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Sir Keir Starmer’s ratings are under Water(gate) – politicalbetting.com

SystemSystem Posts: 13,174
edited April 27 in General
Sir Keir Starmer’s ratings are under Water(gate) – politicalbetting.com

The Americans are starting to notice what’s happening to Keir Starmer.Pointed out here on CNN that Starmer is now less popular in the UK than Nixon was with the American public at the height of Watergate. https://t.co/N9EOBdUfyk

Read the full story here

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Comments

  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 24,239
    First!
  • OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 18,483
    I recently stayed at the Watergate hotel. It is very nice.
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 25,472
    18% satisfied with Starmer.

    The same 18% voting Conservative?
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 58,924
    In fairness to Starmer (why am I doing that exactly) politics is a lot more volatile than it was 40 or 50 years ago with a lot less tribal loyalty. Staying popular these days is almost impossible. Anyone who is the leader is going to be a target for the majority of our population.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 59,886
    Starmer contextualising the high turnover of senior staff under him:

    https://x.com/Peston/status/2048859404791935051

    He also said, when asked by Cathy Newman whether it was a problem that he had sacked so many of his top advisers and senior civil servants, “there are hundreds of thousands of civil servants.”
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 58,924

    Starmer contextualising the high turnover of senior staff under him:

    https://x.com/Peston/status/2048859404791935051

    He also said, when asked by Cathy Newman whether it was a problem that he had sacked so many of his top advisers and senior civil servants, “there are hundreds of thousands of civil servants.”

    So, he's acknowledging we have a productivity problem?
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 103,814
    Stay strong, Keir, I believe in you!

  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 59,886
    edited April 27
    https://x.com/BenKentish/status/2048838603564781597

    David Lammy confirms that there were “worries” about Peter Mandelson’s appointment at the time, telling me in an exclusive interview for @LBC that there was “a discussion within government” about it but “ultimately it was an appointment by Number 10” (though says he takes responsibility too).

    Lammy also admits that there was “a pressure and a desire to have an ambassador in place” quickly but denies that this contradicts Keir Starmer telling Parliament last week that “no pressure existed whatsoever in relation to this case”.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 58,924
    kle4 said:

    Stay strong, Keir, I believe in you!

    kle4 said:

    Stay strong, Keir, I believe in you!

    PB competition speaks!
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 72,388
    They are losing their minds.



    Rachel Reeves considering rent freeze to limit Iran war fallout
    Exclusive: Sources say chancellor is examining exceptional measures to protect household budgets

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/27/rachel-reeves-considering-rent-freeze-to-limit-iran-war-fallout
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 128,599

    They are losing their minds.



    Rachel Reeves considering rent freeze to limit Iran war fallout
    Exclusive: Sources say chancellor is examining exceptional measures to protect household budgets

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/27/rachel-reeves-considering-rent-freeze-to-limit-iran-war-fallout

    As I said on the previous thread, this government really hates me.
  • FishingFishing Posts: 6,356

    They are losing their minds.



    Rachel Reeves considering rent freeze to limit Iran war fallout
    Exclusive: Sources say chancellor is examining exceptional measures to protect household budgets

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/27/rachel-reeves-considering-rent-freeze-to-limit-iran-war-fallout

    Rubbish.

    You can't lose the non-existent.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 72,388

    On topic.



    "...and so they've taken the nuclear codes away from you. Really that is pretty rum."

  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 24,239
    DavidL said:

    In fairness to Starmer (why am I doing that exactly) politics is a lot more volatile than it was 40 or 50 years ago with a lot less tribal loyalty. Staying popular these days is almost impossible. Anyone who is the leader is going to be a target for the majority of our population.

    My initial assumption is that it's a natural feature of five-party politics, but there's an interesting contrast with Ireland.

    Fianna Fail are only on 19%, but the satisfaction rating for their leader is 35%. The satisfaction ratings for the leaders of all three of the largest parties are in the 30s.

    Maybe there's something to be said for a preferential voting system encouraging politicians to build bridges across party divides.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 72,388

    Starmer contextualising the high turnover of senior staff under him:

    https://x.com/Peston/status/2048859404791935051

    He also said, when asked by Cathy Newman whether it was a problem that he had sacked so many of his top advisers and senior civil servants, “there are hundreds of thousands of civil servants.”

    The guy's a bloody genius. Just flooding the zone with WTF comments now.

  • FishingFishing Posts: 6,356

    Starmer contextualising the high turnover of senior staff under him:

    https://x.com/Peston/status/2048859404791935051

    He also said, when asked by Cathy Newman whether it was a problem that he had sacked so many of his top advisers and senior civil servants, “there are hundreds of thousands of civil servants.”

    - no understanding
    - no insight
    - no empathy
    - not even a trace of humour

    Yep, that's Keit all right.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 136,924
    edited April 27
    Trump still has an approval rating of 33-39% with American voters, so is about double as popular in the US still as Starmer now is in the UK

    https://edition.cnn.com/polling/approval/trump-polls
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 58,924

    Starmer contextualising the high turnover of senior staff under him:

    https://x.com/Peston/status/2048859404791935051

    He also said, when asked by Cathy Newman whether it was a problem that he had sacked so many of his top advisers and senior civil servants, “there are hundreds of thousands of civil servants.”

    "I've barely scratched the surface."
    "We're working at pace to identify further scapegoats."
    There is so much to blame others for.
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 9,247
    edited April 27

    On topic.


    Nixon: "If the president does it, it's legal."
    Charles: "You don't have to check with Mummy?"

    (Rare picture of Chaz in a single-breasted suit.) Edit or is it just unbuttoned?
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 60,420

    Starmer contextualising the high turnover of senior staff under him:

    https://x.com/Peston/status/2048859404791935051

    He also said, when asked by Cathy Newman whether it was a problem that he had sacked so many of his top advisers and senior civil servants, “there are hundreds of thousands of civil servants.”

    "Since I have been manager, I am proud to say there have only been twenty-three deaths. And not one of them was a staff member."
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 72,388
    DavidL said:

    Starmer contextualising the high turnover of senior staff under him:

    https://x.com/Peston/status/2048859404791935051

    He also said, when asked by Cathy Newman whether it was a problem that he had sacked so many of his top advisers and senior civil servants, “there are hundreds of thousands of civil servants.”

    "I've barely scratched the surface."
    "We're working at pace to identify further scapegoats."
    There is so much to blame others for.

    "My wife has told me to keep on blaming and sacking others."
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 63,553
    a
    DavidL said:

    Starmer contextualising the high turnover of senior staff under him:

    https://x.com/Peston/status/2048859404791935051

    He also said, when asked by Cathy Newman whether it was a problem that he had sacked so many of his top advisers and senior civil servants, “there are hundreds of thousands of civil servants.”

