It’s pretty depressing that, at Easter, when Christians celebrate the sacrifice Jesus made, there’s a bunch of people here saying we shouldn’t help refugees because it doesn’t benefit us.
a) We're not that Christian anymore. b) If I was to offer advice to the left on this, it would be that they have to acknowledge we only have finite resources. The idea we can be a receptacle for anyone around the world in need is fanciful.
On topic, let it never be forgotten that Scotland’s hacks were giving Lord Offord collective standing ovations a few months ago. His latest masterstroke is to frighten Scots with the boat peopl.
Most illegal immigrants haven't arrived on small boats, and London is a bigger magnet than Scotland for recent arrivals, but I don't think making either of those points will hit Reform particularly hard in Glasgow, which is where this propaganda is aimed at. "Glasgow is the illegal immigrant capital of the UK" is quite a clever slogan.
Might be proven wrong but don’t think Glasgow will be particularly fertile territory for Reform outside the Rangers supporting folk, Ayrshire, Forth Valley and bits of the NE more likely.
Given that it’s Scotland & Glasgow’s generous policy towards supporting refuweegees and HMG sotto voce encouraging them to take the high road to Scotland, it’s a good argument for us having independent control over immigration. Don’t suppose Reform is suggesting that.
If the SNP adopt the position that illegal immigration is a big issue and they're the party best placed to deal with it, because after independence they'll be able to, they may find it hard to convince people.
For the billionth time: it isn't illegal to enter the country with the purpose of seeking asylum.
You need to pay more attention rather than repeatedly having the same thought. Here is the issue that Reform are raising again, in the exact words that they use: "Glasgow is the illegal immigrant capital of the UK". I said what I thought will happen if the SNP say yeah, sure, and we're your best option for fixing the problem that Reform have raised. To wit, they'll find it hard to convince people. If instead they focus on saying what you say, perhaps in the form of "Reform are raising a non-issue, acktchooarly, because entering Britain in order to claim asylum is thoroughly allowed according to the law", they'll find it even harder to get people to vote SNP rather than Reform. I wouldn't vote Reform if somebody paid me to. Just observing that their spiel is likely to have some traction in Glasgow and is quite cleverly put, even if it wouldn't win a debate among politicos. What the SNP need to do IMHO is downplay immigration (immigration for whatever purpose) as an issue. For Reform of course it will remain front and centre.
The reason Reform get traction is because many voters get utterly infuriated by technocratic answers like this which fundamentally fail to even acknowledge there's a real issue and telegraph that it really isn't up for discussion.
It’s pretty depressing that, at Easter, when Christians celebrate the sacrifice Jesus made, there’s a bunch of people here saying we shouldn’t help refugees because it doesn’t benefit us.
a) We're not that Christian anymore. b) If I was to offer advice to the left on this, it would be that they have to acknowledge we only have finite resources. The idea we can be a receptacle for anyone around the world in need is fanciful.
We are not a receptacle for anyone around the world. We take in fewer refugees for a country of our size than many in Europe and far fewer than, say, Turkey, Jordan, Iran etc.
The amount we spend on refugees is not large. Its not bankrupting our nation. Government spending remains dominated by things like pensions, the NHS, education etc.
Large-scale immigration from countries whose inhabitants simply cannot, or won't, integrate is in danger of destabilising the politics of our country - with people turning to fascistic opportunists. It's not a debate that can be won, I'm afraid. I wish it was. The political classes, on this issue, have lost all credibility with much of the electorate.
Better to act now, than let things deteriorate further.
On Ashcroft's poll according to Nowcast Kemi would likely be PM with most seats in a hung parliament, though she might have to make Nigel her Deputy PM.
Conservatives 172 Reform 151 Greens 116 LDs 61 Labour 58 SNP 45 PC 18
Nah. Even if you had a reliable Reform partner you’d be barely a majority government and would be hostage to the nutters.
Let the left try to stitch together 5 parties… or have another election when they will be in complete disarray as they would with those numbers
The conventional wisdom is you can't win most seats at a General Election then say, "nah, not my job" when it comes to trying to form a government, or you'll be punished hard at the further election. It's effectively saying you don't want to govern when given the chance, which begs the question as to what the point is voting for you.
I think the conventional wisdom is probably broadly right on that. In particular, Farage would be saying "let's tango" in these circumstances, and Badenoch would be punished very hard, losing votes both to him and the Lib Dems, if she said, "we're largest party, but I think I'll just sit this one out for tactical reasons" - it's not very credible out in the country.
Sure, you negotiate but it’s not an equal partnership.
Your idea that Kemi should remain aloof of 'the nutters' and let the left Govern instead is utterly absurd.
It’s pretty depressing that, at Easter, when Christians celebrate the sacrifice Jesus made, there’s a bunch of people here saying we shouldn’t help refugees because it doesn’t benefit us.
You're exactly the sort of person that drives voters to Reform.
It’s pretty depressing that, at Easter, when Christians celebrate the sacrifice Jesus made, there’s a bunch of people here saying we shouldn’t help refugees because it doesn’t benefit us.
a) We're not that Christian anymore. b) If I was to offer advice to the left on this, it would be that they have to acknowledge we only have finite resources. The idea we can be a receptacle for anyone around the world in need is fanciful.
We are not a receptacle for anyone around the world. We take in fewer refugees for a country of our size than many in Europe and far fewer than, say, Turkey, Jordan, Iran etc.
The amount we spend on refugees is not large. Its not bankrupting our nation. Government spending remains dominated by things like pensions, the NHS, education etc.
Large-scale immigration from countries whose inhabitants simply cannot, or won't, integrate is in danger of destabilising the politics of our country - with people turning to fascistic opportunists. It's not a debate that can be won, I'm afraid. I wish it was. The political classes, on this issue, have lost all credibility with much of the electorate.
Better to act now, than let things deteriorate further.
I favour an English test within a week of arrival.
On Ashcroft's poll according to Nowcast Kemi would likely be PM with most seats in a hung parliament, though she might have to make Nigel her Deputy PM.
Conservatives 172 Reform 151 Greens 116 LDs 61 Labour 58 SNP 45 PC 18
Nah. Even if you had a reliable Reform partner you’d be barely a majority government and would be hostage to the nutters.
Let the left try to stitch together 5 parties… or have another election when they will be in complete disarray as they would with those numbers
The conventional wisdom is you can't win most seats at a General Election then say, "nah, not my job" when it comes to trying to form a government, or you'll be punished hard at the further election. It's effectively saying you don't want to govern when given the chance, which begs the question as to what the point is voting for you.
I think the conventional wisdom is probably broadly right on that. In particular, Farage would be saying "let's tango" in these circumstances, and Badenoch would be punished very hard, losing votes both to him and the Lib Dems, if she said, "we're largest party, but I think I'll just sit this one out for tactical reasons" - it's not very credible out in the country.
Sure, you negotiate but it’s not an equal partnership.
Your idea that Kemi should remain aloof of 'the nutters' and let the left Govern instead is utterly absurd.
The left wouldn’t be able to govern.
But Farage doesn’t get to be DPM.
I would think the obvious play for Badenoch would be to lead a minority government, offer Farage and Reform nothing, and dare them to side with the left to vote down a popular right-wing King's Speech and budget.
It’s pretty depressing that, at Easter, when Christians celebrate the sacrifice Jesus made, there’s a bunch of people here saying we shouldn’t help refugees because it doesn’t benefit us.
a) We're not that Christian anymore. b) If I was to offer advice to the left on this, it would be that they have to acknowledge we only have finite resources. The idea we can be a receptacle for anyone around the world in need is fanciful.
As a leftie I'm willing to accept some amendment of the criteria on which asylum is granted, on the quid pro quo that we stop demonising those who are granted asylum on that basis.
Is anyone demonising people granted asylum?
People are rightly criticising governments for lax asylum criteria, delays in the decision-making and vetting process, high costs of accomodation and benefits, and the inability in practice to actually deport anyone.
They’re also critical of criminals, particularly sex offenders and shoplifters, among immigrant and asylum-seeking communities.
No-one is demonising refugees from Ukraine and Hong Kong, for example.
On topic, let it never be forgotten that Scotland’s hacks were giving Lord Offord collective standing ovations a few months ago. His latest masterstroke is to frighten Scots with the boat peopl.
Most illegal immigrants haven't arrived on small boats, and London is a bigger magnet than Scotland for recent arrivals, but I don't think making either of those points will hit Reform particularly hard in Glasgow, which is where this propaganda is aimed at. "Glasgow is the illegal immigrant capital of the UK" is quite a clever slogan.
Might be proven wrong but don’t think Glasgow will be particularly fertile territory for Reform outside the Rangers supporting folk, Ayrshire, Forth Valley and bits of the NE more likely.
Given that it’s Scotland & Glasgow’s generous policy towards supporting refuweegees and HMG sotto voce encouraging them to take the high road to Scotland, it’s a good argument for us having independent control over immigration. Don’t suppose Reform is suggesting that.
If the SNP adopt the position that illegal immigration is a big issue and they're the party best placed to deal with it, because after independence they'll be able to, they may find it hard to convince people.
For the billionth time: it isn't illegal to enter the country with the purpose of seeking asylum.
You need to pay more attention rather than repeatedly having the same thought. Here is the issue that Reform are raising again, in the exact words that they use: "Glasgow is the illegal immigrant capital of the UK". I said what I thought will happen if the SNP say yeah, sure, and we're your best option for fixing the problem that Reform have raised. To wit, they'll find it hard to convince people. If instead they focus on saying what you say, perhaps in the form of "Reform are raising a non-issue, acktchooarly, because entering Britain in order to claim asylum is thoroughly allowed according to the law", they'll find it even harder to get people to vote SNP rather than Reform. I wouldn't vote Reform if somebody paid me to. Just observing that their spiel is likely to have some traction in Glasgow and is quite cleverly put, even if it wouldn't win a debate among politicos. What the SNP need to do IMHO is downplay immigration (immigration for whatever purpose) as an issue. For Reform of course it will remain front and centre.
The reason Reform get traction is because many voters get utterly infuriated by technocratic answers like this which fundamentally fail to even acknowledge there's a real issue and telegraph that it really isn't up for discussion.
Farage won Brexit with a poster saying £350m a week for the NHS.
That wasn’t reality but it was a simple lie which required too much detail to explain why it was false.
