Iran president: 'His Holiness Pope Louis XIV, I condemn the insult to Your Excellency on behalf of the great nation of Iran, and declare that the desecration of Jesus, the prophet of peace and brotherhood, is not acceptable to any free person. I wish you glory by Allah.'
Long, self-indulgent post alert: I've joined the Greens.
I'm intend to start (gently) door knocking for them and trying to get involved in the development of their economic policy. If anyone can be bothered I'd welcome being challenged on the reasoning below. If not, please feel free to ignore.
- For my whole adult life politics has been the art of finding the least worst option to support, and currently I feel that is the Greens (despite their laughable economic policy). - Capitalism as a vehicle for economic development has been spectacularly successful but has increasingly been captured by interests that don't serve us well. As an example the monetisation of ever-wider aspects of life (I'm particularly thinking of the monetisation of our attention through our phones and the concomitant promotion of widespread narcissism) is, I think, creating externalities that we will be paying for for generations to come. - Therefore I am looking for a political project that attempts to address the structure of our economic system, rather than tinkering with tax rates and our generosity or otherwise to those at the wrong end of inequality. - This is tempered by a natural conservatism; for a long time I have felt that reforming our economic structures is much more likely to make things worse rather than better. However, unless the next couple of years surprise on the upside (and economically this seems very unlikely) I think the next election is going to be won by a non-establishment party and given a forced choice between the Greens and Reform the Greens are a clear choice for me. - Finally, I have a three year old and a six year old. As someone relatively wealthy but with a big mortgage I have quite a lot to lose personally from a green government. But I would gladly lose that to invest in a project that might make the UK a healthier place (in the broadest sense) for my kids to grow up in.
What I want to vote for economically: - A gradual experiment of enforced worker- and community-representation on the boards of private companies to counterbalance the short-termism of our current emphasis on shareholder value. - A gradual move from taxing productivity (e.g. wages) towards taxing non-productivity (principally a wealth tax on property) - A gradual implementation of a maximum ratio between the lowest paid and the highest paid in any institution. - A commitment to gradually reducing our national debt through a combination of tax rises and spending cuts so that we are less beholden to bond markets in the medium term.
Interesting post. That very last point will be challenging with The Greens.
Yes, agreed. I think it might be the thing that causes me to join, get involved, then leave.
There are some who are advising the Greens, such as James Meadway, who get the need to tame the bond markets. But the voices the pretend we can ignore them are probably stronger at the moment.
It’s infuriating that Trump and Netanyahu have given the despicable Iranian regime an opportunity to market themselves as the good guys, when they’re anything but.
Only a couple of months ago they were murdering their own citizens in the tens of thousands. Trump offered thoughts and prayers, basically, after telling them “help is on its way”, but the West’s reputation was in the ascendancy. The population was in a state of revolutionary discontent. The Ayatollah was elderly and likely to die triggering a succession crisis. The pieces were there for a transition to a West-friendly regime.
Then a few weeks of cack handed military adventurism and the regime is shored up, the hardliners are in control, the revolution is very much on hold, the West’s reputation among Iranians is taking a battering, and the straits of Hormuz are controlled by the regime Trump claimed he had destroyed.
"We asked participants where they thought Britain stood economically compared to our main competitors. It turns out voters are living in a dreamworld.
Nearly half of British voters think that we are as rich, or richer, than Switzerland. Over half think we are as rich or richer than Australia, Singapore, or Germany. And, incredibly, over half of us think Britain is as rich as, or richer, than the United States.
The truth of course is that we are poorer than all those countries – according to the IMF, we are 10 per cent poorer than Germany, 20 per cent poorer than Australia, about 40 per cent poorer than America or Singapore."
Is someone from the USA who has 2 weeks paid holiday not 5, who spends perhaps £10k per annum on healthcare that is free here, who gets little or no income when they are ill, and who on average will die 4 years earlier than other Western citizens really wealthier than a British citizen?
And that is leaving aside the distribution patterns of wealth.
I note that you havent consider the dystopian hell hole that is... Switzerland. Or Germany. Or Australia.
The problem remains what it has always been - inadequate levels of investment. Why we fail to invest as much as other countries is more of a mystery to me.
I think the main British issue is the people on our political Right have a weird, blind fetish about the USA .... even now as we watch it fall to pieces. So I comment on that.
No matter what happens, they will wreck the society. They will always live of past investment, and not support the future - so they can give a false impression to their supporters.
Just as they did for example with a highly successful policy such as Sure Start, or the initiative which cut out road deaths in half in a mere 9 years from 2000/1.
Even David Cameron - marketing himself as he did - did not give a damn, and just trampled it into the earth.
That's why in my view the Conservative Party - speaking as a former member - needs to die, and be replaced with something decent.
BiB - did road deaths double after that decision?
A bit of digging gets to this chart (annual UK road deaths on the Y-axis).
Suggests a drop from 2004 to 2010, but seems to be a continuation of a steady drop from 1970.
IIRC we have one of the lowest in the world - which is why that reduction tails off a bit.
We were about the best in the world. We are now by analogy perhaps half way down the Premier League. On particular aspects we have been serious below par laggards, such as provision for safe walking (which means that there are loads of places where roads are "safe" because no one dares go there outside a vehicle) and allowing legal drink driving (we have decades of research on this).
It is not a "steady drop". It is a staircase where improvement happens when Road Safety is a policy priority and stops when the politicians sit on their bottoms in their deckchairs.
There was a major initiative in 1987, and a manifesto pledge to cut child deaths by 40-50% in 2001, followed by a programme of targets in 2002, which delivered results by 2004. Casualties halved over a few years.
In 2011 David Cameron abolished the targets and did no significant policy and paid no attention, and people continued being killed at the same rate. Which is what we would expect.
eg An interviewee suggested that the choice not to continue casualty reduction targets was illustrative of the policy shift: “… in 2010 they decided they weren't going to have any more … targets. It was a pivotal move in the wrong direction. If I compare and contrast 1987 to 2010 … that was absolutely devastating alongside a recession that meant that a lot of the road safety teams were decimated”
We are 6th in the world.
Maldives 1.3 1 Norway 1.5 2 Malta 1.9 3 Singapore 1.9 3 Sweden 2.1 4 Denmark 2.3 5 Iceland 2.4 6 Switzerland 2.4 6 UK and Northern Ireland 2.4 6 Andorra 2.5 7 Japan 2.7 8 Ireland 2.8 9 Germany 3.3 10 Netherlands (Kingdom of the) 3.4 11 Spain 3.5 12 Brunei Darussalam 3.6 13 Cyprus 3.9 14 Luxembourg 3.9 14 Finland 4.2 15 Israel 4.2 15 Estonia 4.4 16 Australia 4.5 17 Austria 4.6 18 Belgium 4.6 18 Canada 4.7 19 France 4.7 19
We're top of the table if you look at countries with populations of more than about 10.5 million.
The same is true for lots of things. For example, there are about 18 countries where the regular police don't carry guns, but all of the others apart from the UK have fairly small populations. For a country of 70 million to have this characteristic is pretty notable. (For instance New Zealand police don't carry guns but Australian police do, 5 million versus 26 million).
"We asked participants where they thought Britain stood economically compared to our main competitors. It turns out voters are living in a dreamworld.
Nearly half of British voters think that we are as rich, or richer, than Switzerland. Over half think we are as rich or richer than Australia, Singapore, or Germany. And, incredibly, over half of us think Britain is as rich as, or richer, than the United States.
The truth of course is that we are poorer than all those countries – according to the IMF, we are 10 per cent poorer than Germany, 20 per cent poorer than Australia, about 40 per cent poorer than America or Singapore."
Is someone from the USA who has 2 weeks paid holiday not 5, who spends perhaps £10k per annum on healthcare that is free here, who gets little or no income when they are ill, and who on average will die 4 years earlier than other Western citizens really wealthier than a British citizen?
And that is leaving aside the distribution patterns of wealth.
I note that you havent consider the dystopian hell hole that is... Switzerland. Or Germany. Or Australia.
The problem remains what it has always been - inadequate levels of investment. Why we fail to invest as much as other countries is more of a mystery to me.
I think the main British issue is the people on our political Right have a weird, blind fetish about the USA .... even now as we watch it fall to pieces. So I comment on that.
No matter what happens, they will wreck the society. They will always live of past investment, and not support the future - so they can give a false impression to their supporters.
Just as they did for example with a highly successful policy such as Sure Start, or the initiative which cut out road deaths in half in a mere 9 years from 2000/1.
Even David Cameron - marketing himself as he did - did not give a damn, and just trampled it into the earth.
That's why in my view the Conservative Party - speaking as a former member - needs to die, and be replaced with something decent.
BiB - did road deaths double after that decision?
A bit of digging gets to this chart (annual UK road deaths on the Y-axis).
Suggests a drop from 2004 to 2010, but seems to be a continuation of a steady drop from 1970.
IIRC we have one of the lowest in the world - which is why that reduction tails off a bit.
We were about the best in the world. We are now by analogy perhaps half way down the Premier League. On particular aspects we have been serious below par laggards, such as provision for safe walking (which means that there are loads of places where roads are "safe" because no one dares go there outside a vehicle) and allowing legal drink driving (we have decades of research on this).
It is not a "steady drop". It is a staircase where improvement happens when Road Safety is a policy priority and stops when the politicians sit on their bottoms in their deckchairs.
There was a major initiative in 1987, and a manifesto pledge to cut child deaths by 40-50% in 2001, followed by a programme of targets in 2002, which delivered results by 2004. Casualties halved over a few years.
In 2011 David Cameron abolished the targets and did no significant policy and paid no attention, and people continued being killed at the same rate. Which is what we would expect.
eg An interviewee suggested that the choice not to continue casualty reduction targets was illustrative of the policy shift: “… in 2010 they decided they weren't going to have any more … targets. It was a pivotal move in the wrong direction. If I compare and contrast 1987 to 2010 … that was absolutely devastating alongside a recession that meant that a lot of the road safety teams were decimated”
We are 6th in the world.
Maldives 1.3 1 Norway 1.5 2 Malta 1.9 3 Singapore 1.9 3 Sweden 2.1 4 Denmark 2.3 5 Iceland 2.4 6 Switzerland 2.4 6 UK and Northern Ireland 2.4 6 Andorra 2.5 7 Japan 2.7 8 Ireland 2.8 9 Germany 3.3 10 Netherlands (Kingdom of the) 3.4 11 Spain 3.5 12 Brunei Darussalam 3.6 13 Cyprus 3.9 14 Luxembourg 3.9 14 Finland 4.2 15 Israel 4.2 15 Estonia 4.4 16 Australia 4.5 17 Austria 4.6 18 Belgium 4.6 18 Canada 4.7 19 France 4.7 19
That Malta figure is a miracle considering how they drive.
Because no one is brave enough to walk anywhere?
Part of the reason we have so few casualties in the UK is because we don’t have as much active travel. Our cycle fatality rate per km cycled is 2-3x higher than the Netherlands. The same goes for walking.
Our children no longer play outside, so naturally fatalities have fallen.
As I say - 6th is about half way down the Premier League. Which is not as good as it could reasonably be, so not good enough.
I think there are various cultural factors that benefit us there - and I think that being an island and driving on the right are two of them - which keeps left-drivers and those not familiar with our road quirks from driving as much as would happen if eg we were joined by 9864 routes directly to France.
Iran president: 'His Holiness Pope Louis XIV, I condemn the insult to Your Excellency on behalf of the great nation of Iran, and declare that the desecration of Jesus, the prophet of peace and brotherhood, is not acceptable to any free person. I wish you glory by Allah.'
Iran's social media savvy has been a genuine eye opener to me. Loved the Lego model posts.
It’s infuriating that Trump and Netanyahu have given the despicable Iranian regime an opportunity to market themselves as the good guys, when they’re anything but.
Only a couple of months ago they were murdering they’d own citizens in the tens of thousands. Trump offered thoughts and prayers, basically, after telling them “help is on its way”. The population was in a state of revolutionary discontent. The Ayatollah was elderly and likely to die triggering a succession crisis. The pieces were there for a transition to a West-friendly regime.
Then a few weeks of cack handed military adventurism and the regime is shored up, the hardliners are in control, the revolution is very much on hold, the West’s reputation among Iranians is taking a battering, and the straits of Hormuz are controlled by the regime Trump claimed he had destroyed.
I'm not sure that amusing X trolling equates to marketing yourselves as the good guys.
What I want to vote for economically: - A gradual experiment of enforced worker- and community-representation on the boards of private companies to counterbalance the short-termism of our current emphasis on shareholder value.
I think this worthwhile. Worker representation in German companies is completely normal there.
"Artificial intelligence will make income tax redundant within five years, according to the founder of digital bank Monzo.
