Very much not a fan of all this ministerial resignations business. Just get the signatures and you can run for the leadership and until you get around to that everyone can carry on doing their jobs.
Anyhoo, I have had a cheeky bet on Côte d'Ivoire to beat Germany tonight.
I’m going for 2-2. Mind you I thought NED/SWE would be 2-2 as well.
On a related note I like that if Sweden are Playing Denmark at home the score in the corner spells out SWEDEN and the bits missed off the ends of their names, the “den” and “mark” make up the other team.
If I ran FIFA I would change Uruguay's code to UGA and fix every draw to ensure they meet Belgium
The beginning of the rot was taking in all those already-despised already-failed top Tories whilst still trying to claim he offered a fresh alternative to the ‘uniparty’, the middle of the rot was trying to trouser that £5 million in secret; so we just need to wait to see how the final rot will set in.
Lots of ways the rot set in. Here are two I think are significant. Voters are getting the hang of tactical voting. This was visible at Runcorn last year when Reform were on the rise but only won by 6 votes, with all parties but Reform and Labour squeezed. It has grown. It will be significant at the next election.
The second, I think, is that over time Farage and the far right come across as unkind about some very ordinary people. Lots of people who don't approve of the degree to which migration has occurred would still be horrified at unkindness to anyone who lives an OK life in this country. And Reform can distance itself from Restore and Robinson and so on as much as it likes, but to most people the far right is a unified blob who, like Reform, use images of people of colour as a scare tactic and includes some vile people who scare nice people of the wrong colour. Brits don't like that.
Revealed: Brexit voting areas have seen faster growth in foreign workers since EU referendum
Guardian investigation also finds same areas experienced relative decline over same period
Leave-voting areas have seen faster relative growth in foreign workers since the Brexit referendum, a Guardian investigation has found.
Data analysis suggests that the decade since the Brexit vote may not have matched the expectations of many Leave supporters, showing their local areas have also become relatively more deprived over the same period.
Migration increased across the UK after Brexit, especially of those arriving on health and care visas, peaking at 944,000 in the year ending March 2023. Net migration has since cratered, and continues to fall as people’s visas expire.
Analysis of government Pay As You Earn data shows that between 2016 and the end of 2024, non-UK workers grew fastest in percentage terms in stronger Leave-voting areas, largely because they had previously made up a smaller share of the workforce.
Wigan, where the Makerfield byelection has taken place, follows the pattern seen in many strong Leave-voting areas. Less than 5% of payrolled employees were from outside the UK in June 2016. That had increased to just under 10% in December 2024 – more than doubling in relative terms.
Across the country, the proportion of foreign workers increased by just 40% over that period, rather than doubling.
Remain-voting areas – often larger cities – still have the largest numbers of non-UK workers. While they have seen bigger rises in absolute numbers, it is Brexit strongholds that have seen faster relative growth of their foreign workforce.
He'll make it known that this is when he'll make a decision. Turf out all but Ministers and a few key political appointees. Not civil servants a Labour Party political cabinet meeting.
Go round the room, look everyone in the eye, open and transparent. No repurcussions back me yes or no.
I suspect a majority will say NO
He confirms to them he will not stand for re-election if it's over 50%, in that case he'll request a meeting with the King Tuesday pm
If its under 50% he will put himself to a MP vote if any MPs get the 80 odd needed for a nomination.
This potentially allows Streeting to get his 80 plus, if not it's a coronation.
Far better to walk in to the Cabinet Room and do it this way, either way it's ballsy and puts Cabinet on spot.
It is far more likely it will be his cabinet putting 'him' on the spot if he is still hanging on by Tuesday
"At least wait until Andy has sworn the oath before I resign"
Starmer resigns next week, Burnham PM by end of June?
Only 2 working days for that to be viable now, given a 5 day nomination timetable is required.
Since it is so close, I suspect that Starmer will make it to his second anniversary now, but not much further. If an organised handover can be agreed that lets him save face by making that anniversary, that's probably good enough for Burnham and he can use a couple of weeks to plan out his new Cabinet and Ministerial appointments so that when he does make it he can hit the ground running.
I had a punt on exit by end of this quarter at 42.
I poo pooed this a while ago but I've just nibbled at 13. Probably wasting my money, but who knows. The herd etc.
Anyhoo, I have had a cheeky bet on Côte d'Ivoire to beat Germany tonight.
I’m going for 2-2. Mind you I thought NED/SWE would be 2-2 as well.
On a related note I like that if Sweden are Playing Denmark at home the score in the corner spells out SWEDEN and the bits missed off the ends of their names, the “den” and “mark” make up the other team.
If I ran FIFA I would change Uruguay's code to UGA and fix every draw to ensure they meet Belgium
Anyhoo, I have had a cheeky bet on Côte d'Ivoire to beat Germany tonight.
I’m going for 2-2. Mind you I thought NED/SWE would be 2-2 as well.
On a related note I like that if Sweden are Playing Denmark at home the score in the corner spells out SWEDEN and the bits missed off the ends of their names, the “den” and “mark” make up the other team.
If I ran FIFA I would change Uruguay's code to UGA and fix every draw to ensure they meet Belgium
The beginning of the rot was taking in all those already-despised already-failed top Tories whilst still trying to claim he offered a fresh alternative to the ‘uniparty’, the middle of the rot was trying to trouser that £5 million in secret; so we just need to wait to see how the final rot will set in.
