More probably the mentality of crime reduction by stopping people doing stuff.
See the police opposition to a jazz club in Covent Garden. Not because they were worried about schwartzer musicians getting teenagers hooked on Mary Jane - apparently they were worried that people going in and out if the club might be subject to crime.
"Against this backdrop, thoughtful dissenters will consider whether an early election could be forced by via some kind of general strike blended with a dose of fuel and port blockades."
Little dig at the Telegraph there. Sure the article can’t be irrational and is well reasoned.
Clicks on article
Sees it’s Isobel Oakshott.
Clicks off promptly.
Reform know their only chance is to get an early election - within the next 12-18 months - while it is still Labour vs Not Labour and they can look an attractive and viable alternative to the current Government.
After that, it becomes more problematic as one of a number of things might happen (and I stress these are neither in order of likelihood nor desirability).
Labour gets its act together and economy starts improving The Conservative messaging on the economy in particular starts to resonate Reform's own internal contradictions start tearing it apart
1 won’t happen. Labours goose is cooked and any replacement for SKS and Reeves will be economically worse.
2 has started already. The Tories would be insane to get rid of her in my view.
3 given his track record I’d say there’s a strong chance of that but if it doesn’t happen then it’s game on.
We're a long way off an election and it's wishful thinking to imagine Labour can't or won't recover. In any case, IF economic perceptions change and people start to "feel" better (even if the truth is otherwise) that will lead a rebound in Labour polling numbers.
As for Badenoch, I've said on here a number of times she has had a good autumn but it's probable the May local elections will be painful and that will be the point of challenge. Don't underestimate the ability of people to do silly things and if 60 Conservative MPs see their seats going to Reform, that might be enough for a successful challenge.
As for Reform, the prospect of victory does wonders for party unity (look at how little trouble the "left" gave Blair after he became leader and started looking popular) so as long as they look the next Government internal dissent will be silenced but as soon as it starts becoming clear they won't win - let's say a winnable by-election isn't won - the knives will be out.
The window of opportunity for Reform isn't going to be open for ever but they are in no position to force an election and encouraging what amounts to civil insurrection to get one is ludicrous. The only way there would be an election is if Labour MPs wanted one and on most polling numbers most won't.
To ensure she survives beyond May, Kemi needs to ensure the Conservatives are at least second on the UK NEV in the local and devolved elections and ahead of Labour even if Reform still win overall. That would plus Tory gains of a few Labour councils like Westminster and Barnet would secure her position and put the pressure on Starmer to avoid a leadership challenge.
If however Labour beat the Conservatives on NEV then Sir Keir will likely survive and it will be Kemi facing a VONC with either Cleverly or Jenrick her likely replacement. Jenrick backing Tory MPs would certainly be sending in their letters to Bob Blackman like hyenas circling a wounded gazelle if the Tories fall to 3rd on NEV and councillors and councils won next May and lose MSPs and AMs too
South Korea’s proposed amendment to its Network Act, ostensibly focused on redressing defamatory deepfakes, reaches much further — and endangers tech cooperation.
So long as the US doesn't regulate other countries multinationals, then that would -at least- be consistent.
However, I haven't seen any proposals to exempt Sony or Siemens from US laws. Presumably that's coming, right?
Why should they be consistent? Power doesn't work that way.
Which is a perfectly consistent view (albeit the US dresses up their concerns as somehow being about fundamental rights, like free speech).
But it's also a fundamentally foolish one.
Americans use Google and Apple and Netflix and Amazon and ChatGPT and Anthropic. You might be able to get countries to change laws, but you are liable to get kicked in the teeth by consumer behaviour. (As Tesla has found out.)
In 1800 less than 5% of population of the Kingdom of Great Britain could vote, so of course more of the elite were in the House of Commons as they were mostly electing themselves!
We also had a huge empire for civil servants to run and generals to protect
"Against this backdrop, thoughtful dissenters will consider whether an early election could be forced by via some kind of general strike blended with a dose of fuel and port blockades."
Little dig at the Telegraph there. Sure the article can’t be irrational and is well reasoned.
Clicks on article
Sees it’s Isobel Oakshott.
Clicks off promptly.
Reform know their only chance is to get an early election - within the next 12-18 months - while it is still Labour vs Not Labour and they can look an attractive and viable alternative to the current Government.
After that, it becomes more problematic as one of a number of things might happen (and I stress these are neither in order of likelihood nor desirability).
Labour gets its act together and economy starts improving The Conservative messaging on the economy in particular starts to resonate Reform's own internal contradictions start tearing it apart
1 won’t happen. Labours goose is cooked and any replacement for SKS and Reeves will be economically worse.
2 has started already. The Tories would be insane to get rid of her in my view.
3 given his track record I’d say there’s a strong chance of that but if it doesn’t happen then it’s game on.
We're a long way off an election and it's wishful thinking to imagine Labour can't or won't recover. In any case, IF economic perceptions change and people start to "feel" better (even if the truth is otherwise) that will lead a rebound in Labour polling numbers.
As for Badenoch, I've said on here a number of times she has had a good autumn but it's probable the May local elections will be painful and that will be the point of challenge. Don't underestimate the ability of people to do silly things and if 60 Conservative MPs see their seats going to Reform, that might be enough for a successful challenge.
As for Reform, the prospect of victory does wonders for party unity (look at how little trouble the "left" gave Blair after he became leader and started looking popular) so as long as they look the next Government internal dissent will be silenced but as soon as it starts becoming clear they won't win - let's say a winnable by-election isn't won - the knives will be out.
The window of opportunity for Reform isn't going to be open for ever but they are in no position to force an election and encouraging what amounts to civil insurrection to get one is ludicrous. The only way there would be an election is if Labour MPs wanted one and on most polling numbers most won't.
To ensure she survives beyond May, Kemi needs to ensure the Conservatives are at least second on the UK NEV in the local and devolved elections and ahead of Labour even if Reform still win overall. That would plus Tory gains of a few Labour councils like Westminster and Barnet would secure her position and put the pressure on Starmer to avoid a leadership challenge.
If however Labour beat the Conservatives on NEV then Sir Keir will likely survive and it will be Kemi facing a VONC with either Cleverly or Jenrick her likely replacement. Jenrick backing Tory MPs would certainly be sending in their letters to Bob Blackman like hyenas circling a wounded gazelle if the Tories fall to 3rd on NEV and councillors and councils won next May and lose MSPs and AMs too
You repeat your last pararaph almost daily, but miss out that any such self inflicted hari kari would see the conservative party staring into the abyss
Neither Jenrick or Cleverly will do any better than Badenoch
I would say he can see himself out, but perhaps he can't.
From that clip - usual Dom. Right on the problem. No idea what his solution is, but it will be the wrong one, of course.
I know what you mean, but I'm pretty sure he's wrong on the problem as well here.
Dom's theory of government is to get a small number of enormous brains and lock them in a small room. Then pipe national-level data into that room, so these mega minds can decide what to do, and pipe those decisions out for the rest of us (hereafter called "minions") to act on.
There are a bajillion ways that this model doesn't work, but it's attractive if you believe in the Great Man version of history.
I'm reminded of the description of Manuel Fraga- a relatively open minister under Franco, incredibly reactionary in democratic Spain. He was so clever, they said, that the Spanish State could fit inside his head. Unfortunately, that limited his vision of the state to what could fit in his head, and democratic nations are bigger than that.
"Against this backdrop, thoughtful dissenters will consider whether an early election could be forced by via some kind of general strike blended with a dose of fuel and port blockades."
Little dig at the Telegraph there. Sure the article can’t be irrational and is well reasoned.
Clicks on article
Sees it’s Isobel Oakshott.
Clicks off promptly.
Reform know their only chance is to get an early election - within the next 12-18 months - while it is still Labour vs Not Labour and they can look an attractive and viable alternative to the current Government.
After that, it becomes more problematic as one of a number of things might happen (and I stress these are neither in order of likelihood nor desirability).
Labour gets its act together and economy starts improving The Conservative messaging on the economy in particular starts to resonate Reform's own internal contradictions start tearing it apart
1 won’t happen. Labours goose is cooked and any replacement for SKS and Reeves will be economically worse.
2 has started already. The Tories would be insane to get rid of her in my view.
3 given his track record I’d say there’s a strong chance of that but if it doesn’t happen then it’s game on.
We're a long way off an election and it's wishful thinking to imagine Labour can't or won't recover. In any case, IF economic perceptions change and people start to "feel" better (even if the truth is otherwise) that will lead a rebound in Labour polling numbers.
As for Badenoch, I've said on here a number of times she has had a good autumn but it's probable the May local elections will be painful and that will be the point of challenge. Don't underestimate the ability of people to do silly things and if 60 Conservative MPs see their seats going to Reform, that might be enough for a successful challenge.
As for Reform, the prospect of victory does wonders for party unity (look at how little trouble the "left" gave Blair after he became leader and started looking popular) so as long as they look the next Government internal dissent will be silenced but as soon as it starts becoming clear they won't win - let's say a winnable by-election isn't won - the knives will be out.
The window of opportunity for Reform isn't going to be open for ever but they are in no position to force an election and encouraging what amounts to civil insurrection to get one is ludicrous. The only way there would be an election is if Labour MPs wanted one and on most polling numbers most won't.
To ensure she survives beyond May, Kemi needs to ensure the Conservatives are at least second on the UK NEV in the local and devolved elections and ahead of Labour even if Reform still win overall. That would plus Tory gains of a few Labour councils like Westminster and Barnet would secure her position and put the pressure on Starmer to avoid a leadership challenge.
If however Labour beat the Conservatives on NEV then Sir Keir will likely survive and it will be Kemi facing a VONC with either Cleverly or Jenrick her likely replacement. Jenrick backing Tory MPs would certainly be sending in their letters to Bob Blackman like hyenas circling a wounded gazelle if the Tories fall to 3rd on NEV and councillors and councils won next May and lose MSPs and AMs too
You repeat your last pararaph almost daily, but miss out that any such self inflicted hari kari would see the conservative party staring into the abyss
Neither Jenrick or Cleverly will do any better than Badenoch
If the Tories fell to 3rd in the NEV next May behind both Reform and Labour they would already be staring into the abyss anyway. So many Tory MPs would feel they had to gamble on Jenrick, to try and win back Reform voters or Cleverly, to try and get Labour or LD tactical votes to beat Reform if Kemi showed herself unable to do either
"Against this backdrop, thoughtful dissenters will consider whether an early election could be forced by via some kind of general strike blended with a dose of fuel and port blockades."
Little dig at the Telegraph there. Sure the article can’t be irrational and is well reasoned.
Clicks on article
Sees it’s Isobel Oakshott.
Clicks off promptly.
Reform know their only chance is to get an early election - within the next 12-18 months - while it is still Labour vs Not Labour and they can look an attractive and viable alternative to the current Government.
After that, it becomes more problematic as one of a number of things might happen (and I stress these are neither in order of likelihood nor desirability).
Labour gets its act together and economy starts improving The Conservative messaging on the economy in particular starts to resonate Reform's own internal contradictions start tearing it apart
1 won’t happen. Labours goose is cooked and any replacement for SKS and Reeves will be economically worse.
2 has started already. The Tories would be insane to get rid of her in my view.
3 given his track record I’d say there’s a strong chance of that but if it doesn’t happen then it’s game on.
We're a long way off an election and it's wishful thinking to imagine Labour can't or won't recover. In any case, IF economic perceptions change and people start to "feel" better (even if the truth is otherwise) that will lead a rebound in Labour polling numbers.
As for Badenoch, I've said on here a number of times she has had a good autumn but it's probable the May local elections will be painful and that will be the point of challenge. Don't underestimate the ability of people to do silly things and if 60 Conservative MPs see their seats going to Reform, that might be enough for a successful challenge.
As for Reform, the prospect of victory does wonders for party unity (look at how little trouble the "left" gave Blair after he became leader and started looking popular) so as long as they look the next Government internal dissent will be silenced but as soon as it starts becoming clear they won't win - let's say a winnable by-election isn't won - the knives will be out.
The window of opportunity for Reform isn't going to be open for ever but they are in no position to force an election and encouraging what amounts to civil insurrection to get one is ludicrous. The only way there would be an election is if Labour MPs wanted one and on most polling numbers most won't.
To ensure she survives beyond May, Kemi needs to ensure the Conservatives are at least second on the UK NEV in the local and devolved elections and ahead of Labour even if Reform still win overall. That would plus Tory gains of a few Labour councils like Westminster and Barnet would secure her position and put the pressure on Starmer to avoid a leadership challenge.
If however Labour beat the Conservatives on NEV then Sir Keir will likely survive and it will be Kemi facing a VONC with either Cleverly or Jenrick her likely replacement. Jenrick backing Tory MPs would certainly be sending in their letters to Bob Blackman like hyenas circling a wounded gazelle if the Tories fall to 3rd on NEV and councillors and councils won next May and lose MSPs and AMs too
You repeat your last pararaph almost daily, but miss out that any such self inflicted hari kari would see the conservative party staring into the abyss
Neither Jenrick or Cleverly will do any better than Badenoch
If the Tories fell to 3rd in the NEV next May behind both Reform and Labour they would already be staring into the abyss anyway. So many Tory MPs would feel they had to gamble on Jenrick, to try and win back Reform voters or Cleverly, to try and get Labour or LD tactical votes to beat Reform if Kemi showed herself unable to do either
"Against this backdrop, thoughtful dissenters will consider whether an early election could be forced by via some kind of general strike blended with a dose of fuel and port blockades."
Little dig at the Telegraph there. Sure the article can’t be irrational and is well reasoned.
Clicks on article
Sees it’s Isobel Oakshott.
Clicks off promptly.
Reform know their only chance is to get an early election - within the next 12-18 months - while it is still Labour vs Not Labour and they can look an attractive and viable alternative to the current Government.
After that, it becomes more problematic as one of a number of things might happen (and I stress these are neither in order of likelihood nor desirability).
Labour gets its act together and economy starts improving The Conservative messaging on the economy in particular starts to resonate Reform's own internal contradictions start tearing it apart
1 won’t happen. Labours goose is cooked and any replacement for SKS and Reeves will be economically worse.
2 has started already. The Tories would be insane to get rid of her in my view.
3 given his track record I’d say there’s a strong chance of that but if it doesn’t happen then it’s game on.
We're a long way off an election and it's wishful thinking to imagine Labour can't or won't recover. In any case, IF economic perceptions change and people start to "feel" better (even if the truth is otherwise) that will lead a rebound in Labour polling numbers.
As for Badenoch, I've said on here a number of times she has had a good autumn but it's probable the May local elections will be painful and that will be the point of challenge. Don't underestimate the ability of people to do silly things and if 60 Conservative MPs see their seats going to Reform, that might be enough for a successful challenge.
As for Reform, the prospect of victory does wonders for party unity (look at how little trouble the "left" gave Blair after he became leader and started looking popular) so as long as they look the next Government internal dissent will be silenced but as soon as it starts becoming clear they won't win - let's say a winnable by-election isn't won - the knives will be out.
The window of opportunity for Reform isn't going to be open for ever but they are in no position to force an election and encouraging what amounts to civil insurrection to get one is ludicrous. The only way there would be an election is if Labour MPs wanted one and on most polling numbers most won't.
To ensure she survives beyond May, Kemi needs to ensure the Conservatives are at least second on the UK NEV in the local and devolved elections and ahead of Labour even if Reform still win overall. That would plus Tory gains of a few Labour councils like Westminster and Barnet would secure her position and put the pressure on Starmer to avoid a leadership challenge.
