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Badenoch’s net ratings improve by 8% in a month – politicalbetting.com

SystemSystem Posts: 13,175
edited April 18 in General
Badenoch’s net ratings improve by 8% in a month – politicalbetting.com

Longstanding readers of PB know that Mike Smithson and myself consider the Ipsos satisfaction as the gold standard of leadership ratings and this month is no different.

Read the full story here

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Comments

  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 91,961
    RON....
  • MattWMattW Posts: 33,552
    edited April 18
    2nd.

    Like Badenoch if there were only 2 competitors, and one of them (or the other one) was not SKS.
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 17,376
    https://www.ipsos.com/en-uk/uk-opinion-polls
    Badenoch and Davey both look better than March on this page from Mori. If i am looking at the wrong data then, apologies.
  • Roger said:

    Pretty clear now that Starmer didn't lie.

    Hopefully Badenoch will now do the decent thing. Anyone who heard her interview on Ch4 News calling the Prime Minister a liar in the terms she did must know she's less suitable for high office than even an ignoramus like Trump

    You really do not get politics do you

    Starmer was all over Johnson and made a promise to the electorate he would be differernt

    On Monday all the opposition leaders and mps are going to make the case he is also not fit to remain in office

    There are unparliamentary words that most politicians would avoid using, "lying" being one of them. In Parliament such language would be admonished by the speaker. Outside Parliament because of litigious jeopardy politicians do not use that particular word, except for Badenoch who throws it around freely.

    Whether we think she has a point or not is not the issue. Only a foolish politician makes such accusations about an opponent on, albeit strong, supposition without concrete evidence.
    Pete continues to show why he’s one of the finest posters on this board.
  • Farage repeats inexplicably that we should have got involved with the war and Trump is still his friend.
  • Sometimes we forget just how unpopular Farage actually is.

    Opportunity for Burnham here.
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 22,884

    RON....

    Which one?

    Ron Pickering is dead,
    The Two Rons from Hale and Pace are fictional,
    Ronnie Biggs was a crook,
    Ronald McDonald is American.

    I must admit, I don't like the RON process in elections. It's not pleasant to have to choose the least disagreeable option, but it's the stuff of real life. Saying "I don't like these choices, someone should come up with a better one" is the self-indulgence of the pseudo-high-minded. It's part of our problem now.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 91,961
    edited April 18

    RON....

    Which one?

    Ron Pickering is dead,
    The Two Rons from Hale and Pace are fictional,
    Ronnie Biggs was a crook,
    Ronald McDonald is American.

    I must admit, I don't like the RON process in elections. It's not pleasant to have to choose the least disagreeable option, but it's the stuff of real life. Saying "I don't like these choices, someone should come up with a better one" is the self-indulgence of the pseudo-high-minded. It's part of our problem now.
    There was a college vote when I was at uni where the two candidates were totally unsuitable, RON won by a landslide. A new candidate came then put their name forward that was far more suitable, they hadn't previously because they just assumed they couldn't win as those going for it were deemed popular (but the college body knew they might be fun people, but not to be trusted with this particular JCR role).
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 72,204

    Sometimes we forget just how unpopular Farage actually is.

    Opportunity for Burnham here.

    Why - He is not in Parliament
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 136,938
    Kemi's ratings may be slightly down but she still has a higher favourable and net favourable rating than Starmer which will please her. Farage has a higher favourable rating than Kemi, indeed Farage has a higher favourable rating than any party leader but Kemi has a higher net favourable rating than Farage. Showing that if Kemi can get anti Farage tactical votes from Labour and the LDs and Greens in Conservative held seats then the Tories can still beat Reform
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 63,562
    FPT
    stodge said:

    After @Richard_Tyndall told me off for being naive yesterday, I have tried to improve my knowledge of the world.

    This has helped:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qjvluMnyAw

    It's actually terrifying to see the influence commodity traders and their views have. It's a form of capitalism which isn't perhaps what many imagine. Simple notions of supply and demand just don't apply and when you have the words of Trump driving markets, it's a recipe for all kinds of trouble.

    Is there an argument for a wholly independent price setting mechansim or are we basically going to carry on with the digital version of unregulated open outcry?

    A supply contraction of 8% yet prices were raised by as much as 60%?

    Sigh

    Oil (and LNG) have low price elasticity in the short and medium term.

    This is because usage tends not to be optional. You can use the car *a bit* less. But most oil and gas usage is already reduced as much as possible, due to higher prices (in Europe in general)

    This means, in turn, that demand destruction takes really big price changes.

    60% for 8% is probably a *low* number

    As @TheScreamingEagles (and I) have repeatedly pointed out, the worst case for the current situation is that demand destruction won’t reduce the oil defect to zero. Countries are heading, right now to empty tanks.

    As to controlling the price - the U.K. doesn’t. We don’t own the oil and gas. The oil companies don’t either - they are employed by the owners.

    At this point someone suggests another mechanism than price for demand destruction. This has been tried over the centuries for many things. It has always failed. On an epic scale.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 91,961
    edited April 18

    Sometimes we forget just how unpopular Farage actually is.

    Opportunity for Burnham here.

    Why - He is not in Parliament
    The Burnham stuff is very if only David Miliband all over again. Not dissimilar, poor in government, gone on to do something half decent, but if they pop up on the national politicial stage, they crash the clown car pretty quickly.
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 72,204
    This is on todays Ipsos in UK page


    Reform UK still hold a clear lead on 25%, but this lead is six points - one point down from March. This continues a steady decline in Reform’s vote share from a high of 34% in September 2025

    Labour and the Conservatives are now tied on 19%. Labour are down two points, and the Conservatives are up two points.

    The Greens stay on 17% - matching their record high with Ipsos last month.

    The Liberal Democrats (14%) are up 5 points from March.

    Headline voting intention (Changes since March)

    Reform UK continue to lead on headline voting intention. However they are down to 25% - their lowest vote share since the 2024 General Election. Labour and the Conservatives are tied in second place on 19%.

    Reform 25% (-3)
    Labour 19% (-2)
    Conservative 19% (+2)
    Greens 17% (No change)
    Lib Dems 14% (+5)
    Others 7% (-1)
    Reform UK lead: +6 (down one point from March)

    Satisfaction ratings (Changes since January)

    Each month Ipsos ask the public whether they are satisfied or dissatisfied with how the government are running the country and how various politicians are doing their jobs; Keir Starmer as Prime Minister, Rachel Reeves as Chancellor and various other politicians as leaders of their respective parties. Here is a summary of this month’s scores:

    Government: 16% satisfied (-1 from March), 78% dissatisfied (+3). Net satisfaction -62.
    Keir Starmer: 18% satisfied (-1), 74% dissatisfied (+2). Net satisfaction -56.
    Kemi Badenoch: 25% satisfied (+4), 52% dissatisfied (-4). Net satisfaction -27.
    Nigel Farage: 29% satisfied (nc), 59% dissatisfied (+1). Net satisfaction -30.
    Ed Davey: 25% satisfied (+4), 41% dissatisfied (-2). Net -16.
    Zack Polanski: 28% satisfied (-2), 42% dissatisfied (+5). Net -14.
    Rachel Reeves: 13% satisfied (nc), 72% dissatisfied (+2). Net -59.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 128,612

    https://www.ipsos.com/en-uk/uk-opinion-polls
    Badenoch and Davey both look better than March on this page from Mori. If i am looking at the wrong data then, apologies.

