I was going to say that I hope he got a refund but given it was Ryanair they are more likely to invoice him for the cost of replacing the window.
It just shows why it’s a bad idea to charge extra for the seatbelt.
Reminds me of one of my favourite jokes. Michael O'Leary goes into a bar in Dublin and asks how much is a pint of Guinness. "3 Euros" replies the barman. "Wow," says O'Leary, "that must be the cheapest Guinness in Dublin". "Yes indeed," says the barman, "Would you be wanting a glass with that?"
I wonder what broad and general government position and policy on Israel and its relations with the Arab/Islamic world, WRT both words and deeds, would command a reasonable degree of assent from the UK population?
I don't think the general UK population cares about Gaza, nor do they give two hoots about Israel either.
In fairness its pretty mutual. Neither the residents of Gaza nor Israel are likely to spend any time caring what we think.
Though strangely Israel/Israelis seem to expend large amounts of effort and cash to influence opinion in the UK.
Do you think Westminster, Holyrood and Cardiff are the only governments who waste money?
I dare say Bibi considers months and months of Starmer & co wibbling and prevaricating over Gaza as money well spent. Israel having the right to cut off power and water to Gaza would have been a high point.
You are assuming that there is a cause and effect here but wibbling and prevaricating is all that Starmer has done for 2 years. He really doesn't need any help, well he does, but you know what I mean.
I wonder what broad and general government position and policy on Israel and its relations with the Arab/Islamic world, WRT both words and deeds, would command a reasonable degree of assent from the UK population?
I don't think the general UK population cares about Gaza, nor do they give two hoots about Israel either.
In fairness its pretty mutual. Neither the residents of Gaza nor Israel are likely to spend any time caring what we think.
Though strangely Israel/Israelis seem to expend large amounts of effort and cash to influence opinion in the UK.
Do you think Westminster, Holyrood and Cardiff are the only governments who waste money?
I dare say Bibi considers months and months of Starmer & co wibbling and prevaricating over Gaza as money well spent. Israel having the right to cut off power and water to Gaza would have been a high point.
You are assuming that there is a cause and effect here but wibbling and prevaricating is all that Starmer has done for 2 years. He really doesn't need any help, well he does, but you know what I mean.
I wouldn’t be so crass as to suggest that Starmer could be bribed, but lobbying is about getting a voice at the big table. On the cushion that takes the shape of the last arse that sat on him metric, pretty sure Starmer would be shaped by arses that have funded him and his cabinet to the tune of £100,000s.
Though she was discovered by a carer. So if she needed carers, she may have been frail, and it could just be a fall down the stairs for example.
The BBC have promoted to top story. Even as a bit of breaking news that strikes me that it could be something more than 'checking over a fall'. I rather hope I'm wrong and you're right.
EDIT: BBC headline updated to "Police launch murder investigation" - male suspect
Though she was discovered by a carer. So if she needed carers, she may have been frail, and it could just be a fall down the stairs for example.
The BBC have promoted to top story. Even as a bit of breaking news that strikes me that it could be something more than 'checking over a fall'. I rather hope I'm wrong and you're right.
Sadly, it may turn out that naming the house "Widdecombe's rest" with a bloody pig plaque on the garden wall was a poor idea.
Though she was discovered by a carer. So if she needed carers, she may have been frail, and it could just be a fall down the stairs for example.
Regarding stairs, it was a bungalow. But it might have been a split level bungalow. My mother lived in a bungalow but there were three steps between the living room and the kitchen.
Though she was discovered by a carer. So if she needed carers, she may have been frail, and it could just be a fall down the stairs for example.
Regarding stairs, it was a bungalow. But it might have been a split level bungalow. My mother lived in a bungalow but there were three steps between the living room and the kitchen.
The picture in the Sun shows at least part of it had a second story.
Though she was discovered by a carer. So if she needed carers, she may have been frail, and it could just be a fall down the stairs for example.
The BBC have promoted to top story. Even as a bit of breaking news that strikes me that it could be something more than 'checking over a fall'. I rather hope I'm wrong and you're right.
EDIT: BBC headline updated to "Police launch murder investigation" - male suspect
"Our murder enquiry is moving at a significant pace" doesn't sound like a fall investigation. Damn.
Bloody amazing run and came up against the French Open winner playing really well. The key for Fery will be how he kicks on from here. Top 10 is not out the question (and if Draper can get back to fitness we could have two in the top ten).
