Risky. Putting a lot of emphasis on renewing the High Streets in towns and cities.
But a good part of the decline is online shopping and deliveries. How can that be reversed?
Yes, that worries me. All the people who moan about the demise of High Street shopping are the same people who use Tesco online for food, Amazon for everything else, and Lakeside or similar for shopping days out. I'd be very happy to see the revival of the Hight Street, but it will take some pretty radical changes in incentives to achieve. Hope he does it.
Town centres as places to live is surely the way to go ? There's a housing shortage, and a crazy excess of empty (or occupied by criminals) retail space. The conclusion is obvious; it lacks only will, and investment.
Fewer than 500 lived in Manchester City Centre in 1990. There are now 85k residents within a mile of Piccadilly. It can be done.
Are you suggesting that planning be delegated to the IRA?
Who was it that first said that the IRA bombed Manchester city centre and caused £2bn of improvements?
The England captain should ideally satisfy the following criteria:
1) Always (For now) 1st pick if available
Excludes Gay Bashir
2) Sufficient test experience to not look ridiculous
Excludes Gay Bethell Atkinson Tongue Bashir
3) Not a walking medical textbook/long periods out through injury
Excludes Atkinson Tongue Archer Bashir
3) Not been caught on the lash/hi-jinks in the last few years
Excludes Stokes Brook Atkinson Duckett
4) Not announced retirement
Excludes Stokes
5) Tried as captain and broadly failed as a captain
Excludes Root
Add Jamie Smith to the sufficient test experience. Has he been subbed out for someone else recently though ? Maybe he is the one after Root if it's not to be Brook...
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Going to be a lot of policy and textual analysis of Andy Burnham's speech. But all that really matters at the moment is that he looks a bit different and sounds a bit different. And that should be enough to get him a hearing from the British public. Which is what he needs.
I’m certainly happy with what I heard. Snippets only I’ve been out for a bike ride earlier.
Like all,here, I wish him well and hope he succeeds. I’ve said I won’t vote Labour again after the Starmer disaster. I’ve even said I’d consider Reform. However if he does succeed in, at least turning it around, and does start doing stuff that genuinely helps the regions I’d consider labour again
However Burnham needs to realise the North is not JUST Manchester.
Is Manchester really the North? Same with Yorkshire. Growing up in Scotland and Tyneside I've always struggled to think of places you can drive to from London in time for breakfast as the "North"...
You can tell a true northerner: he believes that the north ends 15 miles south of where he was born.
I'm a true northener, by residence. And the north ends somewhere around Basildon
Risky. Putting a lot of emphasis on renewing the High Streets in towns and cities.
But a good part of the decline is online shopping and deliveries. How can that be reversed?
Yes, that worries me. All the people who moan about the demise of High Street shopping are the same people who use Tesco online for food, Amazon for everything else, and Lakeside or similar for shopping days out. I'd be very happy to see the revival of the Hight Street, but it will take some pretty radical changes in incentives to achieve. Hope he does it.
Town centres as places to live is surely the way to go ? There's a housing shortage, and a crazy excess of empty (or occupied by criminals) retail space. The conclusion is obvious; it lacks only will, and investment.
Fewer than 500 lived in Manchester City Centre in 1990. There are now 85k residents within a mile of Piccadilly. It can be done.
Are you suggesting that planning be delegated to the IRA?
Who was it that first said that the IRA bombed Manchester city centre and caused £2bn of improvements?
It is worth noting that one of the reasons why California is still voting is because it allows the "curing" of postal votes where signatures do not match.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Going to be a lot of policy and textual analysis of Andy Burnham's speech. But all that really matters at the moment is that he looks a bit different and sounds a bit different. And that should be enough to get him a hearing from the British public. Which is what he needs.
I’m certainly happy with what I heard. Snippets only I’ve been out for a bike ride earlier.
Like all,here, I wish him well and hope he succeeds. I’ve said I won’t vote Labour again after the Starmer disaster. I’ve even said I’d consider Reform. However if he does succeed in, at least turning it around, and does start doing stuff that genuinely helps the regions I’d consider labour again
However Burnham needs to realise the North is not JUST Manchester.
Is Manchester really the North? Same with Yorkshire. Growing up in Scotland and Tyneside I've always struggled to think of places you can drive to from London in time for breakfast as the "North"...
You can tell a true northerner: he believes that the north ends 15 miles south of where he was born.
That's very unfair. The Tees is more than 15 miles south of Gateshead.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Going to be a lot of policy and textual analysis of Andy Burnham's speech. But all that really matters at the moment is that he looks a bit different and sounds a bit different. And that should be enough to get him a hearing from the British public. Which is what he needs.
I’m certainly happy with what I heard. Snippets only I’ve been out for a bike ride earlier.
Like all,here, I wish him well and hope he succeeds. I’ve said I won’t vote Labour again after the Starmer disaster. I’ve even said I’d consider Reform. However if he does succeed in, at least turning it around, and does start doing stuff that genuinely helps the regions I’d consider labour again
However Burnham needs to realise the North is not JUST Manchester.
Is Manchester really the North? Same with Yorkshire. Growing up in Scotland and Tyneside I've always struggled to think of places you can drive to from London in time for breakfast as the "North"...
You can tell a true northerner: he believes that the north ends 15 miles south of where he was born.
That's very unfair. The Tees is more than 15 miles south of Gateshead.
Dyor but I do like Pat McFadden. As a bet for next CoE, I mean.
Reason being I've tried to put myself in Andy's head and the fact is I wouldn't (for various reasons) appoint any of the 3 favs, Red Ed, Wes, or Mahmood.
It probably won't be Pat McFadden but he's the value imo. I'm on. Nibble plus top up.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Going to be a lot of policy and textual analysis of Andy Burnham's speech. But all that really matters at the moment is that he looks a bit different and sounds a bit different. And that should be enough to get him a hearing from the British public. Which is what he needs.
I’m certainly happy with what I heard. Snippets only I’ve been out for a bike ride earlier.
Like all,here, I wish him well and hope he succeeds. I’ve said I won’t vote Labour again after the Starmer disaster. I’ve even said I’d consider Reform. However if he does succeed in, at least turning it around, and does start doing stuff that genuinely helps the regions I’d consider labour again
However Burnham needs to realise the North is not JUST Manchester.
Is Manchester really the North? Same with Yorkshire. Growing up in Scotland and Tyneside I've always struggled to think of places you can drive to from London in time for breakfast as the "North"...
You can tell a true northerner: he believes that the north ends 15 miles south of where he was born.
I'm a true northener, by residence. And the north ends somewhere around Basildon
Where’s the furthest North sign on the M1, A1 or M6, that says “THE NORTH” on it?
ISTR one on the M1 around Sheffield, but it’s been a while since I’ve been anywhere near there.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Going to be a lot of policy and textual analysis of Andy Burnham's speech. But all that really matters at the moment is that he looks a bit different and sounds a bit different. And that should be enough to get him a hearing from the British public. Which is what he needs.
I’m certainly happy with what I heard. Snippets only I’ve been out for a bike ride earlier.
Like all,here, I wish him well and hope he succeeds. I’ve said I won’t vote Labour again after the Starmer disaster. I’ve even said I’d consider Reform. However if he does succeed in, at least turning it around, and does start doing stuff that genuinely helps the regions I’d consider labour again
However Burnham needs to realise the North is not JUST Manchester.
Is Manchester really the North? Same with Yorkshire. Growing up in Scotland and Tyneside I've always struggled to think of places you can drive to from London in time for breakfast as the "North"...
You can tell a true northerner: he believes that the north ends 15 miles south of where he was born.
That's very unfair. The Tees is more than 15 miles south of Gateshead.
FFS Draper out with a recurrence of the same injury to his arm .
Such a hugely talented player but sadly his body can’t cope .
He, and Raducanu, seem blighted by this. Whether either can get the right amount of training to reach their true level remains to be seen. Sad day for Wimbledon though.
Anyone here share my view that Japan are stonking good value at 9/2 in their upcoming match against Brazil?
They're a serious team and despite Brazil's performance against Scotland, the boys from Brazil look eminently beatable to me.
Maybe laying Brazil at 4/5 is the bet, as the longer it goes the more it is likely to favour Japan, and they certainly won't mind going into extra team.
Dyor, as ever, but I'm on.
Yes to Japan but since I also think Paraguay can beat Germany, I might be an unreliable judge.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Going to be a lot of policy and textual analysis of Andy Burnham's speech. But all that really matters at the moment is that he looks a bit different and sounds a bit different. And that should be enough to get him a hearing from the British public. Which is what he needs.
I’m certainly happy with what I heard. Snippets only I’ve been out for a bike ride earlier.
Like all,here, I wish him well and hope he succeeds. I’ve said I won’t vote Labour again after the Starmer disaster. I’ve even said I’d consider Reform. However if he does succeed in, at least turning it around, and does start doing stuff that genuinely helps the regions I’d consider labour again
However Burnham needs to realise the North is not JUST Manchester.
Is Manchester really the North? Same with Yorkshire. Growing up in Scotland and Tyneside I've always struggled to think of places you can drive to from London in time for breakfast as the "North"...
You can tell a true northerner: he believes that the north ends 15 miles south of where he was born.
My wife is from near Portsmouth and thinks the north starts at the M4, if not a bit further south.
It's all just vaguely hopey change nonsense isn't it. This aspersion seems particularly unachievable - I'm currently buying a house in a postcode that contains the sum total of three houses and a Plymouth Brethren gospel hall. The odds of achieving "good growth*" in every single postcode like this seems low, even if the country is booming.