Lots of ways the rot set in. Here are two I think are significant. Voters are getting the hang of tactical voting. This was visible at Runcorn last year when Reform were on the rise but only won by 6 votes, with all parties but Reform and Labour squeezed. It has grown. It will be significant at the next election.
The second, I think, is that over time Farage and the far right come across as unkind about some very ordinary people. Lots of people who don't approve of the degree to which migration has occurred would still be horrified at unkindness to anyone who lives an OK life in this country. And Reform can distance itself from Restore and Robinson and so on as much as it likes, but to most people the far right is a unified blob who, like Reform, use images of people of colour as a scare tactic and includes some vile people who scare nice people of the wrong colour. Brits don't like that.
It's the blokery.
And the explanation "that's how working class men are." Not around working class women. Got them to turn out in droves round here.
He'll make it known that this is when he'll make a decision. Turf out all but Ministers and a few key political appointees. Not civil servants a Labour Party political cabinet meeting.
Go round the room, look everyone in the eye, open and transparent. No repurcussions back me yes or no.
I suspect a majority will say NO
He confirms to them he will not stand for re-election if it's over 50%, in that case he'll request a meeting with the King Tuesday pm
If its under 50% he will put himself to a MP vote if any MPs get the 80 odd needed for a nomination.
This potentially allows Streeting to get his 80 plus, if not it's a coronation.
Far better to walk in to the Cabinet Room and do it this way, either way it's ballsy and puts Cabinet on spot.
It is far more likely it will be his cabinet putting 'him' on the spot if he is still hanging on by Tuesday
Anyhoo, I have had a cheeky bet on Côte d'Ivoire to beat Germany tonight.
I’m going for 2-2. Mind you I thought NED/SWE would be 2-2 as well.
On a related note I like that if Sweden are Playing Denmark at home the score in the corner spells out SWEDEN and the bits missed off the ends of their names, the “den” and “mark” make up the other team.
If I ran FIFA I would change Uruguay's code to UGA and fix every draw to ensure they meet Belgium
BELUGA
Er, Earth to TSE: the FIFA code UGA already exists - it's for Uganda!
The beginning of the rot was taking in all those already-despised already-failed top Tories whilst still trying to claim he offered a fresh alternative to the ‘uniparty’, the middle of the rot was trying to trouser that £5 million in secret; so we just need to wait to see how the final rot will set in.
Lots of ways the rot set in. Here are two I think are significant. Voters are getting the hang of tactical voting. This was visible at Runcorn last year when Reform were on the rise but only won by 6 votes, with all parties but Reform and Labour squeezed. It has grown. It will be significant at the next election.
The second, I think, is that over time Farage and the far right come across as unkind about some very ordinary people. Lots of people who don't approve of the degree to which migration has occurred would still be horrified at unkindness to anyone who lives an OK life in this country. And Reform can distance itself from Restore and Robinson and so on as much as it likes, but to most people the far right is a unified blob who, like Reform, use images of people of colour as a scare tactic and includes some vile people who scare nice people of the wrong colour. Brits don't like that.
It's the blokery.
And the explanation "that's how working class men are." Not around working class women. Got them to turn out in droves round here.
I think turnout is key, and younger women are motivated to turn out.
I think that is why the anti-reform vote was underestimated in Makerfield, Gorton and Denton and in Caerphilly. Changes in turnout are hard for the pollsters to predict.
How generalisable it is outside byelections is one of the keys to the next GE.
It's hard to fathom what Europe will live next week. Thousands of records will be brutalized in Spain,France,UK,Benelux,Germany,Swiss,Austria and than the East Paris might record 4 consecutive days 40C UK will ridiculize its June national record Germany 10 days 37C+ This is CRAZY
If this goes on to a second week then suddenly but once again breathless pol journos will be asking about climate change and why is the government not doing enough.
We had 16 hours free electricity last Sunday and another free 16 hours tomorrow
The beginning of the rot was taking in all those already-despised already-failed top Tories whilst still trying to claim he offered a fresh alternative to the ‘uniparty’, the middle of the rot was trying to trouser that £5 million in secret; so we just need to wait to see how the final rot will set in.
Lots of ways the rot set in. Here are two I think are significant. Voters are getting the hang of tactical voting. This was visible at Runcorn last year when Reform were on the rise but only won by 6 votes, with all parties but Reform and Labour squeezed. It has grown. It will be significant at the next election.
The second, I think, is that over time Farage and the far right come across as unkind about some very ordinary people. Lots of people who don't approve of the degree to which migration has occurred would still be horrified at unkindness to anyone who lives an OK life in this country. And Reform can distance itself from Restore and Robinson and so on as much as it likes, but to most people the far right is a unified blob who, like Reform, use images of people of colour as a scare tactic and includes some vile people who scare nice people of the wrong colour. Brits don't like that.
It's the blokery.
And the explanation "that's how working class men are." Not around working class women. Got them to turn out in droves round here.
I think turnout is key, and younger women are motivated to turn out.
I think that is why the anti-reform vote was underestimated in Makerfield, Gorton and Denton and in Caerphilly. Changes in turnout are hard for the pollsters to predict.
How generalisable it is outside byelections is one of the keys to the next GE.
And how much longevity it has. That depends on whether Reform flip the Tories to become the official opposition.