    Yes, you're right.

    The graphic from Ipsos is wrong, they've got the pluses and minuses the wrong way round.

    Ooops.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 35,273

    Farage repeats inexplicably that we should have got involved with the war and Trump is still his friend.

    Perhaps he believes it, rather than just taking the position that he feels is electorally advantageous? I know that's hard to imagine.
  • BlancheLivermoreBlancheLivermore Posts: 7,937
    Looks like we’ve found a good fit for the dunce’s cap..
    Brixian59 said:

    OllyT said:

    Does anyone genuinely believe that Starmer really knew nothing until Tuesday?

    Do we have a dunce’s cap, just in case?

    You don't know, I don't know - so we all "believe" what suits our political prejudices.
    I think I believe it. But I'm sceptical of the claims that "this is just how the system works, so don't question it". The PM is entitled to know how a position has been arrived at and what factors were considered; indeed, he's entitled to overrule it. Applicants for a senior job should be informed that this may happen, and to decide not to apply if they object. The main criticism of Starmer appears to be that he didn't ask - perhaps because he was aware that the civil service would decline to answer?
    It is very telling that the Nick Gibb run BBC have admitted the fact that according to various ex very senior Civil Servants have all confirmed categorically that no PM or No 10 would ever be passed confidential referencing information of this kind.

    The fact Starmer said he didn't know therefore is clearly factual.

    The charge / allegations that he should have asked are reasonable enough, but clearly had he have asked he would not have been told.

    This is not unusual in business, where an HR Dept are not obliged to disclose why they and not the employing department are telling senior management a person can't be hired. They just say he can't be hired.

    So clearly Starmer has not lied
    Starmer didn't know.

    Those accusing him of lying really need to both wind their necks I'm and apologise.

    The biggest challenge now for Starmer that offers a golden opportunity is to do what the last 3 or 4 PMs have wanted to do

    DESTROY the blob.

    Bring the Civil Service under control.

    Cummings was right in this regard.
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 17,376

    https://www.ipsos.com/en-uk/uk-opinion-polls
    Badenoch and Davey both look better than March on this page from Mori. If i am looking at the wrong data then, apologies.

    Yes, you're right.

    The graphic from Ipsos is wrong, they've got the pluses and minuses the wrong way round.

    Ooops.
    Ed and Kemi full of win. Yay.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 35,273

    https://www.ipsos.com/en-uk/uk-opinion-polls
    Badenoch and Davey both look better than March on this page from Mori. If i am looking at the wrong data then, apologies.

    Will TSE come before the House to correct the record?
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 128,612

    https://www.ipsos.com/en-uk/uk-opinion-polls
    Badenoch and Davey both look better than March on this page from Mori. If i am looking at the wrong data then, apologies.

    Yes, you're right.

    The graphic from Ipsos is wrong, they've got the pluses and minuses the wrong way round.

    Ooops.
    Ed and Kemi full of win. Yay.
    Let me re-edit the piece.
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 17,376

    https://www.ipsos.com/en-uk/uk-opinion-polls
    Badenoch and Davey both look better than March on this page from Mori. If i am looking at the wrong data then, apologies.

    Will TSE come before the House to correct the record?
    It was a process failure by Ipsos surely?
  • BattlebusBattlebus Posts: 3,272

    RON....

    He's a good bloke. Did you vote for him?
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 72,204

    https://www.ipsos.com/en-uk/uk-opinion-polls
    Badenoch and Davey both look better than March on this page from Mori. If i am looking at the wrong data then, apologies.

    Yes, you're right.

    The graphic from Ipsos is wrong, they've got the pluses and minuses the wrong way round.

    Ooops.
    Ed and Kemi full of win. Yay.
    Let me re-edit the piece.
    Fair play and it happens to even the best on occassions
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 17,376

    https://www.ipsos.com/en-uk/uk-opinion-polls
    Badenoch and Davey both look better than March on this page from Mori. If i am looking at the wrong data then, apologies.

    Yes, you're right.

    The graphic from Ipsos is wrong, they've got the pluses and minuses the wrong way round.

    Ooops.
    Ed and Kemi full of win. Yay.
    Let me re-edit the piece.
    Send Ipsos a strongly worded communique
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 128,612

    https://www.ipsos.com/en-uk/uk-opinion-polls
    Badenoch and Davey both look better than March on this page from Mori. If i am looking at the wrong data then, apologies.

    Will TSE come before the House to correct the record?
    The fault was not of my doing but a failure of process.

    But yes, I've updated the header.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 35,273

    https://www.ipsos.com/en-uk/uk-opinion-polls
    Badenoch and Davey both look better than March on this page from Mori. If i am looking at the wrong data then, apologies.

    Yes, you're right.

    The graphic from Ipsos is wrong, they've got the pluses and minuses the wrong way round.

    Ooops.
    Ed and Kemi full of win. Yay.
    Let me re-edit the piece.
    Send Ipsos a strongly worded communique
    "TSE said to be incandescent. Heads will roll"
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 17,376

    https://www.ipsos.com/en-uk/uk-opinion-polls
    Badenoch and Davey both look better than March on this page from Mori. If i am looking at the wrong data then, apologies.

    Will TSE come before the House to correct the record?
    It was a process failure by Ipsos surely?
    I should have known it wouldn't have crossed TSE's desk.
    We know where Olly Robbins is working now, anyway
  • Farage repeats inexplicably that we should have got involved with the war and Trump is still his friend.

    Perhaps he believes it, rather than just taking the position that he feels is electorally advantageous? I know that's hard to imagine.
    His position though is literally insane.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 128,612
    I don't mind apologising when I get it wrong, it happens so rarely anyway, it's no biggie apologising.

    As penance I will not publish any alternative vote themed threads for the rest of the month.
  • BattlebusBattlebus Posts: 3,272
    In a (not) a surprise - "Trump administration reverses course, extends Russian oil sanctions waiver"

    https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5837397-trump-extends-russian-oil-waiver/

    Didn't Bessant make a lot of money shorting positions and other forms of betting on insider knowledge?
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 35,273

    Farage repeats inexplicably that we should have got involved with the war and Trump is still his friend.

