Alternatively the same rules worked well until very recently, and companies - especially those which face the public - don’t want to be targeted by groups of obnoxious activists.
Exactly.
Not remotely unworkable. We have had single sex loos and changing rooms for decades without any issues at all. The rules for employers and schools have been in place for decades and work absolutely fine.
It is only the insistence of some men that they have the right to breach women's boundaries which has made this an issue. Organisations that cannot deal with predatory bullies shouldn't be in business, frankly.
Since October 2024 employers have been under an obligation to prevent sexual harassment of their staff. Are they also saying this is unworkable?
Alternatively the same rules worked well until very recently, and companies - especially those which face the public - don’t want to be targeted by groups of obnoxious activists.
Otoh, who wants Linehan and pusher of bacon through letterboxes Nurse Sandy turning up on their doorstep.
I would be happy for Linehan and Nurse Sandy to turn up on my doorstep. I would welcome them both in for a cup of tea.
I don't follow LD world very closely and I'm wondering about Daisy Cooper. In the Next Leader market she is (and has been for a while) a very cramped odds on shot with no-one else in the betting really. I reckon I could get matched for a lay at 1.4. Is that worth doing, do we think? Or is she pretty much nailed on to get the job when Ed Davey goes?
Depends upon how long Ed stays. The recent intake (as others have mentioned) has some pretty impressive members with exceptional CVs, whereas the majority of candidates with odds given by the betting companies are from the established cohort and are not especially impressive, although several have grown into their roles.
If he stays around for awhile there will be a list of potential candidates that currently few people know.
On a separate issue, aiui at present services are acceptable for some charities under an exception to the Equality Act for groups with a protected characteristic (eg women's shelters, black housing projects) - I'm not aware that this has changed but it might have, and the separate "Political Party Candidate Selection" exception which allows eg All Woman Shortlists.
I'm not sure how this plays in to their production pause to go electric, which if it is in place and continuing may mitigate.
Jaguar Land Rover’s output could take several months to normalise, fear suppliers
JLR on Tuesday said it would extend its production halt until at least next Wednesday as it continued its investigation. In a statement, the company also cautioned that “the controlled restart of our global operations . . . will take time”. If JLR cannot produce vehicles until November, David Bailey, professor at University of Birmingham, estimated that the group would suffer a revenue hit of more than £3.5bn while it would lose about £250mn in profits, or about £72mn in revenue and £5mn in profits on a daily basis. With annual revenues of £29bn in 2024, JLR will be able to absorb the financial costs but Bailey warned the consequences would be bigger for the smaller sized companies in its supply chain. JLR declined to comment. The cyber attack comes at a crucial period for the UK carmaker when it is going through a controversial rebranding of its Jaguar brand and an expensive shift to all-electric vehicles by the end of the decade. Even before the latest incident, people briefed on the matter have said the company was facing delays with launching its new electric models. “They are clearly in chaos,” said one industry executive who works closely with JLR, while another warned that “no one actually knows” when production would resume. https://www.ft.com/content/c67be2f2-4dcf-4656-888c-8711789cd9ae#selection-2255.0-2275.165
JLR's supply chain might collapse completely. Already there have been reports of thousands of layoffs. The government needs to pull its finger out on mitigation and support (it makes one nostalgic for Covid) but also to do more to prevent these incidents in the first place. Is the NCSC (National Cyber Security Centre) fit for purpose?
Somethig has to happen between now and the next election. If like me you are convinced that Reform will not march into government something major that no one has considered has to happen. Most likely a realignment but it's difficult to see what that might be. The Welsh election might give us the first clue.
On the basis that every change is created by action-reaction my guess is a move to the left
In the 1980s, poll after poll suggested the Alliance would sweep to power with the south and south west turning orange. Don't quite remember that happening.
In a multi party system under FPTP UNS means next to nothing - I've seen polls showing Reform will win East Ham - they won't. The central question is whether Labour in power (and they are the only ones who can do this) can do anything to mitigate the genuine and (often but not always) justified anger out there across a range of issues.
Starmer will win if and only if he can convince enough people the country is back on the right track and the future will be better and brighter than the present. It's the overwhelming sense things aren''t going to get better (sorry) which is powering Reform (not that they have a single coherent answer as their councillors blundering around in the counties so aptly demonstrate).
He won't win by simply saying things will be worse under Farage - they will but too many people aren't convinced. Farage and his acolytes will convince a number between now and the next election but between the anger and the fragmented opposition (who are often too busy fighting the old battles with each other), Reform could well sweep in.
It's the old joke about the 3 wishes, Farage's supporters will happily vote for things to be worse as long as it will be even worse for other people.
Labour deputy leadership contender Lucy Powell, who was fired by Sir Keir Starmer in his cabinet reshuffle, has criticised "unforced errors" by the government over welfare.
In her first broadcast interview since being sacked, she told the BBC's Nick Robinson attempts to cut disability benefits and winter fuel payments had left voters questioning "whose side we are on".
Labour are on the side of non-workers and against workers.
Interesting that she says she doesn’t want a cabinet post. That is bad news for the government, as she would have a pulpit to stand up and critique them for every decision, ostensibly in her role as the voice of the membership. It will not help create a united front.
It also indicates that this isn’t the most senior job she wants. She wants clean hands and an independent power base
Election Maps UK projection on the Wales Westminster poll fwiw (just to show its down to your models interpretation) has Lab holding Cardiff N, Cardiff South and P, Tories gaining Monmouthshire from Lab, otherwise as per the other model
It comes after sources told The Times that the final guidance will tell schools, hospitals, leisure centres and cinemas to ban trans women from using single-sex spaces such as lavatories and changing rooms.
How does "Guidance" ban anything? It is Guidance, not Regulations. *
For a comparison, all of the best practice for Inclusive Mobility (eg drop kerbs, tactile paving, barriers on footpaths), and path and mobility track specification (eg width, gradient, surface, even I think the height of a drop kerb to be <6mm and bus stop bypasses) is in "Guidance" - that is "Inclusive Mobility" and LTN 1/20.
What that means in practice is that Local Highways Authorities can ignore it at will, as many do unless there is a vociferous local lobby. That is why Outer London is full of crap floating bus stops (at least they have crap ones) - because the Boroughs did not HAVE to do it properly, so they shaved the design process and spec to save money.
Where's the bite?
* I suspect this may be because one set of Courts take Guidance seriously, whilst Local Authorities rely on being practically impossible meaningfully to enforce against.
You have answered your own question. Incidentally, I think it was pointed out here at the time that the Supreme Court judgment – although celebrated by partisans – was incoherent, which may be why EHRC guidance is necessary.
Btw: using < symbols confuses Vanilla. I've changed yours to its html code.
I don't follow LD world very closely and I'm wondering about Daisy Cooper. In the Next Leader market she is (and has been for a while) a very cramped odds on shot with no-one else in the betting really. I reckon I could get matched for a lay at 1.4. Is that worth doing, do we think? Or is she pretty much nailed on to get the job when Ed Davey goes?
It depends when Ed Davey goes. If he went now, Daisy would get it and you'd lose/ But if he stays until after the next GE, Daisy would have a lot of competition from the 2024 intake who aren't featured on Betfair. You might win, but you'd have a long wait for your money.
Not a terrible result for Labour all things considered, after the week they’ve had.
There's virtually no movement now.
Theres not enough movement. Polling is unusually static and has been for months.
I wouldn't say that. A fast rise in the Reform polling up to and after the May elections seems to have been replaced by a slow increase, with their lead increased due to Labour still falling. A quick look at the graph on the Wikipedia page shows that. We have got to the point where you just seem to get MOE changes week-on-week though. I'm not sure why you would expect it to bounce around more.
Labour are traitors to the working class. Welsh voters have finally understood that. English voters have realised since Starmer destroyed them with his incompetence. Scots voters realised it in 2007, but forgot last year. They have remembered again. Labour are finished, thankfully.
I sense an extremely boring conversation about the definition of "working class" and the difference with "working people".
I'm about 80% sure Labour still hold a lead for people who are in work simply because their majority in that cohort are the election was so overwhelming. We need more details though - I have a funny feeling Reform might have a lead in council house tenants/benefits claimants for example.
I'm not sure how this plays in to their production pause to go electric, which if it is in place and continuing may mitigate.
Jaguar Land Rover’s output could take several months to normalise, fear suppliers
JLR on Tuesday said it would extend its production halt until at least next Wednesday as it continued its investigation. In a statement, the company also cautioned that “the controlled restart of our global operations . . . will take time”. If JLR cannot produce vehicles until November, David Bailey, professor at University of Birmingham, estimated that the group would suffer a revenue hit of more than £3.5bn while it would lose about £250mn in profits, or about £72mn in revenue and £5mn in profits on a daily basis. With annual revenues of £29bn in 2024, JLR will be able to absorb the financial costs but Bailey warned the consequences would be bigger for the smaller sized companies in its supply chain. JLR declined to comment. The cyber attack comes at a crucial period for the UK carmaker when it is going through a controversial rebranding of its Jaguar brand and an expensive shift to all-electric vehicles by the end of the decade. Even before the latest incident, people briefed on the matter have said the company was facing delays with launching its new electric models. “They are clearly in chaos,” said one industry executive who works closely with JLR, while another warned that “no one actually knows” when production would resume. https://www.ft.com/content/c67be2f2-4dcf-4656-888c-8711789cd9ae#selection-2255.0-2275.165
JLR's supply chain might collapse completely. Already there have been reports of thousands of layoffs. The government needs to pull its finger out on mitigation and support (it makes one nostalgic for Covid) but also to do more to prevent these incidents in the first place. Is the NCSC (National Cyber Security Centre) fit for purpose?
Hard to get a Government with no money to "pull its finger out" and support a company with a forward plan of some wanky design concepts but not much else...
Alternatively the same rules worked well until very recently, and companies - especially those which face the public - don’t want to be targeted by groups of obnoxious activists.
Otoh, who wants Linehan and pusher of bacon through letterboxes Nurse Sandy turning up on their doorstep.
I would be happy for Linehan and Nurse Sandy to turn up on my doorstep. I would welcome them both in for a cup of tea.
It comes after sources told The Times that the final guidance will tell schools, hospitals, leisure centres and cinemas to ban trans women from using single-sex spaces such as lavatories and changing rooms.
How does "Guidance" ban anything? It is Guidance, not Regulations. *
For a comparison, all of the best practice for Inclusive Mobility (eg drop kerbs, tactile paving, barriers on footpaths), and path and mobility track specification (eg width, gradient, surface, even I think the height of a drop kerb to be <6mm and bus stop bypasses) is in "Guidance" - that is "Inclusive Mobility" and LTN 1/20.
What that means in practice is that Local Highways Authorities can ignore it at will, as many do unless there is a vociferous local lobby. That is why Outer London is full of crap floating bus stops (at least they have crap ones) - because the Boroughs did not HAVE to do it properly, so they shaved the design process and spec to save money.
Where's the bite?
* I suspect this may be because one set of Courts take Guidance seriously, whilst Local Authorities rely on being practically impossible meaningfully to enforce against.