Former chief executive Tom Blomfield warned that advances in AI could trigger a major jobs crisis, with automation increasingly replacing roles across a wide range of industries.
Speaking on an episode of The Rest is Money podcast, he said that as traditional employment declines, the current system of income tax – largely dependent on wages – would no longer be sustainable.
He suggested it could instead be replaced by a tax on the resources used to build and run AI.
He said: “I don’t think we’ll tax human labour, we’ll tax compute, [meaning systems like] data centres, and then we will use the proceeds to pay for government.”"
It’s infuriating that Trump and Netanyahu have given the despicable Iranian regime an opportunity to market themselves as the good guys, when they’re anything but.
Only a couple of months ago they were murdering they’d own citizens in the tens of thousands. Trump offered thoughts and prayers, basically, after telling them “help is on its way”. The population was in a state of revolutionary discontent. The Ayatollah was elderly and likely to die triggering a succession crisis. The pieces were there for a transition to a West-friendly regime.
Then a few weeks of cack handed military adventurism and the regime is shored up, the hardliners are in control, the revolution is very much on hold, the West’s reputation among Iranians is taking a battering, and the straits of Hormuz are controlled by the regime Trump claimed he had destroyed.
I'm not sure that amusing X trolling equates to marketing yourselves as the good guys.
But that’s what they’re achieving. Not only on X but in mainstream coverage. The fact is, when you’re the “plucky victim standing up to the big bully”, and particularly when the big bullies are two of the most obnoxious individuals on the world stage, you get a golden opportunity to repair your deservedly nasty reputation.
Far from me, an independence supporter, to offer help to unionists. However, instead of bemoaning the success of the SNP, why don’t you question why all the unionist parties in Scotland are such abject failures? Hint, constant negativity isn’t helping you. Not having alternative policies that are attractive to voters isn’t helping, either. Uninspiring leaders also aren’t helping. Your only hope of improvement is to offer inspiring leaders and policies. What about, for example, supporting devo-max? Where will your next leaders come from? Your existing supply of placemen and women? No wonder the SNP are still the most popular party in Scotland.
It’s infuriating that Trump and Netanyahu have given the despicable Iranian regime an opportunity to market themselves as the good guys, when they’re anything but.
Only a couple of months ago they were murdering they’d own citizens in the tens of thousands. Trump offered thoughts and prayers, basically, after telling them “help is on its way”. The population was in a state of revolutionary discontent. The Ayatollah was elderly and likely to die triggering a succession crisis. The pieces were there for a transition to a West-friendly regime.
Then a few weeks of cack handed military adventurism and the regime is shored up, the hardliners are in control, the revolution is very much on hold, the West’s reputation among Iranians is taking a battering, and the straits of Hormuz are controlled by the regime Trump claimed he had destroyed.
I'm not sure that amusing X trolling equates to marketing yourselves as the good guys.
It’s infuriating that Trump and Netanyahu have given the despicable Iranian regime an opportunity to market themselves as the good guys, when they’re anything but.
Only a couple of months ago they were murdering they’d own citizens in the tens of thousands. Trump offered thoughts and prayers, basically, after telling them “help is on its way”. The population was in a state of revolutionary discontent. The Ayatollah was elderly and likely to die triggering a succession crisis. The pieces were there for a transition to a West-friendly regime.
Then a few weeks of cack handed military adventurism and the regime is shored up, the hardliners are in control, the revolution is very much on hold, the West’s reputation among Iranians is taking a battering, and the straits of Hormuz are controlled by the regime Trump claimed he had destroyed.
I'm not sure that amusing X trolling equates to marketing yourselves as the good guys.
But that’s what they’re achieving. Not only on X but in mainstream coverage. The fact is, when you’re the “plucky victim standing up to the big bully”, and particularly when the big bullies are two of the most obnoxious individuals on the world stage, you get a golden opportunity to repair your deservedly nasty reputation.
Fair point. In the froth of media coverage (of all forms) I agree they are managing to paint a very different narrative to that of the protests a couple of months ago.
It’s infuriating that Trump and Netanyahu have given the despicable Iranian regime an opportunity to market themselves as the good guys, when they’re anything but.
Only a couple of months ago they were murdering their own citizens in the tens of thousands. Trump offered thoughts and prayers, basically, after telling them “help is on its way”, but the West’s reputation was in the ascendancy. The population was in a state of revolutionary discontent. The Ayatollah was elderly and likely to die triggering a succession crisis. The pieces were there for a transition to a West-friendly regime.
Then a few weeks of cack handed military adventurism and the regime is shored up, the hardliners are in control, the revolution is very much on hold, the West’s reputation among Iranians is taking a battering, and the straits of Hormuz are controlled by the regime Trump claimed he had destroyed.
The football equivalent of Iran v USA/Israel is Millwall v Dirty Leeds.
The SNP have been shockingly poor in government. Our once proud education system slips ever further down the PISA rankings. Our excellent Universities are incredibly dependent on rUK students paying something like the proper rate in fees whilst the Scottish government pays little more than half that for Scottish students. Our drug deaths remain the highest in Europe. Our Criminal Justice system creaks ever more alarmingly. Only this morning I had a trial fixed for a bog standard 5 day rape case in May 2027 at a Preliminary Hearing that had been able to go ahead 9 months after the service of the indictment. Non sex prisoners now spend 40% of their sentence in jail. Our health outcomes are no better than those in rUK despite spending a lot more. The minimum fee for alcohol has not really worked. Large sums of money have been spent on trans based litigation for no obvious purpose. Absurd sums are spent on regulation. We have the highest taxes in the UK. The ST reported that £6bn has been given to "charities" that are obliged to follow the government line and are instantly punished if they are foolish enough to step out of line. It is, overall, a shocking record of institutional corruption, incompetence, waste and ineptitude.
But there is no effective opposition. The Tories do their best in the Scottish Parliament but are about to be annihilated. Labour are almost invisible. Reform are led by a madman. The Greens are frankly insane. Their latest policy is apparently the abolition of prisons. There's even a group called the Lib Dems, apparently. God knows what they are for or against.
Where oh where are the Scottish Magyars that can make this place fit to build a business in, to create wealth, to fund working public services and who can sweep away this corrupt cronyism?
That was a Party Political Broadcast for the DavidL Party.
Unfortunately David it is best of a bad lot , all alternatives are English regional parties who are significantly useless and looneys like the Greens. They will remain top till day we get another Scottish party that actually has Scotland's interests at heart.
Very disappointing to me that so many people on PB are joining the Greens.
I have no issue with green politics. The environment, clean energy, leaving the planet in as good a state as we find it (or better) ought to be part of every parties manifesto. But I think the current version of the green party is very much not concerned about that. Never has the term 'watermelons' been more appropriate.
I suspect that they will whither in the spotlight. Far too many loons, such as the candidate who thinks we should abolish prisons. And frankly while every large party combines things with inherent contradiction, the clash of the massively pro-Islamic factions with the massively socially liberals LGBTQs is surely going to tear them apart in the end. Gays for Gaza and all that.
Long, self-indulgent post alert: I've joined the Greens.
I'm intend to start (gently) door knocking for them and trying to get involved in the development of their economic policy. If anyone can be bothered I'd welcome being challenged on the reasoning below. If not, please feel free to ignore.
- For my whole adult life politics has been the art of finding the least worst option to support, and currently I feel that is the Greens (despite their laughable economic policy). - Capitalism as a vehicle for economic development has been spectacularly successful but has increasingly been captured by interests that don't serve us well. As an example the monetisation of ever-wider aspects of life (I'm particularly thinking of the monetisation of our attention through our phones and the concomitant promotion of widespread narcissism) is, I think, creating externalities that we will be paying for for generations to come. - Therefore I am looking for a political project that attempts to address the structure of our economic system, rather than tinkering with tax rates and our generosity or otherwise to those at the wrong end of inequality. - This is tempered by a natural conservatism; for a long time I have felt that reforming our economic structures is much more likely to make things worse rather than better. However, unless the next couple of years surprise on the upside (and economically this seems very unlikely) I think the next election is going to be won by a non-establishment party and given a forced choice between the Greens and Reform the Greens are a clear choice for me. - Finally, I have a three year old and a six year old. As someone relatively wealthy but with a big mortgage I have quite a lot to lose personally from a green government. But I would gladly lose that to invest in a project that might make the UK a healthier place (in the broadest sense) for my kids to grow up in.
What I want to vote for economically: - A gradual experiment of enforced worker- and community-representation on the boards of private companies to counterbalance the short-termism of our current emphasis on shareholder value. - A gradual move from taxing productivity (e.g. wages) towards taxing non-productivity (principally a wealth tax on property) - A gradual implementation of a maximum ratio between the lowest paid and the highest paid in any institution. - A commitment to gradually reducing our national debt through a combination of tax rises and spending cuts so that we are less beholden to bond markets in the medium term.
Sounds like a project to take the UK's centralisation of government up several more notches, from its current absurd levels.
Apart from being, as you say, economically laughable.
"Artificial intelligence will make income tax redundant within five years, according to the founder of digital bank Monzo.
Former chief executive Tom Blomfield warned that advances in AI could trigger a major jobs crisis, with automation increasingly replacing roles across a wide range of industries.
Speaking on an episode of The Rest is Money podcast, he said that as traditional employment declines, the current system of income tax – largely dependent on wages – would no longer be sustainable.
He suggested it could instead be replaced by a tax on the resources used to build and run AI.
He said: “I don’t think we’ll tax human labour, we’ll tax compute, [meaning systems like] data centres, and then we will use the proceeds to pay for government.”"
"We asked participants where they thought Britain stood economically compared to our main competitors. It turns out voters are living in a dreamworld.
Nearly half of British voters think that we are as rich, or richer, than Switzerland. Over half think we are as rich or richer than Australia, Singapore, or Germany. And, incredibly, over half of us think Britain is as rich as, or richer, than the United States.
The truth of course is that we are poorer than all those countries – according to the IMF, we are 10 per cent poorer than Germany, 20 per cent poorer than Australia, about 40 per cent poorer than America or Singapore."
What did the questions actually ask? The UK has a bigger GDP than Switzerland, so you could say the UK is richer than Switzerland, but Switzerland has a bigger GDP per capita, so the mean Swiss person is richer than the mean UK person.
Trying to fob us off with statistics, statistics and damn lies.
I have to maintain my Chatered Statistician status somehow.
"We asked participants where they thought Britain stood economically compared to our main competitors. It turns out voters are living in a dreamworld.
Nearly half of British voters think that we are as rich, or richer, than Switzerland. Over half think we are as rich or richer than Australia, Singapore, or Germany. And, incredibly, over half of us think Britain is as rich as, or richer, than the United States.
The truth of course is that we are poorer than all those countries – according to the IMF, we are 10 per cent poorer than Germany, 20 per cent poorer than Australia, about 40 per cent poorer than America or Singapore."
Is someone from the USA who has 2 weeks paid holiday not 5, who spends perhaps £10k per annum on healthcare that is free here, who gets little or no income when they are ill, and who on average will die 4 years earlier than other Western citizens really wealthier than a British citizen?
And that is leaving aside the distribution patterns of wealth.
I note that you havent consider the dystopian hell hole that is... Switzerland. Or Germany. Or Australia.
The problem remains what it has always been - inadequate levels of investment. Why we fail to invest as much as other countries is more of a mystery to me.
I think the main British issue is the people on our political Right have a weird, blind fetish about the USA .... even now as we watch it fall to pieces. So I comment on that.
No matter what happens, they will wreck the society. They will always live of past investment, and not support the future - so they can give a false impression to their supporters.
Just as they did for example with a highly successful policy such as Sure Start, or the initiative which cut out road deaths in half in a mere 9 years from 2000/1.
Even David Cameron - marketing himself as he did - did not give a damn, and just trampled it into the earth.
That's why in my view the Conservative Party - speaking as a former member - needs to die, and be replaced with something decent.
BiB - did road deaths double after that decision?
A bit of digging gets to this chart (annual UK road deaths on the Y-axis).
Suggests a drop from 2004 to 2010, but seems to be a continuation of a steady drop from 1970.
IIRC we have one of the lowest in the world - which is why that reduction tails off a bit.
We were about the best in the world. We are now by analogy perhaps half way down the Premier League. On particular aspects we have been serious below par laggards, such as provision for safe walking (which means that there are loads of places where roads are "safe" because no one dares go there outside a vehicle) and allowing legal drink driving (we have decades of research on this).
It is not a "steady drop". It is a staircase where improvement happens when Road Safety is a policy priority and stops when the politicians sit on their bottoms in their deckchairs.
There was a major initiative in 1987, and a manifesto pledge to cut child deaths by 40-50% in 2001, followed by a programme of targets in 2002, which delivered results by 2004. Casualties halved over a few years.
