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  • TazTaz Posts: 22,788
    Just clicked on. How the fuck has Rio Ferdinand got on this ?
  • TazTaz Posts: 22,788
    Alan Partridge could have done a better job.
  • noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 26,029

    Taz said:

    Is there a report from the centrist Dad obsessives on the Truss video ?

    She seems to occupy a few people’s minds here rent free.

    She is trying too hard to romaine in the public eye.
    Scheduling the World Cup draw at the same time as her show just proves the lengths they'll go to to silence her.
    That is just the mere tip of the iceberg.
  • CiceroCicero Posts: 3,990

    Taz said:

    Is there a report from the centrist Dad obsessives on the Truss video ?

    She seems to occupy a few people’s minds here rent free.

    She is trying too hard to romaine in the public eye.
    Scheduling the World Cup draw at the same time as her show just proves the lengths they'll go to to silence her.
    The silence of the Lambs Lettuce.
  • TazTaz Posts: 22,788
    Decent side Croatia
  • BurgessianBurgessian Posts: 3,321

    The Guardian's deep-dive into Nige's schooldays continues.

    "Bankole is one of 28 school contemporaries of Farage’s at Dulwich college, a public school in south-east London, who claim to have witnessed deeply offensive racist or antisemitic behaviour by Farage."

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/dec/05/nigel-farage-former-dulwich-college-pupil-alleges-said-thats-the-way-back-to-africa

    He would have made a memorable character in a George MacDonald Fraser novel. Right up there with Flashman.

    Reform leader of Staffordshire County Council, reportedly, just bitten the dust.

    An unfortunate social media history by all accounts.

    As the Reform councillor pool increases, so do the number of unexploded bombs.
  • boulayboulay Posts: 7,871
    USA getting a conveniently safe draw.
  • TazTaz Posts: 22,788

    The Guardian's deep-dive into Nige's schooldays continues.

    "Bankole is one of 28 school contemporaries of Farage’s at Dulwich college, a public school in south-east London, who claim to have witnessed deeply offensive racist or antisemitic behaviour by Farage."

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/dec/05/nigel-farage-former-dulwich-college-pupil-alleges-said-thats-the-way-back-to-africa

    He would have made a memorable character in a George MacDonald Fraser novel. Right up there with Flashman.

    Reform leader of Staffordshire County Council, reportedly, just bitten the dust.

    An unfortunate social media history by all accounts.

    As the Reform councillor pool increases, so do the number of unexploded bombs.

    OMG how awful

    Vote Lib Dem
  • OmniumOmnium Posts: 12,251
    Taz said:

    Decent side Croatia

    Away from the mindless nonsense of football they also seem to have a pretty promising wine industry. Obviously all Omnium funds are invested in clown-shows in the US, but if I had some free money..
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 59,082

    glw said:

    Trump gets Peace Prize from FIFA.

    I'm shocked, I tell you, shocked.

    Absolutely shameful nonsense from Infantino. The only thing he has achieved running FIFA is making people a little wistful for the common or garden corruption of Blatter.
    On track to double FIFA revenue. Pathetic fawning to the global broligarchs works in terms of $$$$$$.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Passions

    FIFA are deeply skilled in understanding narcissistic corrupt bad taste lunacy.
  • Scotland v Brazil.
  • TazTaz Posts: 22,788
    Omnium said:

    Taz said:

    Decent side Croatia

    Away from the mindless nonsense of football they also seem to have a pretty promising wine industry. Obviously all Omnium funds are invested in clown-shows in the US, but if I had some free money..
    Their wine is decent. We went to Korcula Island a few years back, The Posip and Grk were a delight.
  • noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 26,029
    Taz said:

    Decent side Croatia

    Better than Panama!
  • Taz said:

    Decent side Croatia

    Better than Panama!
    All of England's Isthmuses have come at once drawing Panama.
  • boulayboulay Posts: 7,871
    France and Germany have tough draws.
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 36,240
    I've just realised, we're having the draw before we know who's in it 🤷🏻‍♂️
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 17,384

    The Guardian's deep-dive into Nige's schooldays continues.

    "Bankole is one of 28 school contemporaries of Farage’s at Dulwich college, a public school in south-east London, who claim to have witnessed deeply offensive racist or antisemitic behaviour by Farage."

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/dec/05/nigel-farage-former-dulwich-college-pupil-alleges-said-thats-the-way-back-to-africa

    He would have made a memorable character in a George MacDonald Fraser novel. Right up there with Flashman.

    Reform leader of Staffordshire County Council, reportedly, just bitten the dust.

    An unfortunate social media history by all accounts.

    As the Reform councillor pool increases, so do the number of unexploded bombs.
    https://hopenothate.org.uk/2025/12/03/revealed-the-online-activity-of-staffordshire-council-leader-ian-cooper/ has details.

    The article reads: “In response to a video clip showing the lawyer and academic Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, Cooper replied with a crude mangling of her surname [Shaga Bing-Bong] and suggestions that she should “F[uck] off back to Nigeria.””

    And: “Cllr Ian Cooper was listed as a “Top Fan” of the explicitly racist Facebook page titled “The European Race””

    And: “In posts from February, Cooper referred to Mayor of London Sadiq Khan as a “narcissistic Pakistani” and suggested that the British MP David Lammy should not be allowed to sit in the House of Commons, despite both men being born in London”

    Cooper had said: “No foreign national or first generation migrant should be allowed to sit in parliament.”
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 84,172
    .

    I'd sooner eat a pizza with pineapple on it than have to watch his draw again.

    I recommend not watching it the first time, too.
    Along with whatever the Truss thing is, life's just too short.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 56,580
    https://x.com/SecRubio/status/1996974377003319667

    The European Commission’s $140 million fine isn’t just an attack on @X, it’s an attack on all American tech platforms and the American people by foreign governments.

    The days of censoring Americans online are over.
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 36,174

    Taz said:

    Decent side Croatia

    Better than Panama!
    Their wine’s better, too!
  • North Maccadonia.
  • I've just realised, we're having the draw before we know who's in it 🤷🏻‍♂️

    Happened last time and at the Euros too
  • tlg86tlg86 Posts: 27,490
    When they lose to Haiti, it will be very funny.
  • CiceroCicero Posts: 3,990

    https://x.com/SecRubio/status/1996974377003319667

    The European Commission’s $140 million fine isn’t just an attack on @X, it’s an attack on all American tech platforms and the American people by foreign governments.

    The days of censoring Americans online are over.

    The EU are the more advanced regulator. if the US doesn't want to play to EU rules, things could get very interesting.

    (and F**k US cultural imperialism)
  • tlg86 said:

    When they lose to Haiti, it will be very funny.

    Like losing to Iceland.
  • stodgestodge Posts: 15,661
    edited December 5

    I'd sooner eat a pizza with pineapple on it than have to watch his draw again.

    I came on here after returning from an excellent long lunch in the LD stronghold of Wimbledon Village to look for the "subtle James Bond reference". About as subtle as John Cleese, Michael Palin and the Fish Slapping Dance.
  • Who is this bellend massacring his pronunciations of the countries?
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 84,172
    Funny they forgot to mention this at the press conference yesterday.