If however Labour beat the Conservatives on NEV then Sir Keir will likely survive and it will be Kemi facing a VONC with either Cleverly or Jenrick her likely replacement. Jenrick backing Tory MPs would certainly be sending in their letters to Bob Blackman like hyenas circling a wounded gazelle if the Tories fall to 3rd on NEV and councillors and councils won next May and lose MSPs and AMs too
You repeat your last pararaph almost daily, but miss out that any such self inflicted hari kari would see the conservative party staring into the abyss
Neither Jenrick or Cleverly will do any better than Badenoch
If the Tories fell to 3rd in the NEV next May behind both Reform and Labour they would already be staring into the abyss anyway. So many Tory MPs would feel they had to gamble on Jenrick, to try and win back Reform voters or Cleverly, to try and get Labour or LD tactical votes to beat Reform if Kemi showed herself unable to do either
I simply do not agree with you
Well let us hope Kemi ensures the Tories are at least second on NEV next May and secures her position
The el-Fattah saga proves whether it’s Tories or Labour in government, they’ll fight harder for a man who wants to exterminate the British people than for the British people themselves.
"Against this backdrop, thoughtful dissenters will consider whether an early election could be forced by via some kind of general strike blended with a dose of fuel and port blockades."
Little dig at the Telegraph there. Sure the article can’t be irrational and is well reasoned.
Clicks on article
Sees it’s Isobel Oakshott.
Clicks off promptly.
Reform know their only chance is to get an early election - within the next 12-18 months - while it is still Labour vs Not Labour and they can look an attractive and viable alternative to the current Government.
After that, it becomes more problematic as one of a number of things might happen (and I stress these are neither in order of likelihood nor desirability).
Labour gets its act together and economy starts improving The Conservative messaging on the economy in particular starts to resonate Reform's own internal contradictions start tearing it apart
1 won’t happen. Labours goose is cooked and any replacement for SKS and Reeves will be economically worse.
2 has started already. The Tories would be insane to get rid of her in my view.
3 given his track record I’d say there’s a strong chance of that but if it doesn’t happen then it’s game on.
We're a long way off an election and it's wishful thinking to imagine Labour can't or won't recover. In any case, IF economic perceptions change and people start to "feel" better (even if the truth is otherwise) that will lead a rebound in Labour polling numbers.
As for Badenoch, I've said on here a number of times she has had a good autumn but it's probable the May local elections will be painful and that will be the point of challenge. Don't underestimate the ability of people to do silly things and if 60 Conservative MPs see their seats going to Reform, that might be enough for a successful challenge.
As for Reform, the prospect of victory does wonders for party unity (look at how little trouble the "left" gave Blair after he became leader and started looking popular) so as long as they look the next Government internal dissent will be silenced but as soon as it starts becoming clear they won't win - let's say a winnable by-election isn't won - the knives will be out.
The window of opportunity for Reform isn't going to be open for ever but they are in no position to force an election and encouraging what amounts to civil insurrection to get one is ludicrous. The only way there would be an election is if Labour MPs wanted one and on most polling numbers most won't.
To ensure she survives beyond May, Kemi needs to ensure the Conservatives are at least second on the UK NEV in the local and devolved elections and ahead of Labour even if Reform still win overall. That would plus Tory gains of a few Labour councils like Westminster and Barnet would secure her position and put the pressure on Starmer to avoid a leadership challenge.
If however Labour beat the Conservatives on NEV then Sir Keir will likely survive and it will be Kemi facing a VONC with either Cleverly or Jenrick her likely replacement. Jenrick backing Tory MPs would certainly be sending in their letters to Bob Blackman like hyenas circling a wounded gazelle if the Tories fall to 3rd on NEV and councillors and councils won next May and lose MSPs and AMs too
You repeat your last pararaph almost daily, but miss out that any such self inflicted hari kari would see the conservative party staring into the abyss
Neither Jenrick or Cleverly will do any better than Badenoch
If the Tories fell to 3rd in the NEV next May behind both Reform and Labour they would already be staring into the abyss anyway. So many Tory MPs would feel they had to gamble on Jenrick, to try and win back Reform voters or Cleverly, to try and get Labour or LD tactical votes to beat Reform if Kemi showed herself unable to do either
I simply do not agree with you
Well let us hope Kemi ensures the Tories are at least second on NEV next May and secures her position
I see no reason to plunge the party into a leadership crisis no matter what happens in May, especially with Jenrick or Cleverly as terrible options
South Korea’s proposed amendment to its Network Act, ostensibly focused on redressing defamatory deepfakes, reaches much further — and endangers tech cooperation.
So long as the US doesn't regulate other countries multinationals, then that would -at least- be consistent.
However, I haven't seen any proposals to exempt Sony or Siemens from US laws. Presumably that's coming, right?
Why should they be consistent? Power doesn't work that way.
Which is a perfectly consistent view (albeit the US dresses up their concerns as somehow being about fundamental rights, like free speech).
But it's also a fundamentally foolish one.
Americans use Google and Apple and Netflix and Amazon and ChatGPT and Anthropic. You might be able to get countries to change laws, but you are liable to get kicked in the teeth by consumer behaviour. (As Tesla has found out.)
I don't think Tesla is a good example because that's a backlash against Musk personally rather than America in general.
The el-Fattah saga proves whether it’s Tories or Labour in government, they’ll fight harder for a man who wants to exterminate the British people than for the British people themselves.
"Against this backdrop, thoughtful dissenters will consider whether an early election could be forced by via some kind of general strike blended with a dose of fuel and port blockades."
Little dig at the Telegraph there. Sure the article can’t be irrational and is well reasoned.
Clicks on article
Sees it’s Isobel Oakshott.
Clicks off promptly.
Reform know their only chance is to get an early election - within the next 12-18 months - while it is still Labour vs Not Labour and they can look an attractive and viable alternative to the current Government.
After that, it becomes more problematic as one of a number of things might happen (and I stress these are neither in order of likelihood nor desirability).
Labour gets its act together and economy starts improving The Conservative messaging on the economy in particular starts to resonate Reform's own internal contradictions start tearing it apart
1 won’t happen. Labours goose is cooked and any replacement for SKS and Reeves will be economically worse.
2 has started already. The Tories would be insane to get rid of her in my view.
3 given his track record I’d say there’s a strong chance of that but if it doesn’t happen then it’s game on.
We're a long way off an election and it's wishful thinking to imagine Labour can't or won't recover. In any case, IF economic perceptions change and people start to "feel" better (even if the truth is otherwise) that will lead a rebound in Labour polling numbers.
As for Badenoch, I've said on here a number of times she has had a good autumn but it's probable the May local elections will be painful and that will be the point of challenge. Don't underestimate the ability of people to do silly things and if 60 Conservative MPs see their seats going to Reform, that might be enough for a successful challenge.
As for Reform, the prospect of victory does wonders for party unity (look at how little trouble the "left" gave Blair after he became leader and started looking popular) so as long as they look the next Government internal dissent will be silenced but as soon as it starts becoming clear they won't win - let's say a winnable by-election isn't won - the knives will be out.
The window of opportunity for Reform isn't going to be open for ever but they are in no position to force an election and encouraging what amounts to civil insurrection to get one is ludicrous. The only way there would be an election is if Labour MPs wanted one and on most polling numbers most won't.
To ensure she survives beyond May, Kemi needs to ensure the Conservatives are at least second on the UK NEV in the local and devolved elections and ahead of Labour even if Reform still win overall. That would plus Tory gains of a few Labour councils like Westminster and Barnet would secure her position and put the pressure on Starmer to avoid a leadership challenge.
If however Labour beat the Conservatives on NEV then Sir Keir will likely survive and it will be Kemi facing a VONC with either Cleverly or Jenrick her likely replacement. Jenrick backing Tory MPs would certainly be sending in their letters to Bob Blackman like hyenas circling a wounded gazelle if the Tories fall to 3rd on NEV and councillors and councils won next May and lose MSPs and AMs too
You repeat your last pararaph almost daily, but miss out that any such self inflicted hari kari would see the conservative party staring into the abyss
Neither Jenrick or Cleverly will do any better than Badenoch
If the Tories fell to 3rd in the NEV next May behind both Reform and Labour they would already be staring into the abyss anyway. So many Tory MPs would feel they had to gamble on Jenrick, to try and win back Reform voters or Cleverly, to try and get Labour or LD tactical votes to beat Reform if Kemi showed herself unable to do either
I simply do not agree with you
Well let us hope Kemi ensures the Tories are at least second on NEV next May and secures her position
I see no reason to plunge the party into a leadership crisis no matter what happens in May, especially with Jenrick or Cleverly as terrible options
You may not but you are a Kemi loyalist. 65% of Tory MPs voted for Jenrick or Cleverly last year though not Kemi and if the Tories were 3rd on NEV next May a VONC in her leadership is very likely
I would say he can see himself out, but perhaps he can't.
From that clip - usual Dom. Right on the problem. No idea what his solution is, but it will be the wrong one, of course.
I know what you mean, but I'm pretty sure he's wrong on the problem as well here.
Dom's theory of government is to get a small number of enormous brains and lock them in a small room. Then pipe national-level data into that room, so these mega minds can decide what to do, and pipe those decisions out for the rest of us (hereafter called "minions") to act on.
There are a bajillion ways that this model doesn't work, but it's attractive if you believe in the Great Man version of history.
I'm reminded of the description of Manuel Fraga- a relatively open minister under Franco, incredibly reactionary in democratic Spain. He was so clever, they said, that the Spanish State could fit inside his head. Unfortunately, that limited his vision of the state to what could fit in his head, and democratic nations are bigger than that.
He’s definitely right that the best and brightest don’t go into government - administrative or elective.
The current system of obfuscation and obscuration of responsibility for everything is useless.
"Against this backdrop, thoughtful dissenters will consider whether an early election could be forced by via some kind of general strike blended with a dose of fuel and port blockades."
Little dig at the Telegraph there. Sure the article can’t be irrational and is well reasoned.
Clicks on article
Sees it’s Isobel Oakshott.
Clicks off promptly.
Reform know their only chance is to get an early election - within the next 12-18 months - while it is still Labour vs Not Labour and they can look an attractive and viable alternative to the current Government.
After that, it becomes more problematic as one of a number of things might happen (and I stress these are neither in order of likelihood nor desirability).
Labour gets its act together and economy starts improving The Conservative messaging on the economy in particular starts to resonate Reform's own internal contradictions start tearing it apart
1 won’t happen. Labours goose is cooked and any replacement for SKS and Reeves will be economically worse.
2 has started already. The Tories would be insane to get rid of her in my view.
3 given his track record I’d say there’s a strong chance of that but if it doesn’t happen then it’s game on.
We're a long way off an election and it's wishful thinking to imagine Labour can't or won't recover. In any case, IF economic perceptions change and people start to "feel" better (even if the truth is otherwise) that will lead a rebound in Labour polling numbers.
As for Badenoch, I've said on here a number of times she has had a good autumn but it's probable the May local elections will be painful and that will be the point of challenge. Don't underestimate the ability of people to do silly things and if 60 Conservative MPs see their seats going to Reform, that might be enough for a successful challenge.
As for Reform, the prospect of victory does wonders for party unity (look at how little trouble the "left" gave Blair after he became leader and started looking popular) so as long as they look the next Government internal dissent will be silenced but as soon as it starts becoming clear they won't win - let's say a winnable by-election isn't won - the knives will be out.
The window of opportunity for Reform isn't going to be open for ever but they are in no position to force an election and encouraging what amounts to civil insurrection to get one is ludicrous. The only way there would be an election is if Labour MPs wanted one and on most polling numbers most won't.
To ensure she survives beyond May, Kemi needs to ensure the Conservatives are at least second on the UK NEV in the local and devolved elections and ahead of Labour even if Reform still win overall. That would plus Tory gains of a few Labour councils like Westminster and Barnet would secure her position and put the pressure on Starmer to avoid a leadership challenge.
If however Labour beat the Conservatives on NEV then Sir Keir will likely survive and it will be Kemi facing a VONC with either Cleverly or Jenrick her likely replacement. Jenrick backing Tory MPs would certainly be sending in their letters to Bob Blackman like hyenas circling a wounded gazelle if the Tories fall to 3rd on NEV and councillors and councils won next May and lose MSPs and AMs too
You repeat your last pararaph almost daily, but miss out that any such self inflicted hari kari would see the conservative party staring into the abyss
Neither Jenrick or Cleverly will do any better than Badenoch
If the Tories fell to 3rd in the NEV next May behind both Reform and Labour they would already be staring into the abyss anyway. So many Tory MPs would feel they had to gamble on Jenrick, to try and win back Reform voters or Cleverly, to try and get Labour or LD tactical votes to beat Reform if Kemi showed herself unable to do either
I simply do not agree with you
Well let us hope Kemi ensures the Tories are at least second on NEV next May and secures her position
Secure, even if they achieve 2nd on under 20% of the NEV?
"Against this backdrop, thoughtful dissenters will consider whether an early election could be forced by via some kind of general strike blended with a dose of fuel and port blockades."
Little dig at the Telegraph there. Sure the article can’t be irrational and is well reasoned.
Clicks on article
Sees it’s Isobel Oakshott.
Clicks off promptly.
Reform know their only chance is to get an early election - within the next 12-18 months - while it is still Labour vs Not Labour and they can look an attractive and viable alternative to the current Government.
After that, it becomes more problematic as one of a number of things might happen (and I stress these are neither in order of likelihood nor desirability).
Labour gets its act together and economy starts improving The Conservative messaging on the economy in particular starts to resonate Reform's own internal contradictions start tearing it apart
1 won’t happen. Labours goose is cooked and any replacement for SKS and Reeves will be economically worse.
2 has started already. The Tories would be insane to get rid of her in my view.
3 given his track record I’d say there’s a strong chance of that but if it doesn’t happen then it’s game on.
We're a long way off an election and it's wishful thinking to imagine Labour can't or won't recover. In any case, IF economic perceptions change and people start to "feel" better (even if the truth is otherwise) that will lead a rebound in Labour polling numbers.
As for Badenoch, I've said on here a number of times she has had a good autumn but it's probable the May local elections will be painful and that will be the point of challenge. Don't underestimate the ability of people to do silly things and if 60 Conservative MPs see their seats going to Reform, that might be enough for a successful challenge.
As for Reform, the prospect of victory does wonders for party unity (look at how little trouble the "left" gave Blair after he became leader and started looking popular) so as long as they look the next Government internal dissent will be silenced but as soon as it starts becoming clear they won't win - let's say a winnable by-election isn't won - the knives will be out.
The window of opportunity for Reform isn't going to be open for ever but they are in no position to force an election and encouraging what amounts to civil insurrection to get one is ludicrous. The only way there would be an election is if Labour MPs wanted one and on most polling numbers most won't.
To ensure she survives beyond May, Kemi needs to ensure the Conservatives are at least second on the UK NEV in the local and devolved elections and ahead of Labour even if Reform still win overall. That would plus Tory gains of a few Labour councils like Westminster and Barnet would secure her position and put the pressure on Starmer to avoid a leadership challenge.