You have answered your own question. Incidentally, I think it was pointed out here at the time that the Supreme Court judgment – although celebrated by partisans – was incoherent, which may be why EHRC guidance is necessary.
Btw: using < symbols confuses Vanilla. I've changed yours to its html code.
By following Guidance, you can show you have tried to follow the law. It's a bit like driving - some things in the Highway Code are only Guidance "you should" but can be used as evidence against you if you have an accident
Not a terrible result for Labour all things considered, after the week they’ve had.
There's virtually no movement now.
Theres not enough movement. Polling is unusually static and has been for months.
I wouldn't say that. A fast rise in the Reform polling up to and after the May elections seems to have been replaced by a slow increase, with their lead increased due to Labour still falling. A quick look at the graph on the Wikipedia page shows that. We have got to the point where you just seem to get MOE changes week-on-week though. I'm not sure why you would expect it to bounce around more.
I'm not sure how this plays in to their production pause to go electric, which if it is in place and continuing may mitigate.
Jaguar Land Rover’s output could take several months to normalise, fear suppliers
JLR on Tuesday said it would extend its production halt until at least next Wednesday as it continued its investigation. In a statement, the company also cautioned that “the controlled restart of our global operations . . . will take time”. If JLR cannot produce vehicles until November, David Bailey, professor at University of Birmingham, estimated that the group would suffer a revenue hit of more than £3.5bn while it would lose about £250mn in profits, or about £72mn in revenue and £5mn in profits on a daily basis. With annual revenues of £29bn in 2024, JLR will be able to absorb the financial costs but Bailey warned the consequences would be bigger for the smaller sized companies in its supply chain. JLR declined to comment. The cyber attack comes at a crucial period for the UK carmaker when it is going through a controversial rebranding of its Jaguar brand and an expensive shift to all-electric vehicles by the end of the decade. Even before the latest incident, people briefed on the matter have said the company was facing delays with launching its new electric models. “They are clearly in chaos,” said one industry executive who works closely with JLR, while another warned that “no one actually knows” when production would resume. https://www.ft.com/content/c67be2f2-4dcf-4656-888c-8711789cd9ae#selection-2255.0-2275.165
JLR's supply chain might collapse completely. Already there have been reports of thousands of layoffs. The government needs to pull its finger out on mitigation and support (it makes one nostalgic for Covid) but also to do more to prevent these incidents in the first place. Is the NCSC (National Cyber Security Centre) fit for purpose?
Hard to get a Government with no money to "pull its finger out" and support a company with a forward plan of some wanky design concepts but not much else...
JLR is big enough to look after itself. It is the SMEs in the parts supply chain who are laying off workers, and who might need support.
Alternatively the same rules worked well until very recently, and companies - especially those which face the public - don’t want to be targeted by groups of obnoxious activists.
Otoh, who wants Linehan and pusher of bacon through letterboxes Nurse Sandy turning up on their doorstep.
I would be happy for Linehan and Nurse Sandy to turn up on my doorstep. I would welcome them both in for a cup of tea.
Microsoft: "“You don’t spend £22bn unless you have confidence in where the country, the government and the market are all going,”
Well, it probably helps that HMG gives so many contracts to Microsoft (despite being warned that to do so opens up British content to official American snoopers).
I'm not sure how this plays in to their production pause to go electric, which if it is in place and continuing may mitigate.
Jaguar Land Rover’s output could take several months to normalise, fear suppliers
JLR on Tuesday said it would extend its production halt until at least next Wednesday as it continued its investigation. In a statement, the company also cautioned that “the controlled restart of our global operations . . . will take time”. If JLR cannot produce vehicles until November, David Bailey, professor at University of Birmingham, estimated that the group would suffer a revenue hit of more than £3.5bn while it would lose about £250mn in profits, or about £72mn in revenue and £5mn in profits on a daily basis. With annual revenues of £29bn in 2024, JLR will be able to absorb the financial costs but Bailey warned the consequences would be bigger for the smaller sized companies in its supply chain. JLR declined to comment. The cyber attack comes at a crucial period for the UK carmaker when it is going through a controversial rebranding of its Jaguar brand and an expensive shift to all-electric vehicles by the end of the decade. Even before the latest incident, people briefed on the matter have said the company was facing delays with launching its new electric models. “They are clearly in chaos,” said one industry executive who works closely with JLR, while another warned that “no one actually knows” when production would resume. https://www.ft.com/content/c67be2f2-4dcf-4656-888c-8711789cd9ae#selection-2255.0-2275.165
JLR's supply chain might collapse completely. Already there have been reports of thousands of layoffs. The government needs to pull its finger out on mitigation and support (it makes one nostalgic for Covid) but also to do more to prevent these incidents in the first place. Is the NCSC (National Cyber Security Centre) fit for purpose?
Hard to get a Government with no money to "pull its finger out" and support a company with a forward plan of some wanky design concepts but not much else...
It’s difficult to see what the government can do with Jaguar, except manage the layoffs at the company and in their supply chain. The brand will probably get sold to the Chinese.
The Range Rovers with their V8s still sell well though, so they’re not totally a lost cause company yet.
Not a terrible result for Labour all things considered, after the week they’ve had.
There's virtually no movement now.
Theres not enough movement. Polling is unusually static and has been for months.
I wouldn't say that. A fast rise in the Reform polling up to and after the May elections seems to have been replaced by a slow increase, with their lead increased due to Labour still falling. A quick look at the graph on the Wikipedia page shows that. We have got to the point where you just seem to get MOE changes week-on-week though. I'm not sure why you would expect it to bounce around more.
Boredom has probably coloured my view tbf
Hard to see what will move the polling significantly for a while. The only things I can think of are 1. A period of positive coverage and some political wins for the Tories, 2. A Tory implosion and/or leadership change, 3. The Corbyn Sultana express leaving the station.
No prospect of anything positive for the government except a very slow creeping swingback.
I'm not sure how this plays in to their production pause to go electric, which if it is in place and continuing may mitigate.
Jaguar Land Rover’s output could take several months to normalise, fear suppliers
JLR on Tuesday said it would extend its production halt until at least next Wednesday as it continued its investigation. In a statement, the company also cautioned that “the controlled restart of our global operations . . . will take time”. If JLR cannot produce vehicles until November, David Bailey, professor at University of Birmingham, estimated that the group would suffer a revenue hit of more than £3.5bn while it would lose about £250mn in profits, or about £72mn in revenue and £5mn in profits on a daily basis. With annual revenues of £29bn in 2024, JLR will be able to absorb the financial costs but Bailey warned the consequences would be bigger for the smaller sized companies in its supply chain. JLR declined to comment. The cyber attack comes at a crucial period for the UK carmaker when it is going through a controversial rebranding of its Jaguar brand and an expensive shift to all-electric vehicles by the end of the decade. Even before the latest incident, people briefed on the matter have said the company was facing delays with launching its new electric models. “They are clearly in chaos,” said one industry executive who works closely with JLR, while another warned that “no one actually knows” when production would resume. https://www.ft.com/content/c67be2f2-4dcf-4656-888c-8711789cd9ae#selection-2255.0-2275.165
JLR's supply chain might collapse completely. Already there have been reports of thousands of layoffs. The government needs to pull its finger out on mitigation and support (it makes one nostalgic for Covid) but also to do more to prevent these incidents in the first place. Is the NCSC (National Cyber Security Centre) fit for purpose?
Who is it the government’s responsibility? JLE has plenty of money. They need their supply chain operational otherwise they are out of business.
Labour are traitors to the working class. Welsh voters have finally understood that. English voters have realised since Starmer destroyed them with his incompetence. Scots voters realised it in 2007, but forgot last year. They have remembered again. Labour are finished, thankfully.
I sense an extremely boring conversation about the definition of "working class" and the difference with "working people".
I'm about 80% sure Labour still hold a lead for people who are in work simply because their majority in that cohort are the election was so overwhelming. We need more details though - I have a funny feeling Reform might have a lead in council house tenants/benefits claimants for example.
Reform have a big lead among the kind of people whose government support will be cut the most to finance tax cuts for the rich in Reform's first budget. I suppose I will try to feel sorry for them but to be honest it will be a stretch.
A couple of RefUK County Councils up here have been using a rhetoric of "Central Government Cuts" as part of their response to the "Oh f*ck, what do we cut now that all the woke expenditure we promised to cut basically does not exist?" problem.
If I hear it correctly from political commentary, the RefUK Councils may be getting a windfall of some sort because the Govt are considering redefining criteria for which money goes where which may help them to an extent. Plus there is provision for Council Tax to be raised by 5%.
This is I think a bit of a reverse of the increased Lab support for "their type of Councils" (via the Housing Revenue Account?) done by Blair & Co, which was reversed by Cameron and Osborne, and then pushed further by Sunak who was caught making a speech when he said to a Garden Party that he was roughly "transferring money from poorer Councils to you". It's an intricate history.
I don't follow LD world very closely and I'm wondering about Daisy Cooper. In the Next Leader market she is (and has been for a while) a very cramped odds on shot with no-one else in the betting really. I reckon I could get matched for a lay at 1.4. Is that worth doing, do we think? Or is she pretty much nailed on to get the job when Ed Davey goes?
I don't have a vote nowadays (not since the early 2010s) but Cooper leaves me cold. I find it hard to believe that there isn't a stronger candidate among the LD MPs if Davey goes before the next GE. She is quite popular in the party, I believe, but at 1.4 I'd lay too. Anything under 2 looks short to me when there's not even a contest yet, too much to happen. I haven't bet though, partly for the same reason - not sure how long I'd be tying money up for.
Should note that I'm not at all active in the party - I know some people who are and they're fairly split on Cooper. There are plenty of unbelievers, but probably around half are fans. For me, she's Swinson mk2 - the heir apparent for reasons that are not immediately obvious to me. Swinson, of course, did get the gig.
Should also note that I don't know who I would choose at present.
ETA: If it was soon she'd be in a good position. Longer there's more time for others to emerge, I think. but even if soon if someone good decides to go for it then I think Cooper can be outshone. The Cameron to her Davis.
I thought you meant Yvette Cooper!
Could we have a situation where two parties are led by a Cooper? That would be a barrel of laughs
I don't follow LD world very closely and I'm wondering about Daisy Cooper. In the Next Leader market she is (and has been for a while) a very cramped odds on shot with no-one else in the betting really. I reckon I could get matched for a lay at 1.4. Is that worth doing, do we think? Or is she pretty much nailed on to get the job when Ed Davey goes?
I’d say she’s odds-on for a reason. There’s not an obvious alternative, she is generally popular in the party and hasn’t pissed many people off, and she very clearly has the ambition for the top job. Almost a Brown in the later Blair years situation.
ETA I do think it’s worth looking at a Davey exit fairly soon. A “voluntary” stepping down after a bit of behind the scenes pressure.
Which would be foolish, IMHO.
Davey has earned one more election, I think. An election that could be exceptionally consequential and leave the LDs with the balance of power.
I still find the LDs too NIMBY locally, and too self-righteous nationally, but I’m not sure a leader change is going to have any impact on that. Davey is very strong in the care space, and that’s one that really deserves a conversation at the next GE.
