To show how quickly it’s possible for batteries to change electricity consumption here is a chart for electricity energy source in Australia for April 2025 and 2026
Site has been perfectly fine for me on my mobile. Can load desktop version no problem too. Bit of a mystery.
Me too. It usually works fine on my laptop (both main site and vanilla). It's more likely randomly to fail to work on my mobile (sometimes comments won't display on main site, or vanilla not at all) but actually for the past month or so has been more consistent than usual!
It might be something to do with network, because there have been days when it wouldn't connect via the mobile network but was OK on wifi. Or vice versa.
I see Starmer as The Inspector ISTJ. He is a detail-oriented, pragmatic problem-solver who values hard data, precedents, and evidence over lofty, abstract grand visions. He approaches issues through the lens of incremental, concrete adjustments rather than ideological theories. His decision-making framework is analytical, highly objective, and clinical. He values rules, frameworks, and process, earning him a reputation as a "technocrat" who focuses on competence rather than emotional rhetoric.
I see Blair as The Inspiring Communicator ENFJ. He possesses powerful charisma and his communication style relies heavily on metaphors, overarching vision, and emotional persuasion. His problem is that many think he has been captured by wealthy powerful players and now distrust him.
I see Burnham as The Consul ESFJ. He shows deep empathy, approachable warmth, and a strong sense of community loyalty. Unlike Blair's grand abstract concepts, Burnham focuses on tangible, practical realities affecting everyday people, such as localised public transport (the Bee Network) and local social care. However he has the ability to craft a passion-driven alternative political narrative for the "North," demonstrating a broader regional vision which may be transferable to the whole nation.
Bottom line: Burnham might turn out to be another Blair - but without the baggage - and with more attention to detail, (but not as limited by process as Starmer).
I did Myers Briggs twice. Got ISTJ twice. Second time out I did question this as pretty much the entire commercial department ended up as ISTJ which was obviously not true when you looked at us. So I take much of this profiling bollocks as a useful tool for consultants wanting to extract cash from big businesses but otherwise of little value.
A department of Inspectors, of Keir Starmers! It has been known.
I don't know whether anyone remembers 'The Paulsgrove Estate'? It became famous for the ignorance of what was thought to be an underclass in the UK. In a small way it contributed to the ending of The News of the World and other horseshit produced by the Murdoch Stables .......
It was a time of vigilantism......
There was a paedophile story which had been ramped up by the News of the World which culminated in an army of pitchfork carriers daubing an innocent persons house with the word PAEDO. They had heard it was owned by a paediatrician.
The owner had to move house and for several years afterwards 'The Paulsgrove Estate ' became a byword for the most ignorant of the ignorant. As a country we became a laughing stock. Even during a housing shortage no one wanted to live on the Paulsgrove Estate...
And the bad news is thanks to Farage and his followers that's where we are heading for again.
‘ Andy Burnham cancelled a call with hedge fund managers this week at short notice, in a stumbling start to the Labour leadership favourite’s efforts to reassure nervous City of London investors about his borrowing plans ft.trib.al/zb8P4xg’
Bodycam footage of the arrest of Henry Nowak has been released. It's extremely harrowing to watch.
The difference between Starmer's lack of interest and his posturing obsession about George Floyd seems to have broken thorough.
I've heard this contrast mentioned by three different people during the last few days.
And I by none. Broken through is a relative concept it seems.
It can be.
The people I know being predominantly of northern wwc background rather than southern middle class leftists.
Ever wondered why Labour is struggling so much with the first group ?
A few echoes of Gordon Brown and Gillian Duffy - I remember there were middle class leftist PBers who were certain that it would be a vote winner for Labour. It wasn't among wwc voters.
The likening of this case to George Floyd is just more of the usual.
Der der der der ... der da.
"And our next contestant. What's your name and occupation please?"
"The online right. Internet pundit."
"And your specialist subject?"
"Ludicrously false equivalence."
"Ok. Your two minutes on ludicrously false equivalence starts NOW."
I don't know what point kinabalu is trying to make there (police behaviour?) but it feels desperate. If Henry Nowak was black the focus would very much be on comparisons with George Floyd and I doubt he would be claiming false equivalence.
What he doesn't get is that most people aren't focused on politics. Their instincts are first and foremost humanistic not ideological. You see someone claiming they can't breathe being violently restrained by police and then dying. It's harrowing. The only people who don't feel similarly over both situations are racists for whom only black or white victims count.
I should say some of those sympathetic to Henry don't like seeing him categorised alongside a violent criminal.