He’s going to play the same trick again and again so the best response is keep things simple and talk about his friends Trump and Putin - no explanation about immigration is going to work so don’t even try
It’s pretty depressing that, at Easter, when Christians celebrate the sacrifice Jesus made, there’s a bunch of people here saying we shouldn’t help refugees because it doesn’t benefit us.
a) We're not that Christian anymore. b) If I was to offer advice to the left on this, it would be that they have to acknowledge we only have finite resources. The idea we can be a receptacle for anyone around the world in need is fanciful.
As a leftie I'm willing to accept some amendment of the criteria on which asylum is granted, on the quid pro quo that we stop demonising those who are granted asylum on that basis.
Is anyone demonising people granted asylum?
People are rightly criticising governments for lax asylum criteria, delays in the decision-making and vetting process, high costs of accomodation and benefits, and the inability in practice to actually deport anyone.
They’re also critical of criminals, particularly sex offenders and shoplifters, among immigrant and asylum-seeking communities.
No-one is demonising refugees from Ukraine and Hong Kong, for example.
Looking at the actual races I can’t see it, Dems take Texas has been “about to happen” for at least a couple of decades now, but it’s never close.
Agreed.
Hypothetically though, if Texas did start to lean-Dem (which I can't see happening, but hypothetically) such that on tied or a very small popular vote lead for the GOP the Democrats carry Texas . . . would that be enough to reverse the current distortion in the electoral college that led to Bush and Trump losing the PV but winning the Presidency?
Would a blue Texas enable a Democrat candidate to lose the popular vote but win the Presidency?
It won't start to "lean Dem" for the foreseeable future. What we're currently talking about is a large overperformance by the Democrats.
A two or three point change in Texas voting habits would still leave it a fairly safe GOP state.
If the Democrats win a landslide in 2028 though Democrats could win Texas for the first time since Carter in 1976. In an even year though it stays GOP
On Ashcroft's poll according to Nowcast Kemi would likely be PM with most seats in a hung parliament, though she might have to make Nigel her Deputy PM.
Conservatives 172 Reform 151 Greens 116 LDs 61 Labour 58 SNP 45 PC 18
Nah. Even if you had a reliable Reform partner you’d be barely a majority government and would be hostage to the nutters.
Let the left try to stitch together 5 parties… or have another election when they will be in complete disarray as they would with those numbers
The conventional wisdom is you can't win most seats at a General Election then say, "nah, not my job" when it comes to trying to form a government, or you'll be punished hard at the further election. It's effectively saying you don't want to govern when given the chance, which begs the question as to what the point is voting for you.
I think the conventional wisdom is probably broadly right on that. In particular, Farage would be saying "let's tango" in these circumstances, and Badenoch would be punished very hard, losing votes both to him and the Lib Dems, if she said, "we're largest party, but I think I'll just sit this one out for tactical reasons" - it's not very credible out in the country.
Sure, you negotiate but it’s not an equal partnership.
Your idea that Kemi should remain aloof of 'the nutters' and let the left Govern instead is utterly absurd.
The left wouldn’t be able to govern.
But Farage doesn’t get to be DPM.
I would think the obvious play for Badenoch would be to lead a minority government, offer Farage and Reform nothing, and dare them to side with the left to vote down a popular right-wing King's Speech and budget.
That’s what I’d do in her shoes. Realistically she’s the only person who can form a government. So she should give reform nothing
It’s pretty depressing that, at Easter, when Christians celebrate the sacrifice Jesus made, there’s a bunch of people here saying we shouldn’t help refugees because it doesn’t benefit us.
a) We're not that Christian anymore. b) If I was to offer advice to the left on this, it would be that they have to acknowledge we only have finite resources. The idea we can be a receptacle for anyone around the world in need is fanciful.
As a leftie I'm willing to accept some amendment of the criteria on which asylum is granted, on the quid pro quo that we stop demonising those who are granted asylum on that basis.
Is anyone demonising people granted asylum?
People are rightly criticising governments for lax asylum criteria, delays in the decision-making and vetting process, high costs of accomodation and benefits, and the inability in practice to actually deport anyone.
They’re also critical of criminals, particularly sex offenders and shoplifters, among immigrant and asylum-seeking communities.
No-one is demonising refugees from Ukraine and Hong Kong, for example.
None so blind as those who will not see.
Wasn't there some woman who called for asylum seekers to be burned? Dunno what became of her...
It’s pretty depressing that, at Easter, when Christians celebrate the sacrifice Jesus made, there’s a bunch of people here saying we shouldn’t help refugees because it doesn’t benefit us.
a) We're not that Christian anymore. b) If I was to offer advice to the left on this, it would be that they have to acknowledge we only have finite resources. The idea we can be a receptacle for anyone around the world in need is fanciful.
We are not a receptacle for anyone around the world. We take in fewer refugees for a country of our size than many in Europe and far fewer than, say, Turkey, Jordan, Iran etc.
The amount we spend on refugees is not large. Its not bankrupting our nation. Government spending remains dominated by things like pensions, the NHS, education etc.
Large-scale immigration from countries whose inhabitants simply cannot, or won't, integrate is in danger of destabilising the politics of our country - with people turning to fascistic opportunists. It's not a debate that can be won, I'm afraid. I wish it was. The political classes, on this issue, have lost all credibility with much of the electorate.
Better to act now, than let things deteriorate further.
He is part of the political class, and absolutely doesn't get it. He was on a subcommittee of Sage and lives in Camden. He talks like it's still 2003. He just thinks the electorate are badly informed, prejudiced and possibly a bit stupid too.
That's assuming he's real and not satirising himself.
On Ashcroft's poll according to Nowcast Kemi would likely be PM with most seats in a hung parliament, though she might have to make Nigel her Deputy PM.
Conservatives 172 Reform 151 Greens 116 LDs 61 Labour 58 SNP 45 PC 18
Nah. Even if you had a reliable Reform partner you’d be barely a majority government and would be hostage to the nutters.
Let the left try to stitch together 5 parties… or have another election when they will be in complete disarray as they would with those numbers
The conventional wisdom is you can't win most seats at a General Election then say, "nah, not my job" when it comes to trying to form a government, or you'll be punished hard at the further election. It's effectively saying you don't want to govern when given the chance, which begs the question as to what the point is voting for you.
I think the conventional wisdom is probably broadly right on that. In particular, Farage would be saying "let's tango" in these circumstances, and Badenoch would be punished very hard, losing votes both to him and the Lib Dems, if she said, "we're largest party, but I think I'll just sit this one out for tactical reasons" - it's not very credible out in the country.
Sure, you negotiate but it’s not an equal partnership.
Your idea that Kemi should remain aloof of 'the nutters' and let the left Govern instead is utterly absurd.
The left wouldn’t be able to govern.
But Farage doesn’t get to be DPM.
I would think the obvious play for Badenoch would be to lead a minority government, offer Farage and Reform nothing, and dare them to side with the left to vote down a popular right-wing King's Speech and budget.
That’s what I’d do in her shoes. Realistically she’s the only person who can form a government. So she should give reform nothing
Grandad Grumpy is up, and he's not in a good mood;
Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP
It’s pretty depressing that, at Easter, when Christians celebrate the sacrifice Jesus made, there’s a bunch of people here saying we shouldn’t help refugees because it doesn’t benefit us.
Aboo Hafsah @AbuHafsah1 · 3 Apr London has fallen.
Sadiq Khan arranges yet another Middle Eastern event in the heart of London.
Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP
On topic, let it never be forgotten that Scotland’s hacks were giving Lord Offord collective standing ovations a few months ago. His latest masterstroke is to frighten Scots with the boat peopl.
Most illegal immigrants haven't arrived on small boats, and London is a bigger magnet than Scotland for recent arrivals, but I don't think making either of those points will hit Reform particularly hard in Glasgow, which is where this propaganda is aimed at. "Glasgow is the illegal immigrant capital of the UK" is quite a clever slogan.
Might be proven wrong but don’t think Glasgow will be particularly fertile territory for Reform outside the Rangers supporting folk, Ayrshire, Forth Valley and bits of the NE more likely.
Given that it’s Scotland & Glasgow’s generous policy towards supporting refuweegees and HMG sotto voce encouraging them to take the high road to Scotland, it’s a good argument for us having independent control over immigration. Don’t suppose Reform is suggesting that.
If the SNP adopt the position that illegal immigration is a big issue and they're the party best placed to deal with it, because after independence they'll be able to, they may find it hard to convince people.
For the billionth time: it isn't illegal to enter the country with the purpose of seeking asylum.
You need to pay more attention rather than repeatedly having the same thought. Here is the issue that Reform are raising again, in the exact words that they use: "Glasgow is the illegal immigrant capital of the UK". I said what I thought will happen if the SNP say yeah, sure, and we're your best option for fixing the problem that Reform have raised. To wit, they'll find it hard to convince people. If instead they focus on saying what you say, perhaps in the form of "Reform are raising a non-issue, acktchooarly, because entering Britain in order to claim asylum is thoroughly allowed according to the law", they'll find it even harder to get people to vote SNP rather than Reform. I wouldn't vote Reform if somebody paid me to. Just observing that their spiel is likely to have some traction in Glasgow and is quite cleverly put, even if it wouldn't win a debate among politicos. What the SNP need to do IMHO is downplay immigration (immigration for whatever purpose) as an issue. For Reform of course it will remain front and centre.
The reason Reform get traction is because many voters get utterly infuriated by technocratic answers like this which fundamentally fail to even acknowledge there's a real issue and telegraph that it really isn't up for discussion.
Farage won Brexit with a poster saying £350m a week for the NHS.
That wasn’t reality but it was a simple lie which required too much detail to explain why it was false.
He’s going to play the same trick again and again so the best response is keep things simple and talk about his friends Trump and Putin - no explanation about immigration is going to work so don’t even try
Yeah but it wasn't was it? And, with respect, idiots like you still don't get it 10 years on.
£350m was our official gross contribution to the EU under the terms of our membership. So it wasn't "wrong".
You were then reduced to saying it wasn't as bad due to the rebate and the fact we got some subsidies back, so was actually more like £100-150m a week, which was still a massive number to most people.
You fell right into the trap. And you're still there, writhing in frustration and confusion in it.
Amazing that the BBC were happy to let him go whilst the increasingly embarrassing John Simpson is treated like the grand old man of broadcasting.
Pretty grim reading. To make RN capable of fighting war by 2029:
"Jenkins’s blueprint for getting there quickly includes adopting more uncrewed ships, aircraft and submersibles. Even so, the MoD calculated in 2021 that it would need to build 25 new warships to fulfil its tasks. There is unease that the Treasury has not yet committed to making that possible as part of the long-delayed defence investment plan.
