Radio 4 news interviewing a Chinese representative.
"Why would we spy on you when you have nothing we want and aren't a competitor"?
Was simultaneously an insult and a non-denial denial, and reminiscent of Trump in asserting that black is white.
Spying is a normal activity for governments. I expect that we are spying on China (indeed would think it very remiss of us if we weren't). We should also spy on Russia, India, USA, Argentina, Pakistan, France Germany, Ireland, pretty much everyone.
USA continues its descent into the next level of Mafiadom.
Somewhat conflicted outcome for the anti war hard left, do they loathe Bolton even more than Trump, in which case they wouldn't be too sad if he was jailed despite the perhaps less than natural justice outcome likely
You do see that from some on the left, ranking neocons like Bolton as a greater evil than Trump, and I think it's very sloppy.
Radio 4 news interviewing a Chinese representative.
"Why would we spy on you when you have nothing we want and aren't a competitor"?
Was simultaneously an insult and a non-denial denial, and reminiscent of Trump in asserting that black is white.
Spying is a normal activity for governments. I expect that we are spying on China (indeed would think it very remiss of us if we weren't). We should also spy on Russia, India, USA, Argentina, Pakistan, France Germany, Ireland, pretty much everyone.
We can probably safely omit Tuvalu.
Of course we do, as do they, although I doubt we put spyware in half the things we sell.
It was the ridiculous denials that were amusing.
He also said they'd already 'surpassed' the US although he didn't say in what way, exactly.
The weird thing in America is that in the morning you can meet a charming, generous, hospitable Republican and in the afternoon you can meet a charming, generous hospitable Democrat - and as an outsider what strikes you is how similar they are. And yet they utterly loathe each other
Yes, when they actually talk to each other in person, they agree on way more than they disagree.
#WeAreCharlieKirk
I am not Charlie Kirk.
I'm in DC right now and have seen a number of Trump administration officials or proxies speaking at various conferences and meetings. Two things strike me: they are often quite ill informed and they are always extremely sure that they are right. In short, they are zealots. Meanwhile there are troops standing around on street corners like this is some kind of third world dictatorship. This is a country heading in a very scary direction. There is simply no equivalence between Democrats and MAGA Republicans.
There are two sorts of conversation- those that aim to share, and those that aim to convince. They are different things. Neither is intrinsically dishonourable, but dressing a persuading conversation as a sharing conversation is.
Stephen Miran's speech a couple of weeks ago is a classic example.
Impressive that such a complicated-sounding petition text has managed to get 82,000 signatures so far.
"Make Play and Continuous Provision statutory in England's Key Stage 1 Curriculum Revise statutory guidance for KS1 to make play based pedagogy a core part of the Key Stage One National Curriculum, extending the best practice that we see in Early Years to ensure all Key Stage One children continue to have a developmentally appropriate play based approach to their learning."
USA continues its descent into the next level of Mafiadom.
Somewhat conflicted outcome for the anti war hard left, do they loathe Bolton even more than Trump, in which case they wouldn't be too sad if he was jailed despite the perhaps less than natural justice outcome likely
You do see that from some on the left, ranking neocons like Bolton as a greater evil than Trump, and I think it's very sloppy.
George Galloway a case in point, he loathes Bolton but preferred Trump to Hillary Clinton
What a disgrace that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans aren’t allowed to attend the game at Aston Villa. I hope Tommy Robinson and co march through Birmingham with Star of David flags that day
What a disgrace that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans aren’t allowed to attend the game at Aston Villa. I hope Tommy Robinson and co march through Birmingham with Star of David flags that day
Who was responsible for barring them? AVFC? WMP? The council? Someone else?
What a disgrace that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans aren’t allowed to attend the game at Aston Villa. I hope Tommy Robinson and co march through Birmingham with Star of David flags that day
We all know why Jewish fans are banned from Birmingham but not a single PBer will state the simple reason. It is pitiful
And it is this centrist Dad cowardice that has led the UK - and several other European nations - to such a perilous and mortifying place
Fuck em. Israeli teams shouldn't be playing in Europe any more than Russian ones should.
They're surrounded by countries who wish to kill them. Is it any surprise they demur from playing them at football? ISTR in the 80s Israel played in the Oceania division of world footbalk.
Why is Starmer so obsessed with judaism ? Its weird and feels like he is letting his personal life interfere with his job as pm
Wrong pm at the wrong time imo.
How does he demonstrate this 'obsession'?
Always in the news taking taking about it having personally intervened for one reason or another
Said it before but politicians and journalists are obsessed with trans and jews. Not sure thr public care much about either. Far more interested in immigrants.
I will be making a statement on here at 10 am UK time tomorrow Friday 17th October.
All I remember about him is he made a fuss about being allowed to smoke on telly or something?
He got himself sacked from GB News for being too rude about a woman along with Dan Wootton, and has not stopped faceplanting since. He has a problem about black people, a problem about women, a problem with Sikhs, and a problem about opening his mouth before checking what actually happened. He's also done a Pride Flag as swastika, and himself in blackface.
Radio 4 news interviewing a Chinese representative.
"Why would we spy on you when you have nothing we want and aren't a competitor"?
Was simultaneously an insult and a non-denial denial, and reminiscent of Trump in asserting that black is white.
Spying is a normal activity for governments. I expect that we are spying on China (indeed would think it very remiss of us if we weren't). We should also spy on Russia, India, USA, Argentina, Pakistan, France Germany, Ireland, pretty much everyone.
We can probably safely omit Tuvalu.
Of course we do, as do they, although I doubt we put spyware in half the things we sell.
Ash Sarkar has just made a contribution on BBC Question Time which I totally agreed with, about AI.
