@KevinASchofield BREAKING: Bridget Phillipson easily gets more than 80 nominations to put her into the next round of the Labour deputy leadership election.
Easy to call it. Just like the Liz Truss election, Useless Lucy gets into next phase the Unions and Labour Members will place a tiara of Deputy Leadership on her head. Though they will have to watch out for the dandruff.
Did you see Phillipson speaking at the TUC? She has it in the bag.
Doesn’t matter what she said or how she said it, the one with zero personality is the Starmer candidate and this is “a balls to you and your reshuffle Starmer” election for the vast majority of Union and Party Members.
This is a betting site, and I’m calling it already in the bag for useless Lucy.
Powell is the one with personality?
I quite like Powell, but hasn't got the hard edge that Phillipson has.
@KevinASchofield BREAKING: Bridget Phillipson easily gets more than 80 nominations to put her into the next round of the Labour deputy leadership election.
Easy to call it. Just like the Liz Truss election, Useless Lucy gets into next phase the Unions and Labour Members will place a tiara of Deputy Leadership on her head. Though they will have to watch out for the dandruff.
Did you see Phillipson speaking at the TUC? She has it in the bag.
Doesn’t matter what she said or how she said it, the one with zero personality is the Starmer candidate and this is “a balls to you and your reshuffle Starmer” election for the vast majority of Union and Party Members.
This is a betting site, and I’m calling it already in the bag for useless Lucy.
Powell is the one with personality?
It’s a close call, but Phillipson is one unique kind of personality vacuum.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Sitting in the Commons. There’s an end of days feel that I last encountered in the final weeks of May, Boris and Truss. It’s absolutely staggering how Starmer has fallen so far and so fast.
Another tweet that is going to look pretty stupid in 2-3 years time. Hodges has just lost all sense of proportion (and I don't say this as any admirer of the current government, far from it).
Yup, the murder of the Ukrainian girl has definitely breached social media. Loads of usually non-political people and large accounts are posting about it on Instagram and the comments are all pretty universal that the judge who let him walk needs to be held accountable for that decision as well as anger that the murder isn't getting mainstream coverage in the US.
Let's see how it trends but this feels like a lightning rod for racial tension in the US and crime, safety for women and the glib responses (hurt durr, president grab em by the p****) from media types on the latter are really, really hurting the left.
What's the best response to something you feel is intended to stoke up racial hatred?
(I agree that glibness isn't)
Stay quiet. Accept that this was a horrible crime and shut the fuck up, don't try and equivocate or point fingers at anyone other than the guilty party and his enablers in the justice system.
But what about the people trying to stoke a race war off the back of it? They surely have to be called out for this. You can't give that sort of shit a free pass. It would be spineless.
The people who tried to stoke a race war off the back of George Floyd got a free pass.
Revenge for BLM? Yes, that's my sense of it.
There'll be similar for 'metoo' coming along shortly, I expect.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Sitting in the Commons. There’s an end of days feel that I last encountered in the final weeks of May, Boris and Truss. It’s absolutely staggering how Starmer has fallen so far and so fast.
On Mandaygate, it boils down to the old old question.
What did he know and when did he know it?
In Mandelson's case, it could be argued that schmoozing terrible people is the job description of an ambassador to America, particularly a Trumpian America. But the latest round of revelations goes beyond that, surely.
As for Starmer, if he knew this and appointed Mandy anyway, that also ought to be fatal. Whatever happened to the old "is there anything else you haven't mentioned that would bring shame and disgrace on us all if it emerged" question? It would have saved everyone so much bother over the last decade or so.
(I know... politics is precision-configured to appeal to reckless thrill seekers who assume they don't have to follow the rules... But Sheesh.)
If Starmer didn't know about Mandelson's Epstein back story that was a dereliction of duty, because we all knew.
The odds on Starmer leaving in 2025 are shortening. Probably he will stay, but at the moment he stays because Mandelson stays, because somehow Mandelson was a bit too trusting and made a mistake and is very very sorry.
When M goes, which I think he will, Starmer is next in line as it's not feasible that there is much that precipitates M's resignation now that wasn't known when he was made ambassador. There is no shortage of stuff for the media to get hold of.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Sitting in the Commons. There’s an end of days feel that I last encountered in the final weeks of May, Boris and Truss. It’s absolutely staggering how Starmer has fallen so far and so fast.
@KevinASchofield BREAKING: Bridget Phillipson easily gets more than 80 nominations to put her into the next round of the Labour deputy leadership election.
Easy to call it. Just like the Liz Truss election, Useless Lucy gets into next phase the Unions and Labour Members will place a tiara of Deputy Leadership on her head. Though they will have to watch out for the dandruff.
Did you see Phillipson speaking at the TUC? She has it in the bag.
Doesn’t matter what she said or how she said it, the one with zero personality is the Starmer candidate and this is “a balls to you and your reshuffle Starmer” election for the vast majority of Union and Party Members.
This is a betting site, and I’m calling it already in the bag for useless Lucy.
Powell is the one with personality?
It’s a close call, but Phillipson is one unique kind of personality vacuum.
Who has the better hair in your estimation? I think Powell.
Phillipson has a rather strong resemblance to Mary from "Our Friends in the North". I wonder how much of this is conscious.
It's beginning to look as though Putin's "drone test" may have backfired (so to speak).
All it has done has pushed the Europeans closer to Ukraine and Trump closer to Europe which I suspect wasn't the aim but could have been foreseeable by any kind of analysis.
I can only think Putin was emboldened by his closeness to China and North Korea at the military parade last week and perhaps some of Kim or Xi's advisers suggested this as a ploy to sow discord in Europe and with the US.
Putin will only be concerned by hard actions performed by the west as a result of today's madness. He will believe that his political and social interference in the west will be able to undo any 'closeness' that results. If we only react with words, then it's a win for him. At least in his mind.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Sitting in the Commons. There’s an end of days feel that I last encountered in the final weeks of May, Boris and Truss. It’s absolutely staggering how Starmer has fallen so far and so fast.
Before he joined the Mail, Hodges wasn't as barking as he is now.
I apologise in advance if I am wrong and this is Starmer's last hurrah.
It's possible he is correct: there is an end of days feel.
But that might last until 2029.
The Hapsburgs took their time to collapse.
He might also be manifesting what the journos are hearing and sharing. There will be some idea amongst them how bad stuff about to drop is so they get these wisdom of Solomon posts in to look Nostradamic. On here we (well I anyway) do it cos its funny as all hell
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Sitting in the Commons. There’s an end of days feel that I last encountered in the final weeks of May, Boris and Truss. It’s absolutely staggering how Starmer has fallen so far and so fast.
Yet unless he walks of his own volition or there is some "smoking gun" which proves Starmer is implicated in some actual wrong doing (apart from stupidity which is not a criminal offence to my knowledge), he is going nowhere.