If however Labour beat the Conservatives on NEV then Sir Keir will likely survive and it will be Kemi facing a VONC with either Cleverly or Jenrick her likely replacement. Jenrick backing Tory MPs would certainly be sending in their letters to Bob Blackman like hyenas circling a wounded gazelle if the Tories fall to 3rd on NEV and councillors and councils won next May and lose MSPs and AMs too
You repeat your last pararaph almost daily, but miss out that any such self inflicted hari kari would see the conservative party staring into the abyss
Neither Jenrick or Cleverly will do any better than Badenoch
If the Tories fell to 3rd in the NEV next May behind both Reform and Labour they would already be staring into the abyss anyway. So many Tory MPs would feel they had to gamble on Jenrick, to try and win back Reform voters or Cleverly, to try and get Labour or LD tactical votes to beat Reform if Kemi showed herself unable to do either
I simply do not agree with you
Well let us hope Kemi ensures the Tories are at least second on NEV next May and secures her position
I see no reason to plunge the party into a leadership crisis no matter what happens in May, especially with Jenrick or Cleverly as terrible options
You may not but you are a Kemi loyalist, 65% of Tory MPs voted for Jenrick and Cleverly last year though and if the Tories were 3rd on NEV next May a VONC in her leadership is very likely
I am not so much a Badenoch loyalist but someone who wants the conservatives recover and send Reform packing
I certainly do not want a Reform lite leader like Jenrick
I would say he can see himself out, but perhaps he can't.
From that clip - usual Dom. Right on the problem. No idea what his solution is, but it will be the wrong one, of course.
I know what you mean, but I'm pretty sure he's wrong on the problem as well here.
Dom's theory of government is to get a small number of enormous brains and lock them in a small room. Then pipe national-level data into that room, so these mega minds can decide what to do, and pipe those decisions out for the rest of us (hereafter called "minions") to act on.
There are a bajillion ways that this model doesn't work, but it's attractive if you believe in the Great Man version of history.
I'm reminded of the description of Manuel Fraga- a relatively open minister under Franco, incredibly reactionary in democratic Spain. He was so clever, they said, that the Spanish State could fit inside his head. Unfortunately, that limited his vision of the state to what could fit in his head, and democratic nations are bigger than that.
He’s definitely right that the best and brightest don’t go into government - administrative or elective.
The current system of obfuscation and obscuration of responsibility for everything is useless.
Many of the best and brightest do go into government. It doesn't matter though because an inefficient system can more than undo their abilities.
"Against this backdrop, thoughtful dissenters will consider whether an early election could be forced by via some kind of general strike blended with a dose of fuel and port blockades."
Little dig at the Telegraph there. Sure the article can’t be irrational and is well reasoned.
Clicks on article
Sees it’s Isobel Oakshott.
Clicks off promptly.
Reform know their only chance is to get an early election - within the next 12-18 months - while it is still Labour vs Not Labour and they can look an attractive and viable alternative to the current Government.
After that, it becomes more problematic as one of a number of things might happen (and I stress these are neither in order of likelihood nor desirability).
Labour gets its act together and economy starts improving The Conservative messaging on the economy in particular starts to resonate Reform's own internal contradictions start tearing it apart
1 won’t happen. Labours goose is cooked and any replacement for SKS and Reeves will be economically worse.
2 has started already. The Tories would be insane to get rid of her in my view.
3 given his track record I’d say there’s a strong chance of that but if it doesn’t happen then it’s game on.
We're a long way off an election and it's wishful thinking to imagine Labour can't or won't recover. In any case, IF economic perceptions change and people start to "feel" better (even if the truth is otherwise) that will lead a rebound in Labour polling numbers.
As for Badenoch, I've said on here a number of times she has had a good autumn but it's probable the May local elections will be painful and that will be the point of challenge. Don't underestimate the ability of people to do silly things and if 60 Conservative MPs see their seats going to Reform, that might be enough for a successful challenge.
As for Reform, the prospect of victory does wonders for party unity (look at how little trouble the "left" gave Blair after he became leader and started looking popular) so as long as they look the next Government internal dissent will be silenced but as soon as it starts becoming clear they won't win - let's say a winnable by-election isn't won - the knives will be out.
The window of opportunity for Reform isn't going to be open for ever but they are in no position to force an election and encouraging what amounts to civil insurrection to get one is ludicrous. The only way there would be an election is if Labour MPs wanted one and on most polling numbers most won't.
To ensure she survives beyond May, Kemi needs to ensure the Conservatives are at least second on the UK NEV in the local and devolved elections and ahead of Labour even if Reform still win overall. That would plus Tory gains of a few Labour councils like Westminster and Barnet would secure her position and put the pressure on Starmer to avoid a leadership challenge.
If however Labour beat the Conservatives on NEV then Sir Keir will likely survive and it will be Kemi facing a VONC with either Cleverly or Jenrick her likely replacement. Jenrick backing Tory MPs would certainly be sending in their letters to Bob Blackman like hyenas circling a wounded gazelle if the Tories fall to 3rd on NEV and councillors and councils won next May and lose MSPs and AMs too
You repeat your last pararaph almost daily, but miss out that any such self inflicted hari kari would see the conservative party staring into the abyss
Neither Jenrick or Cleverly will do any better than Badenoch
If the Tories fell to 3rd in the NEV next May behind both Reform and Labour they would already be staring into the abyss anyway. So many Tory MPs would feel they had to gamble on Jenrick, to try and win back Reform voters or Cleverly, to try and get Labour or LD tactical votes to beat Reform if Kemi showed herself unable to do either
I simply do not agree with you
Well let us hope Kemi ensures the Tories are at least second on NEV next May and secures her position
Secure, even if they achieve 2nd on under 20% of the NEV?
Yes as they would still be the main alternative to Reform then and it would be Labour in 3rd and Starmer facing a leadership challenge then not Kemi
It would be interesting if more follow, though that it has been resisted by, well, everyone up to this point suggests there has to be a better reason than simply makebelieving that Somalia (to include Somaliland) will become whole one day?
I would say he can see himself out, but perhaps he can't.
From that clip - usual Dom. Right on the problem. No idea what his solution is, but it will be the wrong one, of course.
I know what you mean, but I'm pretty sure he's wrong on the problem as well here.
Dom's theory of government is to get a small number of enormous brains and lock them in a small room. Then pipe national-level data into that room, so these mega minds can decide what to do, and pipe those decisions out for the rest of us (hereafter called "minions") to act on.
There are a bajillion ways that this model doesn't work, but it's attractive if you believe in the Great Man version of history.
I'm reminded of the description of Manuel Fraga- a relatively open minister under Franco, incredibly reactionary in democratic Spain. He was so clever, they said, that the Spanish State could fit inside his head. Unfortunately, that limited his vision of the state to what could fit in his head, and democratic nations are bigger than that.
He’s definitely right that the best and brightest don’t go into government - administrative or elective.
The current system of obfuscation and obscuration of responsibility for everything is useless.
Some of them do. Not those motivated mainly by £££ obviously (business and finance) or by pure brainwork (academia).
"Against this backdrop, thoughtful dissenters will consider whether an early election could be forced by via some kind of general strike blended with a dose of fuel and port blockades."
Little dig at the Telegraph there. Sure the article can’t be irrational and is well reasoned.
Clicks on article
Sees it’s Isobel Oakshott.
Clicks off promptly.
Reform know their only chance is to get an early election - within the next 12-18 months - while it is still Labour vs Not Labour and they can look an attractive and viable alternative to the current Government.
After that, it becomes more problematic as one of a number of things might happen (and I stress these are neither in order of likelihood nor desirability).
Labour gets its act together and economy starts improving The Conservative messaging on the economy in particular starts to resonate Reform's own internal contradictions start tearing it apart
1 won’t happen. Labours goose is cooked and any replacement for SKS and Reeves will be economically worse.
2 has started already. The Tories would be insane to get rid of her in my view.
3 given his track record I’d say there’s a strong chance of that but if it doesn’t happen then it’s game on.
We're a long way off an election and it's wishful thinking to imagine Labour can't or won't recover. In any case, IF economic perceptions change and people start to "feel" better (even if the truth is otherwise) that will lead a rebound in Labour polling numbers.
As for Badenoch, I've said on here a number of times she has had a good autumn but it's probable the May local elections will be painful and that will be the point of challenge. Don't underestimate the ability of people to do silly things and if 60 Conservative MPs see their seats going to Reform, that might be enough for a successful challenge.
As for Reform, the prospect of victory does wonders for party unity (look at how little trouble the "left" gave Blair after he became leader and started looking popular) so as long as they look the next Government internal dissent will be silenced but as soon as it starts becoming clear they won't win - let's say a winnable by-election isn't won - the knives will be out.
The window of opportunity for Reform isn't going to be open for ever but they are in no position to force an election and encouraging what amounts to civil insurrection to get one is ludicrous. The only way there would be an election is if Labour MPs wanted one and on most polling numbers most won't.
To ensure she survives beyond May, Kemi needs to ensure the Conservatives are at least second on the UK NEV in the local and devolved elections and ahead of Labour even if Reform still win overall. That would plus Tory gains of a few Labour councils like Westminster and Barnet would secure her position and put the pressure on Starmer to avoid a leadership challenge.
If however Labour beat the Conservatives on NEV then Sir Keir will likely survive and it will be Kemi facing a VONC with either Cleverly or Jenrick her likely replacement. Jenrick backing Tory MPs would certainly be sending in their letters to Bob Blackman like hyenas circling a wounded gazelle if the Tories fall to 3rd on NEV and councillors and councils won next May and lose MSPs and AMs too
You repeat your last pararaph almost daily, but miss out that any such self inflicted hari kari would see the conservative party staring into the abyss
Neither Jenrick or Cleverly will do any better than Badenoch
If the Tories fell to 3rd in the NEV next May behind both Reform and Labour they would already be staring into the abyss anyway. So many Tory MPs would feel they had to gamble on Jenrick, to try and win back Reform voters or Cleverly, to try and get Labour or LD tactical votes to beat Reform if Kemi showed herself unable to do either
I simply do not agree with you
Well let us hope Kemi ensures the Tories are at least second on NEV next May and secures her position
Secure, even if they achieve 2nd on under 20% of the NEV?
Yes as they would still be the main alternative to Reform then and it would be Labour in 3rd and Starmer facing a leadership challenge then not Kemi
What if it's Reform first, Greens second, Tories third, Labour fourth?
"Against this backdrop, thoughtful dissenters will consider whether an early election could be forced by via some kind of general strike blended with a dose of fuel and port blockades."
Little dig at the Telegraph there. Sure the article can’t be irrational and is well reasoned.
Clicks on article
Sees it’s Isobel Oakshott.
Clicks off promptly.
Reform know their only chance is to get an early election - within the next 12-18 months - while it is still Labour vs Not Labour and they can look an attractive and viable alternative to the current Government.
After that, it becomes more problematic as one of a number of things might happen (and I stress these are neither in order of likelihood nor desirability).
Labour gets its act together and economy starts improving The Conservative messaging on the economy in particular starts to resonate Reform's own internal contradictions start tearing it apart
1 won’t happen. Labours goose is cooked and any replacement for SKS and Reeves will be economically worse.
2 has started already. The Tories would be insane to get rid of her in my view.
3 given his track record I’d say there’s a strong chance of that but if it doesn’t happen then it’s game on.
We're a long way off an election and it's wishful thinking to imagine Labour can't or won't recover. In any case, IF economic perceptions change and people start to "feel" better (even if the truth is otherwise) that will lead a rebound in Labour polling numbers.
As for Badenoch, I've said on here a number of times she has had a good autumn but it's probable the May local elections will be painful and that will be the point of challenge. Don't underestimate the ability of people to do silly things and if 60 Conservative MPs see their seats going to Reform, that might be enough for a successful challenge.
As for Reform, the prospect of victory does wonders for party unity (look at how little trouble the "left" gave Blair after he became leader and started looking popular) so as long as they look the next Government internal dissent will be silenced but as soon as it starts becoming clear they won't win - let's say a winnable by-election isn't won - the knives will be out.
The window of opportunity for Reform isn't going to be open for ever but they are in no position to force an election and encouraging what amounts to civil insurrection to get one is ludicrous. The only way there would be an election is if Labour MPs wanted one and on most polling numbers most won't.
To ensure she survives beyond May, Kemi needs to ensure the Conservatives are at least second on the UK NEV in the local and devolved elections and ahead of Labour even if Reform still win overall. That would plus Tory gains of a few Labour councils like Westminster and Barnet would secure her position and put the pressure on Starmer to avoid a leadership challenge.
If however Labour beat the Conservatives on NEV then Sir Keir will likely survive and it will be Kemi facing a VONC with either Cleverly or Jenrick her likely replacement. Jenrick backing Tory MPs would certainly be sending in their letters to Bob Blackman like hyenas circling a wounded gazelle if the Tories fall to 3rd on NEV and councillors and councils won next May and lose MSPs and AMs too
You repeat your last pararaph almost daily, but miss out that any such self inflicted hari kari would see the conservative party staring into the abyss
Neither Jenrick or Cleverly will do any better than Badenoch
If the Tories fell to 3rd in the NEV next May behind both Reform and Labour they would already be staring into the abyss anyway. So many Tory MPs would feel they had to gamble on Jenrick, to try and win back Reform voters or Cleverly, to try and get Labour or LD tactical votes to beat Reform if Kemi showed herself unable to do either
I simply do not agree with you
Well let us hope Kemi ensures the Tories are at least second on NEV next May and secures her position
I see no reason to plunge the party into a leadership crisis no matter what happens in May, especially with Jenrick or Cleverly as terrible options
You may not but you are a Kemi loyalist. 65% of Tory MPs voted for Jenrick or Cleverly last year though not Kemi and if the Tories were 3rd on NEV next May a VONC in her leadership is very likely
Do you think they will capitulate and pursue a Reform pact in that situation? It's hard to see how they could be more than second fiddle if they go cap in hand to Reform, albeit they don't have enough support anymore to outright fight Reform either.
"Against this backdrop, thoughtful dissenters will consider whether an early election could be forced by via some kind of general strike blended with a dose of fuel and port blockades."
Little dig at the Telegraph there. Sure the article can’t be irrational and is well reasoned.
Clicks on article
Sees it’s Isobel Oakshott.
Clicks off promptly.
Reform know their only chance is to get an early election - within the next 12-18 months - while it is still Labour vs Not Labour and they can look an attractive and viable alternative to the current Government.
After that, it becomes more problematic as one of a number of things might happen (and I stress these are neither in order of likelihood nor desirability).
Labour gets its act together and economy starts improving The Conservative messaging on the economy in particular starts to resonate Reform's own internal contradictions start tearing it apart
1 won’t happen. Labours goose is cooked and any replacement for SKS and Reeves will be economically worse.
2 has started already. The Tories would be insane to get rid of her in my view.
3 given his track record I’d say there’s a strong chance of that but if it doesn’t happen then it’s game on.
We're a long way off an election and it's wishful thinking to imagine Labour can't or won't recover. In any case, IF economic perceptions change and people start to "feel" better (even if the truth is otherwise) that will lead a rebound in Labour polling numbers.
As for Badenoch, I've said on here a number of times she has had a good autumn but it's probable the May local elections will be painful and that will be the point of challenge. Don't underestimate the ability of people to do silly things and if 60 Conservative MPs see their seats going to Reform, that might be enough for a successful challenge.
As for Reform, the prospect of victory does wonders for party unity (look at how little trouble the "left" gave Blair after he became leader and started looking popular) so as long as they look the next Government internal dissent will be silenced but as soon as it starts becoming clear they won't win - let's say a winnable by-election isn't won - the knives will be out.
The window of opportunity for Reform isn't going to be open for ever but they are in no position to force an election and encouraging what amounts to civil insurrection to get one is ludicrous. The only way there would be an election is if Labour MPs wanted one and on most polling numbers most won't.
To ensure she survives beyond May, Kemi needs to ensure the Conservatives are at least second on the UK NEV in the local and devolved elections and ahead of Labour even if Reform still win overall. That would plus Tory gains of a few Labour councils like Westminster and Barnet would secure her position and put the pressure on Starmer to avoid a leadership challenge.