In 2011 David Cameron abolished the targets and did no significant policy and paid no attention, and people continued being killed at the same rate. Which is what we would expect.
eg An interviewee suggested that the choice not to continue casualty reduction targets was illustrative of the policy shift: “… in 2010 they decided they weren't going to have any more … targets. It was a pivotal move in the wrong direction. If I compare and contrast 1987 to 2010 … that was absolutely devastating alongside a recession that meant that a lot of the road safety teams were decimated”
Who cares about Greensill... it wasnt a fucking scandal.. its just brits being jealous haters but what else is new? Hes a rich motherfucker. Was he supposed to stop making money to make the common brit feel better?
He wasnt even in office durinf greensill, why are yall policing what he does for worked as a citizen?
You guys are always pocket watching and gossiping.... fuck.
Far from me, an independence supporter, to offer help to unionists. However, instead of bemoaning the success of the SNP, why don’t you question why all the unionist parties in Scotland are such abject failures? Hint, constant negativity isn’t helping you. Not having alternative policies that are attractive to voters isn’t helping, either. Uninspiring leaders also aren’t helping. Your only hope of improvement is to offer inspiring leaders and policies. What about, for example, supporting devo-max? Where will your next leaders come from? Your existing supply of placemen and women? No wonder the SNP are still the most popular party in Scotland.
Or energy pricing, which now sees the SE of England’s interests diametrically opposed to those of Scotland.
I think this is so fundamental to the economy and household finances there is simply no way for a UK-wide party to win in Scotland. The only caveat is that thr SNP have failed to really push this home yet.
"We asked participants where they thought Britain stood economically compared to our main competitors. It turns out voters are living in a dreamworld.
Nearly half of British voters think that we are as rich, or richer, than Switzerland. Over half think we are as rich or richer than Australia, Singapore, or Germany. And, incredibly, over half of us think Britain is as rich as, or richer, than the United States.
The truth of course is that we are poorer than all those countries – according to the IMF, we are 10 per cent poorer than Germany, 20 per cent poorer than Australia, about 40 per cent poorer than America or Singapore."
Is someone from the USA who has 2 weeks paid holiday not 5, who spends perhaps £10k per annum on healthcare that is free here, who gets little or no income when they are ill, and who on average will die 4 years earlier than other Western citizens really wealthier than a British citizen?
And that is leaving aside the distribution patterns of wealth.
I note that you havent consider the dystopian hell hole that is... Switzerland. Or Germany. Or Australia.
The problem remains what it has always been - inadequate levels of investment. Why we fail to invest as much as other countries is more of a mystery to me.
I think the main British issue is the people on our political Right have a weird, blind fetish about the USA .... even now as we watch it fall to pieces. So I comment on that.
No matter what happens, they will wreck the society. They will always live of past investment, and not support the future - so they can give a false impression to their supporters.
Just as they did for example with a highly successful policy such as Sure Start, or the initiative which cut out road deaths in half in a mere 9 years from 2000/1.
Even David Cameron - marketing himself as he did - did not give a damn, and just trampled it into the earth.
That's why in my view the Conservative Party - speaking as a former member - needs to die, and be replaced with something decent.
BiB - did road deaths double after that decision?
A bit of digging gets to this chart (annual UK road deaths on the Y-axis).
Suggests a drop from 2004 to 2010, but seems to be a continuation of a steady drop from 1970.
IIRC we have one of the lowest in the world - which is why that reduction tails off a bit.
We were about the best in the world. We are now by analogy perhaps half way down the Premier League. On particular aspects we have been serious below par laggards, such as provision for safe walking (which means that there are loads of places where roads are "safe" because no one dares go there outside a vehicle) and allowing legal drink driving (we have decades of research on this).
It is not a "steady drop". It is a staircase where improvement happens when Road Safety is a policy priority and stops when the politicians sit on their bottoms in their deckchairs.
There was a major initiative in 1987, and a manifesto pledge to cut child deaths by 40-50% in 2001, followed by a programme of targets in 2002, which delivered results by 2004. Casualties halved over a few years.
In 2011 David Cameron abolished the targets and did no significant policy and paid no attention, and people continued being killed at the same rate. Which is what we would expect.
eg An interviewee suggested that the choice not to continue casualty reduction targets was illustrative of the policy shift: “… in 2010 they decided they weren't going to have any more … targets. It was a pivotal move in the wrong direction. If I compare and contrast 1987 to 2010 … that was absolutely devastating alongside a recession that meant that a lot of the road safety teams were decimated”
Far from me, an independence supporter, to offer help to unionists. However, instead of bemoaning the success of the SNP, why don’t you question why all the unionist parties in Scotland are such abject failures? Hint, constant negativity isn’t helping you. Not having alternative policies that are attractive to voters isn’t helping, either. Uninspiring leaders also aren’t helping. Your only hope of improvement is to offer inspiring leaders and policies. What about, for example, supporting devo-max? Where will your next leaders come from? Your existing supply of placemen and women? No wonder the SNP are still the most popular party in Scotland.
Or energy pricing, which now sees the SE of England’s interests diametrically opposed to those of Scotland.
I think this is so fundamental to the economy and household finances there is simply no way for a UK-wide party to win in Scotland. The only caveat is that thr SNP have failed to really push this home yet.
The problem there is a religious belief that high energy prices = demand reduction = net zero faster.
Back when we were on about 60% coal, this made some sense.
Since we are rapidly approaching a decarbonised grid, this is now false.
The problem is that orthodoxies like this become institutional policy.
See a planner objecting (he had no actual power over the matter, but commented on it) to my installing A/C. Which is more than offset by the solar panels on the roof. He was still living in a world where 'leecy = carbon.
Who cares about Greensill... it wasnt a fucking scandal.. its just brits being jealous haters but what else is new? Hes a rich motherfucker. Was he supposed to stop making money to make the common brit feel better?
He wasnt even in office durinf greensill, why are yall policing what he does for worked as a citizen?
You guys are always pocket watching and gossiping.... fuck.
Who is she and why are the deluded opinions of someone in Israel vaguely important?
Who cares about Greensill... it wasnt a fucking scandal.. its just brits being jealous haters but what else is new? Hes a rich motherfucker. Was he supposed to stop making money to make the common brit feel better?
He wasnt even in office durinf greensill, why are yall policing what he does for worked as a citizen?
You guys are always pocket watching and gossiping.... fuck.
Who is she and why are the deluded opinions of someone in Israel vaguely important?
She’s a rapper from New York and a genuine eccentric. Her views are not important but interesting because they are so left-field.
Far from me, an independence supporter, to offer help to unionists. However, instead of bemoaning the success of the SNP, why don’t you question why all the unionist parties in Scotland are such abject failures? Hint, constant negativity isn’t helping you. Not having alternative policies that are attractive to voters isn’t helping, either. Uninspiring leaders also aren’t helping. Your only hope of improvement is to offer inspiring leaders and policies. What about, for example, supporting devo-max? Where will your next leaders come from? Your existing supply of placemen and women? No wonder the SNP are still the most popular party in Scotland.
Or energy pricing, which now sees the SE of England’s interests diametrically opposed to those of Scotland.
I think this is so fundamental to the economy and household finances there is simply no way for a UK-wide party to win in Scotland. The only caveat is that thr SNP have failed to really push this home yet.
The problem there is a religious belief that high energy prices = demand reduction = net zero faster.
Back when we were on about 60% coal, this made some sense.
Since we are rapidly approaching a decarbonised grid, this is now false.
The problem is that orthodoxies like this become institutional policy.
See a planner objecting (he had no actual power over the matter, but commented on it) to my installing A/C. Which is more than offset by the solar panels on the roof. He was still living in a world where 'leecy = carbon.
This is weird conspiratorial nonsense. I’ve never heard it anywhere else. No one wants high energy prices, and certainly not the government whose prospects are desperately vulnerable to them.
The actual orthodoxy is a national pricing system that subsidises the south of England while generating enormous economic inefficiencies, from mass curtailment to the need for huge investment in transmission. Facing down hat institutional policy is almost impossible, and therefore the SNP can fill the gap that is left.
Who cares about Greensill... it wasnt a fucking scandal.. its just brits being jealous haters but what else is new? Hes a rich motherfucker. Was he supposed to stop making money to make the common brit feel better?
He wasnt even in office durinf greensill, why are yall policing what he does for worked as a citizen?
You guys are always pocket watching and gossiping.... fuck.
Who is she and why are the deluded opinions of someone in Israel vaguely important?
A dance music artist. Quite good, my son is a fan. Somewhat gamey politics though, particularly the homophobia.
Far from me, an independence supporter, to offer help to unionists. However, instead of bemoaning the success of the SNP, why don’t you question why all the unionist parties in Scotland are such abject failures? Hint, constant negativity isn’t helping you. Not having alternative policies that are attractive to voters isn’t helping, either. Uninspiring leaders also aren’t helping. Your only hope of improvement is to offer inspiring leaders and policies. What about, for example, supporting devo-max? Where will your next leaders come from? Your existing supply of placemen and women? No wonder the SNP are still the most popular party in Scotland.
Or energy pricing, which now sees the SE of England’s interests diametrically opposed to those of Scotland.
I think this is so fundamental to the economy and household finances there is simply no way for a UK-wide party to win in Scotland. The only caveat is that thr SNP have failed to really push this home yet.
I have long believed in Self Determination, as was so crucial after WW1 and WW2, and its still a running sore now. Palestinians have the right to a state, as do Israelis.
And so, if the majority wishes it, do Scots (and the Welsh, and arguably the Cornish too). What does a Scot gain from being in the UK? Would life be better as an independent nation? When we had the Brexit debate those in the Remain camp (certainly the official campaigns) seemed to just emphasize how bad it would be to leave - there seemed little attempt to suggest that 350 million a week was worth the money. You would hope that those Scots wishing to stay as part of the UK would see this and make a positive case.
Very disappointing to me that so many people on PB are joining the Greens.
It's very disappointing to me that that only party with a sensible drug policy is the Greens, but it's an immensely important issue for me so there we are. I'll take a big of economic lunacy in exchange for fundamental human rights.
Kemi could be quietly radical here if she so chose.
Far from me, an independence supporter, to offer help to unionists. However, instead of bemoaning the success of the SNP, why don’t you question why all the unionist parties in Scotland are such abject failures? Hint, constant negativity isn’t helping you. Not having alternative policies that are attractive to voters isn’t helping, either. Uninspiring leaders also aren’t helping. Your only hope of improvement is to offer inspiring leaders and policies. What about, for example, supporting devo-max? Where will your next leaders come from? Your existing supply of placemen and women? No wonder the SNP are still the most popular party in Scotland.
Or energy pricing, which now sees the SE of England’s interests diametrically opposed to those of Scotland.
I think this is so fundamental to the economy and household finances there is simply no way for a UK-wide party to win in Scotland. The only caveat is that thr SNP have failed to really push this home yet.
I have long believed in Self Determination, as was so crucial after WW1 and WW2, and its still a running sore now. Palestinians have the right to a state, as do Israelis.
And so, if the majority wishes it, do Scots (and the Welsh, and arguably the Cornish too). What does a Scot gain from being in the UK? Would life be better as an independent nation? When we had the Brexit debate those in the Remain camp (certainly the official campaigns) seemed to just emphasize how bad it would be to leave - there seemed little attempt to suggest that 350 million a week was worth the money. You would hope that those Scots wishing to stay as part of the UK would see this and make a positive case.
This makes the mistake of conflating voting SNP with a desperate and overriding want for independence.
Maybe you just want fairer energy pricing? Or free uni tuition?
Far from me, an independence supporter, to offer help to unionists. However, instead of bemoaning the success of the SNP, why don’t you question why all the unionist parties in Scotland are such abject failures? Hint, constant negativity isn’t helping you. Not having alternative policies that are attractive to voters isn’t helping, either. Uninspiring leaders also aren’t helping. Your only hope of improvement is to offer inspiring leaders and policies. What about, for example, supporting devo-max? Where will your next leaders come from? Your existing supply of placemen and women? No wonder the SNP are still the most popular party in Scotland.
Or energy pricing, which now sees the SE of England’s interests diametrically opposed to those of Scotland.
I think this is so fundamental to the economy and household finances there is simply no way for a UK-wide party to win in Scotland. The only caveat is that thr SNP have failed to really push this home yet.
The problem there is a religious belief that high energy prices = demand reduction = net zero faster.
Back when we were on about 60% coal, this made some sense.
Since we are rapidly approaching a decarbonised grid, this is now false.
The problem is that orthodoxies like this become institutional policy.
See a planner objecting (he had no actual power over the matter, but commented on it) to my installing A/C. Which is more than offset by the solar panels on the roof. He was still living in a world where 'leecy = carbon.
