As Reform continues to be a suppository (sic) for Tory MPs here's what the voters say

System · January 20

As Reform continues to be a suppository (sic) for Tory MPs here's what the voters say – politicalbetting.com

? How has last week’s sacking/defection played out with the public? Badenoch’s approval rating doesn’t appear to have taken a hit, in fact at -11 she reaches the highest since she first became leader and first time she has polled higher approval than Farage since then, though both are underwater.

Read the full story here

Omnium · January 20

Well first if it turns out that way

DavidL · January 20

The Tories may be stronger for losing some of these people but they need to watch their critical mass in terms of MPs.

TheScreamingEagles · January 20

The lack of self awareness here is off the scale.

Dame Andrea Jenkyns says Reform UK should stop taking Conservative defectors to avoid an “establishment takeover”.

Learn more: https://bbc.in/4pOj6bh

It is to my eternal shame that I helped this woman get elected to parliament.

LostPassword · January 20

30% of Tory voters think Reform better represents the right? That's a brutal result.

HYUFD · January 20

Good for Kemi her approval rating now exceeds Farage and Starmer but she needs to see Conservative voteshare overtake them to shore up her position. That likely requires winning more centrists now Reform is seen as the main party of the right.

Farage will be pleased most Reform voters would happily vote for ex Tory MPs

Omnium · January 20

But what on earth is going on with the press that Trump basically loses it completely and yet nobody dares report it.

Newsflash: The guy with the most nukes is insane.

Not so bad until you realise the guy with the second most nukes is itching to use them.

Xi - did I tell you how much I like the guy!?

TheScreamingEagles · January 20

LostPassword said:
30% of Tory voters think Reform better represents the right? That's a brutal result.

Yup.

MattW · January 20

stodge said:

MattW said:

TheScreamingEagles said:
I wrote a f*cking thread about Thomas Skinner last year!

https://www1.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2025/08/14/could-one-man-win-both-strictly-come-dancing-and-the-next-london-mayoral-election/
And yet no one remembers.

Who is blameworthy of the two?

*innocent face*
Given Reform have already chosen their London Mayoral candidate and it ain't Skinner, the short answer was No then and it's definitely No now.

You think Laila's position is firmly tied down?

bondegezou · January 20

More on Thomas Skinner:

Skinner stated "I love Trump I think he is brilliant, that's my opinion. I think it's good he is back in charge, it will be good for the UK economy".

TheScreamingEagles · January 20

bondegezou said:
More on Thomas Skinner:

Skinner stated "I love Trump I think he is brilliant, that's my opinion. I think it's good he is back in charge, it will be good for the UK economy".

He's a vile man, cheating on his wife days after they got married.

bondegezou · January 20

TheScreamingEagles said:

bondegezou said:
More on Thomas Skinner:

Skinner stated "I love Trump I think he is brilliant, that's my opinion. I think it's good he is back in charge, it will be good for the UK economy".
He's a vile man, cheating on his wife days after they got married.

Was also convicted for handling stolen goods and drug possession.

ydoethur · January 20

TheScreamingEagles said:

bondegezou said:
More on Thomas Skinner:

Skinner stated "I love Trump I think he is brilliant, that's my opinion. I think it's good he is back in charge, it will be good for the UK economy".
He's a vile man, cheating on his wife days after they got married.

You can see why he loves Trump.

ydoethur · January 20

bondegezou said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

bondegezou said:
More on Thomas Skinner:

Skinner stated "I love Trump I think he is brilliant, that's my opinion. I think it's good he is back in charge, it will be good for the UK economy".
He's a vile man, cheating on his wife days after they got married.
Was also convicted for handling stolen goods and drug possession.

That may also explain why he loves Trump...

bondegezou · January 20

ydoethur said:

bondegezou said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

bondegezou said:
More on Thomas Skinner:

Skinner stated "I love Trump I think he is brilliant, that's my opinion. I think it's good he is back in charge, it will be good for the UK economy".
He's a vile man, cheating on his wife days after they got married.
Was also convicted for handling stolen goods and drug possession.
That may also explain why he loves Trump...

Trump would pardon him for that sort of thing.

dixiedean · January 20

LostPassword said:
30% of Tory voters think Reform better represents the right? That's a brutal result.

They may think of themselves as Centrists.

TheScreamingEagles · January 20

ydoethur said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

bondegezou said:
More on Thomas Skinner:

Skinner stated "I love Trump I think he is brilliant, that's my opinion. I think it's good he is back in charge, it will be good for the UK economy".
He's a vile man, cheating on his wife days after they got married.
You can see why he loves Trump.

Indeed, I mean give it three years.

Burgessian · January 20

Just watched Speaker Mike Johnson's speech to the assembled MPs and Lords.

Surreal. A perfectly decent address, quoting Churchill, Lincoln and Reagan.

As if the raging lunatic in the White House, who he supports, doesn't exist. In fact Trump is a standing affront to everything he said was important.

As, I say, quite surreal.

rottenborough · January 20

FPT:

Incredibly depressing but true...

The new nuclear age begins. The world’s three largest nuclear powers are now expansionist predator states. This leaves the lesser nuclear powers no choice but to create their own umbrellas while buying time for smaller allies to join the nuclear club. Germany, Poland, and Canada will acquire nuclear weapons. So will Japan. Sweden, Australia, and South Korea may develop nuclear capabilities as well.

https://www.thebulwark.com/p/this-is-the-end-2a9?r=1emko&triedRedirect=true

bondegezou · January 20

Burgessian said:
Just watched Speaker Mike Johnson's speech to the assembled MPs and Lords.

Surreal. A perfectly decent address, quoting Churchill, Lincoln and Reagan.