Stopped clock and all that....I totally agreed with a Jezza take the other week. I did feel so dirty though, I spent the rest of the week washing in dettol.
Interesting thread on why FON polls score Reform and Greens higher than other polls. Maybe they are onto something:
Given FindOutNow polls keep making news it's worth saying a bit more about their methodology.
Unlike other online pollsters it doesn't use a panel of people who've signed up to do polls. Instead they ask a small number of Qs to people playing the Pick my Postcode lottery. (Thread)
What a disgrace that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans aren’t allowed to attend the game at Aston Villa. I hope Tommy Robinson and co march through Birmingham with Star of David flags that day
Interesting thread on why FON polls score Reform and Greens higher than other polls. Maybe they are onto something:
Given FindOutNow polls keep making news it's worth saying a bit more about their methodology.
Unlike other online pollsters it doesn't use a panel of people who've signed up to do polls. Instead they ask a small number of Qs to people playing the Pick my Postcode lottery. (Thread)
What a disgrace that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans aren’t allowed to attend the game at Aston Villa. I hope Tommy Robinson and co march through Birmingham with Star of David flags that day
Is "Tommy" a friend of Jews? Really? I doubt it!
Well, Israel have invited him there I think. I don’t think he has a problem with anything other than extreme Islam to be honest. I wouldn’t have him down as a racist or anti semite
What a disgrace that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans aren’t allowed to attend the game at Aston Villa. I hope Tommy Robinson and co march through Birmingham with Star of David flags that day
Is "Tommy" a friend of Jews? Really? I doubt it!
Well, Israel have invited him there I think. I don’t think he has a problem with anything other than extreme Islam to be honest. I wouldn’t have him down as a racist or anti semite
I think he said "Islam is Peaceful" on Piers Morgan's show.
I've avoided Question Time for about 10 years because it's always disappointing but maybe it's finally turned itself around because today's show is quite good. Having Matthew Syed on helps.
I wonder what the more thinking members of Trump's current circle of aides, advisors and serving executive officers think about this in the wee hours of the night?
One day they will fall out of favour and they too will be facing a grand jury.
This is what happens.
I guess they are planning on the GOP never relinquishing power. If the boot is ever on the other foot again they will be lucky if they merely face prison sentences. The US is headed at speed in a direction where peaceful transitions of government tend not to occur.
I've avoided Question Time for about 10 years because it's always disappointing but maybe it's finally turned itself around because today's show is quite good. Having Matthew Syed on helps.
It would be much better if Fiona Bruce was replaced by a competent chair.
Interesting thread on why FON polls score Reform and Greens higher than other polls. Maybe they are onto something:
Given FindOutNow polls keep making news it's worth saying a bit more about their methodology.
Unlike other online pollsters it doesn't use a panel of people who've signed up to do polls. Instead they ask a small number of Qs to people playing the Pick my Postcode lottery. (Thread)
Goodness me, they want to postpone these elections again, for another year?
"Politics UK @PolitlcsUK 🚨 NEW: The Government is considering delaying 7 council elections for another year amid fears Reform gains could threaten its plans to overhaul local government
"The councils are Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Surrey, East and West Sussex and Hampshire
Council leaders are "lobbying hard" for the elections to be pushed to 2027, ahead of new larger councils set for 2028 - a move that would extend current Tory councillors’ terms from 5 to 7 yrs"
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) reported $1.4 million in gambling winnings from a trip to Las Vegas last year, according to tax summaries released Thursday by his campaign.
Many of you may know that -- in the past -- some US politicians had quite good luck when playing cards with lobbyists. I have no reason to think that explains Pritzker's latest winnings. (A more prudent politician would have avoid card games for high stakes.)
I wonder what the more thinking members of Trump's current circle of aides, advisors and serving executive officers think about this in the wee hours of the night?
One day they will fall out of favour and they too will be facing a grand jury.
This is what happens.
I guess they are planning on the GOP never relinquishing power. If the boot is ever on the other foot again they will be lucky if they merely face prison sentences. The US is headed at speed in a direction where peaceful transitions of government tend not to occur.
The good guys always play by the rules, that's why they inevitably lose
Goodness me, they want to postpone these elections again, for another year?
"Politics UK @PolitlcsUK 🚨 NEW: The Government is considering delaying 7 council elections for another year amid fears Reform gains could threaten its plans to overhaul local government
"The councils are Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Surrey, East and West Sussex and Hampshire
Council leaders are "lobbying hard" for the elections to be pushed to 2027, ahead of new larger councils set for 2028 - a move that would extend current Tory councillors’ terms from 5 to 7 yrs"
Independent win (Willie Hogg) in Ayr North, by election held due to death of sitting independent (was elected SNP in 2022)
8 candidates, figures dont appear to be out yet
Bad/lazy journalism to be honest, because they announce the votes and the winner at the same time.
Council have announced it about 15 mins later. In order
Ayr north
Wullie Hogg (Independent) 850 Ian Douglas (SNP) 790 John Duncan (Lab) 691 Andrew Russell (Reform) 584 David Paterson (Con) 195 David Petrie (Ind) 151 Mason Graham (L dem) 78 Orhan Bulikj (Ind) 51
These are first pref votes, Wullie Hogg elected at stage 8
There’ll be plenty more of this kind of thing to come, the cat is out of the bag
Thank you all who put the safety of Aston Villa fans, Birmingham residents snd the British public above the zionist and political pressure to let Israeli hooligans and terrorists run riot in our country.
Goodness me, they want to postpone these elections again, for another year?
