Given Kenyon was the 2024 GE candidate for Reform he’ll at least have voter recognition and given some of the detritus the party could have put forward he seems like a good choice .
Russia is claiming that Latvia allowed Ukraine to launch drones from its territory. This follows a Romanian jet shooting down a Ukrainian drone that had wandered into Latvian airspace, presumably after being affected by EW.
If Russia wants to manufacture a cassus belli for an attack on Latvia then it's making a good start.
Latvia are easily the most belligerent of the Baltics so there might be something in it - who the fuck knows?
The droning of Moscow, particularly the apartment block on Mosfilmovskaya, is a problem for VVP. He got called a 'Гандон' (lit. Condom meaning weak and ineffectual) by some think tank wanker on TV last week. Certain factions are definitely running out patience for his cautious and legalistic probity over prosecuting the SMO. '
Reform confirms local plumber, army reservist and former NHS worker Robert Kenyon as its candidate for Makerfield
From an interview with Kenyon with Manchester Evening News pre the 2024 general election. he's an independent minded courageous chap:
However, Wigan Warriors fan Mr Kenyon says he joined Reform UK because he felt ‘politically homeless’. Because of his part-time military background Mr Kenyon refuses to discuss Reform leader Nigel Farage’s controversial view that the West provoked Russian president Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine by the eastern expansion of the European Union and NATO.
“I am not allowed to voice an opinion of stuff like that,” he said. But otherwise, he said: “I had a look around and thought who I would like to vote for and, like many people, I felt the other parties had let people down. I felt we needed a clean slate.
Reform confirms local plumber, army reservist and former NHS worker Robert Kenyon as its candidate for Makerfield
From an interview with Kenyon with Manchester Evening News pre the 2024 general election. he's an independent minded courageous chap:
However, Wigan Warriors fan Mr Kenyon says he joined Reform UK because he felt ‘politically homeless’. Because of his part-time military background Mr Kenyon refuses to discuss Reform leader Nigel Farage’s controversial view that the West provoked Russian president Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine by the eastern expansion of the European Union and NATO.
“I am not allowed to voice an opinion of stuff like that,” he said. But otherwise, he said: “I had a look around and thought who I would like to vote for and, like many people, I felt the other parties had let people down. I felt we needed a clean slate.
Reform confirms local plumber, army reservist and former NHS worker Robert Kenyon as its candidate for Makerfield
Risky. As a Reform supporter he's bound to be a bit of a cowboy, so will probably be dogged by stories of shoddy workmanship, hidden leaks and securing pipes with elastic bands.
Reform confirms local plumber, army reservist and former NHS worker Robert Kenyon as its candidate for Makerfield
Risky. As a Reform supporter he's bound to be a bit of a cowboy, so will probably be dogged by stories of shoddy workmanship, hidden leaks and securing pipes with elastic bands.
Btw these are quietly catastrophic unemployment figures. Because the trend feels inexorable
It’s the combo of Labour’s anti-growth, anti-jobs policies, plus new technology, and it is especially hitting the young
My older daughter cannot find a summer job out of uni. Nothing. Nada. Zero. Used to be easy. She’s happy to work for minimum pay doing terrible jobs. Still nothing
It's worse than people think, private sector workers are now seeing real terms wage contraction. The headline number being reported is only positive because Labour have been giving record pay rises to the state sector which is a transfer of wealth from productive parts of the economy to destructive public sectors.
Worse still over the year 190k fewer Brits are in employment and 770k foreigners have replaced them.
This is the ultimate source of Reform's strength and until this changes expect there to be a substantial number of people willing to give Reform and similar parties a fair hearing.
I think the next government will end up taking pretty drastic action and halt all but the most skilled immigration and end the student visa factories coupled with pretty drastic benefit cuts and eligibility changes for disability benefits. I don't see Reform or a Reform/Tory coalition allowing ADHD or depression for disability benefits.
No one in Britain should get social housing - certainly in places like central London - unless they were born in Britain. Anyone who has it, who isn’t British born, should be given a three year eviction notice
The total value of the subsidy (often monetised by subletting) must be enormous.
This focus on devious grifting foreigners cheating native Brits is pure distraction from the real problem. The real problem is an economic model that fosters and tolerates sickening levels of inequality.
We have people in this country who spend more on treats for their dog than somebody on a low wage has to live on. It's a scandal. This is what we are 'mugs' for putting up with.
The populist right, the Trumps and Farages of this world, make out they're on the side of those on the wrong side of the system - but do we see lurid exposees from them of the worst examples of inequality along with tubthumping calls to sort it out? No we don't.
Why? Because the people fronting and running those outfits are ardent supporters of the status quo, in fact would implement policies to push it even further towards the interests of the rich and powerful.
So what they do, what they always do, is try and focus the anger of people who are struggling to get by onto minority groups, many of whom are even less well off. It's a well worn tactic. Well worn for the simple reason that sadly and often it works.
You know you could move out of London if the sight of people spending so much on conspicuous consumption sickens you?
Tiresome comment. I mean, literally, it's got me nodding off.
So what's your theory on why the Right bangs on about immigrants to rile up the working class but has no interest in the sort of economic reforms that might actually direct wealth and opportunity their way?
Mass immigration has been one of the most significant macroeconomic facts about the British economy this millennium. It affects everything from the demand for housing to the cost of hiring someone to pamper your dog, and in both those cases, it's your wealthy dog lover who benefits and your person who is struggling to get by who loses out.
Pros and cons to immigration. We need it but not to excess. But like you say, it's a fact. It's happened. The 'mass immigration' era is over. It finished with a bang with Boris and his careless panicky Brexit mitigation measures.
Reality should be faced imo. We have a diverse multicultural society of 70m people. We're not going to kick out loads of people because they weren't born here, then close the borders and shut up shop. So why tilt at windmills.
I reckon I know why. The Populist Right have no interest in improving the lot of the working class. They simply want to misinform and stir up the 'white' sections of it in order to gain power on the back of their votes
It's raw identity politics. Negative and divisive. Tawdry and exploitative. I don't know why anybody with a head or a heart would be attracted to it.
Why are you so sure that loads of people won't be kicked out of Britain?
There are a lot of people in Britain who are willing to vote for a party who is promising to do just that. You are always so sure that the worst isn't going to happen, and then, it does.
2030s Britain. Farage PM. Mass deportations of previously legal immigrants. It will happen because enough voters in Britain want it to happen, and no-one else in politics has a good idea of how to drag the country out of its malaise.
No, I'm pretty realistic. I try to walk a line between too much optimism or doomery.
But ok, of course I'm not 'sure'. I was just stating my assessment of probability robustly.
Could it perchance be you - in being sure that we ARE going to deport millions and become an insular nativist society - that is succumbing to an innate excessive pessimism?
That would be my take. On you.
This may come as a surprise to you, but I'm actually naturally optimistic, and it's my innate optimism which is part of what makes me a lefty, and part of why I'm so relentlessly disappointed by our political trajectory.
It's when I attempt to detach myself from my innate optimism that my predictions become more pessimistic. That meant I was right about a Trump second term, and i think it's right to expect Farage to become PM.
It's when I let my instinctive optimism take over that I get things most wrong - e.g. after the Brexit vote I very confidently told the Americans I was visiting that there was a large Commons majority in favour of Norway for now, and that turned out to be insanely optimistic about how the politics would play out.
It is my hope that we "kick out" millions of people. But it won't actually be kicking out. They will leave of their own accord, as we adjust push and pull factors. That is sensible, humane and - I think - inevitable, if we want to maintain a cohesive society and not go bankrupt giving foreigners benefits. It is that simple
Russia is claiming that Latvia allowed Ukraine to launch drones from its territory. This follows a Romanian jet shooting down a Ukrainian drone that had wandered into Latvian airspace, presumably after being affected by EW.
If Russia wants to manufacture a cassus belli for an attack on Latvia then it's making a good start.
Latvia are easily the most belligerent of the Baltics so there might be something in it - who the fuck knows?