"The forces have many times been confronted by unexpected emergencies — not least the invasion of the Falklands in 1982. But the means available now are so much smaller that even if the government wanted to, the Royal Navy cannot make a significant contribution to reopening the Strait of Hormuz by force."
President Trump was right. The Tories have been hacking away at the armed forces for decades, and Labour has bought two shiny new carriers we've got no support and not enough planes for. You mention the Falklands: a brilliant action against the odds. The Americans watched and ordered hundreds of Harriers. Mrs Thatcher banked the credit then immediately returned to cutting the navy.
Grandad Grumpy is up, and he's not in a good mood;
Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP
On Ashcroft's poll according to Nowcast Kemi would likely be PM with most seats in a hung parliament, though she might have to make Nigel her Deputy PM.
Conservatives 172 Reform 151 Greens 116 LDs 61 Labour 58 SNP 45 PC 18
Nah. Even if you had a reliable Reform partner you’d be barely a majority government and would be hostage to the nutters.
Let the left try to stitch together 5 parties… or have another election when they will be in complete disarray as they would with those numbers
The conventional wisdom is you can't win most seats at a General Election then say, "nah, not my job" when it comes to trying to form a government, or you'll be punished hard at the further election. It's effectively saying you don't want to govern when given the chance, which begs the question as to what the point is voting for you.
I think the conventional wisdom is probably broadly right on that. In particular, Farage would be saying "let's tango" in these circumstances, and Badenoch would be punished very hard, losing votes both to him and the Lib Dems, if she said, "we're largest party, but I think I'll just sit this one out for tactical reasons" - it's not very credible out in the country.
Sure, you negotiate but it’s not an equal partnership.
Your idea that Kemi should remain aloof of 'the nutters' and let the left Govern instead is utterly absurd.
The left wouldn’t be able to govern.
But Farage doesn’t get to be DPM.
I would think the obvious play for Badenoch would be to lead a minority government, offer Farage and Reform nothing, and dare them to side with the left to vote down a popular right-wing King's Speech and budget.
That’s what I’d do in her shoes. Realistically she’s the only person who can form a government. So she should give reform nothing
That's absurd. And not how politics works.
Farage will say that he wants 50% of the cabinet post and the DPM title.
On Ashcroft's poll according to Nowcast Kemi would likely be PM with most seats in a hung parliament, though she might have to make Nigel her Deputy PM.
Conservatives 172 Reform 151 Greens 116 LDs 61 Labour 58 SNP 45 PC 18
Nah. Even if you had a reliable Reform partner you’d be barely a majority government and would be hostage to the nutters.
Let the left try to stitch together 5 parties… or have another election when they will be in complete disarray as they would with those numbers
The conventional wisdom is you can't win most seats at a General Election then say, "nah, not my job" when it comes to trying to form a government, or you'll be punished hard at the further election. It's effectively saying you don't want to govern when given the chance, which begs the question as to what the point is voting for you.
I think the conventional wisdom is probably broadly right on that. In particular, Farage would be saying "let's tango" in these circumstances, and Badenoch would be punished very hard, losing votes both to him and the Lib Dems, if she said, "we're largest party, but I think I'll just sit this one out for tactical reasons" - it's not very credible out in the country.
Sure, you negotiate but it’s not an equal partnership.
Your idea that Kemi should remain aloof of 'the nutters' and let the left Govern instead is utterly absurd.
The left wouldn’t be able to govern.
But Farage doesn’t get to be DPM.
I would think the obvious play for Badenoch would be to lead a minority government, offer Farage and Reform nothing, and dare them to side with the left to vote down a popular right-wing King's Speech and budget.
That’s what I’d do in her shoes. Realistically she’s the only person who can form a government. So she should give reform nothing
That's absurd. And not how politics works.
Farage will say that he wants 50% of the cabinet post and the DPM title.
That’s an existential challenge for the tories.
Ok, then they don't deal at that level. She offers him a few key posts.
Grandad Grumpy is up, and he's not in a good mood;
Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP
Amazing that the BBC were happy to let him go whilst the increasingly embarrassing John Simpson is treated like the grand old man of broadcasting.
Pretty grim reading. To make RN capable of fighting war by 2029:
"Jenkins’s blueprint for getting there quickly includes adopting more uncrewed ships, aircraft and submersibles. Even so, the MoD calculated in 2021 that it would need to build 25 new warships to fulfil its tasks. There is unease that the Treasury has not yet committed to making that possible as part of the long-delayed defence investment plan.
"The forces have many times been confronted by unexpected emergencies — not least the invasion of the Falklands in 1982. But the means available now are so much smaller that even if the government wanted to, the Royal Navy cannot make a significant contribution to reopening the Strait of Hormuz by force."
President Trump was right. The Tories have been hacking away at the armed forces for decades, and Labour has bought two shiny new carriers we've got no support and not enough planes for. You mention the Falklands: a brilliant action against the odds. The Americans watched and ordered hundreds of Harriers. Mrs Thatcher banked the credit then immediately returned to cutting the navy.
On Ashcroft's poll according to Nowcast Kemi would likely be PM with most seats in a hung parliament, though she might have to make Nigel her Deputy PM.
Conservatives 172 Reform 151 Greens 116 LDs 61 Labour 58 SNP 45 PC 18
Nah. Even if you had a reliable Reform partner you’d be barely a majority government and would be hostage to the nutters.
Let the left try to stitch together 5 parties… or have another election when they will be in complete disarray as they would with those numbers
The conventional wisdom is you can't win most seats at a General Election then say, "nah, not my job" when it comes to trying to form a government, or you'll be punished hard at the further election. It's effectively saying you don't want to govern when given the chance, which begs the question as to what the point is voting for you.
I think the conventional wisdom is probably broadly right on that. In particular, Farage would be saying "let's tango" in these circumstances, and Badenoch would be punished very hard, losing votes both to him and the Lib Dems, if she said, "we're largest party, but I think I'll just sit this one out for tactical reasons" - it's not very credible out in the country.
Sure, you negotiate but it’s not an equal partnership.
Your idea that Kemi should remain aloof of 'the nutters' and let the left Govern instead is utterly absurd.
Immigration reform and the tangled web of vested interests that preserve de facto open borders are today's Unions of the 1970s.
Is Kemi today's Thatcher?
Politics isn't always about building majorities - it's about being the biggest minority and keeping the opposition split and that means not moving forward with legislation which builds a majority against you.
On Ashcroft's poll according to Nowcast Kemi would likely be PM with most seats in a hung parliament, though she might have to make Nigel her Deputy PM.
Conservatives 172 Reform 151 Greens 116 LDs 61 Labour 58 SNP 45 PC 18
Nah. Even if you had a reliable Reform partner you’d be barely a majority government and would be hostage to the nutters.
Let the left try to stitch together 5 parties… or have another election when they will be in complete disarray as they would with those numbers
The conventional wisdom is you can't win most seats at a General Election then say, "nah, not my job" when it comes to trying to form a government, or you'll be punished hard at the further election. It's effectively saying you don't want to govern when given the chance, which begs the question as to what the point is voting for you.
I think the conventional wisdom is probably broadly right on that. In particular, Farage would be saying "let's tango" in these circumstances, and Badenoch would be punished very hard, losing votes both to him and the Lib Dems, if she said, "we're largest party, but I think I'll just sit this one out for tactical reasons" - it's not very credible out in the country.
Sure, you negotiate but it’s not an equal partnership.
Your idea that Kemi should remain aloof of 'the nutters' and let the left Govern instead is utterly absurd.
The left wouldn’t be able to govern.
But Farage doesn’t get to be DPM.
I would think the obvious play for Badenoch would be to lead a minority government, offer Farage and Reform nothing, and dare them to side with the left to vote down a popular right-wing King's Speech and budget.
That’s what I’d do in her shoes. Realistically she’s the only person who can form a government. So she should give reform nothing
That's absurd. And not how politics works.
Farage will say that he wants 50% of the cabinet post and the DPM title.
That’s an existential challenge for the tories.
Ok, then they don't deal at that level. She offers him a few key posts.
But she can't and won't offer him nothing.
The point, surely, is that Reform will be far more vulnerable to haemorrhaging support as junior (or even senior?) partner in a coalition govt, as the slings and arrows of tough decisions in government take hold. Their WWC voters are not going to take kindly when the promised unicorns don't appear, and will revert to Labour. The Tories don't have this problem to the same degree.
On Ashcroft's poll according to Nowcast Kemi would likely be PM with most seats in a hung parliament, though she might have to make Nigel her Deputy PM.
Conservatives 172 Reform 151 Greens 116 LDs 61 Labour 58 SNP 45 PC 18
Nah. Even if you had a reliable Reform partner you’d be barely a majority government and would be hostage to the nutters.
Let the left try to stitch together 5 parties… or have another election when they will be in complete disarray as they would with those numbers
The conventional wisdom is you can't win most seats at a General Election then say, "nah, not my job" when it comes to trying to form a government, or you'll be punished hard at the further election. It's effectively saying you don't want to govern when given the chance, which begs the question as to what the point is voting for you.
I think the conventional wisdom is probably broadly right on that. In particular, Farage would be saying "let's tango" in these circumstances, and Badenoch would be punished very hard, losing votes both to him and the Lib Dems, if she said, "we're largest party, but I think I'll just sit this one out for tactical reasons" - it's not very credible out in the country.
Sure, you negotiate but it’s not an equal partnership.
Your idea that Kemi should remain aloof of 'the nutters' and let the left Govern instead is utterly absurd.
The left wouldn’t be able to govern.
But Farage doesn’t get to be DPM.
I would think the obvious play for Badenoch would be to lead a minority government, offer Farage and Reform nothing, and dare them to side with the left to vote down a popular right-wing King's Speech and budget.
That’s what I’d do in her shoes. Realistically she’s the only person who can form a government. So she should give reform nothing
That's absurd. And not how politics works.
Farage will say that he wants 50% of the cabinet post and the DPM title.
That’s an existential challenge for the tories.
Ok, then they don't deal at that level. She offers him a few key posts.
But she can't and won't offer him nothing.
Question is- if that is the 2029 endgame, does she make him an offer he can't refuse, or one that he will refuse?
Is the endpoint a CDU/CSU coexistence, or a Canadian scenario where only one will be left standing?
Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP
He loves the smell of Napam in the morning, it smells of, of victory!
Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP
Grandad Grumpy is up, and he's not in a good mood;
Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP
Not really, he allegedly did this over 2000 years ago. Those inclined are simply celebrating the anniversary. Its not as if it actually happened this morning.