This is weird conspiratorial nonsense. I’ve never heard it anywhere else. No one wants high energy prices, and certainly not the government whose prospects are desperately vulnerable to them.
The actual orthodoxy is a national pricing system that subsidises the south of England while generating enormous economic inefficiencies, from mass curtailment to the need for huge investment in transmission. Facing down hat institutional policy is almost impossible, and therefore the SNP can fill the gap that is left.
It's the orthodoxy that Miliband is working towards - why do you think he is fine with high industrial electricity costs?
It's not a conspiracy - it's about targets. Transferring CO2 emission abroad is often counted as a win. Farcical, but that's the nature of targets.
Who cares about Greensill... it wasnt a fucking scandal.. its just brits being jealous haters but what else is new? Hes a rich motherfucker. Was he supposed to stop making money to make the common brit feel better?
He wasnt even in office durinf greensill, why are yall policing what he does for worked as a citizen?
You guys are always pocket watching and gossiping.... fuck.
Who is she and why are the deluded opinions of someone in Israel vaguely important?
She’s a rapper from New York and a genuine eccentric. Her views are not important but interesting because they are so left-field.
I’d disagree that she’s a rapper. Her oeuvre is much more like 1990s hardcore dance / rave. Rather retro in its own way. I’d recommend it.
A dip into her X profile reveals an unusual, and surprisingly intimate, obsession and familiarity with British domestic politics. I suppose it matches the very Brit-coded music style. She seems to be a Kemi fan, like @Big_G_NorthWales
Always fun when a US pop act adopts a UK sound, like the early Killers.
Far from me, an independence supporter, to offer help to unionists. However, instead of bemoaning the success of the SNP, why don’t you question why all the unionist parties in Scotland are such abject failures? Hint, constant negativity isn’t helping you. Not having alternative policies that are attractive to voters isn’t helping, either. Uninspiring leaders also aren’t helping. Your only hope of improvement is to offer inspiring leaders and policies. What about, for example, supporting devo-max? Where will your next leaders come from? Your existing supply of placemen and women? No wonder the SNP are still the most popular party in Scotland.
Or energy pricing, which now sees the SE of England’s interests diametrically opposed to those of Scotland.
I think this is so fundamental to the economy and household finances there is simply no way for a UK-wide party to win in Scotland. The only caveat is that thr SNP have failed to really push this home yet.
I have long believed in Self Determination, as was so crucial after WW1 and WW2, and its still a running sore now. Palestinians have the right to a state, as do Israelis.
And so, if the majority wishes it, do Scots (and the Welsh, and arguably the Cornish too). What does a Scot gain from being in the UK? Would life be better as an independent nation? When we had the Brexit debate those in the Remain camp (certainly the official campaigns) seemed to just emphasize how bad it would be to leave - there seemed little attempt to suggest that 350 million a week was worth the money. You would hope that those Scots wishing to stay as part of the UK would see this and make a positive case.
This makes the mistake of conflating voting SNP with a desperate and overriding want for independence.
Maybe you just want fairer energy pricing? Or free uni tuition?
Except I didn't mention the SNP.
And the SNP are the ones who conflate the two - the old a vote for the SNP is a vote for independence, which, as you say, it may not be.
Far from me, an independence supporter, to offer help to unionists. However, instead of bemoaning the success of the SNP, why don’t you question why all the unionist parties in Scotland are such abject failures? Hint, constant negativity isn’t helping you. Not having alternative policies that are attractive to voters isn’t helping, either. Uninspiring leaders also aren’t helping. Your only hope of improvement is to offer inspiring leaders and policies. What about, for example, supporting devo-max? Where will your next leaders come from? Your existing supply of placemen and women? No wonder the SNP are still the most popular party in Scotland.
Or energy pricing, which now sees the SE of England’s interests diametrically opposed to those of Scotland.
I think this is so fundamental to the economy and household finances there is simply no way for a UK-wide party to win in Scotland. The only caveat is that thr SNP have failed to really push this home yet.
The problem there is a religious belief that high energy prices = demand reduction = net zero faster.
Back when we were on about 60% coal, this made some sense.
Since we are rapidly approaching a decarbonised grid, this is now false.
The problem is that orthodoxies like this become institutional policy.
See a planner objecting (he had no actual power over the matter, but commented on it) to my installing A/C. Which is more than offset by the solar panels on the roof. He was still living in a world where 'leecy = carbon.
This is weird conspiratorial nonsense. I’ve never heard it anywhere else. No one wants high energy prices, and certainly not the government whose prospects are desperately vulnerable to them.
The actual orthodoxy is a national pricing system that subsidises the south of England while generating enormous economic inefficiencies, from mass curtailment to the need for huge investment in transmission. Facing down hat institutional policy is almost impossible, and therefore the SNP can fill the gap that is left.
But it's excellent retail politics, unfortunately.
One of the reasons the UK is so dismally centralised (with the problems we see around us) is that people scream.like billyo about any unfairness that works against them.
Aaron Parnas @AaronParnas · 19m BREAKING: Federal judge throws out Trump's lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal for publishing Trump's alleged letter to Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday book.
Long, self-indulgent post alert: I've joined the Greens.
I'm intend to start (gently) door knocking for them and trying to get involved in the development of their economic policy. If anyone can be bothered I'd welcome being challenged on the reasoning below. If not, please feel free to ignore.
- For my whole adult life politics has been the art of finding the least worst option to support, and currently I feel that is the Greens (despite their laughable economic policy). - Capitalism as a vehicle for economic development has been spectacularly successful but has increasingly been captured by interests that don't serve us well. As an example the monetisation of ever-wider aspects of life (I'm particularly thinking of the monetisation of our attention through our phones and the concomitant promotion of widespread narcissism) is, I think, creating externalities that we will be paying for for generations to come. - Therefore I am looking for a political project that attempts to address the structure of our economic system, rather than tinkering with tax rates and our generosity or otherwise to those at the wrong end of inequality. - This is tempered by a natural conservatism; for a long time I have felt that reforming our economic structures is much more likely to make things worse rather than better. However, unless the next couple of years surprise on the upside (and economically this seems very unlikely) I think the next election is going to be won by a non-establishment party and given a forced choice between the Greens and Reform the Greens are a clear choice for me. - Finally, I have a three year old and a six year old. As someone relatively wealthy but with a big mortgage I have quite a lot to lose personally from a green government. But I would gladly lose that to invest in a project that might make the UK a healthier place (in the broadest sense) for my kids to grow up in.
What I want to vote for economically: - A gradual experiment of enforced worker- and community-representation on the boards of private companies to counterbalance the short-termism of our current emphasis on shareholder value. - A gradual move from taxing productivity (e.g. wages) towards taxing non-productivity (principally a wealth tax on property) - A gradual implementation of a maximum ratio between the lowest paid and the highest paid in any institution. - A commitment to gradually reducing our national debt through a combination of tax rises and spending cuts so that we are less beholden to bond markets in the medium term.
Sounds like a project to take the UK's centralisation of government up several more notches, from its current absurd levels.
Apart from being, as you say, economically laughable.
I think current green economic policy is laughable. I don't (obviously) think the list at the end of my post is. Why do you?
Very disappointing to me that so many people on PB are joining the Greens.
I have no issue with green politics. The environment, clean energy, leaving the planet in as good a state as we find it (or better) ought to be part of every parties manifesto. But I think the current version of the green party is very much not concerned about that. Never has the term 'watermelons' been more appropriate.
I suspect that they will whither in the spotlight. Far too many loons, such as the candidate who thinks we should abolish prisons. And frankly while every large party combines things with inherent contradiction, the clash of the massively pro-Islamic factions with the massively socially liberals LGBTQs is surely going to tear them apart in the end. Gays for Gaza and all that.
People keep saying that the clash of "pro-Islamic factions with the massively socially liberals LGBTQs is surely going to tear them apart in the end", but it hasn't yet.
Apparently the price in Europe for immediate delivery of oil is nearly $150, while the much talked about Brent price is only just over $100, the difference being that the Brent price is a futures price for June delivery, and so includes a discount on the expectation that the Strait of Hormuz will be reopened.
This implies that the damage to the economy from high oil prices is likely to be a lot worse than you might think if you are only looking at the futures price of oil.
It also implies that oil traders are very confident that the Strait of Hormuz will reopen fairly soon, else they will lose a lot of someone else's money.
RevMed said its daily pill, daraxonrasib, met all primary and secondary endpoints in a trial of people whose cancer had already progressed on another treatment..
That's a remarkable result in patients with late stage cancer who've already undergone chemo.
It suggests the possibility of far better results, if the cancer is detected earlier, and when this becomes the first line treatment.
I see the Brexit betrayal pearl clutching has started in the media .
I also foresee riots at the local care home as the residents rebel after they’re given a jar with “ Citrus Marmalade “ !
So Kemi and Nigel want a vote on every change and just want to drone on about the horrific news that we’ll miss out on debates and votes about the width of a wire allowed in your kettle plug lead !
Far from me, an independence supporter, to offer help to unionists. However, instead of bemoaning the success of the SNP, why don’t you question why all the unionist parties in Scotland are such abject failures? Hint, constant negativity isn’t helping you. Not having alternative policies that are attractive to voters isn’t helping, either. Uninspiring leaders also aren’t helping. Your only hope of improvement is to offer inspiring leaders and policies. What about, for example, supporting devo-max? Where will your next leaders come from? Your existing supply of placemen and women? No wonder the SNP are still the most popular party in Scotland.
Or energy pricing, which now sees the SE of England’s interests diametrically opposed to those of Scotland.
I think this is so fundamental to the economy and household finances there is simply no way for a UK-wide party to win in Scotland. The only caveat is that thr SNP have failed to really push this home yet.
The problem there is a religious belief that high energy prices = demand reduction = net zero faster.
Back when we were on about 60% coal, this made some sense.
Since we are rapidly approaching a decarbonised grid, this is now false.
The problem is that orthodoxies like this become institutional policy.
See a planner objecting (he had no actual power over the matter, but commented on it) to my installing A/C. Which is more than offset by the solar panels on the roof. He was still living in a world where 'leecy = carbon.
This is weird conspiratorial nonsense. I’ve never heard it anywhere else. No one wants high energy prices, and certainly not the government whose prospects are desperately vulnerable to them.
The actual orthodoxy is a national pricing system that subsidises the south of England while generating enormous economic inefficiencies, from mass curtailment to the need for huge investment in transmission. Facing down hat institutional policy is almost impossible, and therefore the SNP can fill the gap that is left.
It's the orthodoxy that Miliband is working towards - why do you think he is fine with high industrial electricity costs?
It's not a conspiracy - it's about targets. Transferring CO2 emission abroad is often counted as a win. Farcical, but that's the nature of targets.
Miliband has never said he’s fine with high electricity costs. And he’s introducing CBAM from 2027, which sets out to solve exactly the issue you describe!
Honestly it’s mad some of this stuff. A derangement syndrome.
RevMed said its daily pill, daraxonrasib, met all primary and secondary endpoints in a trial of people whose cancer had already progressed on another treatment..
That's a remarkable result in patients with late stage cancer who've already undergone chemo.
It suggests the possibility of far better results, if the cancer is detected earlier, and when this becomes the first line treatment.
That Phase 3 overall survival data is in second line #PancreaticCancer which makes the numbers even more astounding. I cannot recall any other example in pancreatic cancer when OS in a Phase 3 trial basically doubled over existing standard of care. https://x.com/Aiims1742/status/2043668412673540248
Aaron Parnas @AaronParnas · 19m BREAKING: Federal judge throws out Trump's lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal for publishing Trump's alleged letter to Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday book.
Aaron Parnas @AaronParnas · 19m BREAKING: Federal judge throws out Trump's lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal for publishing Trump's alleged letter to Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday book.
Far from me, an independence supporter, to offer help to unionists. However, instead of bemoaning the success of the SNP, why don’t you question why all the unionist parties in Scotland are such abject failures? Hint, constant negativity isn’t helping you. Not having alternative policies that are attractive to voters isn’t helping, either. Uninspiring leaders also aren’t helping. Your only hope of improvement is to offer inspiring leaders and policies. What about, for example, supporting devo-max? Where will your next leaders come from? Your existing supply of placemen and women? No wonder the SNP are still the most popular party in Scotland.
Or energy pricing, which now sees the SE of England’s interests diametrically opposed to those of Scotland.
I think this is so fundamental to the economy and household finances there is simply no way for a UK-wide party to win in Scotland. The only caveat is that thr SNP have failed to really push this home yet.
I have long believed in Self Determination, as was so crucial after WW1 and WW2, and its still a running sore now. Palestinians have the right to a state, as do Israelis.