You can't help but feel desperately sorry for Henry and his family for the mistakes the police made at the scene, although AIUI they didn't contribute to his death. Obviously the police were in a difficult situation where they were lied to initially, but it seems like it took them too long to figure out the reality of the situation. They have a difficult job though and it is inevitable that they will make mistakes. They are not infalible. Whether this is evidence of systemic anti white bias is a different question. I don't see how that question can be answered by looking at a single incident. Bias is only really evident across a pattern of behaviour. Does Hampshire police have a consistent pattern of discriminating against white people? I don't know the answer to that question but I think it is unlikely a priori. Discrimination against people who constitute the overwhelming majority of a population is generally rather rare, for obvious reasons. Incidentally, I think that Farage’s response to this, perhaps more than anything else, demonstrates he is unfit to govern this country. I would be genuinely fearful for our future if he were ever PM.
As un understand it the Hampshire Police have a policy which discriminates in favour of minorities. They are in the process of reviewing it.
I blame the Conservatives who have been in control of the Police and Crime Commissioner role for 10 years. And Reform want to welcome them into their party. If people aren't confused about culture wars, they will be.
One wonders what these men would have been doing before social media ruined the planet
Probably going to watch Millwall and West Ham, among other teams.
The real cultural change came in the early nineties when everyone, of that generation, became loved up on drugs and acid house crap/raves.
Yep, I remember the police at the time only ever talking about drugs, drugs, drugs.
What they mostly didn’t talk about, is how several thousand people could be at a rave for 12 hours and there to be almost no disturbances, just people having a good time.
One wonders what these men would have been doing before social media ruined the planet
Probably going to watch Millwall and West Ham, among other teams.
The real cultural change came in the early nineties when everyone, of that generation, became loved up on drugs and acid house crap/raves.
Yep, I remember the police at the time only ever talking about drugs, drugs, drugs.
What they mostly didn’t talk about, is how several thousand people could be at a rave for 12 hours and there to be almost no disturbances, just people having a good time.
One wonders what these men would have been doing before social media ruined the planet
Probably going to watch Millwall and West Ham, among other teams.
The real cultural change came in the early nineties when everyone, of that generation, became loved up on drugs and acid house crap/raves.
Yep, I remember the police at the time only ever talking about drugs, drugs, drugs.
What they mostly didn’t talk about, is how several thousand people could be at a rave for 12 hours and there to be almost no disturbances, just people having a good time.
As The Shamen once sang, E’s are good.
So the fact it was against the law, for more than one reason, didn't matter. People could just decide to do what they wanted.
Site has been perfectly fine for me on my mobile. Can load desktop version no problem too. Bit of a mystery.
Me too. It usually works fine on my laptop (both main site and vanilla). It's more likely randomly to fail to work on my mobile (sometimes comments won't display on main site, or vanilla not at all) but actually for the past month or so has been more consistent than usual!
It might be something to do with network, because there have been days when it wouldn't connect via the mobile network but was OK on wifi. Or vice versa.
Routing related I suspect, Hyperoptic and O2 have both displayed issues
I don't know whether anyone remembers 'The Paulsgrove Estate'? It became famous for the ignorance of what was thought to be an underclass in the UK. In a small way it contributed to the ending of The News of the World and other horseshit produced by the Murdoch Stables .......
It was a time of vigilantism......
There was a paedophile story which had been ramped up by the News of the World which culminated in an army of pitchfork carriers daubing an innocent persons house with the word PAEDO. They had heard it was owned by a paediatrician.
The owner had to move house and for several years afterwards 'The Paulsgrove Estate ' became a byword for the most ignorant of the ignorant. As a country we became a laughing stock. Even during a housing shortage no one wanted to live on the Paulsgrove Estate...
And the bad news is thanks to Farage and his followers that's where we are heading for again.
Part of the problem is people spreading fake stories that confirm their personal prejudices. On social media.
The Green vote slide is marked in several polls - possibly due to the prospect of Burnham leadership.
A Burnham Labour leadership is a potential disaster for Polanski, manageable but perhaps of a little concern to Farage and Davey and OK for Kemi as he enables clear blue water on economics between Labour and the Conservatives again
One wonders what these men would have been doing before social media ruined the planet
Probably going to watch Millwall and West Ham, among other teams.
The real cultural change came in the early nineties when everyone, of that generation, became loved up on drugs and acid house crap/raves.
Yep, I remember the police at the time only ever talking about drugs, drugs, drugs.
What they mostly didn’t talk about, is how several thousand people could be at a rave for 12 hours and there to be almost no disturbances, just people having a good time.
As The Shamen once sang, E’s are good.
So the fact it was against the law, for more than one reason, didn't matter. People could just decide to do what they wanted.
It mattered very much that drugs were illegal.
My point was that there was a significant drop in public order issues in the early ‘90s, as a culture that led to a lot of young men socialising around football and drinking, was replaced with a culture of young men going to raves and taking pills. The pill-poppers didn’t get in fights with each other, unlike the football fans for whom it was often the highlight of their Saturday afternoon.
