If the US does withdraw from NATO, how much do we charge for the use of our bases ?
The USA is essentially dependent on military bases like Ramstein, Signoella, Aérea de Morón and Rota to ensure that it can effectively pivot it's ground forces, supplies, and launch air operations across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and in some cases, having more options for deployments in Asia when necessary
They use these bases to more effectively react to crises, gather intelligence, host logistical hubs that can reach globally across theatres, project power in the face of countries like Russia, China and India, and also to be better prepared to react to crises.
A late change in the North east list for the Greens, where sitting MSP Maggie Chapman, who was ranked 2nd, replaces Guy Ingerson as lead candidate, after a complaint was filed against Ingerson.
➡️ REF UK 30% (+3) 🌳 CON 21% (+1) 🌹 LAB 19% (nc) 🌍 GREEN 12% (nc) 🔶 LIB DEM 11% (-3) ❓OTH 4% (nc) 🟡 SNP 2% (-1)
N = 2,003 | 28-30/3| Change w 25/03
That 3% LibDem to Reform shift is interesting!
Tories on 20%+ will help in May. As will a 2% lead over Labour - Labour led them by 5% in 2022...
On those MiC numbers Tory vote is still down 9% on the 30% they got under Boris even in 2022 so plenty of Tory councillors will still be losing their seats to Reform and the LDs sadly. Even if Labour who were on 35% NEV in 2022 lose even more councillors to Reform and the Greens
The LibDems are only up 1% against the Tories on 2022.
Against Reform, it will depend on tactical voting.
The Tories main threat is Reform in May more than the LDs yes though a few seats in Hampshire and Sussex for example the Tories held against the LDs in 2021 may now fall.
Without anti Reform tactical voting Tory councillors face a massacre by Reform on the MiC numbers certainly, as do Labour councillors in Leave voting areas
I'll be voting Conservative in Hampshire in May.
Norfolk has one Tory vote here. Im hoping for a few fellows to join me .
Including Russia getting richer and Ukraine running short of Patriot missiles.
It's a mark of US incompetence that they've burned through around three times more Patriots in a month than Ukraine has used in total.
It's got nothing to do with incompetence and the notion that sainted Ukraine are somehow more effective at employing Patriot than the US is fucking ludicrous.
Ukraine are quite deliberately kept on short commons when it comes to Patriot because of the immense cost of each launch. The US don't give a fuck and will double and triple tap every incoming with multiple Patriot rounds.
Starmer announces plans for a new UK/EU summit to push closer economic and security partnership with the bloc, saying Brexit did lasting damage to British economy.
Starmer is getting his Ode To Joy tattooed cock out to shore up support for the May locals.
A late change in the North east list for the Greens, where sitting MSP Maggie Chapman, who was ranked 2nd, replaces Guy Ingerson as lead candidate, after a complaint was filed against Ingerson.
Starmer announces plans for a new UK/EU summit to push closer economic and security partnership with the bloc, saying Brexit did lasting damage to British economy.
Starmer is getting his Ode To Joy tattooed cock out to shore up support for the May locals.
Including Russia getting richer and Ukraine running short of Patriot missiles.
It's a mark of US incompetence that they've burned through around three times more Patriots in a month than Ukraine has used in total.
It's got nothing to do with incompetence and the notion that sainted Ukraine are somehow more effective at employing Patriot than the US is fucking ludicrous.
Ukraine are quite deliberately kept on short commons when it comes to Patriot because of the immense cost of each launch. The US don't give a fuck and will double and triple tap every incoming with multiple Patriot rounds.
So why are they begging Poland for missiles ? They've used two years' production already.
A late change in the North east list for the Greens, where sitting MSP Maggie Chapman, who was ranked 2nd, replaces Guy Ingerson as lead candidate, after a complaint was filed against Ingerson.
A late change in the North east list for the Greens, where sitting MSP Maggie Chapman, who was ranked 2nd, replaces Guy Ingerson as lead candidate, after a complaint was filed against Ingerson.
Looks like the Greens are just running the 6 in constituencies then?
That we know of so far, yes. Last time in 2021 they stood in around 11. I think they have the money to fight more, and will easily save their deposit where they stand. There may even be 1 or 2 seats in Glasgow and Edinburgh they could have had a serious tilt at winning had they selected early and campaigned hard, but have opted out of.
Meanwhile in more candidate shambles, SLab candidate for Glasgow Southside (Sturgeons old seat) has been dropped due to a fraud charge. The Greens have never had a better chance in that seat,my understanding is new boundaries help them there
A late change in the North east list for the Greens, where sitting MSP Maggie Chapman, who was ranked 2nd, replaces Guy Ingerson as lead candidate, after a complaint was filed against Ingerson.
There are some stunningly useless and incompetent representatives in Holyrood. And then there is Maggie Chapman. She is in a class of her own.
She's not completely useless - she's timed things perfectly to screw Guy Ingerson's life for the next few years now that cushy job at Holyrood has gone.
The problem with casting a closer relationship with Europe as the solution to the world's current economic malaise is that it kind of misses the point. The key problem at present is a shortage of ENERGY. Europe has an energy deficit. Up until 2022 it filled that gap with gas from Russia. Now it fills that gap with gas (and oil) from the US and Middle East. It swapped one dependency for another. We can debate whether that dependency is inevitable, the extent to which it's a function of geology and/or political decisions taken years ago. Regardless, right now Europe is highly exposed to the problems in the Gulf. And without US energy imports it is in BIG trouble. A closer relationship between the UK and the EU does not solve this conundrum.
The problem with his post is in the first paragraph. “The key problem at present” might be energy as a result of the Iran war, but that is not the entirety of the problems with the US relationship.
The problem is dependency.
Those who wish to swap a dependency on Washington with a dependency on Brussels have just swapped one problem for another.
Out of the frying pan and into the fire.
On energy we need to be able to be self sufficient.
On defence we need to be able to work independently, with like minded allies, and without a single point of failure . . . Either on this continent or any other.
Swiss cheese model of risk.
A key part of the problem is we want to have our cake, eat it and repeat! There's also a real problem of time and a recognition the we have to some degree to swap welfare for guns. There's public don't want it and the left won't have it - TBF neither do the rest. We're kinda f*****!
A late change in the North east list for the Greens, where sitting MSP Maggie Chapman, who was ranked 2nd, replaces Guy Ingerson as lead candidate, after a complaint was filed against Ingerson.
Looks like the Greens are just running the 6 in constituencies then?
That we know of so far, yes. Last time in 2021 they stood in around 11. I think they have the money to fight more, and will easily save their deposit where they stand. There may even be 1 or 2 seats in Glasgow and Edinburgh they could have had a serious tilt at winning had they selected early and campaigned hard, but have opted out of.
Meanwhile in more candidate shambles, SLab candidate for Glasgow Southside (Sturgeons old seat) has been dropped due to a fraud charge. The Greens have never had a better chance in that seat,my understanding is new boundaries help them there
Im just thinking it seems unlikely they will be rushing to get papers in between now and 4 pm except in maybe a handful more which will have a knock on effrct to the %s in const. polling
A late change in the North east list for the Greens, where sitting MSP Maggie Chapman, who was ranked 2nd, replaces Guy Ingerson as lead candidate, after a complaint was filed against Ingerson.
There are some stunningly useless and incompetent representatives in Holyrood. And then there is Maggie Chapman. She is in a class of her own.
The most ridiculous part of this situation is there is currently an unresolved complaint regarding Chapman. So it looks like double standards. She has clearly had her nose being put out of joint by not being ranked first. There's a decent chance they get 2 list seats in NE, but no certainty.
If the US does withdraw from NATO, how much do we charge for the use of our bases ?
The USA is essentially dependent on military bases like Ramstein, Signoella, Aérea de Morón and Rota to ensure that it can effectively pivot it's ground forces, supplies, and launch air operations across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and in some cases, having more options for deployments in Asia when necessary
They use these bases to more effectively react to crises, gather intelligence, host logistical hubs that can reach globally across theatres, project power in the face of countries like Russia, China and India, and also to be better prepared to react to crises.
If the US does withdraw from NATO, how much do we charge for the use of our bases ?
The USA is essentially dependent on military bases like Ramstein, Signoella, Aérea de Morón and Rota to ensure that it can effectively pivot it's ground forces, supplies, and launch air operations across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and in some cases, having more options for deployments in Asia when necessary
They use these bases to more effectively react to crises, gather intelligence, host logistical hubs that can reach globally across theatres, project power in the face of countries like Russia, China and India, and also to be better prepared to react to crises.
Post NATO US will just do highly transactional bilateral deals with sufficiently friendly/subservient countries to get what they need in Europe. Papa becomes the new Ramstein, etc.
SKS would lick Trump's pulsing sphincter (and send Chaz to do the same) to keep them at Mildenhall and Lakenheath.
A late change in the North east list for the Greens, where sitting MSP Maggie Chapman, who was ranked 2nd, replaces Guy Ingerson as lead candidate, after a complaint was filed against Ingerson.
Looks like the Greens are just running the 6 in constituencies then?