It’s pretty depressing that, at Easter, when Christians celebrate the sacrifice Jesus made, there’s a bunch of people here saying we shouldn’t help refugees because it doesn’t benefit us.
we cannot solve all the world's problems. As they say charity begins at home, we neglect our own people in this country but are happy to splash out on people who come illegally, it is madness. They ought to focus on fixing the home grown disasters, poverty , etc.
Breaking news... A old shipmate on FB has reminded me that I was on the F-14 RAG at Oceana with Capt. Wiseman of Artemis II fame. Disappointingly, I can remember precisely zero about him. There's probably a life lesson in our respective career trajectories subsequent to our time together in the 'Grim Reapers' but I'm fucked if I know what it is.
You could have been Starman - if only you hadn't nicked that tuk-tuk...
On Ashcroft's poll according to Nowcast Kemi would likely be PM with most seats in a hung parliament, though she might have to make Nigel her Deputy PM.
Conservatives 172 Reform 151 Greens 116 LDs 61 Labour 58 SNP 45 PC 18
Nah. Even if you had a reliable Reform partner you’d be barely a majority government and would be hostage to the nutters.
Let the left try to stitch together 5 parties… or have another election when they will be in complete disarray as they would with those numbers
The conventional wisdom is you can't win most seats at a General Election then say, "nah, not my job" when it comes to trying to form a government, or you'll be punished hard at the further election. It's effectively saying you don't want to govern when given the chance, which begs the question as to what the point is voting for you.
I think the conventional wisdom is probably broadly right on that. In particular, Farage would be saying "let's tango" in these circumstances, and Badenoch would be punished very hard, losing votes both to him and the Lib Dems, if she said, "we're largest party, but I think I'll just sit this one out for tactical reasons" - it's not very credible out in the country.
Sure, you negotiate but it’s not an equal partnership.
Your idea that Kemi should remain aloof of 'the nutters' and let the left Govern instead is utterly absurd.
Immigration reform and the tangled web of vested interests that preserve de facto open borders are today's Unions of the 1970s.
Is Kemi today's Thatcher?
Politics isn't always about building majorities - it's about being the biggest minority and keeping the opposition split and that means not moving forward with legislation which builds a majority against you.
Sure, and Thatcher never won an absolute majority of the vote (nor has anyone for very many decades) but she captured the zeitgeist, carried the moment, and moved the Overton window so far it moved all the way to Exeter.
It’s pretty depressing that, at Easter, when Christians celebrate the sacrifice Jesus made, there’s a bunch of people here saying we shouldn’t help refugees because it doesn’t benefit us.
a) We're not that Christian anymore. b) If I was to offer advice to the left on this, it would be that they have to acknowledge we only have finite resources. The idea we can be a receptacle for anyone around the world in need is fanciful.
We are not a receptacle for anyone around the world. We take in fewer refugees for a country of our size than many in Europe and far fewer than, say, Turkey, Jordan, Iran etc.
The amount we spend on refugees is not large. Its not bankrupting our nation. Government spending remains dominated by things like pensions, the NHS, education etc.
On Ashcroft's poll according to Nowcast Kemi would likely be PM with most seats in a hung parliament, though she might have to make Nigel her Deputy PM.
Conservatives 172 Reform 151 Greens 116 LDs 61 Labour 58 SNP 45 PC 18
Nah. Even if you had a reliable Reform partner you’d be barely a majority government and would be hostage to the nutters.
Let the left try to stitch together 5 parties… or have another election when they will be in complete disarray as they would with those numbers
The conventional wisdom is you can't win most seats at a General Election then say, "nah, not my job" when it comes to trying to form a government, or you'll be punished hard at the further election. It's effectively saying you don't want to govern when given the chance, which begs the question as to what the point is voting for you.
I think the conventional wisdom is probably broadly right on that. In particular, Farage would be saying "let's tango" in these circumstances, and Badenoch would be punished very hard, losing votes both to him and the Lib Dems, if she said, "we're largest party, but I think I'll just sit this one out for tactical reasons" - it's not very credible out in the country.
Sure, you negotiate but it’s not an equal partnership.
Your idea that Kemi should remain aloof of 'the nutters' and let the left Govern instead is utterly absurd.
The left wouldn’t be able to govern.
But Farage doesn’t get to be DPM.
I would think the obvious play for Badenoch would be to lead a minority government, offer Farage and Reform nothing, and dare them to side with the left to vote down a popular right-wing King's Speech and budget.
That’s what I’d do in her shoes. Realistically she’s the only person who can form a government. So she should give reform nothing
That's absurd. And not how politics works.
Farage will say that he wants 50% of the cabinet post and the DPM title.
That’s an existential challenge for the tories.
Ok, then they don't deal at that level. She offers him a few key posts.
But she can't and won't offer him nothing.
Question is- if that is the 2029 endgame, does she make him an offer he can't refuse, or one that he will refuse?
Is the endpoint a CDU/CSU coexistence, or a Canadian scenario where only one will be left standing?
It's a very good question.
Politicians do deals, so my starting point is she will try and offer something to make it work.
I don't know Farage's game. I'm still to be convinced he actually wants to be PM, as opposed to being accepted by the Establishment.
Amazing that the BBC were happy to let him go whilst the increasingly embarrassing John Simpson is treated like the grand old man of broadcasting.
Pretty grim reading. To make RN capable of fighting war by 2029:
"Jenkins’s blueprint for getting there quickly includes adopting more uncrewed ships, aircraft and submersibles. Even so, the MoD calculated in 2021 that it would need to build 25 new warships to fulfil its tasks. There is unease that the Treasury has not yet committed to making that possible as part of the long-delayed defence investment plan.
"The forces have many times been confronted by unexpected emergencies — not least the invasion of the Falklands in 1982. But the means available now are so much smaller that even if the government wanted to, the Royal Navy cannot make a significant contribution to reopening the Strait of Hormuz by force."
President Trump was right. The Tories have been hacking away at the armed forces for decades, and Labour has bought two shiny new carriers we've got no support and not enough planes for. You mention the Falklands: a brilliant action against the odds. The Americans watched and ordered hundreds of Harriers. Mrs Thatcher banked the credit then immediately returned to cutting the navy.
It’s pretty depressing that, at Easter, when Christians celebrate the sacrifice Jesus made, there’s a bunch of people here saying we shouldn’t help refugees because it doesn’t benefit us.
a) We're not that Christian anymore. b) If I was to offer advice to the left on this, it would be that they have to acknowledge we only have finite resources. The idea we can be a receptacle for anyone around the world in need is fanciful.
We are not a receptacle for anyone around the world. We take in fewer refugees for a country of our size than many in Europe and far fewer than, say, Turkey, Jordan, Iran etc.
The amount we spend on refugees is not large. Its not bankrupting our nation. Government spending remains dominated by things like pensions, the NHS, education etc.
Large-scale immigration from countries whose inhabitants simply cannot, or won't, integrate is in danger of destabilising the politics of our country - with people turning to fascistic opportunists. It's not a debate that can be won, I'm afraid. I wish it was. The political classes, on this issue, have lost all credibility with much of the electorate.
Better to act now, than let things deteriorate further.
I favour an English test within a week of arrival.
It will also keep out the French ….
Why wait a week Red, a day is more than enough and back on the boat by the next day
Grandad Grumpy is up, and he's not in a good mood;
Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP
Now apparently the US pilot was seriously injured and he’s going to have a group fellation tomorrow where the military will join him at a press conference where they’ll have to give him continued plaudits about how marvellous he is !
On Ashcroft's poll according to Nowcast Kemi would likely be PM with most seats in a hung parliament, though she might have to make Nigel her Deputy PM.
Conservatives 172 Reform 151 Greens 116 LDs 61 Labour 58 SNP 45 PC 18
Nah. Even if you had a reliable Reform partner you’d be barely a majority government and would be hostage to the nutters.
Let the left try to stitch together 5 parties… or have another election when they will be in complete disarray as they would with those numbers
The conventional wisdom is you can't win most seats at a General Election then say, "nah, not my job" when it comes to trying to form a government, or you'll be punished hard at the further election. It's effectively saying you don't want to govern when given the chance, which begs the question as to what the point is voting for you.
I think the conventional wisdom is probably broadly right on that. In particular, Farage would be saying "let's tango" in these circumstances, and Badenoch would be punished very hard, losing votes both to him and the Lib Dems, if she said, "we're largest party, but I think I'll just sit this one out for tactical reasons" - it's not very credible out in the country.
Sure, you negotiate but it’s not an equal partnership.
Your idea that Kemi should remain aloof of 'the nutters' and let the left Govern instead is utterly absurd.
The left wouldn’t be able to govern.
But Farage doesn’t get to be DPM.
I would think the obvious play for Badenoch would be to lead a minority government, offer Farage and Reform nothing, and dare them to side with the left to vote down a popular right-wing King's Speech and budget.
That's the "popular" and "right wing" that moved the Conservatives from 121 to 172 seats - seriously?
It’s pretty depressing that, at Easter, when Christians celebrate the sacrifice Jesus made, there’s a bunch of people here saying we shouldn’t help refugees because it doesn’t benefit us.
a) We're not that Christian anymore. b) If I was to offer advice to the left on this, it would be that they have to acknowledge we only have finite resources. The idea we can be a receptacle for anyone around the world in need is fanciful.
As a leftie I'm willing to accept some amendment of the criteria on which asylum is granted, on the quid pro quo that we stop demonising those who are granted asylum on that basis.
Is anyone demonising people granted asylum?
People are rightly criticising governments for lax asylum criteria, delays in the decision-making and vetting process, high costs of accomodation and benefits, and the inability in practice to actually deport anyone.
They’re also critical of criminals, particularly sex offenders and shoplifters, among immigrant and asylum-seeking communities.
No-one is demonising refugees from Ukraine and Hong Kong, for example.
Exactly , system is so crap they are here in hotels for years and by time they get their hearing they say oh you have been here for so long we cannot chuck you out. So almost all get to stay after costing a fortune. Gievn most of them are economic migrants, a quick process would get shot of them quickly and those really needing asylum could be sorted out quickly. As it is it is just a free for all and will ensure a real right wing government shortly.
On topic, let it never be forgotten that Scotland’s hacks were giving Lord Offord collective standing ovations a few months ago. His latest masterstroke is to frighten Scots with the boat peopl.