"Politics UK @PolitlcsUK 🚨 NEW: The Government is considering delaying 7 council elections for another year amid fears Reform gains could threaten its plans to overhaul local government
"The councils are Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Surrey, East and West Sussex and Hampshire
Council leaders are "lobbying hard" for the elections to be pushed to 2027, ahead of new larger councils set for 2028 - a move that would extend current Tory councillors’ terms from 5 to 7 yrs"
Much as I would rather see a Tory Council to a Reform Council this is a bit Trumpian for my tastes.
There will be unitary elections for them in 2027, it is a complete waste of money to elect councillors to just serve a 1 year term from next year.
Just let those 7 counties have their Mayoral election next year and then the new unitary council elections the following year. A rare sensible decision from this government
On just 31% of the vote, the other parties voters are going to have to start to vote tactically for whichever of them is closest to Reform if they want to beat Farage not only locally but nationally at the next GE too.
Certainly had the Greens voters tactically voted LD in this seat the LDs would almost certainly have held it and beaten Reform
Goodness me, they want to postpone these elections again, for another year?
"Politics UK @PolitlcsUK 🚨 NEW: The Government is considering delaying 7 council elections for another year amid fears Reform gains could threaten its plans to overhaul local government
"The councils are Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Surrey, East and West Sussex and Hampshire
Council leaders are "lobbying hard" for the elections to be pushed to 2027, ahead of new larger councils set for 2028 - a move that would extend current Tory councillors’ terms from 5 to 7 yrs"
Much as I would rather see a Tory Council to a Reform Council this is a bit Trumpian for my tastes.
There will be unitary elections for them in 2027, it is a complete waste of money to elect councillors to just serve a 1 year term from next year.
Just let those 7 counties have their Mayoral election next year and then the new unitary council elections the following year. A rare sensible decision from this government
Interesting thread on why FON polls score Reform and Greens higher than other polls. Maybe they are onto something:
Given FindOutNow polls keep making news it's worth saying a bit more about their methodology.
Unlike other online pollsters it doesn't use a panel of people who've signed up to do polls. Instead they ask a small number of Qs to people playing the Pick my Postcode lottery. (Thread)
On just 31% of the vote, the other parties voters are going to have to start to vote tactically for whichever of them is closest to Reform if they want to beat Farage not only locally but nationally at the next GE too.
Certainly had the Greens voters tactically voted LD in this seat the LDs would almost certainly have held it and beaten Reform
It will be hard for voters to know how to vote tactically with such big swings (assuming they want to as not all will)
Think 2029 will be a mess with many seats won on low %s and small leads because of this makes it hard to predict
Lots of constituencies could look like South West Norfolk
What a disgrace that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans aren’t allowed to attend the game at Aston Villa. I hope Tommy Robinson and co march through Birmingham with Star of David flags that day
The insanity of the modern right, that they instinctively side with foreign football hooligans rather than the British police.
Goodness me, they want to postpone these elections again, for another year?
"Politics UK @PolitlcsUK 🚨 NEW: The Government is considering delaying 7 council elections for another year amid fears Reform gains could threaten its plans to overhaul local government
"The councils are Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Surrey, East and West Sussex and Hampshire
Council leaders are "lobbying hard" for the elections to be pushed to 2027, ahead of new larger councils set for 2028 - a move that would extend current Tory councillors’ terms from 5 to 7 yrs"
Much as I would rather see a Tory Council to a Reform Council this is a bit Trumpian for my tastes.
There will be unitary elections for them in 2027, it is a complete waste of money to elect councillors to just serve a 1 year term from next year.
Just let those 7 counties have their Mayoral election next year and then the new unitary council elections the following year. A rare sensible decision from this government
I don't disagree, however it smells like Labour and the Tories are tucking up Reform. Sir Nigel will have a field day.
Have you seen Bolton has been indicted at Trump's behest? It looks a stronger vindictive case than the Comey vindictive indictment.
On just 31% of the vote, the other parties voters are going to have to start to vote tactically for whichever of them is closest to Reform if they want to beat Farage not only locally but nationally at the next GE too.
Certainly had the Greens voters tactically voted LD in this seat the LDs would almost certainly have held it and beaten Reform
It will be hard for voters to know how to vote tactically with such big swings (assuming they want to as not all will)
Think 2029 will be a mess with many seats won on low %s and small leads because of this makes it hard to predict
Lots of constituencies could look like South West Norfolk
The local elections beforehand will give a reasonable guide and otherwise the assumption will be that whichever of the non Reform parties ie Labour, Tory, LD, Green, SNP, Plaid etc won the parliamentary seat in 2024 will be the main opponent of Reform at the next GE anti Farage voters therefore have to tactically vote for. In the case of the 5 seats Reform won it will be whichever party was second to them (albeit Reform will certainly hold those seats with an increased majority)
Goodness me, they want to postpone these elections again, for another year?
"Politics UK @PolitlcsUK 🚨 NEW: The Government is considering delaying 7 council elections for another year amid fears Reform gains could threaten its plans to overhaul local government
"The councils are Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Surrey, East and West Sussex and Hampshire
Council leaders are "lobbying hard" for the elections to be pushed to 2027, ahead of new larger councils set for 2028 - a move that would extend current Tory councillors’ terms from 5 to 7 yrs"
Much as I would rather see a Tory Council to a Reform Council this is a bit Trumpian for my tastes.
There will be unitary elections for them in 2027, it is a complete waste of money to elect councillors to just serve a 1 year term from next year.
Just let those 7 counties have their Mayoral election next year and then the new unitary council elections the following year. A rare sensible decision from this government
So councillors will sit for 7 years?
6 in terms of county councillors there, Shadow authorities will arrive from those elected in 2027 becoming the full unitaries in 2027. Taxpayers won't have to pay millions either for elected councillors for one year terms.
