MacCallum: Does the president view that as a violation of the ceasefire?
Leavitt: No, because these were not U.S. Ships. These were not Israeli ships. For the American media who is sort of blowing this out of proportion to discredit the president's facts that he has completely obliterated Iran's conventional navy, these two ships were taken by Iranian gunboats. They don’t have control of the strait. This is piracy.
Where to start with that. Aren’t half the ships in the world registered in Liberia/Panama? My pal is currently on a ship halfway across the Atlantic in a ship owned by the Greeks , registered in the Bahamas, staffed by Filipinos, and rented by some other firm on behalf of an American firm.
This war is looking like a comprehensive victory for the IRGC. What a stupid disaster.
Are Starmer and Boris rather more similar than either would care to admit?
Neither were across the detail, both were inconsistent, hugely self-absorbed, liked to blame others, and rapidly lost the confidence of their team.
The difference is that Starmer doesn't have the humour or the sex, but loves process, and Boris was more flippant and lazy, but loved a story.
I think Starmer’s downfall has been hubris. You think of the period he was LotO. Covid, Ukraine, Inflation, Truss, Boris and Sunak effectively being the captain of the Tory Titanic.
During Covid and Ukraine/Inflation he was able to continually attack the gov for their decisions and say he would do differently and this could never be tested.
He was up against a Tory gov who so many people, including the media, were happy to get rid of.
He was praised by his party and others for “forensically” taking apart Boris at PMQs. He had the freest of free hits v Truss and his attacks on Sunak were obnoxiously arrogant.
I think he really did believe that he was more intelligent than Sunak, a better politician than Boris and he would sweep in and be a “grown up” and be “fair” and that would be enough.
He worked in a rarified world where he was a human rights lawyer then running the CPS, that doesn’t shriek of wide experience with business, industry (sorry, forgot his old man was a toolmaker) the wider public sector, the military or frankly anything but his arrogance made him think he had all the answers and skills.
Rishi is cleverer than SKS and Boris has more charisma, he was just better than Corbyn and at the time seemed of more moral character than Boris and offered a fresh face to the Tories after the Truss disaster and partygate. Sunak would easily beat Starmer now in a rerun of the last general election I expect
That's an astute point. Looking back Sunak seems like a political titan compared to Starmer. Also quite honest and truthful - compared to Starmer - partly, it must be said,, because he's so insanely rich he doesn;t need to blag for free spectacles. Sunak also seems quite patriotic, in a genuine way. He hasn't scarpered to California since losing, as many predicted, and many expected. And he's genuinely clever, unlike Starmer and has emotional intelligence, unlike Starmer, Truss and TMay
Argument: Sunak was potentially the best prime minister since Cameron, and maybe even Blair, he just never got the chance because the Tory brand was Ratnered. Discuss
Dame Esther Rantzen’s daughter ‘furious’ as assisted dying bill fails
Now that is something else we can lay at Starmer's door. An absolute dog's breakfast of a Private Members Bill lost for a generation due to Starmer incompetence .
MacCallum: Does the president view that as a violation of the ceasefire?
Leavitt: No, because these were not U.S. Ships. These were not Israeli ships. For the American media who is sort of blowing this out of proportion to discredit the president's facts that he has completely obliterated Iran's conventional navy, these two ships were taken by Iranian gunboats. They don’t have control of the strait. This is piracy.
Where to start with that. Aren’t half the ships in the world registered in Liberia/Panama? My pal is currently on a ship halfway across the Atlantic in a ship owned by the Greeks , registered in the Bahamas, staffed by Filipinos, and rented by some other firm on behalf of an American firm.
This war is looking like a comprehensive victory for the IRGC. What a stupid disaster.
Are Starmer and Boris rather more similar than either would care to admit?
Neither were across the detail, both were inconsistent, hugely self-absorbed, liked to blame others, and rapidly lost the confidence of their team.
The difference is that Starmer doesn't have the humour or the sex, but loves process, and Boris was more flippant and lazy, but loved a story.
I think Starmer’s downfall has been hubris. You think of the period he was LotO. Covid, Ukraine, Inflation, Truss, Boris and Sunak effectively being the captain of the Tory Titanic.
During Covid and Ukraine/Inflation he was able to continually attack the gov for their decisions and say he would do differently and this could never be tested.
He was up against a Tory gov who so many people, including the media, were happy to get rid of.
He was praised by his party and others for “forensically” taking apart Boris at PMQs. He had the freest of free hits v Truss and his attacks on Sunak were obnoxiously arrogant.
I think he really did believe that he was more intelligent than Sunak, a better politician than Boris and he would sweep in and be a “grown up” and be “fair” and that would be enough.
He worked in a rarified world where he was a human rights lawyer then running the CPS, that doesn’t shriek of wide experience with business, industry (sorry, forgot his old man was a toolmaker) the wider public sector, the military or frankly anything but his arrogance made him think he had all the answers and skills.
Rishi is cleverer than SKS and Boris has more charisma, he was just better than Corbyn and at the time seemed of more moral character than Boris and offered a fresh face to the Tories after the Truss disaster and partygate. Sunak would easily beat Starmer now in a rerun of the last general election I expect
That's an astute point. Looking back Sunak seems like a political titan compared to Starmer. Also quite honest and truthful - compared to Starmer - partly, it must be said,, because he's so insanely rich he doesn;t need to blag for free spectacles. Sunak also seems quite patriotic, in a genuine way. He hasn't scarpered to California since losing, as many predicted, and many expected. And he's genuinely clever, unlike Starmer and has emotional intelligence, unlike Starmer, Truss and TMay
Argument: Sunak was potentially the best prime minister since Cameron, and maybe even Blair, he just never got the chance because the Tory brand was Ratnered. Discuss
I don't think he was good. I do agree after 14 years it was a very very difficult task he was not up to, especially after the Boris-Truss-Sunak switcharound torpedoed the party's appearance of competence.
He got a really poor hand but he still played it pretty badly.
Yes possibly. It might just be the utter utter shiteness of Starmer which is making Sunak seem good. Because is Starmer is stupefyingly bad
The worst prime minister of my life, without question. Worse than Truss because she was crazy but she was gone within about 3 minutes, and she did at least have some ideas - even a couple of good ideas - she just didn't know how to enact them
Starmer is an intellectual void, married to a moral vacuum surrounding an emotional nullity. And he's a wanker
"The Lib Dems are not just empty. They are a void within a vacuum surrounded by a vast inanition." - Boris, 2003.
And yet how often has such hubris invited nemesis?
Well, quite. The largest bloc of third party MPs in a century and still ignored by the political class, though judging by the local by elections, not by the voters...
They got fewer votes than Reform. As believers in PR, they can hardly use "seats won" as a grievance.
They got 72 seats from 12.2%. 12.2% of 650 seats would be...79 seats. So from their perspective they managed a fair PR like outcome despite FPTP, it's not their fault the other parties don't support PR (yet). And it means the amount of attention they might argue they deserve matches the seat numbers, so they probably can use 'seats won' as a grievance.
Dame Esther Rantzen’s daughter ‘furious’ as assisted dying bill fails
Now that is something else we can lay at Starmer's door. An absolute dog's breakfast of a Private Members Bill lost for a generation due to Starmer incompetence .
I don't think it will be lost for a generation. Support for the principle still appears to be there, and a lot of lessons can be learned from the route taken and roadblocks put up.
MiliEd was only an MP for five years before becoming party leader?
That's both insane and somethng that explains a lot.
(Checks- he had about 2 years between becoming an MP and joining the cabinet. That really explains a lot.)
Given that Miliband's now been an MP for sixteen years not five, by your reasoning he should then make a much better fist of being party leader second time around.
MacCallum: Does the president view that as a violation of the ceasefire?