    "I've barely scratched the surface."
    "We're working at pace to identify further scapegoats."
    There is so much to blame others for.
    It’s that time for the PM.

    He’s reached 47 MicroTrusses*



    *The Truss is the SI unit for PM Looniness. Like the Farad, it’s uselessly large. Anything above 1 YoctoTruss is ravening insanity.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 64,510
    HYUFD said:

    Trump still has an approval rating of 33-39% with American voters, so is about double as popular in the US still as Starmer now is in the UK

    https://edition.cnn.com/polling/approval/trump-polls

    That's because the US is insanely polarized. Being not-Trump, or not-Democrat gets you to 30% of the population.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 64,510

    I recently stayed at the Watergate hotel. It is very nice.

    When we nearly moved to Washington, we looked at a really nice lateral apartment in the Watergate building.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 72,388
    Fishing said:

    Starmer contextualising the high turnover of senior staff under him:

    https://x.com/Peston/status/2048859404791935051

    He also said, when asked by Cathy Newman whether it was a problem that he had sacked so many of his top advisers and senior civil servants, “there are hundreds of thousands of civil servants.”

    - no understanding
    - no insight
    - no empathy
    - not even a trace of humour

    Yep, that's Keit all right.
    As a fellow Leeds grad from the same year I have to say he is now bring our great institution into serious disrepute.



  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 64,510
    Fishing said:

    Starmer contextualising the high turnover of senior staff under him:

    https://x.com/Peston/status/2048859404791935051

    He also said, when asked by Cathy Newman whether it was a problem that he had sacked so many of his top advisers and senior civil servants, “there are hundreds of thousands of civil servants.”

    - no understanding
    - no insight
    - no empathy
    - not even a trace of humour

    Yep, that's Keit all right.
    I think you give him too much credit.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 72,388

    They are losing their minds.



    Rachel Reeves considering rent freeze to limit Iran war fallout
    Exclusive: Sources say chancellor is examining exceptional measures to protect household budgets

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/27/rachel-reeves-considering-rent-freeze-to-limit-iran-war-fallout

    As I said on the previous thread, this government really hates me.
    Have they worked out that the minute the rent freeze year is up every single rent in Britain is going to go up by what ever the absolute fucking legal maximum is?
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 63,553

    DavidL said:

    Starmer contextualising the high turnover of senior staff under him:

    https://x.com/Peston/status/2048859404791935051

    He also said, when asked by Cathy Newman whether it was a problem that he had sacked so many of his top advisers and senior civil servants, “there are hundreds of thousands of civil servants.”

    "I've barely scratched the surface."
    "We're working at pace to identify further scapegoats."
    There is so much to blame others for.

    "My wife has told me to keep on blaming and sacking others."
    “….He's gone stark, staring, raving...
    [Chris enters]
    Sir Keith Starmer: Morning.
    Nigel Lipman: Morning, Prime Minister.
    Sir Keith Starmer: Sorry I'm late, there was a nest of leprechauns in the bread bin.”
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 79,502

    DavidL said:

    Starmer contextualising the high turnover of senior staff under him:

    https://x.com/Peston/status/2048859404791935051

    He also said, when asked by Cathy Newman whether it was a problem that he had sacked so many of his top advisers and senior civil servants, “there are hundreds of thousands of civil servants.”

    "I've barely scratched the surface."
    "We're working at pace to identify further scapegoats."
    There is so much to blame others for.

    "My wife has told me to keep on blaming and sacking others."
    “….He's gone stark, staring, raving...
    [Chris enters]
    Sir Keith Starmer: Morning.
    Nigel Lipman: Morning, Prime Minister.
    Sir Keith Starmer: Sorry I'm late, there was a nest of leprechauns in the bread bin.”
    When it comes to pixies, he could show them a thing or two about being invisible.
  • solarflaresolarflare Posts: 4,849

    They are losing their minds.



    Rachel Reeves considering rent freeze to limit Iran war fallout
    Exclusive: Sources say chancellor is examining exceptional measures to protect household budgets

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/27/rachel-reeves-considering-rent-freeze-to-limit-iran-war-fallout

    As I said on the previous thread, this government really hates me.
    Have they worked out that the minute the rent freeze year is up every single rent in Britain is going to go up by what ever the absolute fucking legal maximum is?
    It's a bit like the Scottish council tax freezes. Yes you can defer a bit of pain for a couple of years, but if anything the shock is worse further down the line when you get the subsequent hikes to make up for the lost rises. But I guess the immediacy of politics requires something done NOW
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 58,924
    edited April 27

    They are losing their minds.



    Rachel Reeves considering rent freeze to limit Iran war fallout
    Exclusive: Sources say chancellor is examining exceptional measures to protect household budgets

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/27/rachel-reeves-considering-rent-freeze-to-limit-iran-war-fallout

    As I said on the previous thread, this government really hates me.
    Have they worked out that the minute the rent freeze year is up every single rent in Britain is going to go up by what ever the absolute fucking legal maximum is?
    It's a bit like the Scottish council tax freezes. Yes you can defer a bit of pain for a couple of years, but if anything the shock is worse further down the line when you get the subsequent hikes to make up for the lost rises. But I guess the immediacy of politics requires something done NOW
    There are so many times when Reeves shows herself to be economically illiterate. And then she disappears for a while and you start to think it really couldn't have been that bad, could it? And then she comes up with nonsense like this.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 79,502
    An Iranian is about to beat Trump!
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 103,814
    ydoethur said:

    An Iranian is about to beat Trump!

    Don't tell the other one.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 72,388

    They are losing their minds.



    Rachel Reeves considering rent freeze to limit Iran war fallout
    Exclusive: Sources say chancellor is examining exceptional measures to protect household budgets

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/27/rachel-reeves-considering-rent-freeze-to-limit-iran-war-fallout

    As I said on the previous thread, this government really hates me.
    Have they worked out that the minute the rent freeze year is up every single rent in Britain is going to go up by what ever the absolute fucking legal maximum is?
    It's a bit like the Scottish council tax freezes. Yes you can defer a bit of pain for a couple of years, but if anything the shock is worse further down the line when you get the subsequent hikes to make up for the lost rises. But I guess the immediacy of politics requires something done NOW
    Maybe go utterly mad and consider actually building some houses?
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 103,814

    They are losing their minds.