As if the raging lunatic in the White House, who he supports, doesn't exist. In fact Trump is a standing affront to everything he said was important.

As, I say, quite surreal.

I mean, if the Senate really wanted, they could impeach Trump and Vance and make Johnson Pres.

rottenborough · January 20

bondegezou said:

ydoethur said:

bondegezou said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

bondegezou said:
More on Thomas Skinner:

Skinner stated "I love Trump I think he is brilliant, that's my opinion. I think it's good he is back in charge, it will be good for the UK economy".
He's a vile man, cheating on his wife days after they got married.
Was also convicted for handling stolen goods and drug possession.
That may also explain why he loves Trump...
Trump would pardon him for that sort of thing.

Skinner - Man of the People and Lord of the Cafe - bought one of these last week:

https://www.bentleymotors.com/uk/en/models/bentayga/bentayga-speed.html

MarqueeMark · January 20

Reform really is the Spiv Party.

GarethoftheVale2 · January 20

The 3 words are interesting:

Badenoch - 2 positives and 1 negative
Farage - 2 negatives and 1 positive
Starmer - 3 negatives

Weak and incompetent are really bad words as well for Starmer (maybe you can get away with out of touch). Still quite a lot of don't knows for Badenoch but possible room for improvement. Dishonest and divisive for Farage point towards his marmite quality.

LostPassword · January 20

MarqueeMark said:
Reform really is the Spiv Party.

Yes, but Del boy was the star of the show weren't he.

Spivs what are cheeky chappies are not necessarily unpopular in Britain.

MarqueeMark · January 20

LostPassword said:

MarqueeMark said:
Reform really is the Spiv Party.
Yes, but Del boy was the star of the show weren't he.

Spivs what are cheeky chappies are not necessarily unpopular in Britain.

Would you want Peckham's finest running the country though?

Fairliered · January 20

HYUFD said:
Good for Kemi her approval rating now exceeds Farage and Starmer but she needs to see Conservative voteshare overtake them to shore up her position. That likely requires winning more centrists now Reform is seen as the main party of the right.

Farage will be pleased most Reform voters would happily vote for ex Tory MPs

Remember, both TSE and OGH put great store on approval ratings.

LostPassword · January 20

MarqueeMark said:

LostPassword said:

MarqueeMark said:
Reform really is the Spiv Party.
Yes, but Del boy was the star of the show weren't he.

Spivs what are cheeky chappies are not necessarily unpopular in Britain.
Would you want Peckham's finest running the country though?

I mean, no, of course not, but then I'm the last person who would vote Reform.

There's clearly a slice of the electorate who would though.

MarqueeMark · January 20

LostPassword said:

MarqueeMark said:

LostPassword said:

MarqueeMark said:
Reform really is the Spiv Party.
Yes, but Del boy was the star of the show weren't he.

Spivs what are cheeky chappies are not necessarily unpopular in Britain.
Would you want Peckham's finest running the country though?
I mean, no, of course not, but then I'm the last person who would vote Reform.

There's clearly a slice of the electorate who would though.

Well they are plonkers, Rodney.

Stark_Dawning · January 20

Can't the Davos overlords have Trump abducted and replaced with a replicant? (I know they have such powers because I've read it on the internet.)

MattW · January 20

bondegezou said:

Burgessian said:
Just watched Speaker Mike Johnson's speech to the assembled MPs and Lords.

Surreal. A perfectly decent address, quoting Churchill, Lincoln and Reagan.

As if the raging lunatic in the White House, who he supports, doesn't exist. In fact Trump is a standing affront to everything he said was important.

As, I say, quite surreal.
I mean, if the Senate really wanted, they could impeach Trump and Vance and make Johnson Pres.

It's a standard pattern.

He turned victims into the oppressive enemy, and himself and his group into victims.

rottenborough · January 20

Why not cancel the Chagos transfer?

What is there to lose?

It gets a barnacle off the underside of the boat and the actual people themselves don't want the transfer iirc.

Luckyguy1983 · January 20

TheScreamingEagles said:
The lack of self awareness here is off the scale.

Dame Andrea Jenkyns says Reform UK should stop taking Conservative defectors to avoid an “establishment takeover”.

Learn more: https://bbc.in/4pOj6bh

It is to my eternal shame that I helped this woman get elected to parliament.

If it's any comfort, I doubt you helped very much.

RobD · January 20

rottenborough said:
Why not cancel the Chagos transfer?

What is there to lose?

It gets a barnacle off the underside of the boat and the actual people themselves don't want the transfer iirc.

Because an international court told him he couldn’t keep them, and our Starmer is a stickler for the rules.

MarqueeMark · January 20

TheScreamingEagles said:
The lack of self awareness here is off the scale.

Dame Andrea Jenkyns says Reform UK should stop taking Conservative defectors to avoid an “establishment takeover”.

Learn more: https://bbc.in/4pOj6bh

It is to my eternal shame that I helped this woman get elected to parliament.

But it was less for helping her than for the shitz n gigglez of booting out Ed Balls.

Luckyguy1983 · January 20

RobD said:

rottenborough said:
Why not cancel the Chagos transfer?

What is there to lose?

It gets a barnacle off the underside of the boat and the actual people themselves don't want the transfer iirc.
Because an international court told him he couldn’t keep them, and our Starmer is a stickler for the rules.

Financial links would not come as an enormous surprise at this stage.

Mexicanpete · January 20

TheScreamingEagles said:
The lack of self awareness here is off the scale.

Dame Andrea Jenkyns says Reform UK should stop taking Conservative defectors to avoid an “establishment takeover”.

Learn more: https://bbc.in/4pOj6bh

It is to my eternal shame that I helped this woman get elected to parliament.

