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Cutting taxes can be not putting them up as much says Nigel Farage – politicalbetting.com

SystemSystem Posts: 12,994
edited 4:15PM in General
Cutting taxes can be not putting them up as much says Nigel Farage – politicalbetting.com

EXC: Nigel Farage defends Reform-run Kent County Council increasing council tax by 3.99% despite election leaflets last year pledging to “reduce waste and cut your taxes”.Mr Farage told me: “Cutting taxes can be not putting them up as much, I suppose.”@itvmeridian pic.twitter.com/YybyUQnbfW

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Comments

  • eekeek Posts: 32,820
    Well 3.99% is less than the 4.99% I’m paying
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 13,637

    ❤️ Lossie

    Birthplace of Ramsay MacDonald, a new bridge to the beach, Duffus Castle, fighter jets, decent ice cream, bottlenose dolphins.

    What more could you want.
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 19,327
    eek said:

    Well 3.99% is less than the 4.99% I’m paying

    But that doesn't make a 3.99% increase a cut.

    I guess Farage's strongest argument is that it's a below-inflation increase, so a cut in real terms, which he advances in the interview linked to... except he's wrong there too. 3.99% is above inflation.
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 16,466
    Fag Ash Lil is just dialling it in now.
    Sub par May results and he will be off to the States
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 70,518
    edited 4:25PM
    Eabhal said:

    ❤️ Lossie

    Birthplace of Ramsay MacDonald, a new bridge to the beach, Duffus Castle, fighter jets, decent ice cream, bottlenose dolphins.

    What more could you want.
    My wife's birthplace and Championship golf course

    My late father in law played bowls with Isbel MacDonald, Ramsay's daughter
  • eekeek Posts: 32,820
    edited 4:27PM

    eek said:

    Well 3.99% is less than the 4.99% I’m paying

    But that doesn't make a 3.99% increase a cut.

    I guess Farage's strongest argument is that it's a below-inflation increase, so a cut in real terms, which he advances in the interview linked to... except he's wrong there too. 3.99% is above inflation.
    I commented a while back that Reform should be maximizing tax increases at the moment so that come 2028 and 9 they have some leeway to implement lower ones as they come up to the next election.

    But then again I’m cynical
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 19,327

    Eabhal said:

    ❤️ Lossie

    Birthplace of Ramsay MacDonald, a new bridge to the beach, Duffus Castle, fighter jets, decent ice cream, bottlenose dolphins.

    What more could you want.
    My wife's birthplace and Championship golf course
    Was she born on the golf course? Do you get a two-stroke handicap for that?
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 70,518

    Eabhal said:

    ❤️ Lossie

    Birthplace of Ramsay MacDonald, a new bridge to the beach, Duffus Castle, fighter jets, decent ice cream, bottlenose dolphins.

    What more could you want.
    My wife's birthplace and Championship golf course
    Was she born on the golf course? Do you get a two-stroke handicap for that?
    Tennis and hockey were her sports
  • TazTaz Posts: 25,856

    eek said:

    Well 3.99% is less than the 4.99% I’m paying

    But that doesn't make a 3.99% increase a cut.

    I guess Farage's strongest argument is that it's a below-inflation increase, so a cut in real terms, which he advances in the interview linked to... except he's wrong there too. 3.99% is above inflation.
    I’m paying 1.99% increase in Durham. A real terms cut.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 58,473

    Fag Ash Lil is just dialling it in now.
    Sub par May results and he will be off to the States

    Last chance to make serious money from the Trump regime.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 78,033
    War is peace.

    Freedom is slavery.

    Tax rises are tax cuts.

    But with Farage, black is never white.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 80,650
    edited 4:33PM
    Taz said:

    eek said:

    Well 3.99% is less than the 4.99% I’m paying

    But that doesn't make a 3.99% increase a cut.

    I guess Farage's strongest argument is that it's a below-inflation increase, so a cut in real terms, which he advances in the interview linked to... except he's wrong there too. 3.99% is above inflation.
    I’m paying 1.99% increase in Durham. A real terms cut.
    I have no idea what Nottinghamshire council (And it is mainly the county budget that is I think the steepest in the country) does tbh, our council tax is way more than Doncaster & Rotherham which surely can't have dissimilar property mixes, both of which I'm about a mile from.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 78,033

    Eabhal said:

    ❤️ Lossie

    Birthplace of Ramsay MacDonald, a new bridge to the beach, Duffus Castle, fighter jets, decent ice cream, bottlenose dolphins.

    What more could you want.
    My wife's birthplace and Championship golf course
    Was she born on the golf course? Do you get a two-stroke handicap for that?
    Nah, it's a free drop,
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 15,379
    Eabhal said:

    ❤️ Lossie

    Birthplace of Ramsay MacDonald, a new bridge to the beach, Duffus Castle, fighter jets, decent ice cream, bottlenose dolphins.

    What more could you want.
    2 more winners today to answer your question.

    She has only lost twice, that is in mud. Today she became a racing legend. ❤️
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 70,518
    The impression the govennment is handling the issue of defence in UK falls

    https://x.com/i/status/2031392984327987642
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 70,518

    Eabhal said:

    ❤️ Lossie

    Birthplace of Ramsay MacDonald, a new bridge to the beach, Duffus Castle, fighter jets, decent ice cream, bottlenose dolphins.

    What more could you want.
    2 more winners today to answer your question.

    She has only lost twice, that is in mud. Today she became a racing legend. ❤️

    I am not into racing but what connection if any does it have with Lossiemouth ?
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 39,492
    FPT
    dixiedean said:

    Life expectancy is one thing.
    Healthy life expectancy another.
    We are simply extending the length of end of life sickness in the main.

    Is there any evidence for this?
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 19,327

    Eabhal said:

    ❤️ Lossie

    Birthplace of Ramsay MacDonald, a new bridge to the beach, Duffus Castle, fighter jets, decent ice cream, bottlenose dolphins.

    What more could you want.
    2 more winners today to answer your question.

    She has only lost twice, that is in mud. Today she became a racing legend. ❤️

    I am not into racing but what connection if any does it have with Lossiemouth ?
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lossiemouth_(horse) ?
  • noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 26,874

    The impression the govennment is handling the issue of defence in UK falls

    https://x.com/i/status/2031392984327987642

    Two thirds of the UK media is instinctively hostile and negative about absolutely anything and everything Starmer does. The other third is trying to be somewhere around balanced but none of if it is instinctively favourable. And he is a terrible communicator. So this is to be expected on every issue that rises to news headlines regardless of actual competence or not in handling the issue.
  • The fact Farage has moved proves Sir Keir got it right from the start.