The droning of Moscow, particularly the apartment block on Mosfilmovskaya, is a problem for VVP. He got called a 'Гандон' (lit. Condom meaning weak and ineffectual) by some think tank wanker on TV last week. Certain factions are definitely running out patience for his cautious and legalistic probity over prosecuting the SMO. '
His what?
Dura probably expected better of him. A couple of tactical nukes over Kyiv, perhaps.
Russia is claiming that Latvia allowed Ukraine to launch drones from its territory. This follows a Romanian jet shooting down a Ukrainian drone that had wandered into Latvian airspace, presumably after being affected by EW.
If Russia wants to manufacture a cassus belli for an attack on Latvia then it's making a good start.
Latvia are easily the most belligerent of the Baltics so there might be something in it - who the fuck knows?
The droning of Moscow, particularly the apartment block on Mosfilmovskaya, is a problem for VVP. He got called a 'Гандон' (lit. Condom meaning weak and ineffectual) by some think tank wanker on TV last week. Certain factions are definitely running out patience for his cautious and legalistic probity over prosecuting the SMO. '
I see no reason to believe that Putin has been pulling his punches, over the past four years.
No doubt Lavrov and Medvedev want him to conduct a nuclear strike against the rest of Europe, but they're out of their heads, most of the time.
Reform confirms local plumber, army reservist and former NHS worker Robert Kenyon as its candidate for Makerfield
From an interview with Kenyon with Manchester Evening News pre the 2024 general election. he's an independent minded courageous chap:
However, Wigan Warriors fan Mr Kenyon says he joined Reform UK because he felt ‘politically homeless’. Because of his part-time military background Mr Kenyon refuses to discuss Reform leader Nigel Farage’s controversial view that the West provoked Russian president Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine by the eastern expansion of the European Union and NATO.
“I am not allowed to voice an opinion of stuff like that,” he said. But otherwise, he said: “I had a look around and thought who I would like to vote for and, like many people, I felt the other parties had let people down. I felt we needed a clean slate.
Kind of suggests the public really want Burnham in, or really want Starmer out
Reform are pretty close to their national vote share though, so not much sign of Burnham winning over their voters. Might well be different in Makerfield itself, and it would need to be for Burnham to win.
A hideous reality. Though since Afghan men have created, followed and supported an ideology under the Taliban which treats the female sex worse than cattle my sympathy for those men is at a homeopathic level.
But what is remarkable about this story is how the BBC writes about this as if the men are the victims here, how dreadful it all is for the men and asks no questions at all about why it is girls who are being sold and what they are being sold for - to be blunt, to be serially raped by much older men.
The BBC makes those girls as invisible in the perspective with which this report has been written as they are in Afghan society.
The article is about the region of Ghor, where most never supported the Taliban. Indeed, many in Ghor are Shi'a Muslims, who were ruthlessly persecuted by the Sunni Taliban.
Are women and girls treated any differently in the rest of Afghanistan then?
You said, "Though since Afghan men have created, followed and supported an ideology under the Taliban which treats the female sex worse than cattle my sympathy for those men is at a homeopathic level." The men of Ghor likely haven't supported such an ideology. I don't disagree with your criticism of the Taliban or of the BBC article. I just felt you shouldn't be blaming people for things of which they are not guilty.
Afghanistan is a large, diverse country, culturally, religiously, linguistically, economically, politically. Not everyone supports the Taliban. Women and girls are treated differently across the country.
Russia is claiming that Latvia allowed Ukraine to launch drones from its territory. This follows a Romanian jet shooting down a Ukrainian drone that had wandered into Latvian airspace, presumably after being affected by EW.
If Russia wants to manufacture a cassus belli for an attack on Latvia then it's making a good start.
Latvia are easily the most belligerent of the Baltics so there might be something in it - who the fuck knows?
The droning of Moscow, particularly the apartment block on Mosfilmovskaya, is a problem for VVP. He got called a 'Гандон' (lit. Condom meaning weak and ineffectual) by some think tank wanker on TV last week. Certain factions are definitely running out patience for his cautious and legalistic probity over prosecuting the SMO. '
His what?
Dura probably expected better of him. A couple of tactical nukes over Kyiv, perhaps.
I don't think it was Dura saying that more the think tank wanker on TV and those factions in Moscow whose children are safely in Dubai well away from the risks of being called up.
Reform confirms local plumber, army reservist and former NHS worker Robert Kenyon as its candidate for Makerfield
From an interview with Kenyon with Manchester Evening News pre the 2024 general election. he's an independent minded courageous chap:
However, Wigan Warriors fan Mr Kenyon says he joined Reform UK because he felt ‘politically homeless’. Because of his part-time military background Mr Kenyon refuses to discuss Reform leader Nigel Farage’s controversial view that the West provoked Russian president Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine by the eastern expansion of the European Union and NATO.
“I am not allowed to voice an opinion of stuff like that,” he said. But otherwise, he said: “I had a look around and thought who I would like to vote for and, like many people, I felt the other parties had let people down. I felt we needed a clean slate.
That isn't difficult, most people have a few good points, Matt Goodwin doesn't...
I only repeat the point I made before. Didn't the G &D by election imply Reform we're heading for a parliamentary majority whilst the local election results didn't. Perhaps I'm wrong on that?
Lawyers vs Plumbers...who do I dislike more, tough call, what I do know is both are eye wateringly expensive to hire these days.
One of them will make out that your system is full of shit and needs a lot of expensive work to be clean again that they will do over a long time frame.
The other is from the Latin 'plumbum' meaning lead.
Lawyers vs Plumbers...who do I dislike more, tough call, what I do know is both are eye wateringly expensive to hire these days.
One of them will make out that your system is full of shit and needs a lot of expensive work to be clean again that they will do over a long time frame.
The other is from the Latin 'plumbum' meaning lead.
You will notice I have placed TSE in a terrible dilemma.
I have said something accurate, er, impolite about lawyers, but also included a Latin tag.
Btw these are quietly catastrophic unemployment figures. Because the trend feels inexorable
It’s the combo of Labour’s anti-growth, anti-jobs policies, plus new technology, and it is especially hitting the young
My older daughter cannot find a summer job out of uni. Nothing. Nada. Zero. Used to be easy. She’s happy to work for minimum pay doing terrible jobs. Still nothing
It's worse than people think, private sector workers are now seeing real terms wage contraction. The headline number being reported is only positive because Labour have been giving record pay rises to the state sector which is a transfer of wealth from productive parts of the economy to destructive public sectors.
Worse still over the year 190k fewer Brits are in employment and 770k foreigners have replaced them.
This is the ultimate source of Reform's strength and until this changes expect there to be a substantial number of people willing to give Reform and similar parties a fair hearing.
I think the next government will end up taking pretty drastic action and halt all but the most skilled immigration and end the student visa factories coupled with pretty drastic benefit cuts and eligibility changes for disability benefits. I don't see Reform or a Reform/Tory coalition allowing ADHD or depression for disability benefits.
No one in Britain should get social housing - certainly in places like central London - unless they were born in Britain. Anyone who has it, who isn’t British born, should be given a three year eviction notice
The total value of the subsidy (often monetised by subletting) must be enormous.
How are non-citizens entitled to any government support in the first place?
So, you think we should withdraw all support from Ukrainian refugees in the UK?
No because they’re refugees, temporarily fleeing a brutal war.
IIRC the scheme supports host families giving the refugee a spare room in their house, as opposed to paying their rent in their own house?
So, there you go, we've easily identified a situtation where non-citizens should get government support, answering your earlier question.
(Ukrainians on the refugee scheme can claim Universal Credit and other benefits.)
Indeed, there’s always an exception to every rule.
Lawyers vs Plumbers...who do I dislike more, tough call, what I do know is both are eye wateringly expensive to hire these days.
One of them will make out that your system is full of shit and needs a lot of expensive work to be clean again that they will do over a long time frame.
The other is from the Latin 'plumbum' meaning lead.