*what does good growth mean anyway? More wealth per sq ft? Higher average wages? Greater GDP? GPD at a postcode level is meaningless anyway, I create lots of value, but in a yard 20 miles away from my house...
The England captain should ideally satisfy the following criteria:
1) Always (For now) 1st pick if available
Excludes Gay Bashir
2) Sufficient test experience to not look ridiculous
Excludes Gay Bethell Atkinson Tongue Bashir
3) Not a walking medical textbook/long periods out through injury
Excludes Atkinson Tongue Archer Bashir
3) Not been caught on the lash/hi-jinks in the last few years
Excludes Stokes Brook Atkinson Duckett
4) Not announced retirement
Excludes Stokes
5) Tried as captain and broadly failed as a captain
Excludes Root
I match for 3-6, but I will be a surprise announcement. Will lead to similar sledging to that received by James Ormond in 2001.
Looking at Pulpstar's lists you almost wonder whether it's worth picking a captain from the County Championship on the basis of their captaincy credentials.
I wouldn't want to give it to Brook (because he's the white ball captain, and I'm not sure he's even doing that well with that alone).
I wouldn't want to give it to Root, because his previous tenure reached a disastrous low.
Who else is guaranteed a place in the team anyway?
I suppose whoever does choose the captain will have the advantage of knowing these people personally, and so they will have a sense as to whether Duckett or Smith or whoever have leadership ability.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Going to be a lot of policy and textual analysis of Andy Burnham's speech. But all that really matters at the moment is that he looks a bit different and sounds a bit different. And that should be enough to get him a hearing from the British public. Which is what he needs.
I’m certainly happy with what I heard. Snippets only I’ve been out for a bike ride earlier.
Like all,here, I wish him well and hope he succeeds. I’ve said I won’t vote Labour again after the Starmer disaster. I’ve even said I’d consider Reform. However if he does succeed in, at least turning it around, and does start doing stuff that genuinely helps the regions I’d consider labour again
However Burnham needs to realise the North is not JUST Manchester.
Is Manchester really the North? Same with Yorkshire. Growing up in Scotland and Tyneside I've always struggled to think of places you can drive to from London in time for breakfast as the "North"...
You can tell a true northerner: he believes that the north ends 15 miles south of where he was born.
My wife is from near Portsmouth and thinks the north starts at the M4, if not a bit further south.
Everything's relative.
There's a map someone made with the 2021 census dates that put Cambridgeshire and Worcestershire in the north, on the basis of an equal split between North and South in population terms.
I can't remember if there was a version split into thirds, with a Midlands too.
Here's the north-south map.
Map Men (YouTube link) did a good episode on this...
Interesting table showing comparative wages per decile since 2000. There’s a huge compression, which I would suggest is due to above-inflation minimum wage increases.
The England captain should ideally satisfy the following criteria:
1) Always (For now) 1st pick if available
Excludes Gay Bashir
2) Sufficient test experience to not look ridiculous
Excludes Gay Bethell Atkinson Tongue Bashir
3) Not a walking medical textbook/long periods out through injury
Excludes Atkinson Tongue Archer Bashir
3) Not been caught on the lash/hi-jinks in the last few years
Excludes Stokes Brook Atkinson Duckett
4) Not announced retirement
Excludes Stokes
5) Tried as captain and broadly failed as a captain
Excludes Root
I match for 3-6, but I will be a surprise announcement. Will lead to similar sledging to that received by James Ormond in 2001.
Looking at Pulpstar's lists you almost wonder whether it's worth picking a captain from the County Championship on the basis of their captaincy credentials.
I wouldn't want to give it to Brook (because he's the white ball captain, and I'm not sure he's even doing that well with that alone).
I wouldn't want to give it to Root, because his previous tenure reached a disastrous low.
Who else is guaranteed a place in the team anyway?
I suppose whoever does choose the captain will have the advantage of knowing these people personally, and so they will have a sense as to whether Duckett or Smith or whoever have leadership ability.
I sense it will be Brook, although I wouldn't be averse to Joe Root mk 2 for a year and see. And I don't know how much Duckett has captained before. At the moment I think Duckett, Root, Brook are safe in the batting line-up. Big questions over Bethel (thorny issue of not enough red-ball cricket again), Smith (balance between winning the match with a brilliant knock and losing it with a dropped catch). Gay looks promising. One thing I would do more of - Root as the spinning all rounder on usual pitches (so most English ones). No other spinners are pulling up trees in the championship (they don't really get a chance with the way its structured) and Root is good when required. You don't take 73 test wickets by luck.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Going to be a lot of policy and textual analysis of Andy Burnham's speech. But all that really matters at the moment is that he looks a bit different and sounds a bit different. And that should be enough to get him a hearing from the British public. Which is what he needs.
I’m certainly happy with what I heard. Snippets only I’ve been out for a bike ride earlier.
Like all,here, I wish him well and hope he succeeds. I’ve said I won’t vote Labour again after the Starmer disaster. I’ve even said I’d consider Reform. However if he does succeed in, at least turning it around, and does start doing stuff that genuinely helps the regions I’d consider labour again
However Burnham needs to realise the North is not JUST Manchester.
Is Manchester really the North? Same with Yorkshire. Growing up in Scotland and Tyneside I've always struggled to think of places you can drive to from London in time for breakfast as the "North"...
You can tell a true northerner: he believes that the north ends 15 miles south of where he was born.
I'm a true northener, by residence. And the north ends somewhere around Basildon
Where’s the furthest North sign on the M1, A1 or M6, that says “THE NORTH” on it?
ISTR one on the M1 around Sheffield, but it’s been a while since I’ve been anywhere near there.
Scotch Corner - because it's the last point where you can sanely go West for about the next 70 miles.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Going to be a lot of policy and textual analysis of Andy Burnham's speech. But all that really matters at the moment is that he looks a bit different and sounds a bit different. And that should be enough to get him a hearing from the British public. Which is what he needs.
I’m certainly happy with what I heard. Snippets only I’ve been out for a bike ride earlier.
Like all,here, I wish him well and hope he succeeds. I’ve said I won’t vote Labour again after the Starmer disaster. I’ve even said I’d consider Reform. However if he does succeed in, at least turning it around, and does start doing stuff that genuinely helps the regions I’d consider labour again
However Burnham needs to realise the North is not JUST Manchester.
Is Manchester really the North? Same with Yorkshire. Growing up in Scotland and Tyneside I've always struggled to think of places you can drive to from London in time for breakfast as the "North"...
You can tell a true northerner: he believes that the north ends 15 miles south of where he was born.
I'm a true northener, by residence. And the north ends somewhere around Basildon
Where’s the furthest North sign on the M1, A1 or M6, that says “THE NORTH” on it?
ISTR one on the M1 around Sheffield, but it’s been a while since I’ve been anywhere near there.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Going to be a lot of policy and textual analysis of Andy Burnham's speech. But all that really matters at the moment is that he looks a bit different and sounds a bit different. And that should be enough to get him a hearing from the British public. Which is what he needs.
I’m certainly happy with what I heard. Snippets only I’ve been out for a bike ride earlier.
Like all,here, I wish him well and hope he succeeds. I’ve said I won’t vote Labour again after the Starmer disaster. I’ve even said I’d consider Reform. However if he does succeed in, at least turning it around, and does start doing stuff that genuinely helps the regions I’d consider labour again
However Burnham needs to realise the North is not JUST Manchester.
Is Manchester really the North? Same with Yorkshire. Growing up in Scotland and Tyneside I've always struggled to think of places you can drive to from London in time for breakfast as the "North"...
You can tell a true northerner: he believes that the north ends 15 miles south of where he was born.
My wife is from near Portsmouth and thinks the north starts at the M4, if not a bit further south.
Everything's relative.
There's a map someone made with the 2021 census dates that put Cambridgeshire and Worcestershire in the north, on the basis of an equal split between North and South in population terms.
I can't remember if there was a version split into thirds, with a Midlands too.
Here's the north-south map.
Map Men (YouTube link) did a good episode on this...
It is quite possible therefore that the Tories and Reform combined win a majority of seats in England at the next general election, even if Burnham wins the north comfortably. Yet Burnham and Labour narrowly remain in power UK wide thanks to Scottish and Welsh Labour, SNP and PC seats. Last time we had a different winner in the UK from England was Feb 1974 when southern Heath faced northern Wilson, next election will now be northern Burnham v southern Farage and Badenoch
Anyone here share my view that Japan are stonking good value at 9/2 in their upcoming match against Brazil?
They're a serious team and despite Brazil's performance against Scotland, the boys from Brazil look eminently beatable to me.
Maybe laying Brazil at 4/5 is the bet, as the longer it goes the more it is likely to favour Japan, and they certainly won't mind going into extra team.
Dyor, as ever, but I'm on.
Yes to Japan but since I also think Paraguay can beat Germany, I might be an unreliable judge.
Not long back from rural Derbyshire - is it "the north" ? I'm not getting involved with that nonsense.
As an aside, a nice ride on one of the new Aurora trains on EMR - a significant step forward from the Meridians but as usual, five coach trains on a ,line which really needs eight to ten coaches per service isn't really the answer.
I don't know why (well, I do) Conservatives are so hostile to Burnham's ideas. It is a significant nod to the kind of devolution proposed by Nick Hurd in the Cameron years and pays more than lip service to some of Boris Johnson's rhetoric from 2019. It also borrows heavily from the Liberal Democrat devolution playbook.
Decentraliation or devolution (there is a difference) relies, to be effective, on financial authority (not just responsibility) and accountability passing from Whitehall/Westminster to more local power structures.