If however Labour beat the Conservatives on NEV then Sir Keir will likely survive and it will be Kemi facing a VONC with either Cleverly or Jenrick her likely replacement. Jenrick backing Tory MPs would certainly be sending in their letters to Bob Blackman like hyenas circling a wounded gazelle if the Tories fall to 3rd on NEV and councillors and councils won next May and lose MSPs and AMs too
You repeat your last pararaph almost daily, but miss out that any such self inflicted hari kari would see the conservative party staring into the abyss
Neither Jenrick or Cleverly will do any better than Badenoch
If the Tories fell to 3rd in the NEV next May behind both Reform and Labour they would already be staring into the abyss anyway. So many Tory MPs would feel they had to gamble on Jenrick, to try and win back Reform voters or Cleverly, to try and get Labour or LD tactical votes to beat Reform if Kemi showed herself unable to do either
I simply do not agree with you
Well let us hope Kemi ensures the Tories are at least second on NEV next May and secures her position
Secure, even if they achieve 2nd on under 20% of the NEV?
Yes as they would still be the main alternative to Reform then and it would be Labour in 3rd and Starmer facing a leadership challenge then not Kemi
What if it's Reform first, Greens second, Tories third, Labour fourth?
Then Badenoch would be challenged. It's third place only apparently...
I would say he can see himself out, but perhaps he can't.
From that clip - usual Dom. Right on the problem. No idea what his solution is, but it will be the wrong one, of course.
I know what you mean, but I'm pretty sure he's wrong on the problem as well here.
Dom's theory of government is to get a small number of enormous brains and lock them in a small room. Then pipe national-level data into that room, so these mega minds can decide what to do, and pipe those decisions out for the rest of us (hereafter called "minions") to act on.
There are a bajillion ways that this model doesn't work, but it's attractive if you believe in the Great Man version of history.
I'm reminded of the description of Manuel Fraga- a relatively open minister under Franco, incredibly reactionary in democratic Spain. He was so clever, they said, that the Spanish State could fit inside his head. Unfortunately, that limited his vision of the state to what could fit in his head, and democratic nations are bigger than that.
He’s definitely right that the best and brightest don’t go into government - administrative or elective.
The current system of obfuscation and obscuration of responsibility for everything is useless.
Question is- does that matter?
I'm not sure it does, at least not to the degree that Dom thinks. We don't want idiots in charge, sure. But I'm also pretty confident that our problems aren't the sort where the answers are going to come from clever people in a bunker.
(If I had to guess, it's about reducing the length of chains of command and strengthening the sort of localism that Dom came to prominence for campaigning against.)
I would say he can see himself out, but perhaps he can't.
From that clip - usual Dom. Right on the problem. No idea what his solution is, but it will be the wrong one, of course.
I know what you mean, but I'm pretty sure he's wrong on the problem as well here.
Dom's theory of government is to get a small number of enormous brains and lock them in a small room. Then pipe national-level data into that room, so these mega minds can decide what to do, and pipe those decisions out for the rest of us (hereafter called "minions") to act on.
There are a bajillion ways that this model doesn't work, but it's attractive if you believe in the Great Man version of history.
I'm reminded of the description of Manuel Fraga- a relatively open minister under Franco, incredibly reactionary in democratic Spain. He was so clever, they said, that the Spanish State could fit inside his head. Unfortunately, that limited his vision of the state to what could fit in his head, and democratic nations are bigger than that.
He’s definitely right that the best and brightest don’t go into government - administrative or elective.
The current system of obfuscation and obscuration of responsibility for everything is useless.
Many of the best and brightest do go into government. It doesn't matter though because an inefficient system can more than undo their abilities.
Many do but more out of public service and duty. Even the PM and Cabinet Ministers are not in the top 1% of UK earners now let alone backbench MPs, though the PM and Chancellor and Foreign Secretary do at least get a stately home and central London home provided and all of those jobs but the Chancellor get chauffeur driven cars with bodyguards and outriders provided (as does the NI Secretary and in terms of car and bodyguards the Home Secretary too) so those top government jobs still attract power hungry egomaniacs even if being a backbench MP for life or Minister for Transport doesn't
"Against this backdrop, thoughtful dissenters will consider whether an early election could be forced by via some kind of general strike blended with a dose of fuel and port blockades."
Little dig at the Telegraph there. Sure the article can’t be irrational and is well reasoned.
Clicks on article
Sees it’s Isobel Oakshott.
Clicks off promptly.
Reform know their only chance is to get an early election - within the next 12-18 months - while it is still Labour vs Not Labour and they can look an attractive and viable alternative to the current Government.
After that, it becomes more problematic as one of a number of things might happen (and I stress these are neither in order of likelihood nor desirability).
Labour gets its act together and economy starts improving The Conservative messaging on the economy in particular starts to resonate Reform's own internal contradictions start tearing it apart
1 won’t happen. Labours goose is cooked and any replacement for SKS and Reeves will be economically worse.
2 has started already. The Tories would be insane to get rid of her in my view.
3 given his track record I’d say there’s a strong chance of that but if it doesn’t happen then it’s game on.
We're a long way off an election and it's wishful thinking to imagine Labour can't or won't recover. In any case, IF economic perceptions change and people start to "feel" better (even if the truth is otherwise) that will lead a rebound in Labour polling numbers.
As for Badenoch, I've said on here a number of times she has had a good autumn but it's probable the May local elections will be painful and that will be the point of challenge. Don't underestimate the ability of people to do silly things and if 60 Conservative MPs see their seats going to Reform, that might be enough for a successful challenge.
As for Reform, the prospect of victory does wonders for party unity (look at how little trouble the "left" gave Blair after he became leader and started looking popular) so as long as they look the next Government internal dissent will be silenced but as soon as it starts becoming clear they won't win - let's say a winnable by-election isn't won - the knives will be out.
The window of opportunity for Reform isn't going to be open for ever but they are in no position to force an election and encouraging what amounts to civil insurrection to get one is ludicrous. The only way there would be an election is if Labour MPs wanted one and on most polling numbers most won't.
To ensure she survives beyond May, Kemi needs to ensure the Conservatives are at least second on the UK NEV in the local and devolved elections and ahead of Labour even if Reform still win overall. That would plus Tory gains of a few Labour councils like Westminster and Barnet would secure her position and put the pressure on Starmer to avoid a leadership challenge.
If however Labour beat the Conservatives on NEV then Sir Keir will likely survive and it will be Kemi facing a VONC with either Cleverly or Jenrick her likely replacement. Jenrick backing Tory MPs would certainly be sending in their letters to Bob Blackman like hyenas circling a wounded gazelle if the Tories fall to 3rd on NEV and councillors and councils won next May and lose MSPs and AMs too
You repeat your last pararaph almost daily, but miss out that any such self inflicted hari kari would see the conservative party staring into the abyss
Neither Jenrick or Cleverly will do any better than Badenoch
If the Tories fell to 3rd in the NEV next May behind both Reform and Labour they would already be staring into the abyss anyway. So many Tory MPs would feel they had to gamble on Jenrick, to try and win back Reform voters or Cleverly, to try and get Labour or LD tactical votes to beat Reform if Kemi showed herself unable to do either
I simply do not agree with you
Well let us hope Kemi ensures the Tories are at least second on NEV next May and secures her position
Secure, even if they achieve 2nd on under 20% of the NEV?
Yes as they would still be the main alternative to Reform then and it would be Labour in 3rd and Starmer facing a leadership challenge then not Kemi
What if it's Reform first, Greens second, Tories third, Labour fourth?
'The only decent impression he can do is of a man with no talent.'
(That's not quite true. He has extraordinary talents for self-promotion and self-deception.)
He seems like he could be quite useful in the right circumstances, but whilst self confidence is a useful thing ego can be self defeating.
From his time in government he seems also to be under the delusion that being rude to people is automatically a positive. Sure, if everyone is a milquetoast consensus zombie that's not good either, but convincing people is about more than gathering the big brains.
It's one reason we have politicians in the first place (in theory).
"Against this backdrop, thoughtful dissenters will consider whether an early election could be forced by via some kind of general strike blended with a dose of fuel and port blockades."
Little dig at the Telegraph there. Sure the article can’t be irrational and is well reasoned.
Clicks on article
Sees it’s Isobel Oakshott.
Clicks off promptly.
Reform know their only chance is to get an early election - within the next 12-18 months - while it is still Labour vs Not Labour and they can look an attractive and viable alternative to the current Government.
After that, it becomes more problematic as one of a number of things might happen (and I stress these are neither in order of likelihood nor desirability).
Labour gets its act together and economy starts improving The Conservative messaging on the economy in particular starts to resonate Reform's own internal contradictions start tearing it apart
1 won’t happen. Labours goose is cooked and any replacement for SKS and Reeves will be economically worse.
2 has started already. The Tories would be insane to get rid of her in my view.
3 given his track record I’d say there’s a strong chance of that but if it doesn’t happen then it’s game on.
We're a long way off an election and it's wishful thinking to imagine Labour can't or won't recover. In any case, IF economic perceptions change and people start to "feel" better (even if the truth is otherwise) that will lead a rebound in Labour polling numbers.
As for Badenoch, I've said on here a number of times she has had a good autumn but it's probable the May local elections will be painful and that will be the point of challenge. Don't underestimate the ability of people to do silly things and if 60 Conservative MPs see their seats going to Reform, that might be enough for a successful challenge.
As for Reform, the prospect of victory does wonders for party unity (look at how little trouble the "left" gave Blair after he became leader and started looking popular) so as long as they look the next Government internal dissent will be silenced but as soon as it starts becoming clear they won't win - let's say a winnable by-election isn't won - the knives will be out.
The window of opportunity for Reform isn't going to be open for ever but they are in no position to force an election and encouraging what amounts to civil insurrection to get one is ludicrous. The only way there would be an election is if Labour MPs wanted one and on most polling numbers most won't.
To ensure she survives beyond May, Kemi needs to ensure the Conservatives are at least second on the UK NEV in the local and devolved elections and ahead of Labour even if Reform still win overall. That would plus Tory gains of a few Labour councils like Westminster and Barnet would secure her position and put the pressure on Starmer to avoid a leadership challenge.
If however Labour beat the Conservatives on NEV then Sir Keir will likely survive and it will be Kemi facing a VONC with either Cleverly or Jenrick her likely replacement. Jenrick backing Tory MPs would certainly be sending in their letters to Bob Blackman like hyenas circling a wounded gazelle if the Tories fall to 3rd on NEV and councillors and councils won next May and lose MSPs and AMs too
You repeat your last pararaph almost daily, but miss out that any such self inflicted hari kari would see the conservative party staring into the abyss
Neither Jenrick or Cleverly will do any better than Badenoch
If the Tories fell to 3rd in the NEV next May behind both Reform and Labour they would already be staring into the abyss anyway. So many Tory MPs would feel they had to gamble on Jenrick, to try and win back Reform voters or Cleverly, to try and get Labour or LD tactical votes to beat Reform if Kemi showed herself unable to do either
I simply do not agree with you
Well let us hope Kemi ensures the Tories are at least second on NEV next May and secures her position
Secure, even if they achieve 2nd on under 20% of the NEV?
Yes as they would still be the main alternative to Reform then and it would be Labour in 3rd and Starmer facing a leadership challenge then not Kemi
What if it's Reform first, Greens second, Tories third, Labour fourth?
Then Kemi and Starmer would face a VONC and leadership challenge
"Against this backdrop, thoughtful dissenters will consider whether an early election could be forced by via some kind of general strike blended with a dose of fuel and port blockades."
Little dig at the Telegraph there. Sure the article can’t be irrational and is well reasoned.
Clicks on article
Sees it’s Isobel Oakshott.
Clicks off promptly.
Reform know their only chance is to get an early election - within the next 12-18 months - while it is still Labour vs Not Labour and they can look an attractive and viable alternative to the current Government.
After that, it becomes more problematic as one of a number of things might happen (and I stress these are neither in order of likelihood nor desirability).
Labour gets its act together and economy starts improving The Conservative messaging on the economy in particular starts to resonate Reform's own internal contradictions start tearing it apart
1 won’t happen. Labours goose is cooked and any replacement for SKS and Reeves will be economically worse.
2 has started already. The Tories would be insane to get rid of her in my view.
3 given his track record I’d say there’s a strong chance of that but if it doesn’t happen then it’s game on.
We're a long way off an election and it's wishful thinking to imagine Labour can't or won't recover. In any case, IF economic perceptions change and people start to "feel" better (even if the truth is otherwise) that will lead a rebound in Labour polling numbers.
As for Badenoch, I've said on here a number of times she has had a good autumn but it's probable the May local elections will be painful and that will be the point of challenge. Don't underestimate the ability of people to do silly things and if 60 Conservative MPs see their seats going to Reform, that might be enough for a successful challenge.
As for Reform, the prospect of victory does wonders for party unity (look at how little trouble the "left" gave Blair after he became leader and started looking popular) so as long as they look the next Government internal dissent will be silenced but as soon as it starts becoming clear they won't win - let's say a winnable by-election isn't won - the knives will be out.
The window of opportunity for Reform isn't going to be open for ever but they are in no position to force an election and encouraging what amounts to civil insurrection to get one is ludicrous. The only way there would be an election is if Labour MPs wanted one and on most polling numbers most won't.
To ensure she survives beyond May, Kemi needs to ensure the Conservatives are at least second on the UK NEV in the local and devolved elections and ahead of Labour even if Reform still win overall. That would plus Tory gains of a few Labour councils like Westminster and Barnet would secure her position and put the pressure on Starmer to avoid a leadership challenge.
If however Labour beat the Conservatives on NEV then Sir Keir will likely survive and it will be Kemi facing a VONC with either Cleverly or Jenrick her likely replacement. Jenrick backing Tory MPs would certainly be sending in their letters to Bob Blackman like hyenas circling a wounded gazelle if the Tories fall to 3rd on NEV and councillors and councils won next May and lose MSPs and AMs too
You repeat your last pararaph almost daily, but miss out that any such self inflicted hari kari would see the conservative party staring into the abyss
Neither Jenrick or Cleverly will do any better than Badenoch
If the Tories fell to 3rd in the NEV next May behind both Reform and Labour they would already be staring into the abyss anyway. So many Tory MPs would feel they had to gamble on Jenrick, to try and win back Reform voters or Cleverly, to try and get Labour or LD tactical votes to beat Reform if Kemi showed herself unable to do either
I simply do not agree with you
Well let us hope Kemi ensures the Tories are at least second on NEV next May and secures her position
I see no reason to plunge the party into a leadership crisis no matter what happens in May, especially with Jenrick or Cleverly as terrible options
You may not but you are a Kemi loyalist. 65% of Tory MPs voted for Jenrick or Cleverly last year though not Kemi and if the Tories were 3rd on NEV next May a VONC in her leadership is very likely
Do you think they will capitulate and pursue a Reform pact in that situation? It's hard to see how they could be more than second fiddle if they go cap in hand to Reform, albeit they don't have enough support anymore to outright fight Reform either.
I would say he can see himself out, but perhaps he can't.
From that clip - usual Dom. Right on the problem. No idea what his solution is, but it will be the wrong one, of course.
I know what you mean, but I'm pretty sure he's wrong on the problem as well here.
Dom's theory of government is to get a small number of enormous brains and lock them in a small room. Then pipe national-level data into that room, so these mega minds can decide what to do, and pipe those decisions out for the rest of us (hereafter called "minions") to act on.
There are a bajillion ways that this model doesn't work, but it's attractive if you believe in the Great Man version of history.
I'm reminded of the description of Manuel Fraga- a relatively open minister under Franco, incredibly reactionary in democratic Spain. He was so clever, they said, that the Spanish State could fit inside his head. Unfortunately, that limited his vision of the state to what could fit in his head, and democratic nations are bigger than that.