My system might be full of shit. The toilet flushes OK but over time the water turns brown, as if there is faecal matter in the u-bend or beyond. But there is no smell so I don't think it can be that. I'm torn between buying a gadget and paying someone who might know what they're doing.
Fans will need a subscription to watch the finals of the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League after TNT Sports decided against making them free-to-air. It will be the first time since the Champions League was launched in 1992 that supporters have had to pay to watch it.
The Telegraph can reveal that this platform is how China’s security apparatus can track foreigners and anyone deemed “of interest” to the state within the country.
Foreign students, foreign spouses of Chinese citizens and even foreign journalists, including The Telegraph’s, were included in the sensitive data points as part of the “Dynamic Control Platform for Foreigners” programme.
The data allow the state to instantly track where American, British and other foreign citizens are located within China, who they come into contact with, their past movements and who they regularly associate with.
TV presenter Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe and professional dancer Johannes Radebe have been announced as the new hosts of Strictly Come Dancing.
Why does it always seem that when replacing presenters we always end up with more. How many presenters, talking heads, commentators are now involved in football matches. It can be main presenter, 3 talking heads, then sideline presenter with 1-2 more talking heads, then main commentator and 2 more co-commentators and now the ref expert.....
No money though. Can't afford Hard Talk, that one bloke in a simple studio with couple of cameras.
While I was walking through Leeds City Railway Station this morning, an announcement was made over the public address asking for a "Pat Cox" to make themselves known to a member of staff.
TV presenter Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe and professional dancer Johannes Radebe have been announced as the new hosts of Strictly Come Dancing.
Why does it always seem that when replacing presenters we always end up with more. How many presenters, talking heads, commentators are now involved in football matches. It can be main presenter, 3 talking heads, then sideline presenter with 1-2 more talking heads, then main commentator and 2 more co-commentators and now the ref expert.....
No money though. Can't afford Hard Talk, that one bloke in a simple studio with couple of cameras.
Reform confirms local plumber, army reservist and former NHS worker Robert Kenyon as its candidate for Makerfield
From an interview with Kenyon with Manchester Evening News pre the 2024 general election. he's an independent minded courageous chap:
However, Wigan Warriors fan Mr Kenyon says he joined Reform UK because he felt ‘politically homeless’. Because of his part-time military background Mr Kenyon refuses to discuss Reform leader Nigel Farage’s controversial view that the West provoked Russian president Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine by the eastern expansion of the European Union and NATO.
“I am not allowed to voice an opinion of stuff like that,” he said. But otherwise, he said: “I had a look around and thought who I would like to vote for and, like many people, I felt the other parties had let people down. I felt we needed a clean slate.
Btw these are quietly catastrophic unemployment figures. Because the trend feels inexorable
It’s the combo of Labour’s anti-growth, anti-jobs policies, plus new technology, and it is especially hitting the young
My older daughter cannot find a summer job out of uni. Nothing. Nada. Zero. Used to be easy. She’s happy to work for minimum pay doing terrible jobs. Still nothing
It's worse than people think, private sector workers are now seeing real terms wage contraction. The headline number being reported is only positive because Labour have been giving record pay rises to the state sector which is a transfer of wealth from productive parts of the economy to destructive public sectors.
Worse still over the year 190k fewer Brits are in employment and 770k foreigners have replaced them.
This is the ultimate source of Reform's strength and until this changes expect there to be a substantial number of people willing to give Reform and similar parties a fair hearing.
I think the next government will end up taking pretty drastic action and halt all but the most skilled immigration and end the student visa factories coupled with pretty drastic benefit cuts and eligibility changes for disability benefits. I don't see Reform or a Reform/Tory coalition allowing ADHD or depression for disability benefits.
No one in Britain should get social housing - certainly in places like central London - unless they were born in Britain. Anyone who has it, who isn’t British born, should be given a three year eviction notice
The total value of the subsidy (often monetised by subletting) must be enormous.
This focus on devious grifting foreigners cheating native Brits is pure distraction from the real problem. The real problem is an economic model that fosters and tolerates sickening levels of inequality.
We have people in this country who spend more on treats for their dog than somebody on a low wage has to live on. It's a scandal. This is what we are 'mugs' for putting up with.
The populist right, the Trumps and Farages of this world, make out they're on the side of those on the wrong side of the system - but do we see lurid exposees from them of the worst examples of inequality along with tubthumping calls to sort it out? No we don't.
Why? Because the people fronting and running those outfits are ardent supporters of the status quo, in fact would implement policies to push it even further towards the interests of the rich and powerful.
So what they do, what they always do, is try and focus the anger of people who are struggling to get by onto minority groups, many of whom are even less well off. It's a well worn tactic. Well worn for the simple reason that sadly and often it works.
You know you could move out of London if the sight of people spending so much on conspicuous consumption sickens you?
Tiresome comment. I mean, literally, it's got me nodding off.
So what's your theory on why the Right bangs on about immigrants to rile up the working class but has no interest in the sort of economic reforms that might actually direct wealth and opportunity their way?
Mass immigration has been one of the most significant macroeconomic facts about the British economy this millennium. It affects everything from the demand for housing to the cost of hiring someone to pamper your dog, and in both those cases, it's your wealthy dog lover who benefits and your person who is struggling to get by who loses out.
Pros and cons to immigration. We need it but not to excess. But like you say, it's a fact. It's happened. The 'mass immigration' era is over. It finished with a bang with Boris and his careless panicky Brexit mitigation measures.
Reality should be faced imo. We have a diverse multicultural society of 70m people. We're not going to kick out loads of people because they weren't born here, then close the borders and shut up shop. So why tilt at windmills.
I reckon I know why. The Populist Right have no interest in improving the lot of the working class. They simply want to misinform and stir up the 'white' sections of it in order to gain power on the back of their votes
It's raw identity politics. Negative and divisive. Tawdry and exploitative. I don't know why anybody with a head or a heart would be attracted to it.
Why are you so sure that loads of people won't be kicked out of Britain?
There are a lot of people in Britain who are willing to vote for a party who is promising to do just that. You are always so sure that the worst isn't going to happen, and then, it does.
2030s Britain. Farage PM. Mass deportations of previously legal immigrants. It will happen because enough voters in Britain want it to happen, and no-one else in politics has a good idea of how to drag the country out of its malaise.
No, I'm pretty realistic. I try to walk a line between too much optimism or doomery.
But ok, of course I'm not 'sure'. I was just stating my assessment of probability robustly.
Could it perchance be you - in being sure that we ARE going to deport millions and become an insular nativist society - that is succumbing to an innate excessive pessimism?
That would be my take. On you.
This may come as a surprise to you, but I'm actually naturally optimistic, and it's my innate optimism which is part of what makes me a lefty, and part of why I'm so relentlessly disappointed by our political trajectory.
It's when I attempt to detach myself from my innate optimism that my predictions become more pessimistic. That meant I was right about a Trump second term, and i think it's right to expect Farage to become PM.
It's when I let my instinctive optimism take over that I get things most wrong - e.g. after the Brexit vote I very confidently told the Americans I was visiting that there was a large Commons majority in favour of Norway for now, and that turned out to be insanely optimistic about how the politics would play out.
It is my hope that we "kick out" millions of people. But it won't actually be kicking out. They will leave of their own accord, as we adjust push and pull factors. That is sensible, humane and - I think - inevitable, if we want to maintain a cohesive society and not go bankrupt giving foreigners benefits. It is that simple
Indeed it's not kicking out it's just expiring visas and enforcing existing immigration law on deporting overstayers and blocking asylum claims from anyone who is already in the country.
It's actually not controversial at all, lefties seem desperate to paint it as UK ICE doing raids and shooting people or deporting citizens. That's not what it is.
At last count there are around 3m people here on low skill visas (including their dependents). The nation doesn't benefit from giving them citizenship and further access to welfare.
Kind of suggests the public really want Burnham in, or really want Starmer out
And do any of those people polled actually have a vote in Makerfield? Because if they don't, YouGov might as well be asking the French.