French presidential elections used to be every 7 years, arguably the best system, ensures enough time to govern properly without constant populist protest votes
Goodness me, they want to postpone these elections again, for another year?
"Politics UK @PolitlcsUK 🚨 NEW: The Government is considering delaying 7 council elections for another year amid fears Reform gains could threaten its plans to overhaul local government
"The councils are Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Surrey, East and West Sussex and Hampshire
Council leaders are "lobbying hard" for the elections to be pushed to 2027, ahead of new larger councils set for 2028 - a move that would extend current Tory councillors’ terms from 5 to 7 yrs"
Much as I would rather see a Tory Council to a Reform Council this is a bit Trumpian for my tastes.
There will be unitary elections for them in 2027, it is a complete waste of money to elect councillors to just serve a 1 year term from next year.
Just let those 7 counties have their Mayoral election next year and then the new unitary council elections the following year. A rare sensible decision from this government
So councillors will sit for 7 years?
6 in terms of county councillors there, Shadow authorities will arrive from those elected in 2027 becoming the full unitaries in 2027. Taxpayers won't have to pay millions either for elected councillors for one year terms.
French presidential elections used to be every 7 years, arguably the best system, ensures enough time to govern properly without constant populist protest votes
The practical element of this counts for nothing. Farage will say he is being disadvantaged or even knobbled by the Labour-Tory cabal. The axis of elitist evil, if you like.
I’m gonna say it again, America is now richer than Europe to a quite astonishing degree. Seattle airport is at Doha/Singapore levels of public opulence
And this is just Seattle airport. It’s not the great national flagship
And you see this wealth everywhere. It’s not pockets of affluence. The affluence is ubiquitous, it’s poverty you see in pockets
Goodness me, they want to postpone these elections again, for another year?
"Politics UK @PolitlcsUK 🚨 NEW: The Government is considering delaying 7 council elections for another year amid fears Reform gains could threaten its plans to overhaul local government
"The councils are Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Surrey, East and West Sussex and Hampshire
Council leaders are "lobbying hard" for the elections to be pushed to 2027, ahead of new larger councils set for 2028 - a move that would extend current Tory councillors’ terms from 5 to 7 yrs"
Much as I would rather see a Tory Council to a Reform Council this is a bit Trumpian for my tastes.
There will be unitary elections for them in 2027, it is a complete waste of money to elect councillors to just serve a 1 year term from next year.
Just let those 7 counties have their Mayoral election next year and then the new unitary council elections the following year. A rare sensible decision from this government
So councillors will sit for 7 years?
6 in terms of county councillors there, Shadow authorities will arrive from those elected in 2027 becoming the full unitaries in 2027. Taxpayers won't have to pay millions either for elected councillors for one year terms.
French presidential elections used to be every 7 years, arguably the best system, ensures enough time to govern properly without constant populist protest votes
The practical element of this counts for nothing. Farage will say he is being disadvantaged or even knobbled by the Labour-Tory cabal. The axis of elitist evil, if you like.
Who cares? Reform would near sweep the board next year in all those counties save Surrey and the poshest parts of Hampshire and Suffolk and Norfolk and Chelmsford on current polls if elections went ahead next year.
Delaying them to 2027 might allow better awareness of tactical voting by his opponents, maybe too with more electable Cleverly and Burnham having replaced Kemi and Starmer as Tory and Labour leaders too
I’m gonna say it again, America is now richer than Europe to a quite astonishing degree. Seattle airport is at Doha/Singapore levels of public opulence
And this is just Seattle airport. It’s not the great national flagship
And you see this wealth everywhere. It’s not pockets of affluence. The affluence is ubiquitous, it’s poverty you see in pockets
Depends which parts. Switzerland, Luxembourg, London and Surrey and Monaco and Norway are certainly far richer than Alabama, West Virginia, Arkansas, New Mexico etc. Seattle by contrast is part of the IT and tech hub of the US with Silicon Valley.
The US also has more extreme poverty than most western nations with very limited welfare state, little social and public housing and no public healthcare for most, I have never seen more homeless people in a developed nation than I did when I went to Los Angeles for example
Americans don’t realise how lucky they are, and Europeans are only beginning to realise how fucked they are
An American who is unemployed or needs regular healthcare but can't afford private health insurance is certainly not lucky. The US minimum wage is also far lower now than that in the UK or most of Europe.
Americans earning over $100 000 fair enough are very lucky, with much lower tax than most of Europe, bigger homes and able to have more expensive food and consumer goods and smarter cars and afford the best private healthcare and private schools for their children or top public schools in wealthy suburbs
I’m gonna say it again, America is now richer than Europe to a quite astonishing degree. Seattle airport is at Doha/Singapore levels of public opulence
And this is just Seattle airport. It’s not the great national flagship
And you see this wealth everywhere. It’s not pockets of affluence. The affluence is ubiquitous, it’s poverty you see in pockets
Depends which parts. Switzerland, Luxembourg, London and Surrey and Monaco and Norway are certainly far richer than Alabama, West Virginia, Arkansas, New Mexico etc. Seattle by contrast is part of the IT and tech hub of the US with Silicon Valley.
The US also has more extreme poverty than most western nations with very limited welfare state, little social and public housing and no public healthcare for most, I have never seen more homeless people in a developed nation than I did when I went to Los Angeles for example
Your take is outdated
I’ve seen vast and obvious wealth on 90% of this drive. From LA up to Seattle
Sure there are rundown towns. I saw them. Grisly. But we have easily as bad in the UK, just different in looks. Hopeless towns
In the last year I’ve also been to four of the five poorest states in the union. Kentucky, Mississippi, Louisiana, West Virginia. Even there the poverty is limited. There are also rich towns and lavish suburbs
I’m gonna say it again, America is now richer than Europe to a quite astonishing degree. Seattle airport is at Doha/Singapore levels of public opulence
And this is just Seattle airport. It’s not the great national flagship
And you see this wealth everywhere. It’s not pockets of affluence. The affluence is ubiquitous, it’s poverty you see in pockets
Depends which parts. Switzerland, Luxembourg, London and Surrey and Monaco and Norway are certainly far richer than Alabama, West Virginia, Arkansas, New Mexico etc. Seattle by contrast is part of the IT and tech hub of the US with Silicon Valley.