    Brian Cole Jr., the suspect accused of being the Jan. 6 pipe bomber, confessed to agents that he planted the bombs and has indicated he supported President Trump, according to two people familiar with his interview.
    https://x.com/kylegriffin1/status/1996721228443181144
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 17,384

    https://x.com/SecRubio/status/1996974377003319667

    The European Commission’s $140 million fine isn’t just an attack on @X, it’s an attack on all American tech platforms and the American people by foreign governments.

    The days of censoring Americans online are over.

    Unless they say nasty things about Trump or, like, pretend climate change is real.
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 36,240
    Rio is doing ok tbf... He seems to be the only one who knows the rules.
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 12,743
    CatMan said:

    Record broken for wind power generated

    https://grid.iamkate.com/

    (In the UK, not what's going on at the FIFA draw)

    And at a time when the spot price is pretty high given demand for gas across Europe. Nice.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 56,580
    Trump says that American football should be renamed so it doesn't clash with real football.

    https://x.com/atrupar/status/1997001519829242351
  • TazTaz Posts: 22,788

    Who is this bellend massacring his pronunciations of the countries?

    Rio ?
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 84,172

    https://x.com/SecRubio/status/1996974377003319667

    The European Commission’s $140 million fine isn’t just an attack on @X, it’s an attack on all American tech platforms and the American people by foreign governments.

    The days of censoring Americans online are over.

    If an American business wants to do business in the EU, they need to follow EU laws. I am not sure why people can't grasp this. It doesn't matter if it's a retailer or a social media company.
    https://x.com/RyanO_ChosenCoy/status/1997001805079658786

    Little Marco is a bit slow.
    It took him half a decade to work out that he's a Trump poodle.
  • TazTaz Posts: 22,788
    tlg86 said:

    When they lose to Haiti, it will be very funny.

    First World Cup since 74
  • Taz said:

    Who is this bellend massacring his pronunciations of the countries?

    Rio ?
    Wayne something.
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 34,081
    edited December 5

    Why do these ludicrous draws take so bloody long?

    Saint and Greavsie would've had it done and dusted three quarters of an hour ago, and been on their third pint by now at the nearest pub.

    When Donald Trump met Saint and Greavsie
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRMJ3ftUtnw
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 36,240
    edited December 5
    England's group looks ok, though I think it does have the highest combined FIFA ranking of any group.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 31,111
    edited December 5

    The Guardian's deep-dive into Nige's schooldays continues.

    "Bankole is one of 28 school contemporaries of Farage’s at Dulwich college, a public school in south-east London, who claim to have witnessed deeply offensive racist or antisemitic behaviour by Farage."

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/dec/05/nigel-farage-former-dulwich-college-pupil-alleges-said-thats-the-way-back-to-africa

    He would have made a memorable character in a George MacDonald Fraser novel. Right up there with Flashman.

    Reform leader of Staffordshire County Council, reportedly, just bitten the dust.

    An unfortunate social media history by all accounts.

    As the Reform councillor pool increases, so do the number of unexploded bombs.
    What's interesting here at present is tracking the ones where Farage reacts. There are far more cases where he does nothing, hunkers down and hopes it will go away, rather than actually acting. It seems to revolve around extensive media coverage.

    He's locked in a future stream of cases by reopening the doors in the summer to the "failed vetting" candidates who were rejected for the General Election, and since.

    He has the need to look decisive and to be acting, but he also needs those type of supporters. It's one of those where the cover-up may well do damage at some point.

    On another note, the Councillors leaving are still ticking up but at a reduced rate from Sept-Oct. The turnover of Council Leaders is more interesting imo at present, given that the hard yards (budgets) are coming down the track.

    Here Derbyshire are proposing to close all their adult education centres, and outsource the service.

    I'm also wondering about Tice's position; he's doing a stellar job of being an embarrassment.
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 12,743
    tlg86 said:

    When they lose to Haiti, it will be very funny.

    Before beating Brazil with a Tierney hat trick, and then getting knocked out by Morocco.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 56,580
    Nigelb said:

    https://x.com/SecRubio/status/1996974377003319667

    The European Commission’s $140 million fine isn’t just an attack on @X, it’s an attack on all American tech platforms and the American people by foreign governments.

    The days of censoring Americans online are over.

    If an American business wants to do business in the EU, they need to follow EU laws. I am not sure why people can't grasp this. It doesn't matter if it's a retailer or a social media company.
    https://x.com/RyanO_ChosenCoy/status/1997001805079658786

    Little Marco is a bit slow.
    It took him half a decade to work out that he's a Trump poodle.
    Arbitrary fines are problematic though. It's more of a make-it-up-as-we-go-along form of selective taxation.
  • noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 26,029

    England's group looks ok, though I think it does have the highest combined FIFA ranking of any group.

    Probably just need a point going into the Panama game to qualify......
  • TazTaz Posts: 22,788

    Taz said:

    Who is this bellend massacring his pronunciations of the countries?

    Rio ?
    Wayne something.
    He’s building Bridges. Unlike John Terry.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 84,172

    Nigelb said:

    https://x.com/SecRubio/status/1996974377003319667

    The European Commission’s $140 million fine isn’t just an attack on @X, it’s an attack on all American tech platforms and the American people by foreign governments.

    The days of censoring Americans online are over.

    If an American business wants to do business in the EU, they need to follow EU laws. I am not sure why people can't grasp this. It doesn't matter if it's a retailer or a social media company.
    https://x.com/RyanO_ChosenCoy/status/1997001805079658786

    Little Marco is a bit slow.
    It took him half a decade to work out that he's a Trump poodle.
    Arbitrary fines are problematic though. It's more of a make-it-up-as-we-go-along form of selective taxation.
    Just think of it as a tariff.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 56,580
    Nigelb said:

    Nigelb said:

    https://x.com/SecRubio/status/1996974377003319667

    The European Commission’s $140 million fine isn’t just an attack on @X, it’s an attack on all American tech platforms and the American people by foreign governments.

    The days of censoring Americans online are over.

    If an American business wants to do business in the EU, they need to follow EU laws. I am not sure why people can't grasp this. It doesn't matter if it's a retailer or a social media company.
    https://x.com/RyanO_ChosenCoy/status/1997001805079658786

    Little Marco is a bit slow.
    It took him half a decade to work out that he's a Trump poodle.
    Arbitrary fines are problematic though. It's more of a make-it-up-as-we-go-along form of selective taxation.
    Just think of it as a tariff.
    Tariffs on individual companies are illegal.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 57,038
    Eabhal said:

    tlg86 said:

    When they lose to Haiti, it will be very funny.

    Before beating Brazil with a Tierney hat trick, and then getting knocked out by Morocco.
    That would be fairly typical from my recollection of Scotland's performances at WCs. We always do really badly against the "weaker" teams and then out perform against the better ones.

    But given the number of teams that can qualify our first game against Haiti is our WC final. Win that and we have a reasonable prospect of getting past the group stage for the first time.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 54,232

    Scotland v Brazil.

    I remember watching that in 1974.

    A nil-nill draw as I recall.

    Indeed I think Scotland were the only team at that World Cup not to lose a match, therefore should have been recognised as the true winners.