(narrator: viewcode is on course to get the minimum when state retirement pension is taken into account, but not before.)
I fail to see why retired pensioners who may well have paid off the mortgage need nearly the average income for a working household even for a moderate retirement. The minimum looks about right
One wonders what these men would have been doing before social media ruined the planet
Probably going to watch Millwall and West Ham, among other teams.
The real cultural change came in the early nineties when everyone, of that generation, became loved up on drugs and acid house crap/raves.
Yep, I remember the police at the time only ever talking about drugs, drugs, drugs.
What they mostly didn’t talk about, is how several thousand people could be at a rave for 12 hours and there to be almost no disturbances, just people having a good time.
As The Shamen once sang, E’s are good.
So the fact it was against the law, for more than one reason, didn't matter. People could just decide to do what they wanted.
It mattered very much that drugs were illegal.
My point was that there was a significant drop in public order issues in the early ‘90s, as a culture that led to a lot of young men socialising around football and drinking, was replaced with a culture of young men going to raves and taking pills. The pill-poppers didn’t get in fights with each other, unlike the football fans for whom it was often the highlight of their Saturday afternoon.
Going to the footy on, or coming down off pills changed that culture too.
Site has been perfectly fine for me on my mobile. Can load desktop version no problem too. Bit of a mystery.
Me too. It usually works fine on my laptop (both main site and vanilla). It's more likely randomly to fail to work on my mobile (sometimes comments won't display on main site, or vanilla not at all) but actually for the past month or so has been more consistent than usual!
It might be something to do with network, because there have been days when it wouldn't connect via the mobile network but was OK on wifi. Or vice versa.
Routing related I suspect, Hyperoptic and O2 have both displayed issues
It’s a network/DNS routing glitch on the Vanilla end. Sometimes gives a 404 when refreshing, refresh again and it works. It’s been the same for 6-8 weeks now. Possibly Cloudflare-related, as Vanilla is their customer.
‘ Andy Burnham cancelled a call with hedge fund managers this week at short notice, in a stumbling start to the Labour leadership favourite’s efforts to reassure nervous City of London investors about his borrowing plans ft.trib.al/zb8P4xg’
I see Starmer as The Inspector ISTJ. He is a detail-oriented, pragmatic problem-solver who values hard data, precedents, and evidence over lofty, abstract grand visions. He approaches issues through the lens of incremental, concrete adjustments rather than ideological theories. His decision-making framework is analytical, highly objective, and clinical. He values rules, frameworks, and process, earning him a reputation as a "technocrat" who focuses on competence rather than emotional rhetoric.
I see Blair as The Inspiring Communicator ENFJ. He possesses powerful charisma and his communication style relies heavily on metaphors, overarching vision, and emotional persuasion. His problem is that many think he has been captured by wealthy powerful players and now distrust him.
I see Burnham as The Consul ESFJ. He shows deep empathy, approachable warmth, and a strong sense of community loyalty. Unlike Blair's grand abstract concepts, Burnham focuses on tangible, practical realities affecting everyday people, such as localised public transport (the Bee Network) and local social care. However he has the ability to craft a passion-driven alternative political narrative for the "North," demonstrating a broader regional vision which may be transferable to the whole nation.
Bottom line: Burnham might turn out to be another Blair - but without the baggage - and with more attention to detail, (but not as limited by process as Starmer).
Despite appearances I think it's more likely that Starmer is ESTJ rather than ISTJ. The slightly bullying manner, the ability to blame everyone apart from himself and desire to attend Taylor Swift concerts separates him from most ISTJs.
BTW, the fact that most people think all this MBTI stuff is nonsense gives an advantage to those who don't.
(narrator: viewcode is on course to get the minimum when state retirement pension is taken into account, but not before.)
I fail to see why retired pensioners who may well have paid off the mortgage need nearly the average income for a working household even for a moderate retirement. The minimum looks about right
Yes. £32 700 with no housing costs is £90 a day. The issue is the phrasing "retirement lifestyle".
Many of us in business have found it extremely useful in putting together and managing balanced teams.
It helps individuals realise that other people think and behave in a different but equally valid way from them.
It is based upon the theory of psychological types proposed by Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung in his 1921 book, Psychological Types.
However my wife had the same reaction to it as you. She hated being categorised. That's OK and understandable.
Belbin has at least some research to back up its validity.
Belbin is useful too. I judge these techniques by their practical usefulness.
Many years ago, I went to an interview for an HR job in an NHS hospital. They gave me a Myers Briggs test to do and said they weren't going to use them as a selection tool but had just got it and wanted to calibrate it.
Sitting outside the office waiting for my interview I heard them discussing the Myers Briggs, clearly they were looking for people who fitted certain criteria.