    Rachel Reeves considering rent freeze to limit Iran war fallout
    Exclusive: Sources say chancellor is examining exceptional measures to protect household budgets

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/27/rachel-reeves-considering-rent-freeze-to-limit-iran-war-fallout

    As I said on the previous thread, this government really hates me.
    Have they worked out that the minute the rent freeze year is up every single rent in Britain is going to go up by what ever the absolute fucking legal maximum is?
    It's a bit like the Scottish council tax freezes. Yes you can defer a bit of pain for a couple of years, but if anything the shock is worse further down the line when you get the subsequent hikes to make up for the lost rises. But I guess the immediacy of politics requires something done NOW
    Maybe go utterly mad and consider actually building some houses?
    You can get away with announcing you want that, maybe even some baby steps to facilitate it, but you have to be careful not to go further than that.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 58,924

    Starmer contextualising the high turnover of senior staff under him:

    https://x.com/Peston/status/2048859404791935051

    He also said, when asked by Cathy Newman whether it was a problem that he had sacked so many of his top advisers and senior civil servants, “there are hundreds of thousands of civil servants.”

    If he got up to sacking half of them and insisted that the other half came into the office and actually did some work his popularity might well be transformed.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 63,553
    DavidL said:

    They are losing their minds.



    Rachel Reeves considering rent freeze to limit Iran war fallout
    Exclusive: Sources say chancellor is examining exceptional measures to protect household budgets

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/27/rachel-reeves-considering-rent-freeze-to-limit-iran-war-fallout

    As I said on the previous thread, this government really hates me.
    Have they worked out that the minute the rent freeze year is up every single rent in Britain is going to go up by what ever the absolute fucking legal maximum is?
    It's a bit like the Scottish council tax freezes. Yes you can defer a bit of pain for a couple of years, but if anything the shock is worse further down the line when you get the subsequent hikes to make up for the lost rises. But I guess the immediacy of politics requires something done NOW
    There are so many times when Reeves shows herself to be economically illiterate. And then she disappears for a while and you start to think it really couldn't have been that bad, could it? And then she comes up with nonsense like this.
    It’s part of a cunning, 73 dimensional game of chess.

    The goal. To make us wish for Truss to return.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 72,388

    Oliver Kamm
    @OliverKamm
    ·
    56m
    This is a sure way of reducing the supply of private-sector rental accommodation and deterring landlords from repairing & refurbishing their properties

    https://x.com/OliverKamm/status/2048863317679128913
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 58,924

    They are losing their minds.



    Rachel Reeves considering rent freeze to limit Iran war fallout
    Exclusive: Sources say chancellor is examining exceptional measures to protect household budgets

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/27/rachel-reeves-considering-rent-freeze-to-limit-iran-war-fallout

    As I said on the previous thread, this government really hates me.
    Have they worked out that the minute the rent freeze year is up every single rent in Britain is going to go up by what ever the absolute fucking legal maximum is?
    It's a bit like the Scottish council tax freezes. Yes you can defer a bit of pain for a couple of years, but if anything the shock is worse further down the line when you get the subsequent hikes to make up for the lost rises. But I guess the immediacy of politics requires something done NOW
    Maybe go utterly mad and consider actually building some houses?
    Don't be ridiculous.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 103,814


    Oliver Kamm
    @OliverKamm
    ·
    56m
    This is a sure way of reducing the supply of private-sector rental accommodation and deterring landlords from repairing & refurbishing their properties

    https://x.com/OliverKamm/status/2048863317679128913

    Landlords are not sympathetic characters, but this doesn't seem like it would provide much assistance.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 79,502
    DavidL said:

    Starmer contextualising the high turnover of senior staff under him:

    https://x.com/Peston/status/2048859404791935051

    He also said, when asked by Cathy Newman whether it was a problem that he had sacked so many of his top advisers and senior civil servants, “there are hundreds of thousands of civil servants.”

    If he got up to sacking half of them and insisted that the other half came into the office and actually did some work his popularity might well be transformed.
    How many of them take the opportunity to come into the office and have nice gossips and boozy parties instead?

    Be careful what you wish for.
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 36,366
    Keir Starmer will keep Andy Burnham out of Commons ‘at any cost’
    https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/keir-starmer-determined-block-andy-burnham-election-zq0683kk6 (£££)

    It seems like only yesterday there was an assumption of an agreed handover to the king of the north.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 72,388

    Keir Starmer will keep Andy Burnham out of Commons ‘at any cost’
    https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/keir-starmer-determined-block-andy-burnham-election-zq0683kk6 (£££)

    It seems like only yesterday there was an assumption of an agreed handover to the king of the north.

    The cost will be Starmer's job then.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 72,388
    kle4 said:


    Oliver Kamm
    @OliverKamm
    ·
    56m
    This is a sure way of reducing the supply of private-sector rental accommodation and deterring landlords from repairing & refurbishing their properties

    https://x.com/OliverKamm/status/2048863317679128913

    Landlords are not sympathetic characters, but this doesn't seem like it would provide much assistance.
    Build more houses.

    Everything else is bollocks.
  • JohnLilburneJohnLilburne Posts: 8,261


    Oliver Kamm
    @OliverKamm
    ·
    56m
    This is a sure way of reducing the supply of private-sector rental accommodation and deterring landlords from repairing & refurbishing their properties

    https://x.com/OliverKamm/status/2048863317679128913

    How risky is being a private-let landlord? I'd say that at the moment with low interest rates you should make 5-6% return on investment and capitalism says that if you f*ck up you lose your shirt.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 59,886

    Keir Starmer will keep Andy Burnham out of Commons ‘at any cost’
    https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/keir-starmer-determined-block-andy-burnham-election-zq0683kk6 (£££)

    It seems like only yesterday there was an assumption of an agreed handover to the king of the north.

    "Starmer considering plan to appoint Burnham as ambassador to the US"
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 72,388
    Who is leaking this and why????




    Kevin Schofield
    @KevinASchofield

    Absolutely crackers


    Quote Politics UK @PolitlcsUK
    ·
    2h
    🚨 NEW: Rachel Reeves is considering banning landlords from raising rent on private homes for a year due to the Iran War

    [@guardian]
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 103,814

    Who is leaking this and why????




    Kevin Schofield
    @KevinASchofield

    Absolutely crackers


    Quote Politics UK @PolitlcsUK
    ·
    2h
    🚨 NEW: Rachel Reeves is considering banning landlords from raising rent on private homes for a year due to the Iran War

    [@guardian]

    They think it will be popular. It might be. To start with.
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 9,247

    Who is leaking this and why????




    Kevin Schofield
    @KevinASchofield

    Absolutely crackers


    Quote Politics UK @PolitlcsUK
    ·
    2h
    🚨 NEW: Rachel Reeves is considering banning landlords from raising rent on private homes for a year due to the Iran War

    [@guardian]

    I'm pretty sure she's not considering this. For two reasons. One, she's not stupid; and Two, rental agreements are in a state of flux as it is. So your question is apposite.
  • DopermeanDopermean Posts: 3,146
    Is that a valid comparison? The US electorate are about as objective as the moonies
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 59,819

    DavidL said:

    They are losing their minds.