Most illegal immigrants haven't arrived on small boats, and London is a bigger magnet than Scotland for recent arrivals, but I don't think making either of those points will hit Reform particularly hard in Glasgow, which is where this propaganda is aimed at. "Glasgow is the illegal immigrant capital of the UK" is quite a clever slogan.
Might be proven wrong but don’t think Glasgow will be particularly fertile territory for Reform outside the Rangers supporting folk, Ayrshire, Forth Valley and bits of the NE more likely.
Given that it’s Scotland & Glasgow’s generous policy towards supporting refuweegees and HMG sotto voce encouraging them to take the high road to Scotland, it’s a good argument for us having independent control over immigration. Don’t suppose Reform is suggesting that.
If the SNP adopt the position that illegal immigration is a big issue and they're the party best placed to deal with it, because after independence they'll be able to, they may find it hard to convince people.
For the billionth time: it isn't illegal to enter the country with the purpose of seeking asylum.
You need to pay more attention rather than repeatedly having the same thought. Here is the issue that Reform are raising again, in the exact words that they use: "Glasgow is the illegal immigrant capital of the UK". I said what I thought will happen if the SNP say yeah, sure, and we're your best option for fixing the problem that Reform have raised. To wit, they'll find it hard to convince people. If instead they focus on saying what you say, perhaps in the form of "Reform are raising a non-issue, acktchooarly, because entering Britain in order to claim asylum is thoroughly allowed according to the law", they'll find it even harder to get people to vote SNP rather than Reform. I wouldn't vote Reform if somebody paid me to. Just observing that their spiel is likely to have some traction in Glasgow and is quite cleverly put, even if it wouldn't win a debate among politicos. What the SNP need to do IMHO is downplay immigration (immigration for whatever purpose) as an issue. For Reform of course it will remain front and centre.
The reason Reform get traction is because many voters get utterly infuriated by technocratic answers like this which fundamentally fail to even acknowledge there's a real issue and telegraph that it really isn't up for discussion.
Farage won Brexit with a poster saying £350m a week for the NHS.
That wasn’t reality but it was a simple lie which required too much detail to explain why it was false.
He’s going to play the same trick again and again so the best response is keep things simple and talk about his friends Trump and Putin - no explanation about immigration is going to work so don’t even try
Yeah but it wasn't was it? And, with respect, idiots like you still don't get it 10 years on.
£350m was our official gross contribution to the EU under the terms of our membership. So it wasn't "wrong".
You were then reduced to saying it wasn't as bad due to the rebate and the fact we got some subsidies back, so was actually more like £100-150m a week, which was still a massive number to most people.
You fell right into the trap. And you're still there, writhing in frustration and confusion in it.
You seem to have forgotten that I voted exactly how @Richard_Tyndall voted - it was best all round for us to be outside the EU but retaining a trade deal.
The sole point of mentioning the £350m was to show how impossible it is to have a sensible conversation about migrants because the anti argument is far far simpler than the other side.
But hey paint me as falling into a trap when I was explaining that talking about migrants is a trap that Farage is trying to trick people into talking about...
It’s pretty depressing that, at Easter, when Christians celebrate the sacrifice Jesus made, there’s a bunch of people here saying we shouldn’t help refugees because it doesn’t benefit us.
we cannot solve all the world's problems. As they say charity begins at home, we neglect our own people in this country but are happy to splash out on people who come illegally, it is madness. They ought to focus on fixing the home grown disasters, poverty , etc.
It's a lot of waffle that doesn't really address the root cause - the QE class carriers.
The 1SL at the time sacrificed much, expended all possible political capital and frankly lied about the crewing requirements to get them across the line. The thought at the Admiralty was that if the carriers were acquired then the government would have beef up the rest of the fleet to form a realistic strike group. That just didn't happen.
The rationale usually advanced for the carriers is that we're an island nation, trade routes, etc. Well a vital a trade route is closed and where the fuck are they?
It’s pretty depressing that, at Easter, when Christians celebrate the sacrifice Jesus made, there’s a bunch of people here saying we shouldn’t help refugees because it doesn’t benefit us.
we cannot solve all the world's problems. As they say charity begins at home, we neglect our own people in this country but are happy to splash out on people who come illegally, it is madness. They ought to focus on fixing the home grown disasters, poverty , etc.
It’s pretty depressing that, at Easter, when Christians celebrate the sacrifice Jesus made, there’s a bunch of people here saying we shouldn’t help refugees because it doesn’t benefit us.
we cannot solve all the world's problems. As they say charity begins at home, we neglect our own people in this country but are happy to splash out on people who come illegally, it is madness. They ought to focus on fixing the home grown disasters, poverty , etc.
On topic, let it never be forgotten that Scotland’s hacks were giving Lord Offord collective standing ovations a few months ago. His latest masterstroke is to frighten Scots with the boat peopl.
Most illegal immigrants haven't arrived on small boats, and London is a bigger magnet than Scotland for recent arrivals, but I don't think making either of those points will hit Reform particularly hard in Glasgow, which is where this propaganda is aimed at. "Glasgow is the illegal immigrant capital of the UK" is quite a clever slogan.
Might be proven wrong but don’t think Glasgow will be particularly fertile territory for Reform outside the Rangers supporting folk, Ayrshire, Forth Valley and bits of the NE more likely.
Given that it’s Scotland & Glasgow’s generous policy towards supporting refuweegees and HMG sotto voce encouraging them to take the high road to Scotland, it’s a good argument for us having independent control over immigration. Don’t suppose Reform is suggesting that.
If the SNP adopt the position that illegal immigration is a big issue and they're the party best placed to deal with it, because after independence they'll be able to, they may find it hard to convince people.
For the billionth time: it isn't illegal to enter the country with the purpose of seeking asylum.
You need to pay more attention rather than repeatedly having the same thought. Here is the issue that Reform are raising again, in the exact words that they use: "Glasgow is the illegal immigrant capital of the UK". I said what I thought will happen if the SNP say yeah, sure, and we're your best option for fixing the problem that Reform have raised. To wit, they'll find it hard to convince people. If instead they focus on saying what you say, perhaps in the form of "Reform are raising a non-issue, acktchooarly, because entering Britain in order to claim asylum is thoroughly allowed according to the law", they'll find it even harder to get people to vote SNP rather than Reform. I wouldn't vote Reform if somebody paid me to. Just observing that their spiel is likely to have some traction in Glasgow and is quite cleverly put, even if it wouldn't win a debate among politicos. What the SNP need to do IMHO is downplay immigration (immigration for whatever purpose) as an issue. For Reform of course it will remain front and centre.
The reason Reform get traction is because many voters get utterly infuriated by technocratic answers like this which fundamentally fail to even acknowledge there's a real issue and telegraph that it really isn't up for discussion.
Farage won Brexit with a poster saying £350m a week for the NHS.
That wasn’t reality but it was a simple lie which required too much detail to explain why it was false.
He’s going to play the same trick again and again so the best response is keep things simple and talk about his friends Trump and Putin - no explanation about immigration is going to work so don’t even try
Yeah but it wasn't was it? And, with respect, idiots like you still don't get it 10 years on.
£350m was our official gross contribution to the EU under the terms of our membership. So it wasn't "wrong".
You were then reduced to saying it wasn't as bad due to the rebate and the fact we got some subsidies back, so was actually more like £100-150m a week, which was still a massive number to most people.
You fell right into the trap. And you're still there, writhing in frustration and confusion in it.
And then Theresa May increased the NHS budget by MORE than £350 a week as the "Brexit bonus". And yet they STILL go on about how our place in the EU was robbedby that "bloody bus".
On topic, let it never be forgotten that Scotland’s hacks were giving Lord Offord collective standing ovations a few months ago. His latest masterstroke is to frighten Scots with the boat peopl.
Most illegal immigrants haven't arrived on small boats, and London is a bigger magnet than Scotland for recent arrivals, but I don't think making either of those points will hit Reform particularly hard in Glasgow, which is where this propaganda is aimed at. "Glasgow is the illegal immigrant capital of the UK" is quite a clever slogan.
Might be proven wrong but don’t think Glasgow will be particularly fertile territory for Reform outside the Rangers supporting folk, Ayrshire, Forth Valley and bits of the NE more likely.
Given that it’s Scotland & Glasgow’s generous policy towards supporting refuweegees and HMG sotto voce encouraging them to take the high road to Scotland, it’s a good argument for us having independent control over immigration. Don’t suppose Reform is suggesting that.
If the SNP adopt the position that illegal immigration is a big issue and they're the party best placed to deal with it, because after independence they'll be able to, they may find it hard to convince people.
For the billionth time: it isn't illegal to enter the country with the purpose of seeking asylum.
You need to pay more attention rather than repeatedly having the same thought. Here is the issue that Reform are raising again, in the exact words that they use: "Glasgow is the illegal immigrant capital of the UK". I said what I thought will happen if the SNP say yeah, sure, and we're your best option for fixing the problem that Reform have raised. To wit, they'll find it hard to convince people. If instead they focus on saying what you say, perhaps in the form of "Reform are raising a non-issue, acktchooarly, because entering Britain in order to claim asylum is thoroughly allowed according to the law", they'll find it even harder to get people to vote SNP rather than Reform. I wouldn't vote Reform if somebody paid me to. Just observing that their spiel is likely to have some traction in Glasgow and is quite cleverly put, even if it wouldn't win a debate among politicos. What the SNP need to do IMHO is downplay immigration (immigration for whatever purpose) as an issue. For Reform of course it will remain front and centre.
The reason Reform get traction is because many voters get utterly infuriated by technocratic answers like this which fundamentally fail to even acknowledge there's a real issue and telegraph that it really isn't up for discussion.
Farage won Brexit with a poster saying £350m a week for the NHS.
That wasn’t reality but it was a simple lie which required too much detail to explain why it was false.
He’s going to play the same trick again and again so the best response is keep things simple and talk about his friends Trump and Putin - no explanation about immigration is going to work so don’t even try
Yeah but it wasn't was it? And, with respect, idiots like you still don't get it 10 years on.
£350m was our official gross contribution to the EU under the terms of our membership. So it wasn't "wrong".
You were then reduced to saying it wasn't as bad due to the rebate and the fact we got some subsidies back, so was actually more like £100-150m a week, which was still a massive number to most people.
You fell right into the trap. And you're still there, writhing in frustration and confusion in it.
You seem to have forgotten that I voted exactly how @Richard_Tyndall voted - it was best all round for us to be outside the EU but retaining a trade deal.
The sole point of mentioning the £350m was to show how impossible it is to have a sensible conversation about migrants because the anti argument is far far simpler than the other side.