  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 84,172
    Taz said:

    Just clicked on. How the fuck has Rio Ferdinand got on this ?

    Just unlucky, I guess ?
  • stodgestodge Posts: 15,661
    MattW said:

    The Guardian's deep-dive into Nige's schooldays continues.

    "Bankole is one of 28 school contemporaries of Farage’s at Dulwich college, a public school in south-east London, who claim to have witnessed deeply offensive racist or antisemitic behaviour by Farage."

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/dec/05/nigel-farage-former-dulwich-college-pupil-alleges-said-thats-the-way-back-to-africa

    He would have made a memorable character in a George MacDonald Fraser novel. Right up there with Flashman.

    Reform leader of Staffordshire County Council, reportedly, just bitten the dust.

    An unfortunate social media history by all accounts.

    As the Reform councillor pool increases, so do the number of unexploded bombs.
    What's interesting here at present is tracking the ones where Farage reacts. There are far more cases where he does nothing, hunkers down and hopes it will go away, rather than actually acting. It seems to revolve around extensive media coverage.

    He's locked in a future stream of cases by reopening the doors in the summer to the "failed vetting" candidates who were rejected for the General Election, and since.

    He has the need to look decisive and to be acting, but he also needs those type of supporters. It's one of those where the cover-up may well do damage at some point.

    On another note, the Councillors leaving are still ticking up but at a reduced rate from Sept-Oct. The turnover of Council Leaders is more interesting imo at present, given that the hard yards (budgets) are coming down the track.

    Here Derbyshire are proposing to close all their adult education centres, and outsource the service.

    I'm also wondering about Tice's position; he's doing a stellar job of being an embarrassment.
    The idea of stand alone Adult Education Centres is challenging from a property perspective. Unless you have enough classes to run the buildings all day, they become very expensive to manage and maintain.

    The new provider could take on the buildings and charge back to the authority and seek to get other users to take on the building when there are no classes. The provision of Adult Education is a stautory requirement and tutors will need to be paid.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 57,038
    CatMan said:

    Record broken for wind power generated

    https://grid.iamkate.com/

    (In the UK, not what's going on at the FIFA draw)

    Even with a record day for wind we still ended up importing a small proportion of our power. We really need to be looking to produce something like 120% of our demand and become net exporters of energy again on the back of windpower. It could make a really useful contribution to our appalling balance of payments.
  • DougSealDougSeal Posts: 13,097
    Taz said:

    Is there a report from the centrist Dad obsessives on the Truss video ?

    She seems to occupy a few people’s minds here rent free.

    Clearly not enough for any to watch it. Why not let us know what’s going on?
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 69,194

    BREAKING: The Supreme Court announced on Friday that it would hear a landmark dispute over the constitutionality of President Trump’s effort to end birthright citizenship.

    NY Times
  • Daveyboy1961Daveyboy1961 Posts: 5,057
    stodge said:

    MattW said:

    The Guardian's deep-dive into Nige's schooldays continues.

    "Bankole is one of 28 school contemporaries of Farage’s at Dulwich college, a public school in south-east London, who claim to have witnessed deeply offensive racist or antisemitic behaviour by Farage."

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/dec/05/nigel-farage-former-dulwich-college-pupil-alleges-said-thats-the-way-back-to-africa

    He would have made a memorable character in a George MacDonald Fraser novel. Right up there with Flashman.

    Reform leader of Staffordshire County Council, reportedly, just bitten the dust.

    An unfortunate social media history by all accounts.

    As the Reform councillor pool increases, so do the number of unexploded bombs.
    What's interesting here at present is tracking the ones where Farage reacts. There are far more cases where he does nothing, hunkers down and hopes it will go away, rather than actually acting. It seems to revolve around extensive media coverage.

    He's locked in a future stream of cases by reopening the doors in the summer to the "failed vetting" candidates who were rejected for the General Election, and since.

    He has the need to look decisive and to be acting, but he also needs those type of supporters. It's one of those where the cover-up may well do damage at some point.

    On another note, the Councillors leaving are still ticking up but at a reduced rate from Sept-Oct. The turnover of Council Leaders is more interesting imo at present, given that the hard yards (budgets) are coming down the track.

    Here Derbyshire are proposing to close all their adult education centres, and outsource the service.

    I'm also wondering about Tice's position; he's doing a stellar job of being an embarrassment.
    The idea of stand alone Adult Education Centres is challenging from a property perspective. Unless you have enough classes to run the buildings all day, they become very expensive to manage and maintain.

    The new provider could take on the buildings and charge back to the authority and seek to get other users to take on the building when there are no classes. The provision of Adult Education is a stautory requirement and tutors will need to be paid.
    Adult education could be provided in schools after 6pm. It would save on costs.
  • DougSealDougSeal Posts: 13,097

    Why do these ludicrous draws take so bloody long?

    Saint and Greavsie would've had it done and dusted three quarters of an hour ago, and been on their third pint by now at the nearest pub.

    When Donald Trump met Saint and Greavsie
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRMJ3ftUtnw
    You beat me to it!
  • MattWMattW Posts: 31,111
    stodge said:

    MattW said:

    The Guardian's deep-dive into Nige's schooldays continues.

    "Bankole is one of 28 school contemporaries of Farage’s at Dulwich college, a public school in south-east London, who claim to have witnessed deeply offensive racist or antisemitic behaviour by Farage."

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/dec/05/nigel-farage-former-dulwich-college-pupil-alleges-said-thats-the-way-back-to-africa

    He would have made a memorable character in a George MacDonald Fraser novel. Right up there with Flashman.

    Reform leader of Staffordshire County Council, reportedly, just bitten the dust.

    An unfortunate social media history by all accounts.

    As the Reform councillor pool increases, so do the number of unexploded bombs.
    What's interesting here at present is tracking the ones where Farage reacts. There are far more cases where he does nothing, hunkers down and hopes it will go away, rather than actually acting. It seems to revolve around extensive media coverage.

    He's locked in a future stream of cases by reopening the doors in the summer to the "failed vetting" candidates who were rejected for the General Election, and since.

    He has the need to look decisive and to be acting, but he also needs those type of supporters. It's one of those where the cover-up may well do damage at some point.

    On another note, the Councillors leaving are still ticking up but at a reduced rate from Sept-Oct. The turnover of Council Leaders is more interesting imo at present, given that the hard yards (budgets) are coming down the track.

    Here Derbyshire are proposing to close all their adult education centres, and outsource the service.

    I'm also wondering about Tice's position; he's doing a stellar job of being an embarrassment.
    The idea of stand alone Adult Education Centres is challenging from a property perspective. Unless you have enough classes to run the buildings all day, they become very expensive to manage and maintain.

    The new provider could take on the buildings and charge back to the authority and seek to get other users to take on the building when there are no classes. The provision of Adult Education is a stautory requirement and tutors will need to be paid.
    My concern on that one is that they are (imo) in a tactical mode not a strategic mode. So Derbyshire will get a panic then worse services.
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 36,174

    stodge said:

    MattW said:

    The Guardian's deep-dive into Nige's schooldays continues.

    "Bankole is one of 28 school contemporaries of Farage’s at Dulwich college, a public school in south-east London, who claim to have witnessed deeply offensive racist or antisemitic behaviour by Farage."