    Rachel Reeves considering rent freeze to limit Iran war fallout
    Exclusive: Sources say chancellor is examining exceptional measures to protect household budgets

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/27/rachel-reeves-considering-rent-freeze-to-limit-iran-war-fallout

    As I said on the previous thread, this government really hates me.
    Have they worked out that the minute the rent freeze year is up every single rent in Britain is going to go up by what ever the absolute fucking legal maximum is?
    It's a bit like the Scottish council tax freezes. Yes you can defer a bit of pain for a couple of years, but if anything the shock is worse further down the line when you get the subsequent hikes to make up for the lost rises. But I guess the immediacy of politics requires something done NOW
    There are so many times when Reeves shows herself to be economically illiterate. And then she disappears for a while and you start to think it really couldn't have been that bad, could it? And then she comes up with nonsense like this.
    It’s part of a cunning, 73 dimensional game of chess.

    The goal. To make us wish for Truss to return.
    Necklace Whisper.
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 9,247
    kle4 said:

    Who is leaking this and why????




    Kevin Schofield
    @KevinASchofield

    Absolutely crackers


    Quote Politics UK @PolitlcsUK
    ·
    2h
    🚨 NEW: Rachel Reeves is considering banning landlords from raising rent on private homes for a year due to the Iran War

    [@guardian]

    They think it will be popular. It might be. To start with.
    I'm sure all the people being kicked out with Section 21 prior to May 1st will be very thankful.
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 23,208

    DavidL said:

    They are losing their minds.



    Rachel Reeves considering rent freeze to limit Iran war fallout
    Exclusive: Sources say chancellor is examining exceptional measures to protect household budgets

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/27/rachel-reeves-considering-rent-freeze-to-limit-iran-war-fallout

    As I said on the previous thread, this government really hates me.
    Have they worked out that the minute the rent freeze year is up every single rent in Britain is going to go up by what ever the absolute fucking legal maximum is?
    It's a bit like the Scottish council tax freezes. Yes you can defer a bit of pain for a couple of years, but if anything the shock is worse further down the line when you get the subsequent hikes to make up for the lost rises. But I guess the immediacy of politics requires something done NOW
    There are so many times when Reeves shows herself to be economically illiterate. And then she disappears for a while and you start to think it really couldn't have been that bad, could it? And then she comes up with nonsense like this.
    It’s part of a cunning, 73 dimensional game of chess.

    The goal. To make us wish for Truss to return.
    Necklace Whisper.
    Are they playing Glasto this year?
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 50,747
    rcs1000 said:

    I recently stayed at the Watergate hotel. It is very nice.

    When we nearly moved to Washington, we looked at a really nice lateral apartment in the Watergate building.
    What about the plumbing though.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 72,388

    DavidL said:

    They are losing their minds.



    Rachel Reeves considering rent freeze to limit Iran war fallout
    Exclusive: Sources say chancellor is examining exceptional measures to protect household budgets

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/27/rachel-reeves-considering-rent-freeze-to-limit-iran-war-fallout

    As I said on the previous thread, this government really hates me.
    Have they worked out that the minute the rent freeze year is up every single rent in Britain is going to go up by what ever the absolute fucking legal maximum is?
    It's a bit like the Scottish council tax freezes. Yes you can defer a bit of pain for a couple of years, but if anything the shock is worse further down the line when you get the subsequent hikes to make up for the lost rises. But I guess the immediacy of politics requires something done NOW
    There are so many times when Reeves shows herself to be economically illiterate. And then she disappears for a while and you start to think it really couldn't have been that bad, could it? And then she comes up with nonsense like this.
    It’s part of a cunning, 73 dimensional game of chess.

    The goal. To make us wish for Truss to return.
    Necklace Whisper.
    Are they playing Glasto this year?
    Next year. It is a fallow year this year.

    Which means the 'Oh Zack Polanski' sing-along will have to wait.

  • DopermeanDopermean Posts: 3,146


    Oliver Kamm
    @OliverKamm
    ·
    56m
    This is a sure way of reducing the supply of private-sector rental accommodation and deterring landlords from repairing & refurbishing their properties

    https://x.com/OliverKamm/status/2048863317679128913

    How risky is being a private-let landlord? I'd say that at the moment with low interest rates you should make 5-6% return on investment and capitalism says that if you f*ck up you lose your shirt.
    House prices are pretty rocky,
    I let out my parent's house to cover care fees, they had about the same value of savings and I thought it would spread the risk. Even with no mortgage it's been a poor financial decision.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 59,886
    edited April 27
    The Daily Mail has a PB-worthy pun for Charles' visit: Your Magasty.

    It's not clear whether they mean magasty as in majesty, or magasty as in pigsty.

    https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15769543/Trump-Melania-greet-King-Charles-Queen-Camilla-White-House-security-worries-shadow-historic-meeting.html
  • TazTaz Posts: 28,195

    kle4 said:


    Oliver Kamm
    @OliverKamm
    ·
    56m
    This is a sure way of reducing the supply of private-sector rental accommodation and deterring landlords from repairing & refurbishing their properties

    https://x.com/OliverKamm/status/2048863317679128913

    Landlords are not sympathetic characters, but this doesn't seem like it would provide much assistance.
    Build more houses.

    Everything else is bollocks.
    Also there’s alot of empty homes. Bringing them back into use too.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 72,388
    Taz said:

    kle4 said:


    Oliver Kamm
    @OliverKamm
    ·
    56m
    This is a sure way of reducing the supply of private-sector rental accommodation and deterring landlords from repairing & refurbishing their properties

    https://x.com/OliverKamm/status/2048863317679128913

    Landlords are not sympathetic characters, but this doesn't seem like it would provide much assistance.
    Build more houses.

    Everything else is bollocks.
    Also there’s alot of empty homes. Bringing them back into use too.
    For some reason that is difficult. I've never understood. Legal stuff I guess.

    At the bottom of our garden we back onto a small block of three maisonettes. One has been empty for literally the last ten years and now has ivy all over it.

    Complete waste.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 59,819

    The Daily Mail has a PB-worthy pun for Charles' visit: Your Magasty.

    It's not clear whether they mean magasty as in majesty, or magasty as in pigsty.

    https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15769543/Trump-Melania-greet-King-Charles-Queen-Camilla-White-House-security-worries-shadow-historic-meeting.html

    Paywalled!!!
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 72,388
    Birmingham 'rats as big as cats' waste bin strike could finally end after a year but only if Labour win the council elections.



    Every striking Birmingham bin worker 'to get £16,000 payout' but there's a catch
    https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/every-striking-birmingham-bin-worker-33847182
  • noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 27,958

    Who is leaking this and why????