That we know of so far, yes. Last time in 2021 they stood in around 11. I think they have the money to fight more, and will easily save their deposit where they stand. There may even be 1 or 2 seats in Glasgow and Edinburgh they could have had a serious tilt at winning had they selected early and campaigned hard, but have opted out of.
Meanwhile in more candidate shambles, SLab candidate for Glasgow Southside (Sturgeons old seat) has been dropped due to a fraud charge. The Greens have never had a better chance in that seat,my understanding is new boundaries help them there
Im just thinking it seems unlikely they will be rushing to get papers in between now and 4 pm except in maybe a handful more which will have a knock on effrct to the %s in const. polling
There will be a few surprised voters on 7th May who may expect the Greens to be standing in more constituencies. No idea where this vote will go - SNP more likely benefactors?
Meanwhile no word from Reform yet on the 5 or so candidates they are missing
Off topic: Today, April 1st, Putin and Trump will announce their upcoming marriage. It will be a traditional marriage in some ways; for example, Trump will promise to obey Putin. The wedding parties still have to be settled, but Kristi Noem is almost certain to be the flower girl.
A late change in the North east list for the Greens, where sitting MSP Maggie Chapman, who was ranked 2nd, replaces Guy Ingerson as lead candidate, after a complaint was filed against Ingerson.
Looks like the Greens are just running the 6 in constituencies then?
That we know of so far, yes. Last time in 2021 they stood in around 11. I think they have the money to fight more, and will easily save their deposit where they stand. There may even be 1 or 2 seats in Glasgow and Edinburgh they could have had a serious tilt at winning had they selected early and campaigned hard, but have opted out of.
Meanwhile in more candidate shambles, SLab candidate for Glasgow Southside (Sturgeons old seat) has been dropped due to a fraud charge. The Greens have never had a better chance in that seat,my understanding is new boundaries help them there
Im just thinking it seems unlikely they will be rushing to get papers in between now and 4 pm except in maybe a handful more which will have a knock on effrct to the %s in const. polling
There will be a few surprised voters on 7th May who may expect the Greens to be standing in more constituencies. No idea where this vote will go - SNP more likely benefactors?
Meanwhile no word from Reform yet on the 5 or so candidates they are missing
I wonder if it costs the Greens in the list at the margins too - 'screw you then, i'll vote xxx on purple and peach' Even a 1% drop might be critical
Starmer announces plans for a new UK/EU summit to push closer economic and security partnership with the bloc, saying Brexit did lasting damage to British economy.
Starmer is getting his Ode To Joy tattooed cock out to shore up support for the May locals.
It will absolutely work with people like you.
It is absolutely going to result in an even bigger drubbing at the hands of Reform.
The problem with casting a closer relationship with Europe as the solution to the world's current economic malaise is that it kind of misses the point. The key problem at present is a shortage of ENERGY. Europe has an energy deficit. Up until 2022 it filled that gap with gas from Russia. Now it fills that gap with gas (and oil) from the US and Middle East. It swapped one dependency for another. We can debate whether that dependency is inevitable, the extent to which it's a function of geology and/or political decisions taken years ago. Regardless, right now Europe is highly exposed to the problems in the Gulf. And without US energy imports it is in BIG trouble. A closer relationship between the UK and the EU does not solve this conundrum.
I think renewables as a share of energy production in Europe is up 6 percentage points between 2022 and 2025. That’s the other side of this equation. If Europe, including the UK, can keep pushing that number up, and accelerate the increase, then we solve the problem. Big international cooperative projects, like the one to support offshore wind power in the North Sea, are part of that and are helped by that closer relationships between the UK and EU. The unreliable nature of much renewable power is also helped by pan-European cooperation.
Bollocks. Doing that only bakes in higher energy costs. There is no country with a high level of penetration of wind and solar in its energy mix that does not have higher than average energy costs. If I'm lying, find one.
Spain is 60% renewables, and has some of the lowest prices in the EU.
I'm curious what your alternative would be for Europe ?
A late change in the North east list for the Greens, where sitting MSP Maggie Chapman, who was ranked 2nd, replaces Guy Ingerson as lead candidate, after a complaint was filed against Ingerson.
If the US does withdraw from NATO, how much do we charge for the use of our bases ?
The USA is essentially dependent on military bases like Ramstein, Signoella, Aérea de Morón and Rota to ensure that it can effectively pivot it's ground forces, supplies, and launch air operations across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and in some cases, having more options for deployments in Asia when necessary
They use these bases to more effectively react to crises, gather intelligence, host logistical hubs that can reach globally across theatres, project power in the face of countries like Russia, China and India, and also to be better prepared to react to crises.
Post NATO US will just do highly transactional bilateral deals with sufficiently friendly/subservient countries to get what they need in Europe. Papa becomes the new Ramstein, etc.
SKS would lick Trump's pulsing sphincter (and send Chaz to do the same) to keep them at Mildenhall and Lakenheath.
Sound like the perfect location and names for 2 new towns
Starmer announces plans for a new UK/EU summit to push closer economic and security partnership with the bloc, saying Brexit did lasting damage to British economy.
Starmer is getting his Ode To Joy tattooed cock out to shore up support for the May locals.
It will absolutely work with people like you.
It is absolutely going to result in an even bigger drubbing at the hands of Reform.
More Yurp, thars what the drones need. Much more Yurp
A late change in the North east list for the Greens, where sitting MSP Maggie Chapman, who was ranked 2nd, replaces Guy Ingerson as lead candidate, after a complaint was filed against Ingerson.
There are some stunningly useless and incompetent representatives in Holyrood. And then there is Maggie Chapman. She is in a class of her own.
She's not completely useless - she's timed things perfectly to screw Guy Ingerson's life for the next few years now that cushy job at Holyrood has gone.
The problem with casting a closer relationship with Europe as the solution to the world's current economic malaise is that it kind of misses the point. The key problem at present is a shortage of ENERGY. Europe has an energy deficit. Up until 2022 it filled that gap with gas from Russia. Now it fills that gap with gas (and oil) from the US and Middle East. It swapped one dependency for another. We can debate whether that dependency is inevitable, the extent to which it's a function of geology and/or political decisions taken years ago. Regardless, right now Europe is highly exposed to the problems in the Gulf. And without US energy imports it is in BIG trouble. A closer relationship between the UK and the EU does not solve this conundrum.
I think renewables as a share of energy production in Europe is up 6 percentage points between 2022 and 2025. That’s the other side of this equation. If Europe, including the UK, can keep pushing that number up, and accelerate the increase, then we solve the problem. Big international cooperative projects, like the one to support offshore wind power in the North Sea, are part of that and are helped by that closer relationships between the UK and EU. The unreliable nature of much renewable power is also helped by pan-European cooperation.
Bollocks. Doing that only bakes in higher energy costs. There is no country with a high level of penetration of wind and solar in its energy mix that does not have higher than average energy costs. If I'm lying, find one.
Spain is 60% renewables, and has some of the lowest prices in the EU.
I'm curious what your alternative would be for Europe ?
The lowest prices 'in the EU'. I really don't care what Europe does, I just don't want us to be pulled down with them.
Including Russia getting richer and Ukraine running short of Patriot missiles.
It's a mark of US incompetence that they've burned through around three times more Patriots in a month than Ukraine has used in total.
It's got nothing to do with incompetence and the notion that sainted Ukraine are somehow more effective at employing Patriot than the US is fucking ludicrous.
Ukraine are quite deliberately kept on short commons when it comes to Patriot because of the immense cost of each launch. The US don't give a fuck and will double and triple tap every incoming with multiple Patriot rounds.
The whole point is that Ukraine has 1000x cheaper solutions than Patriot.
You know this, but Patriot is there to take out enemy aircraft and large missiles, not cheap drones. Ukraine has nailed a solution for taking out the cheap drones without wasting the expensive missiles - and the GCC countries are all-in on buying that technology in exchange for a few of the scarce Patriots.
The problem with casting a closer relationship with Europe as the solution to the world's current economic malaise is that it kind of misses the point. The key problem at present is a shortage of ENERGY. Europe has an energy deficit. Up until 2022 it filled that gap with gas from Russia. Now it fills that gap with gas (and oil) from the US and Middle East. It swapped one dependency for another. We can debate whether that dependency is inevitable, the extent to which it's a function of geology and/or political decisions taken years ago. Regardless, right now Europe is highly exposed to the problems in the Gulf. And without US energy imports it is in BIG trouble. A closer relationship between the UK and the EU does not solve this conundrum.
The problem with his post is in the first paragraph. “The key problem at present” might be energy as a result of the Iran war, but that is not the entirety of the problems with the US relationship.
The problem is dependency.
Those who wish to swap a dependency on Washington with a dependency on Brussels have just swapped one problem for another.
Out of the frying pan and into the fire.
On energy we need to be able to be self sufficient.
On defence we need to be able to work independently, with like minded allies, and without a single point of failure . . . Either on this continent or any other.
Swiss cheese model of risk.