Andrea Jenkyns: "I'm already on the bus, Conductor you can ring the bell".

bondegezou · January 20

rottenborough said:
Why not cancel the Chagos transfer?

What is there to lose?

It gets a barnacle off the underside of the boat and the actual people themselves don't want the transfer iirc.

The views of the Chagossians are mixed. Some support the transfer.

Is there some value in sticking to international law at this time? Can we see any examples where ignoring international law has led a country to poor decisions?

rottenborough · January 20

MarqueeMark said:

TheScreamingEagles said:
The lack of self awareness here is off the scale.

Dame Andrea Jenkyns says Reform UK should stop taking Conservative defectors to avoid an “establishment takeover”.

Learn more: https://bbc.in/4pOj6bh

It is to my eternal shame that I helped this woman get elected to parliament.
But it was less for helping her than for the shitz n gigglez of booting out Ed Balls.

I think you'll find Mr Balls has had the last laugh.

rottenborough · January 20

RobD said:

rottenborough said:
Why not cancel the Chagos transfer?

What is there to lose?

It gets a barnacle off the underside of the boat and the actual people themselves don't want the transfer iirc.
Because an international court told him he couldn’t keep them, and our Starmer is a stickler for the rules.

Sunak began all this. Or maybe it was Johnson.

Sunil_Prasannan · January 20

MarqueeMark said:

LostPassword said:

MarqueeMark said:
Reform really is the Spiv Party.
Yes, but Del boy was the star of the show weren't he.

Spivs what are cheeky chappies are not necessarily unpopular in Britain.
Would you want Peckham's finest running the country though?

"No way, Pedro!"

rottenborough · January 20

Robert Peston
@Peston

The British Prime minister has decided not to make an emergency trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos for a possible meeting with Donald Trump, I am told.

RobD · January 20

rottenborough said:

RobD said:

rottenborough said:
Why not cancel the Chagos transfer?

What is there to lose?

It gets a barnacle off the underside of the boat and the actual people themselves don't want the transfer iirc.
Because an international court told him he couldn’t keep them, and our Starmer is a stickler for the rules.
Sunak began all this. Or maybe it was Johnson.

Truss kicked it off at an impromptu meeting with the Mauritian PM at the UN.

Foxy · January 20

Fairliered said:

HYUFD said:
Good for Kemi her approval rating now exceeds Farage and Starmer but she needs to see Conservative voteshare overtake them to shore up her position. That likely requires winning more centrists now Reform is seen as the main party of the right.

Farage will be pleased most Reform voters would happily vote for ex Tory MPs
Remember, both TSE and OGH put great store on approval ratings.

Worth noting that far more are undecided about Badenoch than either Farage or Starmer. Lots of undecideds about Davey and Polanski too.

https://bsky.app/profile/luketryl.bsky.social/post/3mcf4e5dqzk2i

That could be an opportunity for a fresh disaster for Badenoch.

CatMan · January 20

Another train has derailed in Spain

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1m78xl0gmpo

"A train driver has been killed and at least 14 people injured after a commuter train derailed and crashed near Barcelona, local media report.
According to local officials, the Rodalies train collided with a retaining wall which fell onto the track between Gelida and Sant Sadurní on Tuesday evening."

Mexicanpete · January 20

MarqueeMark said:

TheScreamingEagles said:
The lack of self awareness here is off the scale.

Dame Andrea Jenkyns says Reform UK should stop taking Conservative defectors to avoid an “establishment takeover”.

Learn more: https://bbc.in/4pOj6bh

It is to my eternal shame that I helped this woman get elected to parliament.
But it was less for helping her than for the shitz n gigglez of booting out Ed Balls.

Yes, what a laugh we had when Donald Trump stuck it to that Kamala Harris.

Yes the World ultimately ended but we had a giggle at the expense of the Centrist dads.

Foxy · January 20

bondegezou said:

rottenborough said:
Why not cancel the Chagos transfer?

What is there to lose?

It gets a barnacle off the underside of the boat and the actual people themselves don't want the transfer iirc.
The views of the Chagossians are mixed. Some support the transfer.

Is there some value in sticking to international law at this time? Can we see any examples where ignoring international law has led a country to poor decisions?

I am happy to return the Chagos to Mauritius and aid resettlement of the Chaggossians who wish to return there.

I don't see why we should pay to rent the US base their. Let the Yanks pay Mauritius.

Mexicanpete · January 20

rottenborough said:

MarqueeMark said:

TheScreamingEagles said:
The lack of self awareness here is off the scale.

Dame Andrea Jenkyns says Reform UK should stop taking Conservative defectors to avoid an “establishment takeover”.

Learn more: https://bbc.in/4pOj6bh

It is to my eternal shame that I helped this woman get elected to parliament.
But it was less for helping her than for the shitz n gigglez of booting out Ed Balls.
I think you'll find Mr Balls has had the last laugh.

Working each day with the fragrant Susannah?

Chris · January 20

Nothing is new under the Sun:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p8cuN9Cv64

MelonB · January 20

rottenborough said:

Robert Peston
@Peston

The British Prime minister has decided not to make an emergency trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos for a possible meeting with Donald Trump, I am told.

Good. Trump needs to ignored by all his Western former allies. He got really needy when Mark Carney kept being unavailable for a call after he took over.

Malmesbury · January 20

bondegezou said:

rottenborough said:
Why not cancel the Chagos transfer?

What is there to lose?

It gets a barnacle off the underside of the boat and the actual people themselves don't want the transfer iirc.
The views of the Chagossians are mixed. Some support the transfer.

Is there some value in sticking to international law at this time? Can we see any examples where ignoring international law has led a country to poor decisions?