Cooper comes across pretty well, but why gamble with a leader change when you’ve had a successful last GE, people seem to like Davey (relatively speaking) and he has some important points to make on policy? Plus previous knowledge of coalition which could come in handy if tasked to navigate a difficult aftermath of the next GE.
Not a terrible result for Labour all things considered, after the week they’ve had.
There's virtually no movement now.
Theres not enough movement. Polling is unusually static and has been for months.
I wouldn't say that. A fast rise in the Reform polling up to and after the May elections seems to have been replaced by a slow increase, with their lead increased due to Labour still falling. A quick look at the graph on the Wikipedia page shows that. We have got to the point where you just seem to get MOE changes week-on-week though. I'm not sure why you would expect it to bounce around more.
Boredom has probably coloured my view tbf
Hard to see what will move the polling significantly for a while. The only things I can think of are 1. A period of positive coverage and some political wins for the Tories, 2. A Tory implosion and/or leadership change, 3. The Corbyn Sultana express leaving the station.
No prospect of anything positive for the government except a very slow creeping swingback.
Yeah that's fair. As I said upstream I think im just a bit bored! The corbyn sleeper departs next month (party name, so presumably will be prompted after)
As if to prove this point, the Washington Post has just axed its last Black op-ed writer in response to comments she made on Leon's second-favourite platform, Bluesky:-
Washington Post columnist fired ‘over Charlie Kirk comments’ Karen Attiah, who says ‘white America will not get rid of guns’, claims she has been silenced for doing her job ... In another post, she said: “Refusing to tear my clothes and smear ashes on my face in performative mourning for a white man that espoused violence is… not the same as violence.” https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/09/15/washington-post-columnist-fired-charlie-kirk-comments/ (£££)
Alternatively the same rules worked well until very recently, and companies - especially those which face the public - don’t want to be targeted by groups of obnoxious activists.
Otoh, who wants Linehan and pusher of bacon through letterboxes Nurse Sandy turning up on their doorstep.
I would be happy for Linehan and Nurse Sandy to turn up on my doorstep. I would welcome them both in for a cup of tea.
Not a terrible result for Labour all things considered, after the week they’ve had.
There's virtually no movement now.
Theres not enough movement. Polling is unusually static and has been for months.
I wouldn't say that. A fast rise in the Reform polling up to and after the May elections seems to have been replaced by a slow increase, with their lead increased due to Labour still falling. A quick look at the graph on the Wikipedia page shows that. We have got to the point where you just seem to get MOE changes week-on-week though. I'm not sure why you would expect it to bounce around more.
Boredom has probably coloured my view tbf
Hard to see what will move the polling significantly for a while. The only things I can think of are 1. A period of positive coverage and some political wins for the Tories, 2. A Tory implosion and/or leadership change, 3. The Corbyn Sultana express leaving the station.
No prospect of anything positive for the government except a very slow creeping swingback.
Yeah that's fair. As I said upstream I think im just a bit bored! The corbyn sleeper departs next month (party name, so presumably will be prompted after)
That is a good point about Corbyn/Sultana. Even if their new vehicle takes only one or two percentage points from Labour, those are votes it can ill afford to lose given current polling.
A couple of RefUK County Councils up here have been using a rhetoric of "Central Government Cuts" as part of their response to the "Oh f*ck, what do we cut now that all the woke expenditure we promised to cut basically does not exist?" problem.
If I hear it correctly from political commentary, the RefUK Councils may be getting a windfall of some sort because the Govt are considering redefining criteria for which money goes where which may help them to an extent. Plus there is provision for Council Tax to be raised by 5%.
This is I think a bit of a reverse of the increased Lab support for "their type of Councils" (via the Housing Revenue Account?) done by Blair & Co, which was reversed by Cameron and Osborne, and then pushed further by Sunak who was caught making a speech when he said to a Garden Party that he was roughly "transferring money from poorer Councils to you". It's an intricate history.
As if to prove this point, the Washington Post has just axed its last Black op-ed writer in response to comments she made on Leon's second-favourite platform, Bluesky:-
Washington Post columnist fired ‘over Charlie Kirk comments’ Karen Attiah, who says ‘white America will not get rid of guns’, claims she has been silenced for doing her job ... In another post, she said: “Refusing to tear my clothes and smear ashes on my face in performative mourning for a white man that espoused violence is… not the same as violence.” https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/09/15/washington-post-columnist-fired-charlie-kirk-comments/ (£££)
Surely after this even JD Vance won't have the gall to turn up to our shores pontificating about our bad attitude to free speech. Small mercies and all that.
BBC "Four men have been arrested after images of Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were projected on to Windsor Castle on Tuesday, as the US president arrived in the UK for a state visit.
They were arrested on suspicion of "malicious communications following a public stunt in Windsor" and remained in custody, Thames Valley Police said."
This does look like censorship. A malicious communication must be one of these: Indecent or grossly offensive Contain a believable threat of harm or violence. Give false information with the intent to cause distress or anxiety Repeated harassment that cause fear or distress
Projecting images of Trump and Epstein on to Windsor Castle is none of these things. It might be embarrassing but it isn't grounds to keep them in custody!
As if to prove this point, the Washington Post has just axed its last Black op-ed writer in response to comments she made on Leon's second-favourite platform, Bluesky:-
Washington Post columnist fired ‘over Charlie Kirk comments’ Karen Attiah, who says ‘white America will not get rid of guns’, claims she has been silenced for doing her job ... In another post, she said: “Refusing to tear my clothes and smear ashes on my face in performative mourning for a white man that espoused violence is… not the same as violence.” https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/09/15/washington-post-columnist-fired-charlie-kirk-comments/ (£££)
The US is in a seriously dangerous place at the moment.
There’s a lot of very angry people on both extremes dominating the conversation, and they’re talking straight past each other in their own media bubbles.
Do Plaid back independence? Do they typically put that in their manifesto?
I expect the Welsh, like our pesky Northern neighbours, would be far too frit to actually vote for it but it would be very amusing if we could be rid of the Welsh before we lose the Scots.
Unfortunately for the Treasury, I can't see it happening.
Not a terrible result for Labour all things considered, after the week they’ve had.
There's virtually no movement now.
Theres not enough movement. Polling is unusually static and has been for months.
I wouldn't say that. A fast rise in the Reform polling up to and after the May elections seems to have been replaced by a slow increase, with their lead increased due to Labour still falling. A quick look at the graph on the Wikipedia page shows that. We have got to the point where you just seem to get MOE changes week-on-week though. I'm not sure why you would expect it to bounce around more.
Boredom has probably coloured my view tbf
Hard to see what will move the polling significantly for a while. The only things I can think of are 1. A period of positive coverage and some political wins for the Tories, 2. A Tory implosion and/or leadership change, 3. The Corbyn Sultana express leaving the station.
No prospect of anything positive for the government except a very slow creeping swingback.
Yeah that's fair. As I said upstream I think im just a bit bored! The corbyn sleeper departs next month (party name, so presumably will be prompted after)
That is a good point about Corbyn/Sultana. Even if their new vehicle takes only one or two percentage points from Labour, those are votes it can ill afford to lose given current polling.
My back of the fag packet guess is they settle at about 6% - 2 from Greens, 2 from Labour, 1 from Reform/NOTA, 1 from DNV and LD(youth voters)/NOTA
As if to prove this point, the Washington Post has just axed its last Black op-ed writer in response to comments she made on Leon's second-favourite platform, Bluesky:-
Washington Post columnist fired ‘over Charlie Kirk comments’ Karen Attiah, who says ‘white America will not get rid of guns’, claims she has been silenced for doing her job ... In another post, she said: “Refusing to tear my clothes and smear ashes on my face in performative mourning for a white man that espoused violence is… not the same as violence.” https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/09/15/washington-post-columnist-fired-charlie-kirk-comments/ (£££)
Surely after this even JD Vance won't have the gall to turn up to our shores pontificating about our bad attitude to free speech. Small mercies and all that.
He'll be doubling down, there's good free speech and bad free speech you see.
I don't follow LD world very closely and I'm wondering about Daisy Cooper. In the Next Leader market she is (and has been for a while) a very cramped odds on shot with no-one else in the betting really. I reckon I could get matched for a lay at 1.4. Is that worth doing, do we think? Or is she pretty much nailed on to get the job when Ed Davey goes?
I’d say she’s odds-on for a reason. There’s not an obvious alternative, she is generally popular in the party and hasn’t pissed many people off, and she very clearly has the ambition for the top job. Almost a Brown in the later Blair years situation.
ETA I do think it’s worth looking at a Davey exit fairly soon. A “voluntary” stepping down after a bit of behind the scenes pressure.
Which would be foolish, IMHO.
Davey has earned one more election, I think. An election that could be exceptionally consequential and leave the LDs with the balance of power.
I still find the LDs too NIMBY locally, and too self-righteous nationally, but I’m not sure a leader change is going to have any impact on that. Davey is very strong in the care space, and that’s one that really deserves a conversation at the next GE.
Cooper comes across pretty well, but why gamble with a leader change when you’ve had a successful last GE, people seem to like Davey (relatively speaking) and he has some important points to make on policy? Plus previous knowledge of coalition which could come in handy if tasked to navigate a difficult aftermath of the next GE.
The LDs seem to established themselves as the voting option of choice for the Waitrose set round here in Hampshire and Surrey, but I admit I have no idea how they are doing in more urban/grittier areas. Even round here I would expect a lot of the local Tories to revert to type after the memory of the last government has faded, certainly the LDs get a lot of stick for the way they run the local council so there is no great level of affection for them
As if to prove this point, the Washington Post has just axed its last Black op-ed writer in response to comments she made on Leon's second-favourite platform, Bluesky:-
Washington Post columnist fired ‘over Charlie Kirk comments’ Karen Attiah, who says ‘white America will not get rid of guns’, claims she has been silenced for doing her job ... In another post, she said: “Refusing to tear my clothes and smear ashes on my face in performative mourning for a white man that espoused violence is… not the same as violence.” https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/09/15/washington-post-columnist-fired-charlie-kirk-comments/ (£££)
There are going to be some legal actions around these I think; afaics it is all protected First Amendment speech.
Is there a difference between an employee of the Government and of a Private Corporation in USA law on this point under labour and/or other law?
Do Plaid back independence? Do they typically put that in their manifesto?
I expect the Welsh, like our pesky Northern neighbours, would be far too frit to actually vote for it but it would be very amusing if we could be rid of the Welsh before we lose the Scots.
Unfortunately for the Treasury, I can't see it happening.
I think the politicians you vote for would have to stop being frit about offering a referendum before anything like that happened.
Or perhaps nobody thinks its worth paying someone like him to speak, given he was so awful at speaking last year that his own party dropped him as a candidate - and he'll be even older now.
Is Obama struggling to get engagements? I doubt it.
Do Plaid back independence? Do they typically put that in their manifesto?
I expect the Welsh, like our pesky Northern neighbours, would be far too frit to actually vote for it but it would be very amusing if we could be rid of the Welsh before we lose the Scots.