But hey paint me as falling into a trap when I was explaining that talking about migrants is a trap that Farage is trying to trick people into talking about...
Ok fair enough.
My apologies. I've had three Hawkestones on any empty stomach (roast lamb has just arrived though, so I should improve)
It's a lot of waffle that doesn't really address the root cause - the QE class carriers.
The 1SL at the time sacrificed much, expended all possible political capital and frankly lied about the crewing requirements to get them across the line. The thought at the Admiralty was that if the carriers were acquired then the government would have beef up the rest of the fleet to form a realistic strike group. That just didn't happen.
The rationale usually advanced for the carriers is that we're an island nation, trade routes, etc. Well a vital a trade route is closed and where the fuck are they?
Yet another Brown classic. God, that man was a disaster. But at least he wasn't evil in the way Trump is. Trump puts all of our PMs into some sort of perspective.
It's a lot of waffle that doesn't really address the root cause - the QE class carriers.
The 1SL at the time sacrificed much, expended all possible political capital and frankly lied about the crewing requirements to get them across the line. The thought at the Admiralty was that if the carriers were acquired then the government would have beef up the rest of the fleet to form a realistic strike group. That just didn't happen.
The rationale usually advanced for the carriers is that we're an island nation, trade routes, etc. Well a vital a trade route is closed and where the fuck are they?
It's a lot of waffle that doesn't really address the root cause - the QE class carriers.
The 1SL at the time sacrificed much, expended all possible political capital and frankly lied about the crewing requirements to get them across the line. The thought at the Admiralty was that if the carriers were acquired then the government would have beef up the rest of the fleet to form a realistic strike group. That just didn't happen.
The rationale usually advanced for the carriers is that we're an island nation, trade routes, etc. Well a vital a trade route is closed and where the fuck are they?
That's a test of political will, not capability.
It's also a test of common sense - I don't see how you fix the Strait while Iran can attack at will...
Meanwhile we’ve got someone here who lives hundreds of miles from London, is incredibly parochial too if you mention that part of the world, obsessing about Sadiq Khan.
It's a lot of waffle that doesn't really address the root cause - the QE class carriers.
The 1SL at the time sacrificed much, expended all possible political capital and frankly lied about the crewing requirements to get them across the line. The thought at the Admiralty was that if the carriers were acquired then the government would have beef up the rest of the fleet to form a realistic strike group. That just didn't happen.
The rationale usually advanced for the carriers is that we're an island nation, trade routes, etc. Well a vital a trade route is closed and where the fuck are they?
Yet another Brown classic. God, that man was a disaster. But at least he wasn't evil in the way Trump is. Trump puts all of our PMs into some sort of perspective.
If we hadn't had the carriers the RN would simply have been trimmed further and faster. Brown's HM Treasury would have grabbed every penny to Save Our NHS and Cut Child Poverty.
It's a myth to assume the money would otherwise have been spent on having a "nice" navy rich in surface escorts.
On topic, let it never be forgotten that Scotland’s hacks were giving Lord Offord collective standing ovations a few months ago. His latest masterstroke is to frighten Scots with the boat peopl.
Most illegal immigrants haven't arrived on small boats, and London is a bigger magnet than Scotland for recent arrivals, but I don't think making either of those points will hit Reform particularly hard in Glasgow, which is where this propaganda is aimed at. "Glasgow is the illegal immigrant capital of the UK" is quite a clever slogan.
Might be proven wrong but don’t think Glasgow will be particularly fertile territory for Reform outside the Rangers supporting folk, Ayrshire, Forth Valley and bits of the NE more likely.
Given that it’s Scotland & Glasgow’s generous policy towards supporting refuweegees and HMG sotto voce encouraging them to take the high road to Scotland, it’s a good argument for us having independent control over immigration. Don’t suppose Reform is suggesting that.
If the SNP adopt the position that illegal immigration is a big issue and they're the party best placed to deal with it, because after independence they'll be able to, they may find it hard to convince people.
For the billionth time: it isn't illegal to enter the country with the purpose of seeking asylum.
You need to pay more attention rather than repeatedly having the same thought. Here is the issue that Reform are raising again, in the exact words that they use: "Glasgow is the illegal immigrant capital of the UK". I said what I thought will happen if the SNP say yeah, sure, and we're your best option for fixing the problem that Reform have raised. To wit, they'll find it hard to convince people. If instead they focus on saying what you say, perhaps in the form of "Reform are raising a non-issue, acktchooarly, because entering Britain in order to claim asylum is thoroughly allowed according to the law", they'll find it even harder to get people to vote SNP rather than Reform. I wouldn't vote Reform if somebody paid me to. Just observing that their spiel is likely to have some traction in Glasgow and is quite cleverly put, even if it wouldn't win a debate among politicos. What the SNP need to do IMHO is downplay immigration (immigration for whatever purpose) as an issue. For Reform of course it will remain front and centre.
The reason Reform get traction is because many voters get utterly infuriated by technocratic answers like this which fundamentally fail to even acknowledge there's a real issue and telegraph that it really isn't up for discussion.
Farage won Brexit with a poster saying £350m a week for the NHS.
That wasn’t reality but it was a simple lie which required too much detail to explain why it was false.
He’s going to play the same trick again and again so the best response is keep things simple and talk about his friends Trump and Putin - no explanation about immigration is going to work so don’t even try
Yeah but it wasn't was it? And, with respect, idiots like you still don't get it 10 years on.
£350m was our official gross contribution to the EU under the terms of our membership. So it wasn't "wrong".
You were then reduced to saying it wasn't as bad due to the rebate and the fact we got some subsidies back, so was actually more like £100-150m a week, which was still a massive number to most people.
You fell right into the trap. And you're still there, writhing in frustration and confusion in it.
And then Theresa May increased the NHS budget by MORE than £350 a week as the "Brexit bonus". And yet they STILL go on about how our place in the EU was robbedby that "bloody bus".
Bollocks on stilts.
Sorry but there was no Brexit bonus. Spending extra on the NHS had nothing to do with leaving the EU. It's still a bit daft for people to blame the result on the bus though.
On topic, let it never be forgotten that Scotland’s hacks were giving Lord Offord collective standing ovations a few months ago. His latest masterstroke is to frighten Scots with the boat peopl.
Most illegal immigrants haven't arrived on small boats, and London is a bigger magnet than Scotland for recent arrivals, but I don't think making either of those points will hit Reform particularly hard in Glasgow, which is where this propaganda is aimed at. "Glasgow is the illegal immigrant capital of the UK" is quite a clever slogan.
Might be proven wrong but don’t think Glasgow will be particularly fertile territory for Reform outside the Rangers supporting folk, Ayrshire, Forth Valley and bits of the NE more likely.
Given that it’s Scotland & Glasgow’s generous policy towards supporting refuweegees and HMG sotto voce encouraging them to take the high road to Scotland, it’s a good argument for us having independent control over immigration. Don’t suppose Reform is suggesting that.
If the SNP adopt the position that illegal immigration is a big issue and they're the party best placed to deal with it, because after independence they'll be able to, they may find it hard to convince people.
For the billionth time: it isn't illegal to enter the country with the purpose of seeking asylum.
You need to pay more attention rather than repeatedly having the same thought. Here is the issue that Reform are raising again, in the exact words that they use: "Glasgow is the illegal immigrant capital of the UK". I said what I thought will happen if the SNP say yeah, sure, and we're your best option for fixing the problem that Reform have raised. To wit, they'll find it hard to convince people. If instead they focus on saying what you say, perhaps in the form of "Reform are raising a non-issue, acktchooarly, because entering Britain in order to claim asylum is thoroughly allowed according to the law", they'll find it even harder to get people to vote SNP rather than Reform. I wouldn't vote Reform if somebody paid me to. Just observing that their spiel is likely to have some traction in Glasgow and is quite cleverly put, even if it wouldn't win a debate among politicos. What the SNP need to do IMHO is downplay immigration (immigration for whatever purpose) as an issue. For Reform of course it will remain front and centre.
The reason Reform get traction is because many voters get utterly infuriated by technocratic answers like this which fundamentally fail to even acknowledge there's a real issue and telegraph that it really isn't up for discussion.
Farage won Brexit with a poster saying £350m a week for the NHS.
That wasn’t reality but it was a simple lie which required too much detail to explain why it was false.
He’s going to play the same trick again and again so the best response is keep things simple and talk about his friends Trump and Putin - no explanation about immigration is going to work so don’t even try
Yeah but it wasn't was it? And, with respect, idiots like you still don't get it 10 years on.
£350m was our official gross contribution to the EU under the terms of our membership. So it wasn't "wrong".
You were then reduced to saying it wasn't as bad due to the rebate and the fact we got some subsidies back, so was actually more like £100-150m a week, which was still a massive number to most people.
You fell right into the trap. And you're still there, writhing in frustration and confusion in it.
And then Theresa May increased the NHS budget by MORE than £350 a week as the "Brexit bonus". And yet they STILL go on about how our place in the EU was robbedby that "bloody bus".
Bollocks on stilts.
Sorry but there was no Brexit bonus. Spending extra on the NHS had nothing to do with leaving the EU. It's still a bit daft for people to blame the result on the bus though.
Remain ran a terrible campaign and lied. Leave ran a better campaign and lied.
But anyone who pretends Brexit has been a success I am sorry is just making it up. In every measurable way it’s been bad.
Central Falmouth looking pleasingly prosperous. A notable absence of vape shops and Turkish barbers. Only a few empty premises. Lots of thriving little cafes and pubs with tables out in the sun
One could almost be optimistic if it wasn’t for that fucker Trump
The stretch of coast path from Falmouth down to the Helford River ferry is one of my favourite bits of the whole SWCP and thus of course of the whole of the English coast.
We have a tradition in my house that this is Sushi Sunday. When my then-girlfriend and I first lived together we decided on our day off today to make sushi, rather than a traditional roast. The next year we decided that was fun so lets do it again, and it became our annual tradition. Fast forward about 16 years and now its a tradition our kids love too, they help up us to both make and then demolish the sushi.
Whatever you do today, hope you enjoy it.
I have to assist in creating a chocolate egg hunt for 3 extremely rowdy small children. Ive already earned my Monday of extreme inactivity
We had our Easter yesterday with the family around at the house and my first BBQ of the year. I was pleased to get the food into the Conservatory before the sleet started. A great time was had by all, especially my 1 year grandson who eats like a horse.
Slow-cooking leg of lamb in the oven. Smells great.