Not true! The result of a specific poll nationwide, done properly, is genuine evidence (opinions will differ about quality and quantity) about how a particular group of GB electors will behave, in this case the voters of Makerfield.
Reform polling at roughly their current national figure and Labour polling about double that suggests, not infallibly of course, that Labour will win unless the wheels come off.
While I was walking through Leeds City Railway Station this morning, an announcement was made over the public address asking for a "Pat Cox" to make themselves known to a member of staff.
Mike Hunt must have missed his train.
The Reform candidate in the recent council elections in a ward not far from me was actually named Michael Hunt. Poor chap. One hopes he goes by the name Mickey.
Russia is claiming that Latvia allowed Ukraine to launch drones from its territory. This follows a Romanian jet shooting down a Ukrainian drone that had wandered into Latvian airspace, presumably after being affected by EW.
If Russia wants to manufacture a cassus belli for an attack on Latvia then it's making a good start.
Latvia are easily the most belligerent of the Baltics so there might be something in it - who the fuck knows?
The droning of Moscow, particularly the apartment block on Mosfilmovskaya, is a problem for VVP. He got called a 'Гандон' (lit. Condom meaning weak and ineffectual) by some think tank wanker on TV last week. Certain factions are definitely running out patience for his cautious and legalistic probity over prosecuting the SMO. '
It’s possibly true, but Ukrainian occupied Ukraine is closer to Moscow than Latvia is. It sounds more like the Russians are trying to manufacture a casus belli to invade the Baltics to me.
TV presenter Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe and professional dancer Johannes Radebe have been announced as the new hosts of Strictly Come Dancing.
Why does it always seem that when replacing presenters we always end up with more. How many presenters, talking heads, commentators are now involved in football matches. It can be main presenter, 3 talking heads, then sideline presenter with 1-2 more talking heads, then main commentator and 2 more co-commentators and now the ref expert.....
No money though. Can't afford Hard Talk, that one bloke in a simple studio with couple of cameras.
In the coverage of the death of Scott Hastings I caught just a few seconds of Bill McLaren commentary, which instantly took me back to a different and lost world. It intensified the sense of loss.
Reform confirms local plumber, army reservist and former NHS worker Robert Kenyon as its candidate for Makerfield
From an interview with Kenyon with Manchester Evening News pre the 2024 general election. he's an independent minded courageous chap:
However, Wigan Warriors fan Mr Kenyon says he joined Reform UK because he felt ‘politically homeless’. Because of his part-time military background Mr Kenyon refuses to discuss Reform leader Nigel Farage’s controversial view that the West provoked Russian president Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine by the eastern expansion of the European Union and NATO.
“I am not allowed to voice an opinion of stuff like that,” he said. But otherwise, he said: “I had a look around and thought who I would like to vote for and, like many people, I felt the other parties had let people down. I felt we needed a clean slate.
TV presenter Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe and professional dancer Johannes Radebe have been announced as the new hosts of Strictly Come Dancing.
Why does it always seem that when replacing presenters we always end up with more. How many presenters, talking heads, commentators are now involved in football matches. It can be main presenter, 3 talking heads, then sideline presenter with 1-2 more talking heads, then main commentator and 2 more co-commentators and now the ref expert.....
No money though. Can't afford Hard Talk, that one bloke in a simple studio with couple of cameras.
Being fair Hardtalk wasn't just Sackur but a whole team with lots of international travel at least for the presenter. It was the best of the World Service, true journalism of record and I listen to the BBC much less since it was culled.
Btw these are quietly catastrophic unemployment figures. Because the trend feels inexorable
It’s the combo of Labour’s anti-growth, anti-jobs policies, plus new technology, and it is especially hitting the young
My older daughter cannot find a summer job out of uni. Nothing. Nada. Zero. Used to be easy. She’s happy to work for minimum pay doing terrible jobs. Still nothing
It's worse than people think, private sector workers are now seeing real terms wage contraction. The headline number being reported is only positive because Labour have been giving record pay rises to the state sector which is a transfer of wealth from productive parts of the economy to destructive public sectors.
Worse still over the year 190k fewer Brits are in employment and 770k foreigners have replaced them.
This is the ultimate source of Reform's strength and until this changes expect there to be a substantial number of people willing to give Reform and similar parties a fair hearing.
I think the next government will end up taking pretty drastic action and halt all but the most skilled immigration and end the student visa factories coupled with pretty drastic benefit cuts and eligibility changes for disability benefits. I don't see Reform or a Reform/Tory coalition allowing ADHD or depression for disability benefits.
No one in Britain should get social housing - certainly in places like central London - unless they were born in Britain. Anyone who has it, who isn’t British born, should be given a three year eviction notice
The total value of the subsidy (often monetised by subletting) must be enormous.
This focus on devious grifting foreigners cheating native Brits is pure distraction from the real problem. The real problem is an economic model that fosters and tolerates sickening levels of inequality.
We have people in this country who spend more on treats for their dog than somebody on a low wage has to live on. It's a scandal. This is what we are 'mugs' for putting up with.
The populist right, the Trumps and Farages of this world, make out they're on the side of those on the wrong side of the system - but do we see lurid exposees from them of the worst examples of inequality along with tubthumping calls to sort it out? No we don't.
Why? Because the people fronting and running those outfits are ardent supporters of the status quo, in fact would implement policies to push it even further towards the interests of the rich and powerful.
So what they do, what they always do, is try and focus the anger of people who are struggling to get by onto minority groups, many of whom are even less well off. It's a well worn tactic. Well worn for the simple reason that sadly and often it works.
You know you could move out of London if the sight of people spending so much on conspicuous consumption sickens you?
Tiresome comment. I mean, literally, it's got me nodding off.
So what's your theory on why the Right bangs on about immigrants to rile up the working class but has no interest in the sort of economic reforms that might actually direct wealth and opportunity their way?
Mass immigration has been one of the most significant macroeconomic facts about the British economy this millennium. It affects everything from the demand for housing to the cost of hiring someone to pamper your dog, and in both those cases, it's your wealthy dog lover who benefits and your person who is struggling to get by who loses out.
Pros and cons to immigration. We need it but not to excess. But like you say, it's a fact. It's happened. The 'mass immigration' era is over. It finished with a bang with Boris and his careless panicky Brexit mitigation measures.
Reality should be faced imo. We have a diverse multicultural society of 70m people. We're not going to kick out loads of people because they weren't born here, then close the borders and shut up shop. So why tilt at windmills.
I reckon I know why. The Populist Right have no interest in improving the lot of the working class. They simply want to misinform and stir up the 'white' sections of it in order to gain power on the back of their votes
It's raw identity politics. Negative and divisive. Tawdry and exploitative. I don't know why anybody with a head or a heart would be attracted to it.
Why are you so sure that loads of people won't be kicked out of Britain?
There are a lot of people in Britain who are willing to vote for a party who is promising to do just that. You are always so sure that the worst isn't going to happen, and then, it does.
2030s Britain. Farage PM. Mass deportations of previously legal immigrants. It will happen because enough voters in Britain want it to happen, and no-one else in politics has a good idea of how to drag the country out of its malaise.
No, I'm pretty realistic. I try to walk a line between too much optimism or doomery.
But ok, of course I'm not 'sure'. I was just stating my assessment of probability robustly.
Could it perchance be you - in being sure that we ARE going to deport millions and become an insular nativist society - that is succumbing to an innate excessive pessimism?
That would be my take. On you.
This may come as a surprise to you, but I'm actually naturally optimistic, and it's my innate optimism which is part of what makes me a lefty, and part of why I'm so relentlessly disappointed by our political trajectory.
It's when I attempt to detach myself from my innate optimism that my predictions become more pessimistic. That meant I was right about a Trump second term, and i think it's right to expect Farage to become PM.