The US also has more extreme poverty than most western nations with very limited welfare state, little social and public housing and no public healthcare for most, I have never seen more homeless people in a developed nation than I did when I went to Los Angeles for example
Your take is outdated
I’ve seen vast and obvious wealth on 90% of this drive. From LA up to Seattle
Sure there are rundown towns. I saw them. Terrible. But we have easily as bad in the UK, just different in looks. Hopeless towns
In the last year I’ve also been to four of the five poorest states in the union. Kentucky, Mississippi, Louisiana, West Virginia. Even there the poverty is limited. There are also rich towns and lavish suburbs
It’s terrifying how Europe is being left for dust
'From LA up to Seattle' ie about the wealthiest part of the US apart from NYC and DC and their commuter belts.
If you are unemployed or on minimum wage in Kentucky, Louisiana, West Virginia etc you are certainly better off in most of Europe
I’m gonna say it again, America is now richer than Europe to a quite astonishing degree. Seattle airport is at Doha/Singapore levels of public opulence
And this is just Seattle airport. It’s not the great national flagship
And you see this wealth everywhere. It’s not pockets of affluence. The affluence is ubiquitous, it’s poverty you see in pockets
Depends which parts. Switzerland, Luxembourg, London and Surrey and Monaco and Norway are certainly far richer than Alabama, West Virginia, Arkansas, New Mexico etc. Seattle by contrast is part of the IT and tech hub of the US with Silicon Valley.
The US also has more extreme poverty than most western nations with very limited welfare state, little social and public housing and no public healthcare for most, I have never seen more homeless people in a developed nation than I did when I went to Los Angeles for example
Your take is outdated
I’ve seen vast and obvious wealth on 90% of this drive. From LA up to Seattle
Sure there are rundown towns. I saw them. Terrible. But we have easily as bad in the UK, just different in looks. Hopeless towns
In the last year I’ve also been to four of the five poorest states in the union. Kentucky, Mississippi, Louisiana, West Virginia. Even there the poverty is limited. There are also rich towns and lavish suburbs
It’s terrifying how Europe is being left for dust
'From LA up to Seattle' ie about the wealthiest part of the US apart from NYC and DC and their commuter belts.
If you are unemployed or on minimum wage in Kentucky, Louisiana, West Virginia etc you are certainly better off in most of Europe
But most Americans are not “unemployed in West Virginia”
The American economy is an astonishing wealth-creating machine
Inter alia I have been listening to “valley of genius” on audiobook throughout this drive. A history of Silicon Valley. It is superb. An oral history of American innovation. It also makes it quite plain how America has boomed as Europe has stagnated
I’m gonna say it again, America is now richer than Europe to a quite astonishing degree. Seattle airport is at Doha/Singapore levels of public opulence
And this is just Seattle airport. It’s not the great national flagship
And you see this wealth everywhere. It’s not pockets of affluence. The affluence is ubiquitous, it’s poverty you see in pockets
Depends which parts. Switzerland, Luxembourg, London and Surrey and Monaco and Norway are certainly far richer than Alabama, West Virginia, Arkansas, New Mexico etc. Seattle by contrast is part of the IT and tech hub of the US with Silicon Valley.
The US also has more extreme poverty than most western nations with very limited welfare state, little social and public housing and no public healthcare for most, I have never seen more homeless people in a developed nation than I did when I went to Los Angeles for example
Your take is outdated
I’ve seen vast and obvious wealth on 90% of this drive. From LA up to Seattle
Sure there are rundown towns. I saw them. Terrible. But we have easily as bad in the UK, just different in looks. Hopeless towns
In the last year I’ve also been to four of the five poorest states in the union. Kentucky, Mississippi, Louisiana, West Virginia. Even there the poverty is limited. There are also rich towns and lavish suburbs
It’s terrifying how Europe is being left for dust
'From LA up to Seattle' ie about the wealthiest part of the US apart from NYC and DC and their commuter belts.
If you are unemployed or on minimum wage in Kentucky, Louisiana, West Virginia etc you are certainly better off in most of Europe
But most Americans are not “unemployed in West Virginia”
The American economy is an astonishing wealth-creating machine
Inter alia I have been listening to “valley of genius” on audiobook throughout this drive. A history of Silicon Valley. It is superb. An oral history of American innovation. It also makes it quite plain how America has boomed as Europe has stagnated
Some are though and many more are on minimum wage which is significantly lower in West Virginia than it is now in the UK.
Trump's tariffs are also starting to push up inflation which will hit Main Street US and even Silicon Valley in terms of its import costs, with not much evidence yet of a surge in rustbelt manufacturing jobs Trump voters voted for. Seattle went a massive 73% for Harris anyway, in Silicon Valley a huge 80% of San Francisco county went for Harris, ironically the most educated and highest earning US voters voted for the losing Democrats last year. Harris was the first Democrat presidential candidate ever to win most voters earning over $100k a year
I’m gonna say it again, America is now richer than Europe to a quite astonishing degree. Seattle airport is at Doha/Singapore levels of public opulence
And this is just Seattle airport. It’s not the great national flagship
And you see this wealth everywhere. It’s not pockets of affluence. The affluence is ubiquitous, it’s poverty you see in pockets
Depends which parts. Switzerland, Luxembourg, London and Surrey and Monaco and Norway are certainly far richer than Alabama, West Virginia, Arkansas, New Mexico etc. Seattle by contrast is part of the IT and tech hub of the US with Silicon Valley.