And still they gazed, and still the wonder grew, That one small head could carry all he knew
Kearns is a far left campaigner - indistinguishable from Polanski on policy - and sits at the heart of Kemi Badenoch’s team as Shadow Minister for National Security:
Kemi wants her to be the UK’s Minister for National Security.
Do you?
yep, no nutters in reform at all
Yusuf is probably this generation's Mandelson or Osborne. Not someone to be underestimated.
Yusuf isn't really good enough to be a Mandelson or Osborne tribute act, let alone the real thing
South Korea’s proposed amendment to its Network Act, ostensibly focused on redressing defamatory deepfakes, reaches much further — and endangers tech cooperation.
So long as the US doesn't regulate other countries multinationals, then that would -at least- be consistent.
However, I haven't seen any proposals to exempt Sony or Siemens from US laws. Presumably that's coming, right?
Why should they be consistent? Power doesn't work that way.
Which is a perfectly consistent view (albeit the US dresses up their concerns as somehow being about fundamental rights, like free speech).
But it's also a fundamentally foolish one.
Americans use Google and Apple and Netflix and Amazon and ChatGPT and Anthropic. You might be able to get countries to change laws, but you are liable to get kicked in the teeth by consumer behaviour. (As Tesla has found out.)
I don't think Tesla is a good example because that's a backlash against Musk personally rather than America in general.
If country (a) is seen to be bullying country (b), it would be extremely surprising if consumers did not react.
I can even give you some historical examples if you like. In 2019, Japan and South Korea got into a bit an argie bargie about semiconductor materials as the Japanese government attempted to maintan their local dominance and proibited some exports to South Korea. It was -fair to say- extremely poorly recieved in South Korea.
Result:
• Uniqlo sales in Korea dropped ~40% • Toyota sales collapsed by over 50% • Japanese beer imports fell ~90%
"Against this backdrop, thoughtful dissenters will consider whether an early election could be forced by via some kind of general strike blended with a dose of fuel and port blockades."
Little dig at the Telegraph there. Sure the article can’t be irrational and is well reasoned.
Clicks on article
Sees it’s Isobel Oakshott.
Clicks off promptly.
Reform know their only chance is to get an early election - within the next 12-18 months - while it is still Labour vs Not Labour and they can look an attractive and viable alternative to the current Government.
After that, it becomes more problematic as one of a number of things might happen (and I stress these are neither in order of likelihood nor desirability).
Labour gets its act together and economy starts improving The Conservative messaging on the economy in particular starts to resonate Reform's own internal contradictions start tearing it apart
1 won’t happen. Labours goose is cooked and any replacement for SKS and Reeves will be economically worse.
2 has started already. The Tories would be insane to get rid of her in my view.
3 given his track record I’d say there’s a strong chance of that but if it doesn’t happen then it’s game on.
We're a long way off an election and it's wishful thinking to imagine Labour can't or won't recover. In any case, IF economic perceptions change and people start to "feel" better (even if the truth is otherwise) that will lead a rebound in Labour polling numbers.
As for Badenoch, I've said on here a number of times she has had a good autumn but it's probable the May local elections will be painful and that will be the point of challenge. Don't underestimate the ability of people to do silly things and if 60 Conservative MPs see their seats going to Reform, that might be enough for a successful challenge.
As for Reform, the prospect of victory does wonders for party unity (look at how little trouble the "left" gave Blair after he became leader and started looking popular) so as long as they look the next Government internal dissent will be silenced but as soon as it starts becoming clear they won't win - let's say a winnable by-election isn't won - the knives will be out.
The window of opportunity for Reform isn't going to be open for ever but they are in no position to force an election and encouraging what amounts to civil insurrection to get one is ludicrous. The only way there would be an election is if Labour MPs wanted one and on most polling numbers most won't.
To ensure she survives beyond May, Kemi needs to ensure the Conservatives are at least second on the UK NEV in the local and devolved elections and ahead of Labour even if Reform still win overall. That would plus Tory gains of a few Labour councils like Westminster and Barnet would secure her position and put the pressure on Starmer to avoid a leadership challenge.
If however Labour beat the Conservatives on NEV then Sir Keir will likely survive and it will be Kemi facing a VONC with either Cleverly or Jenrick her likely replacement. Jenrick backing Tory MPs would certainly be sending in their letters to Bob Blackman like hyenas circling a wounded gazelle if the Tories fall to 3rd on NEV and councillors and councils won next May and lose MSPs and AMs too
You repeat your last pararaph almost daily, but miss out that any such self inflicted hari kari would see the conservative party staring into the abyss
Neither Jenrick or Cleverly will do any better than Badenoch
If the Tories fell to 3rd in the NEV next May behind both Reform and Labour they would already be staring into the abyss anyway. So many Tory MPs would feel they had to gamble on Jenrick, to try and win back Reform voters or Cleverly, to try and get Labour or LD tactical votes to beat Reform if Kemi showed herself unable to do either
I simply do not agree with you
Well let us hope Kemi ensures the Tories are at least second on NEV next May and secures her position
Secure, even if they achieve 2nd on under 20% of the NEV?
Yes as they would still be the main alternative to Reform then and it would be Labour in 3rd and Starmer facing a leadership challenge then not Kemi
What if it's Reform first, Greens second, Tories third, Labour fourth?
I think LibDems second is more likely.
To back this up, the LibDems are second on vote share in council by elections since last May
The el-Fattah saga proves whether it’s Tories or Labour in government, they’ll fight harder for a man who wants to exterminate the British people than for the British people themselves.
That’s why we won’t do pacts.
The next few years are crucial.
It’s Reform or bust.
I believe the phrase you're looking for is 'hyperbole'.
The el-Fattah saga proves whether it’s Tories or Labour in government, they’ll fight harder for a man who wants to exterminate the British people than for the British people themselves.
That’s why we won’t do pacts.
The next few years are crucial.
It’s Reform or bust.
Reform were asleep at the wheel on this non-story that was bigged up to be the biggest calamitous story of the year for Starmer by Jenrick, Philp, Kemi and the Tories.
Yusuf might be kicking Starmer while he's down, but Kemi and the Tories put him on the floor.
I would say he can see himself out, but perhaps he can't.
From that clip - usual Dom. Right on the problem. No idea what his solution is, but it will be the wrong one, of course.
I know what you mean, but I'm pretty sure he's wrong on the problem as well here.
Dom's theory of government is to get a small number of enormous brains and lock them in a small room. Then pipe national-level data into that room, so these mega minds can decide what to do, and pipe those decisions out for the rest of us (hereafter called "minions") to act on.
There are a bajillion ways that this model doesn't work, but it's attractive if you believe in the Great Man version of history.
I'm reminded of the description of Manuel Fraga- a relatively open minister under Franco, incredibly reactionary in democratic Spain. He was so clever, they said, that the Spanish State could fit inside his head. Unfortunately, that limited his vision of the state to what could fit in his head, and democratic nations are bigger than that.
He’s definitely right that the best and brightest don’t go into government - administrative or elective.
The current system of obfuscation and obscuration of responsibility for everything is useless.
"Against this backdrop, thoughtful dissenters will consider whether an early election could be forced by via some kind of general strike blended with a dose of fuel and port blockades."
Little dig at the Telegraph there. Sure the article can’t be irrational and is well reasoned.
Clicks on article
Sees it’s Isobel Oakshott.
Clicks off promptly.
Reform know their only chance is to get an early election - within the next 12-18 months - while it is still Labour vs Not Labour and they can look an attractive and viable alternative to the current Government.
After that, it becomes more problematic as one of a number of things might happen (and I stress these are neither in order of likelihood nor desirability).
Labour gets its act together and economy starts improving The Conservative messaging on the economy in particular starts to resonate Reform's own internal contradictions start tearing it apart
1 won’t happen. Labours goose is cooked and any replacement for SKS and Reeves will be economically worse.
2 has started already. The Tories would be insane to get rid of her in my view.
3 given his track record I’d say there’s a strong chance of that but if it doesn’t happen then it’s game on.
We're a long way off an election and it's wishful thinking to imagine Labour can't or won't recover. In any case, IF economic perceptions change and people start to "feel" better (even if the truth is otherwise) that will lead a rebound in Labour polling numbers.
As for Badenoch, I've said on here a number of times she has had a good autumn but it's probable the May local elections will be painful and that will be the point of challenge. Don't underestimate the ability of people to do silly things and if 60 Conservative MPs see their seats going to Reform, that might be enough for a successful challenge.
As for Reform, the prospect of victory does wonders for party unity (look at how little trouble the "left" gave Blair after he became leader and started looking popular) so as long as they look the next Government internal dissent will be silenced but as soon as it starts becoming clear they won't win - let's say a winnable by-election isn't won - the knives will be out.
The window of opportunity for Reform isn't going to be open for ever but they are in no position to force an election and encouraging what amounts to civil insurrection to get one is ludicrous. The only way there would be an election is if Labour MPs wanted one and on most polling numbers most won't.
To ensure she survives beyond May, Kemi needs to ensure the Conservatives are at least second on the UK NEV in the local and devolved elections and ahead of Labour even if Reform still win overall. That would plus Tory gains of a few Labour councils like Westminster and Barnet would secure her position and put the pressure on Starmer to avoid a leadership challenge.
If however Labour beat the Conservatives on NEV then Sir Keir will likely survive and it will be Kemi facing a VONC with either Cleverly or Jenrick her likely replacement. Jenrick backing Tory MPs would certainly be sending in their letters to Bob Blackman like hyenas circling a wounded gazelle if the Tories fall to 3rd on NEV and councillors and councils won next May and lose MSPs and AMs too
You repeat your last pararaph almost daily, but miss out that any such self inflicted hari kari would see the conservative party staring into the abyss
Neither Jenrick or Cleverly will do any better than Badenoch
If the Tories fell to 3rd in the NEV next May behind both Reform and Labour they would already be staring into the abyss anyway. So many Tory MPs would feel they had to gamble on Jenrick, to try and win back Reform voters or Cleverly, to try and get Labour or LD tactical votes to beat Reform if Kemi showed herself unable to do either
I simply do not agree with you
Well let us hope Kemi ensures the Tories are at least second on NEV next May and secures her position
Secure, even if they achieve 2nd on under 20% of the NEV?
Yes as they would still be the main alternative to Reform then and it would be Labour in 3rd and Starmer facing a leadership challenge then not Kemi
What if it's Reform first, Greens second, Tories third, Labour fourth?
I think LibDems second is more likely.
To back this up, the LibDems are second on vote share in council by elections since last May
With that said... in quite a few European countries, the Greens have ended up the de facto party of the Left. And in almost all (France being the obvious exception) they outpoll the local equivalent of the LibDems.
So, I don't think it's impossible that a charasmatic leader like Polanski could lead the Greens to second place behind Reform. Heck, it's not impossible that if the Conservative/Reform split were to end up almost equal, and the Labour Party were to continue to shed votes, that they could end up leading the polls.
Fascinating that Bardot's convictions for racism were barely mentioned in the news coverage of her death. I wonder if it would have been the same if she had died closer to the events?
A man has been arrested after five people were assaulted with a weapon at a hospital.
Merseyside Police say the incident began when a man attended Newton Community Hospital, in Newton-Le-Willows, on Tuesday afternoon and requested an appointment.
"At this stage, it is believed that his request was declined, and when he was asked to leave, he became increasingly agitated and damaged a counter before assaulting several people inside the hospital, with a weapon - possibly a crowbar," a police spokesperson said.
A 20-year-old man, who police say is originally from Afghanistan, has been arrested on suspicion of five counts of wounding with intent, affray and criminal damage.
Apparently he went crazy a he was not happy waiting for an appointment. Not defending him but I must admit to feeling slightly vexed when I’m stuck in a slow queue.
I had lunch yesterday with the executive director of a programme that helps special forces operatives reintegrate with society.
She said her job was to teach them that the “old lady with ten coupons in front of them in the queue” doesn’t behave like other SFOs…
A worthy cause but why is it left to a charity to do the work the Services should do. Admirable they have the time and resources to do it but …
There seems to be a ‘they’re disposable’ attitude going on here.
South Korea’s proposed amendment to its Network Act, ostensibly focused on redressing defamatory deepfakes, reaches much further — and endangers tech cooperation.
So long as the US doesn't regulate other countries multinationals, then that would -at least- be consistent.
However, I haven't seen any proposals to exempt Sony or Siemens from US laws. Presumably that's coming, right?
Why should they be consistent? Power doesn't work that way.
Which is a perfectly consistent view (albeit the US dresses up their concerns as somehow being about fundamental rights, like free speech).
But it's also a fundamentally foolish one.
Americans use Google and Apple and Netflix and Amazon and ChatGPT and Anthropic. You might be able to get countries to change laws, but you are liable to get kicked in the teeth by consumer behaviour. (As Tesla has found out.)
I don't think Tesla is a good example because that's a backlash against Musk personally rather than America in general.
If country (a) is seen to be bullying country (b), it would be extremely surprising if consumers did not react.
I can even give you some historical examples if you like. In 2019, Japan and South Korea got into a bit an argie bargie about semiconductor materials as the Japanese government attempted to maintan their local dominance and proibited some exports to South Korea. It was -fair to say- extremely poorly recieved in South Korea.
Result:
• Uniqlo sales in Korea dropped ~40% • Toyota sales collapsed by over 50% • Japanese beer imports fell ~90%
A better example might be the Brexit negotiations. Did people stop buying BMWs when the EU tried to bully us into accepting its regulatory hegemony?
"Against this backdrop, thoughtful dissenters will consider whether an early election could be forced by via some kind of general strike blended with a dose of fuel and port blockades."
Little dig at the Telegraph there. Sure the article can’t be irrational and is well reasoned.
Clicks on article
Sees it’s Isobel Oakshott.
Clicks off promptly.
Reform know their only chance is to get an early election - within the next 12-18 months - while it is still Labour vs Not Labour and they can look an attractive and viable alternative to the current Government.
After that, it becomes more problematic as one of a number of things might happen (and I stress these are neither in order of likelihood nor desirability).
Labour gets its act together and economy starts improving The Conservative messaging on the economy in particular starts to resonate Reform's own internal contradictions start tearing it apart
1 won’t happen. Labours goose is cooked and any replacement for SKS and Reeves will be economically worse.
2 has started already. The Tories would be insane to get rid of her in my view.
3 given his track record I’d say there’s a strong chance of that but if it doesn’t happen then it’s game on.
We're a long way off an election and it's wishful thinking to imagine Labour can't or won't recover. In any case, IF economic perceptions change and people start to "feel" better (even if the truth is otherwise) that will lead a rebound in Labour polling numbers.
As for Badenoch, I've said on here a number of times she has had a good autumn but it's probable the May local elections will be painful and that will be the point of challenge. Don't underestimate the ability of people to do silly things and if 60 Conservative MPs see their seats going to Reform, that might be enough for a successful challenge.
As for Reform, the prospect of victory does wonders for party unity (look at how little trouble the "left" gave Blair after he became leader and started looking popular) so as long as they look the next Government internal dissent will be silenced but as soon as it starts becoming clear they won't win - let's say a winnable by-election isn't won - the knives will be out.
The window of opportunity for Reform isn't going to be open for ever but they are in no position to force an election and encouraging what amounts to civil insurrection to get one is ludicrous. The only way there would be an election is if Labour MPs wanted one and on most polling numbers most won't.
To ensure she survives beyond May, Kemi needs to ensure the Conservatives are at least second on the UK NEV in the local and devolved elections and ahead of Labour even if Reform still win overall. That would plus Tory gains of a few Labour councils like Westminster and Barnet would secure her position and put the pressure on Starmer to avoid a leadership challenge.