A key part of the problem is we want to have our cake, eat it and repeat! There's also a real problem of time and a recognition the we have to some degree to swap welfare for guns. There's public don't want it and the left won't have it - TBF neither do the rest. We're kinda f*****!
Whatever the spending requirement it always turns out we can justify the extra spending by suggesting there are still too many libraries in Wolverhampton*.
If the US does withdraw from NATO, how much do we charge for the use of our bases ?
The USA is essentially dependent on military bases like Ramstein, Signoella, Aérea de Morón and Rota to ensure that it can effectively pivot it's ground forces, supplies, and launch air operations across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and in some cases, having more options for deployments in Asia when necessary
They use these bases to more effectively react to crises, gather intelligence, host logistical hubs that can reach globally across theatres, project power in the face of countries like Russia, China and India, and also to be better prepared to react to crises.
Post NATO US will just do highly transactional bilateral deals with sufficiently friendly/subservient countries to get what they need in Europe. Papa becomes the new Ramstein, etc.
SKS would lick Trump's pulsing sphincter (and send Chaz to do the same) to keep them at Mildenhall and Lakenheath.
Sound like the perfect location and names for 2 new towns
I've been banging on about Mildenhall and Lakenheath for years.
Massive existing infrastructure in place.
Fuck the Yanks out.
One a new Town
The other a massive high security Supercat new prison
If the US does withdraw from NATO, how much do we charge for the use of our bases ?
The USA is essentially dependent on military bases like Ramstein, Signoella, Aérea de Morón and Rota to ensure that it can effectively pivot it's ground forces, supplies, and launch air operations across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and in some cases, having more options for deployments in Asia when necessary
They use these bases to more effectively react to crises, gather intelligence, host logistical hubs that can reach globally across theatres, project power in the face of countries like Russia, China and India, and also to be better prepared to react to crises.
A late change in the North east list for the Greens, where sitting MSP Maggie Chapman, who was ranked 2nd, replaces Guy Ingerson as lead candidate, after a complaint was filed against Ingerson.
There are some stunningly useless and incompetent representatives in Holyrood. And then there is Maggie Chapman. She is in a class of her own.
The most ridiculous part of this situation is there is currently an unresolved complaint regarding Chapman. So it looks like double standards. She has clearly had her nose being put out of joint by not being ranked first. There's a decent chance they get 2 list seats in NE, but no certainty.
Proper chip on shoulder politics in full view
"Ingerson previously worked for Chapman, and it is understood the pair are not on good terms."
The appalling scenes in Clapham in recent days are absolutely unacceptable and those responsible will face the full force of the law. Two arrests have been made and the Met is continuing to investigate.
There will be an increased police presence in the area in the coming days, with officers providing support and reassurance to residents and businesses.
Feels like 18 years after the GFC that zombie companies are finally going to start going bust in significant numbers. Interest rates, energy, minimum wage.
I'm far from being a mad Thatcherite but it needs to happen. Will boost productivity in the long run.
If the US does withdraw from NATO, how much do we charge for the use of our bases ?
The USA is essentially dependent on military bases like Ramstein, Signoella, Aérea de Morón and Rota to ensure that it can effectively pivot it's ground forces, supplies, and launch air operations across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and in some cases, having more options for deployments in Asia when necessary
They use these bases to more effectively react to crises, gather intelligence, host logistical hubs that can reach globally across theatres, project power in the face of countries like Russia, China and India, and also to be better prepared to react to crises.
I just want to take this opportunity to point out that there is a man named Henry Walter Wooten, from Smith County, Texas, who is serving 35 YEARS IN PRISON for marijuana possession. https://x.com/SarahisCensored/status/2039219512000622946
The appalling scenes in Clapham in recent days are absolutely unacceptable and those responsible will face the full force of the law. Two arrests have been made and the Met is continuing to investigate.
There will be an increased police presence in the area in the coming days, with officers providing support and reassurance to residents and businesses.
Starmer announces plans for a new UK/EU summit to push closer economic and security partnership with the bloc, saying Brexit did lasting damage to British economy.
Smart move from Sir Keir. The plan will be to get Nigel and Kemi all quivering lower lipped about how Brexit is now 'under threat', as if anyone remotely cares. They will then be forced to concede by implication that Trump or inglorious isolation is the alternative, which is precisely what Sir Keir wants them to say.
If the US does withdraw from NATO, how much do we charge for the use of our bases ?
The USA is essentially dependent on military bases like Ramstein, Signoella, Aérea de Morón and Rota to ensure that it can effectively pivot it's ground forces, supplies, and launch air operations across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and in some cases, having more options for deployments in Asia when necessary
They use these bases to more effectively react to crises, gather intelligence, host logistical hubs that can reach globally across theatres, project power in the face of countries like Russia, China and India, and also to be better prepared to react to crises.
The appalling scenes in Clapham in recent days are absolutely unacceptable and those responsible will face the full force of the law. Two arrests have been made and the Met is continuing to investigate.
There will be an increased police presence in the area in the coming days, with officers providing support and reassurance to residents and businesses.
Current police tactics seem to be to concentrate on dispersal at the time and then use CCTV to identify people to round up over the days and weeks following.
In that sort of situation you might think that making more arrests at the time would do more to deter a repeat.
The problem with casting a closer relationship with Europe as the solution to the world's current economic malaise is that it kind of misses the point. The key problem at present is a shortage of ENERGY. Europe has an energy deficit. Up until 2022 it filled that gap with gas from Russia. Now it fills that gap with gas (and oil) from the US and Middle East. It swapped one dependency for another. We can debate whether that dependency is inevitable, the extent to which it's a function of geology and/or political decisions taken years ago. Regardless, right now Europe is highly exposed to the problems in the Gulf. And without US energy imports it is in BIG trouble. A closer relationship between the UK and the EU does not solve this conundrum.
I think renewables as a share of energy production in Europe is up 6 percentage points between 2022 and 2025. That’s the other side of this equation. If Europe, including the UK, can keep pushing that number up, and accelerate the increase, then we solve the problem. Big international cooperative projects, like the one to support offshore wind power in the North Sea, are part of that and are helped by that closer relationships between the UK and EU. The unreliable nature of much renewable power is also helped by pan-European cooperation.
Bollocks. Doing that only bakes in higher energy costs. There is no country with a high level of penetration of wind and solar in its energy mix that does not have higher than average energy costs. If I'm lying, find one.
Spain is 60% renewables, and has some of the lowest prices in the EU.
I'm curious what your alternative would be for Europe ?
The lowest prices 'in the EU'. I really don't care what Europe does, I just don't want us to be pulled down with them.
Renewables costs upfront in solar panels, wind turbines and batteries etc, but from then on the electricity is free. Infrastructure to get and then burn fossil fuels also has upfront costs and continuing running costs. Moving towards renewables and electrification is a good investment and also a move towards energy independence.
Occurs to me that the anniversary of the Falklands war is tomorrow and given what's going on with Trump/Starmer/NATO would be an opportune time for Milei to make his move.
TBH, until I saw it was posted yesterday I imagined it was an April fool.
"A Reform source confirmed that Derek Roberts, who was the party's second on the list in Pen-y-Bont Bro Morgannwg, has stood down for "personal reasons" that have not been made public.
"The party's sixth candidate, Owain Clatworthy, has left in protest at the selection process. Both decisions emerged after Corey Edwards, the first candidate on the list, stood down last week after a photo appeared to show him performing a Nazi salute."
Looks like there is a competition between Reform Scotland and Reform Wales as to who has the most bonkers candidates. Scotland possibly just ahead, at the moment? Come on, you Welsh!
Occurs to me that the anniversary of the Falklands war is tomorrow and given what's going on with Trump/Starmer/NATO would be an opportune time for Milei to make his move.
They have recently acquired some F-16s, but generally I think the Argentine armed forces are in relatively much worse state than the British compared to 1982.
I don't think even Dura could foresee a failure of the British garrison to defend against an attempted Argentine invasion.
Occurs to me that the anniversary of the Falklands war is tomorrow and given what's going on with Trump/Starmer/NATO would be an opportune time for Milei to make his move.
I think we would already know from naval movements. Theres a few hundred army plus RAF based in the Falklands now and a couple hundred Falklands reserves, its not like 1982 when they could invade with a few soldiers
TBH, until I saw it was posted yesterday I imagined it was an April fool.
"A Reform source confirmed that Derek Roberts, who was the party's second on the list in Pen-y-Bont Bro Morgannwg, has stood down for "personal reasons" that have not been made public.
"The party's sixth candidate, Owain Clatworthy, has left in protest at the selection process. Both decisions emerged after Corey Edwards, the first candidate on the list, stood down last week after a photo appeared to show him performing a Nazi salute."
Looks like there is a competition between Reform Scotland and Reform Wales as to who has the most bonkers candidates. Scotland possibly just ahead, at the moment? Come on, you Welsh!
Reform and Green candidates are going to get massively exposed in the next couple of weeks. Neither party has the resources required to properly vet MP candidates, let alone council candidates.
Occurs to me that the anniversary of the Falklands war is tomorrow and given what's going on with Trump/Starmer/NATO would be an opportune time for Milei to make his move.