It's when I let my instinctive optimism take over that I get things most wrong - e.g. after the Brexit vote I very confidently told the Americans I was visiting that there was a large Commons majority in favour of Norway for now, and that turned out to be insanely optimistic about how the politics would play out.
It is my hope that we "kick out" millions of people. But it won't actually be kicking out. They will leave of their own accord, as we adjust push and pull factors. That is sensible, humane and - I think - inevitable, if we want to maintain a cohesive society and not go bankrupt giving foreigners benefits. It is that simple
Indeed it's not kicking out it's just expiring visas and enforcing existing immigration law on deporting overstayers and blocking asylum claims from anyone who is already in the country.
It's actually not controversial at all, lefties seem desperate to paint it as UK ICE doing raids and shooting people or deporting citizens. That's not what it is.
At last count there are around 3m people here on low skill visas (including their dependents). The nation doesn't benefit from giving them citizenship and further access to welfare.
Indeed
What is perfectly normal when done abroad - your work visa is expired, the economy has slowed, we need you to leave - suddenly becomes evil fascist cruelty when Britain does it
We are not making people stateless or homeless. The debate is hysterical and ridiculous
TV presenter Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe and professional dancer Johannes Radebe have been announced as the new hosts of Strictly Come Dancing.
Why does it always seem that when replacing presenters we always end up with more. How many presenters, talking heads, commentators are now involved in football matches. It can be main presenter, 3 talking heads, then sideline presenter with 1-2 more talking heads, then main commentator and 2 more co-commentators and now the ref expert.....
No money though. Can't afford Hard Talk, that one bloke in a simple studio with couple of cameras.
I think it's simply that a successful programme, that brings in lots of viewers and income, will have its budget needlessly increased, based on some wrong-headed notion that a bigger budget will make it a bigger success, when it only needs to keep doing well what it's already doing.
Reform confirms local plumber, army reservist and former NHS worker Robert Kenyon as its candidate for Makerfield
From an interview with Kenyon with Manchester Evening News pre the 2024 general election. he's an independent minded courageous chap:
However, Wigan Warriors fan Mr Kenyon says he joined Reform UK because he felt ‘politically homeless’. Because of his part-time military background Mr Kenyon refuses to discuss Reform leader Nigel Farage’s controversial view that the West provoked Russian president Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine by the eastern expansion of the European Union and NATO.
“I am not allowed to voice an opinion of stuff like that,” he said. But otherwise, he said: “I had a look around and thought who I would like to vote for and, like many people, I felt the other parties had let people down. I felt we needed a clean slate.
That isn't difficult, most people have a few good points, Matt Goodwin doesn't...
I only repeat the point I made before. Didn't the G &D by election imply Reform we're heading for a parliamentary majority whilst the local election results didn't. Perhaps I'm wrong on that?
I'm not sure where we are on that. Out of interest, I've worked up the numbers of the Suffolk locals for any putative Suffolk Central & Ipswich North by-election, which comes out as below.
There's the usual complication with county councils that EC uses District wards, so you have to use the ward/constituency overlays from Ordnance Survey. I reckon I'm over 95% overlapped on the constituency electors with these numbers.
Reform 11342 (32.7%) Conservative 9202 (26.5) Green 8721 (25.2) Labour 2998 (8.6) LD 2404 (6.9)
I think adjusting for any by-election Green do squeeze Lab and LD here, but may lose a few on the basis of nice local Greens vs nasty national Greens.
I'd call this at the moment as a tight Reform vs Green with Reform edging it and the Tories holding up as a decent 3rd.
The EC numbers, which have close to a 20% overall left to right swing with Lab, LD and Green all around or below the 10% mark don't really convince me.
Reform confirms local plumber, army reservist and former NHS worker Robert Kenyon as its candidate for Makerfield
From an interview with Kenyon with Manchester Evening News pre the 2024 general election. he's an independent minded courageous chap:
However, Wigan Warriors fan Mr Kenyon says he joined Reform UK because he felt ‘politically homeless’. Because of his part-time military background Mr Kenyon refuses to discuss Reform leader Nigel Farage’s controversial view that the West provoked Russian president Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine by the eastern expansion of the European Union and NATO.
“I am not allowed to voice an opinion of stuff like that,” he said. But otherwise, he said: “I had a look around and thought who I would like to vote for and, like many people, I felt the other parties had let people down. I felt we needed a clean slate.
A hideous reality. Though since Afghan men have created, followed and supported an ideology under the Taliban which treats the female sex worse than cattle my sympathy for those men is at a homeopathic level.
But what is remarkable about this story is how the BBC writes about this as if the men are the victims here, how dreadful it all is for the men and asks no questions at all about why it is girls who are being sold and what they are being sold for - to be blunt, to be serially raped by much older men.
The BBC makes those girls as invisible in the perspective with which this report has been written as they are in Afghan society.
To be married at 10. Grim.
It was one of the very first changes the Khomeini regime in Iran made - to permit marriage at 9 for girls.
Taking away or denying rights for women and girls: the priority of all male dominated patriarchal ideologies and political / social ideologies ever in all societies.
"Marriage is the root of all sexism." - Grand Ayatollah Nudistani.
This obsession with using social media influencers (and in lots of cases paying them) is super cringy. Its as bad as the BBC trying to do their attract da yuff.
This obsession with using social media influencers (and in lots of cases paying them) is super cringy. Its as bad as the BBC trying to do their attract da yuff.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges Told there may be some other issues surrounding Robert Kenyon that might raise serious questions about Reform’s vetting processes.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges Told there may be some other issues surrounding Robert Kenyon that might raise serious questions about Reform’s vetting processes.
"The Metropolitan Police will ask the Crown Prosecution Service to consider charging up to 57 individuals and 20 companies over the Grenfell Tower fire disaster.
In an update at New Scotland Yard, the force said it would submit evidence files to the CPS by the end of September this year."
I would expect a severe whittling down of those numbers at the CPS...
Some of the companies responsible no longer legally exist. And some of the people responsible - senior managers in France - shamefully refused to give evidence to the Moore-Bick Inquiry.
Incidentally Lammy owes a public apology to Mr Justice Moore-Bick: his report is comprehensive, scathing and thoughtful in its treatment of the victims and their families.
When he presented his report in September 2024, after summarising the report’s main findings, he stated that Part 9 - which set out the causes and times of death of each of the 72 victims - had established those in such a way that the families would not have to go through the process again in inquests. It was a necessary part of the inquiry but it was also an attempt to spare the families further pain and the sensitive way it was addressed in his statement was to his credit. He then read out the names of each of the victims.
When he was appointed, Lammy said that a white middle class man could not possibly do such an inquiry and he should not have been appointed. Because, of course, what someone looks like is the critical factor when deciding how to assess highly technical evidence, reams of documentation and what witnesses say when questioned.
This is the sort of nonsense a focus on superficial matters, "identities" and brainless sentimentality rather than character, skills, judgment and thoughtfulness leads to. It is the mirror image of the sort of callous populism Reform offers. What both offer is evidence of how many peoples' brains fall out of their ears when they mouth platitudes without bothering to think. Pretty much our entire political class these days sound like 5 year olds reciting their catechism. Burnham is just the goodie goodie boy in the front row putting his hand up as high as possible in order to get teacher's attention and win the gold star. He's the latest example not a break with this nonsense.
What Lammy said, at least in his Guardian article, was considerably more nuanced than that, but also "I of course congratulate Sir Martin Moore-Bick on a very thorough first phase report that is some 1,000 pages long" David LAmmy Hansard 21/1/20
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jun/29/grenfell-fire-inquiry-martin-more-bick-justice "I sincerely doubt that Moore-Bick has ever visited one of our inner-city tower blocks, but I hope that he will do so soon. I doubt that he has lived in social housing or spent a night in a flat in a high-rise building, but he will now have to stand in the shoes of the people who called Grenfell home, he will have to empathise with their experiences, and he will have to walk alongside them and their families. // A public inquiry is not like a trial. Those who survived, those who burned to death and their relatives are all victims. The Grenfell families will want reassurance that another posh white man will stand with them and interrogate the authorities on their behalf."