I wonder what broad and general government position and policy on Israel and its relations with the Arab/Islamic world, WRT both words and deeds, would command a reasonable degree of assent from the UK population?
I don't think the general UK population cares about Gaza, nor do they give two hoots about Israel either.
In fairness its pretty mutual. Neither the residents of Gaza nor Israel are likely to spend any time caring what we think.
Though strangely Israel/Israelis seem to expend large amounts of effort and cash to influence opinion in the UK.
Do you think Westminster, Holyrood and Cardiff are the only governments who waste money?
I dare say Bibi considers months and months of Starmer & co wibbling and prevaricating over Gaza as money well spent. Israel having the right to cut off power and water to Gaza would have been a high point.
You are assuming that there is a cause and effect here but wibbling and prevaricating is all that Starmer has done for 2 years. He really doesn't need any help, well he does, but you know what I mean.
I wouldn’t be so crass as to suggest that Starmer could be bribed, but lobbying is about getting a voice at the big table. On the cushion that takes the shape of the last arse that sat on him metric, pretty sure Starmer would be shaped by arses that have funded him and his cabinet to the tune of £100,000s.
Its all around parliament. Plenty of MPs benefit from their friendship with Israel (CFI, LFI) meaning all expenses paid trips to the state and a good wedge for their election funds.
Listened to Jo White, Labour MP for Bassetlaw '24 intake, on WATO. Campaigned as Labour, elected as Labour but wants Reform UK policies, I think because her constituents voted Reform in the council elections but possibly she's also quite Reform minded.
It's disappointing that someone elected on the Labour manifesto isn't prepared to campaign for it once elected, I think she should just join Reform.
But this is the future of UK politics. All parties becoming more like Reform. Even Ed Davey complained about the plans to remove Churchill from banknotes.
Andy, politics is cyclical. What goes around comes around. Team Farage is not the long term future of British politics. Mind you authoritarians only have to win once...
I think you might want to do a bit of research around authoritarianism. Banter bans, shutting down unfriendly media, blashphemy laws, rozzers coming round to warn you off saying anything too fruity, a papers please society - these are some of the accoutrements of actual authoritarianism. If your dictionary definition of authoritarian just says 'someone who once said something nice about Putin', perhaps you should upgrade from the Fisher Price edition.
Indeed. I have no time whatsoever for Farage, and he's far from the 'Libertarian' he once dubiously claimed to be, but the most egregious examples of Authoritarianism are almost always to be found on the left.
Though she was discovered by a carer. So if she needed carers, she may have been frail, and it could just be a fall down the stairs for example.
The BBC have promoted to top story. Even as a bit of breaking news that strikes me that it could be something more than 'checking over a fall'. I rather hope I'm wrong and you're right.
EDIT: BBC headline updated to "Police launch murder investigation" - male suspect
"Our murder enquiry is moving at a significant pace" doesn't sound like a fall investigation. Damn.
Though she was discovered by a carer. So if she needed carers, she may have been frail, and it could just be a fall down the stairs for example.
The BBC have promoted to top story. Even as a bit of breaking news that strikes me that it could be something more than 'checking over a fall'. I rather hope I'm wrong and you're right.
EDIT: BBC headline updated to "Police launch murder investigation" - male suspect
"Our murder enquiry is moving at a significant pace" doesn't sound like a fall investigation. Damn.
Goes up to 36th in the rankings which means, I think, he has a guaranteed entry into events for the next year or so.
Yep - guaranteed entry to the main draw at the slams and all the other events will be after him too. Plus as he has very few points to defend from last year, any he gathers are just lifting him up the rankings. Not impossible he gets seeded at the US Open.
Cripes when I heard about Widdecombe, thought it was going to be another Bonnie Tyler type natural causes story tbh
Well, she was 78, so Widdecombe was three years older than Tyler. But I guess the assumption that they're nearly dead anyway is one of the things that makes old people a bit more vulnerable to murder.
Social media is full of malicious communications regarding the death of Ann Widdecombe. Will anything be done about it, or does that law (which I don't agree with in the first place) only get applied to certain people?
Goes up to 36th in the rankings which means, I think, he has a guaranteed entry into events for the next year or so.
Yep - guaranteed entry to the main draw at the slams and all the other events will be after him too. Plus as he has very few points to defend from last year, any he gathers are just lifting him up the rankings. Not impossible he gets seeded at the US Open.