The US also has more extreme poverty than most western nations with very limited welfare state, little social and public housing and no public healthcare for most, I have never seen more homeless people in a developed nation than I did when I went to Los Angeles for example
Your take is outdated
I’ve seen vast and obvious wealth on 90% of this drive. From LA up to Seattle
Sure there are rundown towns. I saw them. Grisly. But we have easily as bad in the UK, just different in looks. Hopeless towns
In the last year I’ve also been to four of the five poorest states in the union. Kentucky, Mississippi, Louisiana, West Virginia. Even there the poverty is limited. There are also rich towns and lavish suburbs
It’s terrifying how Europe is being left for dust
I suppose the question is: where would the average person prefer to live? USA or north-west Europe.
I’m gonna say it again, America is now richer than Europe to a quite astonishing degree. Seattle airport is at Doha/Singapore levels of public opulence
And this is just Seattle airport. It’s not the great national flagship
And you see this wealth everywhere. It’s not pockets of affluence. The affluence is ubiquitous, it’s poverty you see in pockets
Depends which parts. Switzerland, Luxembourg, London and Surrey and Monaco and Norway are certainly far richer than Alabama, West Virginia, Arkansas, New Mexico etc. Seattle by contrast is part of the IT and tech hub of the US with Silicon Valley.
The US also has more extreme poverty than most western nations with very limited welfare state, little social and public housing and no public healthcare for most, I have never seen more homeless people in a developed nation than I did when I went to Los Angeles for example
Your take is outdated
I’ve seen vast and obvious wealth on 90% of this drive. From LA up to Seattle
Sure there are rundown towns. I saw them. Grisly. But we have easily as bad in the UK, just different in looks. Hopeless towns
In the last year I’ve also been to four of the five poorest states in the union. Kentucky, Mississippi, Louisiana, West Virginia. Even there the poverty is limited. There are also rich towns and lavish suburbs
It’s terrifying how Europe is being left for dust
I suppose the question is: where would the average person prefer to live? USA or north-west Europe.
Cost of living, especially for healthcare swings it for Europe I think..🧐🤨
I’m gonna say it again, America is now richer than Europe to a quite astonishing degree. Seattle airport is at Doha/Singapore levels of public opulence
And this is just Seattle airport. It’s not the great national flagship
And you see this wealth everywhere. It’s not pockets of affluence. The affluence is ubiquitous, it’s poverty you see in pockets
Depends which parts. Switzerland, Luxembourg, London and Surrey and Monaco and Norway are certainly far richer than Alabama, West Virginia, Arkansas, New Mexico etc. Seattle by contrast is part of the IT and tech hub of the US with Silicon Valley.
The US also has more extreme poverty than most western nations with very limited welfare state, little social and public housing and no public healthcare for most, I have never seen more homeless people in a developed nation than I did when I went to Los Angeles for example
Your take is outdated
I’ve seen vast and obvious wealth on 90% of this drive. From LA up to Seattle
Sure there are rundown towns. I saw them. Grisly. But we have easily as bad in the UK, just different in looks. Hopeless towns
In the last year I’ve also been to four of the five poorest states in the union. Kentucky, Mississippi, Louisiana, West Virginia. Even there the poverty is limited. There are also rich towns and lavish suburbs
It’s terrifying how Europe is being left for dust
I suppose the question is: where would the average person prefer to live? USA or north-west Europe.
Cost of living, especially for healthcare swings it for Europe I think..🧐🤨
We all know the USA is a great place to live if you're in the top 30%.
I’m gonna say it again, America is now richer than Europe to a quite astonishing degree. Seattle airport is at Doha/Singapore levels of public opulence
And this is just Seattle airport. It’s not the great national flagship
And you see this wealth everywhere. It’s not pockets of affluence. The affluence is ubiquitous, it’s poverty you see in pockets
Depends which parts. Switzerland, Luxembourg, London and Surrey and Monaco and Norway are certainly far richer than Alabama, West Virginia, Arkansas, New Mexico etc. Seattle by contrast is part of the IT and tech hub of the US with Silicon Valley.
The US also has more extreme poverty than most western nations with very limited welfare state, little social and public housing and no public healthcare for most, I have never seen more homeless people in a developed nation than I did when I went to Los Angeles for example
Your take is outdated
I’ve seen vast and obvious wealth on 90% of this drive. From LA up to Seattle
Sure there are rundown towns. I saw them. Grisly. But we have easily as bad in the UK, just different in looks. Hopeless towns
In the last year I’ve also been to four of the five poorest states in the union. Kentucky, Mississippi, Louisiana, West Virginia. Even there the poverty is limited. There are also rich towns and lavish suburbs
It’s terrifying how Europe is being left for dust
I suppose the question is: where would the average person prefer to live? USA or north-west Europe.
Cost of living, especially for healthcare swings it for Europe I think..🧐🤨
Yeah. The NHS. Envy of the world
JeeeZ
The only thing Europe has going for it now is, well, Europe. It’s so beautiful and varied and historic and packed into a small space. It is by far the most beautiful and interesting corner of the world, even as it grows more stagnant daily
America is endlessly wealthy but also a tiny bit monotonous in culture. Drive for five hours and you’re still in the land of strip malls. Drive for five hours across Europe and you go from Venice to Munich - through the Alps
However if I was young I’d think “fuck this I can come to Europe on holiday” and I would be praying that Trump brings in that law favouring European refugees and migrants
Goodness me, they want to postpone these elections again, for another year?