There is a similar “twitch” about magistrates.
“Magistrates must be biased because they have a tendency to not be groups X, Y and Z”
Then a study is done that shows little, if any bias.
Sometime later…
“Magistrates must be biased because they have a tendency to not be groups X, Y and Z”
TV presenter Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe and professional dancer Johannes Radebe have been announced as the new hosts of Strictly Come Dancing.
Why does it always seem that when replacing presenters we always end up with more. How many presenters, talking heads, commentators are now involved in football matches. It can be main presenter, 3 talking heads, then sideline presenter with 1-2 more talking heads, then main commentator and 2 more co-commentators and now the ref expert.....
No money though. Can't afford Hard Talk, that one bloke in a simple studio with couple of cameras.
Strictly superfan here.
The rumours are that JoJo will also be working on It Takes Two so it’s part of that as that show is changing formats too as well as losing its hosts.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges Told there may be some other issues surrounding Robert Kenyon that might raise serious questions about Reform’s vetting processes.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges Told there may be some other issues surrounding Robert Kenyon that might raise serious questions about Reform’s vetting processes.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges Told there may be some other issues surrounding Robert Kenyon that might raise serious questions about Reform’s vetting processes.
TV presenter Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe and professional dancer Johannes Radebe have been announced as the new hosts of Strictly Come Dancing.
Why does it always seem that when replacing presenters we always end up with more. How many presenters, talking heads, commentators are now involved in football matches. It can be main presenter, 3 talking heads, then sideline presenter with 1-2 more talking heads, then main commentator and 2 more co-commentators and now the ref expert.....
No money though. Can't afford Hard Talk, that one bloke in a simple studio with couple of cameras.
If Josh Widdicombe has got the gig, Romesh won't be happy...
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges Told there may be some other issues surrounding Robert Kenyon that might raise serious questions about Reform’s vetting processes.
Lawyers vs Plumbers...who do I dislike more, tough call, what I do know is both are eye wateringly expensive to hire these days.
One of them will make out that your system is full of shit and needs a lot of expensive work to be clean again that they will do over a long time frame.
The other is from the Latin 'plumbum' meaning lead.
My system might be full of shit. The toilet flushes OK but over time the water turns brown, as if there is faecal matter in the u-bend or beyond. But there is no smell so I don't think it can be that. I'm torn between buying a gadget and paying someone who might know what they're doing.
Reform confirms local plumber, army reservist and former NHS worker Robert Kenyon as its candidate for Makerfield
From an interview with Kenyon with Manchester Evening News pre the 2024 general election. he's an independent minded courageous chap:
However, Wigan Warriors fan Mr Kenyon says he joined Reform UK because he felt ‘politically homeless’. Because of his part-time military background Mr Kenyon refuses to discuss Reform leader Nigel Farage’s controversial view that the West provoked Russian president Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine by the eastern expansion of the European Union and NATO.
“I am not allowed to voice an opinion of stuff like that,” he said. But otherwise, he said: “I had a look around and thought who I would like to vote for and, like many people, I felt the other parties had let people down. I felt we needed a clean slate.
Good luck Robert Kenyon! Now THIS is a plumber I support 🤣
Robert’s not using the people of Makerfield to serve his own ends.
He’s standing because it’s his home. He genuinely cares.
Reformers, let’s get on the ground & help Mr Makerfield beat the self-serving Mr Manchester!
Not sure the 'he's a carpet bagger' who knows nothing of the people of Makerfield is going to work on Burnham. His kids go to school in the constituency for god's sake.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges Told there may be some other issues surrounding Robert Kenyon that might raise serious questions about Reform’s vetting processes.
TV presenter Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe and professional dancer Johannes Radebe have been announced as the new hosts of Strictly Come Dancing.
Why does it always seem that when replacing presenters we always end up with more. How many presenters, talking heads, commentators are now involved in football matches. It can be main presenter, 3 talking heads, then sideline presenter with 1-2 more talking heads, then main commentator and 2 more co-commentators and now the ref expert.....
No money though. Can't afford Hard Talk, that one bloke in a simple studio with couple of cameras.
Strictly superfan here.
The rumours are that JoJo will also be working on It Takes Two so it’s part of that as that show is changing formats too as well as losing its hosts.
The thing is you don't actually have much option with the other hosts.
Live TV hosting is why more complex than people think it is so you are left choosing from a few safe pairs of hands, many of whom won't want it. Claudia's job equally requires someone who can turn on a six pence calm someone down and add a quick joke to change the tone. The original plan seems to have been Chris Ramsey but he didn't want it and is touring then anyway.
TV presenter Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe and professional dancer Johannes Radebe have been announced as the new hosts of Strictly Come Dancing.
Why does it always seem that when replacing presenters we always end up with more. How many presenters, talking heads, commentators are now involved in football matches. It can be main presenter, 3 talking heads, then sideline presenter with 1-2 more talking heads, then main commentator and 2 more co-commentators and now the ref expert.....
No money though. Can't afford Hard Talk, that one bloke in a simple studio with couple of cameras.
If Josh Widdicombe has got the gig, Romesh won't be happy...
If not Romesh, I surprised Paddy Fucking McGuiness didn't get the gig, he seems to get every presenting gig going.
Reform confirms local plumber, army reservist and former NHS worker Robert Kenyon as its candidate for Makerfield
Risky. As a Reform supporter he's bound to be a bit of a cowboy, so will probably be dogged by stories of shoddy workmanship, hidden leaks and securing pipes with elastic bands.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges Told there may be some other issues surrounding Robert Kenyon that might raise serious questions about Reform’s vetting processes.
Unless there's something truly damning then trying to cancel him for something he said on social media will backfire.
I remind you that this is the country where racist tweets get you put in prison. The UK is perfectly comfortable with punishing people for badspeak, ranging from social disapproval, loss of job, to prison. It's just that permitted targets change over time.
TV presenter Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe and professional dancer Johannes Radebe have been announced as the new hosts of Strictly Come Dancing.
Why does it always seem that when replacing presenters we always end up with more. How many presenters, talking heads, commentators are now involved in football matches. It can be main presenter, 3 talking heads, then sideline presenter with 1-2 more talking heads, then main commentator and 2 more co-commentators and now the ref expert.....
No money though. Can't afford Hard Talk, that one bloke in a simple studio with couple of cameras.
Strictly superfan here.
The rumours are that JoJo will also be working on It Takes Two so it’s part of that as that show is changing formats too as well as losing its hosts.
The thing is you don't actually have much option with the other hosts.
Live TV hosting is why more complex than people think it is so you are left choosing from a few safe pairs of hands, many of whom won't want it. Claudia's job equally requires someone who can turn on a six pence calm someone down and add a quick joke to change the tone. The original plan seems to have been Chris Ramsey but he didn't want it and is touring then anyway.
Indeed, one of Claudia’s best attributes was making somebody feel better after they’ve had a bad dance or been rinsed by the judges.
TV presenter Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe and professional dancer Johannes Radebe have been announced as the new hosts of Strictly Come Dancing.
Why does it always seem that when replacing presenters we always end up with more. How many presenters, talking heads, commentators are now involved in football matches. It can be main presenter, 3 talking heads, then sideline presenter with 1-2 more talking heads, then main commentator and 2 more co-commentators and now the ref expert.....
No money though. Can't afford Hard Talk, that one bloke in a simple studio with couple of cameras.
If Josh Widdicombe has got the gig, Romesh won't be happy...
While I was walking through Leeds City Railway Station this morning, an announcement was made over the public address asking for a "Pat Cox" to make themselves known to a member of staff.
Mike Hunt must have missed his train.
My PhD supervisor was called Gerald Willey. He used to make a habit of introducing himself to new staff by proffering the hand and simply saying "Willey". Legend has it that he once did this to a chap at the urinal...
TV presenter Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe and professional dancer Johannes Radebe have been announced as the new hosts of Strictly Come Dancing.
