale @IainDale · 43m So today ReformUK platformed an antivaccine conspiracy theorist, a lady who pled guilty to inciting people to burn down a migrant hotel, had an elected mayor butcher the national anthem, and whose leader wants sanctions imposed on his own country. Indeed, the party of patriotism.
Iain Dale @IainDale · 43m So today ReformUK platformed an antivaccine conspiracy theorist, a lady who pled guilty to inciting people to burn down a migrant hotel, had an elected mayor butcher the national anthem, and whose leader wants sanctions imposed on his own country. Indeed, the party of patriotism.
"'The English don't come any more...we miss their money': How Mallorca's war on British tourists backfired"
What exactly did they expect would happen?
I don't think the Mallorcans campaigning against (British) tourists are the same Mallorcans as the Mallorcans lamenting their disappearance.
We came, we saw, we smashed up Palma.
Can you blame them?
Magaluf is a fair distance from Palma, which is a delightful small city with plenty of local flavour and excellent restaurants and culture. The cheap lager and all day breakfast crowd are elsewhere.
I've been to Palma several times, remarkably I have never been to Shagaluf. Isn't Palma Nova a bit lairy, or have I just made Palma Nova up?
Palma Nova is a bit more of a family resort, though a bit cheap and cheerful, but a good few miles from Palma proper.
I used to rent a villa near Puerto Pollenca each year for three years but haven't been back since, so I know that area and Alcudia. I took the train to Soller a couple of times too, but save for a business launch in Palma in the 1980s I am not too familiar with the South of the Island.
Puerto Pollenca is nicer in the summer as it gets a cooling breeze from facing north. I like Soller too, though Puerto Soller is a bit of a furnace.
I first went to Mallorca when Fox Jr was one, as we wanted a short daytime flight, guaranteed sun and a pool. We had a great time and I have been a half dozen times since with the family. I can see why it is so popular as it is a magnificent island, and big enough to absorb a lot of tourists. Magaluf is a different kettle of fish. My best man had a week there on an 18-30 holiday, pulled every night and came back sunburnt and with a cold of the willy.
Lmao, Dorries in the Mail urging a Reform Tory pact/coalition (but not with Kemi in charge) I thought the Tories were dead Nads??
Yet you listen to Iain Dale and realise there are plenty of Conservatives who loathe Reform and everything for which it stands so selling such a "pact" doesn't look easy. Presumably Dorries is hoping Jenrick will take over the Conservatives in 2026 and will make overtures to Farage.
How many Reform voters would vote for a Conservative candidate absent a Reform candidate - probably more than Tories who would vote Reform if there were no Conservative candidate?
I wonder what the reaction would have been in the media if Labour invited someone of inciting people to burn a hotel down to their conference.
The fact that the media are ignoring what Reform did today is quite astonishing.
I've always found it a useful maxim that things you think ought to be important, often aren't.
Surely inviting a convicted criminal and then lauding her as the return of Mother Teresa should be a step too far.
Then they topped it off with the anti-vaxxer .
And all the time winning the public over
No point in arguing reason when the public have lost faith in both main parties
You will see a lot more that really upsets you [ and me ] and the way to defeat it is with action not words by Starmer and Reeves who after all they are in government
And Ashton seems to have turned against Rayner in a big way
Actually, I don't think this is true at all. Reform voters are significant outliers on most issues such as this, but even then they aren't as MAGA as you might think - e.g. a majority of Reform voters backed Net Zero policies back in May.
Like all parties, their members are far more extreme than their voters, so I think anti-vaxxer type stuff is likely to put their own voters off. I'm not sure about Lucy Connolly but I vaguely recall a majority of Reform voters being against the rioting, arson etc
What tends to happen is their support becomes more radical . This is what’s happened in the USA and Maga.
Supporters will try and justify their continued allegiance to the party by excusing certain party positions, and downgrading them in importance .
For this reason the opposition parties need to act quickly , there’s no point trying to combat Reform close to the election , the radicalisation would have already taken place by then .
Parties need to wake up , hammer social media and do everything possible to claw back some of those Reform voters who haven’t passed the point of no return .
I wonder what the reaction would have been in the media if Labour invited someone of inciting people to burn a hotel down to their conference.
The fact that the media are ignoring what Reform did today is quite astonishing.
Are they ignoring it? I heard about it via Dan Hodges of the Daily Mail, and he was scathing about it
Let’s see what the BBC and ITV do .
"Patriot and national heroin Lucy Connolly throws her lot in with God's own party"???
If you remember Kenny Everett and Peter Lilley it was the same thing. It seemed like a goood idea at the time but it defined the Tory Party fror the next 20 years. It's really where Mrs May's 'Nasty Party' originated.
Farage has made a rod for his own back and Reform in it's present guise with him and Tice in control have no chance-in my opinion - of even doing better than the Conservatives.