Why not try asking the Chagossians what they want? Some kind of opinion poll, but with a sample size of up to 100%

Who knows, this kind of “ask the people what they want” might catch on. We could expand it to picking governments…

rottenborough · January 20

Foxy said:

bondegezou said:

rottenborough said:
Why not cancel the Chagos transfer?

What is there to lose?

It gets a barnacle off the underside of the boat and the actual people themselves don't want the transfer iirc.
The views of the Chagossians are mixed. Some support the transfer.

Is there some value in sticking to international law at this time? Can we see any examples where ignoring international law has led a country to poor decisions?
I am happy to return the Chagos to Mauritius and aid resettlement of the Chaggossians who wish to return there.

I don't see why we should pay to rent the US base their. Let the Yanks pay Mauritius.

Especially after this week's events.

rottenborough · January 20

Mexicanpete said:

MarqueeMark said:

TheScreamingEagles said:
The lack of self awareness here is off the scale.

Dame Andrea Jenkyns says Reform UK should stop taking Conservative defectors to avoid an “establishment takeover”.

Learn more: https://bbc.in/4pOj6bh

It is to my eternal shame that I helped this woman get elected to parliament.
But it was less for helping her than for the shitz n gigglez of booting out Ed Balls.
Yes, what a laugh we had when Donald Trump stuck it to that Kamala Harris.

Yes the World ultimately ended but we had a giggle at the expense of the Centrist dads.

This is how the world ends, not with a bang but with a sad snigger.

Sunil_Prasannan · January 20

Foxy said:

bondegezou said:

rottenborough said:
Why not cancel the Chagos transfer?

What is there to lose?

It gets a barnacle off the underside of the boat and the actual people themselves don't want the transfer iirc.
The views of the Chagossians are mixed. Some support the transfer.

Is there some value in sticking to international law at this time? Can we see any examples where ignoring international law has led a country to poor decisions?
I am happy to return the Chagos to Mauritius and aid resettlement of the Chaggossians who wish to return there.

I don't see why we should pay to rent the US base their. Let the Yanks pay Mauritius.

When were the Chagos owned by Mauritius?

rottenborough · January 20

Mexicanpete said:

rottenborough said:

MarqueeMark said:

TheScreamingEagles said:
The lack of self awareness here is off the scale.

Dame Andrea Jenkyns says Reform UK should stop taking Conservative defectors to avoid an “establishment takeover”.

Learn more: https://bbc.in/4pOj6bh

It is to my eternal shame that I helped this woman get elected to parliament.
But it was less for helping her than for the shitz n gigglez of booting out Ed Balls.
I think you'll find Mr Balls has had the last laugh.

Working each day with the fragrant Susannah?

I was thinking more of the podcast with 100million listeners or whatever it is.

rottenborough · January 20

Andrew Lilico
@andrew_lilico
·
2h
We were only ever giving away the Chagos because the Americans wanted us to. Now they're against it we can simply stop. There's no other reason to do it.

https://x.com/andrew_lilico/status/2013710200411238404

Mexicanpete · January 20

rottenborough said:

Mexicanpete said:

rottenborough said:

MarqueeMark said:

TheScreamingEagles said:
The lack of self awareness here is off the scale.

Dame Andrea Jenkyns says Reform UK should stop taking Conservative defectors to avoid an “establishment takeover”.

Learn more: https://bbc.in/4pOj6bh

It is to my eternal shame that I helped this woman get elected to parliament.
But it was less for helping her than for the shitz n gigglez of booting out Ed Balls.
I think you'll find Mr Balls has had the last laugh.

Working each day with the fragrant Susannah?
I was thinking more of the podcast with 100million listeners or whatever it is.

Osborne or Susannah? Hmm.

rottenborough · January 20

Shashank Joshi
@shashj

Listening to Trump presser for 40 mins. Rambling, repetitive stream of consciousness. Narcissistic in extreme. Every thought linked back to whether person or entity voted for or likes Trump. If Biden had delivered this there would have been serious concern about his health.

https://x.com/shashj/status/2013697031051620814

nico67 · January 20

Mexicanpete said:

MarqueeMark said:

TheScreamingEagles said:
The lack of self awareness here is off the scale.

Dame Andrea Jenkyns says Reform UK should stop taking Conservative defectors to avoid an “establishment takeover”.

Learn more: https://bbc.in/4pOj6bh

It is to my eternal shame that I helped this woman get elected to parliament.
But it was less for helping her than for the shitz n gigglez of booting out Ed Balls.
Yes, what a laugh we had when Donald Trump stuck it to that Kamala Harris.

Yes the World ultimately ended but we had a giggle at the expense of the Centrist dads.

Apparently she was a bad candidate we were told . She was a perfectly acceptable candidate against Trump and in a sane nation Trump would have been demolished.

Those who voted for Trump given the last 8 years and who now are clutching their pearls and wonder what they’ve done can fxck right off .

I’m sick of hearing their pathetic excuses .

rottenborough · January 20

Second Lady Usha Vance

@SLOTUS

We’re very happy to share some exciting news. Our family is growing!

https://x.com/SLOTUS/status/2013712959608946721

Nigelb · January 20

Burgessian said:
Just watched Speaker Mike Johnson's speech to the assembled MPs and Lords.

Surreal. A perfectly decent address, quoting Churchill, Lincoln and Reagan.

As if the raging lunatic in the White House, who he supports, doesn't exist. In fact Trump is a standing affront to everything he said was important.

As, I say, quite surreal.

Par for the course from him.
He has turned not seeing reality into an art form.

CatMan · January 20

rottenborough said:
Second Lady Usha Vance

@SLOTUS

We’re very happy to share some exciting news. Our family is growing!

https://x.com/SLOTUS/status/2013712959608946721

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyamory ?