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/dec/05/nigel-farage-former-dulwich-college-pupil-alleges-said-thats-the-way-back-to-africa

    He would have made a memorable character in a George MacDonald Fraser novel. Right up there with Flashman.

    Reform leader of Staffordshire County Council, reportedly, just bitten the dust.

    An unfortunate social media history by all accounts.

    As the Reform councillor pool increases, so do the number of unexploded bombs.
    What's interesting here at present is tracking the ones where Farage reacts. There are far more cases where he does nothing, hunkers down and hopes it will go away, rather than actually acting. It seems to revolve around extensive media coverage.

    He's locked in a future stream of cases by reopening the doors in the summer to the "failed vetting" candidates who were rejected for the General Election, and since.

    He has the need to look decisive and to be acting, but he also needs those type of supporters. It's one of those where the cover-up may well do damage at some point.

    On another note, the Councillors leaving are still ticking up but at a reduced rate from Sept-Oct. The turnover of Council Leaders is more interesting imo at present, given that the hard yards (budgets) are coming down the track.

    Here Derbyshire are proposing to close all their adult education centres, and outsource the service.

    I'm also wondering about Tice's position; he's doing a stellar job of being an embarrassment.
    The idea of stand alone Adult Education Centres is challenging from a property perspective. Unless you have enough classes to run the buildings all day, they become very expensive to manage and maintain.

    The new provider could take on the buildings and charge back to the authority and seek to get other users to take on the building when there are no classes. The provision of Adult Education is a stautory requirement and tutors will need to be paid.
    Adult education could be provided in schools after 6pm. It would save on costs.
    At one time it was.
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 20,895
    DavidL said:

    CatMan said:

    Record broken for wind power generated

    https://grid.iamkate.com/

    (In the UK, not what's going on at the FIFA draw)

    Even with a record day for wind we still ended up importing a small proportion of our power. We really need to be looking to produce something like 120% of our demand and become net exporters of energy again on the back of windpower. It could make a really useful contribution to our appalling balance of payments.
    Though more important than the immediate imports (which are basically European systems shuffling marginal surpluses) is the gas generation, which are imports (or forgone exports) at one remove.

    Fortunately, increasing wind capacity doesn't require much more thinking- just upfront investment...

    Oh.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 56,580
    https://x.com/Steven_Swinford/status/1997018915491414379

    Exclusive from
    @patrickkmaguire

    Ed Miliband is likely to be the Labour membership’s preferred choice to succeed Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister, according to polling that reveals the scale of unhappiness at the party’s grassroots

    The energy secretary has the highest approval rating of the mooted candidates to replace Starmer as leader, according to a survey conducted on behalf of City advisers last week

    Wes Streeting, the health secretary, also scored strongly - with members telling YouGov that the ability to beat Nigel Farage was a more important quality in a candidate than sharing their values

    Keir Starmer's approval rating is **minus 3 per cent**. He had a positive rating of 33% when Labour members were last polled in September

    Approval rating:

    Ed Miliband: 55%
    Wes Streeting: 44%
    Lucy Powell: 31%
    Shabana Mahmood: 18%
    Rachel Reeves: 13%
    Keir Starmer: -3%
  • stodgestodge Posts: 15,661

    stodge said:

    MattW said:

    The Guardian's deep-dive into Nige's schooldays continues.

    "Bankole is one of 28 school contemporaries of Farage’s at Dulwich college, a public school in south-east London, who claim to have witnessed deeply offensive racist or antisemitic behaviour by Farage."

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/dec/05/nigel-farage-former-dulwich-college-pupil-alleges-said-thats-the-way-back-to-africa

    He would have made a memorable character in a George MacDonald Fraser novel. Right up there with Flashman.

    Reform leader of Staffordshire County Council, reportedly, just bitten the dust.

    An unfortunate social media history by all accounts.

    As the Reform councillor pool increases, so do the number of unexploded bombs.
    What's interesting here at present is tracking the ones where Farage reacts. There are far more cases where he does nothing, hunkers down and hopes it will go away, rather than actually acting. It seems to revolve around extensive media coverage.

    He's locked in a future stream of cases by reopening the doors in the summer to the "failed vetting" candidates who were rejected for the General Election, and since.

    He has the need to look decisive and to be acting, but he also needs those type of supporters. It's one of those where the cover-up may well do damage at some point.

    On another note, the Councillors leaving are still ticking up but at a reduced rate from Sept-Oct. The turnover of Council Leaders is more interesting imo at present, given that the hard yards (budgets) are coming down the track.

    Here Derbyshire are proposing to close all their adult education centres, and outsource the service.

    I'm also wondering about Tice's position; he's doing a stellar job of being an embarrassment.
    The idea of stand alone Adult Education Centres is challenging from a property perspective. Unless you have enough classes to run the buildings all day, they become very expensive to manage and maintain.

    The new provider could take on the buildings and charge back to the authority and seek to get other users to take on the building when there are no classes. The provision of Adult Education is a stautory requirement and tutors will need to be paid.
    Adult education could be provided in schools after 6pm. It would save on costs.
    In some councils it is but that works only for evening classes. Many authorities run daytime classes and these need to be held somewhere.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 69,194
    Oh @TSE !!!!


    Steven Swinford
    @Steven_Swinford
    Exclusive from
    @patrickkmaguire


    Ed Miliband is likely to be the Labour membership’s preferred choice to succeed Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister, according to polling that reveals the scale of unhappiness at the party’s grassroots

    The energy secretary has the highest approval rating of the mooted candidates to replace Starmer as leader, according to a survey conducted on behalf of City advisers last week
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 54,232
    DougSeal said:

    Taz said:

    Is there a report from the centrist Dad obsessives on the Truss video ?

    She seems to occupy a few people’s minds here rent free.

    Clearly not enough for any to watch it. Why not let us know what’s going on?
    Yes, its friday night so a bit of comedy very much in order.
  • Pro_RataPro_Rata Posts: 5,896

    Taz said:

    Decent side Croatia

    Better than Panama!
    All of England's Isthmuses have come at once drawing Panama.
    I hear they are defensively solid and can be quite tricky to cut through.

    Shame we don't still have Darien Vessel in our squad.
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 20,895
    edited December 5

    stodge said:

    MattW said:

    The Guardian's deep-dive into Nige's schooldays continues.

    "Bankole is one of 28 school contemporaries of Farage’s at Dulwich college, a public school in south-east London, who claim to have witnessed deeply offensive racist or antisemitic behaviour by Farage."

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/dec/05/nigel-farage-former-dulwich-college-pupil-alleges-said-thats-the-way-back-to-africa

    He would have made a memorable character in a George MacDonald Fraser novel. Right up there with Flashman.

    Reform leader of Staffordshire County Council, reportedly, just bitten the dust.

    An unfortunate social media history by all accounts.

    As the Reform councillor pool increases, so do the number of unexploded bombs.
    What's interesting here at present is tracking the ones where Farage reacts. There are far more cases where he does nothing, hunkers down and hopes it will go away, rather than actually acting. It seems to revolve around extensive media coverage.

    He's locked in a future stream of cases by reopening the doors in the summer to the "failed vetting" candidates who were rejected for the General Election, and since.

