Watching Peston, both he and Pippa Crerar are awful presenters, it’s a wonder they have jobs. So much erm-ing and uncomfortable pauses between words, it is very amateurish
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.
The boss of the world's biggest condom maker, Karex, says the firm will raise its prices by up to 30% or possibly more if the Iran war continues to disrupt supplies of the raw materials used in its products.
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.
The primary school some two hundred yards away flies the Union flag. Its children are mainly from ethnic minorities. No-one seems to mind. Whether most schools even have flagpoles is a question for Mr Farage.
Someone has flown the England flag from a lamppost opposite the school, so everyone can be happy.
The King's portrait is already on the money and the stamps.
Changing the history syllabus was attempted by Michael Gove. The trouble is that historians decided children need to be taught mainly about how history is done – reading and interpreting sources and so on – and that history is best taught jumping about in time and space as a collection of modules – like Bill & Ted – rather than a chronological amble through kings and prime ministers. A lot of it is not even British.
My guess is that if a Reform government tried to change it, publishers would say it will take five years to write new textbooks and by that time there will be a new election.
Watching Peston, both he and Pippa Crerar are awful presenters, it’s a wonder they have jobs. So much erm-ing and uncomfortable pauses between words, it is very amateurish
Isn't Peston's whole schtick to have uncomfortable words between pauses?
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.
Indeed. The Mandleshenanigans are colour-of-the-bikeshed stuff compared to the armed forces problem
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.
Indeed. The Mandleshenanigans are colour-of-the-bikeshed stuff compared to the armed forces problem
The Tories don’t have history hiring Mandy with which Keir can counter
Here in a very different part of the London election battleground to Primrose Hill, we've had a Reform leaflet delivered this evening. Said leaflet pushes Clive Furness, the Mayoral candidate, who has, as we say round here, "form" in Newham politics along with the single candidate for our Ward.
It's a well put together leaflet in all honesty but in terms of detailed policy, allReform say is:
Your Money Matters Your Family Matters Your Vote Matters
Long on generalities, short on specifics, I'd argue.
By way of contrast, we also had a leaflet from the Christian People's Alliance which wasn't delivered through the letterbox but put under the windscreen wiper on my car (along with all the other cars parked in the road, many of which don't belong to locals).
The CPA Mayoral candidate is one Reverend Bharath Swamy and his six point plan for Newham can be summarised as follows:
1) I will guarantee everyone sleeping rough a night shelter with a free meal.
2) I will reduce crime by supporting anyone in Newham leaving prison giving them accommodation and assistance with paid work.
3) I will provide free supplementary schools for all children 4-16 that need additional help to improve education outcomes.
4) I will restore all boarded up houses and flats and put them into use immediately.
5) I will save money by cancelling all climate initiatives. We need to get rid of sulphur emissions but carbon is good for the environment and a natural part of life.
6) I will push government hard to get rid of commercial rates to help shops by introducing a turnover tax at 5% with a threshold of £125,000. Everyone will pay the same tax if they buy on line or in a shop.
I'd be interested to know what we think of the CPA's ideas which are certainly novel.
I'd go 3, 4, 2, 1, 6, 5
You're better off improving the lives of people so the shopkeepers have more footfall and more people staying locally.
Practical politics rather than personality politics though I know there are a few on PB like prefer to talk about personality. And Process. Nothing like a good debate about Process.
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
It was, though. I recall plenty of QEII in her Garter robes (the 1955 Beaton photograph) around, in schools and elsewhere, back when I was a kid.
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
Last time round it was a straightforward matter of the non existent funding plan (which still hasn't appeared). This intervention isn't so clearcut for the opposition.
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.
Indeed. The Mandleshenanigans are colour-of-the-bikeshed stuff compared to the armed forces problem
That’s very true.
There’s been some progress in recent weeks, for example the opening of a Ukranian drone factory in the UK (more details than that seem rather scarce, but I can understand why).
What’s missing is a defence strategy, a serious failure of both current and previous governments. In case they hadn’t noticed, there’s a war going on in Europe right now, to which the only response appears to have been sending some old kit to those defending. There’s also a major disturbance in Iran now, to which the government has been totally flat-footed despite rising fuel prices and predictions of shortages.
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.
Just a crazy suggestion but maybe the government could treat it as a wakeup call to stop wasting so much of its overburdened taxpayers' money?