    Perhaps he believes it, rather than just taking the position that he feels is electorally advantageous? I know that's hard to imagine.
    His position though is literally insane.
    Questionable perhaps. Richard Tice has gone further (apparently - I haven't seen it) and said we should basically do whatever the US and Israel want. No Richard - fuck off. If Reform is for anything, it is for standing up for British interests first.
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 17,376

    I don't mind apologising when I get it wrong, it happens so rarely anyway, it's no biggie apologising.

    As penance I will not publish any alternative vote themed threads for the rest of the month.

    Very deft edit of the header. Low effort, maximum impact
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 136,938

    Farage repeats inexplicably that we should have got involved with the war and Trump is still his friend.

    Perhaps he believes it, rather than just taking the position that he feels is electorally advantageous? I know that's hard to imagine.
    His position though is literally insane.
    Questionable perhaps. Richard Tice has gone further (apparently - I haven't seen it) and said we should basically do whatever the US and Israel want. No Richard - fuck off. If Reform is for anything, it is for standing up for British interests first.
    If you are very anti war with Iran you will likely be voting Labour, Green or LD anyway

    Polling shows most Reform voters backed Trump's strikes on Iran, even more than Tory voters did. Plenty still want to remove the Iranian regime and not just Jewish voters or Iranian exiles
  • RogerRoger Posts: 23,144
    edited April 18
    If the satisfaction ratings are the gold standard arise PM Zack! The winner by a short distance from the UKs favourite sportsman Ed Davey.

  • HYUFD said:

    Farage repeats inexplicably that we should have got involved with the war and Trump is still his friend.

    Perhaps he believes it, rather than just taking the position that he feels is electorally advantageous? I know that's hard to imagine.
    His position though is literally insane.
    Questionable perhaps. Richard Tice has gone further (apparently - I haven't seen it) and said we should basically do whatever the US and Israel want. No Richard - fuck off. If Reform is for anything, it is for standing up for British interests first.
    If you are very anti war with Iran you will likely be voting Labour, Green or LD anyway

    Polling shows most Reform voters backed Trump's strikes on Iran, even more than Tory voters did. Plenty still want to remove the Iranian regime and not just Jewish voters or Iranian exiles
    But the US aren’t removing the regime.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 136,938
    edited April 18
    Roger said:

    If the satisfaction ratings are the gold standard arise PM Zack! The winner by a short distance from the UKs favourite sportsman Ed Davey.

    Farage has a higher favourable rating though than Polanski or Davey. Albeit Davey a lower negative rating than Farage or Polanski
  • nico67nico67 Posts: 8,327
    The opposition parties are doing exactly what Labour would have done if the situation was reversed .

    In terms of Badenoch even though I don’t particularly like her I’m happy to see her ratings improve and want to see the Tories vote share rise .

    Indeed anyone that wants to stop Reform from getting anywhere close to government need the Tories to not implode.

    Whilst I fundamentally disagree with them especially in terms of the EU and the ECHR the alternative fills me with absolute horror .

  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 136,938

    HYUFD said:

    Farage repeats inexplicably that we should have got involved with the war and Trump is still his friend.

    Perhaps he believes it, rather than just taking the position that he feels is electorally advantageous? I know that's hard to imagine.
    His position though is literally insane.
    Questionable perhaps. Richard Tice has gone further (apparently - I haven't seen it) and said we should basically do whatever the US and Israel want. No Richard - fuck off. If Reform is for anything, it is for standing up for British interests first.
    If you are very anti war with Iran you will likely be voting Labour, Green or LD anyway

    Polling shows most Reform voters backed Trump's strikes on Iran, even more than Tory voters did. Plenty still want to remove the Iranian regime and not just Jewish voters or Iranian exiles
    But the US aren’t removing the regime.
    I know, Trump didn't go far enough in my view to remove it.
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 25,480
    I have learnt how votes are counted when there are multiple votes per ballot paper in all-out council elections.

    Bradford will be using "Kangaroo Boards" to expedite the process.

  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 136,938
    nico67 said:

    The opposition parties are doing exactly what Labour would have done if the situation was reversed .

    In terms of Badenoch even though I don’t particularly like her I’m happy to see her ratings improve and want to see the Tories vote share rise .

    Indeed anyone that wants to stop Reform from getting anywhere close to government need the Tories to not implode.

    Whilst I fundamentally disagree with them especially in terms of the EU and the ECHR the alternative fills me with absolute horror .

    Exactly, ironically Labour and the Tories now need each other. Labour need a rising Tory voteshare to reduce and ideally eliminate Reform's lead.

    The Conservatives also want Labour to win back some seats projected to go Reform as it is then easier for the Tories to win more seats than Reform and stay the main party of the right in the UK
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 17,376
    edited April 18
    nico67 said:

    The opposition parties are doing exactly what Labour would have done if the situation was reversed .

    In terms of Badenoch even though I don’t particularly like her I’m happy to see her ratings improve and want to see the Tories vote share rise .

    Indeed anyone that wants to stop Reform from getting anywhere close to government need the Tories to not implode.

    Whilst I fundamentally disagree with them especially in terms of the EU and the ECHR the alternative fills me with absolute horror .

    I guess the one card they have that Reform don't (and won't this side of a GE) that will offer at least some insurance is being HM Opposition and the coverage/exposure that goes with it. Not as much of a premium as being the government/swingback/cling to nurse etc but not a zero factor either
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 72,204
    HYUFD said:

    nico67 said:

    The opposition parties are doing exactly what Labour would have done if the situation was reversed .

    In terms of Badenoch even though I don’t particularly like her I’m happy to see her ratings improve and want to see the Tories vote share rise .

    Indeed anyone that wants to stop Reform from getting anywhere close to government need the Tories to not implode.

    Whilst I fundamentally disagree with them especially in terms of the EU and the ECHR the alternative fills me with absolute horror .

    Exactly, ironically Labour and the Tories now need each other. Labour need a rising Tory voteshare to reduce and ideally eliminate Reform's lead.

    The Conservatives also want Labour to win back some seats projected to go Reform as it is then easier for the Tories to win more seats than Reform and stay the main party of the right in the UK
    Actually it is the best way to take on both the right and left extremes in Reform and the Greens
  • I am at Down Cathedral, Downpatrick. Which is famous as the burial site of St Patrick, who is interred here with two other saints, St Brigid and St Comicille

    It is thought, by experts, that this is because the landowners were doing a special “three-for-one” weekend discount on Celtic saint burials
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 72,396
    The Iranian regime is fundamentally different from the adversaries the U.S. has dealt with in the past. This makes it essential to reassess the cost-benefit calculus of any course of action. At present, it is far from clear that escalation serves U.S. interests, given both the risks involved and its limited utility in achieving core strategic objectives.

    https://x.com/citrinowicz/status/2045385826998038879
  • StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 13,456

    I have learnt how votes are counted when there are multiple votes per ballot paper in all-out council elections.