You can assume I wasn't terribly disappointed when they failed to offer me a job, also it was in Lincoln which seemed to me to he rather isolated and not somewhere I wanted to live.
I would note that 30% of UK households (all ages) were below their minimum suggested incomes, whereas amongst pensioners it is 21%. This is a poverty problem, not a lack of pension savings problem.
To show how quickly it’s possible for batteries to change electricity consumption here is a chart for electricity energy source in Australia for April 2025 and 2026
Impressive, but it won't do anything much to reduce UK electricity prices as the government has been locking in renewable deals with strike prices equal or greater than the cost of using gas.
I wonder if it might help reduce the amount of new electricity interconnectors required a bit - if we can keep the N-S interconnectors flat out all day and night, to charge batteries in the south overnight which then mitigate peak demand in the south during the day, the increased utilisation might be sufficient to save building a lot of new interconnectors.
(narrator: viewcode is on course to get the minimum when state retirement pension is taken into account, but not before.)
Surely that depends massively on whether you own your own property or not?
I suspect they are also just measuring pensions, when nowadays ISA and for some BTL are equally significant savings methods.
I'm always sceptical about figures like the £32,000 "moderate" income. That gives you £2,300 a month after tax. OK a few hundred £s will go on bills, running a car etc but what exactly do you spend the rest on? Assuming you are not paying mortgage or rent, that looks pretty comfortable to me
(narrator: viewcode is on course to get the minimum when state retirement pension is taken into account, but not before.)
Surely that depends massively on whether you own your own property or not?
I suspect they are also just measuring pensions, when nowadays ISA and for some BTL are equally significant savings methods.
See this one for BHC (before housing costs) and AHC (after housing costs). Lots and lots not saving for the future. There will soon be an overlap (if there isn't already one) where Pension Credit is worth more than those with a 'full' pension. MalcomG is the expert on this.
‘ Andy Burnham cancelled a call with hedge fund managers this week at short notice, in a stumbling start to the Labour leadership favourite’s efforts to reassure nervous City of London investors about his borrowing plans ft.trib.al/zb8P4xg’
‘ Andy Burnham cancelled a call with hedge fund managers this week at short notice, in a stumbling start to the Labour leadership favourite’s efforts to reassure nervous City of London investors about his borrowing plans ft.trib.al/zb8P4xg’
To show how quickly it’s possible for batteries to change electricity consumption here is a chart for electricity energy source in Australia for April 2025 and 2026
Impressive, but it won't do anything much to reduce UK electricity prices as the government has been locking in renewable deals with strike prices equal or greater than the cost of using gas.
I wonder if it might help reduce the amount of new electricity interconnectors required a bit - if we can keep the N-S interconnectors flat out all day and night, to charge batteries in the south overnight which then mitigate peak demand in the south during the day, the increased utilisation might be sufficient to save building a lot of new interconnectors.
Batteries will kill a number of things. But because they are the best solution. But because they are a solution that works and is available now. And at small scale, virtually unstoppable - trying to stop a solar farmer putting a couple of ISO containers on his land is pretty hard.
Speaking of which - from my friend the solar farmer. The local council is demanding that *he* applies to close off a right of way through his fields. He’s got a hedge and ditch between the right of way and his panels. But they are claiming it is unsafe for humans to pass near “an industrial installation”.
His response so far has been “show me an actual safety issue. And I will fix it”.
They respond with vagueness and renewed demands for him to apply to close the right of way.
(narrator: viewcode is on course to get the minimum when state retirement pension is taken into account, but not before.)
Surely that depends massively on whether you own your own property or not?
I suspect they are also just measuring pensions, when nowadays ISA and for some BTL are equally significant savings methods.
I'm always sceptical about figures like the £32,000 "moderate" income. That gives you £2,300 a month after tax. OK a few hundred £s will go on bills, running a car etc but what exactly do you spend the rest on? Assuming you are not paying mortgage or rent, that looks pretty comfortable to me
If you have no hobbies or social life, don't like travelling, and are happy subsisting on pot noodles and tap water, sure.
(narrator: viewcode is on course to get the minimum when state retirement pension is taken into account, but not before.)
Surely that depends massively on whether you own your own property or not?
I suspect they are also just measuring pensions, when nowadays ISA and for some BTL are equally significant savings methods.
I'm always sceptical about figures like the £32,000 "moderate" income. That gives you £2,300 a month after tax. OK a few hundred £s will go on bills, running a car etc but what exactly do you spend the rest on? Assuming you are not paying mortgage or rent, that looks pretty comfortable to me
If you have no hobbies or social life, don't like travelling, and are happy subsisting on pot noodles and tap water, sure.
Drivel. I spend about £2500 a month and £850 of that is rent...