Unfortunately for the Treasury, I can't see it happening.
Right in the first page of text. (Click on the little button if you're British-language-challenged.)
Mae’n uchelgais i’w weld yn ein hyder y gall, ac y dylai Cymru fod yn gyfrifol am ei thrywydd ei hun, fel cenedl annibynnol sy’n edrych tuag allan.
BBC "Four men have been arrested after images of Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were projected on to Windsor Castle on Tuesday, as the US president arrived in the UK for a state visit.
They were arrested on suspicion of "malicious communications following a public stunt in Windsor" and remained in custody, Thames Valley Police said."
This does look like censorship. A malicious communication must be one of these: Indecent or grossly offensive Contain a believable threat of harm or violence. Give false information with the intent to cause distress or anxiety Repeated harassment that cause fear or distress
Projecting images of Trump and Epstein on to Windsor Castle is none of these things. It might be embarrassing but it isn't grounds to keep them in custody!
You'd want to be careful how much energy was in the beam when projecting on to, say, curtains at Windsor. Annus Horribilis and all that.
As if to prove this point, the Washington Post has just axed its last Black op-ed writer in response to comments she made on Leon's second-favourite platform, Bluesky:-
Washington Post columnist fired ‘over Charlie Kirk comments’ Karen Attiah, who says ‘white America will not get rid of guns’, claims she has been silenced for doing her job ... In another post, she said: “Refusing to tear my clothes and smear ashes on my face in performative mourning for a white man that espoused violence is… not the same as violence.” https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/09/15/washington-post-columnist-fired-charlie-kirk-comments/ (£££)
Surely after this even JD Vance won't have the gall to turn up to our shores pontificating about our bad attitude to free speech. Small mercies and all that.
Oh he will. One of his outriders was on Today this morning making the new MAGA distinction between free speech (for them) and hate speech (for their opponents).
Thanks to PBLibDems for the takes on Daisy Cooper. So a big factor to consider is that her chances depend a lot on when ED goes. The sooner the better (for her). Unfortunately betfair has an exit date market on Starmer, Badenoch and Farage but nothing for Davey. The LDs getting overlooked again there.
BBC "Four men have been arrested after images of Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were projected on to Windsor Castle on Tuesday, as the US president arrived in the UK for a state visit.
They were arrested on suspicion of "malicious communications following a public stunt in Windsor" and remained in custody, Thames Valley Police said."
This does look like censorship. A malicious communication must be one of these: Indecent or grossly offensive Contain a believable threat of harm or violence. Give false information with the intent to cause distress or anxiety Repeated harassment that cause fear or distress
Projecting images of Trump and Epstein on to Windsor Castle is none of these things. It might be embarrassing but it isn't grounds to keep them in custody!
I was going to ask in what way protecting a picture onto a house was a criminal offence.
I don't follow LD world very closely and I'm wondering about Daisy Cooper. In the Next Leader market she is (and has been for a while) a very cramped odds on shot with no-one else in the betting really. I reckon I could get matched for a lay at 1.4. Is that worth doing, do we think? Or is she pretty much nailed on to get the job when Ed Davey goes?
It depends when Ed Davey goes. If he went now, Daisy would get it and you'd lose/ But if he stays until after the next GE, Daisy would have a lot of competition from the 2024 intake who aren't featured on Betfair. You might win, but you'd have a long wait for your money.
Edited to make more sense!
Like an echo that comes back 5 minutes later, but with the contents shorter and more coherent.*
BBC "Four men have been arrested after images of Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were projected on to Windsor Castle on Tuesday, as the US president arrived in the UK for a state visit.
They were arrested on suspicion of "malicious communications following a public stunt in Windsor" and remained in custody, Thames Valley Police said."
This does look like censorship. A malicious communication must be one of these: Indecent or grossly offensive Contain a believable threat of harm or violence. Give false information with the intent to cause distress or anxiety Repeated harassment that cause fear or distress
Projecting images of Trump and Epstein on to Windsor Castle is none of these things. It might be embarrassing but it isn't grounds to keep them in custody!
Agree. I thought it nonsense when I heard they had been arrested this morning. Not sure how you stop them doing it though otherwise.
Do Plaid back independence? Do they typically put that in their manifesto?
I expect the Welsh, like our pesky Northern neighbours, would be far too frit to actually vote for it but it would be very amusing if we could be rid of the Welsh before we lose the Scots.
Unfortunately for the Treasury, I can't see it happening.
Right in the first page of text. (Click on the little button if you're British-language-challenged.)
Mae’n uchelgais i’w weld yn ein hyder y gall, ac y dylai Cymru fod yn gyfrifol am ei thrywydd ei hun, fel cenedl annibynnol sy’n edrych tuag allan.
Alternatively the same rules worked well until very recently, and companies - especially those which face the public - don’t want to be targeted by groups of obnoxious activists.
Exactly.
Not remotely unworkable. We have had single sex loos and changing rooms for decades without any issues at all. The rules for employers and schools have been in place for decades and work absolutely fine.
It is only the insistence of some men that they have the right to breach women's boundaries which has made this an issue. Organisations that cannot deal with predatory bullies shouldn't be in business, frankly.
Since October 2024 employers have been under an obligation to prevent sexual harassment of their staff. Are they also saying this is unworkable?
This is just cowardice.
I'm inclined to agree in the main. Given the numbers, this could be managed practically at least in the interim, and perhaps permanently, by dual-purposing disabled loos in existing scenarios, and adding an extra cubicle in new ones where there are significant numbers of people. Many places already combine disabled and "changing places" loos (which I don't especially like, but it seems usually to cope).
IMO the main problems occur with men weeing on the floor, out of control drunks being sick, and sometimes mums and babies setting up a base-camp for 20 or 40 minutes, and then gong Karen about it. That's horrible for people with eg IBS.
As if to prove this point, the Washington Post has just axed its last Black op-ed writer in response to comments she made on Leon's second-favourite platform, Bluesky:-
Washington Post columnist fired ‘over Charlie Kirk comments’ Karen Attiah, who says ‘white America will not get rid of guns’, claims she has been silenced for doing her job ... In another post, she said: “Refusing to tear my clothes and smear ashes on my face in performative mourning for a white man that espoused violence is… not the same as violence.” https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/09/15/washington-post-columnist-fired-charlie-kirk-comments/ (£££)
Surely after this even JD Vance won't have the gall to turn up to our shores pontificating about our bad attitude to free speech. Small mercies and all that.
Oh he will. One of his outriders was on Today this morning making the new MAGA distinction between free speech (for them) and hate speech (for their opponents).
As if to prove this point, the Washington Post has just axed its last Black op-ed writer in response to comments she made on Leon's second-favourite platform, Bluesky:-
Washington Post columnist fired ‘over Charlie Kirk comments’ Karen Attiah, who says ‘white America will not get rid of guns’, claims she has been silenced for doing her job ... In another post, she said: “Refusing to tear my clothes and smear ashes on my face in performative mourning for a white man that espoused violence is… not the same as violence.” https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/09/15/washington-post-columnist-fired-charlie-kirk-comments/ (£££)
Surely after this even JD Vance won't have the gall to turn up to our shores pontificating about our bad attitude to free speech. Small mercies and all that.
He'll be doubling down, there's good free speech and bad free speech you see.
BBC "Four men have been arrested after images of Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were projected on to Windsor Castle on Tuesday, as the US president arrived in the UK for a state visit.
They were arrested on suspicion of "malicious communications following a public stunt in Windsor" and remained in custody, Thames Valley Police said."
This does look like censorship. A malicious communication must be one of these: Indecent or grossly offensive Contain a believable threat of harm or violence. Give false information with the intent to cause distress or anxiety Repeated harassment that cause fear or distress
Projecting images of Trump and Epstein on to Windsor Castle is none of these things. It might be embarrassing but it isn't grounds to keep them in custody!
Agree. I thought it nonsense when I heard they had been arrested this morning. Not sure how you stop them doing it though otherwise.
Interesting one, though. I'd be annoyed if an image of Donald Trump was projected onto my house. It 'feels' like there ought to be some legal way of stopping someone from doing so. But I can't see under what law.
As if to prove this point, the Washington Post has just axed its last Black op-ed writer in response to comments she made on Leon's second-favourite platform, Bluesky:-
Washington Post columnist fired ‘over Charlie Kirk comments’ Karen Attiah, who says ‘white America will not get rid of guns’, claims she has been silenced for doing her job ... In another post, she said: “Refusing to tear my clothes and smear ashes on my face in performative mourning for a white man that espoused violence is… not the same as violence.” https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/09/15/washington-post-columnist-fired-charlie-kirk-comments/ (£££)
Surely after this even JD Vance won't have the gall to turn up to our shores pontificating about our bad attitude to free speech. Small mercies and all that.
Oh he will. One of his outriders was on Today this morning making the new MAGA distinction between free speech (for them) and hate speech (for their opponents).
I had to turn that off.
Yep heard that this morning. It was utter nonsense. He said one was ok because it was science, whatever that means.
BBC "Four men have been arrested after images of Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were projected on to Windsor Castle on Tuesday, as the US president arrived in the UK for a state visit.
They were arrested on suspicion of "malicious communications following a public stunt in Windsor" and remained in custody, Thames Valley Police said."
This does look like censorship. A malicious communication must be one of these: Indecent or grossly offensive Contain a believable threat of harm or violence. Give false information with the intent to cause distress or anxiety Repeated harassment that cause fear or distress
Projecting images of Trump and Epstein on to Windsor Castle is none of these things. It might be embarrassing but it isn't grounds to keep them in custody!
That is a pathetic misuse of police powers. There are precisely no grounds for suspicion of malicious communications.
But decent ones for arresting the police involved in suspicion of misconduct in a public office. Or suing them for false imprisonment.
“This is a shocker. James Reed , CEO of the recruiter Reed, said on Times Radio the UK is in the grip of a graduate jobs crisis noting three years ago he had 188,000 graduate jobs on his books and today it was 55,000.
He encouraged middle class families to encourage their student kids to take up manual labour”
As if to prove this point, the Washington Post has just axed its last Black op-ed writer in response to comments she made on Leon's second-favourite platform, Bluesky:-
Washington Post columnist fired ‘over Charlie Kirk comments’ Karen Attiah, who says ‘white America will not get rid of guns’, claims she has been silenced for doing her job ... In another post, she said: “Refusing to tear my clothes and smear ashes on my face in performative mourning for a white man that espoused violence is… not the same as violence.” https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/09/15/washington-post-columnist-fired-charlie-kirk-comments/ (£££)
Surely after this even JD Vance won't have the gall to turn up to our shores pontificating about our bad attitude to free speech. Small mercies and all that.
Get Cooper to express some grave concerns about it during a press conference with Trump.
BBC "Four men have been arrested after images of Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were projected on to Windsor Castle on Tuesday, as the US president arrived in the UK for a state visit.
They were arrested on suspicion of "malicious communications following a public stunt in Windsor" and remained in custody, Thames Valley Police said."