I think we would already know from naval movements. Theres a few hundred army plus RAF based in the Falklands now and a couple hundred Falklands reserves, its not like 1982 when they could invade with a few soldiers
Occurs to me that the anniversary of the Falklands war is tomorrow and given what's going on with Trump/Starmer/NATO would be an opportune time for Milei to make his move.
Milei has made clear he only wants a diplomatic solution to the Falklands issue, otherwise he is far too busy reforming the Argentina economy and slimming the Argentine state
The problem with casting a closer relationship with Europe as the solution to the world's current economic malaise is that it kind of misses the point. The key problem at present is a shortage of ENERGY. Europe has an energy deficit. Up until 2022 it filled that gap with gas from Russia. Now it fills that gap with gas (and oil) from the US and Middle East. It swapped one dependency for another. We can debate whether that dependency is inevitable, the extent to which it's a function of geology and/or political decisions taken years ago. Regardless, right now Europe is highly exposed to the problems in the Gulf. And without US energy imports it is in BIG trouble. A closer relationship between the UK and the EU does not solve this conundrum.
I think renewables as a share of energy production in Europe is up 6 percentage points between 2022 and 2025. That’s the other side of this equation. If Europe, including the UK, can keep pushing that number up, and accelerate the increase, then we solve the problem. Big international cooperative projects, like the one to support offshore wind power in the North Sea, are part of that and are helped by that closer relationships between the UK and EU. The unreliable nature of much renewable power is also helped by pan-European cooperation.
Bollocks. Doing that only bakes in higher energy costs. There is no country with a high level of penetration of wind and solar in its energy mix that does not have higher than average energy costs. If I'm lying, find one.
Spain is 60% renewables, and has some of the lowest prices in the EU.
I'm curious what your alternative would be for Europe ?
The lowest prices 'in the EU'. I really don't care what Europe does, I just don't want us to be pulled down with them.
Renewables costs upfront in solar panels, wind turbines and batteries etc, but from then on the electricity is free. Infrastructure to get and then burn fossil fuels also has upfront costs and continuing running costs. Moving towards renewables and electrification is a good investment and also a move towards energy independence.
If the Government were buying and running turbines and panels, these points might be relevant, but it isn't, so they're not. The UK's wind and solar installations are built via auctions where the Government guarantees a minimum price - without those guarantees at a sufficient level, companies don't build them. And as companies know the Government must meet self-imposed renewables targets, they simply refuse to bid until the price rises to their liking. We keep hearing about how cheap solar panels are now - but the solar strike price has *risen* in recent years. So someone might be benefitting from the cheapness of solar but it isn't us.
79% of MAGA identifying Republicans still back the war with Iran though and by a +14% margin MAGA Republicans even back sending in ground troops to Iran. Though Trump seems to be trying to bring the conflict to an end in the next few weeks
Perhaps even Trump has realised he’s not going to win purely on the votes of MAGA Republicans.
He doesn't need to win again, he is term limited. In historical terms what is going to give Trump a real legacy? Removing the Iranian regime and restoring the son of the Shah. Will historians in decades to come care about this year's midterms or that Vance might have scraped a win in 2028 in terms of Trump's legacy? No. They will assess what happened in Iran though
Then Trump’s legacy is f***ed!
Yes, he needs to change course and get serious about regime change. Stop dicking about.
Being serious has never been his strong point.
Trump has always taken self-enrichment and self-aggrandisement very seriously.
He simply doesn't care about the things you care about and he isn't going to start doing so.
Regime change in Iran would be too much effort for too little personal reward for Trump to commit to. You should never have allowed yourself to be fooled into supporting something because it looked a little like what you wanted to happen, when it was never going to be what you wanted to happen.
I was never fooled into supporting anything, I said from the start I thought Trump would TACO without regime change.
I said from the start I thought there should be boots on the ground.
The only thing that is a surprise is the TACO is taking so long.
I have no respect for Trump and never have. Nothing that has happened has changed any of my views.
The problem with casting a closer relationship with Europe as the solution to the world's current economic malaise is that it kind of misses the point. The key problem at present is a shortage of ENERGY. Europe has an energy deficit. Up until 2022 it filled that gap with gas from Russia. Now it fills that gap with gas (and oil) from the US and Middle East. It swapped one dependency for another. We can debate whether that dependency is inevitable, the extent to which it's a function of geology and/or political decisions taken years ago. Regardless, right now Europe is highly exposed to the problems in the Gulf. And without US energy imports it is in BIG trouble. A closer relationship between the UK and the EU does not solve this conundrum.
I think renewables as a share of energy production in Europe is up 6 percentage points between 2022 and 2025. That’s the other side of this equation. If Europe, including the UK, can keep pushing that number up, and accelerate the increase, then we solve the problem. Big international cooperative projects, like the one to support offshore wind power in the North Sea, are part of that and are helped by that closer relationships between the UK and EU. The unreliable nature of much renewable power is also helped by pan-European cooperation.
Bollocks. Doing that only bakes in higher energy costs. There is no country with a high level of penetration of wind and solar in its energy mix that does not have higher than average energy costs. If I'm lying, find one.
Spain is 60% renewables, and has some of the lowest prices in the EU.
I'm curious what your alternative would be for Europe ?
The lowest prices 'in the EU'. I really don't care what Europe does, I just don't want us to be pulled down with them.
Renewables costs upfront in solar panels, wind turbines and batteries etc, but from then on the electricity is free. Infrastructure to get and then burn fossil fuels also has upfront costs and continuing running costs. Moving towards renewables and electrification is a good investment and also a move towards energy independence.
If the Government were buying and running turbines and panels, these points might be relevant, but it isn't, so they're not. The UK's wind and solar installations are built via auctions where the Government guarantees a minimum price - without those guarantees at a sufficient level, companies don't build them. And as companies know the Government must meet self-imposed renewables targets, they simply refuse to bid until the price rises to their liking. We keep hearing about how cheap solar panels are now - but the solar strike price has *risen* in recent years. So someone might be benefitting from the cheapness of solar but it isn't us.
The reason the strike prices have increased is precisely because money has to be borrowed to pay for renewables in advance, compared to fossil fuels where most of the costs are for the fuel later, as money is being earned from energy generated.
Since interest rates went up from their post-financial crash lows, this makes the cost of borrowing to install renewables more expensive.
Perhaps there are better ways for government to encourage the investment in renewables that would avoid some of this increase in cost, but it's no mystery why it has happened.
The banks have been making big profits recently, though, yes.
79% of MAGA identifying Republicans still back the war with Iran though and by a +14% margin MAGA Republicans even back sending in ground troops to Iran. Though Trump seems to be trying to bring the conflict to an end in the next few weeks
Perhaps even Trump has realised he’s not going to win purely on the votes of MAGA Republicans.
He doesn't need to win again, he is term limited. In historical terms what is going to give Trump a real legacy? Removing the Iranian regime and restoring the son of the Shah. Will historians in decades to come care about this year's midterms or that Vance might have scraped a win in 2028 in terms of Trump's legacy? No. They will assess what happened in Iran though
Then Trump’s legacy is f***ed!
Yes, he needs to change course and get serious about regime change. Stop dicking about.
Being serious has never been his strong point.
Trump has always taken self-enrichment and self-aggrandisement very seriously.
He simply doesn't care about the things you care about and he isn't going to start doing so.
Regime change in Iran would be too much effort for too little personal reward for Trump to commit to. You should never have allowed yourself to be fooled into supporting something because it looked a little like what you wanted to happen, when it was never going to be what you wanted to happen.
There is no alternative President who would have pursued the kind of action for regime change that Barty is advocating. He's indulging in neocon fantasy.
George W Bush did.
He was the last neocon President. Would much prefer a return to neocon politics like Bush than this self aggrandising, corrupt, insular, abusive and bigotted politics of Trump.
The appalling scenes in Clapham in recent days are absolutely unacceptable and those responsible will face the full force of the law. Two arrests have been made and the Met is continuing to investigate.
There will be an increased police presence in the area in the coming days, with officers providing support and reassurance to residents and businesses.
Bit of an overreaction from Sadiq. It was hardly the LA riots - just a bit of high jinks from children at the beginning of their school hols. In a different era it would have been seen as in the spirit of the Swallows and Amazons. Anyway, I prefer to see children out and about, breathing God's fresh air, rather than stuck at home glued to their phones and drowning in social media. But maybe I'm just old fashioned.
Are we underestimating Harris's chances of getting the nomination ?
Nancy Pelosi credits Kamala Harris for saving the Democratic Party
“She ran a great campaign. She turned out so many more people than who would have voted….she doesn’t deserve enough credit…we would have probably lost 14 (House) seats…if she had not been the candidate.” https://x.com/AnneSmi34268702/status/2038975049361703077
No.
The Dems are not going to nominate someone who (a) crashed and burned the last time she was in a competitive Presidential primary (not even making it to Iowa), (b) who lost to DJT, and (c) was connected to (and defended) Sleepy Joe.
The Dems want a changing of the guard. And I suspect, for what it's worth, that also means no Gavin Newsom.