What do the Conservatives offer in response? More centralisation, more power to Whitehall - that's where Boris Johnson ended up for all his rhetoric, taking powers and responsibilities (often newly liberated from Brussels) from Westminster and Parliament to Whitehall and Ministers.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Going to be a lot of policy and textual analysis of Andy Burnham's speech. But all that really matters at the moment is that he looks a bit different and sounds a bit different. And that should be enough to get him a hearing from the British public. Which is what he needs.
I’m certainly happy with what I heard. Snippets only I’ve been out for a bike ride earlier.
Like all,here, I wish him well and hope he succeeds. I’ve said I won’t vote Labour again after the Starmer disaster. I’ve even said I’d consider Reform. However if he does succeed in, at least turning it around, and does start doing stuff that genuinely helps the regions I’d consider labour again
However Burnham needs to realise the North is not JUST Manchester.
Is Manchester really the North? Same with Yorkshire. Growing up in Scotland and Tyneside I've always struggled to think of places you can drive to from London in time for breakfast as the "North"...
You can tell a true northerner: he believes that the north ends 15 miles south of where he was born.
I'm a true northener, by residence. And the north ends somewhere around Basildon
Where’s the furthest North sign on the M1, A1 or M6, that says “THE NORTH” on it?
ISTR one on the M1 around Sheffield, but it’s been a while since I’ve been anywhere near there.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Going to be a lot of policy and textual analysis of Andy Burnham's speech. But all that really matters at the moment is that he looks a bit different and sounds a bit different. And that should be enough to get him a hearing from the British public. Which is what he needs.
I’m certainly happy with what I heard. Snippets only I’ve been out for a bike ride earlier.
Like all,here, I wish him well and hope he succeeds. I’ve said I won’t vote Labour again after the Starmer disaster. I’ve even said I’d consider Reform. However if he does succeed in, at least turning it around, and does start doing stuff that genuinely helps the regions I’d consider labour again
However Burnham needs to realise the North is not JUST Manchester.
Is Manchester really the North? Same with Yorkshire. Growing up in Scotland and Tyneside I've always struggled to think of places you can drive to from London in time for breakfast as the "North"...
You can tell a true northerner: he believes that the north ends 15 miles south of where he was born.
I'm a true northener, by residence. And the north ends somewhere around Basildon
Where’s the furthest North sign on the M1, A1 or M6, that says “THE NORTH” on it?
ISTR one on the M1 around Sheffield, but it’s been a while since I’ve been anywhere near there.
Scotch Corner - because it's the last point where you can sanely go West for about the next 70 miles.
Bedford Town play in National League North. Hemel Hempstead play in National League South, so I guess the North starts around Luton.
Anyone here share my view that Japan are stonking good value at 9/2 in their upcoming match against Brazil?
They're a serious team and despite Brazil's performance against Scotland, the boys from Brazil look eminently beatable to me.
Maybe laying Brazil at 4/5 is the bet, as the longer it goes the more it is likely to favour Japan, and they certainly won't mind going into extra team.
Dyor, as ever, but I'm on.
Yes to Japan but since I also think Paraguay can beat Germany, I might be an unreliable judge.
Go on...do the double.
You know you want to!
My only caution would be go with 'too qualify' bets rather than 90 minute bets...
'Andy Burnham's net favourability rating has returned to -11, having briefly ticked up to -4 after the Makerfield by-election victory
The 43% of Britons with an unfavourable view of Burnham is the highest level to date (32% are favourable)'
59% of Labour 2024 voters have a favourable view of Burnham, as do 45% of Green voters and 40% of LDs and Scots give Burnham a +1% net favourable rating and Londoners give him a +2% rating. 78% of Reform and 67% of Tory voters though have an unfavourable view of Burnham now and the South of England also has a net negative -17% rating of Burnham and the Midlands gives Burnham an even worse -20% unfavourable view
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Going to be a lot of policy and textual analysis of Andy Burnham's speech. But all that really matters at the moment is that he looks a bit different and sounds a bit different. And that should be enough to get him a hearing from the British public. Which is what he needs.
I’m certainly happy with what I heard. Snippets only I’ve been out for a bike ride earlier.
Like all,here, I wish him well and hope he succeeds. I’ve said I won’t vote Labour again after the Starmer disaster. I’ve even said I’d consider Reform. However if he does succeed in, at least turning it around, and does start doing stuff that genuinely helps the regions I’d consider labour again
However Burnham needs to realise the North is not JUST Manchester.
Is Manchester really the North? Same with Yorkshire. Growing up in Scotland and Tyneside I've always struggled to think of places you can drive to from London in time for breakfast as the "North"...
You can tell a true northerner: he believes that the north ends 15 miles south of where he was born.
I'm a true northener, by residence. And the north ends somewhere around Basildon
Where’s the furthest North sign on the M1, A1 or M6, that says “THE NORTH” on it?
ISTR one on the M1 around Sheffield, but it’s been a while since I’ve been anywhere near there.
Scotch Corner - because it's the last point where you can sanely go West for about the next 70 miles.
Bedford Town play in National League North. Hemel Hempstead play in National League South, so I guess the North starts around Luton.
Football's National League does some fairly bizarre things, to keep the numbers even. IIRC Hereford are in NL North.
Anyone here share my view that Japan are stonking good value at 9/2 in their upcoming match against Brazil?
They're a serious team and despite Brazil's performance against Scotland, the boys from Brazil look eminently beatable to me.
Maybe laying Brazil at 4/5 is the bet, as the longer it goes the more it is likely to favour Japan, and they certainly won't mind going into extra team.
Dyor, as ever, but I'm on.
Yes to Japan but since I also think Paraguay can beat Germany, I might be an unreliable judge.
Go on...do the double.
You know you want to!
My only caution would be go with 'too qualify' bets rather than 90 minute bets...
Yes, I definitely think the longer it goes the more likely that Japan prevail in the end, but I have already backed them for the tournament so I have that angle covered.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Going to be a lot of policy and textual analysis of Andy Burnham's speech. But all that really matters at the moment is that he looks a bit different and sounds a bit different. And that should be enough to get him a hearing from the British public. Which is what he needs.
I’m certainly happy with what I heard. Snippets only I’ve been out for a bike ride earlier.
Like all,here, I wish him well and hope he succeeds. I’ve said I won’t vote Labour again after the Starmer disaster. I’ve even said I’d consider Reform. However if he does succeed in, at least turning it around, and does start doing stuff that genuinely helps the regions I’d consider labour again
However Burnham needs to realise the North is not JUST Manchester.
Is Manchester really the North? Same with Yorkshire. Growing up in Scotland and Tyneside I've always struggled to think of places you can drive to from London in time for breakfast as the "North"...
You can tell a true northerner: he believes that the north ends 15 miles south of where he was born.
I'm a true northener, by residence. And the north ends somewhere around Basildon
Where’s the furthest North sign on the M1, A1 or M6, that says “THE NORTH” on it?
ISTR one on the M1 around Sheffield, but it’s been a while since I’ve been anywhere near there.
There's definitely one at Scotch Corner. I'd guess they keep going until it gets replaced by 'Scotland'
ETA: Ah, I'm not the only person to have been to Scotch Corner Where possibly one of the worst services in England is to be found.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Going to be a lot of policy and textual analysis of Andy Burnham's speech. But all that really matters at the moment is that he looks a bit different and sounds a bit different. And that should be enough to get him a hearing from the British public. Which is what he needs.
I’m certainly happy with what I heard. Snippets only I’ve been out for a bike ride earlier.
Like all,here, I wish him well and hope he succeeds. I’ve said I won’t vote Labour again after the Starmer disaster. I’ve even said I’d consider Reform. However if he does succeed in, at least turning it around, and does start doing stuff that genuinely helps the regions I’d consider labour again
However Burnham needs to realise the North is not JUST Manchester.
Is Manchester really the North? Same with Yorkshire. Growing up in Scotland and Tyneside I've always struggled to think of places you can drive to from London in time for breakfast as the "North"...
You can tell a true northerner: he believes that the north ends 15 miles south of where he was born.
I'm a true northener, by residence. And the north ends somewhere around Basildon
Where’s the furthest North sign on the M1, A1 or M6, that says “THE NORTH” on it?
ISTR one on the M1 around Sheffield, but it’s been a while since I’ve been anywhere near there.
There's definitely one at Scotch Corner. I'd guess they keep going until it gets replaced by 'Scotland'
ETA: Ah, I'm not the only person to have been to Scotch Corner Where possibly one of the worst services in England is to be found.
Nope after that the signs just point to Newcastle then Morpeth then Alnwick then Berwick. When it hits Berwick it switches to Edinburgh.
Not long back from rural Derbyshire - is it "the north" ? I'm not getting involved with that nonsense.
As an aside, a nice ride on one of the new Aurora trains on EMR - a significant step forward from the Meridians but as usual, five coach trains on a ,line which really needs eight to ten coaches per service isn't really the answer.
I don't know why (well, I do) Conservatives are so hostile to Burnham's ideas. It is a significant nod to the kind of devolution proposed by Nick Hurd in the Cameron years and pays more than lip service to some of Boris Johnson's rhetoric from 2019. It also borrows heavily from the Liberal Democrat devolution playbook.
Decentraliation or devolution (there is a difference) relies, to be effective, on financial authority (not just responsibility) and accountability passing from Whitehall/Westminster to more local power structures.
What do the Conservatives offer in response? More centralisation, more power to Whitehall - that's where Boris Johnson ended up for all his rhetoric, taking powers and responsibilities (often newly liberated from Brussels) from Westminster and Parliament to Whitehall and Ministers.
I am not hostile to Burnham's ideas but then I was born in Greater Manchester of English father and Welsh mother
I welcome a lot of what he has said but my concern is how long it will take and will the benefits be felt before GE29 ?