We're eating at 3, if anybody wants to invite themselves...
Same here.
Wrapped in bay leaves and marinaded in Thyme, salt and pink peppercorns.
Spent extra got it from a farm shop here.
Yep - cost a bloody fortune with the "Easter lamb" tag!
I have no idea why lamb is so expensive given this country is totally saturated with sheep,and massively more expensive than, say, pork which seems a somewhat more sophisticated and substantial animal, which there are far fewer of.
Apparently the number of sheep in the UK is falling significantly.
Good news if the amount of over-grazing can be reduced, and wild flowers given a chance to grow on the hills.
We should eat more British lamb, mutton and hogget. It is extremely nutritious - as you'd expect from something that eats grass pretty much its whole life. I'd like to see British sheep farming get back to its peak. Those who are pleased there are less should keep an eye on what media they're consuming - there's a lot of rubbish out there from economic death-cultists.
On topic, let it never be forgotten that Scotland’s hacks were giving Lord Offord collective standing ovations a few months ago. His latest masterstroke is to frighten Scots with the boat peopl.
Most illegal immigrants haven't arrived on small boats, and London is a bigger magnet than Scotland for recent arrivals, but I don't think making either of those points will hit Reform particularly hard in Glasgow, which is where this propaganda is aimed at. "Glasgow is the illegal immigrant capital of the UK" is quite a clever slogan.
Might be proven wrong but don’t think Glasgow will be particularly fertile territory for Reform outside the Rangers supporting folk, Ayrshire, Forth Valley and bits of the NE more likely.
Given that it’s Scotland & Glasgow’s generous policy towards supporting refuweegees and HMG sotto voce encouraging them to take the high road to Scotland, it’s a good argument for us having independent control over immigration. Don’t suppose Reform is suggesting that.
If the SNP adopt the position that illegal immigration is a big issue and they're the party best placed to deal with it, because after independence they'll be able to, they may find it hard to convince people.
For the billionth time: it isn't illegal to enter the country with the purpose of seeking asylum.
You need to pay more attention rather than repeatedly having the same thought. Here is the issue that Reform are raising again, in the exact words that they use: "Glasgow is the illegal immigrant capital of the UK". I said what I thought will happen if the SNP say yeah, sure, and we're your best option for fixing the problem that Reform have raised. To wit, they'll find it hard to convince people. If instead they focus on saying what you say, perhaps in the form of "Reform are raising a non-issue, acktchooarly, because entering Britain in order to claim asylum is thoroughly allowed according to the law", they'll find it even harder to get people to vote SNP rather than Reform. I wouldn't vote Reform if somebody paid me to. Just observing that their spiel is likely to have some traction in Glasgow and is quite cleverly put, even if it wouldn't win a debate among politicos. What the SNP need to do IMHO is downplay immigration (immigration for whatever purpose) as an issue. For Reform of course it will remain front and centre.
The reason Reform get traction is because many voters get utterly infuriated by technocratic answers like this which fundamentally fail to even acknowledge there's a real issue and telegraph that it really isn't up for discussion.
Farage won Brexit with a poster saying £350m a week for the NHS.
That wasn’t reality but it was a simple lie which required too much detail to explain why it was false.
He’s going to play the same trick again and again so the best response is keep things simple and talk about his friends Trump and Putin - no explanation about immigration is going to work so don’t even try
Yeah but it wasn't was it? And, with respect, idiots like you still don't get it 10 years on.
£350m was our official gross contribution to the EU under the terms of our membership. So it wasn't "wrong".
You were then reduced to saying it wasn't as bad due to the rebate and the fact we got some subsidies back, so was actually more like £100-150m a week, which was still a massive number to most people.
You fell right into the trap. And you're still there, writhing in frustration and confusion in it.
And then Theresa May increased the NHS budget by MORE than £350 a week as the "Brexit bonus". And yet they STILL go on about how our place in the EU was robbedby that "bloody bus".
Bollocks on stilts.
Sorry but there was no Brexit bonus. Spending extra on the NHS had nothing to do with leaving the EU. It's still a bit daft for people to blame the result on the bus though.
Remain ran a terrible campaign and lied. Leave ran a better campaign and lied.
But anyone who pretends Brexit has been a success I am sorry is just making it up. In every measurable way it’s been bad.
We have a tradition in my house that this is Sushi Sunday. When my then-girlfriend and I first lived together we decided on our day off today to make sushi, rather than a traditional roast. The next year we decided that was fun so lets do it again, and it became our annual tradition. Fast forward about 16 years and now its a tradition our kids love too, they help up us to both make and then demolish the sushi.
Whatever you do today, hope you enjoy it.
I have to assist in creating a chocolate egg hunt for 3 extremely rowdy small children. Ive already earned my Monday of extreme inactivity
We had our Easter yesterday with the family around at the house and my first BBQ of the year. I was pleased to get the food into the Conservatory before the sleet started. A great time was had by all, especially my 1 year grandson who eats like a horse.
Slow-cooking leg of lamb in the oven. Smells great.
We're eating at 3, if anybody wants to invite themselves...
Same here.
Wrapped in bay leaves and marinaded in Thyme, salt and pink peppercorns.
Spent extra got it from a farm shop here.
Yep - cost a bloody fortune with the "Easter lamb" tag!
I have no idea why lamb is so expensive given this country is totally saturated with sheep,and massively more expensive than, say, pork which seems a somewhat more sophisticated and substantial animal, which there are far fewer of.
Apparently the number of sheep in the UK is falling significantly.
Good news if the amount of over-grazing can be reduced, and wild flowers given a chance to grow on the hills.
We should eat more British lamb, mutton and hogget. It is extremely nutritious - as you'd expect from something that eats grass pretty much its whole life. I'd like to see British sheep farming get back to its peak. Those who are pleased there are less should keep an eye on what media they're consuming - there's a lot of rubbish out there from economic death-cultists.
I’ve got some mutton mince. There’s a butchers who goes to Jesmond Dene bridge market and sells hogget and mutton. It’s delightful.
It’s pretty depressing that, at Easter, when Christians celebrate the sacrifice Jesus made, there’s a bunch of people here saying we shouldn’t help refugees because it doesn’t benefit us.
a) We're not that Christian anymore. b) If I was to offer advice to the left on this, it would be that they have to acknowledge we only have finite resources. The idea we can be a receptacle for anyone around the world in need is fanciful.
We are not a receptacle for anyone around the world. We take in fewer refugees for a country of our size than many in Europe and far fewer than, say, Turkey, Jordan, Iran etc.
The amount we spend on refugees is not large. Its not bankrupting our nation. Government spending remains dominated by things like pensions, the NHS, education etc.
Large-scale immigration from countries whose inhabitants simply cannot, or won't, integrate is in danger of destabilising the politics of our country - with people turning to fascistic opportunists. It's not a debate that can be won, I'm afraid. I wish it was. The political classes, on this issue, have lost all credibility with much of the electorate.
Better to act now, than let things deteriorate further.
I favour an English test within a week of arrival.
It will also keep out the French ….
But, on the other hand, anyone claiming asylum from France has an ironclad justification - the French
Note that while they declared Rwanda safety by fiat of Parliament, no one dared to consider going to the extreme. Of declaring France a safe and decent country.
On topic, let it never be forgotten that Scotland’s hacks were giving Lord Offord collective standing ovations a few months ago. His latest masterstroke is to frighten Scots with the boat peopl.
Most illegal immigrants haven't arrived on small boats, and London is a bigger magnet than Scotland for recent arrivals, but I don't think making either of those points will hit Reform particularly hard in Glasgow, which is where this propaganda is aimed at. "Glasgow is the illegal immigrant capital of the UK" is quite a clever slogan.
Might be proven wrong but don’t think Glasgow will be particularly fertile territory for Reform outside the Rangers supporting folk, Ayrshire, Forth Valley and bits of the NE more likely.
Given that it’s Scotland & Glasgow’s generous policy towards supporting refuweegees and HMG sotto voce encouraging them to take the high road to Scotland, it’s a good argument for us having independent control over immigration. Don’t suppose Reform is suggesting that.
If the SNP adopt the position that illegal immigration is a big issue and they're the party best placed to deal with it, because after independence they'll be able to, they may find it hard to convince people.
For the billionth time: it isn't illegal to enter the country with the purpose of seeking asylum.
You need to pay more attention rather than repeatedly having the same thought. Here is the issue that Reform are raising again, in the exact words that they use: "Glasgow is the illegal immigrant capital of the UK". I said what I thought will happen if the SNP say yeah, sure, and we're your best option for fixing the problem that Reform have raised. To wit, they'll find it hard to convince people. If instead they focus on saying what you say, perhaps in the form of "Reform are raising a non-issue, acktchooarly, because entering Britain in order to claim asylum is thoroughly allowed according to the law", they'll find it even harder to get people to vote SNP rather than Reform. I wouldn't vote Reform if somebody paid me to. Just observing that their spiel is likely to have some traction in Glasgow and is quite cleverly put, even if it wouldn't win a debate among politicos. What the SNP need to do IMHO is downplay immigration (immigration for whatever purpose) as an issue. For Reform of course it will remain front and centre.
The reason Reform get traction is because many voters get utterly infuriated by technocratic answers like this which fundamentally fail to even acknowledge there's a real issue and telegraph that it really isn't up for discussion.
Farage won Brexit with a poster saying £350m a week for the NHS.
That wasn’t reality but it was a simple lie which required too much detail to explain why it was false.
He’s going to play the same trick again and again so the best response is keep things simple and talk about his friends Trump and Putin - no explanation about immigration is going to work so don’t even try
Yeah but it wasn't was it? And, with respect, idiots like you still don't get it 10 years on.
£350m was our official gross contribution to the EU under the terms of our membership. So it wasn't "wrong".
You were then reduced to saying it wasn't as bad due to the rebate and the fact we got some subsidies back, so was actually more like £100-150m a week, which was still a massive number to most people.
You fell right into the trap. And you're still there, writhing in frustration and confusion in it.
And then Theresa May increased the NHS budget by MORE than £350 a week as the "Brexit bonus". And yet they STILL go on about how our place in the EU was robbedby that "bloody bus".
Bollocks on stilts.
Sorry but there was no Brexit bonus. Spending extra on the NHS had nothing to do with leaving the EU. It's still a bit daft for people to blame the result on the bus though.
Remain ran a terrible campaign and lied. Leave ran a better campaign and lied.
But anyone who pretends Brexit has been a success I am sorry is just making it up. In every measurable way it’s been bad.