    Bradford will be using "Kangaroo Boards" to expedite the process.

    Are you expecting a bounce for Labour?
  • DoctorGDoctorG Posts: 766
    Leon said:

    I am at Down Cathedral, Downpatrick. Which is famous as the burial site of St Patrick, who is interred here with two other saints, St Brigid and St Comicille

    It is thought, by experts, that this is because the landowners were doing a special “three-for-one” weekend discount on Celtic saint burials

    Are you sure Columba is not buried on Iona?

    Suppose a 3 for 1 funeral gives a new meaning to "everybody get Down"
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 56,882

    I have learnt how votes are counted when there are multiple votes per ballot paper in all-out council elections.

    Bradford will be using "Kangaroo Boards" to expedite the process.

    Are you expecting a bounce for Labour?
    Is it a pocket borough?
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 25,480

    I have learnt how votes are counted when there are multiple votes per ballot paper in all-out council elections.

    Bradford will be using "Kangaroo Boards" to expedite the process.

    Are you expecting a bounce for Labour?
    Bounced out of office.
  • BattlebusBattlebus Posts: 3,272
    Visiting the graves of Saints or even parts of Saints were tourist destinations of a sort in the Middle Ages. They were called pilgrimages but often were used to get bad 'uns out of the town before even more disruption ensued. Jonathan Sumption has written quite an extensive tome on the subject with some humorous insights.
  • StarryStarry Posts: 208

    Farage repeats inexplicably that we should have got involved with the war and Trump is still his friend.

    Perhaps he believes it, rather than just taking the position that he feels is electorally advantageous? I know that's hard to imagine.
    His position though is literally insane.
    Questionable perhaps. Richard Tice has gone further (apparently - I haven't seen it) and said we should basically do whatever the US and Israel want. No Richard - fuck off. If Reform is for anything, it is for standing up for British interests first.
    Everyone thinks their party is standing up for British interests (except maybe PC and SNP). Given the rise of pro-EU sentiment and the damage Brexit caused, it could be argued that Reform are profoundly anti-British.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 89,702

    Farage repeats inexplicably that we should have got involved with the war and Trump is still his friend.

    Given the relative positions of Farage's head and Trump's arse, it's perfectly explicable.
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 25,480

    I have learnt how votes are counted when there are multiple votes per ballot paper in all-out council elections.

    Bradford will be using "Kangaroo Boards" to expedite the process.

    Are you expecting a bounce for Labour?
    We'll struggle in the Red Wall(aby).
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 89,702

    FPT

    stodge said:

    After @Richard_Tyndall told me off for being naive yesterday, I have tried to improve my knowledge of the world.

    This has helped:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qjvluMnyAw

    It's actually terrifying to see the influence commodity traders and their views have. It's a form of capitalism which isn't perhaps what many imagine. Simple notions of supply and demand just don't apply and when you have the words of Trump driving markets, it's a recipe for all kinds of trouble.

    Is there an argument for a wholly independent price setting mechansim or are we basically going to carry on with the digital version of unregulated open outcry?

    A supply contraction of 8% yet prices were raised by as much as 60%?

    Sigh

    Oil (and LNG) have low price elasticity in the short and medium term.

    This is because usage tends not to be optional. You can use the car *a bit* less. But most oil and gas usage is already reduced as much as possible, due to higher prices (in Europe in general)

    This means, in turn, that demand destruction takes really big price changes.

    60% for 8% is probably a *low* number

    As @TheScreamingEagles (and I) have repeatedly pointed out, the worst case for the current situation is that demand destruction won’t reduce the oil defect to zero. Countries are heading, right now to empty tanks.

    As to controlling the price - the U.K. doesn’t. We don’t own the oil and gas. The oil companies don’t either - they are employed by the owners.

    At this point someone suggests another mechanism than price for demand destruction. This has been tried over the centuries for many things. It has always failed. On an epic scale.
    Renewables tech is a pretty good means of demand suppression, even destruction - but it will take years and decades, rather than the weeks and months of a Gulf crisis.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 56,882
    AnneJGP said:

    Apologies in advance, this is very much off topic but perhaps this will give some reader a warning about Yahoo email.

    Since a very recent (forced) upgrade, Yahoo email employs AI to 'help'. Yahoo has just added an extra person to a CC list unannounced, presumably because the CC list was a person with whom the other person is frequently combined. It was a private email of no concern to the added party. I only noticed after it was sent because I then had occasion to search for emails I'd sent to this second person.

    Googling, it seems that this upgrade is a Beta version. I'm trying to turn AI off in Yahoo but AI's 'help' is making it very difficult.

    May be best to migrate to another platform.

    /whinge

    Good morning, everybody.

    Enshittification is an ugly word but very apt for AI.

    My accountant sent me a PDF of my annual accounts. The AI pop up on Acrobat says "this looks to be a long document, do you want an AI summary". The answer is "No, the whole point is the detail!".

    If I could turn off every bit of AI on my phone and laptop then I would, but so convinced are the tech-bros that it is the future that they do not enable that.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 89,702
    AnneJGP said:

    Apologies in advance, this is very much off topic but perhaps this will give some reader a warning about Yahoo email.

    Since a very recent (forced) upgrade, Yahoo email employs AI to 'help'. Yahoo has just added an extra person to a CC list unannounced, presumably because the CC list was a person with whom the other person is frequently combined. It was a private email of no concern to the added party. I only noticed after it was sent because I then had occasion to search for emails I'd sent to this second person.

    Googling, it seems that this upgrade is a Beta version. I'm trying to turn AI off in Yahoo but AI's 'help' is making it very difficult.

    May be best to migrate to another platform.

    /whinge

    Good morning, everybody.

    That is appallingly bad design.
  • Daveyboy1961Daveyboy1961 Posts: 5,542
    HYUFD said:

    Roger said:

    If the satisfaction ratings are the gold standard arise PM Zack! The winner by a short distance from the UKs favourite sportsman Ed Davey.

    Farage has a higher favourable rating though than Polanski or Davey. Albeit Davey a lower negative rating than Farage or Polanski
    Albert Davey?

    :)
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 56,882

    We might end up with a koala-ition running the council.

    Do you thenk they will cook a borough wide agreement?
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 103,818
    Badenoch doesn't seem awful in the role, but she doesn't seem up to the challenging of defeating the Reform threat either (as opposed to eclipsing them). Perhaps no one would right now. The question is will she be given the time to really attempt it?

    Once we get into 2027 in particular the 'the gov might call a GE at any time' worry will be on people's minds (even though with current polls Labour would not do so, if they change leaders and get a polling bump they might).
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 103,818
    edited April 18
    Foxy said:

    AnneJGP said:

    Apologies in advance, this is very much off topic but perhaps this will give some reader a warning about Yahoo email.