Burnham is laser focused on domestic issues and not a word on Gaza, Ukraine and Iran which is probably where most of his audience are
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Going to be a lot of policy and textual analysis of Andy Burnham's speech. But all that really matters at the moment is that he looks a bit different and sounds a bit different. And that should be enough to get him a hearing from the British public. Which is what he needs.
I’m certainly happy with what I heard. Snippets only I’ve been out for a bike ride earlier.
Like all,here, I wish him well and hope he succeeds. I’ve said I won’t vote Labour again after the Starmer disaster. I’ve even said I’d consider Reform. However if he does succeed in, at least turning it around, and does start doing stuff that genuinely helps the regions I’d consider labour again
However Burnham needs to realise the North is not JUST Manchester.
Is Manchester really the North? Same with Yorkshire. Growing up in Scotland and Tyneside I've always struggled to think of places you can drive to from London in time for breakfast as the "North"...
You can tell a true northerner: he believes that the north ends 15 miles south of where he was born.
I'm a true northener, by residence. And the north ends somewhere around Basildon
Where’s the furthest North sign on the M1, A1 or M6, that says “THE NORTH” on it?
ISTR one on the M1 around Sheffield, but it’s been a while since I’ve been anywhere near there.
There's definitely one at Scotch Corner. I'd guess they keep going until it gets replaced by 'Scotland'
ETA: Ah, I'm not the only person to have been to Scotch Corner Where possibly one of the worst services in England is to be found.
It's not been a services for at least 10 years, it's now just a Rest area.
It does have an M&S though which can be useful if we need stuff on the way home and couldn't stop at Wetherby.
'Andy Burnham's net favourability rating has returned to -11, having briefly ticked up to -4 after the Makerfield by-election victory
The 43% of Britons with an unfavourable view of Burnham is the highest level to date (32% are favourable)'
59% of Labour 2024 voters have a favourable view of Burnham, as do 45% of Green voters and 40% of LDs and Scots give Burnham a +1% net favourable rating and Londoners give him a +2% rating. 78% of Reform and 67% of Tory voters though have an unfavourable view of Burnham now and the South of England also has a net negative -17% rating of Burnham and the Midlands gives Burnham an even worse -20% unfavourable view
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Going to be a lot of policy and textual analysis of Andy Burnham's speech. But all that really matters at the moment is that he looks a bit different and sounds a bit different. And that should be enough to get him a hearing from the British public. Which is what he needs.
I’m certainly happy with what I heard. Snippets only I’ve been out for a bike ride earlier.
Like all,here, I wish him well and hope he succeeds. I’ve said I won’t vote Labour again after the Starmer disaster. I’ve even said I’d consider Reform. However if he does succeed in, at least turning it around, and does start doing stuff that genuinely helps the regions I’d consider labour again
However Burnham needs to realise the North is not JUST Manchester.
Is Manchester really the North? Same with Yorkshire. Growing up in Scotland and Tyneside I've always struggled to think of places you can drive to from London in time for breakfast as the "North"...
You can tell a true northerner: he believes that the north ends 15 miles south of where he was born.
I'm a true northener, by residence. And the north ends somewhere around Basildon
Where’s the furthest North sign on the M1, A1 or M6, that says “THE NORTH” on it?
ISTR one on the M1 around Sheffield, but it’s been a while since I’ve been anywhere near there.
Scotch Corner - because it's the last point where you can sanely go West for about the next 70 miles.
Bedford Town play in National League North. Hemel Hempstead play in National League South, so I guess the North starts around Luton.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Going to be a lot of policy and textual analysis of Andy Burnham's speech. But all that really matters at the moment is that he looks a bit different and sounds a bit different. And that should be enough to get him a hearing from the British public. Which is what he needs.
I’m certainly happy with what I heard. Snippets only I’ve been out for a bike ride earlier.
Like all,here, I wish him well and hope he succeeds. I’ve said I won’t vote Labour again after the Starmer disaster. I’ve even said I’d consider Reform. However if he does succeed in, at least turning it around, and does start doing stuff that genuinely helps the regions I’d consider labour again
However Burnham needs to realise the North is not JUST Manchester.
Is Manchester really the North? Same with Yorkshire. Growing up in Scotland and Tyneside I've always struggled to think of places you can drive to from London in time for breakfast as the "North"...
You can tell a true northerner: he believes that the north ends 15 miles south of where he was born.
I'm a true northener, by residence. And the north ends somewhere around Basildon
Where’s the furthest North sign on the M1, A1 or M6, that says “THE NORTH” on it?
ISTR one on the M1 around Sheffield, but it’s been a while since I’ve been anywhere near there.
Scotch Corner - because it's the last point where you can sanely go West for about the next 70 miles.
North West rather than West. And blame the Romans.
Not long back from rural Derbyshire - is it "the north" ? I'm not getting involved with that nonsense.
As an aside, a nice ride on one of the new Aurora trains on EMR - a significant step forward from the Meridians but as usual, five coach trains on a ,line which really needs eight to ten coaches per service isn't really the answer.
I don't know why (well, I do) Conservatives are so hostile to Burnham's ideas. It is a significant nod to the kind of devolution proposed by Nick Hurd in the Cameron years and pays more than lip service to some of Boris Johnson's rhetoric from 2019. It also borrows heavily from the Liberal Democrat devolution playbook.
Decentraliation or devolution (there is a difference) relies, to be effective, on financial authority (not just responsibility) and accountability passing from Whitehall/Westminster to more local power structures.
What do the Conservatives offer in response? More centralisation, more power to Whitehall - that's where Boris Johnson ended up for all his rhetoric, taking powers and responsibilities (often newly liberated from Brussels) from Westminster and Parliament to Whitehall and Ministers.
I am not hostile to Burnham's ideas but then I was born in Greater Manchester of English father and Welsh mother
I welcome a lot of what he has said but my concern is how long it will take and will the benefits be felt before GE29 ?
Burnham is laser focused on domestic issues and not a word on Gaza, Ukraine and Iran which is probably where most of his audience are
There isn't a great deal a UK PM can do about them. Not in a public speech anyways.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Going to be a lot of policy and textual analysis of Andy Burnham's speech. But all that really matters at the moment is that he looks a bit different and sounds a bit different. And that should be enough to get him a hearing from the British public. Which is what he needs.
I’m certainly happy with what I heard. Snippets only I’ve been out for a bike ride earlier.
Like all,here, I wish him well and hope he succeeds. I’ve said I won’t vote Labour again after the Starmer disaster. I’ve even said I’d consider Reform. However if he does succeed in, at least turning it around, and does start doing stuff that genuinely helps the regions I’d consider labour again
However Burnham needs to realise the North is not JUST Manchester.
Is Manchester really the North? Same with Yorkshire. Growing up in Scotland and Tyneside I've always struggled to think of places you can drive to from London in time for breakfast as the "North"...
You can tell a true northerner: he believes that the north ends 15 miles south of where he was born.
I'm a true northener, by residence. And the north ends somewhere around Basildon
Where’s the furthest North sign on the M1, A1 or M6, that says “THE NORTH” on it?
ISTR one on the M1 around Sheffield, but it’s been a while since I’ve been anywhere near there.
There's definitely one at Scotch Corner. I'd guess they keep going until it gets replaced by 'Scotland'
ETA: Ah, I'm not the only person to have been to Scotch Corner Where possibly one of the worst services in England is to be found.
It's not been a services for at least 10 years, it's now just a Rest area.
It does have an M&S though which can be useful if we need stuff on the way home and couldn't stop at Wetherby.
In reality what does that mean ?
No,toilet as it’s a rest area ?
I’ve not been in donkeys. Tend to prefer Wetherbys or Morrisons at Boroughbridge.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Going to be a lot of policy and textual analysis of Andy Burnham's speech. But all that really matters at the moment is that he looks a bit different and sounds a bit different. And that should be enough to get him a hearing from the British public. Which is what he needs.
I’m certainly happy with what I heard. Snippets only I’ve been out for a bike ride earlier.
Like all,here, I wish him well and hope he succeeds. I’ve said I won’t vote Labour again after the Starmer disaster. I’ve even said I’d consider Reform. However if he does succeed in, at least turning it around, and does start doing stuff that genuinely helps the regions I’d consider labour again
However Burnham needs to realise the North is not JUST Manchester.
Is Manchester really the North? Same with Yorkshire. Growing up in Scotland and Tyneside I've always struggled to think of places you can drive to from London in time for breakfast as the "North"...
You can tell a true northerner: he believes that the north ends 15 miles south of where he was born.
I'm a true northener, by residence. And the north ends somewhere around Basildon
Where’s the furthest North sign on the M1, A1 or M6, that says “THE NORTH” on it?
ISTR one on the M1 around Sheffield, but it’s been a while since I’ve been anywhere near there.
Scotch Corner - because it's the last point where you can sanely go West for about the next 70 miles.
North West rather than West. And blame the Romans.
Aye if only the Romans had blasted a road through the Pennines the lazy bastards
'Andy Burnham's net favourability rating has returned to -11, having briefly ticked up to -4 after the Makerfield by-election victory
The 43% of Britons with an unfavourable view of Burnham is the highest level to date (32% are favourable)'
59% of Labour 2024 voters have a favourable view of Burnham, as do 45% of Green voters and 40% of LDs and Scots give Burnham a +1% net favourable rating and Londoners give him a +2% rating. 78% of Reform and 67% of Tory voters though have an unfavourable view of Burnham now and the South of England also has a net negative -17% rating of Burnham and the Midlands gives Burnham an even worse -20% unfavourable view
It is about the chance Starmer got. In an earlier political era, yes, Starmer would have become seriously unpopular, but I think it would have taken a full term and a defending GE result that seriously diminished his authority. Such a different era is really quite recent, perhaps as late as about 2015 Starmer could have survived much longer.