Nigelb · January 20

CatMan said:
Another train has derailed in Spain

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1m78xl0gmpo

"A train driver has been killed and at least 14 people injured after a commuter train derailed and crashed near Barcelona, local media report.
According to local officials, the Rodalies train collided with a retaining wall which fell onto the track between Gelida and Sant Sadurní on Tuesday evening."

Sabotage ?

nico67 · January 20

rottenborough said:
Second Lady Usha Vance

@SLOTUS

We’re very happy to share some exciting news. Our family is growing!

https://x.com/SLOTUS/status/2013712959608946721

If it’s a girl perhaps they can call it Rosemary ! The last scene in that film is one that continues to send a shiver down my spine !

glw · January 20

Nigelb said:

Burgessian said:
Just watched Speaker Mike Johnson's speech to the assembled MPs and Lords.

Surreal. A perfectly decent address, quoting Churchill, Lincoln and Reagan.

As if the raging lunatic in the White House, who he supports, doesn't exist. In fact Trump is a standing affront to everything he said was important.

As, I say, quite surreal.
Par for the course from him.
He has turned not seeing reality into an art form.

You could replace him with a coin. One side reads "I haven't heard what the President said." The other reads "That's not what the President means."

Eabhal · January 20

rottenborough said:

Shashank Joshi
@shashj

Listening to Trump presser for 40 mins. Rambling, repetitive stream of consciousness. Narcissistic in extreme. Every thought linked back to whether person or entity voted for or likes Trump. If Biden had delivered this there would have been serious concern about his health.

https://x.com/shashj/status/2013697031051620814

It's completely different to the Biden problem because he had a team of experienced advisers and politicians running the show, and hadn't gutted the top of the professional US civil service. Indeed the US system is perfectly capable of operating well without a functioning President if you have sensible people for COG and executive functions. That's why despite Biden failing, his administration didn't descend into chaos and the civilised world remained relatively safe.

Trump's mania isn't itself a problem. It's that there isn't a single person who can stop him, and many that are actively encouraging it like Vance. The other problem is that Trump obviously retains all his energy and malice, even as the rest of his brain declines.

Dura_Ace · January 20

rottenborough said:
Andrew Lilico
@andrew_lilico
·
2h
We were only ever giving away the Chagos because the Americans wanted us to. Now they're against it we can simply stop. There's no other reason to do it.

https://x.com/andrew_lilico/status/2013710200411238404

SKS has mounted the tall steed when it comes to the international rules based order. The whole Chagos agreement was based on an adverse ICJ judgement against the UK so it's difficult, though not impossible, for him now to say, "Yeah. Nah. We don't give a fuck about it anymore."

It's quite an amazing political scandal really considering nothing that happens will affect NSF DG in the slightest and it is all utterly irrelevant to lives of people in Britain. It will continue to operate for the exclusive benefit for the US and it's really fuck all use to the UK beyond currying favour. They haven't even let us land a British military aircraft there since the 70s. I think we last asked and got told to fuck off in the early noughties.

Andy_JS · January 20

On Channel Five now: "Fare Dodgers: At War with the Law

At Clapham there's a major operation to clamp down on fare evasion. Nathan and Dan tackle an epidemic of ticketless travel between unstaffed stations and challenge a young fare dodger"

The sort of thing that ordinary voters care about.

Nigelb · January 20

The BBC summary of Trump's press conference is up.

It is surely journalistic malpractice not to report that Trump gave every impression of suffering dementia ?

Reporters arrived at today’s White House briefing with questions that spanned continents – Greenland, Venezuela, and Iran foremost among them – and our ears pricked when we heard that it would be Donald Trump himself, not his press secretary, taking the mic.
But the message the president was determined to deliver was squarely for his domestic audience.
Unlike all he’s been saying in recent weeks, and his posts on social media last night, Trump deflected lots of foreign policy questions.
On how far he’s willing to go on Greenland, “you’ll have to find out”.
On whether he’s prepared to break up Nato, “I think we’ll work something out”.
On Iran, "I can't tell you what's going to happen in the future”.
Trump said he was frustrated that his arguments on energy, gas prices, and the cost of living weren’t getting through, and he promised big new plans on housing. That’s all crucial as we head towards November’s mid-term elections.
Marking the anniversary of his second inauguration, Trump also used the press conference to show off what the administration is calling his “365 wins in 365 days” since returning to office.
At the top of that list was immigration - with the claim that the number of people in the United States has fallen because of Trump’s policies.

The furthest they go is to call it "sprawling".

rottenborough · January 20

Eabhal said:

rottenborough said:

Shashank Joshi
@shashj

Listening to Trump presser for 40 mins. Rambling, repetitive stream of consciousness. Narcissistic in extreme. Every thought linked back to whether person or entity voted for or likes Trump. If Biden had delivered this there would have been serious concern about his health.

https://x.com/shashj/status/2013697031051620814
It's completely different to the Biden problem because he had a team of experienced advisers and politicians running the show, and hadn't gutted the top of the professional US civil service. Indeed the US system is perfectly capable of operating well without a functioning President if you have sensible people for COG and executive functions. That's why despite Biden failing, his administration didn't descend into chaos and the civilised world remained relatively safe.

Trump's mania isn't itself a problem. It's that there isn't a single person who can stop him, and many that are actively encouraging it like Vance. The other problem is that Trump obviously retains all his energy and malice, even as the rest of his brain declines.

Shakespeare had the measure of exactly all this.

rottenborough · January 20

nico67 said:

rottenborough said:
Second Lady Usha Vance

@SLOTUS

We’re very happy to share some exciting news. Our family is growing!

https://x.com/SLOTUS/status/2013712959608946721
If it’s a girl perhaps they can call it Rosemary ! The last scene in that film is one that continues to send a shiver down my spine !