The anti-Le Pen vote in France has been robust, persistent and very effective. But it’s eroded over time. The never Trump vote was somewhat more flaky from the start, but it did exist. So too the anti-Sinn Fein vote in the Republic.
The anti-SNP vote is an interesting UK example. It’s there, no doubt, but it waxes and wanes.
It's hard to fathom what Europe will live next week. Thousands of records will be brutalized in Spain,France,UK,Benelux,Germany,Swiss,Austria and than the East Paris might record 4 consecutive days 40C UK will ridiculize its June national record Germany 10 days 37C+ This is CRAZY
If this goes on to a second week then suddenly but once again breathless pol journos will be asking about climate change and why is the government not doing enough.
We had 16 hours free electricity last Sunday and another free 16 hours tomorrow
Wot we can't live without Aberdeen Oil and Gas.
Completely different subject
We need the tax from the north sea over the next 20 years plus the employment and seems Wes Streeting has now joined the calls for opening of north sea oil
DAN HODGES: Insiders tell me Starmer is in a 'volcanic rage' over Burnham 'betrayal'. He'll only listen to his wife now - and this is what Lady Starmer's telling him to do…
DAN HODGES: Insiders tell me Starmer is in a 'volcanic rage' over Burnham 'betrayal'. He'll only listen to his wife now - and this is what Lady Starmer's telling him to do…
What beyrayal? Burnham has been after him for at least a year.
One has to have a smidge of sympathy - in summer 2024 Starmer genuinely believed he had won such a massive jaw-breaking victory that he had two terms to implement the fifteen missions and the twenty five cross-ply project milestones that would transform Britain.
Then...Reeves decided to take out the winter fuel allowance.
What missions or milestones?
What has Burnham done in two years with a landslide majority?
If there are two words to sum up Starmer's tenure in Downing Street it is "wasted opportunity."
The beginning of the rot was taking in all those already-despised already-failed top Tories whilst still trying to claim he offered a fresh alternative to the ‘uniparty’, the middle of the rot was trying to trouser that £5 million in secret; so we just need to wait to see how the final rot will set in.
Lots of ways the rot set in. Here are two I think are significant. Voters are getting the hang of tactical voting. This was visible at Runcorn last year when Reform were on the rise but only won by 6 votes, with all parties but Reform and Labour squeezed. It has grown. It will be significant at the next election.
The second, I think, is that over time Farage and the far right come across as unkind about some very ordinary people. Lots of people who don't approve of the degree to which migration has occurred would still be horrified at unkindness to anyone who lives an OK life in this country. And Reform can distance itself from Restore and Robinson and so on as much as it likes, but to most people the far right is a unified blob who, like Reform, use images of people of colour as a scare tactic and includes some vile people who scare nice people of the wrong colour. Brits don't like that.
It's the blokery.
And the explanation "that's how working class men are." Not around working class women. Got them to turn out in droves round here.
I think turnout is key, and younger women are motivated to turn out.
I think that is why the anti-reform vote was underestimated in Makerfield, Gorton and Denton and in Caerphilly. Changes in turnout are hard for the pollsters to predict.
How generalisable it is outside byelections is one of the keys to the next GE.
Was women of all ages motivated round here. My Mam's 84 and her mates weren't impressed at all with Kenyon.
It's hard to fathom what Europe will live next week. Thousands of records will be brutalized in Spain,France,UK,Benelux,Germany,Swiss,Austria and than the East Paris might record 4 consecutive days 40C UK will ridiculize its June national record Germany 10 days 37C+ This is CRAZY
If this goes on to a second week then suddenly but once again breathless pol journos will be asking about climate change and why is the government not doing enough.
We had 16 hours free electricity last Sunday and another free 16 hours tomorrow
Wot we can't live without Aberdeen Oil and Gas.
Completely different subject
We need the tax from the north sea over the next 20 years plus the employment and seems Wes Streeting has now joined the calls for opening of north sea oil
We’re at the stage where liberalising North Sea oil regs is probably barnacles off the boat territory. Do it, and at the same time announce a thoroughly green measure that can offset it in the public eye - like mandating solar roofs on car parks like they did in France.
He'll make it known that this is when he'll make a decision. Turf out all but Ministers and a few key political appointees. Not civil servants a Labour Party political cabinet meeting.
Go round the room, look everyone in the eye, open and transparent. No repurcussions back me yes or no.
I suspect a majority will say NO
He confirms to them he will not stand for re-election if it's over 50%, in that case he'll request a meeting with the King Tuesday pm
If its under 50% he will put himself to a MP vote if any MPs get the 80 odd needed for a nomination.
This potentially allows Streeting to get his 80 plus, if not it's a coronation.
Far better to walk in to the Cabinet Room and do it this way, either way it's ballsy and puts Cabinet on spot.
He isn't courageous enough to do anything like that.
He doesn't have the political skills navigate through this.
And both of these have always meant that he was going to be a bad PM. No one quite expected him to be this bad.
It's hard to fathom what Europe will live next week. Thousands of records will be brutalized in Spain,France,UK,Benelux,Germany,Swiss,Austria and than the East Paris might record 4 consecutive days 40C UK will ridiculize its June national record Germany 10 days 37C+ This is CRAZY
If this goes on to a second week then suddenly but once again breathless pol journos will be asking about climate change and why is the government not doing enough.
We had 16 hours free electricity last Sunday and another free 16 hours tomorrow
Wot we can't live without Aberdeen Oil and Gas.