X is already hammering the absolute hell out of Burnham, mainly about apologia issues, and it is vital to at least note that fact in whatever terms we can on here. I'm not surprised by his ratings, and I'm not surprised the Reformy Midlands leads the way. This dip is not yet about northern-ness.
I think if you are somewhat sympathetic to Burnham you may start to understand what I have been driving at these last 2 years in the coming period.
Not long back from rural Derbyshire - is it "the north" ? I'm not getting involved with that nonsense.
As an aside, a nice ride on one of the new Aurora trains on EMR - a significant step forward from the Meridians but as usual, five coach trains on a ,line which really needs eight to ten coaches per service isn't really the answer.
I don't know why (well, I do) Conservatives are so hostile to Burnham's ideas. It is a significant nod to the kind of devolution proposed by Nick Hurd in the Cameron years and pays more than lip service to some of Boris Johnson's rhetoric from 2019. It also borrows heavily from the Liberal Democrat devolution playbook.
Decentraliation or devolution (there is a difference) relies, to be effective, on financial authority (not just responsibility) and accountability passing from Whitehall/Westminster to more local power structures.
What do the Conservatives offer in response? More centralisation, more power to Whitehall - that's where Boris Johnson ended up for all his rhetoric, taking powers and responsibilities (often newly liberated from Brussels) from Westminster and Parliament to Whitehall and Ministers.
I am not hostile to Burnham's ideas but then I was born in Greater Manchester of English father and Welsh mother
I welcome a lot of what he has said but my concern is how long it will take and will the benefits be felt before GE29 ?
Burnham is laser focused on domestic issues and not a word on Gaza, Ukraine and Iran which is probably where most of his audience are
There isn't a great deal a UK PM can do about them. Not in a public speech anyways.
Does that suggest Keir Starmer as Foreign Sec? cf Alec Douglas-Home?
Have we really turned A/C into another fucking culture war?
It started decades ago because A/C was associated with American excess. Michael Caine mocked the way people in Florida have A/C on full all the time, while off course having air conditioning in his own place in Surrey.
It's all just vaguely hopey change nonsense isn't it. This aspersion seems particularly unachievable - I'm currently buying a house in a postcode that contains the sum total of three houses and a Plymouth Brethren gospel hall. The odds of achieving "good growth*" in every single postcode like this seems low, even if the country is booming.
*what does good growth mean anyway? More wealth per sq ft? Higher average wages? Greater GDP? GPD at a postcode level is meaningless anyway, I create lots of value, but in a yard 20 miles away from my house...
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Going to be a lot of policy and textual analysis of Andy Burnham's speech. But all that really matters at the moment is that he looks a bit different and sounds a bit different. And that should be enough to get him a hearing from the British public. Which is what he needs.
I’m certainly happy with what I heard. Snippets only I’ve been out for a bike ride earlier.
Like all,here, I wish him well and hope he succeeds. I’ve said I won’t vote Labour again after the Starmer disaster. I’ve even said I’d consider Reform. However if he does succeed in, at least turning it around, and does start doing stuff that genuinely helps the regions I’d consider labour again
However Burnham needs to realise the North is not JUST Manchester.
Is Manchester really the North? Same with Yorkshire. Growing up in Scotland and Tyneside I've always struggled to think of places you can drive to from London in time for breakfast as the "North"...
You can tell a true northerner: he believes that the north ends 15 miles south of where he was born.
I'm a true northener, by residence. And the north ends somewhere around Basildon
Where’s the furthest North sign on the M1, A1 or M6, that says “THE NORTH” on it?
ISTR one on the M1 around Sheffield, but it’s been a while since I’ve been anywhere near there.
There's definitely one at Scotch Corner. I'd guess they keep going until it gets replaced by 'Scotland'
ETA: Ah, I'm not the only person to have been to Scotch Corner Where possibly one of the worst services in England is to be found.
It's not been a services for at least 10 years, it's now just a Rest area.
It does have an M&S though which can be useful if we need stuff on the way home and couldn't stop at Wetherby.
In reality what does that mean ?
No,toilet as it’s a rest area ?
I’ve not been in donkeys. Tend to prefer Wetherbys or Morrisons at Boroughbridge.
I haven't got a clue but I think it means the car park isn't big enough and the junction can't cope with the extra cars a full services would require (that's definitely true as there is about to be another set of roadworks there to allow capacity to get to the new Designer Village (if it ever opens).
Have we really turned A/C into another fucking culture war?
It started decades ago because A/C was associated with American excess. Michael Caine mocked the way people in Florida have A/C on full all the time, while off course having air conditioning in his own place in Surrey.
On topic, Supreme Court judgement just handed down a 5-4 loss to the administration, holding that California is allowed to spend a month counting votes.
Unexpected result. Barrett and Roberts the conservative dissenters.
Not long back from rural Derbyshire - is it "the north" ? I'm not getting involved with that nonsense.
As an aside, a nice ride on one of the new Aurora trains on EMR - a significant step forward from the Meridians but as usual, five coach trains on a ,line which really needs eight to ten coaches per service isn't really the answer.
I don't know why (well, I do) Conservatives are so hostile to Burnham's ideas. It is a significant nod to the kind of devolution proposed by Nick Hurd in the Cameron years and pays more than lip service to some of Boris Johnson's rhetoric from 2019. It also borrows heavily from the Liberal Democrat devolution playbook.
Decentraliation or devolution (there is a difference) relies, to be effective, on financial authority (not just responsibility) and accountability passing from Whitehall/Westminster to more local power structures.
What do the Conservatives offer in response? More centralisation, more power to Whitehall - that's where Boris Johnson ended up for all his rhetoric, taking powers and responsibilities (often newly liberated from Brussels) from Westminster and Parliament to Whitehall and Ministers.
I am not hostile to Burnham's ideas but then I was born in Greater Manchester of English father and Welsh mother
I welcome a lot of what he has said but my concern is how long it will take and will the benefits be felt before GE29 ?
Burnham is laser focused on domestic issues and not a word on Gaza, Ukraine and Iran which is probably where most of his audience are
Labour will win the next election if people feel their glass is half full, but not if they feel it is half empty. Yes the difference is mood and rhetoric, but that is how people are.
'Andy Burnham's net favourability rating has returned to -11, having briefly ticked up to -4 after the Makerfield by-election victory
The 43% of Britons with an unfavourable view of Burnham is the highest level to date (32% are favourable)'
59% of Labour 2024 voters have a favourable view of Burnham, as do 45% of Green voters and 40% of LDs and Scots give Burnham a +1% net favourable rating and Londoners give him a +2% rating. 78% of Reform and 67% of Tory voters though have an unfavourable view of Burnham now and the South of England also has a net negative -17% rating of Burnham and the Midlands gives Burnham an even worse -20% unfavourable view
It is about the chance Starmer got. In an earlier political era, yes, Starmer would have become seriously unpopular, but I think it would have taken a full term and a defending GE result that seriously diminished his authority. Such a different era is really quite recent, perhaps as late as about 2015 Starmer could have survived much longer.
X is already hammering the absolute hell out of Burnham, mainly about apologia issues, and it is vital to at least note that fact in whatever terms we can on here. I'm not surprised by his ratings, and I'm not surprised the Reformy Midlands leads the way. This dip is not yet about northern-ness.
I think if you are somewhat sympathetic to Burnham you may start to understand what I have been driving at these last 2 years in the coming period.
Yes views of Burnham are now clearly divided on left and right lines, no Blair 1997 new Messiah views of him now south of the peak district apart from in Labour London.
However he still has higher net favourables than Farage, -11% to -40% and, more narrowly Badenoch, -11% to -21%, so will hope to use that to win over centrist swing voters
'Andy Burnham's net favourability rating has returned to -11, having briefly ticked up to -4 after the Makerfield by-election victory
The 43% of Britons with an unfavourable view of Burnham is the highest level to date (32% are favourable)'
59% of Labour 2024 voters have a favourable view of Burnham, as do 45% of Green voters and 40% of LDs and Scots give Burnham a +1% net favourable rating and Londoners give him a +2% rating. 78% of Reform and 67% of Tory voters though have an unfavourable view of Burnham now and the South of England also has a net negative -17% rating of Burnham and the Midlands gives Burnham an even worse -20% unfavourable view
It is about the chance Starmer got. In an earlier political era, yes, Starmer would have become seriously unpopular, but I think it would have taken a full term and a defending GE result that seriously diminished his authority. Such a different era is really quite recent, perhaps as late as about 2015 Starmer could have survived much longer.
X is already hammering the absolute hell out of Burnham, mainly about apologia issues, and it is vital to at least note that fact in whatever terms we can on here. I'm not surprised by his ratings, and I'm not surprised the Reformy Midlands leads the way. This dip is not yet about northern-ness.
I think if you are somewhat sympathetic to Burnham you may start to understand what I have been driving at these last 2 years in the coming period.
Yes views of Burnham are now clearly divided on left and right lines, no Blair 1997 new Messiah views of him now south of the peak district apart from in Labour London.