ICE will be calling to ask if she is actually American.

Eabhal · January 20

Andy_JS said:
On Channel Five now: "Fare Dodgers: At War with the Law

At Clapham there's a major operation to clamp down on fare evasion. Nathan and Dan tackle an epidemic of ticketless travel between unstaffed stations and challenge a young fare dodger"

The sort of thing that ordinary voters care about.

Ordinary voters, or Russian bots on Twitter?

https://yougov.co.uk/politics/articles/53815-what-do-the-public-say-the-governments-number-one-priority-for-2026-should-be

Dura_Ace · January 20

Sandpit said:

Interesting lefty choice, but best of luck to him if he does end up joining the Navy.

You get people of all political persuasions in the forces. In general, discussion of politics is not done in the wardroom at sea. The dynamic is slightly different though because all politicians are civvies and therefore all start with a base level of contempt.

Sunil_Prasannan · January 20

Eabhal said:

Andy_JS said:
On Channel Five now: "Fare Dodgers: At War with the Law

At Clapham there's a major operation to clamp down on fare evasion. Nathan and Dan tackle an epidemic of ticketless travel between unstaffed stations and challenge a young fare dodger"

The sort of thing that ordinary voters care about.
Ordinary voters, or Russian bots on Twitter?

https://yougov.co.uk/politics/articles/53815-what-do-the-public-say-the-governments-number-one-priority-for-2026-should-be

Fare-dodging is OK, then?

occasionalranter · January 20

MarqueeMark said:

TheScreamingEagles said:
The lack of self awareness here is off the scale.

Dame Andrea Jenkyns says Reform UK should stop taking Conservative defectors to avoid an “establishment takeover”.

Learn more: https://bbc.in/4pOj6bh

It is to my eternal shame that I helped this woman get elected to parliament.
But it was less for helping her than for the shitz n gigglez of booting out Ed Balls.

Guilty of same offence and yes this was my motivation. What an a***hole he was back then though. Peak Smith institute arrogance and Damian McBride thuggishness.

rottenborough · January 20

Owen Jones
@owenjonesjourno
·
1h

The US is preparing to assassinate the Iranian Supreme Leader.

https://x.com/owenjonesjourno/status/2013737255169397043

Eabhal · January 20

Sunil_Prasannan said:

Eabhal said:

Andy_JS said:
On Channel Five now: "Fare Dodgers: At War with the Law

At Clapham there's a major operation to clamp down on fare evasion. Nathan and Dan tackle an epidemic of ticketless travel between unstaffed stations and challenge a young fare dodger"

The sort of thing that ordinary voters care about.
Ordinary voters, or Russian bots on Twitter?

https://yougov.co.uk/politics/articles/53815-what-do-the-public-say-the-governments-number-one-priority-for-2026-should-be
Fare-dodging is OK, then?

How did you come to that conclusion? I'm just pointing out something of a disconnect between the very-online perception and reality. On YouGov's tracker (choose 3 topics) crime ticks along at 18%, swapping places with the environment. The NHS, the economy, immigration are miles ahead with "ordinary voters".

Mexicanpete · January 20

rottenborough said:

Owen Jones
@owenjonesjourno
·
1h

The US is preparing to assassinate the Iranian Supreme Leader.

https://x.com/owenjonesjourno/status/2013737255169397043

Windsor Davies applies.

another_richard · January 20

LostPassword said:

MarqueeMark said:
Reform really is the Spiv Party.
Yes, but Del boy was the star of the show weren't he.

Spivs what are cheeky chappies are not necessarily unpopular in Britain.

Only if they're failures.

Boycey was the successful spiv in OFAH and he was the contrast as a generally unpleasant character.

Arthur Daley was another generally unsuccessful, but popular, 1980s spiv.

rottenborough · January 20

FactPost
@factpostnews
Trump gets sidetracked in the middle of a story

https://x.com/factpostnews/status/2013702159905235256

another_richard · January 20

rottenborough said:

Owen Jones
@owenjonesjourno
·
1h

The US is preparing to assassinate the Iranian Supreme Leader.

https://x.com/owenjonesjourno/status/2013737255169397043

Trump vetoed Israel from doing so.

I did wonder then if Trump wanted to boast about doing it himself.

Richard_Tyndall · January 20

Sunil_Prasannan said:

Foxy said:

bondegezou said:

rottenborough said:
Why not cancel the Chagos transfer?

What is there to lose?

It gets a barnacle off the underside of the boat and the actual people themselves don't want the transfer iirc.
The views of the Chagossians are mixed. Some support the transfer.

Is there some value in sticking to international law at this time? Can we see any examples where ignoring international law has led a country to poor decisions?
I am happy to return the Chagos to Mauritius and aid resettlement of the Chaggossians who wish to return there.

I don't see why we should pay to rent the US base their. Let the Yanks pay Mauritius.
When were the Chagos owned by Mauritius?

Never. Foxy is being disingenuous in his comments.

Nigelb · January 20

.

rottenborough said:

Owen Jones
@owenjonesjourno
·
1h

The US is preparing to assassinate the Iranian Supreme Leader.

https://x.com/owenjonesjourno/status/2013737255169397043

Decent of them to announce it in advance via Owen.

Malmesbury · January 20

Eabhal said:

Sunil_Prasannan said:

Eabhal said:

Andy_JS said:
On Channel Five now: "Fare Dodgers: At War with the Law

At Clapham there's a major operation to clamp down on fare evasion. Nathan and Dan tackle an epidemic of ticketless travel between unstaffed stations and challenge a young fare dodger"

The sort of thing that ordinary voters care about.
Ordinary voters, or Russian bots on Twitter?

https://yougov.co.uk/politics/articles/53815-what-do-the-public-say-the-governments-number-one-priority-for-2026-should-be
Fare-dodging is OK, then?
How did you come to that conclusion? I'm just pointing out something of a disconnect between the very-online perception and reality. On YouGov's tracker (choose 3 topics) crime ticks along at 18%, swapping places with the environment. The NHS, the economy, immigration are miles ahead with "ordinary voters".