This does look like censorship. A malicious communication must be one of these: Indecent or grossly offensive Contain a believable threat of harm or violence. Give false information with the intent to cause distress or anxiety Repeated harassment that cause fear or distress
Projecting images of Trump and Epstein on to Windsor Castle is none of these things. It might be embarrassing but it isn't grounds to keep them in custody!
Agree. I thought it nonsense when I heard they had been arrested this morning. Not sure how you stop them doing it though otherwise.
Interesting one, though. I'd be annoyed if an image of Donald Trump was projected onto my house. It 'feels' like there ought to be some legal way of stopping someone from doing so. But I can't see under what law.
Banner plus "several images" = repeated harassment? When looked at through one's spread legs with the head upside down, sort of good enough excuse for Plod to bang them up in custody till Thursday night.
BBC "Four men have been arrested after images of Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were projected on to Windsor Castle on Tuesday, as the US president arrived in the UK for a state visit.
They were arrested on suspicion of "malicious communications following a public stunt in Windsor" and remained in custody, Thames Valley Police said."
This does look like censorship. A malicious communication must be one of these: Indecent or grossly offensive Contain a believable threat of harm or violence. Give false information with the intent to cause distress or anxiety Repeated harassment that cause fear or distress
Projecting images of Trump and Epstein on to Windsor Castle is none of these things. It might be embarrassing but it isn't grounds to keep them in custody!
Agree. I thought it nonsense when I heard they had been arrested this morning. Not sure how you stop them doing it though otherwise.
You move them on, or stand in front of the projector?
BBC "Four men have been arrested after images of Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were projected on to Windsor Castle on Tuesday, as the US president arrived in the UK for a state visit.
They were arrested on suspicion of "malicious communications following a public stunt in Windsor" and remained in custody, Thames Valley Police said."
This does look like censorship. A malicious communication must be one of these: Indecent or grossly offensive Contain a believable threat of harm or violence. Give false information with the intent to cause distress or anxiety Repeated harassment that cause fear or distress
Projecting images of Trump and Epstein on to Windsor Castle is none of these things. It might be embarrassing but it isn't grounds to keep them in custody!
Agree. I thought it nonsense when I heard they had been arrested this morning. Not sure how you stop them doing it though otherwise.
Interesting one, though. I'd be annoyed if an image of Donald Trump was projected onto my house. It 'feels' like there ought to be some legal way of stopping someone from doing so. But I can't see under what law.
I suppose I'd be distressed if someone was projecting an image of Trump onto my house, but it has to be repeated to go down as malicious.
BBC "Four men have been arrested after images of Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were projected on to Windsor Castle on Tuesday, as the US president arrived in the UK for a state visit.
They were arrested on suspicion of "malicious communications following a public stunt in Windsor" and remained in custody, Thames Valley Police said."
This does look like censorship. A malicious communication must be one of these: Indecent or grossly offensive Contain a believable threat of harm or violence. Give false information with the intent to cause distress or anxiety Repeated harassment that cause fear or distress
Projecting images of Trump and Epstein on to Windsor Castle is none of these things. It might be embarrassing but it isn't grounds to keep them in custody!
Agree. I thought it nonsense when I heard they had been arrested this morning. Not sure how you stop them doing it though otherwise.
Interesting one, though. I'd be annoyed if an image of Donald Trump was projected onto my house. It 'feels' like there ought to be some legal way of stopping someone from doing so. But I can't see under what law.
I wonder what position Farage will take.
AIUI the alleged occasions of "censorship" ("30 per day") he quoted in his Congress Committee Hearing was a broad category which included things like revenge porn and other malicious communications, though I doubt whether he even noticed that in his enthusiasm for a big number.
Yusuf has posted a Westminster seat projection from this poll with both Tory and Labour on zero. Really??
He's talking shite.
They have a tendency of pulling this kind of bullshit.
They've even used voodoo polls.
Electoral Calculus latest prediction for Wales if Tory 0, Labour 4 based upon a 23% predicted vote share for Labour. So it doesn’t out the question to think if they fell even lower into the low teens in Wales then they’d get zero, surely?
Stats for Lefties are now also Stats for Hard Righties it would seem.
Of course they are. Many on the hard left seem to hate centrists even more they hate the right.
On the assumption that Liz Kendall is centrist, listening to her on R4 just now doing crap pr for Starmer & co helps me understand where they‘re coming from.
I thought she was OK. "Talent is everywhere. Opportunity is not' was a good sound bite. A green shoot of a move in the right direction.
Kendall's strain of cenre leftism has been in charge of Labour most of my adult life, I've even voted for it on occasion. I'm no longer an audience for their sound bites but I suspect a lot of folk just see people like her mouthing silently, they no longer hear the words. It's obvious that centrism/Blairism no longer works for Labour, but another panicked, minute stumble to the left just fills me with an immense weariness.
The problem with centre leftism is the same as centre rightism at the moment. The purveyors of it are shit.
A “polite, liberal government of higher taxes to provide more public services, but in a sustainable and sensible fashion” works in lots of places.
I wouldn't be surprised to see labour fall further
Alarm bells ring in Welsh labour as they attempt to distance themselves from Starmer
Indeed with polls like this Reform could be in with a chance of most seats
Whatever happens, Labour's years in office in Wales looks terminal
And on Trump, Sky suggesting No 10 want him to have a special gift and a personalised 'red box' is under consideration
They are barmy if that is indeed one of the gifts
and watching Cooper fawning all over him on his arrival was sickening
Why is a personalised red box a barmy gift? It’s the sort of token that political leaders give to each other.
A cheap red box ? BigG ought to be grateful.
We might stead be looking at something like this, which I posted on the last thread:
I hadn't realised quite how bad was the deal Trump is trying to impose on S Korea, assuming the 'investment' was largely Trump hyperbole. Apparently not.
S Korea seem to be beginning to question the entire basis of paying what's essentially massive protection money to a semi-hostile state.
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/business/companies/20250917/seouls-industry-minister-refutes-questions-on-necessity-for-us-tariff-talks Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jung-kwan expressed caution over questions on the necessity of Korea's protracted tariff negotiations with the United States, amid mounting voices that paying the current 25 percent tariff will be less costly than hastily accepting Washington's demand to take most of the benefits that would be created from the $350 billion investment proposed by Seoul.
"Some say even if tariffs were raised from 15 percent (as the two countries previously agreed) to 25 percent, it would not be much compared to $350 billion, and I also sometimes think of this as an option," Kim said during a dinner reception with reporters, while also stressing that it was his personal opinion.
"But the real question is what kind of country we’re going to pass on to the next generation... When you look into the negotiations, you will realize it's about how we define our relations with the U.S., and it will be an important decision that will shape our future."..
..In late July, Seoul and Washington reached a broad deal to lower Washington's proposed 25 percent reciprocal and item-specific tariffs to 15 percent, in return for the promised 350 billion investment fund.
Since then, the two sides have been negotiating to fine-tune the details of the agreement, but they have been hitting a snag in recent weeks, as Washington demands 90 percent of the profits from the investment, unlike Seoul's stance to have the fund as a tool for Korean companies' improved presence in the U.S. market.
Fueling negative sentiment among the Korean public, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raided the construction site of a joint Hyundai Motor–LG Energy Solution battery plant in Georgia, resulting in more than 300 Korean workers being detained.
Against this backdrop, there are growing calls for Korea to accept the 25 percent tariff and cushion the impact through government support for industries, with some arguing that the $350 billion Washington is demanding would be better spent on strengthening domestic companies...
Frankly, I don't think there's any real question. They should scrap the deal, and spend 50bn out of the 350bn on getting a nuclear deterrent.
BBC "Four men have been arrested after images of Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were projected on to Windsor Castle on Tuesday, as the US president arrived in the UK for a state visit.
They were arrested on suspicion of "malicious communications following a public stunt in Windsor" and remained in custody, Thames Valley Police said."
This does look like censorship. A malicious communication must be one of these: Indecent or grossly offensive Contain a believable threat of harm or violence. Give false information with the intent to cause distress or anxiety Repeated harassment that cause fear or distress
Projecting images of Trump and Epstein on to Windsor Castle is none of these things. It might be embarrassing but it isn't grounds to keep them in custody!
Agree. I thought it nonsense when I heard they had been arrested this morning. Not sure how you stop them doing it though otherwise.
Interesting one, though. I'd be annoyed if an image of Donald Trump was projected onto my house. It 'feels' like there ought to be some legal way of stopping someone from doing so. But I can't see under what law.
I suppose I'd be distressed if someone was projecting an image of Trump onto my house, but it has to be repeated to go down as malicious.
It has to be repeated - and cause fear or distress.
But does this mean that repeated questioning by the media of Trump on his relationship with Epstein is a malicious communication because it is repeated and causes him distress?
Or is the Communications Act 2003 badly drafted and OTT and a threat to free speech?
BBC "Four men have been arrested after images of Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were projected on to Windsor Castle on Tuesday, as the US president arrived in the UK for a state visit.
They were arrested on suspicion of "malicious communications following a public stunt in Windsor" and remained in custody, Thames Valley Police said."
This does look like censorship. A malicious communication must be one of these: Indecent or grossly offensive Contain a believable threat of harm or violence. Give false information with the intent to cause distress or anxiety Repeated harassment that cause fear or distress
Projecting images of Trump and Epstein on to Windsor Castle is none of these things. It might be embarrassing but it isn't grounds to keep them in custody!
Agree. I thought it nonsense when I heard they had been arrested this morning. Not sure how you stop them doing it though otherwise.
Interesting one, though. I'd be annoyed if an image of Donald Trump was projected onto my house. It 'feels' like there ought to be some legal way of stopping someone from doing so. But I can't see under what law.
I wonder what position Farage will take.
AIUI the alleged occasions of "censorship" ("30 per day") he quoted in his Congress Committee Hearing was a broad category which included things like revenge porn and other malicious communications, though I doubt whether he even noticed that in his enthusiasm for a big number.
Nigel got his knickers in a twist over the Trump blimp ('the biggest ever insult to a sitting president' etc.) but would be wise to keep out of this: doesn't want to do with Trump what Sir Keir did with Mandelson.
BBC "Four men have been arrested after images of Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were projected on to Windsor Castle on Tuesday, as the US president arrived in the UK for a state visit.
They were arrested on suspicion of "malicious communications following a public stunt in Windsor" and remained in custody, Thames Valley Police said."
This does look like censorship. A malicious communication must be one of these: Indecent or grossly offensive Contain a believable threat of harm or violence. Give false information with the intent to cause distress or anxiety Repeated harassment that cause fear or distress
Projecting images of Trump and Epstein on to Windsor Castle is none of these things. It might be embarrassing but it isn't grounds to keep them in custody!
Agree. I thought it nonsense when I heard they had been arrested this morning. Not sure how you stop them doing it though otherwise.
Interesting one, though. I'd be annoyed if an image of Donald Trump was projected onto my house. It 'feels' like there ought to be some legal way of stopping someone from doing so. But I can't see under what law.
I assume under civil law, something along the lines of trespass. It should only be criminal if it reaches the standard of harassment. But I agree it is interesting. I don't want them criminalised and they should be free to do it, but once done that is it. It seems unreasonable that they should be allowed to continue with it. The point has been made. Images have been projected on parliament before now. There was a nude of the lady whose name I have forgotten who later suffered from hair loss. Ah it is bugging me I can't remember her name.