Why does it always seem that when replacing presenters we always end up with more. How many presenters, talking heads, commentators are now involved in football matches. It can be main presenter, 3 talking heads, then sideline presenter with 1-2 more talking heads, then main commentator and 2 more co-commentators and now the ref expert.....
No money though. Can't afford Hard Talk, that one bloke in a simple studio with couple of cameras.
If Josh Widdicombe has got the gig, Romesh won't be happy...
TV presenter Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe and professional dancer Johannes Radebe have been announced as the new hosts of Strictly Come Dancing.
Why does it always seem that when replacing presenters we always end up with more. How many presenters, talking heads, commentators are now involved in football matches. It can be main presenter, 3 talking heads, then sideline presenter with 1-2 more talking heads, then main commentator and 2 more co-commentators and now the ref expert.....
No money though. Can't afford Hard Talk, that one bloke in a simple studio with couple of cameras.
If Josh Widdicombe has got the gig, Romesh won't be happy...
Gonna be fun on The Last Leg
Suspect it's the end of the last leg - Channel 4 have serious money issues..
TV presenter Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe and professional dancer Johannes Radebe have been announced as the new hosts of Strictly Come Dancing.
Why does it always seem that when replacing presenters we always end up with more. How many presenters, talking heads, commentators are now involved in football matches. It can be main presenter, 3 talking heads, then sideline presenter with 1-2 more talking heads, then main commentator and 2 more co-commentators and now the ref expert.....
No money though. Can't afford Hard Talk, that one bloke in a simple studio with couple of cameras.
If Josh Widdicombe has got the gig, Romesh won't be happy...
If not Romesh, I surprised Paddy Fucking McGuiness didn't get the gig, he seems to get every presenting gig going.
It’s a shame he didn’t. He seems to kill a franchise by being its presenter.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announces that the new lower speed curtailed HS2 trains between Old Oak Common and Brum will not run start running for at least a decade, and might not start until.. 2039."
TV presenter Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe and professional dancer Johannes Radebe have been announced as the new hosts of Strictly Come Dancing.
Why does it always seem that when replacing presenters we always end up with more. How many presenters, talking heads, commentators are now involved in football matches. It can be main presenter, 3 talking heads, then sideline presenter with 1-2 more talking heads, then main commentator and 2 more co-commentators and now the ref expert.....
No money though. Can't afford Hard Talk, that one bloke in a simple studio with couple of cameras.
Strictly superfan here.
The rumours are that JoJo will also be working on It Takes Two so it’s part of that as that show is changing formats too as well as losing its hosts.
The thing is you don't actually have much option with the other hosts.
Live TV hosting is why more complex than people think it is so you are left choosing from a few safe pairs of hands, many of whom won't want it. Claudia's job equally requires someone who can turn on a six pence calm someone down and add a quick joke to change the tone. The original plan seems to have been Chris Ramsey but he didn't want it and is touring then anyway.
Yes and no. This is the same argument the BBC deploys for why it pays its 'talent' so much. Genuinely there are thousands of people who could do this, its not limited to people that the public already knows. The decision making is that the public want familiarity with Lineker rather than a brilliant but unknown presenter for a 1/10 the price.
TV presenter Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe and professional dancer Johannes Radebe have been announced as the new hosts of Strictly Come Dancing.
Why does it always seem that when replacing presenters we always end up with more. How many presenters, talking heads, commentators are now involved in football matches. It can be main presenter, 3 talking heads, then sideline presenter with 1-2 more talking heads, then main commentator and 2 more co-commentators and now the ref expert.....
No money though. Can't afford Hard Talk, that one bloke in a simple studio with couple of cameras.
If Josh Widdicombe has got the gig, Romesh won't be happy...
If not Romesh, I surprised Paddy Fucking McGuiness didn't get the gig, he seems to get every presenting gig going.
Now Rajan has ruled himself out by becoming a media entrepreneur.
"SIXTH newly elected Green councillor quits leaving Londoners with £120,000 by-elections bill"
"New Green representatives on Camden, Haringey, Lambeth, Hackney and Ealing councils have immediately quit - meaning by-elections will have to be held"
Maybe one or two wouldn't really matter but six feels like enough for significant numbers of people to notice.
This obsession with using social media influencers (and in lots of cases paying them) is super cringy. Its as bad as the BBC trying to do their attract da yuff.
Next it will be The Famileigh doing the state opening of parliament.
TV presenter Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe and professional dancer Johannes Radebe have been announced as the new hosts of Strictly Come Dancing.
Why does it always seem that when replacing presenters we always end up with more. How many presenters, talking heads, commentators are now involved in football matches. It can be main presenter, 3 talking heads, then sideline presenter with 1-2 more talking heads, then main commentator and 2 more co-commentators and now the ref expert.....
No money though. Can't afford Hard Talk, that one bloke in a simple studio with couple of cameras.
If Josh Widdicombe has got the gig, Romesh won't be happy...
Gonna be fun on The Last Leg
Suspect it's the end of the last leg - Channel 4 have serious money issues..
Channel 4’s money worries will only increase when the MAFS legal claims arrive.
"Surrey Police says it is investigating two separate allegations of "non-recent child sexual abuse" following the release of the Epstein files.
The force says that one relates to locations in Surrey and Berkshire in the mid 1990s to 2000. The other relates to the mid to late 1980s in west Surrey.
TV presenter Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe and professional dancer Johannes Radebe have been announced as the new hosts of Strictly Come Dancing.
Why does it always seem that when replacing presenters we always end up with more. How many presenters, talking heads, commentators are now involved in football matches. It can be main presenter, 3 talking heads, then sideline presenter with 1-2 more talking heads, then main commentator and 2 more co-commentators and now the ref expert.....
No money though. Can't afford Hard Talk, that one bloke in a simple studio with couple of cameras.
Strictly superfan here.
The rumours are that JoJo will also be working on It Takes Two so it’s part of that as that show is changing formats too as well as losing its hosts.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announces that the new lower speed curtailed HS2 trains between Old Oak Common and Brum will not run start running for at least a decade, and might not start until.. 2039."
What are the chances it ends up SLOWER than the trains we have now?
What we need is an inquiry into how and why HS2 was such a clusterfuck. They should aim to start the inquiry sometime in the early 2030s, make sure it runs for at least 53 years and costs sixteen quintillion pounds, also ensure it concludes after everyone responsible is dead, and most of the earth is barren wasteland from global warming, and at the end the verdict has to be "lessons will be learned"
HS2 might actually be the biggest infrastructure disaster in the history of the entire world
Yup, this is worse than Berlin Airport. At least that was only €10bn spent. This will end up being £70-80bn by the end of it and all for nothing really. This country is a joke.
TV presenter Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe and professional dancer Johannes Radebe have been announced as the new hosts of Strictly Come Dancing.
Why does it always seem that when replacing presenters we always end up with more. How many presenters, talking heads, commentators are now involved in football matches. It can be main presenter, 3 talking heads, then sideline presenter with 1-2 more talking heads, then main commentator and 2 more co-commentators and now the ref expert.....
No money though. Can't afford Hard Talk, that one bloke in a simple studio with couple of cameras.
If Josh Widdicombe has got the gig, Romesh won't be happy...
Gonna be fun on The Last Leg
Fun and The Last Leg usually don’t go hand in hand, I cannot think of a foot metaphor.
TV presenter Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe and professional dancer Johannes Radebe have been announced as the new hosts of Strictly Come Dancing.
Why does it always seem that when replacing presenters we always end up with more. How many presenters, talking heads, commentators are now involved in football matches. It can be main presenter, 3 talking heads, then sideline presenter with 1-2 more talking heads, then main commentator and 2 more co-commentators and now the ref expert.....
No money though. Can't afford Hard Talk, that one bloke in a simple studio with couple of cameras.
Strictly superfan here.
The rumours are that JoJo will also be working on It Takes Two so it’s part of that as that show is changing formats too as well as losing its hosts.
The thing is you don't actually have much option with the other hosts.