Labour losing a Salford seat where they would have weighed the vote in the past.
It's going to be a bloodbath of unsurvivable proportions for Downhill Skyr.
Do they even have a safe seat to parachute Andy Burnham into Parliament?
I suspect Andy would win one of the safer labour Manchester seats, because (a) he appears to be personally popular there and (b) there are enough disgruntled ex-labour voters who want to get rid of Starmer.
But that's perhaps four or five seats out of four hundred that he could win.
Labour losing a Salford seat where they would have weighed the vote in the past.
It's going to be a bloodbath of unsurvivable proportions for Downhill Skyr.
Do they even have a safe seat to parachute Andy Burnham into Parliament?
I suspect Andy would win one of the safer labour Manchester seats, because (a) he appears to be personally popular there and (b) there are enough disgruntled ex-labour voters who want to get rid of Starmer.
But that's perhaps four or five seats out of four hundred that he could win.
What would happen if the Tories and LDs stood aside, or stood only paper candidates, and Reform stood a local Mancunian businessman against Burnham?
Sky just ran their YG MRP for London, details should be online shortly Vote shares were
Lab 26 Grn 22 Con 17 LD 15 Ref 14
There's also a new Senedd MRP here. It has Labour on 13%.
I've looked at the Senedd mRP link you provided. It's...awful for the legacy parties. Labour might be the junior partner in a PC-Lab coalition. The Conservatives won't have enough members for a group. The LDs will have one member.
As for the newer ones, Reform will have a plurality at 37 (49 needed for a majority), Green rise from 0 to seven members, and Plaid will have 36.
Only plausible majority solution is PC+Lab+Lib=36+12+1=49, assuming PC+Ref is implausible. PC+Lab =48 which would work for a while. Minority administrations by Ref or PC possible
But the takeaway from this is Labour (nominal) losing 32 out of 44 members. That is as bad for Labour in Wales as the Scottish realignment in the 2010s. How do they recover from this?
On the bright side for Labour, Plaid and the SNP will have to beg them for support to get power and legislation through and keep Reform out in Scotland and Wales as neither will win a majority. Indeed in Scotland the latest MiC poll has the SNP even failing to have a majority with the Greens
Neither will 'beg' labour for support
Plaid has made it clear they will govern as a minority government if necessary
You do not seem to understand how toxic labour are in Wales
But nowhere near as toxic the Tories if that poll is correct.
Conservatives in Wales are going to have a bad night but nothing like labour who have been in power since devolution and are heading to fringe party status
This feels like labour's surrender to SNP in Scotland from which they have not recovered
As you say Labour have been in power since devolution and every party eventually runs out of steam. They are also suffering from the mid-term blues that affects just about every government. What is the Tories excuse for their performance?
Long Johnson.
You must mention Boris around ten times every day
It does seem a smidgeon excessive
Nowhere near as many times as you mention Skyr. Although during these days of Starmer jeopardy that is perfectly acceptable.
Anyway, you don't like me posting at all so why not make like the a good right winger and plant some flags on me .
It's okay Pete, they hate me too.
I don’t even hate Roger, who said that I deserved a sleepless night of excruciating pain for having the wrong opinion on Gaza
You two are so desperate to be victims; it’s weird..
BCH for sure and boring twat along with it. Pete is fine and can take a pasting.
Labour losing a Salford seat where they would have weighed the vote in the past.
It's going to be a bloodbath of unsurvivable proportions for Downhill Skyr.
Do they even have a safe seat to parachute Andy Burnham into Parliament?
I suspect Andy would win one of the safer labour Manchester seats, because (a) he appears to be personally popular there and (b) there are enough disgruntled ex-labour voters who want to get rid of Starmer.
But that's perhaps four or five seats out of four hundred that he could win.
What would happen if the Tories and LDs stood aside, or stood only paper candidates, and Reform stood a local Mancunian businessman against Burnham?
Presumably what would happen is it would come out that the local Mancunian businessman had said on Facebook that the Jews are conspiring to flood the country with Muslim immigrants and, oh, women should stay in the kitchen, then Farage would disown the candidate and Burnham would win easily.
It’s not in the oppositions interests to have Burnham winning a seat .
Not because I think Burnham is the saviour that some in Labour think but because it would cause more chaos in the party if he can’t win a seat .
Unless he goes for a seat in London then the whole plan could unravel.