    Anyway, Labour v Tory for next election.
  • RogerRoger Posts: 22,520
    OT You must watch this Lebanese journalist. She's so typical of the Lebanese. Really fun and feisty. I'd love to put her in a room with those morons Trump and Hegseth. She'd eat them alive! She's so much brighter than both of them. Where do these right wing nutters get their ideas

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tQnH77XxBE

  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 15,379

    Eabhal said:

    ❤️ Lossie

    Birthplace of Ramsay MacDonald, a new bridge to the beach, Duffus Castle, fighter jets, decent ice cream, bottlenose dolphins.

    What more could you want.
    2 more winners today to answer your question.

    She has only lost twice, that is in mud. Today she became a racing legend. ❤️

    I am not into racing but what connection if any does it have with Lossiemouth ?
    Racehorse legend, she won the big race today.
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 70,518

    The impression the govennment is handling the issue of defence in UK falls

    https://x.com/i/status/2031392984327987642

    Two thirds of the UK media is instinctively hostile and negative about absolutely anything and everything Starmer does. The other third is trying to be somewhere around balanced but none of if it is instinctively favourable. And he is a terrible communicator. So this is to be expected on every issue that rises to news headlines regardless of actual competence or not in handling the issue.
    It seems that whichever government is in power when a crisis hits like Ukraine, Covid and now Iran they will take the hit irrespective of trying to blame others

    Maybe unfair, but the conservatives certainly did and labour look like they may be having the same problem
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 70,518

    Eabhal said:

    ❤️ Lossie

    Birthplace of Ramsay MacDonald, a new bridge to the beach, Duffus Castle, fighter jets, decent ice cream, bottlenose dolphins.

    What more could you want.
    2 more winners today to answer your question.

    She has only lost twice, that is in mud. Today she became a racing legend. ❤️

    I am not into racing but what connection if any does it have with Lossiemouth ?
    Racehorse legend, she won the big race today.
    Is she connected to Lossiemouth, as Lossie is very much associated with the town
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 36,871
    At last. Press Asscn reports that HMS Dragon is really and truly on her way to Cyprus.
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 15,379
    Massive win by Madara. Owned them. 🔩⬆️
  • noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 26,874

    The impression the govennment is handling the issue of defence in UK falls

    https://x.com/i/status/2031392984327987642

    Two thirds of the UK media is instinctively hostile and negative about absolutely anything and everything Starmer does. The other third is trying to be somewhere around balanced but none of if it is instinctively favourable. And he is a terrible communicator. So this is to be expected on every issue that rises to news headlines regardless of actual competence or not in handling the issue.
    It seems that whichever government is in power when a crisis hits like Ukraine, Covid and now Iran they will take the hit irrespective of trying to blame others

    Maybe unfair, but the conservatives certainly did and labour look like they may be having the same problem
    A lot of politics is luck and timing. Nearly every democratic govt worldwide lost votes in the election post Ukraine war compared to the one pre war. If the economy had been booming instead many govts across the world would have been viewed more favourably. The best thing that can happen to Labour is the wars in Ukraine and Middle East stopping, at least 18 months before the next GE, to give time for an economic and household finance boost to seep through.

    Separately the way the right wing press, which is most of our press, cover Starmer is absurd and it is inevitable that those consuming it think he is far more clueless than he is (and, yes, he is a bit clueless in some areas).



  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 58,141
    The EU has created a new honours system with the first three people being given the highest rank being Lech Walesa, Volodymyr Zelensky and Angela Merkel. For some reason U2 also get a 'gong'.

    https://x.com/EP_President/status/2031340755294249434
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 70,518
    edited 4:52PM

    At last. Press Asscn reports that HMS Dragon is really and truly on her way to Cyprus.

    Watching live on Sky as she cast's off the tugs and sails up the Solent and family wave flags and farewells

    God speed and safe return
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 45,970
    eek said:

    Well 3.99% is less than the 4.99% I’m paying

    Mine going up 8%
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 34,311

    The EU has created a new honours system with the first three people being given the highest rank being Lech Walesa, Volodymyr Zelensky and Angela Merkel. For some reason U2 also get a 'gong'.

    https://x.com/EP_President/status/2031340755294249434

    Ghastly.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 45,970

    At last. Press Asscn reports that HMS Dragon is really and truly on her way to Cyprus.

    Watching live on Sky as she cast's off the tugs as she sails up the Solent and family wave flags and farewells

    God speed and safe return
    Trump will have announced total victory and dispersed his fleet by the time they arrive.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 58,473
    I was having a chat this morning with a Conservative Party official who in the past was, shall we say, Reform curious.

    Solidly back in the blue column. Couldn't stand Jenrick.

    There is a real chance that Farage called it very wrong in taking in any old Tory waifs and strays. I think he knows it. The fire has gone from his belly.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 78,033

    The EU has created a new honours system with the first three people being given the highest rank being Lech Walesa, Volodymyr Zelensky and Angela Merkel. For some reason U2 also get a 'gong'.

    https://x.com/EP_President/status/2031340755294249434

    So two Russian assets and one person they hate? Odd mixture.
  • TazTaz Posts: 25,856
    Andy_JS said:

    FPT

    dixiedean said:

    Life expectancy is one thing.
    Healthy life expectancy another.
    We are simply extending the length of end of life sickness in the main.

    Is there any evidence for this?
    I think @dixiedean is correct. From memory of a couple of podcasts I heard.
  • TazTaz Posts: 25,856
    malcolmg said:

    eek said:

    Well 3.99% is less than the 4.99% I’m paying

    Mine going up 8%
    Is that a one off or quite regular Malc ?
  • TazTaz Posts: 25,856

    The EU has created a new honours system with the first three people being given the highest rank being Lech Walesa, Volodymyr Zelensky and Angela Merkel. For some reason U2 also get a 'gong'.

    https://x.com/EP_President/status/2031340755294249434

    Merkel !!!! What a joke
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 60,498
    Has anyone ever heard of an American “media” organisation called Punchbowl News?

    https://x.com/datarepublican/status/2031208053945618828

    TL:DR of course you haven’t. Because it’s not for you, it’s for the Senators and it’s how the corporate sponsors of the Senate do their work.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 45,970
    Taz said:

    malcolmg said:

    eek said:

    Well 3.99% is less than the 4.99% I’m paying

    Mine going up 8%
    Is that a one off or quite regular Malc ?
    just for 2026, bloody robbers
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 63,479
    Taz said:

    The EU has created a new honours system with the first three people being given the highest rank being Lech Walesa, Volodymyr Zelensky and Angela Merkel. For some reason U2 also get a 'gong'.

    https://x.com/EP_President/status/2031340755294249434

    Merkel !!!! What a joke
    I'm just grateful that Schroeder isn't on the list.
  • DopermeanDopermean Posts: 2,460

    Eabhal said:

    ❤️ Lossie

    Birthplace of Ramsay MacDonald, a new bridge to the beach, Duffus Castle, fighter jets, decent ice cream, bottlenose dolphins.