He doesn't have to worry about Confidence votes like Conservative PMs and given the party's current polling none of the Labour turkeys are going to vote for an early Christmas.
Putin would be sitting in Kyiv with his eyes on the rest of Europe. Starting with Poland. And why don’t you tell the 800,000 Polish Americans in Pennsylvania how quickly you would give up for the sake of favor and what you think is a friendship with Putin who would eat you for lunch
"Tube drivers striking ‘because they cannot buy in London on £72k salary’ Calls for workers to be given 75pc discount on all mainline train tickets and deals on theme parks" (£)
Is there any truth in this Telegraph headline about a £72k salary for tube drivers?
I'd say the most likely thing is that a Union has claimed that they don't earn enough, and that the Telegraph has inserted an alleged 72k salary that they pulled out of thin air or someone's backside, or is some kind of edge figure.
Or, bluntly, perhaps the Telegraph is deliberately stirring again, just as (for example) they did when they used the height of the electricity pylons which take a cable across the Thames Estuary to imply a height for what was coming across East Anglia - which were a fraction of the number they implied.
What is the median salary for a tube driver? Or the starting salary? Is either of those 72k
I don't know a 2025 number, but the Daily Telegraph have trained me to have a healthy contempt for anything they claim until confirmed by a reliable source.
I'm open to correction from anyone who actually knows the numbers.
@KevinASchofield BREAKING: Bridget Phillipson easily gets more than 80 nominations to put her into the next round of the Labour deputy leadership election.
Easy to call it. Just like the Liz Truss election, Useless Lucy gets into next phase the Unions and Labour Members will place a tiara of Deputy Leadership on her head. Though they will have to watch out for the dandruff.
Did you see Phillipson speaking at the TUC? She has it in the bag.
Doesn’t matter what she said or how she said it, the one with zero personality is the Starmer candidate and this is “a balls to you and your reshuffle Starmer” election for the vast majority of Union and Party Members.
This is a betting site, and I’m calling it already in the bag for useless Lucy.
Powell is the one with personality?
I quite like Powell, but hasn't got the hard edge that Phillipson has.
Phillipson talks too quickly.
But she is far more direct. Very direct. Very to the talking point. Quite often she looks angry about the world imho.
If she is front and centre of Labour on the airways for the next few years then it will most definitely contrast to Farage's breezy comedy act.
I'm one of the 4%. I've met several MPs. I think the public far too cynical in this respect.
Sadly most people don't get to meet any in genuine situations, so just see the kind of artificial, personality suppressing image that political culture kind of forces on most in politics.
I consider myself fairly cynical, and have bad words for our political culture and those within it to be sure, but the kneejerk stock cynicism about anything political really has gone too far and is just lazy and wearying.
Sources tell @Channel4News political editor Gary Gibbon Peter Mandelson’s job is hanging by a thread. Will he be gone before Trump’s state visit to the UK?
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Sitting in the Commons. There’s an end of days feel that I last encountered in the final weeks of May, Boris and Truss. It’s absolutely staggering how Starmer has fallen so far and so fast.
Another tweet that is going to look pretty stupid in 2-3 years time. Hodges has just lost all sense of proportion (and I don't say this as any admirer of the current government, far from it).
The post of Prime Minister has apparently become a game of Pass the Parcel for Labour as well as Conservatives.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Sitting in the Commons. There’s an end of days feel that I last encountered in the final weeks of May, Boris and Truss. It’s absolutely staggering how Starmer has fallen so far and so fast.
Yet unless he walks of his own volition or there is some "smoking gun" which proves Starmer is implicated in some actual wrong doing (apart from stupidity which is not a criminal offence to my knowledge), he is going nowhere.
He doesn't have to worry about Confidence votes like Conservative PMs and given the party's current polling none of the Labour turkeys are going to vote for an early Christmas.
Starmer is lucky the BBC haven’t put the PMQs footage on the Mandelson/Epstein story.
What is the Mandelso/Epstein story except for some prurience by a few second rate hacks. Has he done something illegal? I loathe Trump so would be delighted to have someone less sycophantic representing UK interests but that's nothing to do with Epstein. This guilt by association is pretty tabloid and unattractive,
When you accept the hospitality of someone who has just been convicted of a serious sexual offence, well, as the saying goes:
"Lie down with dogs, and pick up fleas."
Yes, the idea it's 'prurience' is remarkable.
I like loyalty, but my friends and family absolutely shouldn't feel bad about cutting me loose if I am convicted of serious offences unless they have really really good reasons to think I am indeed innocent.
Is there any truth in this Telegraph headline about a £72k salary for tube drivers?
I'd say the most likely thing is that a Union has claimed that they don't earn enougth, and that the Telegraph has inserted an alleged 72k salary that they pulled out of thin air or someone's backside, or is some kind of edge figure.
Or, bluntly, perhaps the Telegraph is deliberately stirring again, just as (for example) they did when they used the height of the electricity pylons which take a cable across the Thames Estuary to imply a height for what was coming across East Anglia - which were a fraction of the number they implied.
What is the median salary for a tube driver? Or the starting salary? Is either of those 72k
I don't know a 2025 number, but the Daily Telegraph have trained me to have a healthy contempt for anything they claim until confirmed by a reliable source.
I'm open to comment from anyone who actually knows the numbers.
You may all be correct and Starmer is done, or it may be wishful thinking.
If he does go, things can only get better.
You know, I am not even sure about that. The desperate lack of talent in the Labour party (and not just in the Labour party for the avoidance of doubt) really raises the question of whether there is anyone obviously better. He's tone deaf, he's arrogant and not nearly as clever as he thinks he is, he has really poor judgment and he can be petulant. None of this actually stops him from being the best of a very poor choice. There is no one who I would be confident would clearly be better.
Yup, the murder of the Ukrainian girl has definitely breached social media. Loads of usually non-political people and large accounts are posting about it on Instagram and the comments are all pretty universal that the judge who let him walk needs to be held accountable for that decision as well as anger that the murder isn't getting mainstream coverage in the US.
Let's see how it trends but this feels like a lightning rod for racial tension in the US and crime, safety for women and the glib responses (hurt durr, president grab em by the p****) from media types on the latter are really, really hurting the left.
What's the best response to something you feel is intended to stoke up racial hatred?
(I agree that glibness isn't)
Stay quiet. Accept that this was a horrible crime and shut the fuck up, don't try and equivocate or point fingers at anyone other than the guilty party and his enablers in the justice system.
But what about the people trying to stoke a race war off the back of it? They surely have to be called out for this. You can't give that sort of shit a free pass. It would be spineless.
The people who tried to stoke a race war off the back of George Floyd got a free pass.
Revenge for BLM? Yes, that's my sense of it.
There'll be similar for 'metoo' coming along shortly, I expect.
That's pretty much it. BLM stemmed from the kernel of a reasonable wider societal point but was a stupid reaction to a single event which denied any degree of nuance. This would exactly the same.