And so, if the majority wishes it, do Scots (and the Welsh, and arguably the Cornish too). What does a Scot gain from being in the UK? Would life be better as an independent nation? When we had the Brexit debate those in the Remain camp (certainly the official campaigns) seemed to just emphasize how bad it would be to leave - there seemed little attempt to suggest that 350 million a week was worth the money. You would hope that those Scots wishing to stay as part of the UK would see this and make a positive case.
I am wondering if there actually is a positive case for Scotland remaining in the union, as nobody seems able to make one.
Just a quick question for those familiar with the minutiae of the American constitution - if the Pope had agreed to a debate with Donald Trump, and - as seems conceivable - had won it hands down, would that have initiated any mechanism by which the Pope could have become President?
I am not a Roman Catholic, but even if it resulted in a swap, I feel Pope Donald I would be a price well worth paying. And to be honest I think Pope is a job that Trump might find more congenial.
Far from me, an independence supporter, to offer help to unionists. However, instead of bemoaning the success of the SNP, why don’t you question why all the unionist parties in Scotland are such abject failures? Hint, constant negativity isn’t helping you. Not having alternative policies that are attractive to voters isn’t helping, either. Uninspiring leaders also aren’t helping. Your only hope of improvement is to offer inspiring leaders and policies. What about, for example, supporting devo-max? Where will your next leaders come from? Your existing supply of placemen and women? No wonder the SNP are still the most popular party in Scotland.
Or energy pricing, which now sees the SE of England’s interests diametrically opposed to those of Scotland.
I think this is so fundamental to the economy and household finances there is simply no way for a UK-wide party to win in Scotland. The only caveat is that thr SNP have failed to really push this home yet.
The problem there is a religious belief that high energy prices = demand reduction = net zero faster.
Back when we were on about 60% coal, this made some sense.
Since we are rapidly approaching a decarbonised grid, this is now false.
The problem is that orthodoxies like this become institutional policy.
See a planner objecting (he had no actual power over the matter, but commented on it) to my installing A/C. Which is more than offset by the solar panels on the roof. He was still living in a world where 'leecy = carbon.
This is weird conspiratorial nonsense. I’ve never heard it anywhere else. No one wants high energy prices, and certainly not the government whose prospects are desperately vulnerable to them.
The actual orthodoxy is a national pricing system that subsidises the south of England while generating enormous economic inefficiencies, from mass curtailment to the need for huge investment in transmission. Facing down hat institutional policy is almost impossible, and therefore the SNP can fill the gap that is left.
It's the orthodoxy that Miliband is working towards - why do you think he is fine with high industrial electricity costs?
It's not a conspiracy - it's about targets. Transferring CO2 emission abroad is often counted as a win. Farcical, but that's the nature of targets.
Miliband has never said he’s fine with high electricity costs. And he’s introducing CBAM from 2027, which sets out to solve exactly the issue you describe!
Honestly it’s mad some of this stuff. A derangement syndrome.
He has sat through this situation for a while now. Plenty of people have asked, repeatedly about it. A whole raft of companies have shut down or moved abroad citing electricity costs.
So it will all be fixed... next year?
What is the target price of industrial electricity vs the rest of Europe going to be then?
Very disappointing to me that so many people on PB are joining the Greens.
I have no issue with green politics. The environment, clean energy, leaving the planet in as good a state as we find it (or better) ought to be part of every parties manifesto. But I think the current version of the green party is very much not concerned about that. Never has the term 'watermelons' been more appropriate.
I suspect that they will whither in the spotlight. Far too many loons, such as the candidate who thinks we should abolish prisons. And frankly while every large party combines things with inherent contradiction, the clash of the massively pro-Islamic factions with the massively socially liberals LGBTQs is surely going to tear them apart in the end. Gays for Gaza and all that.
People keep saying that the clash of "pro-Islamic factions with the massively socially liberals LGBTQs is surely going to tear them apart in the end", but it hasn't yet.
Maybe its wishful thinking? But how many muslim green members were on board with a bondage party as the election campaign launch?
I suspect that Green and Reform are two cheeks of the same arse and are currently the home of the fed up with all the rest voters (or people being polled at least). Time will tell.
Far from me, an independence supporter, to offer help to unionists. However, instead of bemoaning the success of the SNP, why don’t you question why all the unionist parties in Scotland are such abject failures? Hint, constant negativity isn’t helping you. Not having alternative policies that are attractive to voters isn’t helping, either. Uninspiring leaders also aren’t helping. Your only hope of improvement is to offer inspiring leaders and policies. What about, for example, supporting devo-max? Where will your next leaders come from? Your existing supply of placemen and women? No wonder the SNP are still the most popular party in Scotland.
Or energy pricing, which now sees the SE of England’s interests diametrically opposed to those of Scotland.
I think this is so fundamental to the economy and household finances there is simply no way for a UK-wide party to win in Scotland. The only caveat is that thr SNP have failed to really push this home yet.
I have long believed in Self Determination, as was so crucial after WW1 and WW2, and its still a running sore now. Palestinians have the right to a state, as do Israelis.
And so, if the majority wishes it, do Scots (and the Welsh, and arguably the Cornish too). What does a Scot gain from being in the UK? Would life be better as an independent nation? When we had the Brexit debate those in the Remain camp (certainly the official campaigns) seemed to just emphasize how bad it would be to leave - there seemed little attempt to suggest that 350 million a week was worth the money. You would hope that those Scots wishing to stay as part of the UK would see this and make a positive case.
I am wondering if there actually is a positive case for Scotland remaining in the union, as nobody seems able to make one.
The positive case is pretty much the same case as was made for the Union in the first place - favoured access to England's markets is worth masses to the Scottish economy.
Crypto has been a way for dodgy people to receive money from others for over a decade
Really, news to me. Cheers 👍
Crypto is a bit like timeshares. The basic concept isn't a problem. It's just that 99.99999% of the people involved are crooks/scammers.
I’d not touch it with a barge pole.
We’ve got friends who think they’ll make a fortune on XRP
I’ll stick to my portfolio.
At the beginning of the crypto mania, my boss at the time was looking to get in. So I explained to him the asymmetry in time to buy and sell for the big boys vs the customers (aka the marks). The zig zags in the prices from the pump-and-dump were what really shook him, though.
Very disappointing to me that so many people on PB are joining the Greens.
I have no issue with green politics. The environment, clean energy, leaving the planet in as good a state as we find it (or better) ought to be part of every parties manifesto. But I think the current version of the green party is very much not concerned about that. Never has the term 'watermelons' been more appropriate.
I suspect that they will whither in the spotlight. Far too many loons, such as the candidate who thinks we should abolish prisons. And frankly while every large party combines things with inherent contradiction, the clash of the massively pro-Islamic factions with the massively socially liberals LGBTQs is surely going to tear them apart in the end. Gays for Gaza and all that.
People keep saying that the clash of "pro-Islamic factions with the massively socially liberals LGBTQs is surely going to tear them apart in the end", but it hasn't yet.
Maybe its wishful thinking? But how many muslim green members were on board with a bondage party as the election campaign launch?
I suspect that Green and Reform are two cheeks of the same arse and are currently the home of the fed up with all the rest voters (or people being polled at least). Time will tell.
Well, the Green Party's polling has shown no sign of collapse since the bondage party as the election campaign launch. It seems to me that everyone knows what they're getting and they're OK with it so far.
Bad news for everyone betting on Leicester City to go down.
The Baggies should be relegated to League 2 if they cost punters money.
West Brom face points deduction as Championship relegation battle takes fresh twist
Exclusive: Albion charged for alleged breach of financial rules but are looking to delay any punishment to next season
West Bromwich Albion have been charged with an alleged breach of financial rules in a shock development for the Championship’s relegation battle.
Telegraph Sport understands West Brom have allegedly breached English Football League’s profit and sustainability rules for last season and are facing the threat of a points deduction.
Under English Football League guidelines, any sporting sanction from the previous season must be applied in the following campaign, which would represent a severe blow to Albion’s hopes of survival with four games left.
It is understood, however, that the Championship club are attempting to delay any punishment until the 2026-27 season.
West Brom are 20th in the table after seven matches unbeaten under caretaker manager James Morrison, two points above Oxford United, who occupy the final relegation place. Leicester were deducted six points in February for breaching financial rules, failing in an appeal to reduce the sanction last week.
Very disappointing to me that so many people on PB are joining the Greens.
I have no issue with green politics. The environment, clean energy, leaving the planet in as good a state as we find it (or better) ought to be part of every parties manifesto. But I think the current version of the green party is very much not concerned about that. Never has the term 'watermelons' been more appropriate.
I suspect that they will whither in the spotlight. Far too many loons, such as the candidate who thinks we should abolish prisons. And frankly while every large party combines things with inherent contradiction, the clash of the massively pro-Islamic factions with the massively socially liberals LGBTQs is surely going to tear them apart in the end. Gays for Gaza and all that.
People keep saying that the clash of "pro-Islamic factions with the massively socially liberals LGBTQs is surely going to tear them apart in the end", but it hasn't yet.
Maybe its wishful thinking? But how many muslim green members were on board with a bondage party as the election campaign launch?
I suspect that Green and Reform are two cheeks of the same arse and are currently the home of the fed up with all the rest voters (or people being polled at least). Time will tell.
Well, the Green Party's polling has shown no sign of collapse since the bondage party as the election campaign launch. It seems to me that everyone knows what they're getting and they're OK with it so far.
The Greens are beginning to grate on me. Hopefully people will see sense and realize closer to the election that they’re Reform enablers , they’ll split the vote and then whine when they’ve ushered in the UKs stain on humanity .
As an aside, when the status quo is membership of something, and the change proposed is to leave that thing, a positive case for membership is pretty hard to distinguish from a negative argument about how bad leaving would be. Mathematically the two are the same, but the change proposed is to leave, so the status quo argument is always going to be more negative, because people already enjoy the benefits of the status quo.
I always thought it was a weird argument that Remain failed to make the positive case for EU membership.
RevMed said its daily pill, daraxonrasib, met all primary and secondary endpoints in a trial of people whose cancer had already progressed on another treatment..
That's a remarkable result in patients with late stage cancer who've already undergone chemo.
It suggests the possibility of far better results, if the cancer is detected earlier, and when this becomes the first line treatment.
That Phase 3 overall survival data is in second line #PancreaticCancer which makes the numbers even more astounding. I cannot recall any other example in pancreatic cancer when OS in a Phase 3 trial basically doubled over existing standard of care. https://x.com/Aiims1742/status/2043668412673540248
I'm currently updating my third year oncology unit and this is the kind of thing which is giving me headaches (in a good way). My lung cancer clinician described how ten years ago he had three types of cancer and thus three treatment regimes. Now, with the personalized medicine drilling down into specific mutations and receptors etc on every patient, its become way more complicated but we are seeing some amazing changes in prognosis.
Not sure how many people outside the field are yet aware of how much things are improving (and its not just oncology, of course).
Referring to Kemi Badenoch as "Farage in braids" has been characterized by critics and commentators as a formulation that blends elements of racism, misogyny, and political disrespect, rather than fitting into a single categegory
Based on political commentary and public discourse surrounding the Conservative leadership, here is the breakdown of why this description is controversial:
Racialized Misogyny: The phrase is widely seen as offensive because it reduces a Black woman's political identity to her hair ("braids") while associating her with Nigel Farage, a figure often criticized by anti-racism groups.
"Blackface of White Supremacy" Analogy: Some political commentary has used extreme terms to describe this type of comparison, implying that it attempts to delegitimize a black woman's agency by suggesting she is merely a conduit for white male political ideology, which is a form of intersectional attack.
Political Delegitimization: The comment is intended to mock Badenoch's ideological stance by claiming she is merely a female, ethnically diverse version of a political rival, thus undermining her own political identity and leadership capabilities.
Misogynoir: Critics argue this language constitutes "misogynoir"—a specific blend of misogyny and racism directed at Black women—by using a stereotype-laden term ("braids") to attack her intellectual and political independence.
While it is a personal attack, the consensus among critics is that it is not merely political banter, but a slur that relies on stereotypes about race and gender to attack a politician's legitimacy.
Usual garbage from Farage. ..For once, Farage did not seem to have a snap response. After saying that was “broad canvas” question, and pausing for a moment, he replied:
He’s 80 in a few weeks’ time. He has a very unusual way of operating. And let’s go back 10 years. People were asking that question 10 years ago. There were Democrats screaming ten years ago that the 25th amendment should be moved in Congress. And those same voices are saying the same things now. I don’t think he’s changed very much at all, which some people like and a lot of people don’t...
People were saying he should be impeached a decade back. And he should have been permanently barred from office.
Anyone who says he hasn't deteriorated is either lying, or remarkably stupid.