    What more could you want.
    2 more winners today to answer your question.

    She has only lost twice, that is in mud. Today she became a racing legend. ❤️
    Put my Ladbrokes 50p free bet on the longest odds Sporting Life tip and it came in at 18-1, should have put some actual money on it.
    Otherwise another win and 2 places at E/W a good day.
  • FairlieredFairliered Posts: 7,652
    Taz said:

    malcolmg said:

    eek said:

    Well 3.99% is less than the 4.99% I’m paying

    Mine going up 8%
    Is that a one off or quite regular Malc ?
    Ours is going up by 8.5% after the proposed 12% increase was outvoted.
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 16,466
    edited 5:01PM

    I was having a chat this morning with a Conservative Party official who in the past was, shall we say, Reform curious.

    Solidly back in the blue column. Couldn't stand Jenrick.

    There is a real chance that Farage called it very wrong in taking in any old Tory waifs and strays. I think he knows it. The fire has gone from his belly.

    I stand by my original thought, The Nadhim Zahawi reveal was the start of a long, slow collapse, followed by Kemi humiliating Jenrick and him having to crawl in on his belly and then the utterly cringe Braverman cuddling Nicotine Daddy photo
    Theyve blown it and Nigel knows it

    Labour minority, Tory opposition i think
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 19,327
    Roger said:

    OT You must watch this Lebanese journalist. She's so typical of the Lebanese. Really fun and feisty. I'd love to put her in a room with those morons Trump and Hegseth. She'd eat them alive! She's so much brighter than both of them. Where do these right wing nutters get their ideas

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tQnH77XxBE

    She's right about the nonsense rhetoric coming from the US administration that pretends Iran is like, say, the Taliban's Afghanistan in terms of oppression. Women are not required to wear a burqa. Women are not barred from education. Iran has very high rates of female participation in even higher education, with higher rates than the US in STEM subjects ( https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/iran-female-literacy-rate/ ). Iran does have a murderous regime and oppression is rife, including gender-based (e.g., all those women with higher degrees then struggle to get jobs). Women don't have to wear a burqa, but do have to wear a headscarf.

    But it is a mistake to think of Iran as another Afghanistan.
  • The_WoodpeckerThe_Woodpecker Posts: 552

    Massive win by Madara. Owned them. 🔩⬆️

    4 wins from 5 races for me so far, plus a double in the 1640. Thanks for your tips @MoonRabbit 😁
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 22,201

    I was having a chat this morning with a Conservative Party official who in the past was, shall we say, Reform curious.

    Solidly back in the blue column. Couldn't stand Jenrick.

    There is a real chance that Farage called it very wrong in taking in any old Tory waifs and strays. I think he knows it. The fire has gone from his belly.

    Not so bad if you take in Tory, Labour and others but when the overwhelming trend is from one party, and that party is the one turfed out after 14 years in charge, then its not a good look.
  • TazTaz Posts: 25,856
    rcs1000 said:

    Taz said:

    The EU has created a new honours system with the first three people being given the highest rank being Lech Walesa, Volodymyr Zelensky and Angela Merkel. For some reason U2 also get a 'gong'.

    https://x.com/EP_President/status/2031340755294249434

    Merkel !!!! What a joke
    I'm just grateful that Schroeder isn't on the list.
    Is there a Russian honours list ?
  • Brixian59Brixian59 Posts: 1,310

    At last. Press Asscn reports that HMS Dragon is really and truly on her way to Cyprus.

    Watching live on Sky as she cast's off the tugs and sails up the Solent and family wave flags and farewells

    God speed and safe return
    She'll sneak in to Torbay under cover of darkness tonight, Trump will declare victory at 11pm tonight our time and she'll sail back in to Pompey tomorrow.
  • TazTaz Posts: 25,856

    Taz said:

    malcolmg said:

    eek said:

    Well 3.99% is less than the 4.99% I’m paying

    Mine going up 8%
    Is that a one off or quite regular Malc ?
    Ours is going up by 8.5% after the proposed 12% increase was outvoted.
    12% !!!!!
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 19,327
    edited 5:05PM

    The EU has created a new honours system with the first three people being given the highest rank being Lech Walesa, Volodymyr Zelensky and Angela Merkel. For some reason U2 also get a 'gong'.

    https://x.com/EP_President/status/2031340755294249434

    Ghastly.
    Oh my God, yes, how terrible to honour Lech Wałęsa! I mean, what did he think he was doing? Going around and ending the rule of Communism in Poland!
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 87,020
    ydoethur said:

    The EU has created a new honours system with the first three people being given the highest rank being Lech Walesa, Volodymyr Zelensky and Angela Merkel. For some reason U2 also get a 'gong'.

    https://x.com/EP_President/status/2031340755294249434

    So two Russian assets and one person they hate? Odd mixture.
    Walesa is not a Russian asset.

    ..Wałęsa regarded a victory by Donald Trump in the 2024 United States presidential election as a "misfortune" both for the United States and the world, without providing further explanation.[69] In March 2025, he and other former Polish political prisoners wrote a letter to Trump expressing their "horror and distaste" with his conduct during a contentious meeting between him and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which took place in the backdrop of American aid during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[70] Wałęsa has actively backed Ukraine's defence, calling upon NATO to continually provide support and suggesting a Ukrainian victory is imperative to protecting democracy.[71] He calls for reducing Russia's population to “less than 50 million inhabitants” by organizing an “uprising of the peoples” who have been “annexed” so that Russia no longer poses a threat to neighboring countries...
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 19,327

    I was having a chat this morning with a Conservative Party official who in the past was, shall we say, Reform curious.

    Solidly back in the blue column. Couldn't stand Jenrick.