However he still has higher net favourables than Farage, -11% to -40% and, more narrowly Badenoch, -11% to -21%, so will hope to use that to win over centrist swing voters
'Andy Burnham's net favourability rating has returned to -11, having briefly ticked up to -4 after the Makerfield by-election victory
The 43% of Britons with an unfavourable view of Burnham is the highest level to date (32% are favourable)'
59% of Labour 2024 voters have a favourable view of Burnham, as do 45% of Green voters and 40% of LDs and Scots give Burnham a +1% net favourable rating and Londoners give him a +2% rating. 78% of Reform and 67% of Tory voters though have an unfavourable view of Burnham now and the South of England also has a net negative -17% rating of Burnham and the Midlands gives Burnham an even worse -20% unfavourable view
It is about the chance Starmer got. In an earlier political era, yes, Starmer would have become seriously unpopular, but I think it would have taken a full term and a defending GE result that seriously diminished his authority. Such a different era is really quite recent, perhaps as late as about 2015 Starmer could have survived much longer.
X is already hammering the absolute hell out of Burnham, mainly about apologia issues, and it is vital to at least note that fact in whatever terms we can on here. I'm not surprised by his ratings, and I'm not surprised the Reformy Midlands leads the way. This dip is not yet about northern-ness.
I think if you are somewhat sympathetic to Burnham you may start to understand what I have been driving at these last 2 years in the coming period.
Yes views of Burnham are now clearly divided on left and right lines, no Blair 1997 new Messiah views of him now south of the peak district apart from in Labour London.
However he still has higher net favourables than Farage, -11% to -40% and, more narrowly Badenoch, -11% to -21%, so will hope to use that to win over centrist swing voters
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Going to be a lot of policy and textual analysis of Andy Burnham's speech. But all that really matters at the moment is that he looks a bit different and sounds a bit different. And that should be enough to get him a hearing from the British public. Which is what he needs.
I’m certainly happy with what I heard. Snippets only I’ve been out for a bike ride earlier.
Like all,here, I wish him well and hope he succeeds. I’ve said I won’t vote Labour again after the Starmer disaster. I’ve even said I’d consider Reform. However if he does succeed in, at least turning it around, and does start doing stuff that genuinely helps the regions I’d consider labour again
However Burnham needs to realise the North is not JUST Manchester.
Is Manchester really the North? Same with Yorkshire. Growing up in Scotland and Tyneside I've always struggled to think of places you can drive to from London in time for breakfast as the "North"...
You can tell a true northerner: he believes that the north ends 15 miles south of where he was born.
I'm a true northener, by residence. And the north ends somewhere around Basildon
Where’s the furthest North sign on the M1, A1 or M6, that says “THE NORTH” on it?
ISTR one on the M1 around Sheffield, but it’s been a while since I’ve been anywhere near there.
The council housing pledge is also clever politics.
The Left NIMBYS (such as a chunk of the Greens) use “enriching evil property developers building houses for the rich” to oppose building.
Forcing them to either acquiesce or oppose council house building puts them in a quandary.
And is the kind of policy that ex-Labour voters would like.
He could enrage the right even more if Housing Benefit / Housing Element was only paid to tenants in Council or Social rented properties. The Private Rental sector would have to up their game rather than passing off crap properties to those who have little choice and lack the funds to buy. Closed loop where tax gets circulated back to councils for providing local people with local affordable accommodation built to the Decent Homes Standards
'Andy Burnham's net favourability rating has returned to -11, having briefly ticked up to -4 after the Makerfield by-election victory
The 43% of Britons with an unfavourable view of Burnham is the highest level to date (32% are favourable)'
59% of Labour 2024 voters have a favourable view of Burnham, as do 45% of Green voters and 40% of LDs and Scots give Burnham a +1% net favourable rating and Londoners give him a +2% rating. 78% of Reform and 67% of Tory voters though have an unfavourable view of Burnham now and the South of England also has a net negative -17% rating of Burnham and the Midlands gives Burnham an even worse -20% unfavourable view
It is about the chance Starmer got. In an earlier political era, yes, Starmer would have become seriously unpopular, but I think it would have taken a full term and a defending GE result that seriously diminished his authority. Such a different era is really quite recent, perhaps as late as about 2015 Starmer could have survived much longer.
X is already hammering the absolute hell out of Burnham, mainly about apologia issues, and it is vital to at least note that fact in whatever terms we can on here. I'm not surprised by his ratings, and I'm not surprised the Reformy Midlands leads the way. This dip is not yet about northern-ness.
I think if you are somewhat sympathetic to Burnham you may start to understand what I have been driving at these last 2 years in the coming period.
Yes views of Burnham are now clearly divided on left and right lines, no Blair 1997 new Messiah views of him now south of the peak district apart from in Labour London.
However he still has higher net favourables than Farage, -11% to -40% and, more narrowly Badenoch, -11% to -21%, so will hope to use that to win over centrist swing voters
Just seen this on BBC; another defeat for Trump in the Supreme Court. "The US Supreme Court will not hear an appeal requested by President Donald Trump to review the civil case that found he defamed and sexually abused writer E Jean Carroll."
I wonder if he'll actually pay the money, or her lawyers will have to employ agents to collect goods etc.
On topic, Supreme Court judgement just handed down a 5-4 loss to the administration, holding that California is allowed to spend a month counting votes.
Unexpected result. Barrett and Roberts the conservative dissenters.
On topic, Supreme Court judgement just handed down a 5-4 loss to the administration, holding that California is allowed to spend a month counting votes.
Unexpected result. Barrett and Roberts the conservative dissenters.
The council housing pledge is also clever politics.
The Left NIMBYS (such as a chunk of the Greens) use “enriching evil property developers building houses for the rich” to oppose building.
Forcing them to either acquiesce or oppose council house building puts them in a quandary.
And is the kind of policy that ex-Labour voters would like.
He could enrage the right even more if Housing Benefit / Housing Element was only paid to tenants in Council or Social rented properties. The Private Rental sector would have to up their game rather than passing off crap properties to those who have little choice and lack the funds to buy. Closed loop where tax gets circulated back to councils for providing local people with local affordable accommodation built to the Decent Homes Standards
Trouble with that is that millions of people are currently paid HB and occupy private rentals. There is currently no socal housing for them to live in. Building enough council house not to have waiting lists would wipe out the scummy end of the private rental market without needing to alter HB.
It's not going to happen anyway, as we haven't got the money to build that level of council housing even if we solved the other problems about where to build it and who is going to build it.
Do Andy Burnham and Ed Miliband understand that the Western world’s most expensive electricity is a massive drag on economic growth yet?
Of course they understand the problem and the solution to build lots of cheap renewables rather than more expensive fossil fuel and nuclear is the answer to bringing the costs down and the vulnerability to global threats too for that matter
@DeborahMeaden Me neither… Quote Heather Jeeves 🇪🇺 @HeatherJeeves · Jun 28 Do Labour not understand that a lot of people voted for them because of Starmer? I would never have voted for them with Burnham at the helm.
The council housing pledge is also clever politics.
The Left NIMBYS (such as a chunk of the Greens) use “enriching evil property developers building houses for the rich” to oppose building.
Forcing them to either acquiesce or oppose council house building puts them in a quandary.
And is the kind of policy that ex-Labour voters would like.
He could enrage the right even more if Housing Benefit / Housing Element was only paid to tenants in Council or Social rented properties. The Private Rental sector would have to up their game rather than passing off crap properties to those who have little choice and lack the funds to buy. Closed loop where tax gets circulated back to councils for providing local people with local affordable accommodation built to the Decent Homes Standards
Trouble with that is that millions of people are currently paid HB and occupy private rentals. There is currently no socal housing for them to live in. Building enough council house not to have waiting lists would wipe out the scummy end of the private rental market without needing to alter HB.
It's not going to happen anyway, as we haven't got the money to build that level of council housing even if we solved the other problems about where to build it and who is going to build it.
The Demented Right would love the above. Social housing bill reduced to a tiny fraction of what it is. OK, the rough sleeping population would go up a bit, but who cares?
Sorry, I have been out all day and am therefore a bit late to this thread. Very interesting article, but I am not sure if the subject is limited to US elections or not. From personal experience, canvassing in the Thames Valley about 10 years ago, I came across a house with a Polish resident who was entitled to vote. A very jolly, chatty chap, with a good, but nuanced, grasp of English. I asked about the other names on the Roll in the same house, and he fell about laughing. Apparently, the Local Authority had sent someone round to check on the Electoral Roll, and had asked him if he had any family. He had told them all about his sisters, a brother, various cousins, nephews etc. All the details were solemnly recorded. In due course, his entire extended family had appeared on the Electoral Roll, even though they lived in Gdansk. He didn’t realise that the question referred to residents in the same house, and the local authority canvasser hadn’t made it clear. No damage done, but it shows that accidents can happen in the absence of malice. Tomorrow I will tell you some of my Postal Voting stories – a subject on which I am much less sanguine.
Do Andy Burnham and Ed Miliband understand that the Western world’s most expensive electricity is a massive drag on economic growth yet?
Of course they understand the problem and the solution to build lots of cheap renewables rather than more expensive fossil fuel and nuclear is the answer to bringing the costs down and the vulnerability to global threats too for that matter
Do they understand?
Quite a few people are locked into the "expensive electricity encourages efficiency and efficiency is how we beat global warming" mindset.
Which had some use when the grid of 80% coal. But is like promoting phlogiston now.
@DeborahMeaden Me neither… Quote Heather Jeeves 🇪🇺 @HeatherJeeves · Jun 28 Do Labour not understand that a lot of people voted for them because of Starmer? I would never have voted for them with Burnham at the helm.
Maybe the Tories just need to get a Cameron-type leader again and people like that will quietly switch allegiance.
@DeborahMeaden Me neither… Quote Heather Jeeves 🇪🇺 @HeatherJeeves · Jun 28 Do Labour not understand that a lot of people voted for them because of Starmer? I would never have voted for them with Burnham at the helm.
And - the problem is that SKS was beyond crap.