Leavitt: No, because these were not U.S. Ships. These were not Israeli ships. For the American media who is sort of blowing this out of proportion to discredit the president's facts that he has completely obliterated Iran's conventional navy, these two ships were taken by Iranian gunboats. They don’t have control of the strait. This is piracy.
Are Starmer and Boris rather more similar than either would care to admit?
Neither were across the detail, both were inconsistent, hugely self-absorbed, liked to blame others, and rapidly lost the confidence of their team.
The difference is that Starmer doesn't have the humour or the sex, but loves process, and Boris was more flippant and lazy, but loved a story.
I think Starmer’s downfall has been hubris. You think of the period he was LotO. Covid, Ukraine, Inflation, Truss, Boris and Sunak effectively being the captain of the Tory Titanic.
During Covid and Ukraine/Inflation he was able to continually attack the gov for their decisions and say he would do differently and this could never be tested.
He was up against a Tory gov who so many people, including the media, were happy to get rid of.
He was praised by his party and others for “forensically” taking apart Boris at PMQs. He had the freest of free hits v Truss and his attacks on Sunak were obnoxiously arrogant.
I think he really did believe that he was more intelligent than Sunak, a better politician than Boris and he would sweep in and be a “grown up” and be “fair” and that would be enough.
He worked in a rarified world where he was a human rights lawyer then running the CPS, that doesn’t shriek of wide experience with business, industry (sorry, forgot his old man was a toolmaker) the wider public sector, the military or frankly anything but his arrogance made him think he had all the answers and skills.
Rishi is cleverer than SKS and Boris has more charisma, he was just better than Corbyn and at the time seemed of more moral character than Boris and offered a fresh face to the Tories after the Truss disaster and partygate. Sunak would easily beat Starmer now in a rerun of the last general election I expect
That's an astute point. Looking back Sunak seems like a political titan compared to Starmer. Also quite honest and truthful - compared to Starmer - partly, it must be said,, because he's so insanely rich he doesn;t need to blag for free spectacles. Sunak also seems quite patriotic, in a genuine way. He hasn't scarpered to California since losing, as many predicted, and many expected. And he's genuinely clever, unlike Starmer and has emotional intelligence, unlike Starmer, Truss and TMay
Argument: Sunak was potentially the best prime minister since Cameron, and maybe even Blair, he just never got the chance because the Tory brand was Ratnered. Discuss
I don't think he was good. I do agree after 14 years it was a very very difficult task he was not up to, especially after the Boris-Truss-Sunak switcharound torpedoed the party's appearance of competence.
He got a really poor hand but he still played it pretty badly.
Yes possibly. It might just be the utter utter shiteness of Starmer which is making Sunak seem good. Because is Starmer is stupefyingly bad
The worst prime minister of my life, without question. Worse than Truss because she was crazy but she was gone within about 3 minutes, and she did at least have some ideas - even a couple of good ideas - she just didn't know how to enact them
Starmer is an intellectual void, married to a moral vacuum surrounding an emotional nullity. And he's a wanker
"The Lib Dems are not just empty. They are a void within a vacuum surrounded by a vast inanition." - Boris, 2003.
And yet how often has such hubris invited nemesis?
Well, quite. The largest bloc of third party MPs in a century and still ignored by the political class, though judging by the local by elections, not by the voters...
They got fewer votes than Reform. As believers in PR, they can hardly use "seats won" as a grievance.
Well make your mind up... finally the Lib Dems get roughly the percentage of seats to match their vote, while Labour get a blow out on the lowest winning vote since universal suffrage and if the Tories had some 35,000 votes fewer in key seats, they could have been 20 seats lower than the record low total they achieved. I do not defend the voting system, but I do know you have to be in the Parliament to change it. Does Parliament matter or not?
Are Starmer and Boris rather more similar than either would care to admit?
Neither were across the detail, both were inconsistent, hugely self-absorbed, liked to blame others, and rapidly lost the confidence of their team.
The difference is that Starmer doesn't have the humour or the sex, but loves process, and Boris was more flippant and lazy, but loved a story.
I think Starmer’s downfall has been hubris. You think of the period he was LotO. Covid, Ukraine, Inflation, Truss, Boris and Sunak effectively being the captain of the Tory Titanic.
During Covid and Ukraine/Inflation he was able to continually attack the gov for their decisions and say he would do differently and this could never be tested.
He was up against a Tory gov who so many people, including the media, were happy to get rid of.
He was praised by his party and others for “forensically” taking apart Boris at PMQs. He had the freest of free hits v Truss and his attacks on Sunak were obnoxiously arrogant.
I think he really did believe that he was more intelligent than Sunak, a better politician than Boris and he would sweep in and be a “grown up” and be “fair” and that would be enough.
He worked in a rarified world where he was a human rights lawyer then running the CPS, that doesn’t shriek of wide experience with business, industry (sorry, forgot his old man was a toolmaker) the wider public sector, the military or frankly anything but his arrogance made him think he had all the answers and skills.
Rishi is cleverer than SKS and Boris has more charisma, he was just better than Corbyn and at the time seemed of more moral character than Boris and offered a fresh face to the Tories after the Truss disaster and partygate. Sunak would easily beat Starmer now in a rerun of the last general election I expect
That's an astute point. Looking back Sunak seems like a political titan compared to Starmer. Also quite honest and truthful - compared to Starmer - partly, it must be said,, because he's so insanely rich he doesn;t need to blag for free spectacles. Sunak also seems quite patriotic, in a genuine way. He hasn't scarpered to California since losing, as many predicted, and many expected. And he's genuinely clever, unlike Starmer and has emotional intelligence, unlike Starmer, Truss and TMay
Argument: Sunak was potentially the best prime minister since Cameron, and maybe even Blair, he just never got the chance because the Tory brand was Ratnered. Discuss
Bollocks.
That’s not a discussion, it’s a kneejerk reaction. I would argue that, with hindsight, Sunak was the best PM since Cameron, for the reasons given by Leon. I wouldn’t go back further than Cameron, though. However, Eat Out To Spread Covid showed that he was a very poor Chancellor.
MiliEd was only an MP for five years before becoming party leader?
That's both insane and somethng that explains a lot.
(Checks- he had about 2 years between becoming an MP and joining the cabinet. That really explains a lot.)
Given that Miliband's now been an MP for sixteen years not five, by your reasoning he should then make a much better fist of being party leader second time around.
MiliEd was only an MP for five years before becoming party leader?
That's both insane and somethng that explains a lot.
(Checks- he had about 2 years between becoming an MP and joining the cabinet. That really explains a lot.)
Given that Miliband's now been an MP for sixteen years not five, by your reasoning he should then make a much better fist of being party leader second time around.
Time in parliament does not guarantee being better, just as wisdom does not always come with age, but I do think getting in at your first attempt, then very swiftly rising through the ranks, prevents an MP from experiencing many of the things the people they are expected to wrangle go through, and will make it harder as a result.
The contrast might be someone like Corbyn who had nearly 3 decades in Parliament, but lacked any experiencing of junior ministries or (I think) chairing sub-committees, or even just building intra party relationships outside his faction. And so was utterly unsuitable and reduced to having his supporters whinge that MPs didn't just do whatever he wanted because the members liked him.
Argument: Sunak was potentially the best prime minister since Cameron, and maybe even Blair, he just never got the chance because the Tory brand was Ratnered. Discuss
No.
He left D-Day 80yr commemorations early (including leaving the last few remaining D-Day veterans high and dry) as he thought it didn't matter.
Even Truss would not have made such a crass error of judgment... He was a terrible Prime Minister following a 30 year run of them and still on-going.... Whatever have we done to deserve this roll call of shame:
Major Blair Brown Cameron May Boris Truss (do we even count her, honestly???) Sunak Two Tier...
To think that the late Queen Elizabeth II started her reign with Churchill and ended it with Johnson/Truss, really encapsulates the decline of a great nation over 70 years
Experimenting with OpenAI's new model. A hydrologically accurate cut-away of the Strait of Hormuz, drawn by Richard Scarry, drawing on current AIS data.