@KevinASchofield BREAKING: Bridget Phillipson easily gets more than 80 nominations to put her into the next round of the Labour deputy leadership election.
It's beginning to look as though Putin's "drone test" may have backfired (so to speak).
All it has done has pushed the Europeans closer to Ukraine and Trump closer to Europe which I suspect wasn't the aim but could have been foreseeable by any kind of analysis.
I can only think Putin was emboldened by his closeness to China and North Korea at the military parade last week and perhaps some of Kim or Xi's advisers suggested this as a ploy to sow discord in Europe and with the US.
Putin will only be concerned by hard actions performed by the west as a result of today's madness. He will believe that his political and social interference in the west will be able to undo any 'closeness' that results. If we only react with words, then it's a win for him. At least in his mind.
Quite so. For a time after his full scale invasion his aims were reduced somewhat as concrete support was provided, but in the last couple of years he's worn down western practical opposition, and has good reason to think he can outlast any outrage. Maybe he's overplayed, but he's mostly been proven right (at tremendous cost and for less gain than he wanted, sure) in thinking he can keep pushing.
@KevinASchofield BREAKING: Bridget Phillipson easily gets more than 80 nominations to put her into the next round of the Labour deputy leadership election.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Sitting in the Commons. There’s an end of days feel that I last encountered in the final weeks of May, Boris and Truss. It’s absolutely staggering how Starmer has fallen so far and so fast.
Before he joined the Mail, Hodges wasn't as barking as he is now.
I apologise in advance if I am wrong and this is Starmer's last hurrah.
It's possible he is correct: there is an end of days feel.
But that might last until 2029.
The Hapsburgs took their time to collapse.
It's just very strange that the end of days started so very soon after the beginning of days. I can't remember a government passing from optimism to hopelessness so quickly.
"Tube drivers striking ‘because they cannot buy in London on £72k salary’ Calls for workers to be given 75pc discount on all mainline train tickets and deals on theme parks" (£)
The first part of this needs to be corrected - it's NOT just drivers who are striking this week.
Friday September 5 to Sunday September 7 – depot operational control managers at Ruislip walked out from 6pm on September 5 to 5.59pm on September 7. Sunday September 7 – track access controllers, London Underground control centre, power/control and ERU members strike from 12.01am to 11.59pm. Monday September 8 – all fleet (except engineering vehicles operations and maintenance and ERU), plus engineering, stations and trains members walk out. Strike from 12.01am to 11.59pm. Tuesday September 9 – signallers, service control and ERU members strike between 12.01am and 11.59pm. Wednesday September 10 – all fleet (except engineering vehicles operations and maintenance and ERU), plus engineering, stations and trains members walk out from 12.01am to 11.59pm. Thursday September 11 – signallers and service Control members strike between 12.01am and 11.59pm.
I think looking at that list, the drivers were only striking Monday and today. The signallers and track access controllers are also taking action but it's easier for a lazy anti-Union newspaper like the Telegraph to assume it's just the drivers when on this occasion the workers striking are from a much broader group in the RMT.
There was no service at East Ham on Monday or Tuesday but today there was a 15 minute shuttle service from Upminster to Whitechapel during the day (though that closed at 6pm). At East Ham station, the gates were open (good news for the fare dodgers) and no evidence of any staff on duty.
I'm not expecting anything tomorrow with the signallers out again but in the hope the trains are where they should be , the service should be back to normal on Friday by the time I need to head to Sandown.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Sitting in the Commons. There’s an end of days feel that I last encountered in the final weeks of May, Boris and Truss. It’s absolutely staggering how Starmer has fallen so far and so fast.
Before he joined the Mail, Hodges wasn't as barking as he is now.
I apologise in advance if I am wrong and this is Starmer's last hurrah.
It's possible he is correct: there is an end of days feel.
But that might last until 2029.
The Hapsburgs took their time to collapse.
It's just very strange that the end of days started so very soon after the beginning of days. I can't remember a government passing from optimism to hopelessness so quickly.
They ran on 'change' and then arrived in office with barely a single idea about what change meant.
At least Ed Miliband arrived with a fucking plan after years in opposition.
"Tube drivers striking ‘because they cannot buy in London on £72k salary’ Calls for workers to be given 75pc discount on all mainline train tickets and deals on theme parks" (£)
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Sitting in the Commons. There’s an end of days feel that I last encountered in the final weeks of May, Boris and Truss. It’s absolutely staggering how Starmer has fallen so far and so fast.
Before he joined the Mail, Hodges wasn't as barking as he is now.
I apologise in advance if I am wrong and this is Starmer's last hurrah.
It's possible he is correct: there is an end of days feel.
But that might last until 2029.
The Hapsburgs took their time to collapse.
He might also be manifesting what the journos are hearing and sharing. There will be some idea amongst them how bad stuff about to drop is so they get these wisdom of Solomon posts in to look Nostradamic. On here we (well I anyway) do it cos its funny as all hell
There is a reason for an 'end of days' feeling, at least for some people. For me it is this: Lifelong Tory One Nation voter, voting Labour in 2024 on the basis that they were the only party competent to govern and could win an election, and were the nearest thing available in government to Tory centrism, even if not near enough.
Just one year on, the number of parties who could win an election AND govern competently seems to have drifted from One (which is survivable - it gives someone else time to sort themselves out) to Zero. Which is not survivable.
Combine the collapse of Conservatism with Trump's gangsters, the collapse of the USA alliance, the march of global autocrats, Israel ceasing to be a 'light to lighten the gentiles', war in Europe and Sudan. End of days it sometimes feels.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Sitting in the Commons. There’s an end of days feel that I last encountered in the final weeks of May, Boris and Truss. It’s absolutely staggering how Starmer has fallen so far and so fast.
Before he joined the Mail, Hodges wasn't as barking as he is now.
I apologise in advance if I am wrong and this is Starmer's last hurrah.
It's possible he is correct: there is an end of days feel.
But that might last until 2029.
The Hapsburgs took their time to collapse.
It's just very strange that the end of days started so very soon after the beginning of days. I can't remember a government passing from optimism to hopelessness so quickly.
I'm not one for complete pessimism, it's usually right to assume nothing will happen even if it really seems like it should, but they really did drop support very quickly, and seemed to lack many ideas despite a stonking great majority, and even rolling back on the few ideas they have had.
The only ones worse off are the Tories, people still disliking them too much from last time and with all the energy and attention going on Reform, and so not able to capitalise.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Sitting in the Commons. There’s an end of days feel that I last encountered in the final weeks of May, Boris and Truss. It’s absolutely staggering how Starmer has fallen so far and so fast.
Before he joined the Mail, Hodges wasn't as barking as he is now.
I apologise in advance if I am wrong and this is Starmer's last hurrah.
It's possible he is correct: there is an end of days feel.
But that might last until 2029.
The Hapsburgs took their time to collapse.
It's just very strange that the end of days started so very soon after the beginning of days. I can't remember a government passing from optimism to hopelessness so quickly.