Burnham at least knows how to present things (i.e. not allowing questions which would just sidetrack an announcement) and seems to have realised our biggest problem is how Londoncentric the UK is..
The council housing pledge is also clever politics.
The Left NIMBYS (such as a chunk of the Greens) use “enriching evil property developers building houses for the rich” to oppose building.
Forcing them to either acquiesce or oppose council house building puts them in a quandary.
And is the kind of policy that ex-Labour voters would like.
He could enrage the right even more if Housing Benefit / Housing Element was only paid to tenants in Council or Social rented properties. The Private Rental sector would have to up their game rather than passing off crap properties to those who have little choice and lack the funds to buy. Closed loop where tax gets circulated back to councils for providing local people with local affordable accommodation built to the Decent Homes Standards
Trouble with that is that millions of people are currently paid HB and occupy private rentals. There is currently no socal housing for them to live in. Building enough council house not to have waiting lists would wipe out the scummy end of the private rental market without needing to alter HB.
It's not going to happen anyway, as we haven't got the money to build that level of council housing even if we solved the other problems about where to build it and who is going to build it.
I suspect there is money to build a fair amount of social housing - it just needs a means of keeping building costs in check.
@DeborahMeaden Me neither… Quote Heather Jeeves 🇪🇺 @HeatherJeeves · Jun 28 Do Labour not understand that a lot of people voted for them because of Starmer? I would never have voted for them with Burnham at the helm.
And - the problem is that SKS was beyond crap.
Burnham at least knows how to present things (i.e. not allowing questions which would just sidetrack an announcement) and seems to have realised our biggest problem is how Londoncentric the UK is..
And he has enough nous to present his policies as being necessary to enable London to remain the greatest city in the world rather than turning it into an anti-London whinge.
On topic, Supreme Court judgement just handed down a 5-4 loss to the administration, holding that California is allowed to spend a month counting votes.
Unexpected result. Barrett and Roberts the conservative dissenters.
Why unexpected ? Is it common currency that the court is now completely corrupt, as opposed to extremely politically biased ?
(Apols, wrong judgment.)
The link Sandpit gives for the voting case says "Alito nailed it", which is pretty well entirely wrong.
It doesn't go "against centuries of practice", as that has varied greatly from state to state, and time to time. And the states, not the federal government, are constitutionally entirely responsible for the manner in which they conduct elections.
@DeborahMeaden Me neither… Quote Heather Jeeves 🇪🇺 @HeatherJeeves · Jun 28 Do Labour not understand that a lot of people voted for them because of Starmer? I would never have voted for them with Burnham at the helm.
And - the problem is that SKS was beyond crap.
Burnham at least knows how to present things (i.e. not allowing questions which would just sidetrack an announcement) and seems to have realised our biggest problem is how Londoncentric the UK is..
And he has enough nous to present his policies as being necessary to enable London to remain the greatest city in the world rather than turning it into an anti-London whinge.
It would be nice that London got enough power that it could fund and build it's own projects - so that the Bakerloo line got new trains and Crossrail 2 could be planned and started..
The council housing pledge is also clever politics.
The Left NIMBYS (such as a chunk of the Greens) use “enriching evil property developers building houses for the rich” to oppose building.
Forcing them to either acquiesce or oppose council house building puts them in a quandary.
And is the kind of policy that ex-Labour voters would like.
He could enrage the right even more if Housing Benefit / Housing Element was only paid to tenants in Council or Social rented properties. The Private Rental sector would have to up their game rather than passing off crap properties to those who have little choice and lack the funds to buy. Closed loop where tax gets circulated back to councils for providing local people with local affordable accommodation built to the Decent Homes Standards
Trouble with that is that millions of people are currently paid HB and occupy private rentals. There is currently no socal housing for them to live in. Building enough council house not to have waiting lists would wipe out the scummy end of the private rental market without needing to alter HB.
It's not going to happen anyway, as we haven't got the money to build that level of council housing even if we solved the other problems about where to build it and who is going to build it.
I suspect there is money to build a fair amount of social housing - it just needs a means of keeping building costs in check.
The government can't exempt itself from all the regulation and legislation it has passed.
So social housing will cost the same as private housing. The only question is whether the government will swallow the loss. Or try and make house building cheaper for everyone.
Former Tory MP Craig Williams pleads guilty to cheating at gambling with election bets
Silly sod should have pleaded not guilty so we can establish what the law is when it comes to "cheating".
Yep. It seems to me that he has fallen for the old thing of pleading guilty for a lighter sentence. Others on here will know far more than me about the ins and outs of this. If you work at Man City and get wind that the manager intends to field a weakened side in the upcoming match and bet accordingly, have you committed an offence? If not, then where is the line? Is betting intended to be a game of skill or of chance?
Do Andy Burnham and Ed Miliband understand that the Western world’s most expensive electricity is a massive drag on economic growth yet?
Of course they understand the problem and the solution to build lots of cheap renewables rather than more expensive fossil fuel and nuclear is the answer to bringing the costs down and the vulnerability to global threats too for that matter
Do they understand?
Quite a few people are locked into the "expensive electricity encourages efficiency and efficiency is how we beat global warming" mindset.
Which had some use when the grid of 80% coal. But is like promoting phlogiston now.
Borrowed from elsewhere, this is a decent take on the market inefficiency/perversity problem: ..1. The costs of keeping the grid going, like transmission and balancing, are spread over every unit of electricity sold. This means the price of an extra unit of electricity is vastly higher than the social cost of providing that unit. The cost of having a grid connection at all is, conversely, much lower than it actually costs society to provide you one.
Economically, this amounts to a crippling price cap on grid connections, which is part of why we can't expand infrastructure to plug people in: they don't pay for it. It also amounts to an enormous tax, over 2/3 of the price of electricity, on using an extra unit of it.
Which is presumably why electricity use has cratered since 2003, when we started driving up the cost of our grid like this.
Note how perverse the incentive is here. We are heading into a situation where electricity is extremely expensive because the ratio of grid costs to the amount of electricity put through that grid. Our high prices incentivise everyone to have a connection, but then to use it as little as possible, the EXACT opposite of what we need.
2. We impose carbon taxes on electricity produced through gas that we don't impose on gas used directly. This is part of why electricity is so expensive, and means people electrify less than we would like, which leads to less decarbonisation overall. A child, with a basic understanding of supply and demand, would see how perverse this is.
3. We charge the same price for electricity nationwide, and pay the same amount, in a single market, even though electricity is worth more and less at different places. This is part of why people are building solar farms in Scotland, where it is not only less sunny, but which is on the other side of massive grid congestion that we are paying BILLIONS of pounds to relieve. Yet we keep paying people to make the problem worse.
4. We keep buying Contracts for Difference off (renewable) electricity generators...pay them £90 per megawatt hour when the megawatts they are producing are worth 1p each!)
Renewables Obligations Certificates were a lot more honest. They just paid producers a top up on what they got on the open market: a straightforward subsidy. CfDs are a totally hidden subsidy. The amount of subsidy is set by the market trajectory after today. So, for example, every time we sign a new wind CfD we increase the subsidy for past tranches.
The really messed up thing is that CfD recipients do not cover for when they don't provide any power. If the CfD was set on quantity as well, so generators had to pay back money when they didn't produce, to cover the cost of running the grid to accommodate them, and for the gas needed to keep the lights on, then we would get a good sense of how much we were actually paying...
@DeborahMeaden Me neither… Quote Heather Jeeves 🇪🇺 @HeatherJeeves · Jun 28 Do Labour not understand that a lot of people voted for them because of Starmer? I would never have voted for them with Burnham at the helm.
Maybe the Tories just need to get a Cameron-type leader again and people like that will quietly switch allegiance.
Comments
1) Always (For now) 1st pick if available
Excludes
Gay
Bashir
2) Sufficient test experience to not look ridiculous
Excludes
Gay
Bethell
Atkinson
Tongue
Bashir
3) Not a walking medical textbook/long periods out through injury
Excludes
Atkinson
Tongue
Archer
Bashir
3) Not been caught on the lash/hi-jinks in the last few years
Excludes
Stokes
Brook
Atkinson
Duckett
4) Not announced retirement
Excludes
Stokes
5) Tried as captain and broadly failed as a captain
Excludes
Root
1) Always (For now) 1st pick if available
Excludes
Gay
Bashir
2) Sufficient test experience to not look ridiculous
Excludes
Gay
Bethell
Atkinson
Tongue
Bashir
3) Not a walking medical textbook/long periods out through injury
Excludes
Atkinson
Tongue
Archer
Bashir
3) Not been caught on the lash/hi-jinks in the last few years
Excludes
Stokes
Brook
Atkinson
Duckett
4) Not announced retirement
Excludes
Stokes
5) Tried as captain and broadly failed as a captain
Excludes
Root
Such a hugely talented player but sadly his body can’t cope .
Barnard Castle: Gateway to The South.
Reason being I've tried to put myself in Andy's head and the fact is I wouldn't (for various reasons) appoint any of the 3 favs, Red Ed, Wes, or Mahmood.
It probably won't be Pat McFadden but he's the value imo. I'm on. Nibble plus top up.
ISTR one on the M1 around Sheffield, but it’s been a while since I’ve been anywhere near there.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g38l07895o
This aspersion seems particularly unachievable - I'm currently buying a house in a postcode that contains the sum total of three houses and a Plymouth Brethren gospel hall.
The odds of achieving "good growth*" in every single postcode like this seems low, even if the country is booming.
*what does good growth mean anyway? More wealth per sq ft? Higher average wages? Greater GDP? GPD at a postcode level is meaningless anyway, I create lots of value, but in a yard 20 miles away from my house...