Crypto has been a way for dodgy people to receive money from others for over a decade
Really, news to me. Cheers 👍
Crypto is a bit like timeshares. The basic concept isn't a problem. It's just that 99.99999% of the people involved are crooks/scammers.
I’d not touch it with a barge pole.
We’ve got friends who think they’ll make a fortune on XRP
I’ll stick to my portfolio.
Ultimately, crypto is not a productive asset. It doesn't generate any kind of income. So it is unlike property, or shares, or bonds.
In fact, as there needs to be 'work' done via mining to maintain the network, you could argue that it is the opposite of a productive asset. In the case of Bitcoin, there is $12bn of newly mined Bitcoin every year, mostly wasted spent on power generation. Simplistically, you need $12bn more buyers than sellers every year, just to offset the impact of the cost of electricity generation on the network.
RevMed said its daily pill, daraxonrasib, met all primary and secondary endpoints in a trial of people whose cancer had already progressed on another treatment..
That's a remarkable result in patients with late stage cancer who've already undergone chemo.
It suggests the possibility of far better results, if the cancer is detected earlier, and when this becomes the first line treatment.
That Phase 3 overall survival data is in second line #PancreaticCancer which makes the numbers even more astounding. I cannot recall any other example in pancreatic cancer when OS in a Phase 3 trial basically doubled over existing standard of care. https://x.com/Aiims1742/status/2043668412673540248
I'm currently updating my third year oncology unit and this is the kind of thing which is giving me headaches (in a good way). My lung cancer clinician described how ten years ago he had three types of cancer and thus three treatment regimes. Now, with the personalized medicine drilling down into specific mutations and receptors etc on every patient, its become way more complicated but we are seeing some amazing changes in prognosis.
Not sure how many people outside the field are yet aware of how much things are improving (and its not just oncology, of course).
Good times.
The Biological Technology Revolution is still accelerating - yet it gets about 1% of the press of the IT Revolution.
Far from me, an independence supporter, to offer help to unionists. However, instead of bemoaning the success of the SNP, why don’t you question why all the unionist parties in Scotland are such abject failures? Hint, constant negativity isn’t helping you. Not having alternative policies that are attractive to voters isn’t helping, either. Uninspiring leaders also aren’t helping. Your only hope of improvement is to offer inspiring leaders and policies. What about, for example, supporting devo-max? Where will your next leaders come from? Your existing supply of placemen and women? No wonder the SNP are still the most popular party in Scotland.
Or energy pricing, which now sees the SE of England’s interests diametrically opposed to those of Scotland.
I think this is so fundamental to the economy and household finances there is simply no way for a UK-wide party to win in Scotland. The only caveat is that thr SNP have failed to really push this home yet.
The problem there is a religious belief that high energy prices = demand reduction = net zero faster.
Back when we were on about 60% coal, this made some sense.
Since we are rapidly approaching a decarbonised grid, this is now false.
The problem is that orthodoxies like this become institutional policy.
See a planner objecting (he had no actual power over the matter, but commented on it) to my installing A/C. Which is more than offset by the solar panels on the roof. He was still living in a world where 'leecy = carbon.
This is weird conspiratorial nonsense. I’ve never heard it anywhere else. No one wants high energy prices, and certainly not the government whose prospects are desperately vulnerable to them.
The actual orthodoxy is a national pricing system that subsidises the south of England while generating enormous economic inefficiencies, from mass curtailment to the need for huge investment in transmission. Facing down hat institutional policy is almost impossible, and therefore the SNP can fill the gap that is left.
It's the orthodoxy that Miliband is working towards - why do you think he is fine with high industrial electricity costs?
It's not a conspiracy - it's about targets. Transferring CO2 emission abroad is often counted as a win. Farcical, but that's the nature of targets.
Miliband has never said he’s fine with high electricity costs. And he’s introducing CBAM from 2027, which sets out to solve exactly the issue you describe!
Honestly it’s mad some of this stuff. A derangement syndrome.
He has sat through this situation for a while now. Plenty of people have asked, repeatedly about it. A whole raft of companies have shut down or moved abroad citing electricity costs.
So it will all be fixed... next year?
What is the target price of industrial electricity vs the rest of Europe going to be then?
I’m not suggesting the government is perfect - I think nodal pricing could have transformed this situation and I’m deeply disappointed that they havent gone for it. There are some policies like BICS, NCC, CBAM which are something but certainly not as radical as we need.
Very disappointing to me that so many people on PB are joining the Greens.
I have no issue with green politics. The environment, clean energy, leaving the planet in as good a state as we find it (or better) ought to be part of every parties manifesto. But I think the current version of the green party is very much not concerned about that. Never has the term 'watermelons' been more appropriate.
I suspect that they will whither in the spotlight. Far too many loons, such as the candidate who thinks we should abolish prisons. And frankly while every large party combines things with inherent contradiction, the clash of the massively pro-Islamic factions with the massively socially liberals LGBTQs is surely going to tear them apart in the end. Gays for Gaza and all that.
People keep saying that the clash of "pro-Islamic factions with the massively socially liberals LGBTQs is surely going to tear them apart in the end", but it hasn't yet.
Maybe its wishful thinking? But how many muslim green members were on board with a bondage party as the election campaign launch?
I suspect that Green and Reform are two cheeks of the same arse and are currently the home of the fed up with all the rest voters (or people being polled at least). Time will tell.
Well, the Green Party's polling has shown no sign of collapse since the bondage party as the election campaign launch. It seems to me that everyone knows what they're getting and they're OK with it so far.
The Greens are beginning to grate on me. Hopefully people will see sense and realize closer to the election that they’re Reform enablers , they’ll split the vote and then whine when they’ve ushered in the UKs stain on humanity .
Why would it be the Greens splitting the vote and not Labour doing so?
That argument has always annoyed me as it implies that Labour own the votes of their voters. They don't. If Labour aren't good enough they will lose votes to parties who offer more hope, and if that splits the non-Reform vote then the fault will be Labour's for failing in government and Labour's for not winning the 2024 election on a manifesto to change the voting system to one that didn't require tactical voting to prevent Farage becoming PM on less than a third of the vote.
Referring to Kemi Badenoch as "Farage in braids" has been characterized by critics and commentators as a formulation that blends elements of racism, misogyny, and political disrespect, rather than fitting into a single categegory
Based on political commentary and public discourse surrounding the Conservative leadership, here is the breakdown of why this description is controversial:
Racialized Misogyny: The phrase is widely seen as offensive because it reduces a Black woman's political identity to her hair ("braids") while associating her with Nigel Farage, a figure often criticized by anti-racism groups.
"Blackface of White Supremacy" Analogy: Some political commentary has used extreme terms to describe this type of comparison, implying that it attempts to delegitimize a black woman's agency by suggesting she is merely a conduit for white male political ideology, which is a form of intersectional attack.
Political Delegitimization: The comment is intended to mock Badenoch's ideological stance by claiming she is merely a female, ethnically diverse version of a political rival, thus undermining her own political identity and leadership capabilities.
Misogynoir: Critics argue this language constitutes "misogynoir"—a specific blend of misogyny and racism directed at Black women—by using a stereotype-laden term ("braids") to attack her intellectual and political independence.
While it is a personal attack, the consensus among critics is that it is not merely political banter, but a slur that relies on stereotypes about race and gender to attack a politician's legitimacy.
Crypto has been a way for dodgy people to receive money from others for over a decade
Really, news to me. Cheers 👍
Crypto is a bit like timeshares. The basic concept isn't a problem. It's just that 99.99999% of the people involved are crooks/scammers.
I’d not touch it with a barge pole.
We’ve got friends who think they’ll make a fortune on XRP
I’ll stick to my portfolio.
Ultimately, crypto is not a productive asset. It doesn't generate any kind of income. So it is unlike property, or shares, or bonds.
In fact, as there needs to be 'work' done via mining to maintain the network, you could argue that it is the opposite of a productive asset. In the case of Bitcoin, there is $12bn of newly mined Bitcoin every year, mostly wasted spent on power generation. Simplistically, you need $12bn more buyers than sellers every year, just to offset the impact of the cost of electricity generation on the network.
In a world where tech billionaires can and do make many billions each year that they will be seeking to invest and divesify is 12bn actually much at all?
RevMed said its daily pill, daraxonrasib, met all primary and secondary endpoints in a trial of people whose cancer had already progressed on another treatment..
That's a remarkable result in patients with late stage cancer who've already undergone chemo.
It suggests the possibility of far better results, if the cancer is detected earlier, and when this becomes the first line treatment.
That Phase 3 overall survival data is in second line #PancreaticCancer which makes the numbers even more astounding. I cannot recall any other example in pancreatic cancer when OS in a Phase 3 trial basically doubled over existing standard of care. https://x.com/Aiims1742/status/2043668412673540248
I'm currently updating my third year oncology unit and this is the kind of thing which is giving me headaches (in a good way). My lung cancer clinician described how ten years ago he had three types of cancer and thus three treatment regimes. Now, with the personalized medicine drilling down into specific mutations and receptors etc on every patient, its become way more complicated but we are seeing some amazing changes in prognosis.
Not sure how many people outside the field are yet aware of how much things are improving (and its not just oncology, of course).
Good times.
The good news for pancreatic is that the current standard of care is so ineffective, that this will displace it far more rapidly than is the case for breakthroughs in other cancers, I think ?
Individualised targeted therapies plus immunotherapy is the future.
Far from me, an independence supporter, to offer help to unionists. However, instead of bemoaning the success of the SNP, why don’t you question why all the unionist parties in Scotland are such abject failures? Hint, constant negativity isn’t helping you. Not having alternative policies that are attractive to voters isn’t helping, either. Uninspiring leaders also aren’t helping. Your only hope of improvement is to offer inspiring leaders and policies. What about, for example, supporting devo-max? Where will your next leaders come from? Your existing supply of placemen and women? No wonder the SNP are still the most popular party in Scotland.
Or energy pricing, which now sees the SE of England’s interests diametrically opposed to those of Scotland.
I think this is so fundamental to the economy and household finances there is simply no way for a UK-wide party to win in Scotland. The only caveat is that thr SNP have failed to really push this home yet.
The problem there is a religious belief that high energy prices = demand reduction = net zero faster.
Back when we were on about 60% coal, this made some sense.
Since we are rapidly approaching a decarbonised grid, this is now false.
The problem is that orthodoxies like this become institutional policy.
See a planner objecting (he had no actual power over the matter, but commented on it) to my installing A/C. Which is more than offset by the solar panels on the roof. He was still living in a world where 'leecy = carbon.
This is weird conspiratorial nonsense. I’ve never heard it anywhere else. No one wants high energy prices, and certainly not the government whose prospects are desperately vulnerable to them.
The actual orthodoxy is a national pricing system that subsidises the south of England while generating enormous economic inefficiencies, from mass curtailment to the need for huge investment in transmission. Facing down hat institutional policy is almost impossible, and therefore the SNP can fill the gap that is left.
It's the orthodoxy that Miliband is working towards - why do you think he is fine with high industrial electricity costs?
It's not a conspiracy - it's about targets. Transferring CO2 emission abroad is often counted as a win. Farcical, but that's the nature of targets.
Miliband has never said he’s fine with high electricity costs. And he’s introducing CBAM from 2027, which sets out to solve exactly the issue you describe!
Honestly it’s mad some of this stuff. A derangement syndrome.
He has sat through this situation for a while now. Plenty of people have asked, repeatedly about it. A whole raft of companies have shut down or moved abroad citing electricity costs.
So it will all be fixed... next year?
What is the target price of industrial electricity vs the rest of Europe going to be then?
I’m not suggesting the government is perfect - I think nodal pricing could have transformed this situation and I’m deeply disappointed that they havent gone for it. There are some policies like BICS, NCC, CBAM which are something but certainly not as radical as we need.
It’s just your characterisation is a bit mental.
It's been a governmental policy for decades to reduce CO2 emissions. Because, really on, it seemed that replacing coal and gas was going o be very hard, demand reduction through price became a part of the objective.
It's quite common to find that calculations for various projects are still using CO2 emissions numbers from when we burnt coal to power the grid. It's not a conspiracy, it's just the slow moving wheels of the system.
For example, one reservoir/water treatment project was supposed, according to the review, to create a lots of CO2 in daily operation. Aside from the fact that the grid is substantially decarbonised, the water treatment pumping could be built around the intermittent electricity from solar or wind - pump the water from one pond to another when 'leech is in surplus.
Far from me, an independence supporter, to offer help to unionists. However, instead of bemoaning the success of the SNP, why don’t you question why all the unionist parties in Scotland are such abject failures? Hint, constant negativity isn’t helping you. Not having alternative policies that are attractive to voters isn’t helping, either. Uninspiring leaders also aren’t helping. Your only hope of improvement is to offer inspiring leaders and policies. What about, for example, supporting devo-max? Where will your next leaders come from? Your existing supply of placemen and women? No wonder the SNP are still the most popular party in Scotland.