    Kevin Schofield
    @KevinASchofield

    Absolutely crackers


    Quote Politics UK @PolitlcsUK
    ·
    2h
    🚨 NEW: Rachel Reeves is considering banning landlords from raising rent on private homes for a year due to the Iran War

    [@guardian]

    It is kind of irrelevant anyway. Once the new laws come in any tenants who don't want a rent increase can appeal at a cost of £47. Importantly the rent increase can't happen before the appeal is heard and doesn't get backdated to the intended increase date. If enough tenants appeal, and of course they will, the system will quickly backlog and £47 will be all the extra that those tenants have to pay for many months if not a couple of years until their rent appeal gets sorted.
  • AnneJGPAnneJGP Posts: 5,447

    Starmer contextualising the high turnover of senior staff under him:

    https://x.com/Peston/status/2048859404791935051

    He also said, when asked by Cathy Newman whether it was a problem that he had sacked so many of his top advisers and senior civil servants, “there are hundreds of thousands of civil servants.”

    Is he trying to give them all a chance at the top posts?
  • AnneJGPAnneJGP Posts: 5,447

    Who is leaking this and why????




    Kevin Schofield
    @KevinASchofield

    Absolutely crackers


    Quote Politics UK @PolitlcsUK
    ·
    2h
    🚨 NEW: Rachel Reeves is considering banning landlords from raising rent on private homes for a year due to the Iran War

    [@guardian]

    Will interest rate rises be banned to protect home buyers as well?
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 72,388
    AnneJGP said:

    Who is leaking this and why????




    Kevin Schofield
    @KevinASchofield

    Absolutely crackers


    Quote Politics UK @PolitlcsUK
    ·
    2h
    🚨 NEW: Rachel Reeves is considering banning landlords from raising rent on private homes for a year due to the Iran War

    [@guardian]

    Will interest rate rises be banned to protect home buyers as well?
    I think that question is for Trump's new Fed chair who is being tested for nomination by congress at the moment.

    Sunday Times business says he thinks only the left hand side of inflation figure counts (so 2% rather than 2.3%) and his gut is that real inflation is 2.3% not whatever this week's figure is. 2% is the figure at which is target - so time to slash interest rates. And Don Locco wants this guy nominated.

    Arrange your financial affairs as you see fit.

  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 32,602
    edited April 27
    My man Wu Yize now 9-2/5-1 second favourite to be World Champion.
  • Wulfrun_PhilWulfrun_Phil Posts: 5,220
    edited April 27
    FPT
    HYUFD said:

    HYUFD said:

    kle4 said:

    Labour MPs need to hold firm and not fold just because Polanski is making all the young and millenial people faint in excitement.

    Rayner might make some inroads with Green voters, she has a 36% favourable rating and -4% net rating with them compared to 18% and -57% for Starmer.

    However she has a -79% rating with Tories, -78% with Reform voters and -19% with LDs which is little better than Starmer's and even her +15% with Labour voters is far below Burnham's +41% with Labour voters

    The point is that she doesn't really need to worry about losing the vote of you and others prepared to vote Tory even in 2024. So the -79% won't worry her.
    Rayner's -32% rating with all voters though will worry her, slightly better than Farage's -38% but worse than Kemi's -21%. Still also far below Burnham's +9% with all voters
    No, you still don't seem to get it. Rayner is more polarising than some others. That means her average is dragged down by absolutely dire ratings amongst 2024 Tory voters (like you) and 2024 Reform voters. But what matters is how she compares with Starmer amongst 2024 Labour, Green and Lib Dem voters, which is the pool she is fishing in, and that's what should be focused on.

    So I'll give the net figures there, together with Streeting, Burnham's and Miliband's also:

    2024 Labour Starmer -13%, Rayner -6%, Streeting -16%, Burnham +31%, Miliband -5%
    2024 Green Starmer -41%, Rayner -2%, Streeting -40%, Burnham +31%, Miliband -7%
    2024 Lib Dem Starmer -26%, Rayner -23%, Streeting -9%, Burnham +25%, Miliband -16%

    Clearly Burnham would initially at least transform Labour's polling amongst these three groups. But Rayner should also have a more limited positive effect because she's ahead of Starmer across all three groups. The same goes for Miliband. By contrast, it's not clear whether Streeting would overall attract these voters, because he's behind even Starmer amongst 2024 Labour voters which is by far the larger group of the three.

    Incidentally, I'm quoting from the latest YouGov survey, asking whether people have positive or negative views/expectations of each as PM. You don't seem to be quoting from the same source.
    https://d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/Internal_LabourLeadership_260422_w.pdf
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 59,886
    https://x.com/SkyNews/status/2048892914692927902

    BREAKING: The government will impose age or functionality restrictions on social media for children under 16, regardless of the outcome of its ongoing consultation, a move called "desperate" by Sky's @joncraig.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 103,814

    AnneJGP said:

    Who is leaking this and why????




    Kevin Schofield
    @KevinASchofield

    Absolutely crackers


    Quote Politics UK @PolitlcsUK
    ·
    2h
    🚨 NEW: Rachel Reeves is considering banning landlords from raising rent on private homes for a year due to the Iran War

    [@guardian]

    Will interest rate rises be banned to protect home buyers as well?
    I think that question is for Trump's new Fed chair who is being tested for nomination by congress at the moment.

    Sunday Times business says he thinks only the left hand side of inflation figure counts (so 2% rather than 2.3%) and his gut is that real inflation is 2.3% not whatever this week's figure is. 2% is the figure at which is target - so time to slash interest rates. And Don Locco wants this guy nominated.

    Arrange your financial affairs as you see fit.

    Trump is desperate for that slash, he even dropped the criminal case against the outgoing Chair once it became clear he wouldn't be going anywhere so long as the case was pursued, due to a Senator holding things up.

    Still, he can probably try again once he gets his guy confirmed.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 72,388
    kle4 said:

    AnneJGP said:

    Who is leaking this and why????




    Kevin Schofield
    @KevinASchofield

    Absolutely crackers


    Quote Politics UK @PolitlcsUK
    ·
    2h
    🚨 NEW: Rachel Reeves is considering banning landlords from raising rent on private homes for a year due to the Iran War

    [@guardian]

    Will interest rate rises be banned to protect home buyers as well?
    I think that question is for Trump's new Fed chair who is being tested for nomination by congress at the moment.

    Sunday Times business says he thinks only the left hand side of inflation figure counts (so 2% rather than 2.3%) and his gut is that real inflation is 2.3% not whatever this week's figure is. 2% is the figure at which is target - so time to slash interest rates. And Don Locco wants this guy nominated.