I wouldn't want to give it to Brook (because he's the white ball captain, and I'm not sure he's even doing that well with that alone).
I wouldn't want to give it to Root, because his previous tenure reached a disastrous low.
Who else is guaranteed a place in the team anyway?
I suppose whoever does choose the captain will have the advantage of knowing these people personally, and so they will have a sense as to whether Duckett or Smith or whoever have leadership ability.
https://x.com/maxtempers/status/2071513160905818265
One thing I would do more of - Root as the spinning all rounder on usual pitches (so most English ones). No other spinners are pulling up trees in the championship (they don't really get a chance with the way its structured) and Root is good when required. You don't take 73 test wickets by luck.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@54.4365351,-1.668449,3a,37.6y,342.9h,93.25t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s-7Kpn0JymD8nXEmmuPi64w!2e0!6shttps://streetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com/v1/thumbnail?cb_client=maps_sv.tactile&w=900&h=600&pitch=-3.247328384961392&panoid=-7Kpn0JymD8nXEmmuPi64w&yaw=342.90359700157404!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDYyNC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw==
You know you want to!
Not long back from rural Derbyshire - is it "the north" ? I'm not getting involved with that nonsense.
As an aside, a nice ride on one of the new Aurora trains on EMR - a significant step forward from the Meridians but as usual, five coach trains on a ,line which really needs eight to ten coaches per service isn't really the answer.
I don't know why (well, I do) Conservatives are so hostile to Burnham's ideas. It is a significant nod to the kind of devolution proposed by Nick Hurd in the Cameron years and pays more than lip service to some of Boris Johnson's rhetoric from 2019. It also borrows heavily from the Liberal Democrat devolution playbook.
Decentraliation or devolution (there is a difference) relies, to be effective, on financial authority (not just responsibility) and accountability passing from Whitehall/Westminster to more local power structures.
What do the Conservatives offer in response? More centralisation, more power to Whitehall - that's where Boris Johnson ended up for all his rhetoric, taking powers and responsibilities (often newly liberated from Brussels) from Westminster and Parliament to Whitehall and Ministers.
When I drive over the bridge at Gunthorpe, that's the border....
https://x.com/MostlyMonkey/status/2071381238175137841
The 43% of Britons with an unfavourable view of Burnham is the highest level to date (32% are favourable)'
59% of Labour 2024 voters have a favourable view of Burnham, as do 45% of Green voters and 40% of LDs and Scots give Burnham a +1% net favourable rating and Londoners give him a +2% rating. 78% of Reform and 67% of Tory voters though have an unfavourable view of Burnham now and the South of England also has a net negative -17% rating of Burnham and the Midlands gives Burnham an even worse -20% unfavourable view
https://x.com/YouGov/status/2071555259948732822?s=20
https://yougov.com/en-gb/articles/55061-views-of-andy-burnhams-character-have-become-more-negative-since-may
Have we really turned A/C into another fucking culture war?
ETA: Ah, I'm not the only person to have been to Scotch Corner
https://x.com/spectator/status/2071561826916073777
I welcome a lot of what he has said but my concern is how long it will take and will the benefits be felt before GE29 ?
Burnham is laser focused on domestic issues and not a word on Gaza, Ukraine and Iran which is probably where most of his audience are
It does have an M&S though which can be useful if we need stuff on the way home and couldn't stop at Wetherby.
Not in a public speech anyways.
No,toilet as it’s a rest area ?
I’ve not been in donkeys. Tend to prefer Wetherbys or Morrisons at Boroughbridge.
I merely asked if you’d need covenant consent and triggered a loon by doing so !
It’s something I’d not even thought about until mentioned here.
X is already hammering the absolute hell out of Burnham, mainly about apologia issues, and it is vital to at least note that fact in whatever terms we can on here. I'm not surprised by his ratings, and I'm not surprised the Reformy Midlands leads the way. This dip is not yet about northern-ness.
I think if you are somewhat sympathetic to Burnham you may start to understand what I have been driving at these last 2 years in the coming period.
https://x.com/energyabsurdity/status/2071549588775825864
Do Andy Burnham and Ed Miliband understand that the Western world’s most expensive electricity is a massive drag on economic growth yet?
Unexpected result. Barrett and Roberts the conservative dissenters.
https://x.com/gunthereagleman/status/2071600292982878546.
Former Tory MP Craig Williams pleads guilty to cheating at gambling with election bets
However he still has higher net favourables than Farage, -11% to -40% and, more narrowly Badenoch, -11% to -21%, so will hope to use that to win over centrist swing voters
https://ygo-assets-websites-editorial-emea.yougov.net/documents/Times_Results_260625_w.pdf
However he still has higher net favourables than Farage, -11% to -40% and, more narrowly Badenoch, -11% to -21%, so will hope to use that to win over centrist swing voters
https://ygo-assets-websites-editorial-emea.yougov.net/documents/Times_Results_260625_w.pdf
Kemi should major on it.
"The US Supreme Court will not hear an appeal requested by President Donald Trump to review the civil case that found he defamed and sexually abused writer E Jean Carroll."
I wonder if he'll actually pay the money, or her lawyers will have to employ agents to collect goods etc.
Why unexpected ?
Is it common currency that the court is now completely corrupt, as opposed to extremely politically biased ?
(Apols, wrong judgment.)
For added hilarity, hospitals are part of this problem.
M&W and Penelope realise the stairs are too short…
https://x.com/thestingisback/status/2071558237459996688
It's not going to happen anyway, as we haven't got the money to build that level of council housing even if we solved the other problems about where to build it and who is going to build it.
@DeborahMeaden
Me neither…
Quote
Heather Jeeves 🇪🇺
@HeatherJeeves
·
Jun 28
Do Labour not understand that a lot of people voted for them because of Starmer? I would never have voted for them with Burnham at the helm.
From personal experience, canvassing in the Thames Valley about 10 years ago, I came across a house with a Polish resident who was entitled to vote. A very jolly, chatty chap, with a good, but nuanced, grasp of English. I asked about the other names on the Roll in the same house, and he fell about laughing. Apparently, the Local Authority had sent someone round to check on the Electoral Roll, and had asked him if he had any family. He had told them all about his sisters, a brother, various cousins, nephews etc. All the details were solemnly recorded. In due course, his entire extended family had appeared on the Electoral Roll, even though they lived in Gdansk. He didn’t realise that the question referred to residents in the same house, and the local authority canvasser hadn’t made it clear.
No damage done, but it shows that accidents can happen in the absence of malice. Tomorrow I will tell you some of my Postal Voting stories – a subject on which I am much less sanguine.
In general find hospitals too hot at the best of times.
Quite a few people are locked into the "expensive electricity encourages efficiency and efficiency is how we beat global warming" mindset.
Which had some use when the grid of 80% coal. But is like promoting phlogiston now.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3ry1zr8nw2o
Burnham at least knows how to present things (i.e. not allowing questions which would just sidetrack an announcement) and seems to have realised our biggest problem is how Londoncentric the UK is..
https://x.com/dadsaysjokes/status/2071317292319715473
Sad news. I broke up with my girlfriend Lorraine because I was seeing another girl named Claire Lee.
But the good news is that I can see Claire Lee now Lorraine is gone
It doesn't go "against centuries of practice", as that has varied greatly from state to state, and time to time. And the states, not the federal government, are constitutionally entirely responsible for the manner in which they conduct elections.
The corrupt rapist rightly failed to prevail.
So social housing will cost the same as private housing. The only question is whether the government will swallow the loss. Or try and make house building cheaper for everyone.
..1. The costs of keeping the grid going, like transmission and balancing, are spread over every unit of electricity sold. This means the price of an extra unit of electricity is vastly higher than the social cost of providing that unit. The cost of having a grid connection at all is, conversely, much lower than it actually costs society to provide you one.
Economically, this amounts to a crippling price cap on grid connections, which is part of why we can't expand infrastructure to plug people in: they don't pay for it. It also amounts to an enormous tax, over 2/3 of the price of electricity, on using an extra unit of it.
Which is presumably why electricity use has cratered since 2003, when we started driving up the cost of our grid like this.
Note how perverse the incentive is here. We are heading into a situation where electricity is extremely expensive because the ratio of grid costs to the amount of electricity put through that grid. Our high prices incentivise everyone to have a connection, but then to use it as little as possible, the EXACT opposite of what we need.
2. We impose carbon taxes on electricity produced through gas that we don't impose on gas used directly. This is part of why electricity is so expensive, and means people electrify less than we would like, which leads to less decarbonisation overall. A child, with a basic understanding of supply and demand, would see how perverse this is.
3. We charge the same price for electricity nationwide, and pay the same amount, in a single market, even though electricity is worth more and less at different places. This is part of why people are building solar farms in Scotland, where it is not only less sunny, but which is on the other side of massive grid congestion that we are paying BILLIONS of pounds to relieve. Yet we keep paying people to make the problem worse.
4. We keep buying Contracts for Difference off (renewable) electricity generators...pay them £90 per megawatt hour when the megawatts they are producing are worth 1p each!)
Renewables Obligations Certificates were a lot more honest. They just paid producers a top up on what they got on the open market: a straightforward subsidy. CfDs are a totally hidden subsidy. The amount of subsidy is set by the market trajectory after today. So, for example, every time we sign a new wind CfD we increase the subsidy for past tranches.
The really messed up thing is that CfD recipients do not cover for when they don't provide any power. If the CfD was set on quantity as well, so generators had to pay back money when they didn't produce, to cover the cost of running the grid to accommodate them, and for the gas needed to keep the lights on, then we would get a good sense of how much we were actually paying...