If however Labour beat the Conservatives on NEV then Sir Keir will likely survive and it will be Kemi facing a VONC with either Cleverly or Jenrick her likely replacement. Jenrick backing Tory MPs would certainly be sending in their letters to Bob Blackman like hyenas circling a wounded gazelle if the Tories fall to 3rd on NEV and councillors and councils won next May and lose MSPs and AMs too
You repeat your last pararaph almost daily, but miss out that any such self inflicted hari kari would see the conservative party staring into the abyss
Neither Jenrick or Cleverly will do any better than Badenoch
If the Tories fell to 3rd in the NEV next May behind both Reform and Labour they would already be staring into the abyss anyway. So many Tory MPs would feel they had to gamble on Jenrick, to try and win back Reform voters or Cleverly, to try and get Labour or LD tactical votes to beat Reform if Kemi showed herself unable to do either
I simply do not agree with you
Well let us hope Kemi ensures the Tories are at least second on NEV next May and secures her position
Secure, even if they achieve 2nd on under 20% of the NEV?
Yes as they would still be the main alternative to Reform then and it would be Labour in 3rd and Starmer facing a leadership challenge then not Kemi
What if it's Reform first, Greens second, Tories third, Labour fourth?
I think LibDems second is more likely.
To back this up, the LibDems are second on vote share in council by elections since last May
With that said... in quite a few European countries, the Greens have ended up the de facto party of the Left. And in almost all (France being the obvious exception) they outpoll the local equivalent of the LibDems.
So, I don't think it's impossible that a charasmatic leader like Polanski could lead the Greens to second place behind Reform. Heck, it's not impossible that if the Conservative/Reform split were to end up almost equal, and the Labour Party were to continue to shed votes, that they could end up leading the polls.
Possible, yes but their performance in by elections doesn't point to it.
I reckon the order will be:
Reform LibDems Conservatives Labour Green Your Party and their fellow travellers
South Korea’s proposed amendment to its Network Act, ostensibly focused on redressing defamatory deepfakes, reaches much further — and endangers tech cooperation.
So long as the US doesn't regulate other countries multinationals, then that would -at least- be consistent.
However, I haven't seen any proposals to exempt Sony or Siemens from US laws. Presumably that's coming, right?
The benefits of paying for the western world's security? Why be a superpower if you're not going to assert your authority onto your vassal states?
I would say he can see himself out, but perhaps he can't.
From that clip - usual Dom. Right on the problem. No idea what his solution is, but it will be the wrong one, of course.
I know what you mean, but I'm pretty sure he's wrong on the problem as well here.
Dom's theory of government is to get a small number of enormous brains and lock them in a small room. Then pipe national-level data into that room, so these mega minds can decide what to do, and pipe those decisions out for the rest of us (hereafter called "minions") to act on.
There are a bajillion ways that this model doesn't work, but it's attractive if you believe in the Great Man version of history.
I'm reminded of the description of Manuel Fraga- a relatively open minister under Franco, incredibly reactionary in democratic Spain. He was so clever, they said, that the Spanish State could fit inside his head. Unfortunately, that limited his vision of the state to what could fit in his head, and democratic nations are bigger than that.
He’s definitely right that the best and brightest don’t go into government - administrative or elective.
The current system of obfuscation and obscuration of responsibility for everything is useless.
Question is- does that matter?
I'm not sure it does, at least not to the degree that Dom thinks. We don't want idiots in charge, sure. But I'm also pretty confident that our problems aren't the sort where the answers are going to come from clever people in a bunker.
(If I had to guess, it's about reducing the length of chains of command and strengthening the sort of localism that Dom came to prominence for campaigning against.)
I’d definitely agree with Swiss style localism - including taxation powers.
The current system is designed to prevent anyone doing anything.
Why be an administrative cog, when you have the brains and instincts to want to create change?
The el-Fattah saga proves whether it’s Tories or Labour in government, they’ll fight harder for a man who wants to exterminate the British people than for the British people themselves.
The el-Fattah saga proves whether it’s Tories or Labour in government, they’ll fight harder for a man who wants to exterminate the British people than for the British people themselves.
That’s why we won’t do pacts.
The next few years are crucial.
It’s Reform or bust.
I believe the phrase you're looking for is 'hyperbole'.
No, it isn’t.
How about -
“An exaggeration so vast it collapses language into a screaming singularity, stretches meaning past the heat-death of the universe, and forces metaphor itself to file a formal complaint for workplace stress—an overstatement so outrageously, catastrophically, immeasurably excessive that every exaggeration ever uttered bows before it, weeps openly, and admits it has been living a lie.”
"Against this backdrop, thoughtful dissenters will consider whether an early election could be forced by via some kind of general strike blended with a dose of fuel and port blockades."
Little dig at the Telegraph there. Sure the article can’t be irrational and is well reasoned.
Clicks on article
Sees it’s Isobel Oakshott.
Clicks off promptly.
Reform know their only chance is to get an early election - within the next 12-18 months - while it is still Labour vs Not Labour and they can look an attractive and viable alternative to the current Government.
After that, it becomes more problematic as one of a number of things might happen (and I stress these are neither in order of likelihood nor desirability).
Labour gets its act together and economy starts improving The Conservative messaging on the economy in particular starts to resonate Reform's own internal contradictions start tearing it apart
1 won’t happen. Labours goose is cooked and any replacement for SKS and Reeves will be economically worse.
2 has started already. The Tories would be insane to get rid of her in my view.
3 given his track record I’d say there’s a strong chance of that but if it doesn’t happen then it’s game on.
We're a long way off an election and it's wishful thinking to imagine Labour can't or won't recover. In any case, IF economic perceptions change and people start to "feel" better (even if the truth is otherwise) that will lead a rebound in Labour polling numbers.
As for Badenoch, I've said on here a number of times she has had a good autumn but it's probable the May local elections will be painful and that will be the point of challenge. Don't underestimate the ability of people to do silly things and if 60 Conservative MPs see their seats going to Reform, that might be enough for a successful challenge.
As for Reform, the prospect of victory does wonders for party unity (look at how little trouble the "left" gave Blair after he became leader and started looking popular) so as long as they look the next Government internal dissent will be silenced but as soon as it starts becoming clear they won't win - let's say a winnable by-election isn't won - the knives will be out.
The window of opportunity for Reform isn't going to be open for ever but they are in no position to force an election and encouraging what amounts to civil insurrection to get one is ludicrous. The only way there would be an election is if Labour MPs wanted one and on most polling numbers most won't.
To ensure she survives beyond May, Kemi needs to ensure the Conservatives are at least second on the UK NEV in the local and devolved elections and ahead of Labour even if Reform still win overall. That would plus Tory gains of a few Labour councils like Westminster and Barnet would secure her position and put the pressure on Starmer to avoid a leadership challenge.
If however Labour beat the Conservatives on NEV then Sir Keir will likely survive and it will be Kemi facing a VONC with either Cleverly or Jenrick her likely replacement. Jenrick backing Tory MPs would certainly be sending in their letters to Bob Blackman like hyenas circling a wounded gazelle if the Tories fall to 3rd on NEV and councillors and councils won next May and lose MSPs and AMs too
You repeat your last pararaph almost daily, but miss out that any such self inflicted hari kari would see the conservative party staring into the abyss
Neither Jenrick or Cleverly will do any better than Badenoch
If the Tories fell to 3rd in the NEV next May behind both Reform and Labour they would already be staring into the abyss anyway. So many Tory MPs would feel they had to gamble on Jenrick, to try and win back Reform voters or Cleverly, to try and get Labour or LD tactical votes to beat Reform if Kemi showed herself unable to do either
I simply do not agree with you
Well let us hope Kemi ensures the Tories are at least second on NEV next May and secures her position
I see no reason to plunge the party into a leadership crisis no matter what happens in May, especially with Jenrick or Cleverly as terrible options
You may not but you are a Kemi loyalist. 65% of Tory MPs voted for Jenrick or Cleverly last year though not Kemi and if the Tories were 3rd on NEV next May a VONC in her leadership is very likely
Do you think they will capitulate and pursue a Reform pact in that situation? It's hard to see how they could be more than second fiddle if they go cap in hand to Reform, albeit they don't have enough support anymore to outright fight Reform either.
A Reform pact shouldn't be till after the election.
Before that, it should be very careful thought about deployment of resources. There is no point in going hell for leather where your right-leaning opponent is way out ahead. It's what people who want 5 more years of Labour would do. Anyone who wants that needs to have a word with themselves.
The el-Fattah saga proves whether it’s Tories or Labour in government, they’ll fight harder for a man who wants to exterminate the British people than for the British people themselves.
That’s why we won’t do pacts.
The next few years are crucial.
It’s Reform or bust.
Utter shite from Yusuf.
Not really. Labour have repeatedly proven they value this terrorist sympathiser more than law abiding citizens by refusing to revoke his citizenship. They could draw a line in the sand today and embarrass the Tories but they fundamentally agree with his views at some lev that western society deserves to die.
PSA: If you hit play on “In The Air Tonight” by Phil Collins at 11:56:20PM this New Year’s Eve, the drum fill will welcome you into 2026. Start the year the right way.
Fascinating that Bardot's convictions for racism were barely mentioned in the news coverage of her death. I wonder if it would have been the same if she had died closer to the events?
She was great for animal rights, less great on rights for Muslims and immigrants
Fascinating that Bardot's convictions for racism were barely mentioned in the news coverage of her death. I wonder if it would have been the same if she had died closer to the events?
She was great for animal rights, less great on rights for Muslims and immigrants
Thus proving that people who elevate animals over humans are wronguns.
A man has been arrested after five people were assaulted with a weapon at a hospital.
Merseyside Police say the incident began when a man attended Newton Community Hospital, in Newton-Le-Willows, on Tuesday afternoon and requested an appointment.
"At this stage, it is believed that his request was declined, and when he was asked to leave, he became increasingly agitated and damaged a counter before assaulting several people inside the hospital, with a weapon - possibly a crowbar," a police spokesperson said.
A 20-year-old man, who police say is originally from Afghanistan, has been arrested on suspicion of five counts of wounding with intent, affray and criminal damage.
Apparently he went crazy a he was not happy waiting for an appointment. Not defending him but I must admit to feeling slightly vexed when I’m stuck in a slow queue.
I had lunch yesterday with the executive director of a programme that helps special forces operatives reintegrate with society.
She said her job was to teach them that the “old lady with ten coupons in front of them in the queue” doesn’t behave like other SFOs…
A worthy cause but why is it left to a charity to do the work the Services should do. Admirable they have the time and resources to do it but …
There seems to be a ‘they’re disposable’ attitude going on here.
Perhaps not so much 'they're disposable' as 'they're no longer on the books so who cares?' - something I've got a sense of from some recent memoirs.
I'm also reminded of the closures of the Services hospitals in recent decades. You'd think HMG would at least want to keep some of the specialist expertise (in, for instance, battle fatigue and PTSD) rather than simply assume the NHS would provide. As I understand it, there was some back pedalling, but not much.
"Against this backdrop, thoughtful dissenters will consider whether an early election could be forced by via some kind of general strike blended with a dose of fuel and port blockades."
Little dig at the Telegraph there. Sure the article can’t be irrational and is well reasoned.
Clicks on article
Sees it’s Isobel Oakshott.
Clicks off promptly.
Reform know their only chance is to get an early election - within the next 12-18 months - while it is still Labour vs Not Labour and they can look an attractive and viable alternative to the current Government.
After that, it becomes more problematic as one of a number of things might happen (and I stress these are neither in order of likelihood nor desirability).
Labour gets its act together and economy starts improving The Conservative messaging on the economy in particular starts to resonate Reform's own internal contradictions start tearing it apart
1 won’t happen. Labours goose is cooked and any replacement for SKS and Reeves will be economically worse.
2 has started already. The Tories would be insane to get rid of her in my view.
3 given his track record I’d say there’s a strong chance of that but if it doesn’t happen then it’s game on.
We're a long way off an election and it's wishful thinking to imagine Labour can't or won't recover. In any case, IF economic perceptions change and people start to "feel" better (even if the truth is otherwise) that will lead a rebound in Labour polling numbers.
As for Badenoch, I've said on here a number of times she has had a good autumn but it's probable the May local elections will be painful and that will be the point of challenge. Don't underestimate the ability of people to do silly things and if 60 Conservative MPs see their seats going to Reform, that might be enough for a successful challenge.
As for Reform, the prospect of victory does wonders for party unity (look at how little trouble the "left" gave Blair after he became leader and started looking popular) so as long as they look the next Government internal dissent will be silenced but as soon as it starts becoming clear they won't win - let's say a winnable by-election isn't won - the knives will be out.
The window of opportunity for Reform isn't going to be open for ever but they are in no position to force an election and encouraging what amounts to civil insurrection to get one is ludicrous. The only way there would be an election is if Labour MPs wanted one and on most polling numbers most won't.
To ensure she survives beyond May, Kemi needs to ensure the Conservatives are at least second on the UK NEV in the local and devolved elections and ahead of Labour even if Reform still win overall. That would plus Tory gains of a few Labour councils like Westminster and Barnet would secure her position and put the pressure on Starmer to avoid a leadership challenge.
If however Labour beat the Conservatives on NEV then Sir Keir will likely survive and it will be Kemi facing a VONC with either Cleverly or Jenrick her likely replacement. Jenrick backing Tory MPs would certainly be sending in their letters to Bob Blackman like hyenas circling a wounded gazelle if the Tories fall to 3rd on NEV and councillors and councils won next May and lose MSPs and AMs too
You repeat your last pararaph almost daily, but miss out that any such self inflicted hari kari would see the conservative party staring into the abyss
Neither Jenrick or Cleverly will do any better than Badenoch
If the Tories fell to 3rd in the NEV next May behind both Reform and Labour they would already be staring into the abyss anyway. So many Tory MPs would feel they had to gamble on Jenrick, to try and win back Reform voters or Cleverly, to try and get Labour or LD tactical votes to beat Reform if Kemi showed herself unable to do either
I simply do not agree with you
Well let us hope Kemi ensures the Tories are at least second on NEV next May and secures her position
Secure, even if they achieve 2nd on under 20% of the NEV?
Yes as they would still be the main alternative to Reform then and it would be Labour in 3rd and Starmer facing a leadership challenge then not Kemi
What if it's Reform first, Greens second, Tories third, Labour fourth?
I think LibDems second is more likely.
To back this up, the LibDems are second on vote share in council by elections since last May
With that said... in quite a few European countries, the Greens have ended up the de facto party of the Left. And in almost all (France being the obvious exception) they outpoll the local equivalent of the LibDems.
So, I don't think it's impossible that a charasmatic leader like Polanski could lead the Greens to second place behind Reform. Heck, it's not impossible that if the Conservative/Reform split were to end up almost equal, and the Labour Party were to continue to shed votes, that they could end up leading the polls.
Possible, yes but their performance in by elections doesn't point to it.
I reckon the order will be:
Reform LibDems Conservatives Labour Green Your Party and their fellow travellers
Given the seats up next year, at Holyrood, the Senedd and in local councils in London and the big cities but not most English counties or districts or unitaries I would expect Labour to beat the LDs and maybe even the Tories too on the night. However the Greens could run Labour close GB wide and Reform's lead may be smaller than national polls suggest. Indeed it is not impossible Labour or the Greens win most English council seats on the night and beat Reform in Scotland too once both list and constituency votes are tallied, and while Reform if they have a great night in Wales could beat Plaid they could still not win on the night and it needs the political Profs to do their NEV calculation for Farage to claim the win
The el-Fattah saga proves whether it’s Tories or Labour in government, they’ll fight harder for a man who wants to exterminate the British people than for the British people themselves.