Javier Blas @JavierBlas · 2h CHART OF THE DAY: The size of the 🇨🇳 Chinese strategic petroleum reserve is mind blowing: larger than 🇺🇸 US + 🇯🇵 Japan + the whole of 🇪🇺 Western Europe combined.
MacCallum: Does the president view that as a violation of the ceasefire?
Leavitt: No, because these were not U.S. Ships. These were not Israeli ships. For the American media who is sort of blowing this out of proportion to discredit the president's facts that he has completely obliterated Iran's conventional navy, these two ships were taken by Iranian gunboats. They don’t have control of the strait. This is piracy.
Where to start with that. Aren’t half the ships in the world registered in Liberia/Panama? My pal is currently on a ship halfway across the Atlantic in a ship owned by the Greeks , registered in the Bahamas, staffed by Filipinos, and rented by some other firm on behalf of an American firm.
This war is looking like a comprehensive victory for the IRGC. What a stupid disaster.
Yup.
Thoughts and prayers for John Bolton. For a while he thought this was the end of the Iranian regime and despite all his differences with Trump the best possible of worlds was due.
Trump administration: we killed all the main Iranian leaders so now there's no one left we can negotiate sensibly with. Operation Epic Fury is therefore a massive success.
MiliEd was only an MP for five years before becoming party leader?
That's both insane and somethng that explains a lot.
(Checks- he had about 2 years between becoming an MP and joining the cabinet. That really explains a lot.)
Given that Miliband's now been an MP for sixteen years not five, by your reasoning he should then make a much better fist of being party leader second time around.
Time in parliament does not guarantee being better, just as wisdom does not always come with age, but I do think getting in at your first attempt, then very swiftly rising through the ranks, prevents an MP from experiencing many of the things the people they are expected to wrangle go through, and will make it harder as a result.
The contrast might be someone like Corbyn who had nearly 3 decades in Parliament, but lacked any experiencing of junior ministries or (I think) chairing sub-committees, or even just building intra party relationships outside his faction. And so was utterly unsuitable and reduced to having his supporters whinge that MPs didn't just do whatever he wanted because the members liked him.
There's a line that used to be said about a certain sort of teacher- "they haven't had 30 years' experience, they've had 1 years' experience 30 times". Corbyn's experience feels very much in the second category.
(Not many teachers have 30 years' experience these days. The job is too knackering and the pay scales make oldies too expensive.)
Are Starmer and Boris rather more similar than either would care to admit?
Neither were across the detail, both were inconsistent, hugely self-absorbed, liked to blame others, and rapidly lost the confidence of their team.
The difference is that Starmer doesn't have the humour or the sex, but loves process, and Boris was more flippant and lazy, but loved a story.
I think Starmer’s downfall has been hubris. You think of the period he was LotO. Covid, Ukraine, Inflation, Truss, Boris and Sunak effectively being the captain of the Tory Titanic.
During Covid and Ukraine/Inflation he was able to continually attack the gov for their decisions and say he would do differently and this could never be tested.
He was up against a Tory gov who so many people, including the media, were happy to get rid of.
He was praised by his party and others for “forensically” taking apart Boris at PMQs. He had the freest of free hits v Truss and his attacks on Sunak were obnoxiously arrogant.
I think he really did believe that he was more intelligent than Sunak, a better politician than Boris and he would sweep in and be a “grown up” and be “fair” and that would be enough.
He worked in a rarified world where he was a human rights lawyer then running the CPS, that doesn’t shriek of wide experience with business, industry (sorry, forgot his old man was a toolmaker) the wider public sector, the military or frankly anything but his arrogance made him think he had all the answers and skills.
Rishi is cleverer than SKS and Boris has more charisma, he was just better than Corbyn and at the time seemed of more moral character than Boris and offered a fresh face to the Tories after the Truss disaster and partygate. Sunak would easily beat Starmer now in a rerun of the last general election I expect
That's an astute point. Looking back Sunak seems like a political titan compared to Starmer. Also quite honest and truthful - compared to Starmer - partly, it must be said,, because he's so insanely rich he doesn;t need to blag for free spectacles. Sunak also seems quite patriotic, in a genuine way. He hasn't scarpered to California since losing, as many predicted, and many expected. And he's genuinely clever, unlike Starmer and has emotional intelligence, unlike Starmer, Truss and TMay
Argument: Sunak was potentially the best prime minister since Cameron, and maybe even Blair, he just never got the chance because the Tory brand was Ratnered. Discuss
Nope. He cancelled HS2 to Manchester in...erm... a major party speech in... erm ... Manchester. So he has the political antenna of a welk.
His effective political career lasted less than ten years from entering parliament to becoming PM to losing an election (and has now spent 2 years pootling along in the backbenches). He became a junior minister within three years and into the Cabinet in four.
He probably never had the chance to develop any political antennae.
See also Starmer. Became an MP in May 2015, in the Shadow Cabinet by September 2015, party leader from April 2020. Neither of them either had the experience of fighting hopeless seats first (virtually all their modern predecessors) or being on the local council (Councillor Major, chairman of housing; Councillor May, chairman of education... even Bonkers Liz, though I don't think she got beyond opposition backbencher).
Every other profession accepts the need for a decent apprenticeship before you start taking big independent jobs. It's not a partisan point, but why did anyone think politics was different?
It hasn't been. Even recently May and Boris had plenty of experience. But now if you don't make it early it appears very hard.
Years from first becoming MP to becoming leader
Badenoch 7 years
Sunak 7 years
Truss 12 years
May - 19 years
Cameron - 4 years
IDS - 9 years
Hague - 8 years
Major - 11 years
Thatcher - 16 years.
You left out Michael Howard - 20 years.
Jeremy Hunt was first elected in 2005 so it's another datapoint for him being a potential Howard rather than Cleverly who became an MP a decade later.
Blair - 11 years ?
He never became Tory leader. Maybe he would have been a better PM if he was batting for the other team.
MacCallum: Does the president view that as a violation of the ceasefire?
Leavitt: No, because these were not U.S. Ships. These were not Israeli ships. For the American media who is sort of blowing this out of proportion to discredit the president's facts that he has completely obliterated Iran's conventional navy, these two ships were taken by Iranian gunboats. They don’t have control of the strait. This is piracy.
Labour let Palantir - an American firm - have access to and process NHS data.
The Greens got Theil's job title wrong.
Which is worse? It's a puzzle I tell thee...
Thiel is the chair of the board i think?
Why are so many people exercised about having their anonymised health records used to aid medical research?
There is a lot of suspicion of Palantir, not least that the data will not be anonymised. The CEO of Palantir published a 22 point manifesto recently that could politely described as concerning.
Time for one of my periodic super-El Nino updates.
The long, strong westerly wind burst is over and the trades are back to close to normal until the last few days of April, but I think we have hit escape velocity and a big event is now inevitable.
Sub-surface anomalies: already higher in the equatorial Pacific than at any time except the 1997/8 mega event, and still rising:
ENSO remains hard to predict this early in the year. The pattern only locks in during boreal summer. But it’s already far further advanced than in normal events, so it’s possible to be confident already on a powerful event, and certainly not rule out the extreme scenarios turning up in some models.
It’s certainly been picked up on social media and the Americans have noticed, but of course that means they’re now all going loony about it on x and Bluesky and either prognosticating the end of civilisation as we know it or claiming it’s a hoax.
Argument: Sunak was potentially the best prime minister since Cameron, and maybe even Blair, he just never got the chance because the Tory brand was Ratnered. Discuss
No.
He left D-Day 80yr commemorations early (including leaving the last few remaining D-Day veterans high and dry) as he thought it didn't matter.