I've stated my theory enough times: the problem is that Starmer has no message to sell to the country, and even if he did, he is a really, really bad messenger. He did not win a massive majority by developing a firm plan, as Blair and his team did. Instead, saying "We're not the Tories!" was enough.
But now he's in power, he has no plan and no message.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Sitting in the Commons. There’s an end of days feel that I last encountered in the final weeks of May, Boris and Truss. It’s absolutely staggering how Starmer has fallen so far and so fast.
Another tweet that is going to look pretty stupid in 2-3 years time. Hodges has just lost all sense of proportion (and I don't say this as any admirer of the current government, far from it).
It's the problem of Permanews.
Everyone knows that good news, or even OK news, isn't news. There have been various attempts to correct that imbalance over the years, but good news is mostly naff. (There's probably some sort of evolved bias in our psyche too- we need to watch out for bad things, lest we die.) So when the news expands from ten minutes a day to non-stop, it's going to increase the demand for bad things to report.
That might be one of the reasons for the findings reported in the header. There are too many nutters and wrong'uns in politics, sure. But we don't hear enough about the ones doing their best to make a positive difference as they see it. Because they aren't newsworthy. (And that's before we get on to broadcasts that look like news, but probably aren't news as we understand it.)
Starmer is lucky the BBC haven’t put the PMQs footage on the Mandelson/Epstein story.
What is the Mandelso/Epstein story except for some prurience by a few second rate hacks. Has he done something illegal? I loathe Trump so would be delighted to have someone less sycophantic representing UK interests but that's nothing to do with Epstein. This guilt by association is pretty tabloid and unattractive,
When you accept the hospitality of someone who has just been convicted of a serious sexual offence, well, as the saying goes:
"Lie down with dogs, and pick up fleas."
Yes, the idea it's 'prurience' is remarkable.
I like loyalty, but my friends and family absolutely shouldn't feel bad about cutting me loose if I am convicted of serious offences unless they have really really good reasons to think I am indeed innocent.
'You wore a Palestine Action t-shirt, you are dead to me.'
Pelting with rain in Sardinia, And yet they are stuffing me with free seafood. Fregola di frutti di mare, with saffron, maybe got spelling wrong
God, I love this job. After 40 years, I still can’t believe it’s my job. I am flown free to a beautiful country, given a free car and a fun itinerary, I stay at a sequence of gorgeous hotels, and eat at lovely places, cheap and expensive, boutique and glam, and at the end I get to write about it (which I would do for free), and THEN THEY PAY ME. And also I meet lots of brilliant people who all want to talk enthusiastically about their food wine history culture, all of which I love
I’m a bit like Mauritius getting the Chagos PLUS FIFTY BILLION QUID
This is the guy that just got shot at an event in Utah
"I think it's worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights" - Charlie Kirk, 2023
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Sitting in the Commons. There’s an end of days feel that I last encountered in the final weeks of May, Boris and Truss. It’s absolutely staggering how Starmer has fallen so far and so fast.
Before he joined the Mail, Hodges wasn't as barking as he is now.
I apologise in advance if I am wrong and this is Starmer's last hurrah.
It's possible he is correct: there is an end of days feel.
But that might last until 2029.
The Hapsburgs took their time to collapse.
It's just very strange that the end of days started so very soon after the beginning of days. I can't remember a government passing from optimism to hopelessness so quickly.
They ran on 'change'
Fake news
Though I did think it an interesting choice at the time to make Keir entirely greyed out in the cover image. Like 'We mean change, but not change so bold it will scare you'?
I'm one of the 4%. I've met several MPs. I think the public far too cynical in this respect.
Yes, me too.
I have socialised with a few of our local MPs. Keith Vaz apart, pretty much all of them were decent people, though a fair number I fundamentally disagreed with on the direction that the country should take.
Pelting with rain in Sardinia, And yet they are stuffing me with free seafood. Fregola di frutti di mare, with saffron, maybe got spelling wrong
God, I love this job. After 40 years, I still can’t believe it’s my job. I am flown free to a beautiful country, given a free car and a fun itinerary, I stay at a sequence of gorgeous hotels, and eat at lovely places, cheap and expensive, boutique and glam, and at the end I get to write about it (which I would do for free), and THEN THEY PAY ME. And also I meet lots of brilliant people who all want to talk enthusiastically about their food wine history culture, all of which I love
I’m a bit like Mauritius getting the Chagos PLUS FIFTY BILLION QUID
Aren't there quite ancient fortifications in Sardinia, not Göbekli Tepe ancient, but still pretty fcking old?
Starmer is lucky the BBC haven’t put the PMQs footage on the Mandelson/Epstein story.
What is the Mandelso/Epstein story except for some prurience by a few second rate hacks. Has he done something illegal? I loathe Trump so would be delighted to have someone less sycophantic representing UK interests but that's nothing to do with Epstein. This guilt by association is pretty tabloid and unattractive,
When you accept the hospitality of someone who has just been convicted of a serious sexual offence, well, as the saying goes:
"Lie down with dogs, and pick up fleas."
Yes, the idea it's 'prurience' is remarkable.
I like loyalty, but my friends and family absolutely shouldn't feel bad about cutting me loose if I am convicted of serious offences unless they have really really good reasons to think I am indeed innocent.
'You wore a Palestine Action t-shirt, you are dead to me.'
Would get me labelled a hero on one side of the family.
This is the guy that just got shot at an event in Utah
"I think it's worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights" - Charlie Kirk, 2023
From what I've seen (for some reason my youtube algorithm has sent me a few clips of him recently, for the first time ever) he's an often unpleasant man and likes to be deliberately provocative, but he does at least go out and talk to people who disagree with him. Even if just for the clicks it's more than many do.
This is the guy that just got shot at an event in Utah
"I think it's worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights" - Charlie Kirk, 2023
From what I've seen (for some reason my youtube algorithm has sent me a few clips of him recently, for the first time ever) he's an often unpleasant man and likes to be deliberately provocative, but he does at least go out and talk to people who disagree with him. Even if just for the clicks it's more than many do.
Whoever he is that policy clearly has not been a resounding success.
“End of days” is a bit harsh but this is a government that looks tired, weak and rudderless, only 15 months into power. It can recover, but with every day that goes by the harder it gets.
Reeves desperately needs a good budget (by that I don’t mean painless) and better economic metrics starting to come through by the second half of next year.
"I think it's worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights" - Charlie Kirk, 2023
Inside No.10 there’s a mounting sense of crisis. And it’s centred around the following dynamic. They realise that politically they have to cut Mandelson loose. But strategically they feel they can’t, because of Trump’s proximity to the Epstein issue. It’s the perfect storm.
If the story that Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein lasted beyond his original 2008 conviction holds up, then his position is untenable.
Trump himself had dropped Epstein well before that, supposedly after his behaviour towards Mar-a-Lago staff became a matter of concern.