Good morning
Burnhams DNA is he is a northerner and standing in London would be against everything he is popular for
A Manchester seat would give him the opportunity to enter parliament and if elected a northern PM being a welcome relief from the London elite
Maybe a labour mp from the area will resign his seat after May elections and the sooner the better
I like Andy Burnham for the way he has brought together the councils and business successfully demonstrated by simply travelling into Manchester by train and seeing the City cranes and all
He may not be the Messiah but he would at least give labour a chance to put the Mandelson toxicity behind them
It’s not in the oppositions interests to have Burnham winning a seat .
Not because I think Burnham is the saviour that some in Labour think but because it would cause more chaos in the party if he can’t win a seat .
Unless he goes for a seat in London then the whole plan could unravel.
Good morning
Burnhams DNA is he is a northerner and standing in London would be against everything he is popular for
A Manchester seat would give him the opportunity to enter parliament and if elected a northern PM being a welcome relief from the London elite
Maybe a labour mp from the area will resign his seat after May elections and the sooner the better
I like Andy Burnham for the way he has brought together the councils and business successfully demonstrated by simply travelling into Manchester by train and seeing the City cranes and all
He may not be the Messiah but he would at least give labour a chance to put the Mandelson toxicity behind them
That maybe the case but there are currently no safe seats for Labour outside of London . And of course the NEC have to green light him standing .
The boss of the world's biggest condom maker, Karex, says the firm will raise its prices by up to 30% or possibly more if the Iran war continues to disrupt supplies of the raw materials used in its products.
The boss of the world's biggest condom maker, Karex, says the firm will raise its prices by up to 30% or possibly more if the Iran war continues to disrupt supplies of the raw materials used in its products.
I don’t expect Trump will start bombing Iran whilst the King and Queen are in the USA . He wouldn’t want anything to divert media attention from that .
Labour losing a Salford seat where they would have weighed the vote in the past.
It's going to be a bloodbath of unsurvivable proportions for Downhill Skyr.
Happy days.
There isn't a single prominent cabinet Minister whomis worth an ounce of grain. Its a sorry state when there isn't an obvious Cabinet member to challenge Starmer.
The boss of the world's biggest condom maker, Karex, says the firm will raise its prices by up to 30% or possibly more if the Iran war continues to disrupt supplies of the raw materials used in its products.
Labour losing a Salford seat where they would have weighed the vote in the past.
It's going to be a bloodbath of unsurvivable proportions for Downhill Skyr.
Happy days.
There isn't a single prominent cabinet Minister whomis worth an ounce of grain. Its a sorry state when there isn't an obvious Cabinet member to challenge Starmer.
While not an unfair comment it's worth noting this applies to other parties too. I'd like to see (but won't) Jeremy Hunt become the Conservative leader, but no party is brimming with talent that leaves the current leadership trembling in fear.
Big gain for Reform no doubt but Labour will I suspect be even more relieved to have beaten the Greens for second in a Greater Manchester seat after Gorton and Denton.
Now Labour can squeeze Green tactical votes as the main alternative to beat Reform and should easily overcome the 1% Reform winning margin next time the seat is up
Labour losing a Salford seat where they would have weighed the vote in the past.
It's going to be a bloodbath of unsurvivable proportions for Downhill Skyr.
Happy days.
There isn't a single prominent cabinet Minister whomis worth an ounce of grain. Its a sorry state when there isn't an obvious Cabinet member to challenge Starmer.
Streeting is probably the one Tories would most fear but if May is very poor for Labour Rayner would be the likeliest challenger and she is no longer in the Cabinet
Labour losing a Salford seat where they would have weighed the vote in the past.
It's going to be a bloodbath of unsurvivable proportions for Downhill Skyr.
Do they even have a safe seat to parachute Andy Burnham into Parliament?
I suspect Andy would win one of the safer labour Manchester seats, because (a) he appears to be personally popular there and (b) there are enough disgruntled ex-labour voters who want to get rid of Starmer.
But that's perhaps four or five seats out of four hundred that he could win.
What would happen if the Tories and LDs stood aside, or stood only paper candidates, and Reform stood a local Mancunian businessman against Burnham?
The LDs would vote for Burnham over Reform and even some Tories would vote for Burnham over Reform
Happy 23rd April, the day we English celebrate some Greek Christian bloke from modern-day Turkey being prosecuted for killing an endangered species...