Completely different subject
We need the tax from the north sea over the next 20 years plus the employment and seems Wes Streeting has now joined the calls for opening of north sea oil
Confirming, if confirmation were needed after his car crash at Health, that he's a populist muppet who doesn't have a clue of what would actually be involved.
It's quite strange the way Starmer has taken to interjecting with "I will not tolerate this", as if there might be some question about his tolerance for violent crime.
No one should face violence on our streets. The suspect appears to be motivated by anti-Muslim hatred. I will not tolerate this - he will face the full force of the law.
My thoughts are with those who are injured and I thank the police and the emergency services for their response.
He'll make it known that this is when he'll make a decision. Turf out all but Ministers and a few key political appointees. Not civil servants a Labour Party political cabinet meeting.
Go round the room, look everyone in the eye, open and transparent. No repurcussions back me yes or no.
I suspect a majority will say NO
He confirms to them he will not stand for re-election if it's over 50%, in that case he'll request a meeting with the King Tuesday pm
If its under 50% he will put himself to a MP vote if any MPs get the 80 odd needed for a nomination.
This potentially allows Streeting to get his 80 plus, if not it's a coronation.
Far better to walk in to the Cabinet Room and do it this way, either way it's ballsy and puts Cabinet on spot.
You mentioned Boris Johnson in the header. Does Carrie Johnson still love animals? I imagine that, having recently had their fourth baby, she may not be aware of her husband’s despicable activities. Boris Johnson has endorsed Abelardo de la Espriella in the Colombian election tomorrow!: https://www.elcolombiano.com/especiales/elecciones-2026/boris-johnson-apoya-abelardo-de-la-espriella-elecciones-2026-IO37933083 De la Espriella is a cat torturer. He has reportedly admitted torturing cats by tying fireworks to them and also throwing them off high buildings to see if they survived: https://www.reddit.com/r/Colombia/comments/1m611k5/abelardo_de_la_espriella_asesino_de_gatos/?tl=en He has not admitted laundering drug money, but Democratic lawmakers in the United States certainly appear to think there are serious questions to answer: https://english.elpais.com/usa/2026-06-18/democratic-lawmakers-denounce-trumps-support-for-colombias-far-right-candidate-de-la-espriella-and-call-for-an-investigation.html Any candidate with the support of Trump and Rubio is, in my view, a huge red flag. From a betting perspective, I have done very well laying Trumpist candidates, most recently in Hungary. The markets seem to imply that Cepeda has about a 11-12% chance of winning tomorrow. I think the true figure is closer to 20-25%. For a value investor, if you can lay de la Espriella at odds of 1.15 or shorter, I think it is worth a small punt. One problem, however, is that the voting may be a bit rigged. The electoral system is controlled by right-wingers appointed by previous presidents, and the software for the electronic counting appears a bit dodgy. Colombia is a beautiful and extraordinary country, full of decent, intelligent and generous people, but its politics can be deeply strange. It is very rare to see an electoral system being rigged against the governing party. Of course, there are EU observers, but they are lamentably gullible.
It's hard to fathom what Europe will live next week. Thousands of records will be brutalized in Spain,France,UK,Benelux,Germany,Swiss,Austria and than the East Paris might record 4 consecutive days 40C UK will ridiculize its June national record Germany 10 days 37C+ This is CRAZY
If this goes on to a second week then suddenly but once again breathless pol journos will be asking about climate change and why is the government not doing enough.
We had 16 hours free electricity last Sunday and another free 16 hours tomorrow
Wot we can't live without Aberdeen Oil and Gas.
Completely different subject
We need the tax from the north sea over the next 20 years plus the employment and seems Wes Streeting has now joined the calls for opening of north sea oil
We’re at the stage where liberalising North Sea oil regs is probably barnacles off the boat territory. Do it, and at the same time announce a thoroughly green measure that can offset it in the public eye - like mandating solar roofs on car parks like they did in France.
I agree that solar panels should be put on most roofs
The beginning of the rot was taking in all those already-despised already-failed top Tories whilst still trying to claim he offered a fresh alternative to the ‘uniparty’, the middle of the rot was trying to trouser that £5 million in secret; so we just need to wait to see how the final rot will set in.
Lots of ways the rot set in. Here are two I think are significant. Voters are getting the hang of tactical voting. This was visible at Runcorn last year when Reform were on the rise but only won by 6 votes, with all parties but Reform and Labour squeezed. It has grown. It will be significant at the next election.
The second, I think, is that over time Farage and the far right come across as unkind about some very ordinary people. Lots of people who don't approve of the degree to which migration has occurred would still be horrified at unkindness to anyone who lives an OK life in this country. And Reform can distance itself from Restore and Robinson and so on as much as it likes, but to most people the far right is a unified blob who, like Reform, use images of people of colour as a scare tactic and includes some vile people who scare nice people of the wrong colour. Brits don't like that.
It's the blokery.
And the explanation "that's how working class men are." Not around working class women. Got them to turn out in droves round here.
I think turnout is key, and younger women are motivated to turn out.
I think that is why the anti-reform vote was underestimated in Makerfield, Gorton and Denton and in Caerphilly. Changes in turnout are hard for the pollsters to predict.
How generalisable it is outside byelections is one of the keys to the next GE.