Not a terrible result for Labour all things considered, after the week they’ve had.
There's virtually no movement now.
Theres not enough movement. Polling is unusually static and has been for months.
I wouldn't say that. A fast rise in the Reform polling up to and after the May elections seems to have been replaced by a slow increase, with their lead increased due to Labour still falling. A quick look at the graph on the Wikipedia page shows that. We have got to the point where you just seem to get MOE changes week-on-week though. I'm not sure why you would expect it to bounce around more.
Boredom has probably coloured my view tbf
Hard to see what will move the polling significantly for a while. The only things I can think of are 1. A period of positive coverage and some political wins for the Tories, 2. A Tory implosion and/or leadership change, 3. The Corbyn Sultana express leaving the station.
No prospect of anything positive for the government except a very slow creeping swingback.
In the longer term, a budget for investment, both business and infrastructure, and planning reform to allow it to happen quickly. It will give them a chance in 2029. They won’t do it, of course. Too radical.
BBC "Four men have been arrested after images of Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were projected on to Windsor Castle on Tuesday, as the US president arrived in the UK for a state visit.
They were arrested on suspicion of "malicious communications following a public stunt in Windsor" and remained in custody, Thames Valley Police said."
This does look like censorship. A malicious communication must be one of these: Indecent or grossly offensive Contain a believable threat of harm or violence. Give false information with the intent to cause distress or anxiety Repeated harassment that cause fear or distress
Projecting images of Trump and Epstein on to Windsor Castle is none of these things. It might be embarrassing but it isn't grounds to keep them in custody!
Agree. I thought it nonsense when I heard they had been arrested this morning. Not sure how you stop them doing it though otherwise.
Interesting one, though. I'd be annoyed if an image of Donald Trump was projected onto my house. It 'feels' like there ought to be some legal way of stopping someone from doing so. But I can't see under what law.
I assume under civil law, something along the lines of trespass. It should only be criminal if it reaches the standard of harassment. But I agree it is interesting. I don't want them criminalised and they should be free to do it, but once done that is it. It seems unreasonable that they should be allowed to continue with it. The point has been made. Images have been projected on parliament before now. There was a nude of the lady whose name I have forgotten who later suffered from hair loss. Ah it is bugging me I can't remember her name.
A paper on domestic terrorism detailing far-right extremist violence in the United States has been removed from the Justice Department’s website, AFP confirmed today.
The research summary from the National Institute of Justice concluded that “far-right extremists have committed far more ideologically motivated homicides than far-left or radical Islamist extremists” since 1990.
[...]
The department did not respond to requests for comment on why the paper, titled “What NIJ research tells us about domestic terrorism”, was taken down in the days following the deadly September 10 shooting in the state of Utah.
As reported by the independent 404 Media, archived versions of the Office of Justice Programmes website captured by the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine show that the article was accessible on September 11 but was no longer available the following afternoon.
BBC "Four men have been arrested after images of Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were projected on to Windsor Castle on Tuesday, as the US president arrived in the UK for a state visit.
They were arrested on suspicion of "malicious communications following a public stunt in Windsor" and remained in custody, Thames Valley Police said."
This does look like censorship. A malicious communication must be one of these: Indecent or grossly offensive Contain a believable threat of harm or violence. Give false information with the intent to cause distress or anxiety Repeated harassment that cause fear or distress
Projecting images of Trump and Epstein on to Windsor Castle is none of these things. It might be embarrassing but it isn't grounds to keep them in custody!
Agree. I thought it nonsense when I heard they had been arrested this morning. Not sure how you stop them doing it though otherwise.
Interesting one, though. I'd be annoyed if an image of Donald Trump was projected onto my house. It 'feels' like there ought to be some legal way of stopping someone from doing so. But I can't see under what law.
I assume under civil law, something along the lines of trespass. It should only be criminal if it reaches the standard of harassment. But I agree it is interesting. I don't want them criminalised and they should be free to do it, but once done that is it. It seems unreasonable that they should be allowed to continue with it. The point has been made. Images have been projected on parliament before now. There was a nude of the lady whose name I have forgotten who later suffered from hair loss. Ah it is bugging me I can't remember her name.
Better to leave her anonymous, as it was weithout the lady's permission and it upset her profoundly, unsurprisingly.
Given the wording of the question (Do you approve or disapprove of the government's record to date?), the dire ratings are no surprise; nor is the slight worsening of their position given events in recent weeks. For example, I would be in the 'disapprove' column, but would still vote Labour given the alternatives, and I don't think I'm alone.
Microsoft: "“You don’t spend £22bn unless you have confidence in where the country, the government and the market are all going,”
I'm old enough to remember when Clive Sinclair and Alan Sugar were the UJ-emblazoned future, at least according to the media.
Amstrad was at one point Europe's second largest computer manufacturer.
Indeed. I must have worn out about half a dozen PCWs at least, mostly free from friends and relatives, cannibalising and adapting them to read/write to PC floppy format. Put off the evil day when I had to upgrade the hardware.
Labour deputy leadership contender Lucy Powell, who was fired by Sir Keir Starmer in his cabinet reshuffle, has criticised "unforced errors" by the government over welfare.
In her first broadcast interview since being sacked, she told the BBC's Nick Robinson attempts to cut disability benefits and winter fuel payments had left voters questioning "whose side we are on".
Labour are on the side of non-workers and against workers.
Plenty of disabled folk work. Some of my most effective colleagues are in wheelchairs or have significant mental health issues.
(I'm not disputing your sentiment but some of the chat around disabled claimants has been a bit unedifying, particularly as the criteria and adjustments for disability benefits are quite different to standard UC etc).
Well said. More generally it's amazing how many people even on here think UC recipients are all sitting on their thumbs. Many are in work.
The problem with UC and other benefits is 'drift'. What starts out as a scheme with lofty purpose starts being bent and twisted by the various legal challenges usually along the lines of 'why is my group left out'. So that group is added which creates more exceptions which allows more challenges.
UC has allowed a number of businesses to survive which shouldn't have, due to playing the indirect subsidy game especially with zero hours contracts. There is a question here if this is a business or a lifestyle. The DWP seems to think it is a lifestyle.
Not a terrible result for Labour all things considered, after the week they’ve had.
There's virtually no movement now.
Theres not enough movement. Polling is unusually static and has been for months.
I wouldn't say that. A fast rise in the Reform polling up to and after the May elections seems to have been replaced by a slow increase, with their lead increased due to Labour still falling. A quick look at the graph on the Wikipedia page shows that. We have got to the point where you just seem to get MOE changes week-on-week though. I'm not sure why you would expect it to bounce around more.
Boredom has probably coloured my view tbf
Hard to see what will move the polling significantly for a while. The only things I can think of are 1. A period of positive coverage and some political wins for the Tories, 2. A Tory implosion and/or leadership change, 3. The Corbyn Sultana express leaving the station.
No prospect of anything positive for the government except a very slow creeping swingback.
In the longer term, a budget for investment, both business and infrastructure, and planning reform to allow it to happen quickly. It will give them a chance in 2029. They won’t do it, of course. Too radical.
Yes, if they weren't terrified of ... I'm not sure what ? ... then they're be doing this already. Its not as though they have any popularity to risk at this point.
Just playing steady as you go isn't defensible, particularly as they're probably about to have a deputy leader running an independent opposition within the party, from the back benches.
BBC "Four men have been arrested after images of Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were projected on to Windsor Castle on Tuesday, as the US president arrived in the UK for a state visit.
They were arrested on suspicion of "malicious communications following a public stunt in Windsor" and remained in custody, Thames Valley Police said."
This does look like censorship. A malicious communication must be one of these: Indecent or grossly offensive Contain a believable threat of harm or violence. Give false information with the intent to cause distress or anxiety Repeated harassment that cause fear or distress
Projecting images of Trump and Epstein on to Windsor Castle is none of these things. It might be embarrassing but it isn't grounds to keep them in custody!
Agree. I thought it nonsense when I heard they had been arrested this morning. Not sure how you stop them doing it though otherwise.
Interesting one, though. I'd be annoyed if an image of Donald Trump was projected onto my house. It 'feels' like there ought to be some legal way of stopping someone from doing so. But I can't see under what law.
I assume under civil law, something along the lines of trespass. It should only be criminal if it reaches the standard of harassment. But I agree it is interesting. I don't want them criminalised and they should be free to do it, but once done that is it. It seems unreasonable that they should be allowed to continue with it. The point has been made. Images have been projected on parliament before now. There was a nude of the lady whose name I have forgotten who later suffered from hair loss. Ah it is bugging me I can't remember her name.
Gail Porter.
Thank you. Saved a lot of wasted time racking my brains.
A paper on domestic terrorism detailing far-right extremist violence in the United States has been removed from the Justice Department’s website, AFP confirmed today.
The research summary from the National Institute of Justice concluded that “far-right extremists have committed far more ideologically motivated homicides than far-left or radical Islamist extremists” since 1990.
[...]
The department did not respond to requests for comment on why the paper, titled “What NIJ research tells us about domestic terrorism”, was taken down in the days following the deadly September 10 shooting in the state of Utah.
As reported by the independent 404 Media, archived versions of the Office of Justice Programmes website captured by the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine show that the article was accessible on September 11 but was no longer available the following afternoon.
BBC "Four men have been arrested after images of Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were projected on to Windsor Castle on Tuesday, as the US president arrived in the UK for a state visit.
They were arrested on suspicion of "malicious communications following a public stunt in Windsor" and remained in custody, Thames Valley Police said."
This does look like censorship. A malicious communication must be one of these: Indecent or grossly offensive Contain a believable threat of harm or violence. Give false information with the intent to cause distress or anxiety Repeated harassment that cause fear or distress
Projecting images of Trump and Epstein on to Windsor Castle is none of these things. It might be embarrassing but it isn't grounds to keep them in custody!
I was going to ask in what way protecting a picture onto a house was a criminal offence.
Quite.
At this rate Tommy Lots of Names will claim that the existence of brown people causes him “fear and distress”.
A paper on domestic terrorism detailing far-right extremist violence in the United States has been removed from the Justice Department’s website, AFP confirmed today.
The research summary from the National Institute of Justice concluded that “far-right extremists have committed far more ideologically motivated homicides than far-left or radical Islamist extremists” since 1990.
[...]
The department did not respond to requests for comment on why the paper, titled “What NIJ research tells us about domestic terrorism”, was taken down in the days following the deadly September 10 shooting in the state of Utah.
As reported by the independent 404 Media, archived versions of the Office of Justice Programmes website captured by the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine show that the article was accessible on September 11 but was no longer available the following afternoon.
Free speech init.
Trump will be going after archive.org in due course; I hope they have an alternative base in a safe jurisdiction.
The only other general archive as valuable, imo, is Google Streetview's historic records.
Microsoft: "“You don’t spend £22bn unless you have confidence in where the country, the government and the market are all going,”
I'm old enough to remember when Clive Sinclair and Alan Sugar were the UJ-emblazoned future, at least according to the media.