The story stands up, and then some. Mandelson himself has admitted his continued association after 2008
Just like Jes Staley who blew up his career because of it.
BTW one common link between Mandelson, Epstein, Staley and Blair is JP Morgan: Mandelson advised on a deal involving the bank and Epstein, Epstein was a long-term client, Staley his banker there and Blair a senior advisor after he left office.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Sitting in the Commons. There’s an end of days feel that I last encountered in the final weeks of May, Boris and Truss. It’s absolutely staggering how Starmer has fallen so far and so fast.
Before he joined the Mail, Hodges wasn't as barking as he is now.
I apologise in advance if I am wrong and this is Starmer's last hurrah.
It's possible he is correct: there is an end of days feel.
But that might last until 2029.
The Hapsburgs took their time to collapse.
It's just very strange that the end of days started so very soon after the beginning of days. I can't remember a government passing from optimism to hopelessness so quickly.
They ran on 'change' and then arrived in office with barely a single idea about what change meant.
At least Ed Miliband arrived with a fucking plan after years in opposition.
Hard to see his plans for carbon capture surviving the November Budget.
Reeves gets to put Liam Byrne's "‘I’m afraid there is no money’ note on Ed's desk.
(Don't feel too bad, Ed. She put a copy on everybody's desk...)
"I think it's worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights" - Charlie Kirk, 2023
Looking, the Telegraph are trying to make it only about tube drivers when the Unions are talking more about other staff too, who perhaps earn half.
But I'm not wasting time - the Telegraph can sit on a wrought iron fence spike and swivel.
I have 2kg of sloes to make into gin and jam.
It's been chucking it down here, too - sadly before I got back home.
Jacob Rees Mogg recounted a story about a corpse being run over three times, despite these 'drivers' in their 'overseeing role'. Useless overpaid idlers. Sack the lot of them.
"I think it's worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights" - Charlie Kirk, 2023
It should always be recognised when Kemi redeems herself at PMQs.
Kemi redeemed herself at PMQs.
Having listened whilst out picking sloes, she was far more focused than usual which is what we need - but went off on a bit of a random rant at the end.
How to stop Russia sending drones into Poland? What about Nato putting its own assets inside Ukrainian airspace up to about 100km from the border with Nato to try and prevent such incursions before it is too late?
"I think it's worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights" - Charlie Kirk, 2023
Just seen the clip. A guy was asking if Kirk knew how many mass shootings there have been in the US, and he was asking pedanticaly about whether the questioner meant gang related or non-gang related when he was shot.
It should always be recognised when Kemi redeems herself at PMQs.
Kemi redeemed herself at PMQs.
Having listened whilst out picking sloes, she was far more focused than usual which is what we need - but went off on a bit of a random rant at the end.
True. She usually tries to throw the kitchen sink at it, sort of like she wants to destroy the Government in a single go and drop her mic. I hope when she watches it back she realises that taking him apart where it hurt was what made this a successful outing, not the end bit.
Looking, the Telegraph are trying to make it only about tube drivers when the Unions are talking more about other staff too, who perhaps earn half.
But I'm not wasting time - the Telegraph can sit on a wrought iron fence spike and swivel.
I have 2kg of sloes to make into gin and jam.
It's been chucking it down here, too - sadly before I got back home.
Jacob Rees Mogg recounted a story about a corpse being run over three times, despite these 'drivers' in their 'overseeing role'. Useless overpaid idlers. Sack the lot of them.
You don’t live anywhere near London what has it got to do with you
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Sitting in the Commons. There’s an end of days feel that I last encountered in the final weeks of May, Boris and Truss. It’s absolutely staggering how Starmer has fallen so far and so fast.
Before he joined the Mail, Hodges wasn't as barking as he is now.
I apologise in advance if I am wrong and this is Starmer's last hurrah.
It's possible he is correct: there is an end of days feel.
But that might last until 2029.
The Hapsburgs took their time to collapse.
It's just very strange that the end of days started so very soon after the beginning of days. I can't remember a government passing from optimism to hopelessness so quickly.
They ran on 'change' and then arrived in office with barely a single idea about what change meant.
At least Ed Miliband arrived with a fucking plan after years in opposition.
Hard to see his plans for carbon capture surviving the November Budget.
Reeves gets to put Liam Byrne's "‘I’m afraid there is no money’ note on Ed's desk.
(Don't feel too bad, Ed. She put a copy on everybody's desk...)
Contracts are signed for the first two clusters, remember. Well, some are.
"I think it's worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights" - Charlie Kirk, 2023
Just seen the clip. A guy was asking if Kirk knew how many mass shootings there have been in the US, and he was asking pedanticaly about whether the questioner meant gang related or non-gang related when he was shot.
America is wild.
After a Tennessee mass shooting Kirk made that statement re God given rights . Maybe God was punishing him . “ Those who sow the wind shall reap the whirlwind “.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Sitting in the Commons. There’s an end of days feel that I last encountered in the final weeks of May, Boris and Truss. It’s absolutely staggering how Starmer has fallen so far and so fast.
Before he joined the Mail, Hodges wasn't as barking as he is now.
I apologise in advance if I am wrong and this is Starmer's last hurrah.
It's possible he is correct: there is an end of days feel.
But that might last until 2029.
The Hapsburgs took their time to collapse.
It's just very strange that the end of days started so very soon after the beginning of days. I can't remember a government passing from optimism to hopelessness so quickly.
They ran on 'change' and then arrived in office with barely a single idea about what change meant.
At least Ed Miliband arrived with a fucking plan after years in opposition.
Just a shame the plan was absolutely fucking ridiculous.
I’m not sure if I would agree that Kemi was particularly fantastic. Starmer was incredibly poor, so she just needed to step up and tap the ball in really. Which is really what any LOTO should be able to do at PMQs, and a skill she’s been noticeably lacking.
However, she did have a bit of fire in her belly and she did rally her troops, so from a morale perspective she did her job today. She should reflect on the fact that she is much better when she is focussed.
Looking, the Telegraph are trying to make it only about tube drivers when the Unions are talking more about other staff too, who perhaps earn half.
But I'm not wasting time - the Telegraph can sit on a wrought iron fence spike and swivel.
I have 2kg of sloes to make into gin and jam.
It's been chucking it down here, too - sadly before I got back home.
Jacob Rees Mogg recounted a story about a corpse being run over three times, despite these 'drivers' in their 'overseeing role'. Useless overpaid idlers. Sack the lot of them.
You don’t live anywhere near London what has it got to do with you
People can't have opinions on the capital unless they live there?