Grandson of a Greek doing the same.
The water buffalo is not an endangered species. Neither is it native to Argentina where this photo was taken, it is a feral population descended from imported animals from South Asia.
The reference to taxi boats presumably means boats launched from Belgium that pick up French passengers bound for Britain, a new tactic because French policing was working.
The primary school some two hundred yards away flies the Union flag. Its children are mainly from ethnic minorities. No-one seems to mind. Whether most schools even have flagpoles is a question for Mr Farage.
Someone has flown the England flag from a lamppost opposite the school, so everyone can be happy.
The King's portrait is already on the money and the stamps.
Changing the history syllabus was attempted by Michael Gove. The trouble is that historians decided children need to be taught mainly about how history is done – reading and interpreting sources and so on – and that history is best taught jumping about in time and space as a collection of modules – like Bill & Ted – rather than a chronological amble through kings and prime ministers. A lot of it is not even British.
My guess is that if a Reform government tried to change it, publishers would say it will take five years to write new textbooks and by that time there will be a new election.
Children do have to have studied history from Roman and Anglo Saxon times to the 20th century though by the time they reach 14
The boss of the world's biggest condom maker, Karex, says the firm will raise its prices by up to 30% or possibly more if the Iran war continues to disrupt supplies of the raw materials used in its products.
Labour losing a Salford seat where they would have weighed the vote in the past.
It's going to be a bloodbath of unsurvivable proportions for Downhill Skyr.
Happy days.
There isn't a single prominent cabinet Minister whomis worth an ounce of grain. Its a sorry state when there isn't an obvious Cabinet member to challenge Starmer.
Streeting is probably the one Tories would most fear but if May is very poor for Labour Rayner would be the likeliest challenger and she is no longer in the Cabinet
As an interim replacement that would be okay but longer term it’s risky as he is sitting on a very small majority of around 500 votes .
Rayners HMRC investigation hangs over her and until that’s settled she can’t stand for the leadership.
It’s not in the oppositions interests to have Burnham winning a seat .
Not because I think Burnham is the saviour that some in Labour think but because it would cause more chaos in the party if he can’t win a seat .
Unless he goes for a seat in London then the whole plan could unravel.
Good morning
Burnhams DNA is he is a northerner and standing in London would be against everything he is popular for
A Manchester seat would give him the opportunity to enter parliament and if elected a northern PM being a welcome relief from the London elite
Maybe a labour mp from the area will resign his seat after May elections and the sooner the better
I like Andy Burnham for the way he has brought together the councils and business successfully demonstrated by simply travelling into Manchester by train and seeing the City cranes and all
He may not be the Messiah but he would at least give labour a chance to put the Mandelson toxicity behind them
That maybe the case but there are currently no safe seats for Labour outside of London . And of course the NEC have to green light him standing .
I think in Greater Manchester he would win simply by not being Starmer
Labour losing a Salford seat where they would have weighed the vote in the past.
It's going to be a bloodbath of unsurvivable proportions for Downhill Skyr.
Do they even have a safe seat to parachute Andy Burnham into Parliament?
This is often repeated by the PB Tory circlejerk but ultimately it does not matter if there’s a safe seat or not. If Andy Burnham cannot win a byelection in a non-safe seat, then he cannot win a general election.
Labour losing a Salford seat where they would have weighed the vote in the past.
It's going to be a bloodbath of unsurvivable proportions for Downhill Skyr.
Happy days.
There isn't a single prominent cabinet Minister whomis worth an ounce of grain. Its a sorry state when there isn't an obvious Cabinet member to challenge Starmer.
While not an unfair comment it's worth noting this applies to other parties too. I'd like to see (but won't) Jeremy Hunt become the Conservative leader, but no party is brimming with talent that leaves the current leadership trembling in fear.
Let's approximate and say that effective party leadership needs about ten years' Westminster apprenticeship.
In the last decade both the big two gave suffered a landslide defeat, which must have cut off the careers of some plausibles. They have also had a spell under the sort of leadership that must have made some other plausibles give up in despair.
We're probably lucky that the leadership of the traditional big two is as good as it is. We weren't that far off Jenrick getting the Conservative gig, and it was possible that he could have been facing Long-Bailey.
Happy 23rd April, the day we English celebrate some Greek Christian bloke from modern-day Turkey being prosecuted for killing an endangered species...