Amstrad was at one point Europe's second largest computer manufacturer.
Indeed. I must have worn out about half a dozen PCWs at least, mostly free from friends and relatives, cannibalising and adapting them to read/write to PC floppy format. Put off the evil day when I had to upgrade the hardware.
My wife wrote and printed her PHD thesis using hers. Briefly a great, cost effective bit of consumer kit, but a dead end.
Meanwhile the New Statesman says the quiet part out loud.
Labour's vision: killing off the old and the sick so that it can get its hands on their property and not spend money on them. We already have the war in Europe caused by a totalitarian fascist state and the growth in vile anti-semitism so now we're getting the eugenics as well. Quite the triple lock.
I don't follow LD world very closely and I'm wondering about Daisy Cooper. In the Next Leader market she is (and has been for a while) a very cramped odds on shot with no-one else in the betting really. I reckon I could get matched for a lay at 1.4. Is that worth doing, do we think? Or is she pretty much nailed on to get the job when Ed Davey goes?
I don't have a vote nowadays (not since the early 2010s) but Cooper leaves me cold. I find it hard to believe that there isn't a stronger candidate among the LD MPs if Davey goes before the next GE. She is quite popular in the party, I believe, but at 1.4 I'd lay too. Anything under 2 looks short to me when there's not even a contest yet, too much to happen. I haven't bet though, partly for the same reason - not sure how long I'd be tying money up for.
Should note that I'm not at all active in the party - I know some people who are and they're fairly split on Cooper. There are plenty of unbelievers, but probably around half are fans. For me, she's Swinson mk2 - the heir apparent for reasons that are not immediately obvious to me. Swinson, of course, did get the gig.
Should also note that I don't know who I would choose at present.
ETA: If it was soon she'd be in a good position. Longer there's more time for others to emerge, I think. but even if soon if someone good decides to go for it then I think Cooper can be outshone. The Cameron to her Davis.
I thought you meant Yvette Cooper!
Could we have a situation where two parties are led by a Cooper? That would be a barrel of laughs
Heh, much of that does apply to Cooper (Y) as well!
Labour deputy leadership contender Lucy Powell, who was fired by Sir Keir Starmer in his cabinet reshuffle, has criticised "unforced errors" by the government over welfare.
In her first broadcast interview since being sacked, she told the BBC's Nick Robinson attempts to cut disability benefits and winter fuel payments had left voters questioning "whose side we are on".
Labour are on the side of non-workers and against workers.
Plenty of disabled folk work. Some of my most effective colleagues are in wheelchairs or have significant mental health issues.
(I'm not disputing your sentiment but some of the chat around disabled claimants has been a bit unedifying, particularly as the criteria and adjustments for disability benefits are quite different to standard UC etc).
Well said. More generally it's amazing how many people even on here think UC recipients are all sitting on their thumbs. Many are in work.
The problem with UC and other benefits is 'drift'. What starts out as a scheme with lofty purpose starts being bent and twisted by the various legal challenges usually along the lines of 'why is my group left out'. So that group is added which creates more exceptions which allows more challenges.
UC has allowed a number of businesses to survive which shouldn't have, due to playing the indirect subsidy game especially with zero hours contracts. There is a question here if this is a business or a lifestyle. The DWP seems to think it is a lifestyle.
Er, that in the linky is Access to Work. Quite different from the disability life support credits. Where I worked, someone got a grant to help transscribe meetings (cos profoundly deaf). Not sure how ZHC work with that, sure, but it's nothing to do with home life. It's related specifcially to work.
BBC "Four men have been arrested after images of Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were projected on to Windsor Castle on Tuesday, as the US president arrived in the UK for a state visit.
They were arrested on suspicion of "malicious communications following a public stunt in Windsor" and remained in custody, Thames Valley Police said."
This does look like censorship. A malicious communication must be one of these: Indecent or grossly offensive Contain a believable threat of harm or violence. Give false information with the intent to cause distress or anxiety Repeated harassment that cause fear or distress
Projecting images of Trump and Epstein on to Windsor Castle is none of these things. It might be embarrassing but it isn't grounds to keep them in custody!
I was going to ask in what way protecting a picture onto a house was a criminal offence.
Quite.
At this rate Tommy Lots of Names will claim that the existence of brown people causes him “fear and distress”.
Tbf that is an unarguable fact, to the point that poor little Tommy has to self medicate to an alarming degree.
Alternatively the same rules worked well until very recently, and companies - especially those which face the public - don’t want to be targeted by groups of obnoxious activists.
Exactly.
Not remotely unworkable. We have had single sex loos and changing rooms for decades without any issues at all. The rules for employers and schools have been in place for decades and work absolutely fine.
It is only the insistence of some men that they have the right to breach women's boundaries which has made this an issue. Organisations that cannot deal with predatory bullies shouldn't be in business, frankly.
Since October 2024 employers have been under an obligation to prevent sexual harassment of their staff. Are they also saying this is unworkable?
This is just cowardice.
I'm inclined to agree in the main. Given the numbers, this could be managed practically at least in the interim, and perhaps permanently, by dual-purposing disabled loos in existing scenarios, and adding an extra cubicle in new ones where there are significant numbers of people. Many places already combine disabled and "changing places" loos (which I don't especially like, but it seems usually to cope).
IMO the main problems occur with men weeing on the floor, out of control drunks being sick, and sometimes mums and babies setting up a base-camp for 20 or 40 minutes, and then gong Karen about it. That's horrible for people with eg IBS.
The SC has ruled that for EA purposes a woman is an adult person who was born female. The GRA, otoh, says that a person who has legally transitioned should be treated in accordance with their acquired gender for all practical purposes. These two pieces of law are somewhat at odds with each other.
Or perhaps nobody thinks its worth paying someone like him to speak, given he was so awful at speaking last year that his own party dropped him as a candidate - and he'll be even older now.
Is Obama struggling to get engagements? I doubt it.
Undoubtedly a factor (and mentioned in the report) but of the two former presidents, only Biden stole the 2020 election from its rightful winner.
I don't follow LD world very closely and I'm wondering about Daisy Cooper. In the Next Leader market she is (and has been for a while) a very cramped odds on shot with no-one else in the betting really. I reckon I could get matched for a lay at 1.4. Is that worth doing, do we think? Or is she pretty much nailed on to get the job when Ed Davey goes?
I don't have a vote nowadays (not since the early 2010s) but Cooper leaves me cold. I find it hard to believe that there isn't a stronger candidate among the LD MPs if Davey goes before the next GE. She is quite popular in the party, I believe, but at 1.4 I'd lay too. Anything under 2 looks short to me when there's not even a contest yet, too much to happen. I haven't bet though, partly for the same reason - not sure how long I'd be tying money up for.
Should note that I'm not at all active in the party - I know some people who are and they're fairly split on Cooper. There are plenty of unbelievers, but probably around half are fans. For me, she's Swinson mk2 - the heir apparent for reasons that are not immediately obvious to me. Swinson, of course, did get the gig.
Should also note that I don't know who I would choose at present.
ETA: If it was soon she'd be in a good position. Longer there's more time for others to emerge, I think. but even if soon if someone good decides to go for it then I think Cooper can be outshone. The Cameron to her Davis.
She's been the deputy leader since 2020. She's personable and performs well on camera. She was the obvious choice when the party had 11 MPs.
Now the party has rather more MPs, maybe there are other choices, but I think it will take more than a year for the new intake to get comfortable and for someone to feel they can go for the top job. There are people in the 2024 intake who have been given senior frontbench roles, like Calum Miller and Lisa Smart, but I don't have any sense of their ambitions.
Meanwhile the New Statesman says the quiet part out loud.
Labour's vision: killing off the old and the sick so that it can get its hands on their property and not spend money on them. We already have the war in Europe caused by a totalitarian fascist state and the growth in vile anti-semitism so now we're getting the eugenics as well. Quite the triple lock.
BBC "Four men have been arrested after images of Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were projected on to Windsor Castle on Tuesday, as the US president arrived in the UK for a state visit.
They were arrested on suspicion of "malicious communications following a public stunt in Windsor" and remained in custody, Thames Valley Police said."
This does look like censorship. A malicious communication must be one of these: Indecent or grossly offensive Contain a believable threat of harm or violence. Give false information with the intent to cause distress or anxiety Repeated harassment that cause fear or distress
Projecting images of Trump and Epstein on to Windsor Castle is none of these things. It might be embarrassing but it isn't grounds to keep them in custody!
Agree. I thought it nonsense when I heard they had been arrested this morning. Not sure how you stop them doing it though otherwise.
Interesting one, though. I'd be annoyed if an image of Donald Trump was projected onto my house. It 'feels' like there ought to be some legal way of stopping someone from doing so. But I can't see under what law.
I assume under civil law, something along the lines of trespass. It should only be criminal if it reaches the standard of harassment. But I agree it is interesting. I don't want them criminalised and they should be free to do it, but once done that is it. It seems unreasonable that they should be allowed to continue with it. The point has been made. Images have been projected on parliament before now. There was a nude of the lady whose name I have forgotten who later suffered from hair loss. Ah it is bugging me I can't remember her name.
Gail Porter.
Thank you. Saved a lot of wasted time racking my brains.
Was not Leon's not-friend involved in that one?
I think it was in celebration ofa stunt to get publicity for the 100 sexiest women.
Presumably there's an Otters Pocket involved somewhere !
BBC "Four men have been arrested after images of Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were projected on to Windsor Castle on Tuesday, as the US president arrived in the UK for a state visit.
They were arrested on suspicion of "malicious communications following a public stunt in Windsor" and remained in custody, Thames Valley Police said."
This does look like censorship. A malicious communication must be one of these: Indecent or grossly offensive Contain a believable threat of harm or violence. Give false information with the intent to cause distress or anxiety Repeated harassment that cause fear or distress
Projecting images of Trump and Epstein on to Windsor Castle is none of these things. It might be embarrassing but it isn't grounds to keep them in custody!
Agree. I thought it nonsense when I heard they had been arrested this morning. Not sure how you stop them doing it though otherwise.
Interesting one, though. I'd be annoyed if an image of Donald Trump was projected onto my house. It 'feels' like there ought to be some legal way of stopping someone from doing so. But I can't see under what law.
I assume under civil law, something along the lines of trespass. It should only be criminal if it reaches the standard of harassment. But I agree it is interesting. I don't want them criminalised and they should be free to do it, but once done that is it. It seems unreasonable that they should be allowed to continue with it. The point has been made. Images have been projected on parliament before now. There was a nude of the lady whose name I have forgotten who later suffered from hair loss. Ah it is bugging me I can't remember her name.
Gail Porter.
Thank you. Saved a lot of wasted time racking my brains.
And saved you from an embarrassing HR interview in which you are asked to explain just why it was necessary to google naked ladies in Westminster.
Or perhaps nobody thinks its worth paying someone like him to speak, given he was so awful at speaking last year that his own party dropped him as a candidate - and he'll be even older now.
Is Obama struggling to get engagements? I doubt it.