"Politics UK @PolitlcsUK 🚨 NEW: The Government is considering delaying 7 council elections for another year amid fears Reform gains could threaten its plans to overhaul local government
"The councils are Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Surrey, East and West Sussex and Hampshire
Council leaders are "lobbying hard" for the elections to be pushed to 2027, ahead of new larger councils set for 2028 - a move that would extend current Tory councillors’ terms from 5 to 7 yrs"
Much as I would rather see a Tory Council to a Reform Council this is a bit Trumpian for my tastes.
There will be unitary elections for them in 2027, it is a complete waste of money to elect councillors to just serve a 1 year term from next year.
Just let those 7 counties have their Mayoral election next year and then the new unitary council elections the following year. A rare sensible decision from this government
So councillors will sit for 7 years?
6 in terms of county councillors there, Shadow authorities will arrive from those elected in 2027 becoming the full unitaries in 2027. Taxpayers won't have to pay millions either for elected councillors for one year terms.
French presidential elections used to be every 7 years, arguably the best system, ensures enough time to govern properly without constant populist protest votes
My assumption would have been that those Counties wouldn't have another election ever again. They were due an all-out election this year, why just postpone it for a year? Makes no sense to elect a council for one year rather than two.
The question is, what happens to the District councillors due to be elected in 2026?
On just 31% of the vote, the other parties voters are going to have to start to vote tactically for whichever of them is closest to Reform if they want to beat Farage not only locally but nationally at the next GE too.
Certainly had the Greens voters tactically voted LD in this seat the LDs would almost certainly have held it and beaten Reform
It will be hard for voters to know how to vote tactically with such big swings (assuming they want to as not all will)
Think 2029 will be a mess with many seats won on low %s and small leads because of this makes it hard to predict
Lots of constituencies could look like South West Norfolk
The local elections beforehand will give a reasonable guide and otherwise the assumption will be that whichever of the non Reform parties ie Labour, Tory, LD, Green, SNP, Plaid etc won the parliamentary seat in 2024 will be the main opponent of Reform at the next GE anti Farage voters therefore have to tactically vote for. In the case of the 5 seats Reform won it will be whichever party was second to them (albeit Reform will certainly hold those seats with an increased majority)
Ehh I’m not sure how many people will blindly vote anti-reform tactically ignoring all other political beliefs.
Also this gov and Starmer is so divisive and unpopular that I can see people thinking “I don’t want reform to win but I don’t want Labour to win either” and working out how to vote based on that. Could see Lib Dem’s over performing in places based on this
Comments
We can probably safely omit Tuvalu.
The revolution eats itself.
It was the ridiculous denials that were amusing.
He also said they'd already 'surpassed' the US although he didn't say in what way, exactly.
https://x.com/kaitlancollins/status/1978872175680438664
*Asking for a friend*
"Make Play and Continuous Provision statutory in England's Key Stage 1 Curriculum
Revise statutory guidance for KS1 to make play based pedagogy a core part of the Key Stage One National Curriculum, extending the best practice that we see in Early Years to ensure all Key Stage One children continue to have a developmentally appropriate play based approach to their learning."
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/729440
ISTR in the 80s Israel played in the Oceania division of world footbalk.
Said it before but politicians and journalists are obsessed with trans and jews. Not sure thr public care much about either. Far more interested in immigrants.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0946684/
Over the weekend I shall rewatch this episode of the series that followed (in a very Kim Philby line) :
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0652094/
One of the best turns Leslie Phillips ever put in, imho.
This is the wrong decision.
We will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets.
The role of the police is to ensure all football fans can enjoy the game, without fear of violence or intimidation.
https://x.com/keir_starmer/status/1978914187649618400?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q
https://devilexcrement.com/
http://aboutasfarasdelgados.blogspot.com/2017/05/the-problem-with-opinion-polls-polls.html
"Babergh, Copdock and Washbrook
RefUK 323
LD 292
Green 238
Con 140
Lab 17
RefUK gain from LD
Ref 31.98%
LD 28.91%
Grn 23.56%
Con 13.86%
Lab 1.68%
LD -27.5%
Grn +9.5%
Con -15.7%"
https://vote-2012.proboards.com/thread/19742/local-council-elections-16th-october?page=2
https://findoutnow.co.uk/blog/how-pollsters-may-be-understating-the-reform-vote/
8 candidates, figures dont appear to be out yet
"Politics UK
@PolitlcsUK
🚨 NEW: The Government is considering delaying 7 council elections for another year amid fears Reform gains could threaten its plans to overhaul local government
[@thetimes]"
"The councils are Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Surrey, East and West Sussex and Hampshire
Council leaders are "lobbying hard" for the elections to be pushed to 2027, ahead of new larger councils set for 2028 - a move that would extend current Tory councillors’ terms from 5 to 7 yrs"
https://x.com/PolitlcsUK/status/1978940234482983035
Many of you may know that -- in the past -- some US politicians had quite good luck when playing cards with lobbyists. I have no reason to think that explains Pritzker's latest winnings. (A more prudent politician would have avoid card games for high stakes.)