Even Truss would not have made such a crass error of judgment... He was a terrible Prime Minister following a 30 year run of them and still on-going.... Whatever have we done to deserve this roll call of shame:
Major Blair Brown Cameron May Boris Truss (do we even count her, honestly???) Sunak Two Tier...
To think that the late Queen Elizabeth II started her reign with Churchill and ended it with Johnson/Truss, really encapsulates the decline of a great nation over 70 years
At some point we need to move on a bit from WW2. The 80th anniversary? None of the politicians were alive during the war. Most of the country wasn’t. And why just D-Day? Why not Arnhem day? Or Bastogne? Remembrance is fine but there is a limit. And he DID attend.
Time for one of my periodic super-El Nino updates.
The long, strong westerly wind burst is over and the trades are back to close to normal until the last few days of April, but I think we have hit escape velocity and a big event is now inevitable.
Sub-surface anomalies: already higher in the equatorial Pacific than at any time except the 1997/8 mega event, and still rising:
ENSO remains hard to predict this early in the year. The pattern only locks in during boreal summer. But it’s already far further advanced than in normal events, so it’s possible to be confident already on a powerful event, and certainly not rule out the extreme scenarios turning up in some models.
It’s certainly been picked up on social media and the Americans have noticed, but of course that means they’re now all going loony about it on x and Bluesky and either prognosticating the end of civilisation as we know it or claiming it’s a hoax.
Er... forgive my ignorance but what does that mean in plain English?
Time for one of my periodic super-El Nino updates.
The long, strong westerly wind burst is over and the trades are back to close to normal until the last few days of April, but I think we have hit escape velocity and a big event is now inevitable.
Sub-surface anomalies: already higher in the equatorial Pacific than at any time except the 1997/8 mega event, and still rising:
ENSO remains hard to predict this early in the year. The pattern only locks in during boreal summer. But it’s already far further advanced than in normal events, so it’s possible to be confident already on a powerful event, and certainly not rule out the extreme scenarios turning up in some models.
It’s certainly been picked up on social media and the Americans have noticed, but of course that means they’re now all going loony about it on x and Bluesky and either prognosticating the end of civilisation as we know it or claiming it’s a hoax.
Pretend someone hadn't been paying attention until now - what does any of that mean?
Labour let Palantir - an American firm - have access to and process NHS data.
The Greens got Theil's job title wrong.
Which is worse? It's a puzzle I tell thee...
Thiel is the chair of the board i think?
Why are so many people exercised about having their anonymised health records used to aid medical research?
There is a lot of suspicion of Palantir, not least that the data will not be anonymised. The CEO of Palantir published a 22 point manifesto recently that could politely described as concerning.
Is the data not anonymised at source? I’m sure that’s what my colleagues get when they use patient data.
It can be de-anonymised by combining with other data to triangulate. Theil wants to scrape as much data as possible in order to spy on and manipulate people.
For those who don't know "Palantir" is the device used by Sauron in LOTR to spy on and influence people and events. So Theil is not concealing his objective!
MiliEd was only an MP for five years before becoming party leader?
That's both insane and somethng that explains a lot.
(Checks- he had about 2 years between becoming an MP and joining the cabinet. That really explains a lot.)
Given that Miliband's now been an MP for sixteen years not five, by your reasoning he should then make a much better fist of being party leader second time around.
Time in parliament does not guarantee being better, just as wisdom does not always come with age, but I do think getting in at your first attempt, then very swiftly rising through the ranks, prevents an MP from experiencing many of the things the people they are expected to wrangle go through, and will make it harder as a result.
The contrast might be someone like Corbyn who had nearly 3 decades in Parliament, but lacked any experiencing of junior ministries or (I think) chairing sub-committees, or even just building intra party relationships outside his faction. And so was utterly unsuitable and reduced to having his supporters whinge that MPs didn't just do whatever he wanted because the members liked him.
There's a line that used to be said about a certain sort of teacher- "they haven't had 30 years' experience, they've had 1 years' experience 30 times". Corbyn's experience feels very much in the second category.
(Not many teachers have 30 years' experience these days. The job is too knackering and the pay scales make oldies too expensive.)
Labour let Palantir - an American firm - have access to and process NHS data.
The Greens got Theil's job title wrong.
Which is worse? It's a puzzle I tell thee...
Thiel is the chair of the board i think?
Why are so many people exercised about having their anonymised health records used to aid medical research?
There is a lot of suspicion of Palantir, not least that the data will not be anonymised. The CEO of Palantir published a 22 point manifesto recently that could politely described as concerning.
Is the data not anonymised at source? I’m sure that’s what my colleagues get when they use patient data.
It can be de-anonymised by combining with other data to triangulate. Theil wants to scrape as much data as possible in order to spy on and manipulate people.
For those who don't know "Palantir" is the device used by Sauron in LOTR to spy on and influence people and events. So Theil is not concealing his objective!
I mean, he may just be a nerd who chose a cool sounding name he liked. But he would know what it would suggest, and if he doesn't like that people point that out they could rename the company.
Time for one of my periodic super-El Nino updates.
The long, strong westerly wind burst is over and the trades are back to close to normal until the last few days of April, but I think we have hit escape velocity and a big event is now inevitable.
Sub-surface anomalies: already higher in the equatorial Pacific than at any time except the 1997/8 mega event, and still rising:
ENSO remains hard to predict this early in the year. The pattern only locks in during boreal summer. But it’s already far further advanced than in normal events, so it’s possible to be confident already on a powerful event, and certainly not rule out the extreme scenarios turning up in some models.
It’s certainly been picked up on social media and the Americans have noticed, but of course that means they’re now all going loony about it on x and Bluesky and either prognosticating the end of civilisation as we know it or claiming it’s a hoax.
Pretend someone hadn't been paying attention until now - what does any of that mean?
This is a major El Nino, even correcting for climate change.
It is a cyclical event in the Pacific that influences the weather worldwide. It seems to be setting up a major drought in the Western USA and Mexico.
The one a few years ago also caused a major drought in 2024 in Southern Africa with crop failures. The Kariba dam on the Zambezi was nearly dry.
Time for one of my periodic super-El Nino updates.
The long, strong westerly wind burst is over and the trades are back to close to normal until the last few days of April, but I think we have hit escape velocity and a big event is now inevitable.
Sub-surface anomalies: already higher in the equatorial Pacific than at any time except the 1997/8 mega event, and still rising:
ENSO remains hard to predict this early in the year. The pattern only locks in during boreal summer. But it’s already far further advanced than in normal events, so it’s possible to be confident already on a powerful event, and certainly not rule out the extreme scenarios turning up in some models.
It’s certainly been picked up on social media and the Americans have noticed, but of course that means they’re now all going loony about it on x and Bluesky and either prognosticating the end of civilisation as we know it or claiming it’s a hoax.
Pretend someone hadn't been paying attention until now - what does any of that mean?
"Speak as you might to a small child...or a golden retriver."
Wes Streeting defo for the sack after the May elections.
If he can't even make a vaguely anonymous briefing any more, plus fucking up the NHS/PHE merger, plus all the dud media interviews, he's just a liability.
Wes Streeting defo for the sack after the May elections.
If he can't even make a vaguely anonymous briefing any more, plus fucking up the NHS/PHE merger, plus all the dud media interviews, he's just a liability.
His seat is also likely gone even in an only moderately bad night for Labour - even breaking a pledge to not to chicken run, he's not a choice for the future.
Wes Streeting defo for the sack after the May elections.
If he can't even make a vaguely anonymous briefing any more, plus fucking up the NHS/PHE merger, plus all the dud media interviews, he's just a liability.
Which then makes him Starmer's Heseltine on the backbenches and very dangerous
Funny that the Party of patriots predecessor parties spent most of their time in the European Parliament not banging the drum for Britain but shilling for Putin.
A picture of King Charles in every school. That's really living the dream, policy-wise.