    Since a very recent (forced) upgrade, Yahoo email employs AI to 'help'. Yahoo has just added an extra person to a CC list unannounced, presumably because the CC list was a person with whom the other person is frequently combined. It was a private email of no concern to the added party. I only noticed after it was sent because I then had occasion to search for emails I'd sent to this second person.

    Googling, it seems that this upgrade is a Beta version. I'm trying to turn AI off in Yahoo but AI's 'help' is making it very difficult.

    May be best to migrate to another platform.

    /whinge

    Good morning, everybody.

    Enshittification is an ugly word but very apt for AI.

    My accountant sent me a PDF of my annual accounts. The AI pop up on Acrobat says "this looks to be a long document, do you want an AI summary". The answer is "No, the whole point is the detail!".

    If I could turn off every bit of AI on my phone and laptop then I would, but so convinced are the tech-bros that it is the future that they do not enable that.
    AI can and will be useful, and maybe even one day embedded usefully in a great many things.

    But at present companies are just shoving half baked or pointless 'AI' features into everything to jump on the bandwagon and justify the enormous costs that are going into it.

    The customer is working for the product, not the other way around. You will use AI and you will love it.
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 72,204
    Sky

    IRG fire on a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz
  • StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 13,456

    I have learnt how votes are counted when there are multiple votes per ballot paper in all-out council elections.

    Bradford will be using "Kangaroo Boards" to expedite the process.

    Are you expecting a bounce for Labour?
    Bounced out of office.
    Only if joey public wills it
  • AnneJGPAnneJGP Posts: 5,448
    kle4 said:

    Foxy said:

    AnneJGP said:

    Apologies in advance, this is very much off topic but perhaps this will give some reader a warning about Yahoo email.

    Since a very recent (forced) upgrade, Yahoo email employs AI to 'help'. Yahoo has just added an extra person to a CC list unannounced, presumably because the CC list was a person with whom the other person is frequently combined. It was a private email of no concern to the added party. I only noticed after it was sent because I then had occasion to search for emails I'd sent to this second person.

    Googling, it seems that this upgrade is a Beta version. I'm trying to turn AI off in Yahoo but AI's 'help' is making it very difficult.

    May be best to migrate to another platform.

    /whinge

    Good morning, everybody.

    Enshittification is an ugly word but very apt for AI.

    My accountant sent me a PDF of my annual accounts. The AI pop up on Acrobat says "this looks to be a long document, do you want an AI summary". The answer is "No, the whole point is the detail!".

    If I could turn off every bit of AI on my phone and laptop then I would, but so convinced are the tech-bros that it is the future that they do not enable that.
    AI can and will be useful, and maybe even one day embedded usefully in a great many things.

    But at present companies are just shoving half baked or pointless 'AI' features into everything to jump on the bandwagon and justify the enormous costs that are going into it.

    The customer is working for the product, not the other way around. You will use AI and you will love it.
    That's the thing; we aren't the customer, we're the product. Email platforms are an advertising medium.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 103,818

    I have learnt how votes are counted when there are multiple votes per ballot paper in all-out council elections.

    Bradford will be using "Kangaroo Boards" to expedite the process.

    I've counted such ballots many times and greatly regret they did not tell us of that method/tool name.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 103,818
    AnneJGP said:

    kle4 said:

    Foxy said:

    AnneJGP said:

    Apologies in advance, this is very much off topic but perhaps this will give some reader a warning about Yahoo email.

    Since a very recent (forced) upgrade, Yahoo email employs AI to 'help'. Yahoo has just added an extra person to a CC list unannounced, presumably because the CC list was a person with whom the other person is frequently combined. It was a private email of no concern to the added party. I only noticed after it was sent because I then had occasion to search for emails I'd sent to this second person.

    Googling, it seems that this upgrade is a Beta version. I'm trying to turn AI off in Yahoo but AI's 'help' is making it very difficult.

    May be best to migrate to another platform.

    /whinge

    Good morning, everybody.

    Enshittification is an ugly word but very apt for AI.

    My accountant sent me a PDF of my annual accounts. The AI pop up on Acrobat says "this looks to be a long document, do you want an AI summary". The answer is "No, the whole point is the detail!".

    If I could turn off every bit of AI on my phone and laptop then I would, but so convinced are the tech-bros that it is the future that they do not enable that.
    AI can and will be useful, and maybe even one day embedded usefully in a great many things.

    But at present companies are just shoving half baked or pointless 'AI' features into everything to jump on the bandwagon and justify the enormous costs that are going into it.

    The customer is working for the product, not the other way around. You will use AI and you will love it.
    That's the thing; we aren't the customer, we're the product. Email platforms are an advertising medium.
    I suppose one problem is whilst some AI stuff is better than others, if they charge meaningfully for them someone will have a slightly less good version for free to compete, so the only way of making money will be to ruthlessly advertise and use the customer as the product forever.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 103,818

    Farage repeats inexplicably that we should have got involved with the war and Trump is still his friend.

    Perhaps he believes it, rather than just taking the position that he feels is electorally advantageous? I know that's hard to imagine.
    His position though is literally insane.
    Questionable perhaps. Richard Tice has gone further (apparently - I haven't seen it) and said we should basically do whatever the US and Israel want. No Richard - fuck off. If Reform is for anything, it is for standing up for British interests first.
    He may believe that is in British interest.

    I suspect it is more just being lazy and taking a definitive 'We must always be on X side' stance.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 89,702
    Leon said:

    I am at Down Cathedral, Downpatrick. Which is famous as the burial site of St Patrick, who is interred here with two other saints, St Brigid and St Comicille

    It is thought, by experts, that this is because the landowners were doing a special “three-for-one” weekend discount on Celtic saint burials

    That's why they call it keeping prices Down.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 33,552
    edited April 18
    kle4 said:

    I have learnt how votes are counted when there are multiple votes per ballot paper in all-out council elections.

    Bradford will be using "Kangaroo Boards" to expedite the process.

    I've counted such ballots many times and greatly regret they did not tell us of that method/tool name.
    It is ... reportedly ... based on the "grass skirt" counting method.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REfQUKbCS0c

    Now, where's my Tiki Bar?
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 79,514
    Foxy said:

    We might end up with a koala-ition running the council.

    Do you thenk they will cook a borough wide agreement?
    I just hope they will be bearable.
  • FF43FF43 Posts: 19,661
    Can't think why.
  • AnneJGP said:

    Apologies in advance, this is very much off topic but perhaps this will give some reader a warning about Yahoo email.

    Since a very recent (forced) upgrade, Yahoo email employs AI to 'help'. Yahoo has just added an extra person to a CC list unannounced, presumably because the CC list was a person with whom the other person is frequently combined. It was a private email of no concern to the added party. I only noticed after it was sent because I then had occasion to search for emails I'd sent to this second person.