Was women of all ages motivated round here. My Mam's 84 and her mates weren't impressed at all with Kenyon.
I am sure that is the case, but the older women were more likely to turnout before. What is new is the younger women getting the habit.
It's hard to fathom what Europe will live next week. Thousands of records will be brutalized in Spain,France,UK,Benelux,Germany,Swiss,Austria and than the East Paris might record 4 consecutive days 40C UK will ridiculize its June national record Germany 10 days 37C+ This is CRAZY
If this goes on to a second week then suddenly but once again breathless pol journos will be asking about climate change and why is the government not doing enough.
We had 16 hours free electricity last Sunday and another free 16 hours tomorrow
Wot we can't live without Aberdeen Oil and Gas.
Completely different subject
We need the tax from the north sea over the next 20 years plus the employment and seems Wes Streeting has now joined the calls for opening of north sea oil
We’re at the stage where liberalising North Sea oil regs is probably barnacles off the boat territory. Do it, and at the same time announce a thoroughly green measure that can offset it in the public eye - like mandating solar roofs on car parks like they did in France.
I agree that solar panels should be put on most roofs
And Germany losing 1 - 0
Another goal within a few minutes of the hydration break...
It's hard to fathom what Europe will live next week. Thousands of records will be brutalized in Spain,France,UK,Benelux,Germany,Swiss,Austria and than the East Paris might record 4 consecutive days 40C UK will ridiculize its June national record Germany 10 days 37C+ This is CRAZY
If this goes on to a second week then suddenly but once again breathless pol journos will be asking about climate change and why is the government not doing enough.
We had 16 hours free electricity last Sunday and another free 16 hours tomorrow
Wot we can't live without Aberdeen Oil and Gas.
Completely different subject
We need the tax from the north sea over the next 20 years plus the employment and seems Wes Streeting has now joined the calls for opening of north sea oil
We’re at the stage where liberalising North Sea oil regs is probably barnacles off the boat territory. Do it, and at the same time announce a thoroughly green measure that can offset it in the public eye - like mandating solar roofs on car parks like they did in France.
I agree that solar panels should be put on most roofs
And Germany losing 1 - 0
Another goal within a few minutes of the hydration break...
It's hard to fathom what Europe will live next week. Thousands of records will be brutalized in Spain,France,UK,Benelux,Germany,Swiss,Austria and than the East Paris might record 4 consecutive days 40C UK will ridiculize its June national record Germany 10 days 37C+ This is CRAZY
If this goes on to a second week then suddenly but once again breathless pol journos will be asking about climate change and why is the government not doing enough.
We had 16 hours free electricity last Sunday and another free 16 hours tomorrow
Wot we can't live without Aberdeen Oil and Gas.
Completely different subject
We need the tax from the north sea over the next 20 years plus the employment and seems Wes Streeting has now joined the calls for opening of north sea oil
We’re at the stage where liberalising North Sea oil regs is probably barnacles off the boat territory. Do it, and at the same time announce a thoroughly green measure that can offset it in the public eye - like mandating solar roofs on car parks like they did in France.
I agree that solar panels should be put on most roofs
And Germany losing 1 - 0
Another goal within a few minutes of the hydration break...
It's hard to fathom what Europe will live next week. Thousands of records will be brutalized in Spain,France,UK,Benelux,Germany,Swiss,Austria and than the East Paris might record 4 consecutive days 40C UK will ridiculize its June national record Germany 10 days 37C+ This is CRAZY
If this goes on to a second week then suddenly but once again breathless pol journos will be asking about climate change and why is the government not doing enough.
We had 16 hours free electricity last Sunday and another free 16 hours tomorrow
Wot we can't live without Aberdeen Oil and Gas.
Completely different subject
We need the tax from the north sea over the next 20 years plus the employment and seems Wes Streeting has now joined the calls for opening of north sea oil
We’re at the stage where liberalising North Sea oil regs is probably barnacles off the boat territory. Do it, and at the same time announce a thoroughly green measure that can offset it in the public eye - like mandating solar roofs on car parks like they did in France.
I agree that solar panels should be put on most roofs
And Germany losing 1 - 0
Another goal within a few minutes of the hydration break...
It's hard to fathom what Europe will live next week. Thousands of records will be brutalized in Spain,France,UK,Benelux,Germany,Swiss,Austria and than the East Paris might record 4 consecutive days 40C UK will ridiculize its June national record Germany 10 days 37C+ This is CRAZY
If this goes on to a second week then suddenly but once again breathless pol journos will be asking about climate change and why is the government not doing enough.
We had 16 hours free electricity last Sunday and another free 16 hours tomorrow
Wot we can't live without Aberdeen Oil and Gas.
Completely different subject
We need the tax from the north sea over the next 20 years plus the employment and seems Wes Streeting has now joined the calls for opening of north sea oil
We’re at the stage where liberalising North Sea oil regs is probably barnacles off the boat territory. Do it, and at the same time announce a thoroughly green measure that can offset it in the public eye - like mandating solar roofs on car parks like they did in France.
I agree that solar panels should be put on most roofs
And Germany losing 1 - 0
Another goal within a few minutes of the hydration break...
He'll make it known that this is when he'll make a decision. Turf out all but Ministers and a few key political appointees. Not civil servants a Labour Party political cabinet meeting.
Go round the room, look everyone in the eye, open and transparent. No repurcussions back me yes or no.