The official portrait is not helpful for it - it's a full body image of him in a corridor, so within a frame as well unless it is a really really big one it just looks too small.
A picture of King Charles in every school. That's really living the dream, policy-wise.
The official portrait is not helpful for it - it's a full body image of him in a corridor, so within a frame as well unless it is a really really big one it just looks too small.
A picture of King Charles in every school. That's really living the dream, policy-wise.
The official portrait is not helpful for it - it's a full body image of him in a corridor, so within a frame as well unless it is a really really big one it just looks too small.
A picture of King Charles in every school. That's really living the dream, policy-wise.
The French and Americans have portraits or photos of their heads of state in most public buildings and the Dutch have photos of the royal family available for display in public areas as well
A picture of King Charles in every school. That's really living the dream, policy-wise.
The French and Americans have portraits or photos of their heads of state in most public buildings and the Dutch have photos of the royal family available for display in public areas as well
Reform will be happy to ape the Americans, not so much the French and the Dutch.
Time for one of my periodic super-El Nino updates.
The long, strong westerly wind burst is over and the trades are back to close to normal until the last few days of April, but I think we have hit escape velocity and a big event is now inevitable.
Sub-surface anomalies: already higher in the equatorial Pacific than at any time except the 1997/8 mega event, and still rising:
ENSO remains hard to predict this early in the year. The pattern only locks in during boreal summer. But it’s already far further advanced than in normal events, so it’s possible to be confident already on a powerful event, and certainly not rule out the extreme scenarios turning up in some models.
It’s certainly been picked up on social media and the Americans have noticed, but of course that means they’re now all going loony about it on x and Bluesky and either prognosticating the end of civilisation as we know it or claiming it’s a hoax.
Pretend someone hadn't been paying attention until now - what does any of that mean?
Ah, this is tricky because there are several members here who are very up on their climatology so if I did something too basic I’d probably get piled on with corrections and told it’s more complex than that.
But, in simple terms:
- Usual state of the tropical Pacific is that Easterly trade winds blow all the warm water to the West and upwell relatively cold water from the deep in the East and centre. Keeps it dry in Western USA and South America, wet in Indonesia. - El Niño happens every few years when the trades weaken or reverse, and all the piled up warm water spreads eastwards cutting off upwelling. The whole system gets much warmer - El Ninos tend to start in summer and peak around Christmas, hence the name (the child ie Christ) - We get drought in SE Asia, drought in East Australia and Southern Africa and NE Brazil, floods in Peru, California, East Africa. The global temperature warms by up to 0.2C. Agricultural production globally declines. - There’s a marked impact on global GDP in the historical data
El Niños are thought to to have been the origins of dozens of famines in recorded history as well as some of the stories in ancient texts including the bible (Nile floods in lower Egypt strongly correlated with El Niño years in East Africa).
Interesting figures on tourism to Spain. If the trend for visitors from the UK is a proxy for the state of the economy then we’re doing better than the narrative suggests.
A picture of King Charles in every school. That's really living the dream, policy-wise.
The official portrait is not helpful for it - it's a full body image of him in a corridor, so within a frame as well unless it is a really really big one it just looks too small.
Needs to be shoulders and head only.
No room for the sausage fingers?
Sausages are too unhealthy for school dinners.
My retired colleague always argued they were a sign he wouldn’t make old bones.
Interesting figures on tourism to Spain. If the trend for visitors from the UK is a proxy for the state of the economy then we’re doing better than the narrative suggests.
A picture of King Charles in every school. That's really living the dream, policy-wise.
The official portrait is not helpful for it - it's a full body image of him in a corridor, so within a frame as well unless it is a really really big one it just looks too small.
Needs to be shoulders and head only.
There will already be a portrait of KC3 in all Civil Service offices (not always on public display, in Jobcentres they tend to be in the staff entrance)
A picture of King Charles in every school. That's really living the dream, policy-wise.
The French and Americans have portraits or photos of their heads of state in most public buildings and the Dutch have photos of the royal family available for display in public areas as well
In the days of the quite mad Turkmenbashi in Turkmenistan, it was obligatory to have a portrait of him - everywhere. Some had the dour, silver-haired drunkard of the Soviet era. Some had the more recent images of him with jet-black hair and the slightly startled smile of those ladies of a certain age in LA who most definitely have had no work, no sirree.
It became so absurd that they had to put out an equally absurd story about how he had bcome magically rejuvenated upon becoming President of an independent Turkmenistan...
Time for one of my periodic super-El Nino updates.
The long, strong westerly wind burst is over and the trades are back to close to normal until the last few days of April, but I think we have hit escape velocity and a big event is now inevitable.
Sub-surface anomalies: already higher in the equatorial Pacific than at any time except the 1997/8 mega event, and still rising:
ENSO remains hard to predict this early in the year. The pattern only locks in during boreal summer. But it’s already far further advanced than in normal events, so it’s possible to be confident already on a powerful event, and certainly not rule out the extreme scenarios turning up in some models.
It’s certainly been picked up on social media and the Americans have noticed, but of course that means they’re now all going loony about it on x and Bluesky and either prognosticating the end of civilisation as we know it or claiming it’s a hoax.
Pretend someone hadn't been paying attention until now - what does any of that mean?
Ah, this is tricky because there are several members here who are very up on their climatology so if I did something too basic I’d probably get piled on with corrections and told it’s more complex than that.
But, in simple terms:
- Usual state of the tropical Pacific is that Easterly trade winds blow all the warm water to the West and upwell relatively cold water from the deep in the East and centre. Keeps it dry in Western USA and South America, wet in Indonesia. - El Niño happens every few years when the trades weaken or reverse, and all the piled up warm water spreads eastwards cutting off upwelling. The whole system gets much warmer - El Ninos tend to start in summer and peak around Christmas, hence the name (the child ie Christ) - We get drought in SE Asia, drought in East Australia and Southern Africa and NE Brazil, floods in Peru, California, East Africa. The global temperature warms by up to 0.2C. Agricultural production globally declines. - There’s a marked impact on global GDP in the historical data
El Niños are thought to to have been the origins of dozens of famines in recorded history as well as some of the stories in ancient texts including the bible (Nile floods in lower Egypt strongly correlated with El Niño years in East Africa).
Well, if the crops are going to fail anyway, good job nobody is wasting money putting fertilizer on them... Fertilizer nobody has.
Interesting figures on tourism to Spain. If the trend for visitors from the UK is a proxy for the state of the economy then we’re doing better than the narrative suggests.
A picture of King Charles in every school. That's really living the dream, policy-wise.
The French and Americans have portraits or photos of their heads of state in most public buildings and the Dutch have photos of the royal family available for display in public areas as well
In the days of the quite mad Turkmenbashi in Turkmenistan, it was obligatory to have a portrait of him - everywhere. Some had the dour, silver-haired drunkard of the Soviet era. Some had the more recent images of him with jet-black hair and the slightly startled smile of those ladies of a certain age in LA who most definitely have had no work, no sirree.
It became so absurd that they had to put out an equally absurd story about how he had bcome magically rejuvenated upon becoming President of an independent Turkmenistan...
Time for one of my periodic super-El Nino updates.
The long, strong westerly wind burst is over and the trades are back to close to normal until the last few days of April, but I think we have hit escape velocity and a big event is now inevitable.
Sub-surface anomalies: already higher in the equatorial Pacific than at any time except the 1997/8 mega event, and still rising:
ENSO remains hard to predict this early in the year. The pattern only locks in during boreal summer. But it’s already far further advanced than in normal events, so it’s possible to be confident already on a powerful event, and certainly not rule out the extreme scenarios turning up in some models.
It’s certainly been picked up on social media and the Americans have noticed, but of course that means they’re now all going loony about it on x and Bluesky and either prognosticating the end of civilisation as we know it or claiming it’s a hoax.
Pretend someone hadn't been paying attention until now - what does any of that mean?