    There is a real chance that Farage called it very wrong in taking in any old Tory waifs and strays. I think he knows it. The fire has gone from his belly.

    Why is is "waifs" and not "waives"? You know, like knife/knives, wife/wives.
  • eekeek Posts: 32,820
    Taz said:

    Taz said:

    malcolmg said:

    eek said:

    Well 3.99% is less than the 4.99% I’m paying

    Mine going up 8%
    Is that a one off or quite regular Malc ?
    Ours is going up by 8.5% after the proposed 12% increase was outvoted.
    12% !!!!!
    If central government isn’t able to fund social care directly where else is the money going to come from other than council tax
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 63,479

    Roger said:

    OT You must watch this Lebanese journalist. She's so typical of the Lebanese. Really fun and feisty. I'd love to put her in a room with those morons Trump and Hegseth. She'd eat them alive! She's so much brighter than both of them. Where do these right wing nutters get their ideas

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tQnH77XxBE

    She's right about the nonsense rhetoric coming from the US administration that pretends Iran is like, say, the Taliban's Afghanistan in terms of oppression. Women are not required to wear a burqa. Women are not barred from education. Iran has very high rates of female participation in even higher education, with higher rates than the US in STEM subjects ( https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/iran-female-literacy-rate/ ). Iran does have a murderous regime and oppression is rife, including gender-based (e.g., all those women with higher degrees then struggle to get jobs). Women don't have to wear a burqa, but do have to wear a headscarf.

    But it is a mistake to think of Iran as another Afghanistan.
    One might even argue that it's better to be a woman in Iran than in Saudi Arabia.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 63,479
    Taz said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Taz said:

    The EU has created a new honours system with the first three people being given the highest rank being Lech Walesa, Volodymyr Zelensky and Angela Merkel. For some reason U2 also get a 'gong'.

    https://x.com/EP_President/status/2031340755294249434

    Merkel !!!! What a joke
    I'm just grateful that Schroeder isn't on the list.
    Is there a Russian honours list ?
    The Order of Lenin was the old Soviet one. Presumably there is something.
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 16,466
    https://x.com/i/status/2031410356862480907
    Tice and little Reform stooge Guido besmirching YouGov.

    Reform have previously attacked Focaldata and Ashcroft for not producing figures to wank into a flag to.

  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 39,492
    edited 5:09PM
    "Britain Can Always Get Worse

    Writing in The American Conservative, Dalrymple contemplates the paradox of Keir Starmer’s premiership: a leader of no discernible talent whose most compelling argument for remaining in office is that his likely replacements would be worse still. He reflects on the crisis of political legitimacy in Britain, the collapse of the two-party system, and the dangerous illusion that change from a bad situation can only be for the better.

    "In politics, the usual choice is between the bad and the worse, not between the bad and the good—and history shows that those who elect a politician because he is good, and not because he is merely better than the alternative, usually end up disappointed, disillusioned, and even embittered. Politics, at least in the modern age, is not a metier for good people."

    Read the full essay here."

    https://www.skepticaldoctor.com/
  • LeonLeon Posts: 67,023
    edited 5:11PM

    Roger said:

    OT You must watch this Lebanese journalist. She's so typical of the Lebanese. Really fun and feisty. I'd love to put her in a room with those morons Trump and Hegseth. She'd eat them alive! She's so much brighter than both of them. Where do these right wing nutters get their ideas

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tQnH77XxBE

    She's right about the nonsense rhetoric coming from the US administration that pretends Iran is like, say, the Taliban's Afghanistan in terms of oppression. Women are not required to wear a burqa. Women are not barred from education. Iran has very high rates of female participation in even higher education, with higher rates than the US in STEM subjects ( https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/iran-female-literacy-rate/ ). Iran does have a murderous regime and oppression is rife, including gender-based (e.g., all those women with higher degrees then struggle to get jobs). Women don't have to wear a burqa, but do have to wear a headscarf.

    But it is a mistake to think of Iran as another Afghanistan.
    I am happy to say that as I strolled today through sunny Bloomsbury, between SOAS and ULU and UCL, doing admin, I walked past a stall staffed by Stop The War and Save The Mullah type people, a mixture of @Dura_Ace manchildren and delusional Gen Zees. And when they eagerly offered me a leaflet, I turned and spat the words "Fuck Off" so loudly and vehemently, they looked like they'd pooed themselves with fright
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 58,473

    https://x.com/i/status/2031410356862480907
    Tice and little Reform stooge Guido besmirching YouGov.

    Reform have previously attacked Focaldata and Ashcroft for not producing figures to wank into a flag to.

    "Are YouGov deliberately playing games?"

    No.
  • Northern_AlNorthern_Al Posts: 9,453

    I was having a chat this morning with a Conservative Party official who in the past was, shall we say, Reform curious.

    Solidly back in the blue column. Couldn't stand Jenrick.

    There is a real chance that Farage called it very wrong in taking in any old Tory waifs and strays. I think he knows it. The fire has gone from his belly.

    I stand by my original thought, The Nadhim Zahawi reveal was the start of a long, slow collapse, followed by Kemi humiliating Jenrick and him having to crawl in on his belly and then the utterly cringe Braverman cuddling Nicotine Daddy photo
    Theyve blown it and Nigel knows it

    Labour minority, Tory opposition i think
    I have no time for Farage, but usually he's politically astute. What on earth possessed him to think that taking in Jenrick, Braverman, Zahawi and Rosindell would broaden Reform's appeal rather than narrow it?
    Maybe he's lost his touch.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 39,492

    The EU has created a new honours system with the first three people being given the highest rank being Lech Walesa, Volodymyr Zelensky and Angela Merkel. For some reason U2 also get a 'gong'.

    https://x.com/EP_President/status/2031340755294249434

    Ghastly.
    Oh my God, yes, how terrible to honour Lech Wałęsa! I mean, what did he think he was doing? Going around and ending the rule of Communism in Poland!
    The ghastly may not have been referring to him.
  • Stark_DawningStark_Dawning Posts: 10,735

    I was having a chat this morning with a Conservative Party official who in the past was, shall we say, Reform curious.

    Solidly back in the blue column. Couldn't stand Jenrick.

    There is a real chance that Farage called it very wrong in taking in any old Tory waifs and strays. I think he knows it. The fire has gone from his belly.