    He has the need to look decisive and to be acting, but he also needs those type of supporters. It's one of those where the cover-up may well do damage at some point.

    On another note, the Councillors leaving are still ticking up but at a reduced rate from Sept-Oct. The turnover of Council Leaders is more interesting imo at present, given that the hard yards (budgets) are coming down the track.

    Here Derbyshire are proposing to close all their adult education centres, and outsource the service.

    I'm also wondering about Tice's position; he's doing a stellar job of being an embarrassment.
    The idea of stand alone Adult Education Centres is challenging from a property perspective. Unless you have enough classes to run the buildings all day, they become very expensive to manage and maintain.

    The new provider could take on the buildings and charge back to the authority and seek to get other users to take on the building when there are no classes. The provision of Adult Education is a stautory requirement and tutors will need to be paid.
    Adult education could be provided in schools after 6pm. It would save on costs.
    At one time it was.
    Cambridgeshire invented Village Colleges (secondary school by day, community hub by night) about a century ago, because it's just sensible.

    See also 15 minute city theory. One of their precepts is that public spaces should double up their uses, so that buildings are rarely sat there dark.

    Trouble is that laissez-faire models ought to make that happen, but mostly don't.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 57,038
    Foxy said:

    Scotland v Brazil.

    I remember watching that in 1974.

    A nil-nill draw as I recall.

    Indeed I think Scotland were the only team at that World Cup not to lose a match, therefore should have been recognised as the true winners.

    And we played them again in 1982 when things were going quite well until Dave Narey's famous "toe poke" provoked them. And again in 1998 in our first game. I am starting to feel a bit picked on.
  • isamisam Posts: 43,180

    https://x.com/Steven_Swinford/status/1997018915491414379

    Exclusive from
    @patrickkmaguire

    Ed Miliband is likely to be the Labour membership’s preferred choice to succeed Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister, according to polling that reveals the scale of unhappiness at the party’s grassroots

    The energy secretary has the highest approval rating of the mooted candidates to replace Starmer as leader, according to a survey conducted on behalf of City advisers last week

    Wes Streeting, the health secretary, also scored strongly - with members telling YouGov that the ability to beat Nigel Farage was a more important quality in a candidate than sharing their values

    Keir Starmer's approval rating is **minus 3 per cent**. He had a positive rating of 33% when Labour members were last polled in September

    Approval rating:

    Ed Miliband: 55%
    Wes Streeting: 44%
    Lucy Powell: 31%
    Shabana Mahmood: 18%
    Rachel Reeves: 13%
    Keir Starmer: -3%

    Good Lord, they would poll even worse than now I reckon. I like Ed, in a kind of 'feel sorry for the complete geek' way, but he is a bad choice to be leader of a party or PM.
  • Daveyboy1961Daveyboy1961 Posts: 5,057
    stodge said:

    stodge said:

    MattW said:

    The Guardian's deep-dive into Nige's schooldays continues.

    "Bankole is one of 28 school contemporaries of Farage’s at Dulwich college, a public school in south-east London, who claim to have witnessed deeply offensive racist or antisemitic behaviour by Farage."

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/dec/05/nigel-farage-former-dulwich-college-pupil-alleges-said-thats-the-way-back-to-africa

    He would have made a memorable character in a George MacDonald Fraser novel. Right up there with Flashman.

    Reform leader of Staffordshire County Council, reportedly, just bitten the dust.

    An unfortunate social media history by all accounts.

    As the Reform councillor pool increases, so do the number of unexploded bombs.
    What's interesting here at present is tracking the ones where Farage reacts. There are far more cases where he does nothing, hunkers down and hopes it will go away, rather than actually acting. It seems to revolve around extensive media coverage.

    He's locked in a future stream of cases by reopening the doors in the summer to the "failed vetting" candidates who were rejected for the General Election, and since.

    He has the need to look decisive and to be acting, but he also needs those type of supporters. It's one of those where the cover-up may well do damage at some point.

    On another note, the Councillors leaving are still ticking up but at a reduced rate from Sept-Oct. The turnover of Council Leaders is more interesting imo at present, given that the hard yards (budgets) are coming down the track.

    Here Derbyshire are proposing to close all their adult education centres, and outsource the service.

    I'm also wondering about Tice's position; he's doing a stellar job of being an embarrassment.
    The idea of stand alone Adult Education Centres is challenging from a property perspective. Unless you have enough classes to run the buildings all day, they become very expensive to manage and maintain.

    The new provider could take on the buildings and charge back to the authority and seek to get other users to take on the building when there are no classes. The provision of Adult Education is a stautory requirement and tutors will need to be paid.
    Adult education could be provided in schools after 6pm. It would save on costs.
    In some councils it is but that works only for evening classes. Many authorities run daytime classes and these need to be held somewhere.
    Perhaps they should all be evening classes
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 57,038

    DavidL said:

    CatMan said:

    Record broken for wind power generated

    https://grid.iamkate.com/

    (In the UK, not what's going on at the FIFA draw)

    Even with a record day for wind we still ended up importing a small proportion of our power. We really need to be looking to produce something like 120% of our demand and become net exporters of energy again on the back of windpower. It could make a really useful contribution to our appalling balance of payments.
    Though more important than the immediate imports (which are basically European systems shuffling marginal surpluses) is the gas generation, which are imports (or forgone exports) at one remove.

    Fortunately, increasing wind capacity doesn't require much more thinking- just upfront investment...

    Oh.
    Yes, import substitution is highly desirable too. On the investment thing the decision to reduce capital allowances in the budget was one of the most disappointing thing in a dismal effort of a budget.
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 7,875
    Cicero said:

    https://x.com/SecRubio/status/1996974377003319667

    The European Commission’s $140 million fine isn’t just an attack on @X, it’s an attack on all American tech platforms and the American people by foreign governments.

    The days of censoring Americans online are over.

    The EU are the more advanced regulator. if the US doesn't want to play to EU rules, things could get very interesting.

    (and F**k US cultural imperialism)
    I wonder what the overlap is between people who don't like cultural imperialism and people who cream themselves over the "brussels effect".
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 54,232
    DavidL said:

    Foxy said:

    Scotland v Brazil.

    I remember watching that in 1974.

    A nil-nill draw as I recall.

    Indeed I think Scotland were the only team at that World Cup not to lose a match, therefore should have been recognised as the true winners.

    And we played them again in 1982 when things were going quite well until Dave Narey's famous "toe poke" provoked them. And again in 1998 in our first game. I am starting to feel a bit picked on.
    England get our nemesis Croatia again...
  • https://x.com/Steven_Swinford/status/1997018915491414379

    Exclusive from
    @patrickkmaguire

    Ed Miliband is likely to be the Labour membership’s preferred choice to succeed Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister, according to polling that reveals the scale of unhappiness at the party’s grassroots

    The energy secretary has the highest approval rating of the mooted candidates to replace Starmer as leader, according to a survey conducted on behalf of City advisers last week

    Wes Streeting, the health secretary, also scored strongly - with members telling YouGov that the ability to beat Nigel Farage was a more important quality in a candidate than sharing their values

    Keir Starmer's approval rating is **minus 3 per cent**. He had a positive rating of 33% when Labour members were last polled in September

    Approval rating:

    Ed Miliband: 55%
    Wes Streeting: 44%
    Lucy Powell: 31%
    Shabana Mahmood: 18%
    Rachel Reeves: 13%
    Keir Starmer: -3%

    ***Smug bastard level 100 unlocked***
  • FairlieredFairliered Posts: 7,124
    Pro_Rata said:

    Taz said:

    Decent side Croatia

    Better than Panama!
    All of England's Isthmuses have come at once drawing Panama.
    I hear they are defensively solid and can be quite tricky to cut through.