Ah, this is tricky because there are several members here who are very up on their climatology so if I did something too basic I’d probably get piled on with corrections and told it’s more complex than that.
But, in simple terms:
- Usual state of the tropical Pacific is that Easterly trade winds blow all the warm water to the West and upwell relatively cold water from the deep in the East and centre. Keeps it dry in Western USA and South America, wet in Indonesia. - El Niño happens every few years when the trades weaken or reverse, and all the piled up warm water spreads eastwards cutting off upwelling. The whole system gets much warmer - El Ninos tend to start in summer and peak around Christmas, hence the name (the child ie Christ) - We get drought in SE Asia, drought in East Australia and Southern Africa and NE Brazil, floods in Peru, California, East Africa. The global temperature warms by up to 0.2C. Agricultural production globally declines. - There’s a marked impact on global GDP in the historical data
El Niños are thought to to have been the origins of dozens of famines in recorded history as well as some of the stories in ancient texts including the bible (Nile floods in lower Egypt strongly correlated with El Niño years in East Africa).
Well, if the crops are going to fail anyway, good job nobody is wasting money putting fertilizer on them... Fertilizer nobody has.
We will be ok. Floods following thunderstorms will cause rivers to overflow, spreading the untreated sewage onto the adjoining fields, thereby fertilising the crops.
I'm glad at least one journalist has noticed this. The mere fact that Robbins made a decision without reading the report (colour coded box marking) to me is crazy. That he then didn't raise this or investigate further when it became a scandal is incredible.
I agree. It's really appalling, and the general 'purrring down the telephone line' that is happening about Sir 'Olly' at the moment is quite ridiculous.
Interesting figures on tourism to Spain. If the trend for visitors from the UK is a proxy for the state of the economy then we’re doing better than the narrative suggests.
Time for one of my periodic super-El Nino updates.
The long, strong westerly wind burst is over and the trades are back to close to normal until the last few days of April, but I think we have hit escape velocity and a big event is now inevitable.
Sub-surface anomalies: already higher in the equatorial Pacific than at any time except the 1997/8 mega event, and still rising:
ENSO remains hard to predict this early in the year. The pattern only locks in during boreal summer. But it’s already far further advanced than in normal events, so it’s possible to be confident already on a powerful event, and certainly not rule out the extreme scenarios turning up in some models.
It’s certainly been picked up on social media and the Americans have noticed, but of course that means they’re now all going loony about it on x and Bluesky and either prognosticating the end of civilisation as we know it or claiming it’s a hoax.
Pretend someone hadn't been paying attention until now - what does any of that mean?
Ah, this is tricky because there are several members here who are very up on their climatology so if I did something too basic I’d probably get piled on with corrections and told it’s more complex than that.
But, in simple terms:
- Usual state of the tropical Pacific is that Easterly trade winds blow all the warm water to the West and upwell relatively cold water from the deep in the East and centre. Keeps it dry in Western USA and South America, wet in Indonesia. - El Niño happens every few years when the trades weaken or reverse, and all the piled up warm water spreads eastwards cutting off upwelling. The whole system gets much warmer - El Ninos tend to start in summer and peak around Christmas, hence the name (the child ie Christ) - We get drought in SE Asia, drought in East Australia and Southern Africa and NE Brazil, floods in Peru, California, East Africa. The global temperature warms by up to 0.2C. Agricultural production globally declines. - There’s a marked impact on global GDP in the historical data
El Niños are thought to to have been the origins of dozens of famines in recorded history as well as some of the stories in ancient texts including the bible (Nile floods in lower Egypt strongly correlated with El Niño years in East Africa).
A couple of minor little things to add: stronger El Niño cycles is one of those predictions from the climate models where we were never that confident in them, because it was a hard thing for the models to recreate, but this super-strong event would be consistent with that prediction. Which is not great.
Also, while global surface temperature increases in an El Niño, this has the effect of increasing the outgoing longwave radiation from the surface, and so it reduces temporarily the radiative imbalance at the top of the atmosphere that leads to the globe warming. So the globe looks a lot hotter, but it's actually less hotter, in the short-term. This is only heating deferred, rather than avoided, but it's an interesting little quirk.
A second Reform leaflet to match the Greens output. Our 3 all-male Reform candidates on one side cover everything I might expect: the retired Christian nationalist, the 50 something small businessman and a more online looking, younger bearded-but-not-in-a-hipster-way type.
Out and about it's not yet the carnival of election poster festoonery we've had for some recent elections and the Dewsbury end of the borough is very quiet. By ward:
Dalton: loads of generic Labour posters and a definite play to hold specifically here Greenhead, Newsome & Netherton: enough generic Green posters to mark territory but not lots. One in the usual garden, but otherwise just lampposts Heckmondwike: the only A62 poster north of Huddersfield is passing the bit of this ward that goes through. 2 Muslim community independents on a poster - I thought they'd stood 3 tbh. Lindley, Almondbury: Lib Dems putting up a smattering of 3 name posters. I swear a couple of the named Almondbury ones have crept across the road into Dalton ward Crosland Moor: Labour, Green and a single Muslim community independent trade a couple of posters each, the independent has a big poster on the private yard outside a takeaway. Holme Valley North: the Local Independents came out early with individual named posters in matching purple/white colours to say they are a grouping, three per lamppost, Reform have followed them on the same lampposts with generic posters. Ashbrow: Labour, Green and Reform trading a few posters along the A62
Robert Blake commented of Suez, 'it was a military success but a political disaster.'
Trump is halfway towards repeating Suez.
He just needs a military success.
What happened to 'doing a number' on Kharg Island?
It seems that by Trumps naval blockade, Iran cannot export their oil which has a direct effect on their oilfields which once unable to distribute their oil they become seriously damaged even long term
This is Trump's military using the blockade to damage Iran's oil revenues without bombing Kharg Island
The problem is this is terrible for everyone and a serious stalemate
Interesting figures on tourism to Spain. If the trend for visitors from the UK is a proxy for the state of the economy then we’re doing better than the narrative suggests.
Robert Blake commented of Suez, 'it was a military success but a political disaster.'
Trump is halfway towards repeating Suez.
He just needs a military success.
Already a political disaster. Question is whether it will still be a political disaster by the autumn when the US votes on midterms.
He's running out of time.
Both sides seem to be overplaying weak hands. I've no idea what is going to happen.
What's important to me is that Europe is just a passenger, completely powerless to influence events. And the main reaction of most European governments has been to use money that would be better invested in the technology of the future - so that Europe would be wealthier and more in charge of its own destiny in the future - it's using that money for short-term fuel subsidies.
A second Reform leaflet to match the Greens output. Our 3 all-male Reform candidates on one side cover everything I might expect: the retired Christian nationalist, the 50 something small businessman and a more online looking, younger bearded-but-not-in-a-hipster-way type.
Out and about it's not yet the carnival of election poster festoonery we've had for some recent elections and the Dewsbury end of the borough is very quiet. By ward:
Dalton: loads of generic Labour posters and a definite play to hold specifically here Greenhead, Newsome & Netherton: enough generic Green posters to mark territory but not lots. One in the usual garden, but otherwise just lampposts Heckmondwike: the only A62 poster north of Huddersfield is passing the bit of this ward that goes through. 2 Muslim community independents on a poster - I thought they'd stood 3 tbh. Lindley, Almondbury: Lib Dems putting up a smattering of 3 name posters. I swear a couple of the named Almondbury ones have crept across the road into Dalton ward Crosland Moor: Labour, Green and a single Muslim community independent trade a couple of posters each, the independent has a big poster on the private yard outside a takeaway. Holme Valley North: the Local Independents came out early with individual named posters in matching purple/white colours to say they are a grouping, three per lamppost, Reform have followed them on the same lampposts with generic posters. Ashbrow: Labour, Green and Reform trading a few posters along the A62
Robert Blake commented of Suez, 'it was a military success but a political disaster.'