Pelting with rain in Sardinia, And yet they are stuffing me with free seafood. Fregola di frutti di mare, with saffron, maybe got spelling wrong
God, I love this job. After 40 years, I still can’t believe it’s my job. I am flown free to a beautiful country, given a free car and a fun itinerary, I stay at a sequence of gorgeous hotels, and eat at lovely places, cheap and expensive, boutique and glam, and at the end I get to write about it (which I would do for free), and THEN THEY PAY ME. And also I meet lots of brilliant people who all want to talk enthusiastically about their food wine history culture, all of which I love
I’m a bit like Mauritius getting the Chagos PLUS FIFTY BILLION QUID
Aren't there quite ancient fortifications in Sardinia, not Göbekli Tepe ancient, but still pretty fcking old?
Yes! Sardinia is seriously spooky in that way
It has an entire civilisation of “Nuraghic monuments” - circa 1500-500 BC which no one can explain. Weird towers and eerie ghost towns. There is also evidence of a pre-Nuraghic culture which is even stranger
As I get older I realise that the world is brilliantly obscure, in the best way. Like it is designed to keep up exploring, or we are designed to remain confused
I wish I had three lives to keep investigating…
Here is one mad Sardinian thing. Tiscali
An entire Bronze Age village hidden in a sink hole
"I think it's worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights" - Charlie Kirk, 2023
The USA is fast becoming a failed state . And if you’re a gun nut and get shot , then as Bozo said “ them’s the breaks “ .
Sorry to appear pedantic but not a failed state, do you know what they look like? However it's starting to look like a lot of other democracies around the world in which there is a fair bit of political violence and the system's future can't be guaranteed.
Looking, the Telegraph are trying to make it only about tube drivers when the Unions are talking more about other staff too, who perhaps earn half.
But I'm not wasting time - the Telegraph can sit on a wrought iron fence spike and swivel.
I have 2kg of sloes to make into gin and jam.
It's been chucking it down here, too - sadly before I got back home.
Jacob Rees Mogg recounted a story about a corpse being run over three times, despite these 'drivers' in their 'overseeing role'. Useless overpaid idlers. Sack the lot of them.
You don’t live anywhere near London what has it got to do with you
People can't have opinions on the capital unless they live there?
I suppose if you're demanding that an entire workforce be sacked, which will affect millions of people other than you...
Looking, the Telegraph are trying to make it only about tube drivers when the Unions are talking more about other staff too, who perhaps earn half.
But I'm not wasting time - the Telegraph can sit on a wrought iron fence spike and swivel.
I have 2kg of sloes to make into gin and jam.
It's been chucking it down here, too - sadly before I got back home.
Jacob Rees Mogg recounted a story about a corpse being run over three times, despite these 'drivers' in their 'overseeing role'. Useless overpaid idlers. Sack the lot of them.
You don’t live anywhere near London what has it got to do with you
People can't have opinions on the capital unless they live there?
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Sitting in the Commons. There’s an end of days feel that I last encountered in the final weeks of May, Boris and Truss. It’s absolutely staggering how Starmer has fallen so far and so fast.
Before he joined the Mail, Hodges wasn't as barking as he is now.
I apologise in advance if I am wrong and this is Starmer's last hurrah.
It's possible he is correct: there is an end of days feel.
But that might last until 2029.
The Hapsburgs took their time to collapse.
It's just very strange that the end of days started so very soon after the beginning of days. I can't remember a government passing from optimism to hopelessness so quickly.
For me, I can't see Starmer in danger right now but could see him in trouble in May 26, if the party gets a shellacking and comes third in Scotland and Wales.
Seems odd though. The place was already under construction. You wouldn't think a research centre would be that sensitive to the additional employment costs from National Insurance increases. So what changed?
Looking, the Telegraph are trying to make it only about tube drivers when the Unions are talking more about other staff too, who perhaps earn half.
But I'm not wasting time - the Telegraph can sit on a wrought iron fence spike and swivel.
I have 2kg of sloes to make into gin and jam.
It's been chucking it down here, too - sadly before I got back home.
Jacob Rees Mogg recounted a story about a corpse being run over three times, despite these 'drivers' in their 'overseeing role'. Useless overpaid idlers. Sack the lot of them.
You don’t live anywhere near London what has it got to do with you
People can't have opinions on the capital unless they live there?
I asked what it had to do with him
Maybe he travels there a lot, IDK, maybe he has family there, maybe it's just an ideological stance without being affected, but I don't see the point of the question unless to imply a view is worth less unless personally impacted.
Sometimes the opposite can even be true, people not directly connected might be able to take a more disspassionate view of events. Not saying that's the case here, but it's politics, it doesn't have to have anything to do with us to have thoughts.
"I think it's worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights" - Charlie Kirk, 2023
The USA is fast becoming a failed state . And if you’re a gun nut and get shot , then as Bozo said “ them’s the breaks “ .
Sorry to appear pedantic but not a failed state, do you know what they look like? However it's starting to look like a lot of other democracies around the world in which there is a fair bit of political violence and the system's future can't be guaranteed.
Most democracies don’t have the US gun problems . The place is nuts and serves to highlight how lucky we are to live in the UK .
Looking, the Telegraph are trying to make it only about tube drivers when the Unions are talking more about other staff too, who perhaps earn half.
But I'm not wasting time - the Telegraph can sit on a wrought iron fence spike and swivel.
I have 2kg of sloes to make into gin and jam.
It's been chucking it down here, too - sadly before I got back home.
Jacob Rees Mogg recounted a story about a corpse being run over three times, despite these 'drivers' in their 'overseeing role'. Useless overpaid idlers. Sack the lot of them.
You don’t live anywhere near London what has it got to do with you
People can't have opinions on the capital unless they live there?
I asked what it had to do with him
Maybe he travels there a lot, IDK, maybe he has family there, maybe it's just an ideological stance without being affected, but I don't see the point of the question unless to imply a view is worth less unless personally impacted.
Sometimes the opposite can even be true, people not directly connected might be able to take a more disspassionate view of events. Not saying that's the case here, but it's politics, it doesn't have to have anything to do with us to have thoughts.
Or maybe he just likes to form rabid opinions on things he knows very little about like normal
I’m not sure if I would agree that Kemi was particularly fantastic. Starmer was incredibly poor, so she just needed to step up and tap the ball in really. Which is really what any LOTO should be able to do at PMQs, and a skill she’s been noticeably lacking.
However, she did have a bit of fire in her belly and she did rally her troops, so from a morale perspective she did her job today. She should reflect on the fact that she is much better when she is focussed.
It was a bit Graeme Hick playing county cricket while he was qualifying for England. Socred the runs, sure, and that is never to be ignored. But I'm not sure it told us much about what happens when it's not quite such an easy wicket.
Looking, the Telegraph are trying to make it only about tube drivers when the Unions are talking more about other staff too, who perhaps earn half.
But I'm not wasting time - the Telegraph can sit on a wrought iron fence spike and swivel.
I have 2kg of sloes to make into gin and jam.
It's been chucking it down here, too - sadly before I got back home.
Jacob Rees Mogg recounted a story about a corpse being run over three times, despite these 'drivers' in their 'overseeing role'. Useless overpaid idlers. Sack the lot of them.