That’s why we won’t do pacts.
The next few years are crucial.
It’s Reform or bust.
Utter shite from Yusuf.
Not really. Labour have repeatedly proven they value this terrorist sympathiser more than law abiding citizens by refusing to revoke his citizenship. They could draw a line in the sand today and embarrass the Tories but they fundamentally agree with his views at some lev that western society deserves to die.
Terrorist sympathiser? I think we all agree that Starmer's support and approval of terrorist Bibi's genocide of Gazans has been wicked.
Fascinating that Bardot's convictions for racism were barely mentioned in the news coverage of her death. I wonder if it would have been the same if she had died closer to the events?
She was great for animal rights, less great on rights for Muslims and immigrants
Thus proving that people who elevate animals over humans are wronguns.
Hitler was also of a similar type, yes, one of history's most famous vegetarians
Fascinating that Bardot's convictions for racism were barely mentioned in the news coverage of her death. I wonder if it would have been the same if she had died closer to the events?
She was great for animal rights, less great on rights for Muslims and immigrants
Thus proving that people who elevate animals over humans are wronguns.
Hitler was also of a similar type, yes, one of history's most famous vegetarians
It's that age old question. Who was the greatest threat to humanity and the World order; Adolf Hitler or Brigitte Bardot?
Kearns is a far left campaigner - indistinguishable from Polanski on policy - and sits at the heart of Kemi Badenoch’s team as Shadow Minister for National Security:
Kemi wants her to be the UK’s Minister for National Security.
Do you?
Alicia Kearns is a One Nation Tory, if Reform are going to call even One Nation Tories 'far left' how do they expect to win centrist swing voters at the next GE?
She’s also excercise extremely poor judgement over this British/Egyptian guy but, unlike most others who did, has come out on the attack over it and I don’t think it’s doing her any favours.
These people are not 'One Nation' Tories. Disraeli would do somersaults in his grave if he knew that a group that believed in handing sovereignty to an organisation of continental bureaucrats, or undermining British industry by piling costs on energy, or importing people who hate Britain, had labelled themselves using his words. Disraeli spoke of 'two nations - the rich and the poor'. There is nothing more regressive and more guaranteed to take money out of poor peoples' pockets and give it to rich people than high energy costs, as we must all use it, and there is no 'cheaper' alternative. They are two nation Conservatives.
The el-Fattah saga proves whether it’s Tories or Labour in government, they’ll fight harder for a man who wants to exterminate the British people than for the British people themselves.
That’s why we won’t do pacts.
The next few years are crucial.
It’s Reform or bust.
Utter shite from Yusuf.
Not really. Labour have repeatedly proven they value this terrorist sympathiser more than law abiding citizens by refusing to revoke his citizenship. They could draw a line in the sand today and embarrass the Tories but they fundamentally agree with his views at some lev that western society deserves to die.
This Labour government thinks that western society deserves to die? That's alt-right loonytunes stuff. What's happening?
The el-Fattah saga proves whether it’s Tories or Labour in government, they’ll fight harder for a man who wants to exterminate the British people than for the British people themselves.
That’s why we won’t do pacts.
The next few years are crucial.
It’s Reform or bust.
Utter shite from Yusuf.
Not really. Labour have repeatedly proven they value this terrorist sympathiser more than law abiding citizens by refusing to revoke his citizenship. They could draw a line in the sand today and embarrass the Tories but they fundamentally agree with his views at some lev that western society deserves to die.
No, really.
El-Fattah is just another rabble rouser - a lot like Yusuf.
Our democracy is well able to cope with such characters. Within the existing system.
What is far more of a risk is authoritarians taking on themselves the power to strip citizenship from those they don't like. They should not have such powers.
"Against this backdrop, thoughtful dissenters will consider whether an early election could be forced by via some kind of general strike blended with a dose of fuel and port blockades."
Little dig at the Telegraph there. Sure the article can’t be irrational and is well reasoned.
Clicks on article
Sees it’s Isobel Oakshott.
Clicks off promptly.
Reform know their only chance is to get an early election - within the next 12-18 months - while it is still Labour vs Not Labour and they can look an attractive and viable alternative to the current Government.
After that, it becomes more problematic as one of a number of things might happen (and I stress these are neither in order of likelihood nor desirability).
Labour gets its act together and economy starts improving The Conservative messaging on the economy in particular starts to resonate Reform's own internal contradictions start tearing it apart
1 won’t happen. Labours goose is cooked and any replacement for SKS and Reeves will be economically worse.
2 has started already. The Tories would be insane to get rid of her in my view.
3 given his track record I’d say there’s a strong chance of that but if it doesn’t happen then it’s game on.
We're a long way off an election and it's wishful thinking to imagine Labour can't or won't recover. In any case, IF economic perceptions change and people start to "feel" better (even if the truth is otherwise) that will lead a rebound in Labour polling numbers.
As for Badenoch, I've said on here a number of times she has had a good autumn but it's probable the May local elections will be painful and that will be the point of challenge. Don't underestimate the ability of people to do silly things and if 60 Conservative MPs see their seats going to Reform, that might be enough for a successful challenge.
As for Reform, the prospect of victory does wonders for party unity (look at how little trouble the "left" gave Blair after he became leader and started looking popular) so as long as they look the next Government internal dissent will be silenced but as soon as it starts becoming clear they won't win - let's say a winnable by-election isn't won - the knives will be out.
The window of opportunity for Reform isn't going to be open for ever but they are in no position to force an election and encouraging what amounts to civil insurrection to get one is ludicrous. The only way there would be an election is if Labour MPs wanted one and on most polling numbers most won't.
There is a more appropriate word than ludicrous for "encouraging a civil insurrection".
People who claim to want to protect British values want to encourage a MAGA-inspired and entirely unBritish coup.
The el-Fattah saga proves whether it’s Tories or Labour in government, they’ll fight harder for a man who wants to exterminate the British people than for the British people themselves.
That’s why we won’t do pacts.
The next few years are crucial.
It’s Reform or bust.
Utter shite from Yusuf.
Not really. Labour have repeatedly proven they value this terrorist sympathiser more than law abiding citizens by refusing to revoke his citizenship. They could draw a line in the sand today and embarrass the Tories but they fundamentally agree with his views at some lev that western society deserves to die.
Kearns is a far left campaigner - indistinguishable from Polanski on policy - and sits at the heart of Kemi Badenoch’s team as Shadow Minister for National Security:
Kemi wants her to be the UK’s Minister for National Security.
Do you?
Alicia Kearns is a One Nation Tory, if Reform are going to call even One Nation Tories 'far left' how do they expect to win centrist swing voters at the next GE?
She’s also excercise extremely poor judgement over this British/Egyptian guy but, unlike most others who did, has come out on the attack over it and I don’t think it’s doing her any favours.
These people are not 'One Nation' Tories. Disraeli would do somersaults in his grave if he knew that a group that believed in handing sovereignty to an organisation of continental bureaucrats, or undermining British industry by piling costs on energy, or importing people who hate Britain, had labelled themselves using his words. Disraeli spoke of 'two nations - the rich and the poor'. There is nothing more regressive and more guaranteed to take money out of poor peoples' pockets and give it to rich people than high energy costs, as we must all use it, and there is no 'cheaper' alternative. They are two nation Conservatives.
On the subject of Disraeli I remember studying that period of political history at school and it was weird how there were two very committed camps - the Disraelites and the Gladstonians. I was a Disraelite personally - might have been influenced by Disraeli’s brothers having been at my school and Gladstone having been educated at the young flash interloper school.
The Tory Shadow Attorney General is also now Abramovich’s legal counsel - apparently working to protect his assets from efforts to recover them for Ukraine.
I think you are correct. And right, which has a somewhat different meaning.
I don"t think a barrister should be judged for representing a criminal as our whole justice system is based on the principle of defendents having access to good representation. But Abramovich can easily pay for the best legal representation and it seems seriously stupid for a politician to put themselves on the wrong side of a moral issue like this.
The el-Fattah saga proves whether it’s Tories or Labour in government, they’ll fight harder for a man who wants to exterminate the British people than for the British people themselves.
That’s why we won’t do pacts.
The next few years are crucial.
It’s Reform or bust.
Utter shite from Yusuf.
Not really. Labour have repeatedly proven they value this terrorist sympathiser more than law abiding citizens by refusing to revoke his citizenship. They could draw a line in the sand today and embarrass the Tories but they fundamentally agree with his views at some lev that western society deserves to die.
This Labour government thinks that western society deserves to die? That's alt-right loonytunes stuff. What's happening?
I am not sure Starmer being personally responsible for the genocide of 70,000 Gazans to protect the status quo of Israel correspondents with "this Labour government thinks that western society deserves to die". I am not sure they can be guilty of both.
The Tory Shadow Attorney General is also now Abramovich’s legal counsel - apparently working to protect his assets from efforts to recover them for Ukraine.
I think you are correct. And right, which has a somewhat different meaning.
I don"t think a barrister should be judged for representing a criminal as our whole justice system is based on the principle of defendents having access to good representation. But Abramovich can easily pay for the best legal representation and it seems seriously stupid for a politician to put themselves on the wrong side of a moral issue like this.
As ever, while we might disagree on the particulars, we tend to agree on the fundamentals.
Fascinating that Bardot's convictions for racism were barely mentioned in the news coverage of her death. I wonder if it would have been the same if she had died closer to the events?
She was great for animal rights, less great on rights for Muslims and immigrants
She once described her son, publicly, as a “cancerous tumor.”
The Tory Shadow Attorney General is also now Abramovich’s legal counsel - apparently working to protect his assets from efforts to recover them for Ukraine.
I think you are correct. And right, which has a somewhat different meaning.
I don"t think a barrister should be judged for representing a criminal as our whole justice system is based on the principle of defendents having access to good representation. But Abramovich can easily pay for the best legal representation and it seems seriously stupid for a politician to put themselves on the wrong side of a moral issue like this.
It’s an obvious conflict of interest, something which a barrister ought to understand.
The Tory Shadow Attorney General is also now Abramovich’s legal counsel - apparently working to protect his assets from efforts to recover them for Ukraine.
I think you are correct. And right, which has a somewhat different meaning.
I don"t think a barrister should be judged for representing a criminal as our whole justice system is based on the principle of defendents having access to good representation. But Abramovich can easily pay for the best legal representation and it seems seriously stupid for a politician to put themselves on the wrong side of a moral issue like this.
It’s more tragic that it’s taken Jersey to investigate him for money laundering when he was super high profile and resident in the UK for so long and they did nothing.
"Asylum seekers should be required to wear electronic tags so their movements can be tracked, a policing chief has proposed.
Katy Bourne, Sussex’s police and crime commissioner (PCC), said the move would act as a deterrent to any potential criminal activity. It could also give migrants “greater freedom” to travel further from holding centres and help them get temporary jobs."
A man has been arrested after five people were assaulted with a weapon at a hospital.
Merseyside Police say the incident began when a man attended Newton Community Hospital, in Newton-Le-Willows, on Tuesday afternoon and requested an appointment.
"At this stage, it is believed that his request was declined, and when he was asked to leave, he became increasingly agitated and damaged a counter before assaulting several people inside the hospital, with a weapon - possibly a crowbar," a police spokesperson said.
A 20-year-old man, who police say is originally from Afghanistan, has been arrested on suspicion of five counts of wounding with intent, affray and criminal damage.
Apparently he went crazy a he was not happy waiting for an appointment. Not defending him but I must admit to feeling slightly vexed when I’m stuck in a slow queue.
I had lunch yesterday with the executive director of a programme that helps special forces operatives reintegrate with society.
She said her job was to teach them that the “old lady with ten coupons in front of them in the queue” doesn’t behave like other SFOs…
A worthy cause but why is it left to a charity to do the work the Services should do. Admirable they have the time and resources to do it but …
There seems to be a ‘they’re disposable’ attitude going on here.
Perhaps not so much 'they're disposable' as 'they're no longer on the books so who cares?' - something I've got a sense of from some recent memoirs.
I'm also reminded of the closures of the Services hospitals in recent decades. You'd think HMG would at least want to keep some of the specialist expertise (in, for instance, battle fatigue and PTSD) rather than simply assume the NHS would provide. As I understand it, there was some back pedalling, but not much.
The services hospitals were not viable due to their small size, but there are specific military wards (cross services) in NHS hospitals, and also for armed forces consultants employed at NHS hospitals with specific responsibilities. There are several RAF consultants in Lincoln for example.
The forces medical services show very little interest in vetrans after discharge as I am sure @Dura_Ace can testify.
The Tory Shadow Attorney General is also now Abramovich’s legal counsel - apparently working to protect his assets from efforts to recover them for Ukraine.
I think you are correct. And right, which has a somewhat different meaning.
I don"t think a barrister should be judged for representing a criminal as our whole justice system is based on the principle of defendents having access to good representation. But Abramovich can easily pay for the best legal representation and it seems seriously stupid for a politician to put themselves on the wrong side of a moral issue like this.
It’s an obvious conflict of interest, something which a barrister ought to understand.
The el-Fattah saga proves whether it’s Tories or Labour in government, they’ll fight harder for a man who wants to exterminate the British people than for the British people themselves.
That’s why we won’t do pacts.
The next few years are crucial.
It’s Reform or bust.
Utter shite from Yusuf.
Not really. Labour have repeatedly proven they value this terrorist sympathiser more than law abiding citizens by refusing to revoke his citizenship. They could draw a line in the sand today and embarrass the Tories but they fundamentally agree with his views at some lev that western society deserves to die.
Or more accurately they have supported the rule of law and the right to free expression.
Sure, these are under threat in some Western civilised countries, but there is little point in having these if they are just applied when convenient for governments.
The guy seems a bit of an arsehole to me, but arseholes have rights too.
The el-Fattah saga proves whether it’s Tories or Labour in government, they’ll fight harder for a man who wants to exterminate the British people than for the British people themselves.
That’s why we won’t do pacts.
The next few years are crucial.
It’s Reform or bust.
Utter shite from Yusuf.
Not really. Labour have repeatedly proven they value this terrorist sympathiser more than law abiding citizens by refusing to revoke his citizenship. They could draw a line in the sand today and embarrass the Tories but they fundamentally agree with his views at some lev that western society deserves to die.
I think it’s a bit excessive to call him a terrorist sympathiser.
And Labour haven’t offered him that much sympathy, which is hardly surprising given his position.
The el-Fattah saga proves whether it’s Tories or Labour in government, they’ll fight harder for a man who wants to exterminate the British people than for the British people themselves.
That’s why we won’t do pacts.
The next few years are crucial.
It’s Reform or bust.
Utter shite from Yusuf.
Not really. Labour have repeatedly proven they value this terrorist sympathiser more than law abiding citizens by refusing to revoke his citizenship. They could draw a line in the sand today and embarrass the Tories but they fundamentally agree with his views at some lev that western society deserves to die.
No, really.
El-Fattah is just another rabble rouser - a lot like Yusuf.
Our democracy is well able to cope with such characters. Within the existing system.
What is far more of a risk is authoritarians taking on themselves the power to strip citizenship from those they don't like. They should not have such powers.
The power to do it already exists and has been used multiple times. It's a failing of the Labour party that they seem unable to face down the Islamists in their party and voters to tell this guy to get fucked and deport him back to Egypt where he belongs. That's the realpolitik here, nothing to do with some mythical authoritarians or setting precedents given that the laws already exist and have already been used. Labour are making fools of you "centrist dads" but you're too up your own arses to realise. You've become their useful idiots so scared of the big bad far right that you'll go along with anything they do regardless of how poor the decision is.