Trump is halfway towards repeating Suez.
He just needs a military success.
What happened to 'doing a number' on Kharg Island?
It seems that by Trumps naval blockade, Iran cannot export their oil which has a direct effect on their oilfields which once unable to distribute their oil they become seriously damaged even long term
This is Trump's military using the blockade to damage Iran's oil revenues without bombing Kharg Island
The problem is this is terrible for everyone and a serious stalemate
He is out of his depth basically. Can't prosecute a war. Can't negotiate an alternative to it.
Former First Minister of Scotland @NicolaSturgeon says Keir Starmer cannot ‘turn around’ the negative poll ratings and the longer he ‘limps on’ the more terminal damage he will do for the Labour brand
Robert Blake commented of Suez, 'it was a military success but a political disaster.'
Trump is halfway towards repeating Suez.
He just needs a military success.
Already a political disaster. Question is whether it will still be a political disaster by the autumn when the US votes on midterms.
He's running out of time.
Both sides seem to be overplaying weak hands. I've no idea what is going to happen.
What's important to me is that Europe is just a passenger, completely powerless to influence events. And the main reaction of most European governments has been to use money that would be better invested in the technology of the future - so that Europe would be wealthier and more in charge of its own destiny in the future - it's using that money for short-term fuel subsidies.
It's maddening.
It feels like a really odd focus. Where's the long term vision?
A second Reform leaflet to match the Greens output. Our 3 all-male Reform candidates on one side cover everything I might expect: the retired Christian nationalist, the 50 something small businessman and a more online looking, younger bearded-but-not-in-a-hipster-way type.
Out and about it's not yet the carnival of election poster festoonery we've had for some recent elections and the Dewsbury end of the borough is very quiet. By ward:
Dalton: loads of generic Labour posters and a definite play to hold specifically here Greenhead, Newsome & Netherton: enough generic Green posters to mark territory but not lots. One in the usual garden, but otherwise just lampposts Heckmondwike: the only A62 poster north of Huddersfield is passing the bit of this ward that goes through. 2 Muslim community independents on a poster - I thought they'd stood 3 tbh. Lindley, Almondbury: Lib Dems putting up a smattering of 3 name posters. I swear a couple of the named Almondbury ones have crept across the road into Dalton ward Crosland Moor: Labour, Green and a single Muslim community independent trade a couple of posters each, the independent has a big poster on the private yard outside a takeaway. Holme Valley North: the Local Independents came out early with individual named posters in matching purple/white colours to say they are a grouping, three per lamppost, Reform have followed them on the same lampposts with generic posters. Ashbrow: Labour, Green and Reform trading a few posters along the A62
Robert Blake commented of Suez, 'it was a military success but a political disaster.'
Trump is halfway towards repeating Suez.
He just needs a military success.
What happened to 'doing a number' on Kharg Island?
It seems that by Trumps naval blockade, Iran cannot export their oil which has a direct effect on their oilfields which once unable to distribute their oil they become seriously damaged even long term
This is Trump's military using the blockade to damage Iran's oil revenues without bombing Kharg Island
The problem is this is terrible for everyone and a serious stalemate
He is out of his depth basically. Can't prosecute a war. Can't negotiate an alternative to it.
"FAKE NEWS from the RADICAL LEFT LUNATIC Kinabalu! Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
Interesting figures on tourism to Spain. If the trend for visitors from the UK is a proxy for the state of the economy then we’re doing better than the narrative suggests.
I see that Lord Robertson has made another criticism of British government defence strategy. I'm glad that someone is doing so, but it feels a bit disappointing that the opposition in the Commons has been so distracted by Mandelson that there's no pressure on the government over defence in the Commons.
I see that Lord Robertson has made another criticism of British government defence strategy. I'm glad that someone is doing so, but it feels a bit disappointing that the opposition in the Commons has been so distracted by Mandelson that there's no pressure on the government over defence in the Commons.
They know they have too many skeletons in their own closet.
Former First Minister of Scotland @NicolaSturgeon says Keir Starmer cannot ‘turn around’ the negative poll ratings and the longer he ‘limps on’ the more terminal damage he will do for the Labour brand
Former First Minister of Scotland @NicolaSturgeon says Keir Starmer cannot ‘turn around’ the negative poll ratings and the longer he ‘limps on’ the more terminal damage he will do for the Labour brand
Well, Nicola, he hasn’t been arrested, has he?
She made sure to get out before the shit hit the fan.
Interesting figures on tourism to Spain. If the trend for visitors from the UK is a proxy for the state of the economy then we’re doing better than the narrative suggests.
I didn't think the BBC had ads but some vaguely familiar bloke is doing a 10 minute infomercial for Anthropic on newsnight. So if employers NI is abolished where does the former CoE and PM think the lost tax will come from? Corporation tax? Can't see businesses being happy about that even if they've saved a wedge on NI.
Being reported that Tulsi Gabbard is being "resigned".
Four members of the administration being resigned - all women.
Yet Hegseth and Patel remain in post.
He loves big tough men. Or failing that, men at least.
I'd never even heard of the Labor secretary, what did she do to upset him? Note, being corrupt or incompetent in itself would not be the answer, given those who remain in place.
A picture of King Charles in every school. That's really living the dream, policy-wise.
The French and Americans have portraits or photos of their heads of state in most public buildings and the Dutch have photos of the royal family available for display in public areas as well
yes, but that's because their leaders are lacking in confidence. It's just not the British way to do these things, monarchist or not
A picture of King Charles in every school. That's really living the dream, policy-wise.
The French and Americans have portraits or photos of their heads of state in most public buildings and the Dutch have photos of the royal family available for display in public areas as well
yes, but that's because their leaders are lacking in confidence. It's just not the British way to do these things, monarchist or not
I'm a monarchist, but I'm not a weirdo about it - I think people are content with the system as it is, and the people who don't care are not overexposed to any of it, you piss off more people if you get too pushy.
I see that Lord Robertson has made another criticism of British government defence strategy. I'm glad that someone is doing so, but it feels a bit disappointing that the opposition in the Commons has been so distracted by Mandelson that there's no pressure on the government over defence in the Commons.
Badenoch used all six questions at PMQs about it last time Lord Robertson spoke out
Top US navy official to leave office ‘immediately’, says Pentagon
The Pentagon has announced that US secretary of the navy John Phelan will leave office “immediately”, without providing an explanation for the sudden departure.
The exit comes after the US army’s top officer, Gen Randy George, and two other senior officers were removed earlier this month amid the continuing US war with Iran.
Phelan “is departing the administration, effective immediately”, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said on X, adding that undersecretary Hung Cao would replace Phelan in an acting capacity.
Comments
This war is looking like a comprehensive victory for the IRGC. What a stupid disaster.
He's probably readier now then he would have been then.
The contrast might be someone like Corbyn who had nearly 3 decades in Parliament, but lacked any experiencing of junior ministries or (I think) chairing sub-committees, or even just building intra party relationships outside his faction. And so was utterly unsuitable and reduced to having his supporters whinge that MPs didn't just do whatever he wanted because the members liked him.
He left D-Day 80yr commemorations early (including leaving the last few remaining D-Day veterans high and dry) as he thought it didn't matter.
Even Truss would not have made such a crass error of judgment... He was a terrible Prime Minister following a 30 year run of them and still on-going.... Whatever have we done to deserve this roll call of shame:
Major
Blair
Brown
Cameron
May
Boris
Truss (do we even count her, honestly???)
Sunak
Two Tier...
To think that the late Queen Elizabeth II started her reign with Churchill and ended it with Johnson/Truss, really encapsulates the decline of a great nation over 70 years
Shashank Joshi
@shashj
Experimenting with OpenAI's new model. A hydrologically accurate cut-away of the Strait of Hormuz, drawn by Richard Scarry, drawing on current AIS data.
https://x.com/shashj/status/2047012586512695453
Now...