I suspect a majority will say NO
He confirms to them he will not stand for re-election if it's over 50%, in that case he'll request a meeting with the King Tuesday pm
If its under 50% he will put himself to a MP vote if any MPs get the 80 odd needed for a nomination.
This potentially allows Streeting to get his 80 plus, if not it's a coronation.
Far better to walk in to the Cabinet Room and do it this way, either way it's ballsy and puts Cabinet on spot.
No one quite expected him to be this bad.
Hello
All credit to you then.
If Starmer had been called Kevin or Keith, he would never have got this far. Labour has been somewhat blinded by nostalgia because of his name.
Revealed: Brexit voting areas have seen faster growth in foreign workers since EU referendum
Guardian investigation also finds same areas experienced relative decline over same period
Leave-voting areas have seen faster relative growth in foreign workers since the Brexit referendum, a Guardian investigation has found.
Data analysis suggests that the decade since the Brexit vote may not have matched the expectations of many Leave supporters, showing their local areas have also become relatively more deprived over the same period.
Migration increased across the UK after Brexit, especially of those arriving on health and care visas, peaking at 944,000 in the year ending March 2023. Net migration has since cratered, and continues to fall as people’s visas expire.
Analysis of government Pay As You Earn data shows that between 2016 and the end of 2024, non-UK workers grew fastest in percentage terms in stronger Leave-voting areas, largely because they had previously made up a smaller share of the workforce.
Wigan, where the Makerfield byelection has taken place, follows the pattern seen in many strong Leave-voting areas. Less than 5% of payrolled employees were from outside the UK in June 2016. That had increased to just under 10% in December 2024 – more than doubling in relative terms.
Across the country, the proportion of foreign workers increased by just 40% over that period, rather than doubling.
Remain-voting areas – often larger cities – still have the largest numbers of non-UK workers. While they have seen bigger rises in absolute numbers, it is Brexit strongholds that have seen faster relative growth of their foreign workforce.
He'll make it known that this is when he'll make a decision. Turf out all but Ministers and a few key political appointees. Not civil servants a Labour Party political cabinet meeting.
Go round the room, look everyone in the eye, open and transparent. No repurcussions back me yes or no.
I suspect a majority will say NO
He confirms to them he will not stand for re-election if it's over 50%, in that case he'll request a meeting with the King Tuesday pm
If its under 50% he will put himself to a MP vote if any MPs get the 80 odd needed for a nomination.
This potentially allows Streeting to get his 80 plus, if not it's a coronation.
Far better to walk in to the Cabinet Room and do it this way, either way it's ballsy and puts Cabinet on spot.
No one quite expected him to be this bad.
Hello
All credit to you then.
If Starmer had been called Kevin or Keith, he would never have got this far. Labour has been somewhat blinded by nostalgia because of his name.
Not sure that's true.
I think they were blinded by the fact that he ran a quango, and therefore assumed he could run a country.
I have just worked out that my phone can be used as a radio. I'm trying to snooze through the heat whilst listening to Radio 4. It's oddly pleasant.
Why has it taken you 15 years to work that out, lol.
I used to read books instead of listen. It wasn't until listening to YouTube on earphones whilst working that I realised I could do both. Since I now have a tablet, there was never any need to use my phone for listening. But when my wifi went down on Makerfield election night, the need for a non-wifi-based medium became pressing, so I checked my phone and laptops to see if they had a radio. The phone did, and that's how it started.
The more digitally advanced PB followers may be interested to know that the other device that receives radio is a radio. A very small portable FM/AM 2AA battery one in an indispensable device as an adjunct to all the smarter stuff. They cost a tenner.
They sometimes come with a car built around them which can also be useful for other purposes.
Revealed: Brexit voting areas have seen faster growth in foreign workers since EU referendum
Guardian investigation also finds same areas experienced relative decline over same period
Leave-voting areas have seen faster relative growth in foreign workers since the Brexit referendum, a Guardian investigation has found.
Data analysis suggests that the decade since the Brexit vote may not have matched the expectations of many Leave supporters, showing their local areas have also become relatively more deprived over the same period.
Migration increased across the UK after Brexit, especially of those arriving on health and care visas, peaking at 944,000 in the year ending March 2023. Net migration has since cratered, and continues to fall as people’s visas expire.
Analysis of government Pay As You Earn data shows that between 2016 and the end of 2024, non-UK workers grew fastest in percentage terms in stronger Leave-voting areas, largely because they had previously made up a smaller share of the workforce.
Wigan, where the Makerfield byelection has taken place, follows the pattern seen in many strong Leave-voting areas. Less than 5% of payrolled employees were from outside the UK in June 2016. That had increased to just under 10% in December 2024 – more than doubling in relative terms.
Across the country, the proportion of foreign workers increased by just 40% over that period, rather than doubling.
Remain-voting areas – often larger cities – still have the largest numbers of non-UK workers. While they have seen bigger rises in absolute numbers, it is Brexit strongholds that have seen faster relative growth of their foreign workforce.
He'll make it known that this is when he'll make a decision. Turf out all but Ministers and a few key political appointees. Not civil servants a Labour Party political cabinet meeting.
Go round the room, look everyone in the eye, open and transparent. No repurcussions back me yes or no.
I suspect a majority will say NO
He confirms to them he will not stand for re-election if it's over 50%, in that case he'll request a meeting with the King Tuesday pm
If its under 50% he will put himself to a MP vote if any MPs get the 80 odd needed for a nomination.