Before this tournament he was 114th. If he loses every single match between now and the next Wimbledon he would still be ranked about 75th-80th going into it.
Social media is full of malicious communications regarding the death of Ann Widdecombe. Will anything be done about it, or does that law (which I don't agree with in the first place) only get applied to certain people?
For a start, you can't libel the dead. So that cuts some of it out, at least.
Social media is full of malicious communications regarding the death of Ann Widdecombe. Will anything be done about it, or does that law (which I don't agree with in the first place) only get applied to certain people?
I believe a legal distinction is drawn between celebrating the death of a dead person (distasteful, but not illegal unless the death was perpetrated by a terrorist, in which case you would be guilty of glorifying terrorism) and calling for the death of living people.
Social media is full of malicious communications regarding the death of Ann Widdecombe. Will anything be done about it, or does that law (which I don't agree with in the first place) only get applied to certain people?
On the left, on the right you can already imagine who social media posters are speculating carried out this awful murder
Goes up to 36th in the rankings which means, I think, he has a guaranteed entry into events for the next year or so.
Yep - guaranteed entry to the main draw at the slams and all the other events will be after him too. Plus as he has very few points to defend from last year, any he gathers are just lifting him up the rankings. Not impossible he gets seeded at the US Open.
Before this tournament he was 114th. If he loses every single match between now and the next Wimbledon he would still be ranked about 75th-80th going into it.
Although a bad show at Wimbledon would then be catastrophic as he will be defending a lot.
Alternatively: domestic clean energy generation close to large urban population centre and existing transmission, constructed on ecological desert agricultural monoculture adjacent to an industrial estate, rejected by NIMBYs.
This is why we need nodal pricing. NIMBYism is perfectly rational unless people enjoy energy cost discounts for living next to this stuff.
Social media is full of malicious communications regarding the death of Ann Widdecombe. Will anything be done about it, or does that law (which I don't agree with in the first place) only get applied to certain people?
I believe a legal distinction is drawn between celebrating the death of a dead person (distasteful, but not illegal unless the death was perpetrated by a terrorist, in which case you would be guilty of glorifying terrorism) and calling for the death of living people.
Please tell me this is not what the HS means by "speculation". Because for instance labelling her death (As someone has done on bluesky) as entertainment is not speculation.
Social media is full of malicious communications regarding the death of Ann Widdecombe. Will anything be done about it, or does that law (which I don't agree with in the first place) only get applied to certain people?
I believe a legal distinction is drawn between celebrating the death of a dead person (distasteful, but not illegal unless the death was perpetrated by a terrorist, in which case you would be guilty of glorifying terrorism) and calling for the death of living people.
Surely celebrating the murder would also cross the line into incitement? So the timing really matters here.
PM Starmer now speaking says the most important thing is for the public to help the police arrest as quickly as possible the dangerous man who committed this act and come forward with any information. Starmer has already spoken to Farage and Burnham and the Chief Constable and sends his condolences to Ann Widdecombe's family and friends.
Starmer won't be drawn yet on whether this was a politically motivated assassination as with the murders of MPs Jo Cox and David Amess
All those people facing higher electricity bills will thank you for your help in this matter.
But lower food bills
80 hectares in the NE of England* is not going to put a dent in global food prices. Nor is the solar farm in energy prices tbf, but there are other reasons why you might value that more than the other.
* rated only moderate for agricultural value, no SSSI etc etc
Social media is full of malicious communications regarding the death of Ann Widdecombe. Will anything be done about it, or does that law (which I don't agree with in the first place) only get applied to certain people?
I believe a legal distinction is drawn between celebrating the death of a dead person (distasteful, but not illegal unless the death was perpetrated by a terrorist, in which case you would be guilty of glorifying terrorism) and calling for the death of living people.
Please tell me this is not what the HS means by "speculation". Because for instance labelling her death (As someone has done on bluesky) as entertainment is not speculation.
There are two different things going on, I assume.
One is people celebrating the death of a political opponent, which I think demeans the person who is doing the celebrating, but in truth I am a flawed person, and I expect to celebrate the death of the Presidents of at least two nuclear powers. With God's grace I will not have to wait long to so demean myself.