Or energy pricing, which now sees the SE of England’s interests diametrically opposed to those of Scotland.
I think this is so fundamental to the economy and household finances there is simply no way for a UK-wide party to win in Scotland. The only caveat is that thr SNP have failed to really push this home yet.
If common energy pricing is so diametrically opposed to Scotland's interest why do you think the Scottish government privately lobbied the UK government to keep it? Now they can say the opposite in public because it's good politics and they are not the ones making the decision.
The issue of offshore wind curtailment arises because the grid can't cope. The UK Grid is barely fit for purpose today and certainly not for the energy transformation. The business case wouldn't be there for Scottish offshore wind without the UK market and a grid upgrade. Equally there needs to bea grid upgrade under any energy mix. The cost of upgrades specifically for offshore wind probably only applies to Northern Scotland and can be seen as part of the costs of that technology. The English and southern Scottish upgrades would need to happen for other technologies. Once the grid is upgraded there is no need for differential pricing. At most zonal pricing makes sense as an interim measure
Crypto has been a way for dodgy people to receive money from others for over a decade
Really, news to me. Cheers 👍
Crypto is a bit like timeshares. The basic concept isn't a problem. It's just that 99.99999% of the people involved are crooks/scammers.
I’d not touch it with a barge pole.
We’ve got friends who think they’ll make a fortune on XRP
I’ll stick to my portfolio.
At the beginning of the crypto mania, my boss at the time was looking to get in. So I explained to him the asymmetry in time to buy and sell for the big boys vs the customers (aka the marks). The zig zags in the prices from the pump-and-dump were what really shook him, though.
Love the term ‘marks’, from my love of pro wrestling.
Meme coins seem to be even worse than normal crypto.
And did I live through an episode of the twilight zone or did people really pay big bucks for JPEGs of a chimp in a variety of hats.
Given Restore are only standing 6 candidates in the local elections if Reform are the only option for them to vote for they will vote for Farage's party over Lowe's anyway
Referring to Kemi Badenoch as "Farage in braids" has been characterized by critics and commentators as a formulation that blends elements of racism, misogyny, and political disrespect, rather than fitting into a single categegory
Based on political commentary and public discourse surrounding the Conservative leadership, here is the breakdown of why this description is controversial:
Racialized Misogyny: The phrase is widely seen as offensive because it reduces a Black woman's political identity to her hair ("braids") while associating her with Nigel Farage, a figure often criticized by anti-racism groups.
"Blackface of White Supremacy" Analogy: Some political commentary has used extreme terms to describe this type of comparison, implying that it attempts to delegitimize a black woman's agency by suggesting she is merely a conduit for white male political ideology, which is a form of intersectional attack.
Political Delegitimization: The comment is intended to mock Badenoch's ideological stance by claiming she is merely a female, ethnically diverse version of a political rival, thus undermining her own political identity and leadership capabilities.
Misogynoir: Critics argue this language constitutes "misogynoir"—a specific blend of misogyny and racism directed at Black women—by using a stereotype-laden term ("braids") to attack her intellectual and political independence.
While it is a personal attack, the consensus among critics is that it is not merely political banter, but a slur that relies on stereotypes about race and gender to attack a politician's legitimacy.
Crypto has been a way for dodgy people to receive money from others for over a decade
Really, news to me. Cheers 👍
Crypto is a bit like timeshares. The basic concept isn't a problem. It's just that 99.99999% of the people involved are crooks/scammers.
I’d not touch it with a barge pole.
We’ve got friends who think they’ll make a fortune on XRP
I’ll stick to my portfolio.
At the beginning of the crypto mania, my boss at the time was looking to get in. So I explained to him the asymmetry in time to buy and sell for the big boys vs the customers (aka the marks). The zig zags in the prices from the pump-and-dump were what really shook him, though.
Love the term ‘marks’, from my love of pro wrestling.
Meme coins seem to be even worse than normal crypto.
And did I live through an episode of the twilight zone or did people really pay big bucks for JPEGs of a chimp in a variety of hats.
Yes, they did.
My only regret with all of this is not getting in at the top. It was too insane to believe in. But if I'd put in £100 when Bitcoin went through £1....
Just a quick question for those familiar with the minutiae of the American constitution - if the Pope had agreed to a debate with Donald Trump, and - as seems conceivable - had won it hands down, would that have initiated any mechanism by which the Pope could have become President?
I am not a Roman Catholic, but even if it resulted in a swap, I feel Pope Donald I would be a price well worth paying. And to be honest I think Pope is a job that Trump might find more congenial.
Trump isn't Roman Catholic nor celibate, so ineligable. Nor would Leo want to be head of state of a plurality Protestant nation
The SNP have been shockingly poor in government. Our once proud education system slips ever further down the PISA rankings. Our excellent Universities are incredibly dependent on rUK students paying something like the proper rate in fees whilst the Scottish government pays little more than half that for Scottish students. Our drug deaths remain the highest in Europe. Our Criminal Justice system creaks ever more alarmingly. Only this morning I had a trial fixed for a bog standard 5 day rape case in May 2027 at a Preliminary Hearing that had been able to go ahead 9 months after the service of the indictment. Non sex prisoners now spend 40% of their sentence in jail. Our health outcomes are no better than those in rUK despite spending a lot more. The minimum fee for alcohol has not really worked. Large sums of money have been spent on trans based litigation for no obvious purpose. Absurd sums are spent on regulation. We have the highest taxes in the UK. The ST reported that £6bn has been given to "charities" that are obliged to follow the government line and are instantly punished if they are foolish enough to step out of line. It is, overall, a shocking record of institutional corruption, incompetence, waste and ineptitude.
But there is no effective opposition. The Tories do their best in the Scottish Parliament but are about to be annihilated. Labour are almost invisible. Reform are led by a madman. The Greens are frankly insane. Their latest policy is apparently the abolition of prisons. There's even a group called the Lib Dems, apparently. God knows what they are for or against.
Where oh where are the Scottish Magyars that can make this place fit to build a business in, to create wealth, to fund working public services and who can sweep away this corrupt cronyism?
That was a Party Political Broadcast for the DavidL Party.
Yep. Unfortunately it is rather small and not very effective.
Don't give up. I think Sir Tom Farmer, Scotland's most successful businessman, might be joining up:
Sir Tom Hunter @SirTomHunter · 5h I am an eternal optimist but I’m also a realist so as we trundle towards the Scottish elections and all the freebies on offer from our politicians the ask is – how are you going to pay for them?
Speaking of politicians, I am reminded of a brilliant episode of The Thick of It entitled ‘Rise of the Nutters’ – a satire on inept politicians making stupid policies
Armando Iannucci, a good Scotsman said he couldn’t write any more political satire as the real-life situation couldn’t be funnier; I would add it couldn’t be scarier.
Is it just me or are more nutters hoping to get elected into public office, and not just in Scotland but globally?
We need to boost our economy and go for growth while attracting the very best into public office. Here are some quick wins for our politicians…
- Housing: Fast track planning, and Section 75 redesign
- Quangos bonfire: Reduce the red tape, bureaucracy and duplication
- Hospitality and retail: Freeze the rates system
- Tax: Level the tax system with England
- Oil & gas: Bring forward the Energy Profits Levy, and open up new licenses to explore our North Sea
- Business support: Streamline assistance through a one-stop shop
And once elected engage with business – nearly every serious business person I speak to it is “Country first, Politics second”. Take advantage and partner with business; make policies based on facts…
Scotland should be booming — why does it feel like it’s going bust?
Referring to Kemi Badenoch as "Farage in braids" has been characterized by critics and commentators as a formulation that blends elements of racism, misogyny, and political disrespect, rather than fitting into a single categegory
Based on political commentary and public discourse surrounding the Conservative leadership, here is the breakdown of why this description is controversial:
Racialized Misogyny: The phrase is widely seen as offensive because it reduces a Black woman's political identity to her hair ("braids") while associating her with Nigel Farage, a figure often criticized by anti-racism groups.
"Blackface of White Supremacy" Analogy: Some political commentary has used extreme terms to describe this type of comparison, implying that it attempts to delegitimize a black woman's agency by suggesting she is merely a conduit for white male political ideology, which is a form of intersectional attack.
Political Delegitimization: The comment is intended to mock Badenoch's ideological stance by claiming she is merely a female, ethnically diverse version of a political rival, thus undermining her own political identity and leadership capabilities.
Misogynoir: Critics argue this language constitutes "misogynoir"—a specific blend of misogyny and racism directed at Black women—by using a stereotype-laden term ("braids") to attack her intellectual and political independence.
While it is a personal attack, the consensus among critics is that it is not merely political banter, but a slur that relies on stereotypes about race and gender to attack a politician's legitimacy.
That's generative AI output.
I asked the question as it was used on a comment and this was the AI output
FPT: " if you're born in the wrong circles the dice are massively stacked against you"
In the US, we would say either that the dice are loaded, or that the deck is stacked. Is it different in the UK?
(On the general argument: I do not know of any way to stop parents, completely, from trying to give their children advantages over other children. Though we can limit it, as we did in this criminal investigation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varsity_Blues_scandal
Nor should we, since there are good ways and bad ways for parents to do that.)
Referring to Kemi Badenoch as "Farage in braids" has been characterized by critics and commentators as a formulation that blends elements of racism, misogyny, and political disrespect, rather than fitting into a single categegory
Based on political commentary and public discourse surrounding the Conservative leadership, here is the breakdown of why this description is controversial:
Racialized Misogyny: The phrase is widely seen as offensive because it reduces a Black woman's political identity to her hair ("braids") while associating her with Nigel Farage, a figure often criticized by anti-racism groups.
"Blackface of White Supremacy" Analogy: Some political commentary has used extreme terms to describe this type of comparison, implying that it attempts to delegitimize a black woman's agency by suggesting she is merely a conduit for white male political ideology, which is a form of intersectional attack.
Political Delegitimization: The comment is intended to mock Badenoch's ideological stance by claiming she is merely a female, ethnically diverse version of a political rival, thus undermining her own political identity and leadership capabilities.
Misogynoir: Critics argue this language constitutes "misogynoir"—a specific blend of misogyny and racism directed at Black women—by using a stereotype-laden term ("braids") to attack her intellectual and political independence.
While it is a personal attack, the consensus among critics is that it is not merely political banter, but a slur that relies on stereotypes about race and gender to attack a politician's legitimacy.
Link please.
I asked the question as it was used on a comment and this was the AI output
Iran president: 'His Holiness Pope Louis XIV, I condemn the insult to Your Excellency on behalf of the great nation of Iran, and declare that the desecration of Jesus, the prophet of peace and brotherhood, is not acceptable to any free person. I wish you glory by Allah.'
Good to see Iran now so committed to freedom of worship for Roman Catholics given the regime's strict surveillance of their activities and ban on conversions
Comments
Iran president: 'His Holiness Pope Louis XIV, I condemn the insult to Your Excellency on behalf of the great nation of Iran, and declare that the desecration of Jesus, the prophet of peace and brotherhood, is not acceptable to any free person. I wish you glory by Allah.'
There are some who are advising the Greens, such as James Meadway, who get the need to tame the bond markets. But the voices the pretend we can ignore them are probably stronger at the moment.
Only a couple of months ago they were murdering their own citizens in the tens of thousands. Trump offered thoughts and prayers, basically, after telling them “help is on its way”, but the West’s reputation was in the ascendancy. The population was in a state of revolutionary discontent. The Ayatollah was elderly and likely to die triggering a succession crisis. The pieces were there for a transition to a West-friendly regime.
Then a few weeks of cack handed military adventurism and the regime is shored up, the hardliners are in control, the revolution is very much on hold, the West’s reputation among Iranians is taking a battering, and the straits of Hormuz are controlled by the regime Trump claimed he had destroyed.
The same is true for lots of things. For example, there are about 18 countries where the regular police don't carry guns, but all of the others apart from the UK have fairly small populations. For a country of 70 million to have this characteristic is pretty notable. (For instance New Zealand police don't carry guns but Australian police do, 5 million versus 26 million).
I think there are various cultural factors that benefit us there - and I think that being an island and driving on the right are two of them - which keeps left-drivers and those not familiar with our road quirks from driving as much as would happen if eg we were joined by 9864 routes directly to France.
Former chief executive Tom Blomfield warned that advances in AI could trigger a major jobs crisis, with automation increasingly replacing roles across a wide range of industries.
Speaking on an episode of The Rest is Money podcast, he said that as traditional employment declines, the current system of income tax – largely dependent on wages – would no longer be sustainable.