    Arrange your financial affairs as you see fit.

    Trump is desperate for that slash, he even dropped the criminal case against the outgoing Chair once it became clear he wouldn't be going anywhere so long as the case was pursued, due to a Senator holding things up.

    Still, he can probably try again once he gets his guy confirmed.
    American has fallen.

    The lights are going out.

    Will we see it again in our lifetimes?

  • prh47bridgeprh47bridge Posts: 508
    FPT

    Dopermean said:

    Crikey.

    From the Chairman of the Tory Party

    Foreign donations are illegal. Politicians who funnel and hide unlawful money should face the full force of the law.

    The police must investigate Reform UK’s spokesman for Financial Affairs Robert Jenrick. The Conservative Party has also reported Mr Jenrick to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, given the apparent serious breach of House of Commons rules.

    Parliament, the public and the Conservative Party all appear to have been deceived. While Robert Jenrick has been kicked out of the Conservative Party and is now Nigel Farage’s right hand man, this represents serious malpractice in a leadership contest.


    https://x.com/kevinhollinrake/status/2048752802923503792

    Based on this story.

    Police assess evidence on £40,000 donation to Robert Jenrick’s campaign

    Exclusive: Some donations to 2024 Tory leadership campaign allegedly originated from US businessman in breach of electoral rules


    Police are assessing evidence about donations to Robert Jenrick’s campaign to become Conservative leader in 2024 after a referral from the elections watchdog, the Guardian can reveal.

    The information was passed on by the Electoral Commission, which the Guardian understands has been investigating allegations that almost £40,000 of donations to Jenrick’s leadership campaign before he defected to Reform UK, were from a foreign source in breach of electoral rules.

    The Met said: “On Tuesday, 6 January we received a referral from the Electoral Commission concerning donations connected to a leadership campaign. This referral is under review and until it has been completed, we’re not in a position to comment further.”

    The Electoral Commission confirmed that it had sent evidence about a leadership campaign to the Met after conducting its own investigation, with its inquiries now paused while the police review the material. The exact scope of the review is unclear and the police have not confirmed whether it relates to any specific individual. They could decide to open an investigation or take no further action.


    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/27/police-assess-claim-robert-jenrick-accepted-donation-from-foreign-donor

    Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

    Heh.
    I think he'll be okay.

    A spokesman for Jenrick said: “The suggestion that Robert knowingly accepted impermissible donations is an untrue, politically motivated smear, put about years later by the Conservatives, despite the fact that Mr Ullman was introduced to Robert by a Tory MP, and had his donations’ permissibility checked by the party.
    Blue on blue suicide pact?
    More like shitting the bed.
    Since Badenoch became leader, there seems to have been a tightening up in the donations department. Came across a couple of instances via the work.
    Nothing to do with the reality that no one wants to donate to the Tories anymore?
    They returned (very rapidly) large donations, on a couple of occasions, that failed compliance.
    Somehow autocorrect autocorrected "kicking and screaming" to "very rapidly" in your post.

    https://www.ft.com/content/a5337386-6e29-4a6e-9d0e-8d58597fb23e
    Unlike the Lib Dem then. Still profiting from the proceeds of crime (and relying on a technicality to not return the money to the victims. Who are probably dead now having suffered penury in their old age)
    If he’d read the story, he’d know that the Berenberg donation was returned in 2 working days, by the Conservative donations compliance people. It took 2 days because of the legal notifications required. Then they notified the electoral commission.

    This was of interest, because it suggests that the Conservatives have actually hired some professionals.

    Unlike the due diligence of other parties.
    And if @StillWaters knew the law, they would know that returning it to the alleged victims was not an option for the Conservatives. The law (Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 section 56(2) to be precise) is clear that, on receiving an impermissible donation, the party must return it to the donor within 30 days. Paying the money to anyone else is classed as accepting the donation.
    Yes, you would have returned it to court appointed administrators who would have paid it out to the victims.

    How do you guys sleep at night?

    The law does not give parties that option. The money must go back to the donor, not someone else regardless of how deserving you think that someone is. And I don't know why you think "I"" would have returned it to anyone. I am not the Conservative party, nor do I speak for them. I am simply pointing out the law.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 136,924
    edited April 27

    FPT

    HYUFD said:

    HYUFD said:

    kle4 said:

    Labour MPs need to hold firm and not fold just because Polanski is making all the young and millenial people faint in excitement.

    Rayner might make some inroads with Green voters, she has a 36% favourable rating and -4% net rating with them compared to 18% and -57% for Starmer.

    However she has a -79% rating with Tories, -78% with Reform voters and -19% with LDs which is little better than Starmer's and even her +15% with Labour voters is far below Burnham's +41% with Labour voters

    The point is that she doesn't really need to worry about losing the vote of you and others prepared to vote Tory even in 2024. So the -79% won't worry her.
    Rayner's -32% rating with all voters though will worry her, slightly better than Farage's -38% but worse than Kemi's -21%. Still also far below Burnham's +9% with all voters
    No, you still don't seem to get it. Rayner is more polarising than some others. That means her average is dragged down by absolutely dire ratings amongst 2024 Tory voters (like you) and 2024 Reform voters. But what matters is how she compares with Starmer amongst 2024 Labour, Green and Lib Dem voters, which is the pool she is fishing in, and that's what should be focused on.

    So I'll give the net figures there, together with Streeting, Burnham's and Miliband's also:

    2024 Labour Starmer -13%, Rayner -6%, Streeting -16%, Burnham +31%, Miliband -5%
    2024 Green Starmer -41%, Rayner -2%, Streeting -40%, Burnham +31%, Miliband -7%
    2024 Lib Dem Starmer -26%, Rayner -23%, Streeting -9%, Burnham +25%, Miliband -16%

    Clearly Burnham would initially at least transform Labour's polling amongst these three groups. But Rayner should also have a more limited positive effect because she's ahead of Starmer across all three groups. The same goes for Miliband. By contrast, it's not clear whether Streeting would overall attract these voters, because he's behind even Starmer amongst 2024 Labour voters which is by far the larger group of the three.

    Incidentally, I'm quoting from the latest YouGov survey, asking whether people have positive or negative views/expectations of each as PM. You don't seem to be quoting from the same source.
    https://d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/Internal_LabourLeadership_260422_w.pdf
    That poll has 22% of 2024 Labour voters saying Rayner would make a good PM, 28% a poor PM. It also has 27% of 2024 Labour voters saying Rayner would be a worse PM than Starmer, 25% better, only Green voters by 28% to 21% say she would be better
  • another_richardanother_richard Posts: 29,513

    Who is leaking this and why????