You don’t live anywhere near London what has it got to do with you
People can't have opinions on the capital unless they live there?
I asked what it had to do with him
Maybe he travels there a lot, IDK, maybe he has family there, maybe it's just an ideological stance without being affected, but I don't see the point of the question unless to imply a view is worth less unless personally impacted.
Sometimes the opposite can even be true, people not directly connected might be able to take a more disspassionate view of events. Not saying that's the case here, but it's politics, it doesn't have to have anything to do with us to have thoughts.
Looking, the Telegraph are trying to make it only about tube drivers when the Unions are talking more about other staff too, who perhaps earn half.
But I'm not wasting time - the Telegraph can sit on a wrought iron fence spike and swivel.
I have 2kg of sloes to make into gin and jam.
It's been chucking it down here, too - sadly before I got back home.
Jacob Rees Mogg recounted a story about a corpse being run over three times, despite these 'drivers' in their 'overseeing role'. Useless overpaid idlers. Sack the lot of them.
You don’t live anywhere near London what has it got to do with you
People can't have opinions on the capital unless they live there?
I asked what it had to do with him
Maybe he travels there a lot, IDK, maybe he has family there, maybe it's just an ideological stance without being affected, but I don't see the point of the question unless to imply a view is worth less unless personally impacted.
Sometimes the opposite can even be true, people not directly connected might be able to take a more disspassionate view of events. Not saying that's the case here, but it's politics, it doesn't have to have anything to do with us to have thoughts.
He might also be, you know, a taxpayer.
Sacking every singe tube driver seems suboptimal from a tax perspective
Looking, the Telegraph are trying to make it only about tube drivers when the Unions are talking more about other staff too, who perhaps earn half.
But I'm not wasting time - the Telegraph can sit on a wrought iron fence spike and swivel.
I have 2kg of sloes to make into gin and jam.
It's been chucking it down here, too - sadly before I got back home.
Jacob Rees Mogg recounted a story about a corpse being run over three times, despite these 'drivers' in their 'overseeing role'. Useless overpaid idlers. Sack the lot of them.
You don’t live anywhere near London what has it got to do with you
People can't have opinions on the capital unless they live there?
I suppose if you're demanding that an entire workforce be sacked, which will affect millions of people other than you...
But that's the idea being a bad one, regardless of whether he would be affected or not, so it doesn't matter. I bet we could find someone who does live in London who has the same opinion, would that make it a better one?
Personally I'm not affected so I don't really have a view on it, but I think cases where personal impact actually diminished the weight (or lack thereof) of a view would be pretty rare and localised - particularly ones involving the most important city on these islands which most people will interact with at least on rare occasions.
How to stop Russia sending drones into Poland? What about Nato putting its own assets inside Ukrainian airspace up to about 100km from the border with Nato to try and prevent such incursions before it is too late?
24 hours still nothing from Trump. WillingNATO seems to be on its own. Wonder how long before US troops are leaving. Still Russia is fairly weak and better not having a treacherous friend undermining European/UK security.
Seems odd though. The place was already under construction. You wouldn't think a research centre would be that sensitive to the additional employment costs from National Insurance increases. So what changed?
Indeed. I’d have thought businesses with predominantly minimum wage staff would be far more sensitive to Employer Nat Ins increases.
Clearly something has changed, like when GSK pulled out of their planned investment too.
We need well paid jobs and more of them. I really hope the business team in govt can deliver but I doubt it given their lack of business experience.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Sitting in the Commons. There’s an end of days feel that I last encountered in the final weeks of May, Boris and Truss. It’s absolutely staggering how Starmer has fallen so far and so fast.
Before he joined the Mail, Hodges wasn't as barking as he is now.
I apologise in advance if I am wrong and this is Starmer's last hurrah.
It's possible he is correct: there is an end of days feel.
But that might last until 2029.
The Hapsburgs took their time to collapse.
It's just very strange that the end of days started so very soon after the beginning of days. I can't remember a government passing from optimism to hopelessness so quickly.
For me, I can't see Starmer in danger right now but could see him in trouble in May 26, if the party gets a shellacking and comes third in Scotland and Wales.
‘Shellacking’, thst reminds me of deal,old Heathener who used that term regularly.
Comments
There'll be similar for 'metoo' coming along shortly, I expect.
I apologise in advance if I am wrong and this is Starmer's last hurrah.
When M goes, which I think he will, Starmer is next in line as it's not feasible that there is much that precipitates M's resignation now that wasn't known when he was made ambassador. There is no shortage of stuff for the media to get hold of.
But that might last until 2029.
The Hapsburgs took their time to collapse.
Phillipson has a rather strong resemblance to Mary from "Our Friends in the North". I wonder how much of this is conscious.
On here we (well I anyway) do it cos its funny as all hell
If he does go, things can only get better.
He doesn't have to worry about Confidence votes like Conservative PMs and given the party's current polling none of the Labour turkeys are going to vote for an early Christmas.
Kamala Harris to Trump during the debate:
Putin would be sitting in Kyiv with his eyes on the rest of Europe. Starting with Poland. And why don’t you tell the 800,000 Polish Americans in Pennsylvania how quickly you would give up for the sake of favor and what you think is a friendship with Putin who would eat you for lunch
https://x.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/1965760859709354003
I'd say the most likely thing is that a Union has claimed that they don't earn enough, and that the Telegraph has inserted an alleged 72k salary that they pulled out of thin air or someone's backside, or is some kind of edge figure.
Or, bluntly, perhaps the Telegraph is deliberately stirring again, just as (for example) they did when they used the height of the electricity pylons which take a cable across the Thames Estuary to imply a height for what was coming across East Anglia - which were a fraction of the number they implied.
What is the median salary for a tube driver? Or the starting salary? Is either of those 72k
I don't know a 2025 number, but the Daily Telegraph have trained me to have a healthy contempt for anything they claim until confirmed by a reliable source.
I'm open to correction from anyone who actually knows the numbers.
But she is far more direct. Very direct. Very to the talking point. Quite often she looks angry about the world imho.
If she is front and centre of Labour on the airways for the next few years then it will most definitely contrast to Farage's breezy comedy act.
@JacquiHeinrich
Per TPUSA Press Relations: Charlie Kirk has been shot at Utah Valley University. Condition unknown.
I consider myself fairly cynical, and have bad words for our political culture and those within it to be sure, but the kneejerk stock cynicism about anything political really has gone too far and is just lazy and wearying.
Sources tell @Channel4News political editor Gary Gibbon Peter Mandelson’s job is hanging by a thread. Will he be gone before Trump’s state visit to the UK?
I like loyalty, but my friends and family absolutely shouldn't feel bad about cutting me loose if I am convicted of serious offences unless they have really really good reasons to think I am indeed innocent.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/tube-strike-tfl-driver-salaries-how-much-b2823015.html
According to the TfL, the average Tube driver has a starting salary of £71,160.