I'm expecting Labour to spectacularly undershoot the direst predictions. There's just too many free hit options. Quite aside from not bothering. Would be surprised if NEV hits 15 tbh.
➡️ REF UK 30% (+3) 🌳 CON 21% (+1) 🌹 LAB 19% (nc) 🌍 GREEN 12% (nc) 🔶 LIB DEM 11% (-3) ❓OTH 4% (nc) 🟡 SNP 2% (-1)
N = 2,003 | 28-30/3| Change w 25/03
That 3% LibDem to Reform shift is interesting!
Tories on 20%+ will help in May. As will a 2% lead over Labour - Labour led them by 5% in 2022...
On those MiC numbers Tory vote is still down 9% on the 30% they got under Boris even in 2022 so plenty of Tory councillors will still be losing their seats to Reform and the LDs sadly. Even if Labour who were on 35% NEV in 2022 lose even more councillors to Reform and the Greens
The LibDems are only up 1% against the Tories on 2022.
Against Reform, it will depend on tactical voting.
The Tories main threat is Reform in May more than the LDs yes though a few seats in Hampshire and Sussex for example the Tories held against the LDs in 2021 may now fall.
Without anti Reform tactical voting Tory councillors face a massacre by Reform on the MiC numbers certainly, as do Labour councillors in Leave voting areas
The problem with casting a closer relationship with Europe as the solution to the world's current economic malaise is that it kind of misses the point. The key problem at present is a shortage of ENERGY. Europe has an energy deficit. Up until 2022 it filled that gap with gas from Russia. Now it fills that gap with gas (and oil) from the US and Middle East. It swapped one dependency for another. We can debate whether that dependency is inevitable, the extent to which it's a function of geology and/or political decisions taken years ago. Regardless, right now Europe is highly exposed to the problems in the Gulf. And without US energy imports it is in BIG trouble. A closer relationship between the UK and the EU does not solve this conundrum.
I think renewables as a share of energy production in Europe is up 6 percentage points between 2022 and 2025. That’s the other side of this equation. If Europe, including the UK, can keep pushing that number up, and accelerate the increase, then we solve the problem. Big international cooperative projects, like the one to support offshore wind power in the North Sea, are part of that and are helped by that closer relationships between the UK and EU. The unreliable nature of much renewable power is also helped by pan-European cooperation.
Bollocks. Doing that only bakes in higher energy costs. There is no country with a high level of penetration of wind and solar in its energy mix that does not have higher than average energy costs. If I'm lying, find one.
Spain is 60% renewables, and has some of the lowest prices in the EU.
I'm curious what your alternative would be for Europe ?
The lowest prices 'in the EU'. I really don't care what Europe does, I just don't want us to be pulled down with them.
Renewables costs upfront in solar panels, wind turbines and batteries etc, but from then on the electricity is free. Infrastructure to get and then burn fossil fuels also has upfront costs and continuing running costs. Moving towards renewables and electrification is a good investment and also a move towards energy independence.
If the Government were buying and running turbines and panels, these points might be relevant, but it isn't, so they're not. The UK's wind and solar installations are built via auctions where the Government guarantees a minimum price - without those guarantees at a sufficient level, companies don't build them. And as companies know the Government must meet self-imposed renewables targets, they simply refuse to bid until the price rises to their liking. We keep hearing about how cheap solar panels are now - but the solar strike price has *risen* in recent years. So someone might be benefitting from the cheapness of solar but it isn't us.
The reason the strike prices have increased is precisely because money has to be borrowed to pay for renewables in advance, compared to fossil fuels where most of the costs are for the fuel later, as money is being earned from energy generated.
Since interest rates went up from their post-financial crash lows, this makes the cost of borrowing to install renewables more expensive.
Perhaps there are better ways for government to encourage the investment in renewables that would avoid some of this increase in cost, but it's no mystery why it has happened.
The banks have been making big profits recently, though, yes.
They shouldn't be 'encouraging investment' in it because it attracts investors like flies round shit, just like University Accommodation, because the tax payer is the ultimate guarantor, so the investment is a sure thing.
If this 'Britain is leading by example' thing were remotely true, there would be a huge campaign from our side to condemn those who continue to warm the planet - we would be screaming at China, India and the US, boycotting their wares, running high profile campaigns against them. The fact that we're actually flattering, appeasing, and importing from these dirty fuel countries indicates that 'setting an example' is a total sham.
The problem with casting a closer relationship with Europe as the solution to the world's current economic malaise is that it kind of misses the point. The key problem at present is a shortage of ENERGY. Europe has an energy deficit. Up until 2022 it filled that gap with gas from Russia. Now it fills that gap with gas (and oil) from the US and Middle East. It swapped one dependency for another. We can debate whether that dependency is inevitable, the extent to which it's a function of geology and/or political decisions taken years ago. Regardless, right now Europe is highly exposed to the problems in the Gulf. And without US energy imports it is in BIG trouble. A closer relationship between the UK and the EU does not solve this conundrum.
I think renewables as a share of energy production in Europe is up 6 percentage points between 2022 and 2025. That’s the other side of this equation. If Europe, including the UK, can keep pushing that number up, and accelerate the increase, then we solve the problem. Big international cooperative projects, like the one to support offshore wind power in the North Sea, are part of that and are helped by that closer relationships between the UK and EU. The unreliable nature of much renewable power is also helped by pan-European cooperation.
Bollocks. Doing that only bakes in higher energy costs. There is no country with a high level of penetration of wind and solar in its energy mix that does not have higher than average energy costs. If I'm lying, find one.
Spain is 60% renewables, and has some of the lowest prices in the EU.
I'm curious what your alternative would be for Europe ?
The lowest prices 'in the EU'. I really don't care what Europe does, I just don't want us to be pulled down with them.
Renewables costs upfront in solar panels, wind turbines and batteries etc, but from then on the electricity is free. Infrastructure to get and then burn fossil fuels also has upfront costs and continuing running costs. Moving towards renewables and electrification is a good investment and also a move towards energy independence.
If the Government were buying and running turbines and panels, these points might be relevant, but it isn't, so they're not. The UK's wind and solar installations are built via auctions where the Government guarantees a minimum price - without those guarantees at a sufficient level, companies don't build them. And as companies know the Government must meet self-imposed renewables targets, they simply refuse to bid until the price rises to their liking. We keep hearing about how cheap solar panels are now - but the solar strike price has *risen* in recent years. So someone might be benefitting from the cheapness of solar but it isn't us.
The reason the strike prices have increased is precisely because money has to be borrowed to pay for renewables in advance, compared to fossil fuels where most of the costs are for the fuel later, as money is being earned from energy generated.
Since interest rates went up from their post-financial crash lows, this makes the cost of borrowing to install renewables more expensive.
Perhaps there are better ways for government to encourage the investment in renewables that would avoid some of this increase in cost, but it's no mystery why it has happened.
The banks have been making big profits recently, though, yes.
They shouldn't be 'encouraging investment' in it because it attracts investors like flies round shit, just like University Accommodation, because the tax payer is the ultimate guarantor, so the investment is a sure thing.
If this 'Britain is leading by example' thing were remotely true, there would be a huge campaign from our side to condemn those who continue to warm the planet - we would be screaming at China, India and the US, boycotting their wares, running high profile campaigns against them. The fact that we're actually flattering, appeasing, and importing from these dirty fuel countries indicates that 'setting an example' is a total sham.
The US is paying companies not to install wind turbines now. The appropriate response is to point and laugh. Condemnation would be a waste of effort.
The problem with casting a closer relationship with Europe as the solution to the world's current economic malaise is that it kind of misses the point. The key problem at present is a shortage of ENERGY. Europe has an energy deficit. Up until 2022 it filled that gap with gas from Russia. Now it fills that gap with gas (and oil) from the US and Middle East. It swapped one dependency for another. We can debate whether that dependency is inevitable, the extent to which it's a function of geology and/or political decisions taken years ago. Regardless, right now Europe is highly exposed to the problems in the Gulf. And without US energy imports it is in BIG trouble. A closer relationship between the UK and the EU does not solve this conundrum.
I think renewables as a share of energy production in Europe is up 6 percentage points between 2022 and 2025. That’s the other side of this equation. If Europe, including the UK, can keep pushing that number up, and accelerate the increase, then we solve the problem. Big international cooperative projects, like the one to support offshore wind power in the North Sea, are part of that and are helped by that closer relationships between the UK and EU. The unreliable nature of much renewable power is also helped by pan-European cooperation.
Bollocks. Doing that only bakes in higher energy costs. There is no country with a high level of penetration of wind and solar in its energy mix that does not have higher than average energy costs. If I'm lying, find one.
Spain is 60% renewables, and has some of the lowest prices in the EU.
I'm curious what your alternative would be for Europe ?
The lowest prices 'in the EU'. I really don't care what Europe does, I just don't want us to be pulled down with them.
Right now, the higher ther proportion of renewables in your electricity generation mix (Spain, Portugal, Switzerland and Norway being the top), the lower the electricity price.