The second is speculation about the motives for Widdecombe's murder. At present we have no information on which to base this, except for the race of the suspect, and so literally almost anything is possible. Some of this speculation might prove to be very upsetting to friends of the deceased, and some would have the potential to provoke civil disorder, were it to be taken seriously.
It's become de rigeur for politicians and police to ask the public not to speculate in situations like this, because although it is pointless - we have no information to go on - it can have serious consequences. But, of course, it is very natural to try to come up with explanations for why such a thing would have happened. So I'm not surprised people speculate.
Social media is full of malicious communications regarding the death of Ann Widdecombe. Will anything be done about it, or does that law (which I don't agree with in the first place) only get applied to certain people?
I believe a legal distinction is drawn between celebrating the death of a dead person (distasteful, but not illegal unless the death was perpetrated by a terrorist, in which case you would be guilty of glorifying terrorism) and calling for the death of living people.
Surely celebrating the murder would also cross the line into incitement? So the timing really matters here.
I think it would only be considered incitement if there was at least an allusion to repeating the act for other, possibly similar, victims. E.g. I would plead a fair cop to inciting the destruction of further Russian oil refineries, and not just celebrating the destruction of those that have already occurred.
PM Starmer now speaking says the most important thing is for the public to help the police arrest as quickly as possible the dangerous man who committed this act and come forward with any information. Starmer has already spoken to Farage and Burnham and the Chief Constable and sends his condolences to Ann Widdecombe's family and friends.
Starmer won't be drawn yet on whether this was a politically motivated assassination as with the murders of MPs Jo Cox and David Amess
Nor should he. Assuming he knows not much more than we do, making any statement that might imply it was politically motivated would be terrible behaviour.
We will know soon enough and really it makes bugger all difference to the fact that an elderly lady has been killed (assuming it turns out it was murder)
All those people facing higher electricity bills will thank you for your help in this matter.
But lower food bills
80 hectares in the NE of England* is not going to put a dent in global food prices. Nor is the solar farm in energy prices tbf, but there are other reasons why you might value that more than the other.
* rated only moderate for agricultural value, no SSSI etc etc
Trouble is that, if you live on or in the green belt, its main value is that you, personally, don't have any development around you. And whilst Bart's "if you don't own it, you don't get a say in what happens to it" has an elegant simplicity, it's not where we are and good luck winning an election on that platform.
And I suspect that even if you offered people free energy bills forever, they would still rather not have the development.
Social media is full of malicious communications regarding the death of Ann Widdecombe. Will anything be done about it, or does that law (which I don't agree with in the first place) only get applied to certain people?
I believe a legal distinction is drawn between celebrating the death of a dead person (distasteful, but not illegal unless the death was perpetrated by a terrorist, in which case you would be guilty of glorifying terrorism) and calling for the death of living people.
Surely celebrating the murder would also cross the line into incitement? So the timing really matters here.
I think it would only be considered incitement if there was at least an allusion to repeating the act for other, possibly similar, victims. E.g. I would plead a fair cop to inciting the destruction of further Russian oil refineries, and not just celebrating the destruction of those that have already occurred.
Interesting question. I’d suggest it is incitement because it encourages further politically motivated murders by implication, but NAL.
All those people facing higher electricity bills will thank you for your help in this matter.
But lower food bills
80 hectares in the NE of England* is not going to put a dent in global food prices. Nor is the solar farm in energy prices tbf, but there are other reasons why you might value that more than the other.
* rated only moderate for agricultural value, no SSSI etc etc
Trouble is that, if you live on or in the green belt, its main value is that you, personally, don't have any development around you. And whilst Bart's "if you don't own it, you don't get a say in what happens to it" has an elegant simplicity, it's not where we are and good luck winning an election on that platform.
And I suspect that even if you offered people free energy bills forever, they would still rather not have the development.
I don't think winning an election is the main problem. The problem is that if there's no legal avenue for people to dispute what a neighbour does with their land then prime will turn to illegal methods to do so. We would see a rise in violence and intimidation and other civil disturbances.
One of the roles of the planning system is to absorb and dissipate peoples frustrations, and provide a way for the most objectionable corners to be knocked off proposals so that people can reconcile themselves to them.
All those people facing higher electricity bills will thank you for your help in this matter.
But lower food bills
80 hectares in the NE of England* is not going to put a dent in global food prices. Nor is the solar farm in energy prices tbf, but there are other reasons why you might value that more than the other.