    Why is is "waifs" and not "waives"? You know, like knife/knives, wife/wives.
    We tend to sound the 'v' in 'wives' and 'knives' so did the spelling evolve from that?
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 58,473
    rcs1000 said:

    Taz said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Taz said:

    The EU has created a new honours system with the first three people being given the highest rank being Lech Walesa, Volodymyr Zelensky and Angela Merkel. For some reason U2 also get a 'gong'.

    https://x.com/EP_President/status/2031340755294249434

    Merkel !!!! What a joke
    I'm just grateful that Schroeder isn't on the list.
    Is there a Russian honours list ?
    The Order of Lenin was the old Soviet one. Presumably there is something.
    The Order of Putin: Defenestration
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 15,379
    edited 5:15PM

    Massive win by Madara. Owned them. 🔩⬆️

    4 wins from 5 races for me so far, plus a double in the 1640. Thanks for your tips @MoonRabbit 😁
    No worries, but just 2 wins 2 seconds from 6 for me so far. I have confidence in BACKMEORSACKME in the last.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 67,023
    ALSO, when I got home there'd been a delivery, and I am now the proud owner of an absolutely mahoohoohoohoohoohoosive fossilised Megalodon shark tooth from the Miocene

    It's much more likeable than my weird, sinister, dark-noomy Trilobite

    So, a good day
  • TazTaz Posts: 25,856
    eek said:

    Taz said:

    Taz said:

    malcolmg said:

    eek said:

    Well 3.99% is less than the 4.99% I’m paying

    Mine going up 8%
    Is that a one off or quite regular Malc ?
    Ours is going up by 8.5% after the proposed 12% increase was outvoted.
    12% !!!!!
    If central government isn’t able to fund social care directly where else is the money going to come from other than council tax
    He’s in Scotland so a devolved matter and I do understand that principle as we’ve agreed local govt model is fucked previously but after 12% was proposed they’ll appreciate 8.5% !!!!
  • MortimerMortimer Posts: 14,422

    I was having a chat this morning with a Conservative Party official who in the past was, shall we say, Reform curious.

    Solidly back in the blue column. Couldn't stand Jenrick.

    There is a real chance that Farage called it very wrong in taking in any old Tory waifs and strays. I think he knows it. The fire has gone from his belly.

    As another straw in the wind, Jenrick's move has made me and several of my pals more Reform curious....

    I voted for him as leader, and think he would have done better than Kemi.
  • Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 34,121
    ydoethur said:

    The EU has created a new honours system with the first three people being given the highest rank being Lech Walesa, Volodymyr Zelensky and Angela Merkel. For some reason U2 also get a 'gong'.

    https://x.com/EP_President/status/2031340755294249434

    So two Russian assets and one person they hate? Odd mixture.
    Trying to work out who is who in that description.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 78,033
    Nigelb said:

    ydoethur said:

    The EU has created a new honours system with the first three people being given the highest rank being Lech Walesa, Volodymyr Zelensky and Angela Merkel. For some reason U2 also get a 'gong'.

    https://x.com/EP_President/status/2031340755294249434

    So two Russian assets and one person they hate? Odd mixture.
    Walesa is not a Russian asset.

    ..Wałęsa regarded a victory by Donald Trump in the 2024 United States presidential election as a "misfortune" both for the United States and the world, without providing further explanation.[69] In March 2025, he and other former Polish political prisoners wrote a letter to Trump expressing their "horror and distaste" with his conduct during a contentious meeting between him and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which took place in the backdrop of American aid during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[70] Wałęsa has actively backed Ukraine's defence, calling upon NATO to continually provide support and suggesting a Ukrainian victory is imperative to protecting democracy.[71] He calls for reducing Russia's population to “less than 50 million inhabitants” by organizing an “uprising of the peoples” who have been “annexed” so that Russia no longer poses a threat to neighboring countries...
    There are fairly credible allegations that he was a secret police informer during the 1970s. At the very least, he was a useful idiot for them.

    I realise that the SB were not technically Russian, but that is a distinction without a difference.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 39,492
    edited 5:15PM
    Just got an email from CrossCountry rail:

    "We’re reaching out to let you know about a change to the National Rail Conditions of Travel. From Weds 1 April 2026, any refund requests will need to be submitted by 23:59 on the day before you are due to travel. This is an industry-wide change designed to help tackle fares fraud."

    Does anyone understand this. How can you request a refund before your travel when you don't know whether the train's going to be late or not?
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 58,473
    edited 5:16PM

    I was having a chat this morning with a Conservative Party official who in the past was, shall we say, Reform curious.

    Solidly back in the blue column. Couldn't stand Jenrick.

    There is a real chance that Farage called it very wrong in taking in any old Tory waifs and strays. I think he knows it. The fire has gone from his belly.

    I stand by my original thought, The Nadhim Zahawi reveal was the start of a long, slow collapse, followed by Kemi humiliating Jenrick and him having to crawl in on his belly and then the utterly cringe Braverman cuddling Nicotine Daddy photo
    Theyve blown it and Nigel knows it

    Labour minority, Tory opposition i think
    Labour has been spectacularly inept these past 20 months, but they have to be staggeringly inept to lose the number of seats it takes to drop to a minority. A small Labour majority still my likeliest outcome.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 78,033
    rcs1000 said:

    Roger said:

    OT You must watch this Lebanese journalist. She's so typical of the Lebanese. Really fun and feisty. I'd love to put her in a room with those morons Trump and Hegseth. She'd eat them alive! She's so much brighter than both of them. Where do these right wing nutters get their ideas

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tQnH77XxBE

    She's right about the nonsense rhetoric coming from the US administration that pretends Iran is like, say, the Taliban's Afghanistan in terms of oppression. Women are not required to wear a burqa. Women are not barred from education. Iran has very high rates of female participation in even higher education, with higher rates than the US in STEM subjects ( https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/iran-female-literacy-rate/ ). Iran does have a murderous regime and oppression is rife, including gender-based (e.g., all those women with higher degrees then struggle to get jobs). Women don't have to wear a burqa, but do have to wear a headscarf.