So it’s actually worse than the Telegraph suggests, given this is the average starting salary.
Absolutely sluicing it down in the flag-lamp post boondocks of the deep Midlands tonight.
Edit - never mind. Its frontbenchers not cabinet
The first part of this needs to be corrected - it's NOT just drivers who are striking this week.
Friday September 5 to Sunday September 7 – depot operational control managers at Ruislip walked out from 6pm on September 5 to 5.59pm on September 7.
Sunday September 7 – track access controllers, London Underground control centre, power/control and ERU members strike from 12.01am to 11.59pm.
Monday September 8 – all fleet (except engineering vehicles operations and maintenance and ERU), plus engineering, stations and trains members walk out. Strike from 12.01am to 11.59pm.
Tuesday September 9 – signallers, service control and ERU members strike between 12.01am and 11.59pm.
Wednesday September 10 – all fleet (except engineering vehicles operations and maintenance and ERU), plus engineering, stations and trains members walk out from 12.01am to 11.59pm.
Thursday September 11 – signallers and service Control members strike between 12.01am and 11.59pm.
I think looking at that list, the drivers were only striking Monday and today. The signallers and track access controllers are also taking action but it's easier for a lazy anti-Union newspaper like the Telegraph to assume it's just the drivers when on this occasion the workers striking are from a much broader group in the RMT.
There was no service at East Ham on Monday or Tuesday but today there was a 15 minute shuttle service from Upminster to Whitechapel during the day (though that closed at 6pm). At East Ham station, the gates were open (good news for the fare dodgers) and no evidence of any staff on duty.
I'm not expecting anything tomorrow with the signallers out again but in the hope the trains are where they should be , the service should be back to normal on Friday by the time I need to head to Sandown.
At least Ed Miliband arrived with a fucking plan after years in opposition.
Just one year on, the number of parties who could win an election AND govern competently seems to have drifted from One (which is survivable - it gives someone else time to sort themselves out) to Zero. Which is not survivable.
Combine the collapse of Conservatism with Trump's gangsters, the collapse of the USA alliance, the march of global autocrats, Israel ceasing to be a 'light to lighten the gentiles', war in Europe and Sudan. End of days it sometimes feels.
The only ones worse off are the Tories, people still disliking them too much from last time and with all the energy and attention going on Reform, and so not able to capitalise.
But now he's in power, he has no plan and no message.
Everyone knows that good news, or even OK news, isn't news. There have been various attempts to correct that imbalance over the years, but good news is mostly naff. (There's probably some sort of evolved bias in our psyche too- we need to watch out for bad things, lest we die.) So when the news expands from ten minutes a day to non-stop, it's going to increase the demand for bad things to report.
That might be one of the reasons for the findings reported in the header. There are too many nutters and wrong'uns in politics, sure. But we don't hear enough about the ones doing their best to make a positive difference as they see it. Because they aren't newsworthy.
(And that's before we get on to broadcasts that look like news, but probably aren't news as we understand it.)
God, I love this job. After 40 years, I still can’t believe it’s my job. I am flown free to a beautiful country, given a free car and a fun itinerary, I stay at a sequence of gorgeous hotels, and eat at lovely places, cheap and expensive, boutique and glam, and at the end I get to write about it (which I would do for free), and THEN THEY PAY ME. And also I meet lots of brilliant people who all want to talk enthusiastically about their food wine history culture, all of which I love
I’m a bit like Mauritius getting the Chagos PLUS FIFTY BILLION QUID
Sod that. Blockquotes buggered.
"I think it's worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights" - Charlie Kirk, 2023
Though I did think it an interesting choice at the time to make Keir entirely greyed out in the cover image. Like 'We mean change, but not change so bold it will scare you'?
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/tube-strike-drivers-salary-how-much-earn-london-111046833.html
I have socialised with a few of our local MPs. Keith Vaz apart, pretty much all of them were decent people, though a fair number I fundamentally disagreed with on the direction that the country should take.
X just showed me a close up shot of Charlie Kirk being shot.
Reeves desperately needs a good budget (by that I don’t mean painless) and better economic metrics starting to come through by the second half of next year.
https://www.mediamatters.org/charlie-kirk/charlie-kirk-its-worth-have-cost-unfortunately-some-gun-deaths-every-single-year-so-we
BTW one common link between Mandelson, Epstein, Staley and Blair is JP Morgan: Mandelson advised on a deal involving the bank and Epstein, Epstein was a long-term client, Staley his banker there and Blair a senior advisor after he left office.
Reeves gets to put Liam Byrne's "‘I’m afraid there is no money’ note on Ed's desk.
(Don't feel too bad, Ed. She put a copy on everybody's desk...)
Looking, the Telegraph are trying to make it only about tube drivers when the Unions are talking more about other staff too, who perhaps earn half.
But I'm not wasting time - the Telegraph can sit on a wrought iron fence spike and swivel.
I have 2kg of sloes to make into gin and jam.
It's been chucking it down here, too - sadly before I got back home.
Why not just call it a Fifty and have done with it?
Kemi redeemed herself at PMQs.
My parochial nature has served me well.
America is wild.
https://x.com/shitbritishpics/status/1965858471947153521?s=61
The Track 2 clusters could be binned, however.
However, she did have a bit of fire in her belly and she did rally her troops, so from a morale perspective she did her job today. She should reflect on the fact that she is much better when she is focussed.
It has an entire civilisation of “Nuraghic monuments” - circa 1500-500 BC which no one can explain. Weird towers and eerie ghost towns. There is also evidence of a pre-Nuraghic culture which is even stranger
As I get older I realise that the world is brilliantly obscure, in the best way. Like it is designed to keep up exploring, or we are designed to remain confused
I wish I had three lives to keep investigating…
Here is one mad Sardinian thing. Tiscali
An entire Bronze Age village hidden in a sink hole
https://www.sardegnaturismo.it/en/explore/nuragic-village-tiscali
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhkQGA3d4e0
You get the flavour in the first 30 seconds. 4m subscribers.
I wonder if Mr Trump will be sending the marines in.
Seems odd though. The place was already under construction. You wouldn't think a research centre would be that sensitive to the additional employment costs from National Insurance increases. So what changed?
Sometimes the opposite can even be true, people not directly connected might be able to take a more disspassionate view of events. Not saying that's the case here, but it's politics, it doesn't have to have anything to do with us to have thoughts.
He’s hardly the most probing of interviewers.
Personally I'm not affected so I don't really have a view on it, but I think cases where personal impact actually diminished the weight (or lack thereof) of a view would be pretty rare and localised - particularly ones involving the most important city on these islands which most people will interact with at least on rare occasions.
Clearly something has changed, like when GSK pulled out of their planned investment too.
We need well paid jobs and more of them. I really hope the business team in govt can deliver but I doubt it given their lack of business experience.
She was right about the Tories getting one.