* rated only moderate for agricultural value, no SSSI etc etc
Trouble is that, if you live on or in the green belt, its main value is that you, personally, don't have any development around you. And whilst Bart's "if you don't own it, you don't get a say in what happens to it" has an elegant simplicity, it's not where we are and good luck winning an election on that platform.
And I suspect that even if you offered people free energy bills forever, they would still rather not have the development.
Agree - though I think from the evidence in things like vouchers for walking 10,000 steps, people have irrationally large positive responses to even small incentives.
And free year-round energy from living close to the local solar farm is a pretty big incentive.
PM Starmer now speaking says the most important thing is for the public to help the police arrest as quickly as possible the dangerous man who committed this act and come forward with any information. Starmer has already spoken to Farage and Burnham and the Chief Constable and sends his condolences to Ann Widdecombe's family and friends.
Starmer won't be drawn yet on whether this was a politically motivated assassination as with the murders of MPs Jo Cox and David Amess
Nor should he. Assuming he knows not much more than we do, making any statement that might imply it was politically motivated would be terrible behaviour.
We will know soon enough and really it makes bugger all difference to the fact that an elderly lady has been killed (assuming it turns out it was murder)
Even if Starmer does know much more than we do, even if he has been told that the police have a pretty shrewd idea of who, what and why, such a statement would still be pretty terrible. If this case goes to trial, we will find out soon enough.
All those people facing higher electricity bills will thank you for your help in this matter.
But lower food bills
80 hectares in the NE of England* is not going to put a dent in global food prices. Nor is the solar farm in energy prices tbf, but there are other reasons why you might value that more than the other.
* rated only moderate for agricultural value, no SSSI etc etc
Trouble is that, if you live on or in the green belt, its main value is that you, personally, don't have any development around you. And whilst Bart's "if you don't own it, you don't get a say in what happens to it" has an elegant simplicity, it's not where we are and good luck winning an election on that platform.
And I suspect that even if you offered people free energy bills forever, they would still rather not have the development.
Here's the thing: the Green Belt is just a subsidy from people who don't own their homes, and towards people who do own homes on the edge of large towns and cities.
PM Starmer now speaking says the most important thing is for the public to help the police arrest as quickly as possible the dangerous man who committed this act and come forward with any information. Starmer has already spoken to Farage and Burnham and the Chief Constable and sends his condolences to Ann Widdecombe's family and friends.
Starmer won't be drawn yet on whether this was a politically motivated assassination as with the murders of MPs Jo Cox and David Amess
Nor should he. Assuming he knows not much more than we do, making any statement that might imply it was politically motivated would be terrible behaviour.
We will know soon enough and really it makes bugger all difference to the fact that an elderly lady has been killed (assuming it turns out it was murder)
The political implications though if it was a politically motivated murder of a senior figure in Reform and former Tory minister would be huge, even more so than the Charlie Kirk killing in the US, though of course even if it wasn't it would still be a terrible murder
PM Starmer now speaking says the most important thing is for the public to help the police arrest as quickly as possible the dangerous man who committed this act and come forward with any information. Starmer has already spoken to Farage and Burnham and the Chief Constable and sends his condolences to Ann Widdecombe's family and friends.
Starmer won't be drawn yet on whether this was a politically motivated assassination as with the murders of MPs Jo Cox and David Amess
Nor should he. Assuming he knows not much more than we do, making any statement that might imply it was politically motivated would be terrible behaviour.
We will know soon enough and really it makes bugger all difference to the fact that an elderly lady has been killed (assuming it turns out it was murder)
Even if Starmer does know much more than we do, even if he has been told that the police have a pretty shrewd idea of who, what and why, such a statement would still be pretty terrible. If this case goes to trial, we will find out soon enough.
Sources close to the Prime Minister have called upon the Police to investigate the movements of the former Mayor of Manchester.
All those people facing higher electricity bills will thank you for your help in this matter.
But lower food bills
80 hectares in the NE of England* is not going to put a dent in global food prices. Nor is the solar farm in energy prices tbf, but there are other reasons why you might value that more than the other.
* rated only moderate for agricultural value, no SSSI etc etc
Trouble is that, if you live on or in the green belt, its main value is that you, personally, don't have any development around you. And whilst Bart's "if you don't own it, you don't get a say in what happens to it" has an elegant simplicity, it's not where we are and good luck winning an election on that platform.