    Shame we don't still have Darien Vessel in our squad.
    Takes all day to sail through with the right result. A bit like the American superbowl.
  • FairlieredFairliered Posts: 7,124

    stodge said:

    stodge said:

    MattW said:

    The Guardian's deep-dive into Nige's schooldays continues.

    "Bankole is one of 28 school contemporaries of Farage’s at Dulwich college, a public school in south-east London, who claim to have witnessed deeply offensive racist or antisemitic behaviour by Farage."

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/dec/05/nigel-farage-former-dulwich-college-pupil-alleges-said-thats-the-way-back-to-africa

    He would have made a memorable character in a George MacDonald Fraser novel. Right up there with Flashman.

    Reform leader of Staffordshire County Council, reportedly, just bitten the dust.

    An unfortunate social media history by all accounts.

    As the Reform councillor pool increases, so do the number of unexploded bombs.
    What's interesting here at present is tracking the ones where Farage reacts. There are far more cases where he does nothing, hunkers down and hopes it will go away, rather than actually acting. It seems to revolve around extensive media coverage.

    He's locked in a future stream of cases by reopening the doors in the summer to the "failed vetting" candidates who were rejected for the General Election, and since.

    He has the need to look decisive and to be acting, but he also needs those type of supporters. It's one of those where the cover-up may well do damage at some point.

    On another note, the Councillors leaving are still ticking up but at a reduced rate from Sept-Oct. The turnover of Council Leaders is more interesting imo at present, given that the hard yards (budgets) are coming down the track.

    Here Derbyshire are proposing to close all their adult education centres, and outsource the service.

    I'm also wondering about Tice's position; he's doing a stellar job of being an embarrassment.
    The idea of stand alone Adult Education Centres is challenging from a property perspective. Unless you have enough classes to run the buildings all day, they become very expensive to manage and maintain.

    The new provider could take on the buildings and charge back to the authority and seek to get other users to take on the building when there are no classes. The provision of Adult Education is a stautory requirement and tutors will need to be paid.
    Adult education could be provided in schools after 6pm. It would save on costs.
    In some councils it is but that works only for evening classes. Many authorities run daytime classes and these need to be held somewhere.
    Perhaps they should all be evening classes
    They could use schools for adult education classes during the day, and secondary education at night, when the kids are awake.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 56,833

    kjh said:

    I keep trying to convince my wife that driving on a motorway is safer and much less stressful than driving on a winding country road that isn't always wide enough for two vehicles to pass.

    We'll never agree on this.

    A few months back I was driving and we ended up taking a ridiculous route to end up at a destination about half a mile from a junction of the M62. I was not pleased!

    I often take one route to go somewhere and a different route back. I don't know why.

    I prefer winding roads to motorways as I enjoy driving them and hate motorways. If I'm on a long journey I use the motorway but get very bored very quickly. I am not capable of driving long distances on a motorway and don't know how people manage that.
    In the past I drove quite often from Llandudno to Lossiemouth in the day using motorways, the infamous A9, and county roads from Aviemore

    A distance of 456 miles and I could do all of that and back to Perth on a tank of diesel

    It is now way beyond my ability
    I think the furthest I've driven in one day is SE London to Campbelltown, about 550 miles.
    My dad drove us from Ilford (east London) to Aviemore in a single day, back in 1989.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 56,580
    More Labour action:

    https://x.com/Steven_Swinford/status/1997019956114759810

    Sir Tony Blair’s think tank is putting together a comprehensive policy plan for how to renew Britain and save the Labour Party amid speculation that Sir Keir Starmer will face a 2026 leadership contest

    Friends of the former prime minister said he is frustrated about the trajectory of Starmer’s government. One source said that last week’s budget “killed any idea this is a Blairite or New Labour-like government”

    “Some of the individuals are there [former New Labour figures], but there isn’t an overall plan to radically reform the state,” the source added

    Labour figures who have spoken to Blair in recent months said he had all but “given up” on attempting to influence Starmer. One friend said: “He is looking closely at each of the leadership campaigns.”

    Blair will speak publicly on Wednesday at an in-conversation event with Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary. Mahmood and Blair are both from the right of the Labour Party
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 56,833

    https://x.com/Steven_Swinford/status/1997018915491414379

    Exclusive from
    @patrickkmaguire

    Ed Miliband is likely to be the Labour membership’s preferred choice to succeed Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister, according to polling that reveals the scale of unhappiness at the party’s grassroots

    The energy secretary has the highest approval rating of the mooted candidates to replace Starmer as leader, according to a survey conducted on behalf of City advisers last week

    Wes Streeting, the health secretary, also scored strongly - with members telling YouGov that the ability to beat Nigel Farage was a more important quality in a candidate than sharing their values

    Keir Starmer's approval rating is **minus 3 per cent**. He had a positive rating of 33% when Labour members were last polled in September

    Approval rating:

    Ed Miliband: 55%
    Wes Streeting: 44%
    Lucy Powell: 31%
    Shabana Mahmood: 18%
    Rachel Reeves: 13%
    Keir Starmer: -3%

    ***Smug bastard level 100 unlocked***
    Last time Ed Miliband was leader, Labour were reduced to just 232 seats on 30% of the vote.

    #justsayin'
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 12,743
    DavidL said:

    CatMan said:

    Record broken for wind power generated

    https://grid.iamkate.com/

    (In the UK, not what's going on at the FIFA draw)

    Even with a record day for wind we still ended up importing a small proportion of our power. We really need to be looking to produce something like 120% of our demand and become net exporters of energy again on the back of windpower. It could make a really useful contribution to our appalling balance of payments.
    The good news is that 2025 was a very slow year for new generation hooking up to the grid. Should be a big increase next year, all going well.
  • stodgestodge Posts: 15,661

    stodge said:

    stodge said:

    MattW said:

    The Guardian's deep-dive into Nige's schooldays continues.

    "Bankole is one of 28 school contemporaries of Farage’s at Dulwich college, a public school in south-east London, who claim to have witnessed deeply offensive racist or antisemitic behaviour by Farage."

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/dec/05/nigel-farage-former-dulwich-college-pupil-alleges-said-thats-the-way-back-to-africa

    He would have made a memorable character in a George MacDonald Fraser novel. Right up there with Flashman.

    Reform leader of Staffordshire County Council, reportedly, just bitten the dust.

    An unfortunate social media history by all accounts.

    As the Reform councillor pool increases, so do the number of unexploded bombs.
    What's interesting here at present is tracking the ones where Farage reacts. There are far more cases where he does nothing, hunkers down and hopes it will go away, rather than actually acting. It seems to revolve around extensive media coverage.