We don't celebrate St George's Day. That's the point. This is England, not some parvenu nation flying its flag from every school and its president's lapel. Sorry, Nige.
It’s not in the oppositions interests to have Burnham winning a seat .
Not because I think Burnham is the saviour that some in Labour think but because it would cause more chaos in the party if he can’t win a seat .
Unless he goes for a seat in London then the whole plan could unravel.
Good morning
Burnhams DNA is he is a northerner and standing in London would be against everything he is popular for
A Manchester seat would give him the opportunity to enter parliament and if elected a northern PM being a welcome relief from the London elite
Maybe a labour mp from the area will resign his seat after May elections and the sooner the better
I like Andy Burnham for the way he has brought together the councils and business successfully demonstrated by simply travelling into Manchester by train and seeing the City cranes and all
He may not be the Messiah but he would at least give labour a chance to put the Mandelson toxicity behind them
That maybe the case but there are currently no safe seats for Labour outside of London . And of course the NEC have to green light him standing .
I think in Greater Manchester he would win simply by not being Starmer
If I had to bet I think Graham Stringer might be the Labour MP that might retire in order to give Burnham that opening. And he has a big majority of just over 10,000.
Happy 23rd April, the day we English celebrate some Greek Christian bloke from modern-day Turkey being prosecuted for killing an endangered species...
We don't celebrate St George's Day. That's the point. This is England, not some parvenu nation flying its flag from every school and its president's lapel. Sorry, Nige.
Insofar as anyone gives a feck what Sir Keir thinks, he disagrees.
Today, we fly our flag proudly and we're reminded of the values it represents - service, generosity, and respect.
When we stand together, united in our communities, we are stronger than any attempt to divide us.
Happy 23rd April, the day we English celebrate some Greek Christian bloke from modern-day Turkey being prosecuted for killing an endangered species...
Grandson of a Greek doing the same.
The water buffalo is not an endangered species. Neither is it native to Argentina where this photo was taken, it is a feral population descended from imported animals from South Asia.
Labour losing a Salford seat where they would have weighed the vote in the past.
It's going to be a bloodbath of unsurvivable proportions for Downhill Skyr.
Do they even have a safe seat to parachute Andy Burnham into Parliament?
This is often repeated by the PB Tory circlejerk but ultimately it does not matter if there’s a safe seat or not. If Andy Burnham cannot win a byelection in a non-safe seat, then he cannot win a general election.
This year. Certainly. But in 2029 with swing back, interests
Labour losing a Salford seat where they would have weighed the vote in the past.
It's going to be a bloodbath of unsurvivable proportions for Downhill Skyr.
Do they even have a safe seat to parachute Andy Burnham into Parliament?
This is often repeated by the PB Tory circlejerk but ultimately it does not matter if there’s a safe seat or not. If Andy Burnham cannot win a byelection in a non-safe seat, then he cannot win a general election.
The polling showed Burnham would have won Gorton and Denton, a by election Labour lost, by a double digit margin over the Greens and Reform
Happy 23rd April, the day we English celebrate some Greek Christian bloke from modern-day Turkey being prosecuted for killing an endangered species...
We don't celebrate St George's Day. That's the point. This is England, not some parvenu nation flying its flag from every school and its president's lapel. Sorry, Nige.
Insofar as anyone gives a feck what Sir Keir thinks, he disagrees.
Today, we fly our flag proudly and we're reminded of the values it represents - service, generosity, and respect.
When we stand together, united in our communities, we are stronger than any attempt to divide us.
Happy 23rd April, the day we English celebrate some Greek Christian bloke from modern-day Turkey being prosecuted for killing an endangered species...
Grandson of a Greek doing the same.
The water buffalo is not an endangered species. Neither is it native to Argentina where this photo was taken, it is a feral population descended from imported animals from South Asia.
Labour losing a Salford seat where they would have weighed the vote in the past.
It's going to be a bloodbath of unsurvivable proportions for Downhill Skyr.
Happy days.
There isn't a single prominent cabinet Minister whomis worth an ounce of grain. Its a sorry state when there isn't an obvious Cabinet member to challenge Starmer.
Streeting is probably the one Tories would most fear but if May is very poor for Labour Rayner would be the likeliest challenger and she is no longer in the Cabinet
As an interim replacement that would be okay but longer term it’s risky as he is sitting on a very small majority of around 500 votes .