Now that's not always going to be the case, but -at the same time- if the Straits of Hormuz remain closed to LNG traffic for a sustained period of time, you are really, really, really going to want non-hydrocarbon generation in the mix. (There is no chance of meaningful quantities of new UK natural gas coming on stream on five year view. Nor is HPC likely to go live on that time horizon.)
It is nice that we have the Greens and some religious independents to take up the slack rather than the Farangists.
Gaza independents are even worse than Farage, which is utterly depressing.
I am all for an independent Gaza.
I have no strong views on what political shape the ME should be. But I don't want it being the primary focus of my local council. (Or indeed central government).
The problem with casting a closer relationship with Europe as the solution to the world's current economic malaise is that it kind of misses the point. The key problem at present is a shortage of ENERGY. Europe has an energy deficit. Up until 2022 it filled that gap with gas from Russia. Now it fills that gap with gas (and oil) from the US and Middle East. It swapped one dependency for another. We can debate whether that dependency is inevitable, the extent to which it's a function of geology and/or political decisions taken years ago. Regardless, right now Europe is highly exposed to the problems in the Gulf. And without US energy imports it is in BIG trouble. A closer relationship between the UK and the EU does not solve this conundrum.
I think renewables as a share of energy production in Europe is up 6 percentage points between 2022 and 2025. That’s the other side of this equation. If Europe, including the UK, can keep pushing that number up, and accelerate the increase, then we solve the problem. Big international cooperative projects, like the one to support offshore wind power in the North Sea, are part of that and are helped by that closer relationships between the UK and EU. The unreliable nature of much renewable power is also helped by pan-European cooperation.
Bollocks. Doing that only bakes in higher energy costs. There is no country with a high level of penetration of wind and solar in its energy mix that does not have higher than average energy costs. If I'm lying, find one.
Spain is 60% renewables, and has some of the lowest prices in the EU.
I'm curious what your alternative would be for Europe ?
The lowest prices 'in the EU'. I really don't care what Europe does, I just don't want us to be pulled down with them.
Right now, the higher ther proportion of renewables in your electricity generation mix (Spain, Portugal, Switzerland and Norway being the top), the lower the electricity price.
Now that's not always going to be the case, but -at the same time- if the Straits of Hormuz remain closed to LNG traffic for a sustained period of time, you are really, really, really going to want non-hydrocarbon generation in the mix. (There is no chance of meaningful quantities of new UK natural gas coming on stream on five year view. Nor is HPC likely to go live on that time horizon.)
The problem with casting a closer relationship with Europe as the solution to the world's current economic malaise is that it kind of misses the point. The key problem at present is a shortage of ENERGY. Europe has an energy deficit. Up until 2022 it filled that gap with gas from Russia. Now it fills that gap with gas (and oil) from the US and Middle East. It swapped one dependency for another. We can debate whether that dependency is inevitable, the extent to which it's a function of geology and/or political decisions taken years ago. Regardless, right now Europe is highly exposed to the problems in the Gulf. And without US energy imports it is in BIG trouble. A closer relationship between the UK and the EU does not solve this conundrum.
I think renewables as a share of energy production in Europe is up 6 percentage points between 2022 and 2025. That’s the other side of this equation. If Europe, including the UK, can keep pushing that number up, and accelerate the increase, then we solve the problem. Big international cooperative projects, like the one to support offshore wind power in the North Sea, are part of that and are helped by that closer relationships between the UK and EU. The unreliable nature of much renewable power is also helped by pan-European cooperation.
Bollocks. Doing that only bakes in higher energy costs. There is no country with a high level of penetration of wind and solar in its energy mix that does not have higher than average energy costs. If I'm lying, find one.
Spain is 60% renewables, and has some of the lowest prices in the EU.
I'm curious what your alternative would be for Europe ?
The lowest prices 'in the EU'. I really don't care what Europe does, I just don't want us to be pulled down with them.
Renewables costs upfront in solar panels, wind turbines and batteries etc, but from then on the electricity is free. Infrastructure to get and then burn fossil fuels also has upfront costs and continuing running costs. Moving towards renewables and electrification is a good investment and also a move towards energy independence.
If the Government were buying and running turbines and panels, these points might be relevant, but it isn't, so they're not. The UK's wind and solar installations are built via auctions where the Government guarantees a minimum price - without those guarantees at a sufficient level, companies don't build them. And as companies know the Government must meet self-imposed renewables targets, they simply refuse to bid until the price rises to their liking. We keep hearing about how cheap solar panels are now - but the solar strike price has *risen* in recent years. So someone might be benefitting from the cheapness of solar but it isn't us.
The reason the strike prices have increased is precisely because money has to be borrowed to pay for renewables in advance, compared to fossil fuels where most of the costs are for the fuel later, as money is being earned from energy generated.
Since interest rates went up from their post-financial crash lows, this makes the cost of borrowing to install renewables more expensive.
Perhaps there are better ways for government to encourage the investment in renewables that would avoid some of this increase in cost, but it's no mystery why it has happened.
The banks have been making big profits recently, though, yes.
They shouldn't be 'encouraging investment' in it because it attracts investors like flies round shit, just like University Accommodation, because the tax payer is the ultimate guarantor, so the investment is a sure thing.
If this 'Britain is leading by example' thing were remotely true, there would be a huge campaign from our side to condemn those who continue to warm the planet - we would be screaming at China, India and the US, boycotting their wares, running high profile campaigns against them. The fact that we're actually flattering, appeasing, and importing from these dirty fuel countries indicates that 'setting an example' is a total sham.
The US is paying companies not to install wind turbines now. The appropriate response is to point and laugh. Condemnation would be a waste of effort.
India is the dirtiest of the three by far, and deserves the condemnation for this as well as its sucking up to Russia. Thankfully we have the CBAM to level the playing field on any imports from polluters like India.
China on the other hand is taking a rather different path. They are not far off equalling our energy mix, already. I expect the Iran war will further accelerate the transition.
The problem with casting a closer relationship with Europe as the solution to the world's current economic malaise is that it kind of misses the point. The key problem at present is a shortage of ENERGY. Europe has an energy deficit. Up until 2022 it filled that gap with gas from Russia. Now it fills that gap with gas (and oil) from the US and Middle East. It swapped one dependency for another. We can debate whether that dependency is inevitable, the extent to which it's a function of geology and/or political decisions taken years ago. Regardless, right now Europe is highly exposed to the problems in the Gulf. And without US energy imports it is in BIG trouble. A closer relationship between the UK and the EU does not solve this conundrum.
I think renewables as a share of energy production in Europe is up 6 percentage points between 2022 and 2025. That’s the other side of this equation. If Europe, including the UK, can keep pushing that number up, and accelerate the increase, then we solve the problem. Big international cooperative projects, like the one to support offshore wind power in the North Sea, are part of that and are helped by that closer relationships between the UK and EU. The unreliable nature of much renewable power is also helped by pan-European cooperation.
Bollocks. Doing that only bakes in higher energy costs. There is no country with a high level of penetration of wind and solar in its energy mix that does not have higher than average energy costs. If I'm lying, find one.
Spain is 60% renewables, and has some of the lowest prices in the EU.
I'm curious what your alternative would be for Europe ?
The lowest prices 'in the EU'. I really don't care what Europe does, I just don't want us to be pulled down with them.
Renewables costs upfront in solar panels, wind turbines and batteries etc, but from then on the electricity is free. Infrastructure to get and then burn fossil fuels also has upfront costs and continuing running costs. Moving towards renewables and electrification is a good investment and also a move towards energy independence.
If the Government were buying and running turbines and panels, these points might be relevant, but it isn't, so they're not. The UK's wind and solar installations are built via auctions where the Government guarantees a minimum price - without those guarantees at a sufficient level, companies don't build them. And as companies know the Government must meet self-imposed renewables targets, they simply refuse to bid until the price rises to their liking. We keep hearing about how cheap solar panels are now - but the solar strike price has *risen* in recent years. So someone might be benefitting from the cheapness of solar but it isn't us.
The reason the strike prices have increased is precisely because money has to be borrowed to pay for renewables in advance, compared to fossil fuels where most of the costs are for the fuel later, as money is being earned from energy generated.
Since interest rates went up from their post-financial crash lows, this makes the cost of borrowing to install renewables more expensive.
Perhaps there are better ways for government to encourage the investment in renewables that would avoid some of this increase in cost, but it's no mystery why it has happened.
The banks have been making big profits recently, though, yes.
They shouldn't be 'encouraging investment' in it because it attracts investors like flies round shit, just like University Accommodation, because the tax payer is the ultimate guarantor, so the investment is a sure thing.
If this 'Britain is leading by example' thing were remotely true, there would be a huge campaign from our side to condemn those who continue to warm the planet - we would be screaming at China, India and the US, boycotting their wares, running high profile campaigns against them. The fact that we're actually flattering, appeasing, and importing from these dirty fuel countries indicates that 'setting an example' is a total sham.
The US is paying companies not to install wind turbines now. The appropriate response is to point and laugh. Condemnation would be a waste of effort.