Live TV hosting is why more complex than people think it is so you are left choosing from a few safe pairs of hands, many of whom won't want it. Claudia's job equally requires someone who can turn on a six pence calm someone down and add a quick joke to change the tone. The original plan seems to have been Chris Ramsey but he didn't want it and is touring then anyway.
Yes and no. This is the same argument the BBC deploys for why it pays its 'talent' so much. Genuinely there are thousands of people who could do this, its not limited to people that the public already knows. The decision making is that the public want familiarity with Lineker rather than a brilliant but unknown presenter for a 1/10 the price.
You are spending £xm on a TV show, you don't give it to someone the public may hate as soon as they see them...
Hmm. I haven't seen the Jeremy Jahns review yet but with a 64% score on Rotten Tomatoes and a predicted $500 million worldwide take on a movie with a $165million budget, that's not...bad?
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announces that the new lower speed curtailed HS2 trains between Old Oak Common and Brum will not run start running for at least a decade, and might not start until.. 2039."
What are the chances it ends up SLOWER than the trains we have now?
Especially if you are travelling from Central London and have to get to Old Oak Common. BTW how much of the £102.7bn cost is to pay lawyers and consultants?
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announces that the new lower speed curtailed HS2 trains between Old Oak Common and Brum will not run start running for at least a decade, and might not start until.. 2039."
What are the chances it ends up SLOWER than the trains we have now?
What we need is an inquiry into how and why HS2 was such a clusterfuck. They should aim to start the inquiry sometime in the early 2030s, make sure it runs for at least 53 years and costs sixteen quintillion pounds, also ensure it concludes after everyone responsible is dead, and most of the earth is barren wasteland from global warming, and at the end the verdict has to be "lessons will be learned"
It should expand until it becomes the biggest employer in the country without ever actually operating any trains. Future elections can be fought to "Save our HS2" from the threat of opening.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges Told there may be some other issues surrounding Robert Kenyon that might raise serious questions about Reform’s vetting processes.
Comments
https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2026/0519/1574138-donaldson-trial-date/
The latter is going to be extremely hard to resist.
It's not my experience, I have to say.
[GB-wide Poll, Excluding Don't Knows]
Assuming Andy Burnham is selected as Labour's candidate in Makerfield, who would you most like to see win the By-Election:
LAB: 38%
RFM: 27%
GRN: 13%
CON: 8%
LDM: 6%
Other: 6%
Kind of suggests the public really want Burnham in, or really want Starmer out
A couple of tactical nukes over Kyiv, perhaps.
No doubt Lavrov and Medvedev want him to conduct a nuclear strike against the rest of Europe, but they're out of their heads, most of the time.
Afghanistan is a large, diverse country, culturally, religiously, linguistically, economically, politically. Not everyone supports the Taliban. Women and girls are treated differently across the country.
The other is from the Latin 'plumbum' meaning lead.
I have said something accurate, er, impolite about lawyers, but also included a Latin tag.
What is the correct course of action?
Foreign students, foreign spouses of Chinese citizens and even foreign journalists, including The Telegraph’s, were included in the sensitive data points as part of the “Dynamic Control Platform for Foreigners” programme.
The data allow the state to instantly track where American, British and other foreign citizens are located within China, who they come into contact with, their past movements and who they regularly associate with.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/19/leaked-secret-chinese-surveillance-programme-tracks-foreign/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgep5ez80rzo
Why does it always seem that when replacing presenters we always end up with more. How many presenters, talking heads, commentators are now involved in football matches. It can be main presenter, 3 talking heads, then sideline presenter with 1-2 more talking heads, then main commentator and 2 more co-commentators and now the ref expert.....
No money though. Can't afford Hard Talk, that one bloke in a simple studio with couple of cameras.
While I was walking through Leeds City Railway Station this morning, an announcement was made over the public address asking for a "Pat Cox" to make themselves known to a member of staff.
Mike Hunt must have missed his train.
Good luck Robert Kenyon! Now THIS is a plumber I support 🤣
Robert’s not using the people of Makerfield to serve his own ends.
He’s standing because it’s his home. He genuinely cares.
Reformers, let’s get on the ground & help Mr Makerfield beat the self-serving Mr Manchester!
It's actually not controversial at all, lefties seem desperate to paint it as UK ICE doing raids and shooting people or deporting citizens. That's not what it is.
At last count there are around 3m people here on low skill visas (including their dependents). The nation doesn't benefit from giving them citizenship and further access to welfare.
Reform polling at roughly their current national figure and Labour polling about double that suggests, not infallibly of course, that Labour will win unless the wheels come off.
IMO current odds of about Lab 4/7 are value.
What is perfectly normal when done abroad - your work visa is expired, the economy has slowed, we need you to leave - suddenly becomes evil fascist cruelty when Britain does it
We are not making people stateless or homeless. The debate is hysterical and ridiculous
There's the usual complication with county councils that EC uses District wards, so you have to use the ward/constituency overlays from Ordnance Survey. I reckon I'm over 95% overlapped on the constituency electors with these numbers.
Reform 11342 (32.7%)
Conservative 9202 (26.5)
Green 8721 (25.2)
Labour 2998 (8.6)
LD 2404 (6.9)
I think adjusting for any by-election Green do squeeze Lab and LD here, but may lose a few on the basis of nice local Greens vs nasty national Greens.
I'd call this at the moment as a tight Reform vs Green with Reform edging it and the Tories holding up as a decent 3rd.
The EC numbers, which have close to a 20% overall left to right swing with Lab, LD and Green all around or below the 10% mark don't really convince me.
Gemma Collins is in the building and she's got questions. Coming soon📷
https://x.com/educationgovuk/status/2056731789524164642?s=20
This obsession with using social media influencers (and in lots of cases paying them) is super cringy. Its as bad as the BBC trying to do their attract da yuff.
(((Dan Hodges)))
@DPJHodges
Told there may be some other issues surrounding Robert Kenyon that might raise serious questions about Reform’s vetting processes.
https://x.com/CCHQPress/status/2056721730232603050?s=20
“Magistrates must be biased because they have a tendency to not be groups X, Y and Z”
Then a study is done that shows little, if any bias.
Sometime later…
“Magistrates must be biased because they have a tendency to not be groups X, Y and Z”
Then a…
The rumours are that JoJo will also be working on It Takes Two so it’s part of that as that show is changing formats too as well as losing its hosts.
A massive figure blown up to an unbelievable amount with no visible means of support.
Live TV hosting is why more complex than people think it is so you are left choosing from a few safe pairs of hands, many of whom won't want it.
Claudia's job equally requires someone who can turn on a six pence calm someone down and add a quick joke to change the tone. The original plan seems to have been Chris Ramsey but he didn't want it and is touring then anyway.
I just don't see how that gets beaten (even with Burnham acting a bit of an entitled knob...).
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/star_wars_the_mandalorian_and_grogu
"NEW
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announces that the new lower speed curtailed HS2 trains between Old Oak Common and Brum will not run start running for at least a decade, and might not start until.. 2039."
https://x.com/faisalislam/status/2056713405981962483?s=20
What are the chances it ends up SLOWER than the trains we have now?
"New Green representatives on Camden, Haringey, Lambeth, Hackney and Ealing councils have immediately quit - meaning by-elections will have to be held"
Maybe one or two wouldn't really matter but six feels like enough for significant numbers of people to notice.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/green-party-councillors-quit-election-costs-b1282285.html
The force says that one relates to locations in Surrey and Berkshire in the mid 1990s to 2000. The other relates to the mid to late 1980s in west Surrey.
No arrests have been made, it added."
Fallout, pt 94.
If I told you our canvassing returns in Makerfield, nobody would believe me. They are that good.
Something is happening out there.
We will end up with a train that goes at 16mph, from a shed near Southall to someone's garden in Newent
BTW how much of the £102.7bn cost is to pay lawyers and consultants?
Anyone keeping a count of how many of their newly-elected have gone so far?