Rayners HMRC investigation hangs over her and until that’s settled she can’t stand for the leadership.
He would likely be shifted to a safer seat, maybe Ilford South, though he could get Tory tactical votes against the Corbynite Independent
Labour losing a Salford seat where they would have weighed the vote in the past.
It's going to be a bloodbath of unsurvivable proportions for Downhill Skyr.
Do they even have a safe seat to parachute Andy Burnham into Parliament?
This is often repeated by the PB Tory circlejerk but ultimately it does not matter if there’s a safe seat or not. If Andy Burnham cannot win a byelection in a non-safe seat, then he cannot win a general election.
This year. Certainly. But in 2029 with swing back, interests
But people are relying on Burnham to be a political titan, to wrestle back the narrative in favour of Labour. In power, not just in office. If he cannot win a byelection then that is all nonsense. It will just be more badly managed decline.
Happy 23rd April, the day we English celebrate some Greek Christian bloke from modern-day Turkey being prosecuted for killing an endangered species...
Grandson of a Greek doing the same.
The water buffalo is not an endangered species. Neither is it native to Argentina where this photo was taken, it is a feral population descended from imported animals from South Asia.
That makes it okay then 👍
And shooting them is part of an agreed conservation plan, run by the official conservation organisations.
But like culling the deer in various bits of the UK
Happy 23rd April, the day we English celebrate some Greek Christian bloke from modern-day Turkey being prosecuted for killing an endangered species...
Grandson of a Greek doing the same.
The water buffalo is not an endangered species. Neither is it native to Argentina where this photo was taken, it is a feral population descended from imported animals from South Asia.
Happy 23rd April, the day we English celebrate some Greek Christian bloke from modern-day Turkey being prosecuted for killing an endangered species...
Grandson of a Greek doing the same.
The water buffalo is not an endangered species. Neither is it native to Argentina where this photo was taken, it is a feral population descended from imported animals from South Asia.
Good job nobody put up a picture of a Hen Harrier in Norfolk then...
Happy 23rd April, the day we English celebrate some Greek Christian bloke from modern-day Turkey being prosecuted for killing an endangered species...
We don't celebrate St George's Day. That's the point. This is England, not some parvenu nation flying its flag from every school and its president's lapel. Sorry, Nige.
And yet our Celtic nations get to celebrate their national days.
Happy 23rd April, the day we English celebrate some Greek Christian bloke from modern-day Turkey being prosecuted for killing an endangered species...
Grandson of a Greek doing the same.
The water buffalo is not an endangered species. Neither is it native to Argentina where this photo was taken, it is a feral population descended from imported animals from South Asia.
That makes it okay then 👍
And shooting them is part of an agreed conservation plan, run by the official conservation organisations.
But like culling the deer in various bits of the UK
Happy 23rd April, the day we English celebrate some Greek Christian bloke from modern-day Turkey being prosecuted for killing an endangered species...
We don't celebrate St George's Day. That's the point. This is England, not some parvenu nation flying its flag from every school and its president's lapel. Sorry, Nige.
Starmer, with characteristic tin ear, is trying to make a thing of it.
Happy 23rd April, the day we English celebrate some Greek Christian bloke from modern-day Turkey being prosecuted for killing an endangered species...
More to the point it's Shakespeare's birthday*. An Englishman we can all be proud of.
Benpointer's idosyncratic list of greatest English men and women, in no particular order:
William Shakespeare Isaac Newton Florence Nightingale Charles Darwin George Stephenson Mary Anning Michael Faraday Horatio Nelson Jane Austen Elizabeth I Winston Churchill Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Big gain for Reform no doubt but Labour will I suspect be even more relieved to have beaten the Greens for second in a Greater Manchester seat after Gorton and Denton.
Now Labour can squeeze Green tactical votes as the main alternative to beat Reform and should easily overcome the 1% Reform winning margin next time the seat is up
Happy 23rd April, the day we English celebrate some Greek Christian bloke from modern-day Turkey being prosecuted for killing an endangered species...
Grandson of a Greek doing the same.
The water buffalo is not an endangered species. Neither is it native to Argentina where this photo was taken, it is a feral population descended from imported animals from South Asia.
That makes it okay then 👍
And shooting them is part of an agreed conservation plan, run by the official conservation organisations.