Forced choice ordering of priorities always strikes me as a form of push polling.

People care about a small cloud of issues. Which one is most important, when you ask, depends on context, current events, whether they’ve had their tea, the weather….

Nigelb · January 20

rottenborough said:

FactPost
@factpostnews
Trump gets sidetracked in the middle of a story

https://x.com/factpostnews/status/2013702159905235256

You should have listened to the rest of the two hours.

rottenborough · January 20

Nigelb said:
.
rottenborough said:

Owen Jones
@owenjonesjourno
·
1h

The US is preparing to assassinate the Iranian Supreme Leader.

https://x.com/owenjonesjourno/status/2013737255169397043
Decent of them to announce it in advance via Owen.

He's on signal.

Andy_JS · January 20

Watching the fare dodging programme, it's amazing how many people seemingly can't afford to buy a ticket but can afford a smartphone.

rottenborough · January 20

another_richard said:

rottenborough said:

Owen Jones
@owenjonesjourno
·
1h

The US is preparing to assassinate the Iranian Supreme Leader.

https://x.com/owenjonesjourno/status/2013737255169397043
Trump vetoed Israel from doing so.

I did wonder then if Trump wanted to boast about doing it himself.

That Peace Prize isn't just gonna be given to him. He's gotta work the ticket.

LostPassword · January 20

Malmesbury said:

Eabhal said:

Sunil_Prasannan said:

Eabhal said:

Andy_JS said:
On Channel Five now: "Fare Dodgers: At War with the Law

At Clapham there's a major operation to clamp down on fare evasion. Nathan and Dan tackle an epidemic of ticketless travel between unstaffed stations and challenge a young fare dodger"

The sort of thing that ordinary voters care about.
Ordinary voters, or Russian bots on Twitter?

https://yougov.co.uk/politics/articles/53815-what-do-the-public-say-the-governments-number-one-priority-for-2026-should-be
Fare-dodging is OK, then?
How did you come to that conclusion? I'm just pointing out something of a disconnect between the very-online perception and reality. On YouGov's tracker (choose 3 topics) crime ticks along at 18%, swapping places with the environment. The NHS, the economy, immigration are miles ahead with "ordinary voters".
Forced choice ordering of priorities always strikes me as a form of push polling.

People care about a small cloud of issues. Which one is most important, when you ask, depends on context, current events, whether they’ve had their tea, the weather….

One of the weird things about the TV news is that it's nearly always the same length. Doesn't matter whether it's a busy news day, like most of them recently, or if it was a more mundane day, they will fit the same ~27 minutes of running time with the news they have to hand.

This 3 topics thing feels similar. Back in the day when PB.com was new, and 50-1 shots were only dreamed of, choosing 3 topics for the government to concentrate on felt like a more leisurely set of choices. These days it feels like there are at least three dozen areas of policy that are more urgent than the third-highest priority back in 2004.

LostPassword · January 20

Andy_JS said:
Watching the fare dodging programme, it's amazing how many people seemingly can't afford to buy a ticket but can afford a smartphone.

Capex is always easier to justify than Opex.

rottenborough · January 20

George Conway ⚖️🇺🇸
@gtconway3d

He's only going to get worse. And faster.

https://x.com/gtconway3d

Cicero · 12:03AM

rottenborough said:

another_richard said:

rottenborough said:

Owen Jones
@owenjonesjourno
·
1h

The US is preparing to assassinate the Iranian Supreme Leader.

https://x.com/owenjonesjourno/status/2013737255169397043
Trump vetoed Israel from doing so.

I did wonder then if Trump wanted to boast about doing it himself.
That Peace Prize isn't just gonna be given to him. He's gotta work the ticket.

He'll never get the Nobel. He may well get an indictment from a Norwegian court. I think we will see a blizzard of legal action inside the US too. That is, on the assumption that the courts escape being nobbled be the Mango Mussolini and his thuggish friends.

Castor oil tables all round.

Dopermean · 12:11AM

Nigelb said:

rottenborough said:

FactPost
@factpostnews
Trump gets sidetracked in the middle of a story

https://x.com/factpostnews/status/2013702159905235256
You should have listened to the rest of the two hours.

Heartwarming story, let's hope the big building is still there and he can move in...

Dopermean · 12:15AM

Eabhal said:

Sunil_Prasannan said:

Eabhal said:

Andy_JS said:
On Channel Five now: "Fare Dodgers: At War with the Law

At Clapham there's a major operation to clamp down on fare evasion. Nathan and Dan tackle an epidemic of ticketless travel between unstaffed stations and challenge a young fare dodger"

The sort of thing that ordinary voters care about.
Ordinary voters, or Russian bots on Twitter?

https://yougov.co.uk/politics/articles/53815-what-do-the-public-say-the-governments-number-one-priority-for-2026-should-be
Fare-dodging is OK, then?
How did you come to that conclusion? I'm just pointing out something of a disconnect between the very-online perception and reality. On YouGov's tracker (choose 3 topics) crime ticks along at 18%, swapping places with the environment. The NHS, the economy, immigration are miles ahead with "ordinary voters".

I doubt when people talk about crime as a priority they're thinking of fare-dodging, it'll be violence, property theft, fraud and anti-social behaviour.