He suggested it could instead be replaced by a tax on the resources used to build and run AI.
He said: “I don’t think we’ll tax human labour, we’ll tax compute, [meaning systems like] data centres, and then we will use the proceeds to pay for government.”"
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/tax/income/income-tax-dead-within-five-years-says-monzo-boss/
“You’re going to sit down next to each other, behave yourselves and smile for the camera or there’ll be no tea”
I suspect that they will whither in the spotlight. Far too many loons, such as the candidate who thinks we should abolish prisons.
And frankly while every large party combines things with inherent contradiction, the clash of the massively pro-Islamic factions with the massively socially liberals LGBTQs is surely going to tear them apart in the end. Gays for Gaza and all that.
Apart from being, as you say, economically laughable.
One of my reasons for joing them is an attempt to escape the 'plague on all their houses' mentality I have had since Starmer took over so woefully.
(just kidding!)
UK AND Northern Ireland???
https://x.com/iiwasinthee212/status/2043467048354000925
Who cares about Greensill... it wasnt a fucking scandal.. its just brits being jealous haters but what else is new?
Hes a rich motherfucker.
Was he supposed to stop making money to make the common brit feel better?
He wasnt even in office durinf greensill, why are yall policing what he does for worked as a citizen?
You guys are always pocket watching and gossiping.... fuck.
I think this is so fundamental to the economy and household finances there is simply no way for a UK-wide party to win in Scotland. The only caveat is that thr SNP have failed to really push this home yet.
Some of the poor devils have to live in France - that's not even a safe country. Unlike Rwanda.
Back when we were on about 60% coal, this made some sense.
Since we are rapidly approaching a decarbonised grid, this is now false.
The problem is that orthodoxies like this become institutional policy.
See a planner objecting (he had no actual power over the matter, but commented on it) to my installing A/C. Which is more than offset by the solar panels on the roof. He was still living in a world where 'leecy = carbon.
The actual orthodoxy is a national pricing system that subsidises the south of England while generating enormous economic inefficiencies, from mass curtailment to the need for huge investment in transmission. Facing down hat institutional policy is almost impossible, and therefore the SNP can fill the gap that is left.
And so, if the majority wishes it, do Scots (and the Welsh, and arguably the Cornish too). What does a Scot gain from being in the UK? Would life be better as an independent nation? When we had the Brexit debate those in the Remain camp (certainly the official campaigns) seemed to just emphasize how bad it would be to leave - there seemed little attempt to suggest that 350 million a week was worth the money. You would hope that those Scots wishing to stay as part of the UK would see this and make a positive case.
Lee Anderson spatette over eyebrow waxing:
https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/local-news/row-explodes-over-mp-lee-10904855
On this one I think I am with the MP, having seen some commentaries to the video.
Agent Anderson is talking about legals, but I think he just wants an apology.
Kemi could be quietly radical here if she so chose.
Maybe you just want fairer energy pricing? Or free uni tuition?
It's not a conspiracy - it's about targets. Transferring CO2 emission abroad is often counted as a win. Farcical, but that's the nature of targets.
A dip into her X profile reveals an unusual, and surprisingly intimate, obsession and familiarity with British domestic politics. I suppose it matches the very Brit-coded music style. She seems to be a Kemi fan, like @Big_G_NorthWales
Always fun when a US pop act adopts a UK sound, like the early Killers.
And the SNP are the ones who conflate the two - the old a vote for the SNP is a vote for independence, which, as you say, it may not be.
The blockade of the blockade
One of the reasons the UK is so dismally centralised (with the problems we see around us) is that people scream.like billyo about any unfairness that works against them.
@AaronParnas
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19m
BREAKING: Federal judge throws out Trump's lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal for publishing Trump's alleged letter to Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday book.
https://x.com/AaronParnas/status/2043685770339254777
This implies that the damage to the economy from high oil prices is likely to be a lot worse than you might think if you are only looking at the futures price of oil.
It also implies that oil traders are very confident that the Strait of Hormuz will reopen fairly soon, else they will lose a lot of someone else's money.
Revolution Medicines' potential breakthrough pancreatic cancer drug succeeds in late-stage trial
https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2026/04/13/pancreatic-cancer-drug-daraxonrasib-from-revolution-medicines-succeeds-in-trial.html
..Revolution Medicines' drug for pancreatic cancer succeeded in a highly anticipated Phase 3 trial, almost doubling the typical length of survival and slashing the risk of death by 60% versus chemotherapy, the company said Monday.
RevMed said its daily pill, daraxonrasib, met all primary and secondary endpoints in a trial of people whose cancer had already progressed on another treatment..
That's a remarkable result in patients with late stage cancer who've already undergone chemo.
It suggests the possibility of far better results, if the cancer is detected earlier, and when this becomes the first line treatment.
https://x.com/GBPolitcs/status/2043680203382084056
Who would you prefer as the next PM amongst 2024 GE Reform UK voters:
Nigel Farage: 49%
Rupert Lowe: 29%
None of the above: 16%
Kemi Badenoch: 4%
Other: 2%
[@FindoutnowUK]
I also foresee riots at the local care home as the residents rebel after they’re given a jar with “ Citrus Marmalade “ !
So Kemi and Nigel want a vote on every change and just want to drone on about the horrific news that we’ll miss out on debates and votes about the width of a wire allowed in your kettle plug lead !
Honestly it’s mad some of this stuff. A derangement syndrome.
https://x.com/Aiims1742/status/2043668412673540248
Farage dismisses suggestions that Trump posting pictures of himself as Jesus is evidence of cognitive decline -
https://bsky.app/profile/andrewsparrowgdn.bsky.social/post/3mjf24nq22c2q
I am not a Roman Catholic, but even if it resulted in a swap, I feel Pope Donald I would be a price well worth paying. And to be honest I think Pope is a job that Trump might find more congenial.
So it will all be fixed... next year?
What is the target price of industrial electricity vs the rest of Europe going to be then?
I suspect that Green and Reform are two cheeks of the same arse and are currently the home of the fed up with all the rest voters (or people being polled at least). Time will tell.
We’ve got friends who think they’ll make a fortune on XRP
I’ll stick to my portfolio.
The Baggies should be relegated to League 2 if they cost punters money.
West Brom face points deduction as Championship relegation battle takes fresh twist
Exclusive: Albion charged for alleged breach of financial rules but are looking to delay any punishment to next season
West Bromwich Albion have been charged with an alleged breach of financial rules in a shock development for the Championship’s relegation battle.
Telegraph Sport understands West Brom have allegedly breached English Football League’s profit and sustainability rules for last season and are facing the threat of a points deduction.
Under English Football League guidelines, any sporting sanction from the previous season must be applied in the following campaign, which would represent a severe blow to Albion’s hopes of survival with four games left.
It is understood, however, that the Championship club are attempting to delay any punishment until the 2026-27 season.
West Brom are 20th in the table after seven matches unbeaten under caretaker manager James Morrison, two points above Oxford United, who occupy the final relegation place. Leicester were deducted six points in February for breaching financial rules, failing in an appeal to reduce the sanction last week.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2026/04/13/west-brom-face-points-deduction-championship-relegation/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn897e8280do
I always thought it was a weird argument that Remain failed to make the positive case for EU membership.
Not sure how many people outside the field are yet aware of how much things are improving (and its not just oncology, of course).
Good times.
Referring to Kemi Badenoch as "Farage in braids" has been characterized by critics and commentators as a formulation that blends elements of racism, misogyny, and political disrespect, rather than fitting into a single categegory
Based on political commentary and public discourse surrounding the Conservative leadership, here is the breakdown of why this description is controversial:
Racialized Misogyny: The phrase is widely seen as offensive because it reduces a Black woman's political identity to her hair ("braids") while associating her with Nigel Farage, a figure often criticized by anti-racism groups.
"Blackface of White Supremacy" Analogy: Some political commentary has used extreme terms to describe this type of comparison, implying that it attempts to delegitimize a black woman's agency by suggesting she is merely a conduit for white male political ideology, which is a form of intersectional attack.
Political Delegitimization: The comment is intended to mock Badenoch's ideological stance by claiming she is merely a female, ethnically diverse version of a political rival, thus undermining her own political identity and leadership capabilities.
Misogynoir: Critics argue this language constitutes "misogynoir"—a specific blend of misogyny and racism directed at Black women—by using a stereotype-laden term ("braids") to attack her intellectual and political independence.
While it is a personal attack, the consensus among critics is that it is not merely political banter, but a slur that relies on stereotypes about race and gender to attack a politician's legitimacy.
..For once, Farage did not seem to have a snap response. After saying that was “broad canvas” question, and pausing for a moment, he replied:
He’s 80 in a few weeks’ time. He has a very unusual way of operating.
And let’s go back 10 years. People were asking that question 10 years ago. There were Democrats screaming ten years ago that the 25th amendment should be moved in Congress. And those same voices are saying the same things now. I don’t think he’s changed very much at all, which some people like and a lot of people don’t...
People were saying he should be impeached a decade back. And he should have been permanently barred from office.
Anyone who says he hasn't deteriorated is either lying, or remarkably stupid.
In fact, as there needs to be 'work' done via mining to maintain the network, you could argue that it is the opposite of a productive asset. In the case of Bitcoin, there is $12bn of newly mined Bitcoin every year, mostly wasted spent on power generation. Simplistically, you need $12bn more buyers than sellers every year, just to offset the impact of the cost of electricity generation on the network.
It’s just your characterisation is a bit mental.
That argument has always annoyed me as it implies that Labour own the votes of their voters. They don't. If Labour aren't good enough they will lose votes to parties who offer more hope, and if that splits the non-Reform vote then the fault will be Labour's for failing in government and Labour's for not winning the 2024 election on a manifesto to change the voting system to one that didn't require tactical voting to prevent Farage becoming PM on less than a third of the vote.
Individualised targeted therapies plus immunotherapy is the future.
It's quite common to find that calculations for various projects are still using CO2 emissions numbers from when we burnt coal to power the grid. It's not a conspiracy, it's just the slow moving wheels of the system.
For example, one reservoir/water treatment project was supposed, according to the review, to create a lots of CO2 in daily operation. Aside from the fact that the grid is substantially decarbonised, the water treatment pumping could be built around the intermittent electricity from solar or wind - pump the water from one pond to another when 'leech is in surplus.
The issue of offshore wind curtailment arises because the grid can't cope. The UK Grid is barely fit for purpose today and certainly not for the energy transformation. The business case wouldn't be there for Scottish offshore wind without the UK market and a grid upgrade. Equally there needs to bea grid upgrade under any energy mix. The cost of upgrades specifically for offshore wind probably only applies to Northern Scotland and can be seen as part of the costs of that technology. The English and southern Scottish upgrades would need to happen for other technologies. Once the grid is upgraded there is no need for differential pricing. At most zonal pricing makes sense as an interim measure
Meme coins seem to be even worse than normal crypto.
And did I live through an episode of the twilight zone or did people really pay big bucks for JPEGs of a chimp in a variety of hats.
My only regret with all of this is not getting in at the top. It was too insane to believe in. But if I'd put in £100 when Bitcoin went through £1....
Sir Tom Hunter
@SirTomHunter
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5h
I am an eternal optimist but I’m also a realist so as we trundle towards the Scottish elections and all the freebies on offer from our politicians the ask is – how are you going to pay for them?
Speaking of politicians, I am reminded of a brilliant episode of The Thick of It entitled ‘Rise of the Nutters’ – a satire on inept politicians making stupid policies
Armando Iannucci, a good Scotsman said he couldn’t write any more political satire as the real-life situation couldn’t be funnier; I would add it couldn’t be scarier.
Is it just me or are more nutters hoping to get elected into public office, and not just in Scotland but globally?
We need to boost our economy and go for growth while attracting the very best into public office. Here are some quick wins for our politicians…
- Housing: Fast track planning, and Section 75 redesign
- Quangos bonfire: Reduce the red tape, bureaucracy and duplication
- Hospitality and retail: Freeze the rates system
- Tax: Level the tax system with England
- Oil & gas: Bring forward the Energy Profits Levy, and open up new licenses to explore our North Sea
- Business support: Streamline assistance through a one-stop shop
And once elected engage with business – nearly every serious business person I speak to it is “Country first, Politics second”. Take advantage and partner with business; make policies based on facts…
Scotland should be booming — why does it feel like it’s going bust?
Is anyone challenging it
In the US, we would say either that the dice are loaded, or that the deck is stacked. Is it different in the UK?
(On the general argument: I do not know of any way to stop parents, completely, from trying to give their children advantages over other children. Though we can limit it, as we did in this criminal investigation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varsity_Blues_scandal
Nor should we, since there are good ways and bad ways for parents to do that.)
Is anyone challenging it