"Asylum seekers should be required to wear electronic tags so their movements can be tracked, a policing chief has proposed.
Katy Bourne, Sussex’s police and crime commissioner (PCC), said the move would act as a deterrent to any potential criminal activity. It could also give migrants “greater freedom” to travel further from holding centres and help them get temporary jobs."
The Tory Shadow Attorney General is also now Abramovich’s legal counsel - apparently working to protect his assets from efforts to recover them for Ukraine.
I think you are correct. And right, which has a somewhat different meaning.
I don"t think a barrister should be judged for representing a criminal as our whole justice system is based on the principle of defendents having access to good representation. But Abramovich can easily pay for the best legal representation and it seems seriously stupid for a politician to put themselves on the wrong side of a moral issue like this.
It should matter- Lord Wolfson is supposedly an active politician and Abramovitch is considered an unfriendly foreigner (I think I'm OK in saying that). More so than that Egyptian bloke we're all meant to be getting our knickers in a twist about. The recency means that it ought to be a bigger issue than any undesirables that Starmer or Hermer represented before they entered frontline politics.
It probably won't matter. In part, because nobody really thinks that Wolfson will actually be in power, ever (do they?). But also because there is a huge double standard in the media.
The el-Fattah saga proves whether it’s Tories or Labour in government, they’ll fight harder for a man who wants to exterminate the British people than for the British people themselves.
That’s why we won’t do pacts.
The next few years are crucial.
It’s Reform or bust.
Utter shite from Yusuf.
Not really. Labour have repeatedly proven they value this terrorist sympathiser more than law abiding citizens by refusing to revoke his citizenship. They could draw a line in the sand today and embarrass the Tories but they fundamentally agree with his views at some lev that western society deserves to die.
Or more accurately they have supported the rule of law and the right to free expression.
Sure, these are under threat in some Western civilised countries, but there is little point in having these if they are just applied when convenient for governments.
The guy seems a bit of an arsehole to me, but arseholes have rights too.
And if we unpersoned all arseholes, let alone anyone accused of being an arsehole, who would be left?
Kearns is a far left campaigner - indistinguishable from Polanski on policy - and sits at the heart of Kemi Badenoch’s team as Shadow Minister for National Security:
Kemi wants her to be the UK’s Minister for National Security.
Do you?
Alicia Kearns is a One Nation Tory, if Reform are going to call even One Nation Tories 'far left' how do they expect to win centrist swing voters at the next GE?
She’s also excercise extremely poor judgement over this British/Egyptian guy but, unlike most others who did, has come out on the attack over it and I don’t think it’s doing her any favours.
These people are not 'One Nation' Tories. Disraeli would do somersaults in his grave if he knew that a group that believed in handing sovereignty to an organisation of continental bureaucrats, or undermining British industry by piling costs on energy, or importing people who hate Britain, had labelled themselves using his words. Disraeli spoke of 'two nations - the rich and the poor'. There is nothing more regressive and more guaranteed to take money out of poor peoples' pockets and give it to rich people than high energy costs, as we must all use it, and there is no 'cheaper' alternative. They are two nation Conservatives.
On the subject of Disraeli I remember studying that period of political history at school and it was weird how there were two very committed camps - the Disraelites and the Gladstonians. I was a Disraelite personally - might have been influenced by Disraeli’s brothers having been at my school and Gladstone having been educated at the young flash interloper school.
Had we ended up with a Portillo v Brown election in 2005 we could have effectively had a Disraeli v Gladstone rerun
A man has been arrested after five people were assaulted with a weapon at a hospital.
Merseyside Police say the incident began when a man attended Newton Community Hospital, in Newton-Le-Willows, on Tuesday afternoon and requested an appointment.
"At this stage, it is believed that his request was declined, and when he was asked to leave, he became increasingly agitated and damaged a counter before assaulting several people inside the hospital, with a weapon - possibly a crowbar," a police spokesperson said.
A 20-year-old man, who police say is originally from Afghanistan, has been arrested on suspicion of five counts of wounding with intent, affray and criminal damage.
Apparently he went crazy a he was not happy waiting for an appointment. Not defending him but I must admit to feeling slightly vexed when I’m stuck in a slow queue.
I had lunch yesterday with the executive director of a programme that helps special forces operatives reintegrate with society.
She said her job was to teach them that the “old lady with ten coupons in front of them in the queue” doesn’t behave like other SFOs…
A worthy cause but why is it left to a charity to do the work the Services should do. Admirable they have the time and resources to do it but …
There seems to be a ‘they’re disposable’ attitude going on here.
The little old ladies are not disposable! They are the bedrock of decency in this country.
A man has been arrested after five people were assaulted with a weapon at a hospital.
Merseyside Police say the incident began when a man attended Newton Community Hospital, in Newton-Le-Willows, on Tuesday afternoon and requested an appointment.
"At this stage, it is believed that his request was declined, and when he was asked to leave, he became increasingly agitated and damaged a counter before assaulting several people inside the hospital, with a weapon - possibly a crowbar," a police spokesperson said.
A 20-year-old man, who police say is originally from Afghanistan, has been arrested on suspicion of five counts of wounding with intent, affray and criminal damage.
Apparently he went crazy a he was not happy waiting for an appointment. Not defending him but I must admit to feeling slightly vexed when I’m stuck in a slow queue.
I had lunch yesterday with the executive director of a programme that helps special forces operatives reintegrate with society.
She said her job was to teach them that the “old lady with ten coupons in front of them in the queue” doesn’t behave like other SFOs…
A worthy cause but why is it left to a charity to do the work the Services should do. Admirable they have the time and resources to do it but …
There seems to be a ‘they’re disposable’ attitude going on here.
Perhaps not so much 'they're disposable' as 'they're no longer on the books so who cares?' - something I've got a sense of from some recent memoirs.
I'm also reminded of the closures of the Services hospitals in recent decades. You'd think HMG would at least want to keep some of the specialist expertise (in, for instance, battle fatigue and PTSD) rather than simply assume the NHS would provide. As I understand it, there was some back pedalling, but not much.
The services hospitals were not viable due to their small size, but there are specific military wards (cross services) in NHS hospitals, and also for armed forces consultants employed at NHS hospitals with specific responsibilities. There are several RAF consultants in Lincoln for example.
The forces medical services show very little interest in vetrans after discharge as I am sure @Dura_Ace can testify.
Thanks, that would indeed be consistent with the accounts I have read.
Edit: presumably the reduction of the services played a part in commensurate reductions in hospital sizes. But given that, there's not much one can do about the implications.
Kearns is a far left campaigner - indistinguishable from Polanski on policy - and sits at the heart of Kemi Badenoch’s team as Shadow Minister for National Security:
Kemi wants her to be the UK’s Minister for National Security.
Do you?
Alicia Kearns is a One Nation Tory, if Reform are going to call even One Nation Tories 'far left' how do they expect to win centrist swing voters at the next GE?
She’s also excercise extremely poor judgement over this British/Egyptian guy but, unlike most others who did, has come out on the attack over it and I don’t think it’s doing her any favours.
These people are not 'One Nation' Tories. Disraeli would do somersaults in his grave if he knew that a group that believed in handing sovereignty to an organisation of continental bureaucrats, or undermining British industry by piling costs on energy, or importing people who hate Britain, had labelled themselves using his words. Disraeli spoke of 'two nations - the rich and the poor'. There is nothing more regressive and more guaranteed to take money out of poor peoples' pockets and give it to rich people than high energy costs, as we must all use it, and there is no 'cheaper' alternative. They are two nation Conservatives.
On the subject of Disraeli I remember studying that period of political history at school and it was weird how there were two very committed camps - the Disraelites and the Gladstonians. I was a Disraelite personally - might have been influenced by Disraeli’s brothers having been at my school and Gladstone having been educated at the young flash interloper school.
Had we ended up with a Portillo v Brown election in 2005 we could have effectively had a Disraeli v Gladstone rerun
Talking of Mikey P, have we discussed this?
According to documents released by the National Archives, former Treasury Chief Secretary Michael Portillo argued forcefully in 1991 that the project, then known as Crossrail, was a “mistake” that would “never” be built. He warned Prime Minister John Major that the scheme was excessively costly and its benefits wildly overstated, urging its immediate cancellation. This revelation offers a fascinating glimpse into a critical moment of decision-making, pitting short-term fiscal prudence against long-term, nation-building investment.
Comments
See the police opposition to a jazz club in Covent Garden. Not because they were worried about schwartzer musicians getting teenagers hooked on Mary Jane - apparently they were worried that people going in and out if the club might be subject to crime.
Literally blame the victims - in advance.
If however Labour beat the Conservatives on NEV then Sir Keir will likely survive and it will be Kemi facing a VONC with either Cleverly or Jenrick her likely replacement. Jenrick backing Tory MPs would certainly be sending in their letters to Bob Blackman like hyenas circling a wounded gazelle if the Tories fall to 3rd on NEV and councillors and councils won next May and lose MSPs and AMs too
But it's also a fundamentally foolish one.
Americans use Google and Apple and Netflix and Amazon and ChatGPT and Anthropic. You might be able to get countries to change laws, but you are liable to get kicked in the teeth by consumer behaviour. (As Tesla has found out.)
We also had a huge empire for civil servants to run and generals to protect
'The only decent impression he can do is of a man with no talent.'
(That's not quite true. He has extraordinary talents for self-promotion and self-deception.)
Neither Jenrick or Cleverly will do any better than Badenoch
Dom's theory of government is to get a small number of enormous brains and lock them in a small room. Then pipe national-level data into that room, so these mega minds can decide what to do, and pipe those decisions out for the rest of us (hereafter called "minions") to act on.
There are a bajillion ways that this model doesn't work, but it's attractive if you believe in the Great Man version of history.
I'm reminded of the description of Manuel Fraga- a relatively open minister under Franco, incredibly reactionary in democratic Spain. He was so clever, they said, that the Spanish State could fit inside his head. Unfortunately, that limited his vision of the state to what could fit in his head, and democratic nations are bigger than that.
https://x.com/ZiaYusufUK/status/2006073124027261254
The el-Fattah saga proves whether it’s Tories or Labour in government, they’ll fight harder for a man who wants to exterminate the British people than for the British people themselves.
That’s why we won’t do pacts.
The next few years are crucial.
It’s Reform or bust.
"Israel has become the first country to formally recognise Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland as an independent nation."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g417md05go
The current system of obfuscation and obscuration of responsibility for everything is useless.
I certainly do not want a Reform lite leader like Jenrick
I think Trump has mooted recognising it?
It's third place only apparently...
I'm not sure it does, at least not to the degree that Dom thinks. We don't want idiots in charge, sure. But I'm also pretty confident that our problems aren't the sort where the answers are going to come from clever people in a bunker.
(If I had to guess, it's about reducing the length of chains of command and strengthening the sort of localism that Dom came to prominence for campaigning against.)
From his time in government he seems also to be under the delusion that being rude to people is automatically a positive. Sure, if everyone is a milquetoast consensus zombie that's not good either, but convincing people is about more than gathering the big brains.
It's one reason we have politicians in the first place (in theory).
That one small head could carry all he knew
I can even give you some historical examples if you like. In 2019, Japan and South Korea got into a bit an argie bargie about semiconductor materials as the Japanese government attempted to maintan their local dominance and proibited some exports to South Korea. It was -fair to say- extremely poorly recieved in South Korea.
Result:
• Uniqlo sales in Korea dropped ~40%
• Toyota sales collapsed by over 50%
• Japanese beer imports fell ~90%
Yusuf might be kicking Starmer while he's down, but Kemi and the Tories put him on the floor.
Exhibit A - Dominic Cummings.
So, I don't think it's impossible that a charasmatic leader like Polanski could lead the Greens to second place behind Reform. Heck, it's not impossible that if the Conservative/Reform split were to end up almost equal, and the Labour Party were to continue to shed votes, that they could end up leading the polls.
https://x.com/mlp_officiel/status/2006081975069917449
I’m not cooking anything tonight, but last night’s dinner looked like a thimbleful
There seems to be a ‘they’re disposable’ attitude going on here.
I reckon the order will be:
Reform
LibDems
Conservatives
Labour
Green
Your Party and their fellow travellers
Photos should appear normal sized again.
It appears a couple of posters have repeatedly broken the one photo per day rule.
@Isam and @Malmesbury can you confirm you understand that you are only allowed to post one picture per day.
The more photos on a thread the more Vanilla shrinks them.
The current system is designed to prevent anyone doing anything.
Why be an administrative cog, when you have the brains and instincts to want to create change?
I'll change the settings back.
When Vanilla does an update sometimes it changes the defaults.
How about -
“An exaggeration so vast it collapses language into a screaming singularity, stretches meaning past the heat-death of the universe, and forces metaphor itself to file a formal complaint for workplace stress—an overstatement so outrageously, catastrophically, immeasurably excessive that every exaggeration ever uttered bows before it, weeps openly, and admits it has been living a lie.”
Before that, it should be very careful thought about deployment of resources. There is no point in going hell for leather where your right-leaning opponent is way out ahead. It's what people who want 5 more years of Labour would do. Anyone who wants that needs to have a word with themselves.
PSA: If you hit play on “In The Air Tonight” by Phil Collins at 11:56:20PM this New Year’s Eve, the drum fill will welcome you into 2026. Start the year the right way.
I'm also reminded of the closures of the Services hospitals in recent decades. You'd think HMG would at least want to keep some of the specialist expertise (in, for instance, battle fatigue and PTSD) rather than simply assume the NHS would provide. As I understand it, there was some back pedalling, but not much.
El-Fattah is just another rabble rouser - a lot like Yusuf.
Our democracy is well able to cope with such characters. Within the existing system.
What is far more of a risk is authoritarians taking on themselves the power to strip citizenship from those they don't like.
They should not have such powers.
You just want to unmake our constitution.
As the arse you admire is trying to do in the US.
I don"t think a barrister should be judged for representing a criminal as our whole justice system is based on the principle of defendents having access to good representation. But Abramovich can easily pay for the best legal representation and it seems seriously stupid for a politician to put themselves on the wrong side of a moral issue like this.
Surprisingly, they were not on good terms.
The forces medical services show very little interest in vetrans after discharge as I am sure @Dura_Ace can testify.
Sure, these are under threat in some Western civilised countries, but there is little point in having these if they are just applied when convenient for governments.
The guy seems a bit of an arsehole to me, but arseholes have rights too.
And Labour haven’t offered him that much sympathy, which is hardly surprising given his position.
Oh, sorry, you didn’t mean Yusuf?
Increasingly that is what the Right wing Populists are demanding:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/dec/29/number-people-britons-must-be-born-in-uk-rising-study?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
It probably won't matter. In part, because nobody really thinks that Wolfson will actually be in power, ever (do they?). But also because there is a huge double standard in the media.
They are the bedrock of decency in this country.
Edit: presumably the reduction of the services played a part in commensurate reductions in hospital sizes. But given that, there's not much one can do about the implications.
According to documents released by the National Archives, former Treasury Chief Secretary Michael Portillo argued forcefully in 1991 that the project, then known as Crossrail, was a “mistake” that would “never” be built. He warned Prime Minister John Major that the scheme was excessively costly and its benefits wildly overstated, urging its immediate cancellation. This revelation offers a fascinating glimpse into a critical moment of decision-making, pitting short-term fiscal prudence against long-term, nation-building investment.
https://fintechpulse.co.uk/2025/12/30/the-19-billion-railway-that-almost-never-was-a-masterclass-in-financial-foresight-and-fiscal-myopia/
(Full story in FT)