Undoubtedly a factor (and mentioned in the report) but of the two former presidents, only Biden stole the 2020 election from its rightful winner.
And he's still screwing up the economy, a year after he lost the election.
Comments
Not remotely unworkable. We have had single sex loos and changing rooms for decades without any issues at all. The rules for employers and schools have been in place for decades and work absolutely fine.
It is only the insistence of some men that they have the right to breach women's boundaries which has made this an issue. Organisations that cannot deal with predatory bullies shouldn't be in business, frankly.
Since October 2024 employers have been under an obligation to prevent sexual harassment of their staff. Are they also saying this is unworkable?
This is just cowardice.
If he stays around for awhile there will be a list of potential candidates that currently few people know.
https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/guidance/business/guidance-businesses/equality-law-voluntary-and-community/exceptions-charities-and
There is also in practice much wiggle room afaics so I think I have seen women's gyms incorporated as private companies.
We'll find out.
https://x.com/ElectionMapsUK/status/1968226687759552565?s=19
Btw: using < symbols confuses Vanilla. I've changed yours to its html code.
If he went now, Daisy would get it and you'd lose/
But if he stays until after the next GE, Daisy would have a lot of competition from the 2024 intake who aren't featured on Betfair. You might win, but you'd have a long wait for your money.
Edited to make more sense!
I'm about 80% sure Labour still hold a lead for people who are in work simply because their majority in that cohort are the election was so overwhelming. We need more details though - I have a funny feeling Reform might have a lead in council house tenants/benefits claimants for example.
https://x.com/theblaze/status/1967767257427386430
Big win for Starmer.
Microsoft: "“You don’t spend £22bn unless you have confidence in where the country, the government and the market are all going,”
The Range Rovers with their V8s still sell well though, so they’re not totally a lost cause company yet.
No prospect of anything positive for the government except a very slow creeping swingback.
If I hear it correctly from political commentary, the RefUK Councils may be getting a windfall of some sort because the Govt are considering redefining criteria for which money goes where which may help them to an extent. Plus there is provision for Council Tax to be raised by 5%.
This is I think a bit of a reverse of the increased Lab support for "their type of Councils" (via the Housing Revenue Account?) done by Blair & Co, which was reversed by Cameron and Osborne, and then pushed further by Sunak who was caught making a speech when he said to a Garden Party that he was roughly "transferring money from poorer Councils to you". It's an intricate history.
https://news.sky.com/story/rishi-sunak-under-fire-for-claiming-he-worked-to-divert-money-from-deprived-urban-areas-when-chancellor-12666046
Perhaps this is also to do with RefUK declaring war on the Local Government Pension Funds.
Does anyone know what happened to UK Doge, by the way?
Could we have a situation where two parties are led by a Cooper? That would be a barrel of laughs
£22bn is a massive number, and is presumably over a very long time period rather than a capex budget for a chain of nuclear-powered data centres?
We demand the Google HQ !
Davey has earned one more election, I think. An election that could be exceptionally consequential and leave the LDs with the balance of power.
I still find the LDs too NIMBY locally, and too self-righteous nationally, but I’m not sure a leader change is going to have any impact on that. Davey is very strong in the care space, and that’s one that really deserves a conversation at the next GE.
Cooper comes across pretty well, but why gamble with a leader change when you’ve had a successful last GE, people seem to like Davey (relatively speaking) and he has some important points to make on policy? Plus previous knowledge of coalition which could come in handy if tasked to navigate a difficult aftermath of the next GE.
The corbyn sleeper departs next month (party name, so presumably will be prompted after)
Following the murder of Charlie Kirk, it’s now Left-wingers who are getting fired for social media posts. Will this finally wake them up?
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/09/16/charlie-kirk-cancel-culture-free-speech-left-wing-hypocrisy/ (£££)
As if to prove this point, the Washington Post has just axed its last Black op-ed writer in response to comments she made on Leon's second-favourite platform, Bluesky:-
Washington Post columnist fired ‘over Charlie Kirk comments’
Karen Attiah, who says ‘white America will not get rid of guns’, claims she has been silenced for doing her job
...
In another post, she said: “Refusing to tear my clothes and smear ashes on my face in performative mourning for a white man that espoused violence is… not the same as violence.”
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/09/15/washington-post-columnist-fired-charlie-kirk-comments/ (£££)
Companies reluctant to hire former US president as paid speaker in fear of backlash from Donald Trump, report claims
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/09/16/joe-biden-shunned-from-speaking-engagements/ (£££)
No paid speeches in the home of free speech.
They were arrested on suspicion of "malicious communications following a public stunt in Windsor" and remained in custody, Thames Valley Police said."
This does look like censorship.
A malicious communication must be one of these:
Indecent or grossly offensive
Contain a believable threat of harm or violence.
Give false information with the intent to cause distress or anxiety
Repeated harassment that cause fear or distress
Projecting images of Trump and Epstein on to Windsor Castle is none of these things.
It might be embarrassing but it isn't grounds to keep them in custody!
There’s a lot of very angry people on both extremes dominating the conversation, and they’re talking straight past each other in their own media bubbles.
I expect the Welsh, like our pesky Northern neighbours, would be far too frit to actually vote for it but it would be very amusing if we could be rid of the Welsh before we lose the Scots.
Unfortunately for the Treasury, I can't see it happening.
Is there a difference between an employee of the Government and of a Private Corporation in USA law on this point under labour and/or other law?
Or perhaps nobody thinks its worth paying someone like him to speak, given he was so awful at speaking last year that his own party dropped him as a candidate - and he'll be even older now.
Is Obama struggling to get engagements? I doubt it.
Mae’n uchelgais i’w weld yn
ein hyder y gall, ac y dylai
Cymru fod yn gyfrifol am ei
thrywydd ei hun, fel cenedl
annibynnol sy’n edrych tuag
allan.
https://assets.nationbuilder.com/plaid2016/pages/11001/attachments/original/1718214453/Plaid_Cymru_Maniffesto_2024_CYMRAEG.pdf?1718214453
Edit: https://www.plaid.cymru/maniffesto is less confusing linky, sorry.
* See post at 9.39 from me.
IMO the main problems occur with men weeing on the floor, out of control drunks being sick, and sometimes mums and babies setting up a base-camp for 20 or 40 minutes, and then gong Karen about it. That's horrible for people with eg IBS.
There are precisely no grounds for suspicion of malicious communications.
But decent ones for arresting the police involved in suspicion of misconduct in a public office.
Or suing them for false imprisonment.
He encouraged middle class families to encourage their student kids to take up manual labour”
*cough* universities
*cough* doomed
AIUI the alleged occasions of "censorship" ("30 per day") he quoted in his Congress Committee Hearing was a broad category which included things like revenge porn and other malicious communications, though I doubt whether he even noticed that in his enthusiasm for a big number.
A “polite, liberal government of higher taxes to provide more public services, but in a sustainable and sensible fashion” works in lots of places.
https://x.com/YouGov/status/1968239762730611037?s=19
BigG ought to be grateful.
We might stead be looking at something like this, which I posted on the last thread:
I hadn't realised quite how bad was the deal Trump is trying to impose on S Korea, assuming the 'investment' was largely Trump hyperbole.
Apparently not.
S Korea seem to be beginning to question the entire basis of paying what's essentially massive protection money to a semi-hostile state.
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/business/companies/20250917/seouls-industry-minister-refutes-questions-on-necessity-for-us-tariff-talks
Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jung-kwan expressed caution over questions on the necessity of Korea's protracted tariff negotiations with the United States, amid mounting voices that paying the current 25 percent tariff will be less costly than hastily accepting Washington's demand to take most of the benefits that would be created from the $350 billion investment proposed by Seoul.
"Some say even if tariffs were raised from 15 percent (as the two countries previously agreed) to 25 percent, it would not be much compared to $350 billion, and I also sometimes think of this as an option," Kim said during a dinner reception with reporters, while also stressing that it was his personal opinion.
"But the real question is what kind of country we’re going to pass on to the next generation... When you look into the negotiations, you will realize it's about how we define our relations with the U.S., and it will be an important decision that will shape our future."..
..In late July, Seoul and Washington reached a broad deal to lower Washington's proposed 25 percent reciprocal and item-specific tariffs to 15 percent, in return for the promised 350 billion investment fund.
Since then, the two sides have been negotiating to fine-tune the details of the agreement, but they have been hitting a snag in recent weeks, as Washington demands 90 percent of the profits from the investment, unlike Seoul's stance to have the fund as a tool for Korean companies' improved presence in the U.S. market.
Fueling negative sentiment among the Korean public, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raided the construction site of a joint Hyundai Motor–LG Energy Solution battery plant in Georgia, resulting in more than 300 Korean workers being detained.
Against this backdrop, there are growing calls for Korea to accept the 25 percent tariff and cushion the impact through government support for industries, with some arguing that the $350 billion Washington is demanding would be better spent on strengthening domestic companies...
Frankly, I don't think there's any real question.
They should scrap the deal, and spend 50bn out of the 350bn on getting a nuclear deterrent.
But does this mean that repeated questioning by the media of Trump on his relationship with Epstein is a malicious communication because it is repeated and causes him distress?
Or is the Communications Act 2003 badly drafted and OTT and a threat to free speech?
Gail Porter.
A paper on domestic terrorism detailing far-right extremist violence in the United States has been removed from the Justice Department’s website, AFP confirmed today.
The research summary from the National Institute of Justice concluded that “far-right extremists have committed far more ideologically motivated homicides than far-left or radical Islamist extremists” since 1990.
[...]
The department did not respond to requests for comment on why the paper, titled “What NIJ research tells us about domestic terrorism”, was taken down in the days following the deadly September 10 shooting in the state of Utah.
As reported by the independent 404 Media, archived versions of the Office of Justice Programmes website captured by the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine show that the article was accessible on September 11 but was no longer available the following afternoon.
UC has allowed a number of businesses to survive which shouldn't have, due to playing the indirect subsidy game especially with zero hours contracts. There is a question here if this is a business or a lifestyle. The DWP seems to think it is a lifestyle.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyl90ry2j7o
Its not as though they have any popularity to risk at this point.
Just playing steady as you go isn't defensible, particularly as they're probably about to have a deputy leader running an independent opposition within the party, from the back benches.
At this rate Tommy Lots of Names will claim that the existence of brown people causes him “fear and distress”.
The only other general archive as valuable, imo, is Google Streetview's historic records.
Briefly a great, cost effective bit of consumer kit, but a dead end.
Labour's vision: killing off the old and the sick so that it can get its hands on their property and not spend money on them. We already have the war in Europe caused by a totalitarian fascist state and the growth in vile anti-semitism so now we're getting the eugenics as well. Quite the triple lock.
Why not add John Cooper and go for the triple?
Now the party has rather more MPs, maybe there are other choices, but I think it will take more than a year for the new intake to get comfortable and for someone to feel they can go for the top job. There are people in the 2024 intake who have been given senior frontbench roles, like Calum Miller and Lisa Smart, but I don't have any sense of their ambitions.
I think it was in celebration of a stunt to get publicity for the 100 sexiest women.
Presumably there's an Otters Pocket involved somewhere !