That is equally stupid. Let renewables compete on equal terms. That's what China does, and that's why it's now the leader in renewables that the likes of NigelB coo over. It got there (and continues to get there) by burning the cheapest fuel possible. We on the other hand no longer have industries making anything.
Did you know that if you type political.betting.vanilla into "what.three.words" you will find yourself in Inuvik, in the Northwest Territories of Canada?
What does self-driving insurance look like in actuality, and can you you adjust premiums based on users primarily using self-driving software?
Isn't the crucial metric "number of journeys" instead of "number of miles travelled"?
Two points: 1. Lemonade are only in a few states 2. Lemonade's 50% off for FSD discount reported to cost more than the non-discounted for FSD rate offered by anyone else...
As an aside, Tesla's insurance business has not been a great success. Their loss ratio is above 90%.
Ours in about 55%.
So we make 4.5x as many dollars of gross profit from each dollar of insurance sold as they do. (Actually, I suspect if you include things like payment processing costs, it may be more like 8-10x.)
The problem with casting a closer relationship with Europe as the solution to the world's current economic malaise is that it kind of misses the point. The key problem at present is a shortage of ENERGY. Europe has an energy deficit. Up until 2022 it filled that gap with gas from Russia. Now it fills that gap with gas (and oil) from the US and Middle East. It swapped one dependency for another. We can debate whether that dependency is inevitable, the extent to which it's a function of geology and/or political decisions taken years ago. Regardless, right now Europe is highly exposed to the problems in the Gulf. And without US energy imports it is in BIG trouble. A closer relationship between the UK and the EU does not solve this conundrum.
I think renewables as a share of energy production in Europe is up 6 percentage points between 2022 and 2025. That’s the other side of this equation. If Europe, including the UK, can keep pushing that number up, and accelerate the increase, then we solve the problem. Big international cooperative projects, like the one to support offshore wind power in the North Sea, are part of that and are helped by that closer relationships between the UK and EU. The unreliable nature of much renewable power is also helped by pan-European cooperation.
Bollocks. Doing that only bakes in higher energy costs. There is no country with a high level of penetration of wind and solar in its energy mix that does not have higher than average energy costs. If I'm lying, find one.
Spain is 60% renewables, and has some of the lowest prices in the EU.
I'm curious what your alternative would be for Europe ?
The lowest prices 'in the EU'. I really don't care what Europe does, I just don't want us to be pulled down with them.
Renewables costs upfront in solar panels, wind turbines and batteries etc, but from then on the electricity is free. Infrastructure to get and then burn fossil fuels also has upfront costs and continuing running costs. Moving towards renewables and electrification is a good investment and also a move towards energy independence.
If the Government were buying and running turbines and panels, these points might be relevant, but it isn't, so they're not. The UK's wind and solar installations are built via auctions where the Government guarantees a minimum price - without those guarantees at a sufficient level, companies don't build them. And as companies know the Government must meet self-imposed renewables targets, they simply refuse to bid until the price rises to their liking. We keep hearing about how cheap solar panels are now - but the solar strike price has *risen* in recent years. So someone might be benefitting from the cheapness of solar but it isn't us.
The reason the strike prices have increased is precisely because money has to be borrowed to pay for renewables in advance, compared to fossil fuels where most of the costs are for the fuel later, as money is being earned from energy generated.
Since interest rates went up from their post-financial crash lows, this makes the cost of borrowing to install renewables more expensive.
Perhaps there are better ways for government to encourage the investment in renewables that would avoid some of this increase in cost, but it's no mystery why it has happened.
The banks have been making big profits recently, though, yes.
They shouldn't be 'encouraging investment' in it because it attracts investors like flies round shit, just like University Accommodation, because the tax payer is the ultimate guarantor, so the investment is a sure thing.
If this 'Britain is leading by example' thing were remotely true, there would be a huge campaign from our side to condemn those who continue to warm the planet - we would be screaming at China, India and the US, boycotting their wares, running high profile campaigns against them. The fact that we're actually flattering, appeasing, and importing from these dirty fuel countries indicates that 'setting an example' is a total sham.
The US is paying companies not to install wind turbines now. The appropriate response is to point and laugh. Condemnation would be a waste of effort.
That is equally stupid. Let renewables compete on equal terms. That's what China does, and that's why it's now the leader in renewables that the likes of NigelB coo over. It got there (and continues to get there) by burning the cheapest fuel possible. We on the other hand no longer have industries making anything.
China has subsidised renewable investment to a huge degree. In fact they started scaling back subsidies last year and it was big news:
The problem with casting a closer relationship with Europe as the solution to the world's current economic malaise is that it kind of misses the point. The key problem at present is a shortage of ENERGY. Europe has an energy deficit. Up until 2022 it filled that gap with gas from Russia. Now it fills that gap with gas (and oil) from the US and Middle East. It swapped one dependency for another. We can debate whether that dependency is inevitable, the extent to which it's a function of geology and/or political decisions taken years ago. Regardless, right now Europe is highly exposed to the problems in the Gulf. And without US energy imports it is in BIG trouble. A closer relationship between the UK and the EU does not solve this conundrum.
I think renewables as a share of energy production in Europe is up 6 percentage points between 2022 and 2025. That’s the other side of this equation. If Europe, including the UK, can keep pushing that number up, and accelerate the increase, then we solve the problem. Big international cooperative projects, like the one to support offshore wind power in the North Sea, are part of that and are helped by that closer relationships between the UK and EU. The unreliable nature of much renewable power is also helped by pan-European cooperation.
Bollocks. Doing that only bakes in higher energy costs. There is no country with a high level of penetration of wind and solar in its energy mix that does not have higher than average energy costs. If I'm lying, find one.
Spain is 60% renewables, and has some of the lowest prices in the EU.
I'm curious what your alternative would be for Europe ?
The lowest prices 'in the EU'. I really don't care what Europe does, I just don't want us to be pulled down with them.
Renewables costs upfront in solar panels, wind turbines and batteries etc, but from then on the electricity is free. Infrastructure to get and then burn fossil fuels also has upfront costs and continuing running costs. Moving towards renewables and electrification is a good investment and also a move towards energy independence.
If the Government were buying and running turbines and panels, these points might be relevant, but it isn't, so they're not. The UK's wind and solar installations are built via auctions where the Government guarantees a minimum price - without those guarantees at a sufficient level, companies don't build them. And as companies know the Government must meet self-imposed renewables targets, they simply refuse to bid until the price rises to their liking. We keep hearing about how cheap solar panels are now - but the solar strike price has *risen* in recent years. So someone might be benefitting from the cheapness of solar but it isn't us.
The reason the strike prices have increased is precisely because money has to be borrowed to pay for renewables in advance, compared to fossil fuels where most of the costs are for the fuel later, as money is being earned from energy generated.
Since interest rates went up from their post-financial crash lows, this makes the cost of borrowing to install renewables more expensive.
Perhaps there are better ways for government to encourage the investment in renewables that would avoid some of this increase in cost, but it's no mystery why it has happened.
The banks have been making big profits recently, though, yes.
They shouldn't be 'encouraging investment' in it because it attracts investors like flies round shit, just like University Accommodation, because the tax payer is the ultimate guarantor, so the investment is a sure thing.
If this 'Britain is leading by example' thing were remotely true, there would be a huge campaign from our side to condemn those who continue to warm the planet - we would be screaming at China, India and the US, boycotting their wares, running high profile campaigns against them. The fact that we're actually flattering, appeasing, and importing from these dirty fuel countries indicates that 'setting an example' is a total sham.
The US is paying companies not to install wind turbines now. The appropriate response is to point and laugh. Condemnation would be a waste of effort.
That is equally stupid. Let renewables compete on equal terms. That's what China does, and that's why it's now the leader in renewables that the likes of NigelB coo over. It got there (and continues to get there) by burning the cheapest fuel possible. We on the other hand no longer have industries making anything.
Subsidies come in all shapes and sizes. Those utterly massive* solar farms in the Himalayas they're buillding right now... well, they're being built with private money, but the connections to the grid weren't.
* I want to put the scale of some of these projects into perspective for a second. The Talatan/Gonghe cluster in Qinghai (just one project!) covers 160 square miles (i.e. the size of Chicago). When it is complete, it will produce 102GW of power at peak... That's about twice total UK peak electricity usage.
The problem with casting a closer relationship with Europe as the solution to the world's current economic malaise is that it kind of misses the point. The key problem at present is a shortage of ENERGY. Europe has an energy deficit. Up until 2022 it filled that gap with gas from Russia. Now it fills that gap with gas (and oil) from the US and Middle East. It swapped one dependency for another. We can debate whether that dependency is inevitable, the extent to which it's a function of geology and/or political decisions taken years ago. Regardless, right now Europe is highly exposed to the problems in the Gulf. And without US energy imports it is in BIG trouble. A closer relationship between the UK and the EU does not solve this conundrum.
I think renewables as a share of energy production in Europe is up 6 percentage points between 2022 and 2025. That’s the other side of this equation. If Europe, including the UK, can keep pushing that number up, and accelerate the increase, then we solve the problem. Big international cooperative projects, like the one to support offshore wind power in the North Sea, are part of that and are helped by that closer relationships between the UK and EU. The unreliable nature of much renewable power is also helped by pan-European cooperation.