    Googling, it seems that this upgrade is a Beta version. I'm trying to turn AI off in Yahoo but AI's 'help' is making it very difficult.

    May be best to migrate to another platform.

    /whinge

    Good morning, everybody.

    Unfortunately, companies are forcing AI in to situations where it is annoying, unhelpful, intrusive, or all of the above, because they have spent such gargantuan sums they feel compelled to somehow get people to use it in order to justify the expense.

    It's interesting that Microsoft has started walking back the forced inclusion of Copilot in Windows 11. Microsoft, like Google, has the advantage of not needing their AI efforts to pay off. Annoying users to the extent they dump Windows and move to Linux is a bigger threat to MS than Copilot not making money.

    Most of this 'AI everywhere' nonsense will go away in the next year or two as it sinks in how much users hate it, and when the AI bubble pops removes a lot of the pressure to show AI is generating some kind of return on investment.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 79,514

    Sky

    IRG fire on a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz

    Remind me about this victory, Donny?
  • Brixian59Brixian59 Posts: 2,235
    edited April 18
    Nigelb said:

    Farage repeats inexplicably that we should have got involved with the war and Trump is still his friend.

    Given the relative positions of Farage's head and Trump's arse, it's perfectly explicable.
    At least he is honest.

    Agree or not he doesn't change his mind and then deny he said what he said and bare faced LIE and LIE like his braided doppelganger!
  • isamisam Posts: 44,230
    edited April 18
    The father of Finbar Sullivan, the young man stabbed and stamped to death on Primrose Hill recently, has called on his death to be a clarion calm for multi culturalism, and seems to blame the government’s treatment of Palestinians rather than knife culture in London

    https://x.com/newjournal/status/2044902136018796587?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 36,380
    Danny Kruger: Reform’s plan to tear up the system
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8Gp-skuvOI

    Half an hour of Danny Kruger on why Reform is not just Tories on holiday and how "if you want to summarize the Reform agenda in a sentence, it's undo everything Blair and Brown did".
  • Brixian59Brixian59 Posts: 2,235
    The conundrum for Labour Members is this!

    Streeting would whop any of those Leaders in favourability but would not be voted by Labour Members

    Burnham would whop any of those Leaders in favourability but is basically a decent Mayor and MP but no PM!

    The only chance i see for Streeting is if Starmer leaves "in office" in which case myunderstanding is that the current Cabinet appints an interim Leader. If Starmer can convince wnough of pretty much a centrist group that he could both lead them AND crucially improve Labour ratings and quickly, they might just give him a crack.

  • kle4kle4 Posts: 103,818
    Thank goodness for SpaceX buying them up now.

    Ahead of its launch in 2023, Musk predicted that Tesla would be selling 250,000 Cybertrucks annually by 2025
    The actual figure was just over 20,000 Cybertrucks sold last year, down from 38,965 in 2024.

    https://www.the-independent.com/tech/elon-musk-cybertruck-sales-spacex-b2959956.html

    (I know Tesla have been pivoting away to other interests beyond cars and rivals were going to catch up, but even so the Cybertruck is embarrasing)
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 72,204
    How does Starmer explain this answer to Kemi on the 4th February at the dispatch box

    https://x.com/i/status/2045430617144279180
  • BlancheLivermoreBlancheLivermore Posts: 7,937
    Brixian59 said:

    Nigelb said:

    Farage repeats inexplicably that we should have got involved with the war and Trump is still his friend.

    Given the relative positions of Farage's head and Trump's arse, it's perfectly explicable.
    At least he is honest.

    Agree or not he doesn't change his mind and then deny he said what he said and bare faced LIE and LIE like his braided doppelganger!
    And you’re dunce enough to believe that this whole episode proves Pinokeir’s integrity
  • isamisam Posts: 44,230
    edited April 18
    isam said:

    The father of Finbar Sullivan, the young man stabbed and stamped to death on Primrose Hill recently, has called on his death to be a clarion calm for multi culturalidm, and seems to blame the government’s treatment of Palestinians rather than knife culture in London


    https://x.com/newjournal/status/2044902136018796587?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

    The quotes

    https://x.com/crankynotions/status/2045169863203656141?s=20

    The father is the organiser of "Artists For Gaza" and founded the Wag Club
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 103,818

    Danny Kruger: Reform’s plan to tear up the system
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8Gp-skuvOI

    Half an hour of Danny Kruger on why Reform is not just Tories on holiday and how "if you want to summarize the Reform agenda in a sentence, it's undo everything Blair and Brown did".

    It is funny how many Conservatives (and whilst not all of them that is what the bulk of senior Reform people are) are actually revolutionaries now.

    Ok, that is not entirely true, but it is a consequence of their overdramatic references to tearing up 'the' system.

    Which, again to be fair, is a position that has some popularity for better or worse, so a reasonable niche to seek to exploit, but I struggle to see them as the anti-establishment reformers they desperately want to be. It seems more just blundering in and believing super hard that it will all work out.

    Kruger, at least, sometimes thinks more carefully about things, even if you don't agree with any of his conclusions.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 89,702
    Free article at the Atlantic.

    Patel is threatening to sue, so mods please take down if you think he has any chance of succeeding in court.
    (If he actually takes it that far, which I doubt, discovery will be fascinating.)

    EXCLUSIVE: Kash Patel’s colleagues are alarmed by what they say is erratic behavior and excessive drinking. I spoke with more than 2 dozen people with knowledge of his conduct, some of whom described it as a national security vulnerability.
    https://x.com/S_Fitzpatrick/status/2045268110119141548
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 21,001

    This is on todays Ipsos in UK page


    Reform UK still hold a clear lead on 25%, but this lead is six points - one point down from March. This continues a steady decline in Reform’s vote share from a high of 34% in September 2025

    Labour and the Conservatives are now tied on 19%. Labour are down two points, and the Conservatives are up two points.

    The Greens stay on 17% - matching their record high with Ipsos last month.

    The Liberal Democrats (14%) are up 5 points from March.

    Headline voting intention (Changes since March)

    Reform UK continue to lead on headline voting intention. However they are down to 25% - their lowest vote share since the 2024 General Election. Labour and the Conservatives are tied in second place on 19%.