This potentially allows Streeting to get his 80 plus, if not it's a coronation.
Far better to walk in to the Cabinet Room and do it this way, either way it's ballsy and puts Cabinet on spot.
No one quite expected him to be this bad.
Hello
All credit to you then.
If Starmer had been called Kevin or Keith, he would never have got this far. Labour has been somewhat blinded by nostalgia because of his name.
Not sure that's true.
I think they were blinded by the fact that he ran a quango, and therefore assumed he could run a country.
Two very different jobs, as events have shown.
Similar to people's enthusiasm for military or business people as politicians. Once again very different skill-sets.
He'll make it known that this is when he'll make a decision. Turf out all but Ministers and a few key political appointees. Not civil servants a Labour Party political cabinet meeting.
Go round the room, look everyone in the eye, open and transparent. No repurcussions back me yes or no.
I suspect a majority will say NO
He confirms to them he will not stand for re-election if it's over 50%, in that case he'll request a meeting with the King Tuesday pm
If its under 50% he will put himself to a MP vote if any MPs get the 80 odd needed for a nomination.
This potentially allows Streeting to get his 80 plus, if not it's a coronation.
Far better to walk in to the Cabinet Room and do it this way, either way it's ballsy and puts Cabinet on spot.
No one quite expected him to be this bad.
Hello
All credit to you then.
If Starmer had been called Kevin or Keith, he would never have got this far. Labour has been somewhat blinded by nostalgia because of his name.
Not sure that's true.
I think they were blinded by the fact that he ran a quango, and therefore assumed he could run a country.
By choosing to stick around as long as he has, Starmer has produced PM Burnham. Probably the best choice for Labour but I can’t think Keir should have just resigned as soon as Mandelson came out
He'll make it known that this is when he'll make a decision. Turf out all but Ministers and a few key political appointees. Not civil servants a Labour Party political cabinet meeting.
Go round the room, look everyone in the eye, open and transparent. No repurcussions back me yes or no.
I suspect a majority will say NO
He confirms to them he will not stand for re-election if it's over 50%, in that case he'll request a meeting with the King Tuesday pm
If its under 50% he will put himself to a MP vote if any MPs get the 80 odd needed for a nomination.
This potentially allows Streeting to get his 80 plus, if not it's a coronation.
Far better to walk in to the Cabinet Room and do it this way, either way it's ballsy and puts Cabinet on spot.
No one quite expected him to be this bad.
Hello
All credit to you then.
If Starmer had been called Kevin or Keith, he would never have got this far. Labour has been somewhat blinded by nostalgia because of his name.
Not sure that's true.
I think they were blinded by the fact that he ran a quango, and therefore assumed he could run a country.
Two very different jobs, as events have shown.
Similar to people's enthusiasm for military or business people as politicians. Once again very different skill-sets.
I do prefer politicians who have some real world experience in the private sector. Not just being a full time union rep or working for a think tank or for another politicians.
I also prefer politicians who aren't related or married to other politicians. I don't think it is healthy for politics to be dynastic. There is too much nepotism in our society. I just wish I had a series of policies that could eradicate it.
I have just worked out that my phone can be used as a radio. I'm trying to snooze through the heat whilst listening to Radio 4. It's oddly pleasant.
Why has it taken you 15 years to work that out, lol.
I used to read books instead of listen. It wasn't until listening to YouTube on earphones whilst working that I realised I could do both. Since I now have a tablet, there was never any need to use my phone for listening. But when my wifi went down on Makerfield election night, the need for a non-wifi-based medium became pressing, so I checked my phone and laptops to see if they had a radio. The phone did, and that's how it started.
The more digitally advanced PB followers may be interested to know that the other device that receives radio is a radio. A very small portable FM/AM 2AA battery one in an indispensable device as an adjunct to all the smarter stuff. They cost a tenner.
They sometimes come with a car built around them which can also be useful for other purposes.
He'll make it known that this is when he'll make a decision. Turf out all but Ministers and a few key political appointees. Not civil servants a Labour Party political cabinet meeting.
Go round the room, look everyone in the eye, open and transparent. No repurcussions back me yes or no.
I suspect a majority will say NO
He confirms to them he will not stand for re-election if it's over 50%, in that case he'll request a meeting with the King Tuesday pm
If its under 50% he will put himself to a MP vote if any MPs get the 80 odd needed for a nomination.
This potentially allows Streeting to get his 80 plus, if not it's a coronation.
Far better to walk in to the Cabinet Room and do it this way, either way it's ballsy and puts Cabinet on spot.
No one quite expected him to be this bad.
Hello
All credit to you then.
If Starmer had been called Kevin or Keith, he would never have got this far. Labour has been somewhat blinded by nostalgia because of his name.
Not sure that's true.
I think they were blinded by the fact that he ran a quango, and therefore assumed he could run a country.
Two very different jobs, as events have shown.
The Crown Prosecution Service is hardly a quango.
It's a non-ministerial government department.
As to assuming he could run a country, until you do it no previous job can prove someone could do it. Business is very different, mayors are tiny, and so on.
He won't resign as PM until after a new leader is elected, which should easily take him past 5 July
That does confuse international outlets. I was furious at a quiz onvlce which got Truss's tenure wrong and it turned out they'd googled it from an american news report.