Many of us in business have found it extremely useful in putting together and managing balanced teams.
It helps individuals realise that other people think and behave in a different but equally valid way from them.
It is based upon the theory of psychological types proposed by Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung in his 1921 book, Psychological Types.
However my wife had the same reaction to it as you. She hated being categorised. That's OK and understandable.
In my old life when I was looking to bring in extra private bankers into the bank I would obviously look for existing PBs who had a strong book that was transportable due to the personal connections but I would also look at people from different professional backgrounds and different social backgrounds who could potentially build a new book, help run existing books where “hunters” could be freed up to get new business and to provide a different input professionally or socially.
It’s all very well having a team of successful people who went to the right schools and unis and have those personal contacts with clients but by diversifying in background you had people who, if they understood what they had to do, could access other areas of wealth where their face would fit better.
There is a lot of money where a perfectly mannered, urbane public schoolboy isn’t going to be their cup of tea where an ex military, someone who started life as a brickies and made a big life change, whatever, would gel better.
Having team members from different industry backgrounds also helped as when everyone is at their desks you overhear conversations and by having a different background you might chip in with a view or knowledge that changes things for the better or helps find an alternative solution that wouldn’t be considered otherwise due to everyone otherwise just having the same experiences in the job.
The one thing that didn’t matter one jot was what colour the person was, their religion or their sex. The only consideration was whether they could do the job, add revenue and help improve the business.
There is diversity and diversity and one is beneficial, the other is pointless when it’s about irrelevant elements.
(narrator: viewcode is on course to get the minimum when state retirement pension is taken into account, but not before.)
Surely that depends massively on whether you own your own property or not?
I suspect they are also just measuring pensions, when nowadays ISA and for some BTL are equally significant savings methods.
I'm always sceptical about figures like the £32,000 "moderate" income. That gives you £2,300 a month after tax. OK a few hundred £s will go on bills, running a car etc but what exactly do you spend the rest on? Assuming you are not paying mortgage or rent, that looks pretty comfortable to me
If you have no hobbies or social life, don't like travelling, and are happy subsisting on pot noodles and tap water, sure.
Drivel. I spend about £2500 a month and £850 of that is rent...
I don't know whether anyone remembers 'The Paulsgrove Estate'? It became famous for the ignorance of what was thought to be an underclass in the UK. In a small way it contributed to the ending of The News of the World and other horseshit produced by the Murdoch Stables .......
It was a time of vigilantism......
There was a paedophile story which had been ramped up by the News of the World which culminated in an army of pitchfork carriers daubing an innocent persons house with the word PAEDO. They had heard it was owned by a paediatrician.
The owner had to move house and for several years afterwards 'The Paulsgrove Estate ' became a byword for the most ignorant of the ignorant. As a country we became a laughing stock. Even during a housing shortage no one wanted to live on the Paulsgrove Estate...
And the bad news is thanks to Farage and his followers that's where we are heading for again.
Part of the problem is people spreading fake stories that confirm their personal prejudices. On social media.
My story is completely from memory. I just had time to check if I'd spelt Paulsgrove correctly. My memory at the time was working in Hamburg and the Germans laughing like drains about paediatricians. They used to love English wordplay. I'm pretty sure my story is basically correct but I'll look at your link.
I don't know whether anyone remembers 'The Paulsgrove Estate'? It became famous for the ignorance of what was thought to be an underclass in the UK. In a small way it contributed to the ending of The News of the World and other horseshit produced by the Murdoch Stables .......
It was a time of vigilantism......
There was a paedophile story which had been ramped up by the News of the World which culminated in an army of pitchfork carriers daubing an innocent persons house with the word PAEDO. They had heard it was owned by a paediatrician.
The owner had to move house and for several years afterwards 'The Paulsgrove Estate ' became a byword for the most ignorant of the ignorant. As a country we became a laughing stock. Even during a housing shortage no one wanted to live on the Paulsgrove Estate...
And the bad news is thanks to Farage and his followers that's where we are heading for again.
Part of the problem is people spreading fake stories that confirm their personal prejudices. On social media.
Well done to Kemi for not bringing up Nowak in cut and thrust hostility, and for calling out Farage "rage".
Farage on the other hand, what a disgusting arse.
Farage is a disgrace
He has just gone full Nazi. He is a vile man who failed to condemn last night's Farage Riot in Southampton. A nice response under the circumstances from Starmer.
I hope Badenoch tore Philp a new one for his behaviour yesterday and today in The times.
My feeling is that this is a good, if cynical play, by Reform. All the other politicians appear to be showing more outrage about the outrage rather than the disgraceful policing.
I don't know whether anyone remembers 'The Paulsgrove Estate'? It became famous for the ignorance of what was thought to be an underclass in the UK. In a small way it contributed to the ending of The News of the World and other horseshit produced by the Murdoch Stables .......