Dopermean · 12:18AM

rottenborough said:

nico67 said:

rottenborough said:
Second Lady Usha Vance

@SLOTUS

We’re very happy to share some exciting news. Our family is growing!

https://x.com/SLOTUS/status/2013712959608946721
If it’s a girl perhaps they can call it Rosemary ! The last scene in that film is one that continues to send a shiver down my spine !
ICE will be calling to ask if she is actually American.

Unable to speak American and no ID? Automatic rendition to a black site awaiting deportation.

rottenborough · 12:19AM

Goebbels dialling it in tonight...

Stephen Miller
@StephenM

One year ago today, after ten years of persecution, two near-assassinations, and the unrelenting wrath of the corrupt political class, an earthquake shook the depraved establishment to its core: President Trump achieved history’s greatest and most astounding political victory.

America saved. Providence fulfilled.
...

[etc etc - there's pages of this bilge]

https://x.com/StephenM/status/2013740026224373855

Malmesbury · 12:19AM

Dopermean said:

Eabhal said:

Sunil_Prasannan said:

Eabhal said:

Andy_JS said:
On Channel Five now: "Fare Dodgers: At War with the Law

At Clapham there's a major operation to clamp down on fare evasion. Nathan and Dan tackle an epidemic of ticketless travel between unstaffed stations and challenge a young fare dodger"

The sort of thing that ordinary voters care about.
Ordinary voters, or Russian bots on Twitter?

https://yougov.co.uk/politics/articles/53815-what-do-the-public-say-the-governments-number-one-priority-for-2026-should-be
Fare-dodging is OK, then?
How did you come to that conclusion? I'm just pointing out something of a disconnect between the very-online perception and reality. On YouGov's tracker (choose 3 topics) crime ticks along at 18%, swapping places with the environment. The NHS, the economy, immigration are miles ahead with "ordinary voters".
I doubt when people talk about crime as a priority they're thinking of fare-dodging, it'll be violence, property theft, fraud and anti-social behaviour.

They’ll be thinking of the stuff that’s happened to them, family and friends, recently.

Which is why “broken windows” was as much for the law abiding as the criminals. Set the mood…

MoonRabbit · 12:20AM

Luckyguy1983 said:

Sean_F said:

MoonRabbit said:

Big_G_NorthWales said:

MoonRabbit said:

Taz said:

Big_G_NorthWales said:
High Court clears the way for Reform to challenge the cancelled local elections
Good.
As fiscal conservatives, why do we want to see good money which can be spent on services, simply wasted?
One word - democracy
These areas are being combined to save costs, elections being held on eve they become merged, is to some extent pointless and precious money wasted isn’t it?

My point though is this is got up from anti Labour bias, opportunistic opportunism from oppositions, not actual concern for democracy. Oppositions being Trumpian and not behaving proper.

If Lady Thatcher was in power, Conservative councils asking to save money that should be spent on services would have this request accepted, and Lady Thatcher would explain as such at PMQs, to the game playing opposition, backed to the hilt by the fiscal Conservative supporting press. Taking care of the finances, and no time for silly games from opponents, isn’t this what made Lady Thatcher great and electable?
Cancelling elections, in order to save trivial sums, is a wretched excuse.

Reform are quite correct to challenge this.
And claiming that Maggie would have been a fan of such behaviour is really scraping the barrel.

The "Suspension of Elections and Extension of Terms of Office 1984" refers to the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984, a UK law that halted elections for the Greater London Council (GLC) and Metropolitan County Councils (MCCs) and kept existing councillors in office until the councils' abolition in 1986, transferring some functions and creating interim appointments for replacement members, sparking significant political debate about democratic legitimacy.
Key Aspects:
The Act: Passed by Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government, this Act abolished the GLC and MCCs, transferring some services to new bodies or borough councils.
Suspension of Elections: Instead of regular elections in 1985, the Act prevented them, extending the terms of sitting councillors.
Extension of Terms: Councillors whose terms would have ended in May 1985 continued until April 1, 1986, when the councils were fully dissolved.
Interim Appointments: To manage the transition, some functions (like ILEA for London) were handled by nominated members from borough councils, bypassing direct elections.
Controversy: The move was highly controversial, with opposition parties arguing it was undemocratic and an unprecedented power grab, removing elected officials without a public vote.

Comparing then and now, the current one is laid back and mild in comparison.

Sean, Lucky (and you are supposed to be a proud Thatcherite) you are both hopeless at this. Get a different hobby.

You’ve just been owned by a sheep farmer. And she’s a little bit under the weather not even on top form either.

kle4 · 12:29AM

DavidL said:
The Tories may be stronger for losing some of these people but they need to watch their critical mass in terms of MPs.

It's hard to see where they get attention from, other than defections - they're getting close to LD obscurity.

kle4 · 12:30AM

rottenborough said:
Goebbels dialling it in tonight...

Stephen Miller
@StephenM

One year ago today, after ten years of persecution, two near-assassinations, and the unrelenting wrath of the corrupt political class, an earthquake shook the depraved establishment to its core: President Trump achieved history’s greatest and most astounding political victory.

America saved. Providence fulfilled.
...

[etc etc - there's pages of this bilge]

https://x.com/StephenM/status/2013740026224373855

Thank goodness there is no depravity in the new establishment.

Andy_JS · 12:30AM

The whole Greenland saga seems ridiculous when you consider that the US already has the right to station as many military bases there as they want.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/07/world/europe/trump-greenland-denmark-us-defense-pact.html

kle4 · 12:31AM

Nigelb said:

rottenborough said:

FactPost
@factpostnews
Trump gets sidetracked in the middle of a story

https://x.com/factpostnews/status/2013702159905235256
You should have listened to the rest of the two hours.

That's definitely against some kind of cruel and unusual punishment law.

As Reform continues to be a suppository (sic) for Tory MPs here's what the voters say

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