    But it is a mistake to think of Iran as another Afghanistan.
    One might even argue that it's better to be a woman in Iran than in Saudi Arabia.
    While possibly true that doesn't say much, does it?
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 19,327
    Andy_JS said:

    The EU has created a new honours system with the first three people being given the highest rank being Lech Walesa, Volodymyr Zelensky and Angela Merkel. For some reason U2 also get a 'gong'.

    https://x.com/EP_President/status/2031340755294249434

    Ghastly.
    Oh my God, yes, how terrible to honour Lech Wałęsa! I mean, what did he think he was doing? Going around and ending the rule of Communism in Poland!
    The ghastly may not have been referring to him.
    Oh my God, yes, how terrible to honour Volodymyr Zelenskyy! I mean, what did he think he was doing? Going around and resisting Russian aggression!
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 78,033

    Andy_JS said:

    The EU has created a new honours system with the first three people being given the highest rank being Lech Walesa, Volodymyr Zelensky and Angela Merkel. For some reason U2 also get a 'gong'.

    https://x.com/EP_President/status/2031340755294249434

    Ghastly.
    Oh my God, yes, how terrible to honour Lech Wałęsa! I mean, what did he think he was doing? Going around and ending the rule of Communism in Poland!
    The ghastly may not have been referring to him.
    Oh my God, yes, how terrible to honour Volodymyr Zelenskyy! I mean, what did he think he was doing? Going around and resisting Russian aggression!
    Can we all at least agree that Angela Merkel is a twat?
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 16,466

    I was having a chat this morning with a Conservative Party official who in the past was, shall we say, Reform curious.

    Solidly back in the blue column. Couldn't stand Jenrick.

    There is a real chance that Farage called it very wrong in taking in any old Tory waifs and strays. I think he knows it. The fire has gone from his belly.

    I stand by my original thought, The Nadhim Zahawi reveal was the start of a long, slow collapse, followed by Kemi humiliating Jenrick and him having to crawl in on his belly and then the utterly cringe Braverman cuddling Nicotine Daddy photo
    Theyve blown it and Nigel knows it

    Labour minority, Tory opposition i think
    I have no time for Farage, but usually he's politically astute. What on earth possessed him to think that taking in Jenrick, Braverman, Zahawi and Rosindell would broaden Reform's appeal rather than narrow it?
    Maybe he's lost his touch.
    I think he has, yes.
    And, more generally, his success is predicated on keeping the rage boiling for 5 years.
    People get bored with being apoplectic
  • In 2019 a lot of the Corbynites now with the Greens attacked the pollsters for apparently underrating Labour.

    Strong signs of the same from Reform at any poll they don’t like.

    The reality is they’re going backwards.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 67,023
    Andy_JS said:

    Just got an email from CrossCountry rail:

    "We’re reaching out to let you know about a change to the National Rail Conditions of Travel. From Weds 1 April 2026, any refund requests will need to be submitted by 23:59 on the day before you are due to travel. This is an industry-wide change designed to help tackle fares fraud."

    Does anyone understand this. How can you request a refund before your travel when you don't know whether the train's going to be late or not?

    I presume they mean refunds for tickets bought in error, or that turn out to be un-needed

    So, you buy a ticket from Paddington to Bath, on the Tuesday, intending to travel the coming Saturday. Up until Friday midnight you can ask for your money back, and not travel, and they will do that happily. They refund you instantly (I've done this myself several times, and they are brisk and efficient)

    I presume people are gaming the system and actually travelling and THEN claiming a refund, as if they never travelled. This stops that. You will still be able to claim for delays, on actual trains you use. That is a different system

    You're welcome
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 19,327
    ydoethur said:

    Andy_JS said:

    The EU has created a new honours system with the first three people being given the highest rank being Lech Walesa, Volodymyr Zelensky and Angela Merkel. For some reason U2 also get a 'gong'.

    https://x.com/EP_President/status/2031340755294249434

    Ghastly.
    Oh my God, yes, how terrible to honour Lech Wałęsa! I mean, what did he think he was doing? Going around and ending the rule of Communism in Poland!
    The ghastly may not have been referring to him.
    Oh my God, yes, how terrible to honour Volodymyr Zelenskyy! I mean, what did he think he was doing? Going around and resisting Russian aggression!
    Can we all at least agree that Angela Merkel is a twat?
    Look, two of three isn't bad.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 134,591
    Or cutting taxes can be funded by significantly reducing spending, which Reform led KCC much like Liz Truss, seemed reluctant to do
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 126,765
    Andy_JS said:

    Just got an email from CrossCountry rail:

    "We’re reaching out to let you know about a change to the National Rail Conditions of Travel. From Weds 1 April 2026, any refund requests will need to be submitted by 23:59 on the day before you are due to travel. This is an industry-wide change designed to help tackle fares fraud."

    Does anyone understand this. How can you request a refund before your travel when you don't know whether the train's going to be late or not?

    Refunds are not delay repay/cancellations.
  • More In Common is pretty positive for Sir Keir.

    If they can take the moment and do something on cost of living they’re right back in the game IMHO.
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 16,466

    https://x.com/i/status/2031410356862480907
    Tice and little Reform stooge Guido besmirching YouGov.

    Reform have previously attacked Focaldata and Ashcroft for not producing figures to wank into a flag to.

    They are going to shit themselves when they find out who founded and owns YouGov.
    I thought he had divested his interest? The Sold Standard
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 58,473
    ydoethur said:

    Andy_JS said:

    The EU has created a new honours system with the first three people being given the highest rank being Lech Walesa, Volodymyr Zelensky and Angela Merkel. For some reason U2 also get a 'gong'.

    https://x.com/EP_President/status/2031340755294249434

    Ghastly.
    Oh my God, yes, how terrible to honour Lech Wałęsa! I mean, what did he think he was doing? Going around and ending the rule of Communism in Poland!
    The ghastly may not have been referring to him.
    Oh my God, yes, how terrible to honour Volodymyr Zelenskyy! I mean, what did he think he was doing? Going around and resisting Russian aggression!
    Can we all at least agree that Angela Merkel is a twat?
    Yes.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 87,020
    Nigelb said:

    ydoethur said:

    The EU has created a new honours system with the first three people being given the highest rank being Lech Walesa, Volodymyr Zelensky and Angela Merkel. For some reason U2 also get a 'gong'.

    https://x.com/EP_President/status/2031340755294249434

    So two Russian assets and one person they hate? Odd mixture.
    Walesa is not a Russian asset.

    ..Wałęsa regarded a victory by Donald Trump in the 2024 United States presidential election as a "misfortune" both for the United States and the world, without providing further explanation.[69] In March 2025, he and other former Polish political prisoners wrote a letter to Trump expressing their "horror and distaste" with his conduct during a contentious meeting between him and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which took place in the backdrop of American aid during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[70] Wałęsa has actively backed Ukraine's defence, calling upon NATO to continually provide support and suggesting a Ukrainian victory is imperative to protecting democracy.[71] He calls for reducing Russia's population to “less than 50 million inhabitants” by organizing an “uprising of the peoples” who have been “annexed” so that Russia no longer poses a threat to neighboring countries...
    This guy, though.

    https://x.com/atrupar/status/2031402408912314833
    Witkoff says that he and Jared Kusher yesterday had a call with Putin adviser Yuri Ushakov "independently" of Trump
    Witkoff: "The Russians said they have not been sharing. That's what they said. We can take them at their word."..