It was a time of vigilantism......
There was a paedophile story which had been ramped up by the News of the World which culminated in an army of pitchfork carriers daubing an innocent persons house with the word PAEDO. They had heard it was owned by a paediatrician.
The owner had to move house and for several years afterwards 'The Paulsgrove Estate ' became a byword for the most ignorant of the ignorant. As a country we became a laughing stock. Even during a housing shortage no one wanted to live on the Paulsgrove Estate...
And the bad news is thanks to Farage and his followers that's where we are heading for again.
Part of the problem is people spreading fake stories that confirm their personal prejudices. On social media.
My story is completely from memory. I just had time to check if I'd spelt Paulsgrove correctly. My memory at the time was working in Hamburg and the Germans laughing like drains about paediatricians. They used to love English wordplay. I'm pretty sure my story is basically correct but I'll look at your link.
In essence the story is correct. A load of marauding vigilante morons go looking for paedophiles. Whether they daubed the wrong house is neither here nor there. This is the contemporaneous story from the Guardian 2001. Your link is just a distraction
Well done to Kemi for not bringing up Nowak in cut and thrust hostility, and for calling out Farage "rage".
Farage on the other hand, what a disgusting arse.
Farage is a disgrace
Starmer is a disgrace for using the father as a human shield.
Oh behave (I was tempted to use a far more unparliamentary term). Starmer has quoted the father. Farage has despicably abused the father, the family and Henry with vile opportunism.
I genuinely hope no one gives you a like for this post. You don't deserve one.
Starmer is useless, but he owned Farage over this vile narrative.
(narrator: viewcode is on course to get the minimum when state retirement pension is taken into account, but not before.)
Surely that depends massively on whether you own your own property or not?
I suspect they are also just measuring pensions, when nowadays ISA and for some BTL are equally significant savings methods.
I'm always sceptical about figures like the £32,000 "moderate" income. That gives you £2,300 a month after tax. OK a few hundred £s will go on bills, running a car etc but what exactly do you spend the rest on? Assuming you are not paying mortgage or rent, that looks pretty comfortable to me
If you have no hobbies or social life, don't like travelling, and are happy subsisting on pot noodles and tap water, sure.
I’m a solicitor at an international law firm and I have much less disposable income than £2,300 per month after bills. Talk about being out of touch.
I don't know whether anyone remembers 'The Paulsgrove Estate'? It became famous for the ignorance of what was thought to be an underclass in the UK. In a small way it contributed to the ending of The News of the World and other horseshit produced by the Murdoch Stables .......
It was a time of vigilantism......
There was a paedophile story which had been ramped up by the News of the World which culminated in an army of pitchfork carriers daubing an innocent persons house with the word PAEDO. They had heard it was owned by a paediatrician.
The owner had to move house and for several years afterwards 'The Paulsgrove Estate ' became a byword for the most ignorant of the ignorant. As a country we became a laughing stock. Even during a housing shortage no one wanted to live on the Paulsgrove Estate...
And the bad news is thanks to Farage and his followers that's where we are heading for again.
Part of the problem is people spreading fake stories that confirm their personal prejudices. On social media.
My story is completely from memory. I just had time to check if I'd spelt Paulsgrove correctly. My memory at the time was working in Hamburg and the Germans laughing like drains about paediatricians. They used to love English wordplay. I'm pretty sure my story is basically correct but I'll look at your link.
In essence the story is correct. A load of marauding vigilante morons go looking for paedophiles. Whether they daubed the wrong house is neither here nor there. This is the contemporaneous story from the Guardian 2001. Your link is just a distraction
(narrator: viewcode is on course to get the minimum when state retirement pension is taken into account, but not before.)
Surely that depends massively on whether you own your own property or not?
I suspect they are also just measuring pensions, when nowadays ISA and for some BTL are equally significant savings methods.
I'm always sceptical about figures like the £32,000 "moderate" income. That gives you £2,300 a month after tax. OK a few hundred £s will go on bills, running a car etc but what exactly do you spend the rest on? Assuming you are not paying mortgage or rent, that looks pretty comfortable to me
If you have no hobbies or social life, don't like travelling, and are happy subsisting on pot noodles and tap water, sure.
It is quite possibly assuming no savings. But I'm currently living on about £1800 a month including travel budget. Has just gone up a bit in April though.
I don't go on cruises or stay in 5* hotels though and if it is supposed to fund that sort of lifestyle I wouldn't call it "moderate". Still pays for a few pints. If I didn't drink as much beer I would certainly be more comfortable though.
Some of the things you do when retired, like volunteering and in my case my running club, and going walking, are free or virtually so.