    Kevin Schofield
    @KevinASchofield

    Absolutely crackers


    Quote Politics UK @PolitlcsUK
    ·
    2h
    🚨 NEW: Rachel Reeves is considering banning landlords from raising rent on private homes for a year due to the Iran War

    [@guardian]

    It is kind of irrelevant anyway. Once the new laws come in any tenants who don't want a rent increase can appeal at a cost of £47. Importantly the rent increase can't happen before the appeal is heard and doesn't get backdated to the intended increase date. If enough tenants appeal, and of course they will, the system will quickly backlog and £47 will be all the extra that those tenants have to pay for many months if not a couple of years until their rent appeal gets sorted.
    Followed by all those tenants being put on a landlords blacklist and finding that they cannot get housing.
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 9,247
    edited April 27




    Kevin Schofield
    @KevinASchofield

    Absolutely crackers


    Quote Politics UK @PolitlcsUK
    ·
    2h
    🚨 NEW: Rachel Reeves is considering banning landlords from raising rent on private homes for a year due to the Iran War

    [@guardian]

    It is kind of irrelevant anyway. Once the new laws come in any tenants who don't want a rent increase can appeal at a cost of £47. Importantly the rent increase can't happen before the appeal is heard and doesn't get backdated to the intended increase date. If enough tenants appeal, and of course they will, the system will quickly backlog and £47 will be all the extra that those tenants have to pay for many months if not a couple of years until their rent appeal gets sorted.

    Sadly, many tenants don't know their rights. I've had to guide several foreign students through disputing deposit deductions, almost invariably successfully.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 61,689
    Good morning!

    Any morning when Russian oil refineries are on fire, is a good morning.

    Today it’s Tuapse again, yes that’s the one they just put out after a week of destruction. There wasn’t much left of it after that, but it’s ablaze again.

    https://x.com/bohuslavskakate/status/2048939991993028816
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 60,420
    Sandpit said:

    Good morning!

    Any morning when Russian oil refineries are on fire, is a good morning.

    Today it’s Tuapse again, yes that’s the one they just put out after a week of destruction. There wasn’t much left of it after that, but it’s ablaze again.

    https://x.com/bohuslavskakate/status/2048939991993028816

    The Ukrainians had taken out over half the storage tanks, but there was one section untouched.

    No longer...
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 61,689

    kle4 said:

    AnneJGP said:

    Who is leaking this and why????




    Kevin Schofield
    @KevinASchofield

    Absolutely crackers


    Quote Politics UK @PolitlcsUK
    ·
    2h
    🚨 NEW: Rachel Reeves is considering banning landlords from raising rent on private homes for a year due to the Iran War

    [@guardian]

    Will interest rate rises be banned to protect home buyers as well?
    I think that question is for Trump's new Fed chair who is being tested for nomination by congress at the moment.

    Sunday Times business says he thinks only the left hand side of inflation figure counts (so 2% rather than 2.3%) and his gut is that real inflation is 2.3% not whatever this week's figure is. 2% is the figure at which is target - so time to slash interest rates. And Don Locco wants this guy nominated.

    Arrange your financial affairs as you see fit.

    Trump is desperate for that slash, he even dropped the criminal case against the outgoing Chair once it became clear he wouldn't be going anywhere so long as the case was pursued, due to a Senator holding things up.

    Still, he can probably try again once he gets his guy confirmed.
    American has fallen.

    The lights are going out.

    Will we see it again in our lifetimes?

    Indeed so.

    Here’s House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries calling for “Maximum warfare, all of the time” against his political opponents, and then doubling down yesterday after the events of the weekend.

    https://x.com/nrcc/status/2048848755466653971

    And here’s Jimmy KImmel, on late night TV last Thursday, saying “Mrs Trump, you have the glow of an expectant widow”.

    https://x.com/libbyemmons/status/2048452196417655243
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 91,960
    Very cool experiment. A group has trained an LLM with information only upto 1930.

    Announcing Talkie: a new, open-weight historical LLM!  We trained and finetuned a 13B model on a newly-curated dataset of only pre-1930 data.  
    https://x.com/DavidDuvenaud/status/2048878066273861646

    Not only a window into the past, but be really interesting from the whole AGI point of view can people prompt it / can it be further fine tuned to discover the leaps forward we have made in science over the past 100 years.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 60,420
    1,180 Russian troops and 36 artillery/MLRS not reporting for duty in Ukraine today. Plus an unusually high number of 16 armoured personnel carriers (but no tanks to accompany them).

    Looks like the Russians made a push somewhere - probably thinking bad weather would stop the drones from flying.

    It didn't.
  • BattlebusBattlebus Posts: 3,268

    They are losing their minds.



    Rachel Reeves considering rent freeze to limit Iran war fallout
    Exclusive: Sources say chancellor is examining exceptional measures to protect household budgets

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/27/rachel-reeves-considering-rent-freeze-to-limit-iran-war-fallout

    Interesting snippet from May 2024 where Shadow Chancellor Reeves says Rent caps are a possibility but the Labour Party later qualifies the statement as Reeves does not believe it to be the right approach.

    Perhaps a timed announcement to flood the zone.

    https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/labour-senior-says-rent-caps-are-a-possibility-in-england
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 61,689
    Jet2 flight from Antalya to Gatwick, diverted to Sofia last night because of disruptive passengers.

    https://x.com/flightemergency/status/2048836599354474889

    This does appear to be mostly a British problem, people are getting pissed up at airports or drinking their duty free on board.

    Airlines have started to launch civil cases against disruptive passengers, the cost of a diversion will be several thousand pounds, and into the tens of thousands if they have to put up passengers overnight.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 61,689
    What are the Israelis doing buying grain from Russia that’s been stolen from Ukraine? That’s two ship loads now, not good.

    https://x.com/katerynalis/status/2048851475506323725
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 60,420
    edited April 28
    Sandpit said:

    Jet2 flight from Antalya to Gatwick, diverted to Sofia last night because of disruptive passengers.

    https://x.com/flightemergency/status/2048836599354474889

    This does appear to be mostly a British problem, people are getting pissed up at airports or drinking their duty free on board.

    Airlines have started to launch civil cases against disruptive passengers, the cost of a diversion will be several thousand pounds, and into the tens of thousands if they have to put up passengers overnight.

    Make it a £10,000 bottle of duty free vodka they are necking.
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 22,035
    Well. It’s another day. I wonder what fresh horrors await.
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 20,986
    DavidL said:

    In fairness to Starmer (why am I doing that exactly) politics is a lot more volatile than it was 40 or 50 years ago with a lot less tribal loyalty. Staying popular these days is almost impossible. Anyone who is the leader is going to be a target for the majority of our population.