The quizmaster didn't even take back the incorrectly awarded point. Yes i'm still mad about it.
Anyhoo, I have had a cheeky bet on Côte d'Ivoire to beat Germany tonight.
I’m going for 2-2. Mind you I thought NED/SWE would be 2-2 as well.
On a related note I like that if Sweden are Playing Denmark at home the score in the corner spells out SWEDEN and the bits missed off the ends of their names, the “den” and “mark” make up the other team.
If I ran FIFA I would change Uruguay's code to UGA and fix every draw to ensure they meet Belgium
Comments
Peter.
The second, I think, is that over time Farage and the far right come across as unkind about some very ordinary people. Lots of people who don't approve of the degree to which migration has occurred would still be horrified at unkindness to anyone who lives an OK life in this country. And Reform can distance itself from Restore and Robinson and so on as much as it likes, but to most people the far right is a unified blob who, like Reform, use images of people of colour as a scare tactic and includes some vile people who scare nice people of the wrong colour. Brits don't like that.
And the explanation "that's how working class men are."
Not around working class women.
Got them to turn out in droves round here.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/20/scott-bessent-volodymyr-zelenskyy-trump
Scott Bessent, the US treasury secretary, advised Donald Trump not to host Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, having called the Ukrainian president a “little fucker”, a “special-needs child” and “Mr Bean on crack”, according to a new book...
I think that is why the anti-reform vote was underestimated in Makerfield, Gorton and Denton and in Caerphilly. Changes in turnout are hard for the pollsters to predict.
How generalisable it is outside byelections is one of the keys to the next GE.
Not a big amount caught and it sells at a high premium.
The anti-Le Pen vote in France has been robust, persistent and very effective. But it’s eroded over time. The never Trump vote was somewhat more flaky from the start, but it did exist. So too the anti-Sinn Fein vote in the Republic.
The anti-SNP vote is an interesting UK example. It’s there, no doubt, but it waxes and wanes.
We need the tax from the north sea over the next 20 years plus the employment and seems Wes Streeting has now joined the calls for opening of north sea oil
Most of it goes to Spain. The Spanish love a bit of if. They gobble up our Langoustines too.
My Mam's 84 and her mates weren't impressed at all with Kenyon.
He doesn't have the political skills navigate through this.
And both of these have always meant that he was going to be a bad PM. No one quite expected him to be this bad.
He will go down in history as one of the worst.
https://x.com/Keir_Starmer/status/2068420853042217360
Absolutely appalling.
No one should face violence on our streets. The suspect appears to be motivated by anti-Muslim hatred. I will not tolerate this - he will face the full force of the law.
My thoughts are with those who are injured and I thank the police and the emergency services for their response.
Does Carrie Johnson still love animals? I imagine that, having recently had their fourth baby, she may not be aware of her husband’s despicable activities.
Boris Johnson has endorsed Abelardo de la Espriella in the Colombian election tomorrow!:
https://www.elcolombiano.com/especiales/elecciones-2026/boris-johnson-apoya-abelardo-de-la-espriella-elecciones-2026-IO37933083
De la Espriella is a cat torturer. He has reportedly admitted torturing cats by tying fireworks to them and also throwing them off high buildings to see if they survived: https://www.reddit.com/r/Colombia/comments/1m611k5/abelardo_de_la_espriella_asesino_de_gatos/?tl=en
He has not admitted laundering drug money, but Democratic lawmakers in the United States certainly appear to think there are serious questions to answer:
https://english.elpais.com/usa/2026-06-18/democratic-lawmakers-denounce-trumps-support-for-colombias-far-right-candidate-de-la-espriella-and-call-for-an-investigation.html
Any candidate with the support of Trump and Rubio is, in my view, a huge red flag.
From a betting perspective, I have done very well laying Trumpist candidates, most recently in Hungary. The markets seem to imply that Cepeda has about a 11-12% chance of winning tomorrow. I think the true figure is closer to 20-25%. For a value investor, if you can lay de la Espriella at odds of 1.15 or shorter, I think it is worth a small punt.
One problem, however, is that the voting may be a bit rigged. The electoral system is controlled by right-wingers appointed by previous presidents, and the software for the electronic counting appears a bit dodgy. Colombia is a beautiful and extraordinary country, full of decent, intelligent and generous people, but its politics can be deeply strange. It is very rare to see an electoral system being rigged against the governing party. Of course, there are EU observers, but they are lamentably gullible.
And Germany losing 1 - 0
Less than two years since
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47jENsIaSJo
Water great innovation if so.
If Starmer had been called Kevin or Keith, he would never have got this far. Labour has been somewhat blinded by nostalgia because of his name.
It's Ivory Coast 1-0 Germany right now.
I need to find out more about sous vide cooking.
The EU has not worked.
Free trade is good, but the EU is not working.
I also hope to win £400 but I accept that is unlikely
I think they were blinded by the fact that he ran a quango, and therefore assumed he could run a country.
Two very different jobs, as events have shown.
NEW THREAD
Very good
I also prefer politicians who aren't related or married to other politicians. I don't think it is healthy for politics to be dynastic. There is too much nepotism in our society. I just wish I had a series of policies that could eradicate it.
As to assuming he could run a country, until you do it no previous job can prove someone could do it. Business is very different, mayors are tiny, and so on.
The quizmaster didn't even take back the incorrectly awarded point. Yes i'm still mad about it.