But like culling the deer in various bits of the UK
But in this case for pleasure
God forfend that someone likes doing something.
Now I must go and oppress my team. Some of them have shown worrying signs of enjoying their jobs recently.
I know! A new variant of WFH - the new office will be outside, on steep, windswept hillside, where there dourest and most Protestant preacher will intone an all-day sermon on the evils of happiness.
Happy 23rd April, the day we English celebrate some Greek Christian bloke from modern-day Turkey being prosecuted for killing an endangered species...
We don't celebrate St George's Day. That's the point. This is England, not some parvenu nation flying its flag from every school and its president's lapel. Sorry, Nige.
Starmer, with characteristic tin ear, is trying to make a thing of it.
Prediction - he will annoy the left, the right and most of the centre, in doing so.
Then someone will claim his abysmal poll ratings are as a result of a right wing media conspiracy. And another poll will put the Greens ahead of Labour
Happy 23rd April, the day we English celebrate some Greek Christian bloke from modern-day Turkey being prosecuted for killing an endangered species...
We don't celebrate St George's Day. That's the point. This is England, not some parvenu nation flying its flag from every school and its president's lapel. Sorry, Nige.
And yet our Celtic nations get to celebrate their national days.
Not really. St Andrews day is no more a 'thing' in Scotland than St Georges day is in England. Burns Night is more the de facto national day
Happy 23rd April, the day we English celebrate some Greek Christian bloke from modern-day Turkey being prosecuted for killing an endangered species...
More to the point it's Shakespeare's birthday*. An Englishman we can all be proud of.
Benpointer's idosyncratic list of greatest English men and women, in no particular order:
William Shakespeare Isaac Newton Florence Nightingale Charles Darwin George Stephenson Mary Anning Michael Faraday Horatio Nelson Jane Austen Elizabeth I Winston Churchill Isambard Kingdom Brunel
(*Probably)
JM Keynes. Tim Berners-Lee Alexander Fleming* actually Scottish, but yeah.
Happy 23rd April, the day we English celebrate some Greek Christian bloke from modern-day Turkey being prosecuted for killing an endangered species...
Grandson of a Greek doing the same.
The water buffalo is not an endangered species. Neither is it native to Argentina where this photo was taken, it is a feral population descended from imported animals from South Asia.
That makes it okay then 👍
And shooting them is part of an agreed conservation plan, run by the official conservation organisations.
But like culling the deer in various bits of the UK
But in this case for pleasure
God forfend that someone likes doing something.
Now I must go and oppress my team. Some of them have shown worrying signs of enjoying their jobs recently.
I know! A new variant of WFH - the new office will be outside, on steep, windswept hillside, where there dourest and most Protestant preacher will intone an all-day sermon on the evils of happiness.
I enjoy things that don’t involve taking the life of other things.
Comments
The boss of the world's biggest condom maker, Karex, says the firm will raise its prices by up to 30% or possibly more if the Iran war continues to disrupt supplies of the raw materials used in its products.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy71zj1381po?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-gb
PolliticsUK@PolliticsUK
🚨 Barton and Winton Ward (Salford) by-election:
➡️ REF: 34.9% (NEW)
🌹 LAB: 33.2% (-35.3)
🟢 GRN: 18.7% (+7.1)
🌳 CON: 6.1% (-7.9)
🔶 LDEM: 4.9% (-1.0)
☑️ IND: 2.3% (NEW)
Reform GAIN from Labour
Changes with 2022
Someone has flown the England flag from a lamppost opposite the school, so everyone can be happy.
The King's portrait is already on the money and the stamps.
Changing the history syllabus was attempted by Michael Gove. The trouble is that historians decided children need to be taught mainly about how history is done – reading and interpreting sources and so on – and that history is best taught jumping about in time and space as a collection of modules – like Bill & Ted – rather than a chronological amble through kings and prime ministers. A lot of it is not even British.
My guess is that if a Reform government tried to change it, publishers would say it will take five years to write new textbooks and by that time there will be a new election.
It's going to be a bloodbath of unsurvivable proportions for Downhill Skyr.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3ZKgA38soos
You're better off improving the lives of people so the shopkeepers have more footfall and more people staying locally.
Practical politics rather than personality politics though I know there are a few on PB like prefer to talk about personality. And Process. Nothing like a good debate about Process.