    Reform 25% (-3)
    Labour 19% (-2)
    Conservative 19% (+2)
    Greens 17% (No change)
    Lib Dems 14% (+5)
    Others 7% (-1)
    Reform UK lead: +6 (down one point from March)

    Satisfaction ratings (Changes since January)

    Each month Ipsos ask the public whether they are satisfied or dissatisfied with how the government are running the country and how various politicians are doing their jobs; Keir Starmer as Prime Minister, Rachel Reeves as Chancellor and various other politicians as leaders of their respective parties. Here is a summary of this month’s scores:

    Government: 16% satisfied (-1 from March), 78% dissatisfied (+3). Net satisfaction -62.
    Keir Starmer: 18% satisfied (-1), 74% dissatisfied (+2). Net satisfaction -56.
    Kemi Badenoch: 25% satisfied (+4), 52% dissatisfied (-4). Net satisfaction -27.
    Nigel Farage: 29% satisfied (nc), 59% dissatisfied (+1). Net satisfaction -30.
    Ed Davey: 25% satisfied (+4), 41% dissatisfied (-2). Net -16.
    Zack Polanski: 28% satisfied (-2), 42% dissatisfied (+5). Net -14.
    Rachel Reeves: 13% satisfied (nc), 72% dissatisfied (+2). Net -59.

    Big rises for the LibDems and Davey. Could that be a result of local election campaigning? When people are reminded we exist, the LibDems do better.
  • Brixian59Brixian59 Posts: 2,235

    Brixian59 said:

    Nigelb said:

    Farage repeats inexplicably that we should have got involved with the war and Trump is still his friend.

    Given the relative positions of Farage's head and Trump's arse, it's perfectly explicable.
    At least he is honest.

    Agree or not he doesn't change his mind and then deny he said what he said and bare faced LIE and LIE like his braided doppelganger!
    And you’re dunce enough to believe that this whole episode proves Pinokeir’s integrity
    Prove otherwise or accept the facts as we know them.
  • Pro_RataPro_Rata Posts: 6,308
    edited April 18
    kle4 said:

    isam said:

    The father of Finbar Sullivan, the young man stabbed and stamped to death on Primrose Hill recently, has called on his death to be a clarion calm for multi culturalism, and seems to blame the government’s treatment of Palestinians rather than knife culture in London

    https://x.com/newjournal/status/2044902136018796587?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

    Poor man has suffered a tragedy, and it is true politicians will (with no ill motivation necessarily) use such events for their own purposes, but we are also not obliged to follow or agree with the interpretations or urgings of those who have suffered those tragedies.

    In a similar vein I question how much focus is sometimes given to people when inquiries are being set up. You don't want a closed shop or for victims etc to have no input, but with matters like who makes a great inquiry chair I don't think I'd be imbued with particular insight or wisdom on that just because I had suffered a tragedy, and my reaction shouldn't be the primary consideration. An amount of cool assessment is needed, even if we don't want politics to be a robotic logical evaluation.
    The victim that should count most for a parole hearing or a public inquiry or the like is the potential next victim.

    Anything else is just bleeding heart conservatism.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 103,818

    This is on todays Ipsos in UK page


    Reform UK still hold a clear lead on 25%, but this lead is six points - one point down from March. This continues a steady decline in Reform’s vote share from a high of 34% in September 2025

    Labour and the Conservatives are now tied on 19%. Labour are down two points, and the Conservatives are up two points.

    The Greens stay on 17% - matching their record high with Ipsos last month.

    The Liberal Democrats (14%) are up 5 points from March.

    Headline voting intention (Changes since March)

    Reform UK continue to lead on headline voting intention. However they are down to 25% - their lowest vote share since the 2024 General Election. Labour and the Conservatives are tied in second place on 19%.

    Reform 25% (-3)
    Labour 19% (-2)
    Conservative 19% (+2)
    Greens 17% (No change)
    Lib Dems 14% (+5)
    Others 7% (-1)
    Reform UK lead: +6 (down one point from March)

    Satisfaction ratings (Changes since January)

    Each month Ipsos ask the public whether they are satisfied or dissatisfied with how the government are running the country and how various politicians are doing their jobs; Keir Starmer as Prime Minister, Rachel Reeves as Chancellor and various other politicians as leaders of their respective parties. Here is a summary of this month’s scores:

    Government: 16% satisfied (-1 from March), 78% dissatisfied (+3). Net satisfaction -62.
    Keir Starmer: 18% satisfied (-1), 74% dissatisfied (+2). Net satisfaction -56.
    Kemi Badenoch: 25% satisfied (+4), 52% dissatisfied (-4). Net satisfaction -27.
    Nigel Farage: 29% satisfied (nc), 59% dissatisfied (+1). Net satisfaction -30.
    Ed Davey: 25% satisfied (+4), 41% dissatisfied (-2). Net -16.
    Zack Polanski: 28% satisfied (-2), 42% dissatisfied (+5). Net -14.
    Rachel Reeves: 13% satisfied (nc), 72% dissatisfied (+2). Net -59.

    Big rises for the LibDems and Davey. Could that be a result of local election campaigning? When people are reminded we exist, the LibDems do better.
    In my area Labour got around double the vote of the LDs at the GE, but in seats in the Locals Labour (where they even stood) were getting around 4-5x less than the LDs. 10x less in one case.

    Yes, those are more focused areas so maybe some were more strongly LD in the first place. Yes, the Labour government had crashed in popularity. Yes, Labour have no local councillor strength so the 'cannot win here' effect was in full swing, and yes, the LDs will have had all the campaigning strength.

    But it still seems like an amusingly large switch between GE and Locals all the same, as clearly plenty of people would like to vote Labour round here, it's been a long time since 2015 and the LDs are doing fine locally so could have regained their usual second place in parliamentary terms.
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 21,001

    Danny Kruger: Reform’s plan to tear up the system
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8Gp-skuvOI

    Half an hour of Danny Kruger on why Reform is not just Tories on holiday and how "if you want to summarize the Reform agenda in a sentence, it's undo everything Blair and Brown did".

    Undo everything Brown did is the most attractive pitch I’ve heard from Reform.
  • Brixian59Brixian59 Posts: 2,235

    How does Starmer explain this answer to Kemi on the 4th February at the dispatch box

    https://x.com/i/status/2045430617144279180

    Are you being serious?

    The answer does not imply he has seen the actual vetting. It's been made clear that no PM sees it.

    He would be fully aware that his relationship to Epstein was part of the questions undoubtedly asked.

    Next

    This is no smoking gun, more a wet fart
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 72,204
    Brixian59 said:

    How does Starmer explain this answer to Kemi on the 4th February at the dispatch box

    https://x.com/i/status/2045430617144279180

    Are you being serious?

    The answer does not imply he has seen the actual vetting. It's been made clear that no PM sees it.

    He would be fully aware that his relationship to Epstein was part of the questions undoubtedly asked.

    Next

    This is no smoking gun, more a wet fart
    Brixian59 said:

    How does Starmer explain this answer to Kemi on the 4th February at the dispatch box

    https://x.com/i/status/2045430617144279180

    Are you being serious?

    The answer does not imply he has seen the actual vetting. It's been made clear that no PM sees it.

    He would be fully aware that his relationship to Epstein was part of the questions undoubtedly asked.