    No words.
  • FF43FF43 Posts: 19,107

    The EU has created a new honours system with the first three people being given the highest rank being Lech Walesa, Volodymyr Zelensky and Angela Merkel. For some reason U2 also get a 'gong'.

    https://x.com/EP_President/status/2031340755294249434

    Ghastly.
    Indeed. Nothing so ghastly could happen here. Jeffrey Archer, Nicolae Ceausescu and Jimmy Saville entirely worthy recipients of our honour
  • Jim_the_LurkerJim_the_Lurker Posts: 266

    ydoethur said:

    The EU has created a new honours system with the first three people being given the highest rank being Lech Walesa, Volodymyr Zelensky and Angela Merkel. For some reason U2 also get a 'gong'.

    https://x.com/EP_President/status/2031340755294249434

    So two Russian assets and one person they hate? Odd mixture.
    Trying to work out who is who in that description.
    To be honest I just assumed that finally someone has pointed out what was blindingly obvious. Larry Mullen from U2 was a long term KGB agent in the 80s.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 126,765

    https://x.com/i/status/2031410356862480907
    Tice and little Reform stooge Guido besmirching YouGov.

    Reform have previously attacked Focaldata and Ashcroft for not producing figures to wank into a flag to.

    They are going to shit themselves when they find out who founded and owns YouGov.
    I thought he had divested his interest? The Sold Standard
    It's complicated

    https://x.com/DanNeidle/status/1547167726963236864?s=20&t=YmVWIg3880cGDi4t4jfREQ
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 87,020
    ydoethur said:

    Nigelb said:

    ydoethur said:

    The EU has created a new honours system with the first three people being given the highest rank being Lech Walesa, Volodymyr Zelensky and Angela Merkel. For some reason U2 also get a 'gong'.

    https://x.com/EP_President/status/2031340755294249434

    So two Russian assets and one person they hate? Odd mixture.
    Walesa is not a Russian asset.

    ..Wałęsa regarded a victory by Donald Trump in the 2024 United States presidential election as a "misfortune" both for the United States and the world, without providing further explanation.[69] In March 2025, he and other former Polish political prisoners wrote a letter to Trump expressing their "horror and distaste" with his conduct during a contentious meeting between him and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which took place in the backdrop of American aid during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[70] Wałęsa has actively backed Ukraine's defence, calling upon NATO to continually provide support and suggesting a Ukrainian victory is imperative to protecting democracy.[71] He calls for reducing Russia's population to “less than 50 million inhabitants” by organizing an “uprising of the peoples” who have been “annexed” so that Russia no longer poses a threat to neighboring countries...
    There are fairly credible allegations that he was a secret police informer during the 1970s. At the very least, he was a useful idiot for them.

    I realise that the SB were not technically Russian, but that is a distinction without a difference.
    I don't think there we very many who weren't compromised in one way or another during the Soviet occupation.

    Watch Wajda's great films Man of Marble, and Man of Iron.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 78,033
    Nigelb said:

    Nigelb said:

    ydoethur said:

    The EU has created a new honours system with the first three people being given the highest rank being Lech Walesa, Volodymyr Zelensky and Angela Merkel. For some reason U2 also get a 'gong'.

    https://x.com/EP_President/status/2031340755294249434

    So two Russian assets and one person they hate? Odd mixture.
    Walesa is not a Russian asset.

    ..Wałęsa regarded a victory by Donald Trump in the 2024 United States presidential election as a "misfortune" both for the United States and the world, without providing further explanation.[69] In March 2025, he and other former Polish political prisoners wrote a letter to Trump expressing their "horror and distaste" with his conduct during a contentious meeting between him and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which took place in the backdrop of American aid during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[70] Wałęsa has actively backed Ukraine's defence, calling upon NATO to continually provide support and suggesting a Ukrainian victory is imperative to protecting democracy.[71] He calls for reducing Russia's population to “less than 50 million inhabitants” by organizing an “uprising of the peoples” who have been “annexed” so that Russia no longer poses a threat to neighboring countries...
    This guy, though.

    https://x.com/atrupar/status/2031402408912314833
    Witkoff says that he and Jared Kusher yesterday had a call with Putin adviser Yuri Ushakov "independently" of Trump
    Witkoff: "The Russians said they have not been sharing. That's what they said. We can take them at their word."..


    No words.
    Really? I have lots of words for Steve Witkoff. I just can't use them without getting the banhammer.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 87,020

    I was having a chat this morning with a Conservative Party official who in the past was, shall we say, Reform curious.

    Solidly back in the blue column. Couldn't stand Jenrick.

    There is a real chance that Farage called it very wrong in taking in any old Tory waifs and strays. I think he knows it. The fire has gone from his belly.

    Why is is "waifs" and not "waives"? You know, like knife/knives, wife/wives.
    Everyone waives the rules for waifs.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 78,033
    FF43 said:

    The EU has created a new honours system with the first three people being given the highest rank being Lech Walesa, Volodymyr Zelensky and Angela Merkel. For some reason U2 also get a 'gong'.

    https://x.com/EP_President/status/2031340755294249434

    Ghastly.
    Indeed. Nothing so ghastly could happen here. Jeffrey Archer, Nicolae Ceausescu and Jimmy Saville entirely worthy recipients of our honour
    How soon we forget Lord Mandelson.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 126,765
    ydoethur said:

    Nigelb said:

    Nigelb said:

    ydoethur said:

    The EU has created a new honours system with the first three people being given the highest rank being Lech Walesa, Volodymyr Zelensky and Angela Merkel. For some reason U2 also get a 'gong'.

    https://x.com/EP_President/status/2031340755294249434

    So two Russian assets and one person they hate? Odd mixture.
    Walesa is not a Russian asset.