I recall plenty of QEII in her Garter robes (the 1955 Beaton photograph) around, in schools and elsewhere, back when I was a kid.
It seemed archaic back then.
Which explains the appeal to Reform.
Britain’s military dependence on US ‘no longer tenable’, says former Nato chief
George Robertson says diplomatic tone from White House is at ‘historic low’ and two allies are likely to keep diverging
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/22/britain-military-dependence-on-us-no-longer-tenable-lord-robertson
Last time round it was a straightforward matter of the non existent funding plan (which still hasn't appeared).
This intervention isn't so clearcut for the opposition.
There’s been some progress in recent weeks, for example the opening of a Ukranian drone factory in the UK (more details than that seem rather scarce, but I can understand why).
What’s missing is a defence strategy, a serious failure of both current and previous governments. In case they hadn’t noticed, there’s a war going on in Europe right now, to which the only response appears to have been sending some old kit to those defending. There’s also a major disturbance in Iran now, to which the government has been totally flat-footed despite rising fuel prices and predictions of shortages.
But that's perhaps four or five seats out of four hundred that he could win.
Good morning, everyone.
Not because I think Burnham is the saviour that some in Labour think but because it would cause more chaos in the party if he can’t win a seat .
Unless he goes for a seat in London then the whole plan could unravel.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz0ev7enk2lo
Burnhams DNA is he is a northerner and standing in London would be against everything he is popular for
A Manchester seat would give him the opportunity to enter parliament and if elected a northern PM being a welcome relief from the London elite
Maybe a labour mp from the area will resign his seat after May elections and the sooner the better
I like Andy Burnham for the way he has brought together the councils and business successfully demonstrated by simply travelling into Manchester by train and seeing the City cranes and all
He may not be the Messiah but he would at least give labour a chance to put the Mandelson toxicity behind them
Sorry, have to get the last train back to Euston, no time to vote.
(Uncharitable, I know, so sue me!)
There isn't a single prominent cabinet Minister whomis worth an ounce of grain. Its a sorry state when there isn't an obvious Cabinet member to challenge Starmer.
Now Labour can squeeze Green tactical votes as the main alternative to beat Reform and should easily overcome the 1% Reform winning margin next time the seat is up
This one’s a pumping station on the main pipeline from Siberia to the West, looks to be pretty well ablaze.
https://x.com/osinttechnical/status/2047193225924927829
The one at Tuapse is still burning BTW, six days now. Parts of the nearby town are evacuating after it started raining oil.
Rayners HMRC investigation hangs over her and until that’s settled she can’t stand for the leadership.
As, it would seem, is Harry!
In the last decade both the big two gave suffered a landslide defeat, which must have cut off the careers of some plausibles. They have also had a spell under the sort of leadership that must have made some other plausibles give up in despair.
We're probably lucky that the leadership of the traditional big two is as good as it is. We weren't that far off Jenrick getting the Conservative gig, and it was possible that he could have been facing Long-Bailey.
Today, we fly our flag proudly and we're reminded of the values it represents - service, generosity, and respect.
When we stand together, united in our communities, we are stronger than any attempt to divide us.
Happy St George’s Day!
https://x.com/keir_starmer/status/2047201152748388367?s=61&t=LYVEHh2mqFy1oUJAdCfe-Q
https://order-order.com/2026/03/17/poll-andy-burnham-would-have-won-gorton-and-denton-by-election/
NEW THREAD
Better to find out now
But like culling the deer in various bits of the UK
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/norfolk/7070362.stm
Benpointer's idosyncratic list of greatest English men and women, in no particular order:
William Shakespeare
Isaac Newton
Florence Nightingale
Charles Darwin
George Stephenson
Mary Anning
Michael Faraday
Horatio Nelson
Jane Austen
Elizabeth I
Winston Churchill
Isambard Kingdom Brunel
(*Probably)
Now I must go and oppress my team. Some of them have shown worrying signs of enjoying their jobs recently.
I know! A new variant of WFH - the new office will be outside, on steep, windswept hillside, where there dourest and most Protestant preacher will intone an all-day sermon on the evils of happiness.
Then someone will claim his abysmal poll ratings are as a result of a right wing media conspiracy. And another poll will put the Greens ahead of Labour
Tim Berners-Lee
Alexander Fleming* actually Scottish, but yeah.
But that’s just me.