Rest of the planet: Erm...?
(Not many teachers have 30 years' experience these days. The job is too knackering and the pay scales make oldies too expensive.)
Oh - the Tories....
With royal icing.
And sprinkles.
The long, strong westerly wind burst is over and the trades are back to close to normal until the last few days of April, but I think we have hit escape velocity and a big event is now inevitable.
Sub-surface anomalies: already higher in the equatorial Pacific than at any time except the 1997/8 mega event, and still rising:
https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_update/heat-last-year.gif
https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/ocean/index/heat_content_index.txt
(Note second link only goes up to March but included for historical comparison).
Dynamic forecasts from the main models the highest I’ve ever seen, and breaking the CFS scale:
https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_update/heat-last-year.gif
(1997/8 peaked at +2.4C)
ENSO remains hard to predict this early in the year. The pattern only locks in during boreal summer. But it’s already far further advanced than in normal events, so it’s possible to be confident already on a powerful event, and certainly not rule out the extreme scenarios turning up in some models.
It’s certainly been picked up on social media and the Americans have noticed, but of course that means they’re now all going loony about it on x and Bluesky and either prognosticating the end of civilisation as we know it or claiming it’s a hoax.
https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Traders-Placed-430M-Bets-Minutes-Before-Trump-Extended-Iran-Ceasefire.html
Remembrance is fine but there is a limit. And he DID attend.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jun/30/peter-thiel-palantir-threat-to-americans?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
For those who don't know "Palantir" is the device used by Sauron in LOTR to spy on and influence people and events. So Theil is not concealing his objective!
Trump is halfway towards repeating Suez.
He just needs a military success.
https://x.com/PolitlcsUK/status/2047005816327196813?s=20
Cabinet Minister: "It’s bleak. It’s a question for the Cabinet and colleagues need to come to a view. I know what my view is"
Another Minister: "We can’t go on like this. Wes and Ange have got to come to some accommodation"'
https://x.com/PolitlcsUK/status/2047006107692867731?s=20
It is a cyclical event in the Pacific that influences the weather worldwide. It seems to be setting up a major drought in the Western USA and Mexico.
The one a few years ago also caused a major drought in 2024 in Southern Africa with crop failures. The Kariba dam on the Zambezi was nearly dry.
https://x.com/PolitlcsUK/status/2047042814102384971?s=20
'Alongside the Union Jack, schools would need to display the Cross of St George in England, the Saltire in Scotland and the Red Dragon in Wales
It has also pledged to change the curriculum to "reflect a patriotic history of the British Isles"
https://x.com/PolitlcsUK/status/2047043107758182768?s=20
If he can't even make a vaguely anonymous briefing any more, plus fucking up the NHS/PHE merger, plus all the dud media interviews, he's just a liability.
He's running out of time.
I guess it is understandable in the circumstances that Sir K thinks it is bleak and the Cabinet need to come to a view.
Funny that the Party of patriots predecessor parties spent most of their time in the European Parliament not banging the drum for Britain but shilling for Putin.
Needs to be shoulders and head only.
But, in simple terms:
- Usual state of the tropical Pacific is that Easterly trade winds blow all the warm water to the West and upwell relatively cold water from the deep in the East and centre. Keeps it dry in Western USA and South America, wet in Indonesia.
- El Niño happens every few years when the trades weaken or reverse, and all the piled up warm water spreads eastwards cutting off upwelling. The whole system gets much warmer
- El Ninos tend to start in summer and peak around Christmas, hence the name (the child ie Christ)
- We get drought in SE Asia, drought in East Australia and Southern Africa and NE Brazil, floods in Peru, California, East Africa. The global temperature warms by up to 0.2C. Agricultural production globally declines.
- There’s a marked impact on global GDP in the historical data
El Niños are thought to to have been the origins of dozens of famines in recorded history as well as some of the stories in ancient texts including the bible (Nile floods in lower Egypt strongly correlated with El Niño years in East Africa).
https://x.com/embspainuk/status/2046964706645020777
It became so absurd that they had to put out an equally absurd story about how he had bcome magically rejuvenated upon becoming President of an independent Turkmenistan...
I suppose you have to have a goodie and a baddie.
Also, while global surface temperature increases in an El Niño, this has the effect of increasing the outgoing longwave radiation from the surface, and so it reduces temporarily the radiative imbalance at the top of the atmosphere that leads to the globe warming. So the globe looks a lot hotter, but it's actually less hotter, in the short-term. This is only heating deferred, rather than avoided, but it's an interesting little quirk.
A second Reform leaflet to match the Greens output. Our 3 all-male Reform candidates on one side cover everything I might expect: the retired Christian nationalist, the 50 something small businessman and a more online looking, younger bearded-but-not-in-a-hipster-way type.
Out and about it's not yet the carnival of election poster festoonery we've had for some recent elections and the Dewsbury end of the borough is very quiet. By ward:
Dalton: loads of generic Labour posters and a definite play to hold specifically here
Greenhead, Newsome & Netherton: enough generic Green posters to mark territory but not lots. One in the usual garden, but otherwise just lampposts
Heckmondwike: the only A62 poster north of Huddersfield is passing the bit of this ward that goes through. 2 Muslim community independents on a poster - I thought they'd stood 3 tbh.
Lindley, Almondbury: Lib Dems putting up a smattering of 3 name posters. I swear a couple of the named Almondbury ones have crept across the road into Dalton ward
Crosland Moor: Labour, Green and a single Muslim community independent trade a couple of posters each, the independent has a big poster on the private yard outside a takeaway.
Holme Valley North: the Local Independents came out early with individual named posters in matching purple/white colours to say they are a grouping, three per lamppost, Reform have followed them on the same lampposts with generic posters.
Ashbrow: Labour, Green and Reform trading a few posters along the A62
This is Trump's military using the blockade to damage Iran's oil revenues without bombing Kharg Island
The problem is this is terrible for everyone and a serious stalemate
What's important to me is that Europe is just a passenger, completely powerless to influence events. And the main reaction of most European governments has been to use money that would be better invested in the technology of the future - so that Europe would be wealthier and more in charge of its own destiny in the future - it's using that money for short-term fuel subsidies.
It's maddening.
“We are way beyond the beginning of the end”
Former First Minister of Scotland @NicolaSturgeon says Keir Starmer cannot ‘turn around’ the negative poll ratings and the longer he ‘limps on’ the more terminal damage he will do for the Labour brand
Starmer is finished.
You heard it here first.......
Oh, yes, it’s something like President Trump fighting, and losing, a war by just repeatedly saying he’s won, even though he hasn’t.
I still think Murrell will weasel out of it.
https://www.travelweekly.co.uk/news/uk-market-to-us-belies-overall-decline-with-year-on-year-growth
Four members of the administration being resigned - all women.
Yet Hegseth and Patel remain in post.
So if employers NI is abolished where does the former CoE and PM think the lost tax will come from? Corporation tax? Can't see businesses being happy about that even if they've saved a wedge on NI.
I'd never even heard of the Labor secretary, what did she do to upset him? Note, being corrupt or incompetent in itself would not be the answer, given those who remain in place.
Top US navy official to leave office ‘immediately’, says Pentagon
The Pentagon has announced that US secretary of the navy John Phelan will leave office “immediately”, without providing an explanation for the sudden departure.
The exit comes after the US army’s top officer, Gen Randy George, and two other senior officers were removed earlier this month amid the continuing US war with Iran.
Phelan “is departing the administration, effective immediately”, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said on X, adding that undersecretary Hung Cao would replace Phelan in an acting capacity.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/apr/22/iran-war-live-updates-trump-ceasefire-us-hormuz-blockade-israel-lebanon-middle-east?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with:block-69e94e238f08e57d94004bc2#block-69e94e238f08e57d94004bc2