To show how quickly it’s possible for batteries to change electricity consumption here is a chart for electricity energy source in Australia for April 2025 and 2026
Impressive, but it won't do anything much to reduce UK electricity prices as the government has been locking in renewable deals with strike prices equal or greater than the cost of using gas.
I wonder if it might help reduce the amount of new electricity interconnectors required a bit - if we can keep the N-S interconnectors flat out all day and night, to charge batteries in the south overnight which then mitigate peak demand in the south during the day, the increased utilisation might be sufficient to save building a lot of new interconnectors.
Batteries will kill a number of things. But because they are the best solution. But because they are a solution that works and is available now. And at small scale, virtually unstoppable - trying to stop a solar farmer putting a couple of ISO containers on his land is pretty hard.
Speaking of which - from my friend the solar farmer. The local council is demanding that *he* applies to close off a right of way through his fields. He’s got a hedge and ditch between the right of way and his panels. But they are claiming it is unsafe for humans to pass near “an industrial installation”.
His response so far has been “show me an actual safety issue. And I will fix it”.
They respond with vagueness and renewed demands for him to apply to close the right of way.
He needs a nice big Faraday cage. A bit like this one and not that difficult to construct.
I see Starmer as The Inspector ISTJ. He is a detail-oriented, pragmatic problem-solver who values hard data, precedents, and evidence over lofty, abstract grand visions. He approaches issues through the lens of incremental, concrete adjustments rather than ideological theories. His decision-making framework is analytical, highly objective, and clinical. He values rules, frameworks, and process, earning him a reputation as a "technocrat" who focuses on competence rather than emotional rhetoric.
I see Blair as The Inspiring Communicator ENFJ. He possesses powerful charisma and his communication style relies heavily on metaphors, overarching vision, and emotional persuasion. His problem is that many think he has been captured by wealthy powerful players and now distrust him.
I see Burnham as The Consul ESFJ. He shows deep empathy, approachable warmth, and a strong sense of community loyalty. Unlike Blair's grand abstract concepts, Burnham focuses on tangible, practical realities affecting everyday people, such as localised public transport (the Bee Network) and local social care. However he has the ability to craft a passion-driven alternative political narrative for the "North," demonstrating a broader regional vision which may be transferable to the whole nation.
Bottom line: Burnham might turn out to be another Blair - but without the baggage - and with more attention to detail, (but not as limited by process as Starmer).
Despite appearances I think it's more likely that Starmer is ESTJ rather than ISTJ. The slightly bullying manner, the ability to blame everyone apart from himself and desire to attend Taylor Swift concerts separates him from most ISTJs.
BTW, the fact that most people think all this MBTI stuff is nonsense gives an advantage to those who don't.
Yes, I don't think Starmer is ISTJ: he doesn't have the respect for the facts and discomfort with lies that characterise ISTJ. More specifically, there is such a thing called objective reality which can be deduced through research and observation, but Starmer genuinely believes whatever subjective narrative fits his purpose even if he believed an entirely different one yesterday. So he can't be ISTJ.
Whether you go with my interpretation (Starmer doesn't consciously know he's doing this) or @Luckyguy1983 's interpretation (Starmer consciously knows he's doing this and doesn't care), it is a thing Starmer does. I don't think Starmer should not be PM due to trivial reasons, I think he's genuinely not fit for the role due to his personality problem(s).
My feeling is that this is a good, if cynical play, by Reform. All the other politicians appear to be showing more outrage about the outrage rather than the disgraceful policing.
Oh, I'm sure it is great for his core vote strategy. And shoring themselves up against Restore seems to be the No. 1 Reform priority this week.
But if he wants to PM (and there is some debate about whether he really actually does) then he has to win over significant numbers of normies as the american would say.
Comments
It helps individuals realise that other people think and behave in a different but equally valid way from them.
It is based upon the theory of psychological types proposed by Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung in his 1921 book, Psychological Types.
However my wife had the same reaction to it as you.
She hated being categorised.
That's OK and understandable.
I suspect they are also just measuring pensions, when nowadays ISA and for some BTL are equally significant savings methods.
It might be something to do with network, because there have been days when it wouldn't connect via the mobile network but was OK on wifi. Or vice versa.
Plus, the jump from minimum to moderate is too large, and clearly intended just for publicity/nudge purposes.
Deadly rivals of Soton.
And Binface to be next years Eurovision entrant.
Can't do worse can he?
What they mostly didn’t talk about, is how several thousand people could be at a rave for 12 hours and there to be almost no disturbances, just people having a good time.
As The Shamen once sang, E’s are good.