Lmao, Dorries in the Mail urging a Reform Tory pact/coalition (but not with Kemi in charge) I thought the Tories were dead Nads??
The Tory Reform coalition is necessary. Not just for the political expertise that the Tories will bring, but for the mandate. Let's say that Reform get 37% of the vote. That doesn't represent a moral mandate. Add the Tories theoretical 22%, and that is a rock solid mandate to reverse Blair's constitutional vandalism, take all the steps necessary to solve the issue of legal and illegal migration, get the economy going, and the public finances moving back in the right direction.
I wonder what the reaction would have been in the media if Labour invited someone of inciting people to burn a hotel down to their conference.
The fact that the media are ignoring what Reform did today is quite astonishing.
I've always found it a useful maxim that things you think ought to be important, often aren't.
Surely inviting a convicted criminal and then lauding her as the return of Mother Teresa should be a step too far.
Then they topped it off with the anti-vaxxer .
And all the time winning the public over
No point in arguing reason when the public have lost faith in both main parties
You will see a lot more that really upsets you [ and me ] and the way to defeat it is with action not words by Starmer and Reeves who after all they are in government
And Ashton seems to have turned against Rayner in a big way
Actually, I don't think this is true at all. Reform voters are significant outliers on most issues such as this, but even then they aren't as MAGA as you might think - e.g. a majority of Reform voters backed Net Zero policies back in May.
Like all parties, their members are far more extreme than their voters, so I think anti-vaxxer type stuff is likely to put their own voters off. I'm not sure about Lucy Connolly but I vaguely recall a majority of Reform voters being against the rioting, arson etc
What tends to happen is their support becomes more radical . This is what’s happened in the USA and Maga.
Supporters will try and justify their continued allegiance to the party by excusing certain party positions, and downgrading them in importance .
For this reason the opposition parties need to act quickly , there’s no point trying to combat Reform close to the election , the radicalisation would have already taken place by then .
Parties need to wake up , hammer social media and do everything possible to claw back some of those Reform voters who haven’t passed the point of no return .
Yes, agree with that. Precisely what happened with Republicans. They aren't full MAGA - yet.
Lmao, Dorries in the Mail urging a Reform Tory pact/coalition (but not with Kemi in charge) I thought the Tories were dead Nads??
The Tory Reform coalition is necessary. Not just for the political expertise that the Tories will bring, but for the mandate. Let's say that Reform get 37% of the vote. That doesn't represent a moral mandate. Add the Tories theoretical 22%, and that is a rock solid mandate to reverse Blair's constitutional vandalism, take all the steps necessary to solve the issue of legal and illegal migration, get the economy going, and the public finances moving back in the right direction.
Lmao, Dorries in the Mail urging a Reform Tory pact/coalition (but not with Kemi in charge) I thought the Tories were dead Nads??
The Tory Reform coalition is necessary. Not just for the political expertise that the Tories will bring, but for the mandate. Let's say that Reform get 37% of the vote. That doesn't represent a moral mandate. Add the Tories theoretical 22%, and that is a rock solid mandate to reverse Blair's constitutional vandalism, take all the steps necessary to solve the issue of legal and illegal migration, get the economy going, and the public finances moving back in the right direction.
Not just for the political expertise that the Tories will bring
Lmao, Dorries in the Mail urging a Reform Tory pact/coalition (but not with Kemi in charge) I thought the Tories were dead Nads??
Yet you listen to Iain Dale and realise there are plenty of Conservatives who loathe Reform and everything for which it stands so selling such a "pact" doesn't look easy. Presumably Dorries is hoping Jenrick will take over the Conservatives in 2026 and will make overtures to Farage.
How many Reform voters would vote for a Conservative candidate absent a Reform candidate - probably more than Tories who would vote Reform if there were no Conservative candidate?
I think Nads still dreams of Boris returning but yeah, I assume its a Jenrick pact shes after, Jenrick looks certain to bring Braverman back so you'll have Reform lite Tories ready to be cannibalised. Tories should tell Nads and her new friends to go boil their heads Interesting that Laila Cunningham immediately jumped on Dorries defection saying 'she wasn't sure about it' Theres ex Tories who just want a career opportunity and ex Tories who want some sort of grand coalition of the right
Comments
With (probably) three years to show results.
A party with 30,000 paid up members ought to be hitting 2 to 3% in the polls, the greens have about 75,000.....
What happens if you go to Manchester. Or even if you don't. Hard people, that council.
Junior Reeves is Solicitor General
Doubles is considered largely irrelevant, but they get $500k each if they win, so not a bad living if you're at the top.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moulin-à-Vent_AOC
Mallorca has decided to move more upmarket, and probably rightly so. It is a lovely island and I have enjoyed a number of holidays there myself over the years. Different resorts cater to different markets and often different nationalities. There is a definite market for cheap booze and all night partying, and while not my thing am happy that this goes on elsewhere. I understand why the local residents get tired of it.
Can you blame them?
Those Britons then think "let's copy that..."