Bollocks. Doing that only bakes in higher energy costs. There is no country with a high level of penetration of wind and solar in its energy mix that does not have higher than average energy costs. If I'm lying, find one.
Spain is 60% renewables, and has some of the lowest prices in the EU.
I'm curious what your alternative would be for Europe ?
The lowest prices 'in the EU'. I really don't care what Europe does, I just don't want us to be pulled down with them.
Right now, the higher ther proportion of renewables in your electricity generation mix (Spain, Portugal, Switzerland and Norway being the top), the lower the electricity price.
Now that's not always going to be the case, but -at the same time- if the Straits of Hormuz remain closed to LNG traffic for a sustained period of time, you are really, really, really going to want non-hydrocarbon generation in the mix. (There is no chance of meaningful quantities of new UK natural gas coming on stream on five year view. Nor is HPC likely to go live on that time horizon.)
Comments
The USA is essentially dependent on military bases like Ramstein, Signoella, Aérea de Morón and Rota to ensure that it can effectively pivot it's ground forces, supplies, and launch air operations across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and in some cases, having more options for deployments in Asia when necessary
They use these bases to more effectively react to crises, gather intelligence, host logistical hubs that can reach globally across theatres, project power in the face of countries like Russia, China and India, and also to be better prepared to react to crises.
This is very, very, very basic.
https://x.com/JulienHoez/status/2039222964298629192
A late change in the North east list for the Greens, where sitting MSP Maggie Chapman, who was ranked 2nd, replaces Guy Ingerson as lead candidate, after a complaint was filed against Ingerson.
One of the complainants was .... Maggie Chapman.
The complaint itself is still unresolved
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4glrxrnlywo
Ukraine are quite deliberately kept on short commons when it comes to Patriot because of the immense cost of each launch. The US don't give a fuck and will double and triple tap every incoming with multiple Patriot rounds.
People like you, too.
They've used two years' production already.
I'd say that's not great planning.
"Sainted Ukraine" ... you have your own biases.
I'm not an expert in royal matters.
Meanwhile in more candidate shambles, SLab candidate for Glasgow Southside (Sturgeons old seat) has been dropped due to a fraud charge. The Greens have never had a better chance in that seat,my understanding is new boundaries help them there
British Airways really should hire him tomorrow, he oversaw a really good improvement in Air Canada’s product and service.
Proper chip on shoulder politics in full view
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp86v8lze34o
SKS would lick Trump's pulsing sphincter (and send Chaz to do the same) to keep them at Mildenhall and Lakenheath.
Meanwhile no word from Reform yet on the 5 or so candidates they are missing
The two admit to being inspired by this famous cartoon:
https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2016679213/
There are, granted, a few legal details to be taken care of, but both bride and groom have shown they are capable of taking care of such details.
Will children result from this marriage? Quite possibly, given the progress of cloning in recent years.
(Someone with artistic skill, familiar with the new AI tools, may wish to create a cartoon in anticipation of this upcoming wedding.)
Even a 1% drop might be critical
I'm curious what your alternative would be for Europe ?
You know this, but Patriot is there to take out enemy aircraft and large missiles, not cheap drones. Ukraine has nailed a solution for taking out the cheap drones without wasting the expensive missiles - and the GCC countries are all-in on buying that technology in exchange for a few of the scarce Patriots.
* With thanks to Alexei Sayle
Massive existing infrastructure in place.
Fuck the Yanks out.
One a new Town
The other a massive high security Supercat new prison
Others we sell. Preferably not to the US
Feck the cnut
Crack BBC reporting there. LOL
https://x.com/mayoroflondon/status/2039320476783133164
The appalling scenes in Clapham in recent days are absolutely unacceptable and those responsible will face the full force of the law. Two arrests have been made and the Met is continuing to investigate.
There will be an increased police presence in the area in the coming days, with officers providing support and reassurance to residents and businesses.
Never needed
Better news Towcester could reopen
Disgraced Texas megachurch pastor free after 6 months in jail for sexually abusing 12-year-old girl: 'I am deeply sorry'
https://x.com/nypost/status/2039161334143521207
I just want to take this opportunity to point out that there is a man named Henry Walter Wooten, from Smith County, Texas, who is serving 35 YEARS IN PRISON for marijuana possession.
https://x.com/SarahisCensored/status/2039219512000622946
It would be sad because Five Guys at Barton Mills would close. But sometimes sacrifices have to be made.
In that sort of situation you might think that making more arrests at the time would do more to deter a repeat.
"Three Reform candidates quit in one Welsh constituency"
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cje47941j4qo
TBH, until I saw it was posted yesterday I imagined it was an April fool.
"A Reform source confirmed that Derek Roberts, who was the party's second on the list in Pen-y-Bont Bro Morgannwg, has stood down for "personal reasons" that have not been made public.
"The party's sixth candidate, Owain Clatworthy, has left in protest at the selection process. Both decisions emerged after Corey Edwards, the first candidate on the list, stood down last week after a photo appeared to show him performing a Nazi salute."
Looks like there is a competition between Reform Scotland and Reform Wales as to who has the most bonkers candidates. Scotland possibly just ahead, at the moment? Come on, you Welsh!
I don't think even Dura could foresee a failure of the British garrison to defend against an attempted Argentine invasion.
Starmer far more prepared than Thatcher was.
Although she ignored warnings.
Almost as if she needed a war.
https://nationalpost.com/opinion/colby-cosh-javier-mileis-careful-game-of-diplomacy-101-falklands-edition
https://x.com/LeftieStats/status/2039067800958861792
POLL | Labour to lose Birmingham Council
⚪️ Ind: 31 (+31)
🟢 Grn: 22 (+20)
➡️ Ref: 19 (+19)
🔴 Lab: 11 (-54)
🔵 Con: 10 (-12)
🟠 Lib: 8 (-4)
Source:
@Bombeplatform
, Mar '26 (+/- vs 2022)
Seats not percentage btw.
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/independents-join-forces-electoral-pact-33644265
Gaza, Kashmir and Galloway.
I said from the start I thought there should be boots on the ground.
The only thing that is a surprise is the TACO is taking so long.
I have no respect for Trump and never have. Nothing that has happened has changed any of my views.
I might pass a PB ruling prohibiting their use on PB.
For decades a Tory / Lab flip flop, long spells of either.
Since interest rates went up from their post-financial crash lows, this makes the cost of borrowing to install renewables more expensive.
Perhaps there are better ways for government to encourage the investment in renewables that would avoid some of this increase in cost, but it's no mystery why it has happened.
The banks have been making big profits recently, though, yes.
Ideally Lab hold off GE to 29,SQ will be beyond recall by then.
Every Blue nose in Brum owes Labour and particularly Mahmood a massive vote of thanks though.
She did as much to out and oust last regime as El Mayor Dan Ivery
He was the last neocon President. Would much prefer a return to neocon politics like Bush than this self aggrandising, corrupt, insular, abusive and bigotted politics of Trump.
The Dems are not going to nominate someone who (a) crashed and burned the last time she was in a competitive Presidential primary (not even making it to Iowa), (b) who lost to DJT, and (c) was connected to (and defended) Sleepy Joe.
The Dems want a changing of the guard. And I suspect, for what it's worth, that also means no Gavin Newsom.
There's just too many free hit options.
Quite aside from not bothering.
Would be surprised if NEV hits 15 tbh.
Remember, a Conservative vote is a wasted vote!
If this 'Britain is leading by example' thing were remotely true, there would be a huge campaign from our side to condemn those who continue to warm the planet - we would be screaming at China, India and the US, boycotting their wares, running high profile campaigns against them. The fact that we're actually flattering, appeasing, and importing from these dirty fuel countries indicates that 'setting an example' is a total sham.
Now that's not always going to be the case, but -at the same time- if the Straits of Hormuz remain closed to LNG traffic for a sustained period of time, you are really, really, really going to want non-hydrocarbon generation in the mix. (There is no chance of meaningful quantities of new UK natural gas coming on stream on five year view. Nor is HPC likely to go live on that time horizon.)
China on the other hand is taking a rather different path. They are not far off equalling our energy mix, already. I expect the Iran war will further accelerate the transition.
https://www.carbonbrief.org/china-briefing-5-february-2026-clean-energys-share-of-economy-record-renewables-thawing-relations-with-uk/
Ours in about 55%.
So we make 4.5x as many dollars of gross profit from each dollar of insurance sold as they do. (Actually, I suspect if you include things like payment processing costs, it may be more like 8-10x.)
https://www.power-technology.com/news/china-renewable-energy-subsidies/?cf-view
Hamas/Sinn Fein the biggest party, Reform/DUP the opposition.
... It's not surprising that Labour are bombing there.
* I want to put the scale of some of these projects into perspective for a second. The Talatan/Gonghe cluster in Qinghai (just one project!) covers 160 square miles (i.e. the size of Chicago). When it is complete, it will produce 102GW of power at peak... That's about twice total UK peak electricity usage.