It’s pretty depressing that, at Easter, when Christians celebrate the sacrifice Jesus made, there’s a bunch of people here saying we shouldn’t help refugees because it doesn’t benefit us.
a) We're not that Christian anymore. b) If I was to offer advice to the left on this, it would be that they have to acknowledge we only have finite resources. The idea we can be a receptacle for anyone around the world in need is fanciful.
It’s not just fanciful it’s asinine, juvenile virtue-signalling, and it will bankrupt the entire country unless people like @bondegezou are silenced
Bondegoogoo is like a sort of state information service-cum-rebuttal unit. He can always be relied upon to sum up the always banal and often untrue lines of the administrative state, and looked at in that regard (as opposed to actual arguments) his contributions have their place.
I sort of hope he holds on to his views throughout the next two decades of Faragian 'annī mirabiles' - an enjoyable English eccentric, stuck in the era of managerial decline, complaining as Britain builds the world's tallest skyscrapers that rare newts are being endangered and that the structural engineers are disgustingly white and male.
But I fear he will not, because his views will probably just change with the times.
It’s pretty depressing that, at Easter, when Christians celebrate the sacrifice Jesus made, there’s a bunch of people here saying we shouldn’t help refugees because it doesn’t benefit us.
a) We're not that Christian anymore. b) If I was to offer advice to the left on this, it would be that they have to acknowledge we only have finite resources. The idea we can be a receptacle for anyone around the world in need is fanciful.
It’s not just fanciful it’s asinine, juvenile virtue-signalling, and it will bankrupt the entire country unless people like @bondegezou are silenced
Bondegoogoo is like a sort of state information service-cum-rebuttal unit. He can always be relied upon to sum up the always banal and often untrue lines of the administrative state, and looked at in that regard (as opposed to actual arguments) his contributions have their place.
I sort of hope he holds on to his views throughout the next two decades of Faragian 'annī mirabiles' - an enjoyable English eccentric, stuck in the era of managerial decline, complaining as Britain builds the world's tallest skyscrapers that rare newts are being endangered and that the structural engineers are disgustingly white and male.
But I fear he will not, because his views will probably just change with the times.
Oh sweet summer child. The pensioner class will not allow such development, even under Farage.
It’s pretty depressing that, at Easter, when Christians celebrate the sacrifice Jesus made, there’s a bunch of people here saying we shouldn’t help refugees because it doesn’t benefit us.
The way that the only form of help that we can now envisage is to invite people to move here must say something about our catastrophic loss of confidence in our ability to shape the world.
None of that follows from what I said. There are obviously many things we can do, in many different ways. We could try to reduce the number of people forced into being refugees by helping to stop the wars in Iran and Lebanon, pressuring Israel and Turkey to get out of Syria, and pressuring Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt to stop funding the Sudanese civil war.
After his long spring holiday, the Sunday Rawnsley returns, just as our weather is about to give us another short burst of summer incoming:
Neither the US president nor his reckless war are popular with Britons, who are justifiably sceptical about a conflict unleashed with the strategic foresight of Elmer J Fudd. Put to the test by a geopolitical emergency, the rival leaders of the British right have flunked this audition for Number 10.
What even the most ardent Starmerites can’t deny is that the economic blowback from this war will be grisly, which is unlikely to be beneficial for the government or the man presiding over it. The biggest fear among government insiders is the unravelling of their recovery strategy.
Well, you can bin [a] rosy scenario along with all the growth forecasts rendered redundant by the conflict. The OECD reckons that the UK’s growth prospects will be hurt more severely than any other country in the G20 club of large economies. The Food & Drink Federation forecasts that food inflation, which has subsided to around 3%, will shoot back over 9% by the end of the year.
The chancellor is indicating that there will be targeted support to insulate the most vulnerable groups from rising energy costs, but the Treasury is fiercely resistant to a repeat of the disastrously expensive blanket energy subsidy introduced by Liz Truss in the autumn of 2022. With growth lower and interest rates higher than they would otherwise have been, the outlook for the government’s finances becomes grim. In the bleaker scenarios which trouble the Treasury, all of the painful work rebuilding the fiscal buffer will be obliterated – a nightmare for Rachel Reeves.
Haven't been there in 20 years, but I have some pictures in my house I bought there
It’s fantastic. Nowadays lots of street food and lots of artisan food stalls. It’s more food and drink than anything else. We last went about two months ago.
It’s also a nice walk from the Dene down to Ouseburn.
Comments
Better to act now, than let things deteriorate further.
But Farage doesn’t get to be DPM.
A textbook couldn't write you up better.
It will also keep out the French ….
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/crk16kmy41xo
People are rightly criticising governments for lax asylum criteria, delays in the decision-making and vetting process, high costs of accomodation and benefits, and the inability in practice to actually deport anyone.
They’re also critical of criminals, particularly sex offenders and shoplifters, among immigrant and asylum-seeking communities.
No-one is demonising refugees from Ukraine and Hong Kong, for example.
That wasn’t reality but it was a simple lie which required too much detail to explain why it was false.
He’s going to play the same trick again and again so the best response is keep things simple and talk about his friends Trump and Putin - no explanation about immigration is going to work so don’t even try
https://x.com/royalfamily/status/2040685944290840695?s=46&t=Gsn9rlDEZH5vXP97Cgifnw
That's assuming he's real and not satirising himself.
Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116351998782539414
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116351998782539414
Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP
£350m was our official gross contribution to the EU under the terms of our membership. So it wasn't "wrong".
You were then reduced to saying it wasn't as bad due to the rebate and the fact we got some subsidies back, so was actually more like £100-150m a week, which was still a massive number to most people.
You fell right into the trap. And you're still there, writhing in frustration and confusion in it.
Sir John Nott walks out of interview with Sir Robin Day 1982
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sx1gWQacnEM
Slightly surprised that he apostrophised the 'g' in 'fucking' tbh.
That’s an existential challenge for the tories.
But she can't and won't offer him nothing.
He might spout all sorts, but is there much swearing?
It tanked thereafter.
Is the endpoint a CDU/CSU coexistence, or a Canadian scenario where only one will be left standing?
P.S. He appears confused. Is he Muslim now?
Perhaps he, rather than King Charles, is the Muslim?
And tweeting evil crap.
Wouldn’t Hezbollah get to know about this aswell and they can just leave aswell . It seems that it’s really an excuse to just bomb areas .
Politicians do deals, so my starting point is she will try and offer something to make it work.
I don't know Farage's game. I'm still to be convinced he actually wants to be PM, as opposed to being accepted by the Establishment.
Now apparently the US pilot was seriously injured and he’s going to have a group fellation tomorrow where the military will join him at a press conference where they’ll have to give him continued plaudits about how marvellous he is !
The sole point of mentioning the £350m was to show how impossible it is to have a sensible conversation about migrants because the anti argument is far far simpler than the other side.
But hey paint me as falling into a trap when I was explaining that talking about migrants is a trap that Farage is trying to trick people into talking about...
The 1SL at the time sacrificed much, expended all possible political capital and frankly lied about the crewing requirements to get them across the line. The thought at the Admiralty was that if the carriers were acquired then the government would have beef up the rest of the fleet to form a realistic strike group. That just didn't happen.
The rationale usually advanced for the carriers is that we're an island nation, trade routes, etc. Well a vital a trade route is closed and where the fuck are they?
Bollocks on stilts.
It allows Netanyahu to pretend to be all action while minimising Israeli casualties.
My apologies. I've had three Hawkestones on any empty stomach (roast lamb has just arrived though, so I should improve)
Dire Starts.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp86942yj97o
He’s played a great hand terribly and been mugged off by Bibi, an incredibly shrewd man. As much as I dislike his politics he is shrewd.
‘ BREAKING: President Trump tells Iran “open the f***** Strait of Hormuz, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in hell.”
Trump declares Tuesday as “power plant and bridge day.”’
https://x.com/kobeissiletter/status/2040766367486427208?s=61
Meanwhile we’ve got someone here who lives hundreds of miles from London, is incredibly parochial too if you mention that part of the world, obsessing about Sadiq Khan.
I don’t live in London I don’t care what he does.
NEW THREAD
It's a myth to assume the money would otherwise have been spent on having a "nice" navy rich in surface escorts.
Sadly the MIL had a medical emergency yesterday. The NHS were fab and we had an ambulance v quickly too.
So instead of a walk and lunch at ours I’m making lunch here while the wife and FIL are visiting in Cramlington hospital.
Every cloud has a silver lining. Carry on Girls on ITV3
But anyone who pretends Brexit has been a success I am sorry is just making it up. In every measurable way it’s been bad.
It’s done
Get over it.
Note that while they declared Rwanda safety by fiat of Parliament, no one dared to consider going to the extreme. Of declaring France a safe and decent country.
Unfortunately yes it is.
No I won't.
I sort of hope he holds on to his views throughout the next two decades of Faragian 'annī mirabiles' - an enjoyable English eccentric, stuck in the era of managerial decline, complaining as Britain builds the world's tallest skyscrapers that rare newts are being endangered and that the structural engineers are disgustingly white and male.
But I fear he will not, because his views will probably just change with the times.
Neither the US president nor his reckless war are popular with Britons, who are justifiably sceptical about a conflict unleashed with the strategic foresight of Elmer J Fudd. Put to the test by a geopolitical emergency, the rival leaders of the British right have flunked this audition for Number 10.
What even the most ardent Starmerites can’t deny is that the economic blowback from this war will be grisly, which is unlikely to be beneficial for the government or the man presiding over it. The biggest fear among government insiders is the unravelling of their recovery strategy.
Well, you can bin [a] rosy scenario along with all the growth forecasts rendered redundant by the conflict. The OECD reckons that the UK’s growth prospects will be hurt more severely than any other country in the G20 club of large economies. The Food & Drink Federation forecasts that food inflation, which has subsided to around 3%, will shoot back over 9% by the end of the year.
The chancellor is indicating that there will be targeted support to insulate the most vulnerable groups from rising energy costs, but the Treasury is fiercely resistant to a repeat of the disastrously expensive blanket energy subsidy introduced by Liz Truss in the autumn of 2022. With growth lower and interest rates higher than they would otherwise have been, the outlook for the government’s finances becomes grim. In the bleaker scenarios which trouble the Treasury, all of the painful work rebuilding the fiscal buffer will be obliterated – a nightmare for Rachel Reeves.
Tankies: Tank Heroes of World War II
Brexit has been a disaster. But I think rejoining would be even worse.
It’s also a nice walk from the Dene down to Ouseburn.