    Next

    This is no smoking gun, more a wet fart
    He said yes it did and the house reacted

    If he didn't then he has a problem with misleading the house

  • eekeek Posts: 33,926
    edited April 18

    Danny Kruger: Reform’s plan to tear up the system
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8Gp-skuvOI

    Half an hour of Danny Kruger on why Reform is not just Tories on holiday and how "if you want to summarize the Reform agenda in a sentence, it's undo everything Blair and Brown did".

    Undo everything Brown did is the most attractive pitch I’ve heard from Reform.
    So if they are starting from 1997, the very first they are going to do would be take control of interest rates away from the Bank of England.
  • BlancheLivermoreBlancheLivermore Posts: 7,937
    Brixian59 said:

    Brixian59 said:

    Nigelb said:

    Farage repeats inexplicably that we should have got involved with the war and Trump is still his friend.

    Given the relative positions of Farage's head and Trump's arse, it's perfectly explicable.
    At least he is honest.

    Agree or not he doesn't change his mind and then deny he said what he said and bare faced LIE and LIE like his braided doppelganger!
    And you’re dunce enough to believe that this whole episode proves Pinokeir’s integrity
    Prove otherwise or accept the facts as we know them.
    Weasel words ≠ facts
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 79,514

    Danny Kruger: Reform’s plan to tear up the system
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8Gp-skuvOI

    Half an hour of Danny Kruger on why Reform is not just Tories on holiday and how "if you want to summarize the Reform agenda in a sentence, it's undo everything Blair and Brown did".

    Sounds more like they're Tories who are out to lunch.
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 72,204

    Brixian59 said:

    Brixian59 said:

    Nigelb said:

    Farage repeats inexplicably that we should have got involved with the war and Trump is still his friend.

    Given the relative positions of Farage's head and Trump's arse, it's perfectly explicable.
    At least he is honest.

    Agree or not he doesn't change his mind and then deny he said what he said and bare faced LIE and LIE like his braided doppelganger!
    And you’re dunce enough to believe that this whole episode proves Pinokeir’s integrity
    Prove otherwise or accept the facts as we know them.
    Weasel words ≠ facts
    And this

    https://x.com/i/status/2045458264645660906
  • FairlieredFairliered Posts: 8,102

    AnneJGP said:

    Apologies in advance, this is very much off topic but perhaps this will give some reader a warning about Yahoo email.

    Since a very recent (forced) upgrade, Yahoo email employs AI to 'help'. Yahoo has just added an extra person to a CC list unannounced, presumably because the CC list was a person with whom the other person is frequently combined. It was a private email of no concern to the added party. I only noticed after it was sent because I then had occasion to search for emails I'd sent to this second person.

    Googling, it seems that this upgrade is a Beta version. I'm trying to turn AI off in Yahoo but AI's 'help' is making it very difficult.

    May be best to migrate to another platform.

    /whinge

    Good morning, everybody.

    Unfortunately, companies are forcing AI in to situations where it is annoying, unhelpful, intrusive, or all of the above, because they have spent such gargantuan sums they feel compelled to somehow get people to use it in order to justify the expense.

    It's interesting that Microsoft has started walking back the forced inclusion of Copilot in Windows 11. Microsoft, like Google, has the advantage of not needing their AI efforts to pay off. Annoying users to the extent they dump Windows and move to Linux is a bigger threat to MS than Copilot not making money.

    Most of this 'AI everywhere' nonsense will go away in the next year or two as it sinks in how much users hate it, and when the AI bubble pops removes a lot of the pressure to show AI is generating some kind of return on investment.
    I would pay a surcharge for a totally AI free browsing experience. Maybe that will be Microsoft’s money making method.
  • FairlieredFairliered Posts: 8,102

    This is on todays Ipsos in UK page


    Reform UK still hold a clear lead on 25%, but this lead is six points - one point down from March. This continues a steady decline in Reform’s vote share from a high of 34% in September 2025

    Labour and the Conservatives are now tied on 19%. Labour are down two points, and the Conservatives are up two points.

    The Greens stay on 17% - matching their record high with Ipsos last month.

    The Liberal Democrats (14%) are up 5 points from March.

    Headline voting intention (Changes since March)

    Reform UK continue to lead on headline voting intention. However they are down to 25% - their lowest vote share since the 2024 General Election. Labour and the Conservatives are tied in second place on 19%.

    Reform 25% (-3)
    Labour 19% (-2)
    Conservative 19% (+2)
    Greens 17% (No change)
    Lib Dems 14% (+5)
    Others 7% (-1)
    Reform UK lead: +6 (down one point from March)

    Satisfaction ratings (Changes since January)

    Each month Ipsos ask the public whether they are satisfied or dissatisfied with how the government are running the country and how various politicians are doing their jobs; Keir Starmer as Prime Minister, Rachel Reeves as Chancellor and various other politicians as leaders of their respective parties. Here is a summary of this month’s scores:

    Government: 16% satisfied (-1 from March), 78% dissatisfied (+3). Net satisfaction -62.
    Keir Starmer: 18% satisfied (-1), 74% dissatisfied (+2). Net satisfaction -56.
    Kemi Badenoch: 25% satisfied (+4), 52% dissatisfied (-4). Net satisfaction -27.
    Nigel Farage: 29% satisfied (nc), 59% dissatisfied (+1). Net satisfaction -30.
    Ed Davey: 25% satisfied (+4), 41% dissatisfied (-2). Net -16.
    Zack Polanski: 28% satisfied (-2), 42% dissatisfied (+5). Net -14.
    Rachel Reeves: 13% satisfied (nc), 72% dissatisfied (+2). Net -59.

    Big rises for the LibDems and Davey. Could that be a result of local election campaigning? When people are reminded we exist, the LibDems do better.
    Even the BBC and ITV have to acknowledge their existence during an election campaign. It’s ridiculous that they ignore the party with only 44 fewer seats than the Conservatives.
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 21,001
    kle4 said:

    Danny Kruger: Reform’s plan to tear up the system
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8Gp-skuvOI

    Half an hour of Danny Kruger on why Reform is not just Tories on holiday and how "if you want to summarize the Reform agenda in a sentence, it's undo everything Blair and Brown did".

    It is funny how many Conservatives (and whilst not all of them that is what the bulk of senior Reform people are) are actually revolutionaries now.

    Ok, that is not entirely true, but it is a consequence of their overdramatic references to tearing up 'the' system.

    Which, again to be fair, is a position that has some popularity for better or worse, so a reasonable niche to seek to exploit, but I struggle to see them as the anti-establishment reformers they desperately want to be. It seems more just blundering in and believing super hard that it will all work out.

    Kruger, at least, sometimes thinks more carefully about things, even if you don't agree with any of his conclusions.
    There is a hard core of libertarians in Reform, and Restore, which seems disconnected from the xenophobia that motivates most of their electoral support.
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