Completely understandable.
It's odd being a fan of a game I've not once played...
Mallorca has long been “upmarket” outside of a few specific areas and it’s not, as much as we love bashing the Brits, just the Brits, the Mallorcans hate the German youth who behave exactly the same as the Nrits in their traditional party resorts.
This may be the exception, but pre-ramped polls are often disappointing.
Though Mallorca is not the place to go if you don't like asylum seekers being accommodated in hotels:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15052245/Majorca-Ibiza-UK-style-asylum-seeker-hotels.html
What's astonishing for Opinium has probably already happened with BMG and FoN.
Opinium were total shits for this in the election, weekly ramping of their poll. They got a lot of criticism for it and have behaved ever since. Till today.
Going back to the original story, the whole family is wearing glasses. I wonder if that is a side effect of too much screen-based education.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c79l9j79qyjo
"Scarlett Maguire
@Scarlett__Mag
41% of Brits say Farage looks like a PM in waiting
39% say Reform is ready to be government
On most key issues facing Britain, voters say Reform UK will improve the situation including 51% of Brits who say issues around immigration would improve."
https://x.com/Scarlett__Mag/status/1964316526036537726
One to watch for the future.
I first went to Mallorca when Fox Jr was one, as we wanted a short daytime flight, guaranteed sun and a pool. We had a great time and I have been a half dozen times since with the family. I can see why it is so popular as it is a magnificent island, and big enough to absorb a lot of tourists. Magaluf is a different kettle of fish. My best man had a week there on an 18-30 holiday, pulled every night and came back sunburnt and with a cold of the willy.
The fact that the media are ignoring what Reform did today is quite astonishing.
There are plenty of female sports pundits who sound good, Gabby Logan, Kelly Cates, Eiliedh Barber, Pien. MEulensteen all have fine voices but too many of the commentators are painful.
I can’t bear listening to Lyse Doucet or Mariko Oi when they get wheeled out on the Today programme either but there are other women like Mishal Hussein who have great voices.
“I too came from a poorish family,” says the 3rd Viscount Monckton of Brenchley, eldest son of Major-General Gilbert Monckton, 2nd Viscount Monckton of Brenchley and Marianna Letitia, Viscountess Monckton of Brenchley.
https://bsky.app/profile/roberthutton.co.uk/post/3ly63b6ulxs2h
Then they topped it off with the anti-vaxxer .
No point in arguing reason when the public have lost faith in both main parties
You will see a lot more that really upsets you [ and me ] and the way to defeat it is with action not words by Starmer and Reeves who after all they are in government
And Ashton seems to have turned against Rayner in a big way
But that criticism deflection field, where you can be as mad or unpleasant as you like, and it's the person calling you out on it who is in the wrong... It's a heck of a superpower. It's not unique to politics, but it's blooming terrifying.
https://x.com/DaleVince/status/1964373167071203543
....So its possible. I'm pretty sure Farage is miles from a certainty. There are just to many haters and ridiculers and under any sort of scrutiny he folds.
Like all parties, their members are far more extreme than their voters, so I think anti-vaxxer type stuff is likely to put their own voters off. I'm not sure about Lucy Connolly but I vaguely recall a majority of Reform voters being against the rioting, arson etc
@IainDale
·
43m
So today ReformUK platformed an antivaccine conspiracy theorist, a lady who pled guilty to inciting people to burn down a migrant hotel, had an elected mayor butcher the national anthem, and whose leader wants sanctions imposed on his own country. Indeed, the party of patriotism.
https://x.com/IainDale/status/1964371825036595416
Him and Dave Nellist have delivered more Conservative Governments than I care to think about.
I thought the Tories were dead Nads??
https://bsky.app/profile/politlcsuk.bsky.social/post/3ly6ijbssjh2q
Still could have been worse, it could have been another of her own compositions by their own Cilla Blackshirt.
Aaron Rupar
@atrupar
This is frankly one of the worst things Donald Trump has ever posted, which is really saying something
https://x.com/atrupar/status/1964370370607403086
How many Reform voters would vote for a Conservative candidate absent a Reform candidate - probably more than Tories who would vote Reform if there were no Conservative candidate?
Supporters will try and justify their continued allegiance to the party by excusing certain party positions, and downgrading them in importance .
For this reason the opposition parties need to act quickly , there’s no point trying to combat Reform close to the election , the radicalisation would have already taken place by then .
Parties need to wake up , hammer social media and do everything possible to claw back some of those Reform voters who haven’t passed the point of no return .
Farage has made a rod for his own back and Reform in it's present guise with him and Tice in control have no chance-in my opinion - of even doing better than the Conservatives.
Nice one!
Tories should tell Nads and her new friends to go boil their heads
Interesting that Laila Cunningham immediately jumped on Dorries defection saying 'she wasn't sure about it'
Theres ex Tories who just want a career opportunity and ex Tories who want some sort of grand coalition of the right