    ..Wałęsa regarded a victory by Donald Trump in the 2024 United States presidential election as a "misfortune" both for the United States and the world, without providing further explanation.[69] In March 2025, he and other former Polish political prisoners wrote a letter to Trump expressing their "horror and distaste" with his conduct during a contentious meeting between him and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which took place in the backdrop of American aid during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[70] Wałęsa has actively backed Ukraine's defence, calling upon NATO to continually provide support and suggesting a Ukrainian victory is imperative to protecting democracy.[71] He calls for reducing Russia's population to “less than 50 million inhabitants” by organizing an “uprising of the peoples” who have been “annexed” so that Russia no longer poses a threat to neighboring countries...
    This guy, though.

    https://x.com/atrupar/status/2031402408912314833
    Witkoff says that he and Jared Kusher yesterday had a call with Putin adviser Yuri Ushakov "independently" of Trump
    Witkoff: "The Russians said they have not been sharing. That's what they said. We can take them at their word."..


    No words.
    Really? I have lots of words for Steve Witkoff. I just can't use them without getting the banhammer.
    Look on the bright side, at least you never said Trump winning in 2024 would be better for Ukraine than President Harris.
  • FF43FF43 Posts: 19,107
    Andy_JS said:

    Just got an email from CrossCountry rail:

    "We’re reaching out to let you know about a change to the National Rail Conditions of Travel. From Weds 1 April 2026, any refund requests will need to be submitted by 23:59 on the day before you are due to travel. This is an industry-wide change designed to help tackle fares fraud."

    Does anyone understand this. How can you request a refund before your travel when you don't know whether the train's going to be late or not?

    Assume your request to cancel? They would want to ensure you don't travel on an early train and then pretend you are cancelling your journey on a later train the same day?
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 87,020
    ydoethur said:

    Nigelb said:

    Nigelb said:

    ydoethur said:

    The EU has created a new honours system with the first three people being given the highest rank being Lech Walesa, Volodymyr Zelensky and Angela Merkel. For some reason U2 also get a 'gong'.

    https://x.com/EP_President/status/2031340755294249434

    So two Russian assets and one person they hate? Odd mixture.
    Walesa is not a Russian asset.

    ..Wałęsa regarded a victory by Donald Trump in the 2024 United States presidential election as a "misfortune" both for the United States and the world, without providing further explanation.[69] In March 2025, he and other former Polish political prisoners wrote a letter to Trump expressing their "horror and distaste" with his conduct during a contentious meeting between him and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which took place in the backdrop of American aid during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[70] Wałęsa has actively backed Ukraine's defence, calling upon NATO to continually provide support and suggesting a Ukrainian victory is imperative to protecting democracy.[71] He calls for reducing Russia's population to “less than 50 million inhabitants” by organizing an “uprising of the peoples” who have been “annexed” so that Russia no longer poses a threat to neighboring countries...
    This guy, though.

    https://x.com/atrupar/status/2031402408912314833
    Witkoff says that he and Jared Kusher yesterday had a call with Putin adviser Yuri Ushakov "independently" of Trump
    Witkoff: "The Russians said they have not been sharing. That's what they said. We can take them at their word."..


    No words.
    Really? I have lots of words for Steve Witkoff. I just can't use them without getting the banhammer.
    Exactly.
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 16,466

    https://x.com/i/status/2031410356862480907
    Tice and little Reform stooge Guido besmirching YouGov.

    Reform have previously attacked Focaldata and Ashcroft for not producing figures to wank into a flag to.

    They are going to shit themselves when they find out who founded and owns YouGov.
    I thought he had divested his interest? The Sold Standard
    It's complicated

    https://x.com/DanNeidle/status/1547167726963236864?s=20&t=YmVWIg3880cGDi4t4jfREQ
    It would be. Lol
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 126,765

    https://x.com/i/status/2031410356862480907
    Tice and little Reform stooge Guido besmirching YouGov.

    Reform have previously attacked Focaldata and Ashcroft for not producing figures to wank into a flag to.

    They are going to shit themselves when they find out who founded and owns YouGov.
    I thought he had divested his interest? The Sold Standard
    It's complicated

    https://x.com/DanNeidle/status/1547167726963236864?s=20&t=YmVWIg3880cGDi4t4jfREQ
    It would be. Lol
    Far too many people forget why he was fired from the cabinet.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 70,616

    Javier Blas
    @JavierBlas
    ·
    17m
    BREAKING: US Navy escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz, says
    @SecretaryWright

    https://x.com/JavierBlas/status/2031418502842638813
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 16,466

    https://x.com/i/status/2031410356862480907
    Tice and little Reform stooge Guido besmirching YouGov.

    Reform have previously attacked Focaldata and Ashcroft for not producing figures to wank into a flag to.

    They are going to shit themselves when they find out who founded and owns YouGov.
    I thought he had divested his interest? The Sold Standard
    It's complicated

    https://x.com/DanNeidle/status/1547167726963236864?s=20&t=YmVWIg3880cGDi4t4jfREQ
    It would be. Lol
    Far too many people forget why he was fired from the cabinet.
    And thus why the glitzy reveal video for his defection was deeply inappropriate
  • RogerRoger Posts: 22,520
    edited 5:39PM

    Roger said:

    OT You must watch this Lebanese journalist. She's so typical of the Lebanese. Really fun and feisty. I'd love to put her in a room with those morons Trump and Hegseth. She'd eat them alive! She's so much brighter than both of them. Where do these right wing nutters get their ideas

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tQnH77XxBE

    She's right about the nonsense rhetoric coming from the US administration that pretends Iran is like, say, the Taliban's Afghanistan in terms of oppression. Women are not required to wear a burqa. Women are not barred from education. Iran has very high rates of female participation in even higher education, with higher rates than the US in STEM subjects ( https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/iran-female-literacy-rate/ ). Iran does have a murderous regime and oppression is rife, including gender-based (e.g., all those women with higher degrees then struggle to get jobs). Women don't have to wear a burqa, but do have to wear a headscarf.

    But it is a mistake to think of Iran as another Afghanistan.
    To me she's typical of most of the countries in those parts.. They have some rules that everyone ignores like they don't let you share a room with someone who doesn't have the same surname but I've never known anyone who enforces it. Apart from Saudi and Afghanistan you can do more or less what you want.

    I've never worked in Iran but I've shot a raunchy underwear ad in Beirut that wouldn't have passed the ITCA in the UK. The other thing I always notice is how cultured the people are. They know films from different countries. They're old civilisations and even the most junior people often surprise you with their lateral thinking. My Turkish producer is gay and she's taken me to places in Istanbul I didn't know existed anywhere! They've also got more varieties of dope than Costa have varieties of coffee!
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