    Also, Starmer is in a multiparty context whereas Nixon was in a 2-party system.
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 22,035
    Sandpit said:

    Jet2 flight from Antalya to Gatwick, diverted to Sofia last night because of disruptive passengers.

    https://x.com/flightemergency/status/2048836599354474889

    This does appear to be mostly a British problem, people are getting pissed up at airports or drinking their duty free on board.

    Airlines have started to launch civil cases against disruptive passengers, the cost of a diversion will be several thousand pounds, and into the tens of thousands if they have to put up passengers overnight.

    Bet they all vote Reform as well
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 20,986
    Sandpit said:

    kle4 said:

    AnneJGP said:

    Who is leaking this and why????




    Kevin Schofield
    @KevinASchofield

    Absolutely crackers


    Quote Politics UK @PolitlcsUK
    ·
    2h
    🚨 NEW: Rachel Reeves is considering banning landlords from raising rent on private homes for a year due to the Iran War

    [@guardian]

    Will interest rate rises be banned to protect home buyers as well?
    I think that question is for Trump's new Fed chair who is being tested for nomination by congress at the moment.

    Sunday Times business says he thinks only the left hand side of inflation figure counts (so 2% rather than 2.3%) and his gut is that real inflation is 2.3% not whatever this week's figure is. 2% is the figure at which is target - so time to slash interest rates. And Don Locco wants this guy nominated.

    Arrange your financial affairs as you see fit.

    Trump is desperate for that slash, he even dropped the criminal case against the outgoing Chair once it became clear he wouldn't be going anywhere so long as the case was pursued, due to a Senator holding things up.

    Still, he can probably try again once he gets his guy confirmed.
    American has fallen.

    The lights are going out.

    Will we see it again in our lifetimes?

    Indeed so.

    Here’s House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries calling for “Maximum warfare, all of the time” against his political opponents, and then doubling down yesterday after the events of the weekend.

    https://x.com/nrcc/status/2048848755466653971

    And here’s Jimmy KImmel, on late night TV last Thursday, saying “Mrs Trump, you have the glow of an expectant widow”.

    https://x.com/libbyemmons/status/2048452196417655243
    That’s some pathetic snowflake whataboutery from Trump supporters.
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 20,986

    Very cool experiment. A group has trained an LLM with information only upto 1930.

    Announcing Talkie: a new, open-weight historical LLM!  We trained and finetuned a 13B model on a newly-curated dataset of only pre-1930 data.  
    https://x.com/DavidDuvenaud/status/2048878066273861646

    Not only a window into the past, but be really interesting from the whole AGI point of view can people prompt it / can it be further fine tuned to discover the leaps forward we have made in science over the past 100 years.

    They say it’s trained on only pre-1930 data, but there will be errors in how the data is labelled and a few post-1930 documents will have slipped through, which will completely contaminate any such experiment.
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 14,287
    edited April 28

    kle4 said:


    Oliver Kamm
    @OliverKamm
    ·
    56m
    This is a sure way of reducing the supply of private-sector rental accommodation and deterring landlords from repairing & refurbishing their properties

    https://x.com/OliverKamm/status/2048863317679128913

    Landlords are not sympathetic characters, but this doesn't seem like it would provide much assistance.
    Build more houses.

    Everything else is bollocks.
    No, it’s not. If all those new houses are hoovered up by our minted landlord class (or faceless overseas corporations) then you’ve just ended up with more lifelong Labour voters.

    The Conservatives really need to get this into their heads. Our housing stock has increased significantly over the last 30 years - but the number being rented has grown faster. They are distinct problems.

    Own your own home - not someone else’s” needs to be Badenoch’s mantra if she wants 40% rather than 10%.
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 14,287

    Very cool experiment. A group has trained an LLM with information only upto 1930.

    Announcing Talkie: a new, open-weight historical LLM!  We trained and finetuned a 13B model on a newly-curated dataset of only pre-1930 data.  
    https://x.com/DavidDuvenaud/status/2048878066273861646

    Not only a window into the past, but be really interesting from the whole AGI point of view can people prompt it / can it be further fine tuned to discover the leaps forward we have made in science over the past 100 years.

    Or economic/political theory. You’ll bet some interesting answers about what to do about inflation etc
  • eekeek Posts: 33,922

    Sandpit said:

    Jet2 flight from Antalya to Gatwick, diverted to Sofia last night because of disruptive passengers.

    https://x.com/flightemergency/status/2048836599354474889

    This does appear to be mostly a British problem, people are getting pissed up at airports or drinking their duty free on board.

    Airlines have started to launch civil cases against disruptive passengers, the cost of a diversion will be several thousand pounds, and into the tens of thousands if they have to put up passengers overnight.

    Bet they all vote Reform as well
    Antalya this time of year will be golfers more than anyone else (oh and the odd writer looking at the less accessible ruins).

    But Antalya airport is one of the most expensive ones on earth so I can imagine someone opening up the duty free rather than paying for a coffee at costa with a second mortgage.
  • eekeek Posts: 33,922

    Who is leaking this and why????




    Kevin Schofield
    @KevinASchofield

    Absolutely crackers


    Quote Politics UK @PolitlcsUK
    ·
    2h
    🚨 NEW: Rachel Reeves is considering banning landlords from raising rent on private homes for a year due to the Iran War

    [@guardian]

    It is kind of irrelevant anyway. Once the new laws come in any tenants who don't want a rent increase can appeal at a cost of £47. Importantly the rent increase can't happen before the appeal is heard and doesn't get backdated to the intended increase date. If enough tenants appeal, and of course they will, the system will quickly backlog and £47 will be all the extra that those tenants have to pay for many months if not a couple of years until their rent appeal gets sorted.
    Followed by all those tenants being put on a landlords blacklist and finding that they cannot get housing.
    How would a blacklist work?
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 79,502
    eek said:

    Who is leaking this and why????




    Kevin Schofield
    @KevinASchofield

    Absolutely crackers


    Quote Politics UK @PolitlcsUK
    ·
    2h
    🚨 NEW: Rachel Reeves is considering banning landlords from raising rent on private homes for a year due to the Iran War

    [@guardian]

    It is kind of irrelevant anyway. Once the new laws come in any tenants who don't want a rent increase can appeal at a cost of £47. Importantly the rent increase can't happen before the appeal is heard and doesn't get backdated to the intended increase date. If enough tenants appeal, and of course they will, the system will quickly backlog and £47 will be all the extra that those tenants have to pay for many months if not a couple of years until their rent appeal gets sorted.
    Followed by all those tenants being put on a landlords blacklist and finding that they cannot get housing.
    How would a blacklist work?
    Landlord asks for references from previous landlord.

    Previous landlord says, ‘refused to pay rent increase.’

    Tenant is declined.

    Not difficult to see how that could work.
This discussion has been closed.