I judge these techniques by their practical usefulness.
https://www.itv.com/news/2026-06-03/animals-that-could-replace-figures-like-winston-churchill-on-banknotes-revealed
Such as the story you just wrote.
https://pressgazette.co.uk/news/a-tale-told-too-much-the-paediatrician-vigilantes/
My point was that there was a significant drop in public order issues in the early ‘90s, as a culture that led to a lot of young men socialising around football and drinking, was replaced with a culture of young men going to raves and taking pills. The pill-poppers didn’t get in fights with each other, unlike the football fans for whom it was often the highlight of their Saturday afternoon.
BTW, the fact that most people think all this MBTI stuff is nonsense gives an advantage to those who don't.
The issue is the phrasing "retirement lifestyle".
https://youtube.com/shorts/QoAYyRCMQXY
"Keeping up with The Sturgeons".
Deranged. More on the same channel.
Sitting outside the office waiting for my interview I heard them discussing the Myers Briggs, clearly they were looking for people who fitted certain criteria.
You can assume I wasn't terribly disappointed when they failed to offer me a job, also it was in Lincoln which seemed to me to he rather isolated and not somewhere I wanted to live.
AI satire has greatly improved in the past few months.
This is from the same research team in 22/23 but has some more details.
https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/133501/pdf/
I would note that 30% of UK households (all ages) were below their minimum suggested incomes, whereas amongst pensioners it is 21%. This is a poverty problem, not a lack of pension savings problem.
I wonder if it might help reduce the amount of new electricity interconnectors required a bit - if we can keep the N-S interconnectors flat out all day and night, to charge batteries in the south overnight which then mitigate peak demand in the south during the day, the increased utilisation might be sufficient to save building a lot of new interconnectors.
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/analysis-of-future-pension-incomes-2025/analysis-of-future-pension-incomes-2025
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/0tf0MfvbsrQ
Speaking of which - from my friend the solar farmer. The local council is demanding that *he* applies to close off a right of way through his fields. He’s got a hedge and ditch between the right of way and his panels. But they are claiming it is unsafe for humans to pass near “an industrial installation”.
His response so far has been “show me an actual safety issue. And I will fix it”.
They respond with vagueness and renewed demands for him to apply to close the right of way.
It’s all very well having a team of successful people who went to the right schools and unis and have those personal contacts with clients but by diversifying in background you had people who, if they understood what they had to do, could access other areas of wealth where their face would fit better.
There is a lot of money where a perfectly mannered, urbane public schoolboy isn’t going to be their cup of tea where an ex military, someone who started life as a brickies and made a big life change, whatever, would gel better.
Having team members from different industry backgrounds also helped as when everyone is at their desks you overhear conversations and by having a different background you might chip in with a view or knowledge that changes things for the better or helps find an alternative solution that wouldn’t be considered otherwise due to everyone otherwise just having the same experiences in the job.
The one thing that didn’t matter one jot was what colour the person was, their religion or their sex. The only consideration was whether they could do the job, add revenue and help improve the business.
There is diversity and diversity and one is beneficial, the other is pointless when it’s about irrelevant elements.
Farage on the other hand, what a disgusting arse.
I hope Badenoch tore Philp a new one for his behaviour yesterday and today in The times.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2001/feb/06/childprotection
I genuinely hope no one gives you a like for this post. You don't deserve one.
Starmer is useless, but he owned Farage over this vile narrative.
If he was more like this he wouldn't be about to be deposed.
The difference between news and propaganda garbage is exactly that.
Fake But Accurate is not a valid excuse.
I was implying that after posting one urban legend, it might be a good idea to check snopes for the next story.
I don't go on cruises or stay in 5* hotels though and if it is supposed to fund that sort of lifestyle I wouldn't call it "moderate". Still pays for a few pints. If I didn't drink as much beer I would certainly be more comfortable though.
Some of the things you do when retired, like volunteering and in my case my running club, and going walking, are free or virtually so.
Tony Blair as leader of the Labour Party
REFORM~NI: 27% (-2)
LAB-S&D: 24% (+2)
CON~ECR: 22% (+1)
LDEM-RE: 12%
GREENS-G/EFA: 10% (+1)
+/- vs. Keir Starmer as Leader of the Labour Party
https://x.com/EuropeElects/status/2062085052322783697?s=20
Starmer to Farage.
https://x.com/RupertLowe10/status/2062112586116571322?s=20
https://x.com/benhabib6/status/2062093611869651365?s=20
Whether you go with my interpretation (Starmer doesn't consciously know he's doing this) or @Luckyguy1983 's interpretation (Starmer consciously knows he's doing this and doesn't care), it is a thing Starmer does. I don't think Starmer should not be PM due to trivial reasons, I think he's genuinely not fit for the role due to his personality problem(s).
But if he wants to PM (and there is some debate about whether he really actually does) then he has to win over significant numbers of normies as the american would say.
Yesterday's behaviour wont do that.