Ayr north
Wullie Hogg (Independent) 850
Ian Douglas (SNP) 790
John Duncan (Lab) 691
Andrew Russell (Reform) 584
David Paterson (Con) 195
David Petrie (Ind) 151
Mason Graham (L dem) 78
Orhan Bulikj (Ind) 51
These are first pref votes, Wullie Hogg elected at stage 8
Turnout was 27%
There’ll be plenty more of this kind of thing to come, the cat is out of the bag
Thank you all who put the safety of Aston Villa fans, Birmingham residents snd the British public above the zionist and political pressure to let Israeli hooligans and terrorists run riot in our country.
https://x.com/iqbalmohamedmp/status/1978894124968255833?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q
Just let those 7 counties have their Mayoral election next year and then the new unitary council elections the following year. A rare sensible decision from this government
Certainly had the Greens voters tactically voted LD in this seat the LDs would almost certainly have held it and beaten Reform
Lib Dem Gain from Labour
LD Ronan Hodgson - 659
RFM Lee Slater - 548
LAB Mark Routledge - 429
IND Ann Cowell - 101
CON Kevin Brockbank 61
IND Aran Bailey - 60
LD 35.47% [+14.02]
Ref 29.49% [new]
Lab 23.09% [-35.75]
Ind Cowell 5.44% [new]
Con 3.28% [-16.43]
Ind Bailey 3.23% [new]
Think 2029 will be a mess with many seats won on low %s and small leads because of this makes it hard to predict
Lots of constituencies could look like South West Norfolk
Spelthorne, Staines:
LD 804
Reform 499
Ind 261
Con 231
Green 163
Lab 158
Tusc 8
37.5%
Lib Dem gain from Green
LD 37.85% [new]
Ref 23.49% [new]
Ind 12.29% [new unless comparing to the previous ind]
Con 10.88% [-4.73]
Grn 7.67% [-27.84]
Lab 7.44% [-14.07]
TUSC 0.38% [new]
{previous Ind -> 27.38%}
Have you seen Bolton has been indicted at Trump's behest? It looks a stronger vindictive case than the Comey vindictive indictment.
French presidential elections used to be every 7 years, arguably the best system, ensures enough time to govern properly without constant populist protest votes
And this is just Seattle airport. It’s not the great national flagship
And you see this wealth everywhere. It’s not pockets of affluence. The affluence is ubiquitous, it’s poverty you see in pockets
Delaying them to 2027 might allow better awareness of tactical voting by his opponents, maybe too with more electable Cleverly and Burnham having replaced Kemi and Starmer as Tory and Labour leaders too
When was the cis-Atlantic gulf in wealth last this large? Just after world war 2?
Lib Dem gain from Con
Alan Ashbery (LD) 1,617
RFM 845
CON 666
LAB 140
LD 49.48% [+16.61]
Ref 25.86% [new]
Con 20.38% [-28.80]
Lab 4.28% [-11.40]
{WP which polled 2.27% last time}
Surrey, Guildford South East
Lib Dem gain from Residents
LD 1426
Con 788
Res 565
Reform 416
Green 172
Lab 89
33% turnout
LD 41.26% [+18.04]
Con 22.80% [-8.07]
Res 16.35% [-21.35]
Ref 12.04% [new]
Grn 4.98% [new]
Lab 2.58% [-5.63]
The US also has more extreme poverty than most western nations with very limited welfare state, little social and public housing and no public healthcare for most, I have never seen more homeless people in a developed nation than I did when I went to Los Angeles for example
Americans earning over $100 000 fair enough are very lucky, with much lower tax than most of Europe, bigger homes and able to have more expensive food and consumer goods and smarter cars and afford the best private healthcare and private schools for their children or top public schools in wealthy suburbs
I’ve seen vast and obvious wealth on 90% of this drive. From LA up to Seattle
Sure there are rundown towns. I saw them. Grisly. But we have easily as bad in the UK, just different in looks. Hopeless towns
In the last year I’ve also been to four of the five poorest states in the union. Kentucky, Mississippi, Louisiana, West Virginia. Even there the poverty is limited. There are also rich towns and lavish suburbs
It’s terrifying how Europe is being left for dust
If you are unemployed or on minimum wage in Kentucky, Louisiana, West Virginia etc you are certainly better off in most of Europe
The American economy is an astonishing wealth-creating machine
Inter alia I have been listening to “valley of genius” on audiobook throughout this drive. A history of Silicon Valley. It is superb. An oral history of American innovation. It also makes it quite plain how America has boomed as Europe has stagnated
Con gain from Lab — [Lab were defending a majority of 6 votes over Con]
Con 1614
Lab 978
LD 841
Ref 723
Grn 204
Ind 22[/quote]
Con 36.83% [-4.36]
Lab 22.32% [-19.02]
LD 19.19% [+14.88]
Ref 16.50% [+11.22]
Grn 4.66% [-1.87]
Ind 0.50% [-0.85]
Turnout 49.6%
Trump's tariffs are also starting to push up inflation which will hit Main Street US and even Silicon Valley in terms of its import costs, with not much evidence yet of a surge in rustbelt manufacturing jobs Trump voters voted for. Seattle went a massive 73% for Harris anyway, in Silicon Valley a huge 80% of San Francisco county went for Harris, ironically the most educated and highest earning US voters voted for the losing Democrats last year. Harris was the first Democrat presidential candidate ever to win most voters earning over $100k a year
JeeeZ
The only thing Europe has going for it now is, well, Europe. It’s so beautiful and varied and historic and packed into a small space. It is by far the most beautiful and interesting corner of the world, even as it grows more stagnant daily
America is endlessly wealthy but also a tiny bit monotonous in culture. Drive for five hours and you’re still in the land of strip malls. Drive for five hours across Europe and you go from Venice to Munich - through the Alps
However if I was young I’d think “fuck this I can come to Europe on holiday” and I would be praying that Trump brings in that law favouring European refugees and migrants
The question is, what happens to the District councillors due to be elected in 2026?
Also this gov and Starmer is so divisive and unpopular that I can see people thinking “I don’t want reform to win but I don’t want Labour to win either” and working out how to vote based on that. Could see Lib Dem’s over performing in places based on this