    He's locked in a future stream of cases by reopening the doors in the summer to the "failed vetting" candidates who were rejected for the General Election, and since.

    He has the need to look decisive and to be acting, but he also needs those type of supporters. It's one of those where the cover-up may well do damage at some point.

    On another note, the Councillors leaving are still ticking up but at a reduced rate from Sept-Oct. The turnover of Council Leaders is more interesting imo at present, given that the hard yards (budgets) are coming down the track.

    Here Derbyshire are proposing to close all their adult education centres, and outsource the service.

    I'm also wondering about Tice's position; he's doing a stellar job of being an embarrassment.
    The idea of stand alone Adult Education Centres is challenging from a property perspective. Unless you have enough classes to run the buildings all day, they become very expensive to manage and maintain.

    The new provider could take on the buildings and charge back to the authority and seek to get other users to take on the building when there are no classes. The provision of Adult Education is a stautory requirement and tutors will need to be paid.
    Adult education could be provided in schools after 6pm. It would save on costs.
    In some councils it is but that works only for evening classes. Many authorities run daytime classes and these need to be held somewhere.
    Perhaps they should all be evening classes
    They could use schools for adult education classes during the day, and secondary education at night, when the kids are awake.
    Just to improve understanding, this is how Adult Learning works in Newham:

    https://www.onls.ac.uk/venues.php

    https://www.onls.ac.uk/courses.php

    In Surrey:

    https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/adult-learning

    https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/adult-learning/courses/search?all

    Both authorities use a mix of dedicated centres and other venues such as libraries to provide day and evneing classes.
  • Pro_RataPro_Rata Posts: 5,896

    https://x.com/Steven_Swinford/status/1997018915491414379

    Exclusive from
    @patrickkmaguire

    Ed Miliband is likely to be the Labour membership’s preferred choice to succeed Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister, according to polling that reveals the scale of unhappiness at the party’s grassroots

    The energy secretary has the highest approval rating of the mooted candidates to replace Starmer as leader, according to a survey conducted on behalf of City advisers last week

    Wes Streeting, the health secretary, also scored strongly - with members telling YouGov that the ability to beat Nigel Farage was a more important quality in a candidate than sharing their values

    Keir Starmer's approval rating is **minus 3 per cent**. He had a positive rating of 33% when Labour members were last polled in September

    Approval rating:

    Ed Miliband: 55%
    Wes Streeting: 44%
    Lucy Powell: 31%
    Shabana Mahmood: 18%
    Rachel Reeves: 13%
    Keir Starmer: -3%

    ***Smug bastard level 100 unlocked***
    Last time Ed Miliband was leader, Labour were reduced to just 232 seats on 30% of the vote.

    #justsayin'
    Labour might look at their prospects down the line and take that.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 56,833

    Taz said:

    Decent side Croatia

    Better than Panama!
    All of England's Isthmuses have come at once drawing Panama.
    You are PB's Joker del Toro!
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 54,232

    https://x.com/Steven_Swinford/status/1997018915491414379

    Exclusive from
    @patrickkmaguire

    Ed Miliband is likely to be the Labour membership’s preferred choice to succeed Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister, according to polling that reveals the scale of unhappiness at the party’s grassroots

    The energy secretary has the highest approval rating of the mooted candidates to replace Starmer as leader, according to a survey conducted on behalf of City advisers last week

    Wes Streeting, the health secretary, also scored strongly - with members telling YouGov that the ability to beat Nigel Farage was a more important quality in a candidate than sharing their values

    Keir Starmer's approval rating is **minus 3 per cent**. He had a positive rating of 33% when Labour members were last polled in September

    Approval rating:

    Ed Miliband: 55%
    Wes Streeting: 44%
    Lucy Powell: 31%
    Shabana Mahmood: 18%
    Rachel Reeves: 13%
    Keir Starmer: -3%

    ***Smug bastard level 100 unlocked***
    Last time Ed Miliband was leader, Labour were reduced to just 232 seats on 30% of the vote.

    #justsayin'
    Compared with current polling that would be a sensational recovery.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 56,833
    Taz said:

    This is unwatchable fawning by FIFA

    Embarrassing and pathetic

    Well don’t watch it then,

    I’m watching The Chase.

    The Sinnerman dicked them with 1 second to go.

    Lovely stuff

    For them the chase is over.
    The Chase, best quiz show ever.
  • AnneJGPAnneJGP Posts: 4,426
    I read on here that FIFA has awarded Mr Trump a peace prize. FIFA is football, no? Is that an in-house joke carried over from a previous thread? A reference to quelling hooliganism? Some kind of alternate universe thing?
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 26,991
    Jack Tindale is one of the co-authors of one of the best alternate history threads ever written, namely: https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/agent-lavender-the-flight-of-harold-wilson.261475/
  • stodgestodge Posts: 15,661

    kjh said:

    I keep trying to convince my wife that driving on a motorway is safer and much less stressful than driving on a winding country road that isn't always wide enough for two vehicles to pass.

    We'll never agree on this.

    A few months back I was driving and we ended up taking a ridiculous route to end up at a destination about half a mile from a junction of the M62. I was not pleased!

    I often take one route to go somewhere and a different route back. I don't know why.

    I prefer winding roads to motorways as I enjoy driving them and hate motorways. If I'm on a long journey I use the motorway but get very bored very quickly. I am not capable of driving long distances on a motorway and don't know how people manage that.
    In the past I drove quite often from Llandudno to Lossiemouth in the day using motorways, the infamous A9, and county roads from Aviemore

    A distance of 456 miles and I could do all of that and back to Perth on a tank of diesel

    It is now way beyond my ability
    I think the furthest I've driven in one day is SE London to Campbelltown, about 550 miles.
    My dad drove us from Ilford (east London) to Aviemore in a single day, back in 1989.
    I drove from Sutton in South London to Perth Racecourse in a day once to arrive just 20 minutes before the first of the evening's races.
  • solarflaresolarflare Posts: 4,316
    AnneJGP said:

    I read on here that FIFA has awarded Mr Trump a peace prize. FIFA is football, no? Is that an in-house joke carried over from a previous thread? A reference to quelling hooliganism? Some kind of alternate universe thing?

    They should put him in goal for the final.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 54,232
    AnneJGP said:

    I read on here that FIFA has awarded Mr Trump a peace prize. FIFA is football, no? Is that an in-house joke carried over from a previous thread? A reference to quelling hooliganism? Some kind of alternate universe thing?

    Blatent flattery to the Bigliest ego in the world.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 38,713
    Got a power cut here. First one for about 20 years IIRC.
  • isamisam Posts: 43,180

    AnneJGP said:

    I read on here that FIFA has awarded Mr Trump a peace prize. FIFA is football, no? Is that an in-house joke carried over from a previous thread? A reference to quelling hooliganism? Some kind of alternate universe thing?

    They should put him in goal for the final.
    Will he be better at taking a penalty than Diana Ross?
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 56,580
    Andy_JS said:

    Got a power cut here. First one for about 20 years IIRC.

    An early taste of life under Ed Miliband.
  • rkrkrkrkrkrk Posts: 8,941

    More Labour action:

    https://x.com/Steven_Swinford/status/1997019956114759810

    Sir Tony Blair’s think tank is putting together a comprehensive policy plan for how to renew Britain and save the Labour Party amid speculation that Sir Keir Starmer will face a 2026 leadership contest

    Friends of the former prime minister said he is frustrated about the trajectory of Starmer’s government. One source said that last week’s budget “killed any idea this is a Blairite or New Labour-like government”

    “Some of the individuals are there [former New Labour figures], but there isn’t an overall plan to radically reform the state,” the source added

    Labour figures who have spoken to Blair in recent months said he had all but “given up” on attempting to influence Starmer. One friend said: “He is looking closely at each of the leadership campaigns.”

    Blair will speak publicly on Wednesday at an in-conversation event with Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary. Mahmood and Blair are both from the right of the Labour Party

    A public rift with Tony Blair would probably help Starmer quite a lot with the membership
  • OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 17,403

    Scotland v Brazil.

    We were 1-0 up in the opening game in 98 then it all went to shit, and we came home too soon!
  • OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 17,403
    stodge said:

    kjh said:

    I keep trying to convince my wife that driving on a motorway is safer and much less stressful than driving on a winding country road that isn't always wide enough for two vehicles to pass.

    We'll never agree on this.

    A few months back I was driving and we ended up taking a ridiculous route to end up at a destination about half a mile from a junction of the M62. I was not pleased!

    I often take one route to go somewhere and a different route back. I don't know why.

    I prefer winding roads to motorways as I enjoy driving them and hate motorways. If I'm on a long journey I use the motorway but get very bored very quickly. I am not capable of driving long distances on a motorway and don't know how people manage that.
    In the past I drove quite often from Llandudno to Lossiemouth in the day using motorways, the infamous A9, and county roads from Aviemore

    A distance of 456 miles and I could do all of that and back to Perth on a tank of diesel

    It is now way beyond my ability
    I think the furthest I've driven in one day is SE London to Campbelltown, about 550 miles.
    My dad drove us from Ilford (east London) to Aviemore in a single day, back in 1989.
    I drove from Sutton in South London to Perth Racecourse in a day once to arrive just 20 minutes before the first of the evening's races.
    I hope your bets were similarly successful.
  • AnneJGPAnneJGP Posts: 4,426

    AnneJGP said:

    I read on here that FIFA has awarded Mr Trump a peace prize. FIFA is football, no? Is that an in-house joke carried over from a previous thread? A reference to quelling hooliganism? Some kind of alternate universe thing?

    They should put him in goal for the final.
    Foxy said:

    AnneJGP said:

    I read on here that FIFA has awarded Mr Trump a peace prize. FIFA is football, no? Is that an in-house joke carried over from a previous thread? A reference to quelling hooliganism? Some kind of alternate universe thing?

    Blatent flattery to the Bigliest ego in the world.
    Good heavens. Just googled it. I thought it was a joke.
  • FairlieredFairliered Posts: 7,124

    kjh said:

    I keep trying to convince my wife that driving on a motorway is safer and much less stressful than driving on a winding country road that isn't always wide enough for two vehicles to pass.

    We'll never agree on this.

    A few months back I was driving and we ended up taking a ridiculous route to end up at a destination about half a mile from a junction of the M62. I was not pleased!

    I often take one route to go somewhere and a different route back. I don't know why.

    I prefer winding roads to motorways as I enjoy driving them and hate motorways. If I'm on a long journey I use the motorway but get very bored very quickly. I am not capable of driving long distances on a motorway and don't know how people manage that.
    In the past I drove quite often from Llandudno to Lossiemouth in the day using motorways, the infamous A9, and county roads from Aviemore

    A distance of 456 miles and I could do all of that and back to Perth on a tank of diesel

    It is now way beyond my ability
    I think the furthest I've driven in one day is SE London to Campbelltown, about 550 miles.
    My dad drove us from Ilford (east London) to Aviemore in a single day, back in 1989.
    We used to regularly drive from Ayrshire to Felixstowe in one day. That was before we realised that Yorkshire was too good to drive through without stopping overnight.
  • FairlieredFairliered Posts: 7,124

    AnneJGP said:

    I read on here that FIFA has awarded Mr Trump a peace prize. FIFA is football, no? Is that an in-house joke carried over from a previous thread? A reference to quelling hooliganism? Some kind of alternate universe thing?

    They should put him in goal for the final.
    Kenny McLean will enjoy that!
  • geoffwgeoffw Posts: 9,392
    A man, a plan, a canal, Panama!
  • AnneJGPAnneJGP Posts: 4,426
    rkrkrk said:

    More Labour action:

    https://x.com/Steven_Swinford/status/1997019956114759810

    Sir Tony Blair’s think tank is putting together a comprehensive policy plan for how to renew Britain and save the Labour Party amid speculation that Sir Keir Starmer will face a 2026 leadership contest

    Friends of the former prime minister said he is frustrated about the trajectory of Starmer’s government. One source said that last week’s budget “killed any idea this is a Blairite or New Labour-like government”

    “Some of the individuals are there [former New Labour figures], but there isn’t an overall plan to radically reform the state,” the source added

    Labour figures who have spoken to Blair in recent months said he had all but “given up” on attempting to influence Starmer. One friend said: “He is looking closely at each of the leadership campaigns.”

    Blair will speak publicly on Wednesday at an in-conversation event with Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary. Mahmood and Blair are both from the right of the Labour Party

    A public rift with Tony Blair would probably help Starmer quite a lot with the membership
    Interesting that Mr Blair might have thought 2025 Labour would be any kind of New Labour.
  • stodgestodge Posts: 15,661

    stodge said:

    kjh said:

    I keep trying to convince my wife that driving on a motorway is safer and much less stressful than driving on a winding country road that isn't always wide enough for two vehicles to pass.

    We'll never agree on this.

    A few months back I was driving and we ended up taking a ridiculous route to end up at a destination about half a mile from a junction of the M62. I was not pleased!

    I often take one route to go somewhere and a different route back. I don't know why.

    I prefer winding roads to motorways as I enjoy driving them and hate motorways. If I'm on a long journey I use the motorway but get very bored very quickly. I am not capable of driving long distances on a motorway and don't know how people manage that.
    In the past I drove quite often from Llandudno to Lossiemouth in the day using motorways, the infamous A9, and county roads from Aviemore

    A distance of 456 miles and I could do all of that and back to Perth on a tank of diesel

    It is now way beyond my ability
    I think the furthest I've driven in one day is SE London to Campbelltown, about 550 miles.
    My dad drove us from Ilford (east London) to Aviemore in a single day, back in 1989.
    I drove from Sutton in South London to Perth Racecourse in a day once to arrive just 20 minutes before the first of the evening's races.
    I hope your bets were similarly successful.
    It was near on 30 years ago - mid May in the mid-90s. First race was 6.15pm and I thought if I left at 9.30am I could do it. All day, as I was driving north, I thought "I'm going to make it" followed by "I'm NOT going to make it". Literally pulled into the car park at Scone Palace racecourse at five to six and had a quick look in the paddock before the first.

    Can't remember the punting but I do wonder it was a glorious evening (I was staying near the course and there was a second car dof races the following afternoon).
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