And I suspect that even if you offered people free energy bills forever, they would still rather not have the development.
Here's the thing: the Green Belt is just a subsidy from people who don't own their homes, and towards people who do own homes on the edge of large towns and cities.
I find that quite morally hard to justify.
Good point that doesn't get enough attention. However it is not "just" that - it clearly does some other things too.
All those people facing higher electricity bills will thank you for your help in this matter.
But lower food bills
80 hectares in the NE of England* is not going to put a dent in global food prices. Nor is the solar farm in energy prices tbf, but there are other reasons why you might value that more than the other.
* rated only moderate for agricultural value, no SSSI etc etc
Trouble is that, if you live on or in the green belt, its main value is that you, personally, don't have any development around you. And whilst Bart's "if you don't own it, you don't get a say in what happens to it" has an elegant simplicity, it's not where we are and good luck winning an election on that platform.
And I suspect that even if you offered people free energy bills forever, they would still rather not have the development.
Agree - though I think from the evidence in things like vouchers for walking 10,000 steps, people have irrationally large positive responses to even small incentives.
And free year-round energy from living close to the local solar farm is a pretty big incentive.
A solar farm, like a battery energy storage site, is a pretty benign form of development as far as things go.
Compare to a sewage works, pig farm, factory, housing estate, quarry or landfill site. Most people would choose the solar farm every time in preference.
All those people facing higher electricity bills will thank you for your help in this matter.
But lower food bills
80 hectares in the NE of England* is not going to put a dent in global food prices. Nor is the solar farm in energy prices tbf, but there are other reasons why you might value that more than the other.
* rated only moderate for agricultural value, no SSSI etc etc
It was well-argued opposition to it.
I think they need to reconsider then come back with a modified proposal.
The circumstances of the decision are a little murky:
The decision came after the developer submitted an appeal against the council for failing to determine the application within the required timescale. However, council officers said they had not received confirmation from the Planning Inspectorate that the appeal had been accepted.
"It is extremely disappointing that this decision was made the day before this committee meeting," the council said.
Adam Boulton talking mean-spiritedly about Ann Widdecombe in front of what looks like a picture of himself. He describes her – a possible murder victim – as a 'spinster', a 'battleaxe', 'a bruiser', an 'old maid', and mentions her virginity, before speculating irresponsibly about her death. Horrible, horrible stuff"
Comments
Michael O'Leary goes into a bar in Dublin and asks how much is a pint of Guinness.
"3 Euros" replies the barman.
"Wow," says O'Leary, "that must be the cheapest Guinness in Dublin".
"Yes indeed," says the barman, "Would you be wanting a glass with that?"
WTF.
EDIT: BBC headline updated to "Police launch murder investigation" - male suspect
Zverev looks a beast, would fancy him in the final in this form.
7-6, 6-2, 6-4
Damn.
Police officers were called to an address at Haytor, in Dartmoor, at around 11.40am on Thursday.
The force said Widdecombe was found dead at the property and had sustained serious injuries. "
https://news.sky.com/story/politics-latest-burnham-starmer-labour-tories-badenoch-farage-12593360
Hopefully Sinner or Djokovic will oblige instead.
RIP.
https://www.trackisraellobby.uk/.
Indeed. I have no time whatsoever for Farage, and he's far from the 'Libertarian' he once dubiously claimed to be, but the most egregious examples of Authoritarianism are almost always to be found on the left.
@tomhfh
This isn’t a murder investigation into a former politician.
It’s a murder investigation into the hitherto currently serving Justice Spokeswoman for the Reform Party."
https://x.com/tomhfh/status/2075594931217809733
'A nationwide manhunt has begun for a "white male" as a murder investigation begins into former MP Ann Widdecombe’s death.
Ann Widdecombe was found "covered in blood at her home in Devon after sustaining a serious head wound" according to reports.'
https://x.com/TRobinsonNewEra/status/2075596801286066314?s=20
Meanwhile - could this give Farage the excuse to call off the Clacton by-election as a mark of respect?
https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/632c49cd2e26ca0e3f952e9f/6a50bd7b25718b3c35df32cc_Writ received for by-election in Clacton July 2026 TDC JD.JPG
I don't get this.
"Plans for large solar farm rejected"
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgdy1x9wglo
On greenbelt. Get to feck.
This is why we need nodal pricing. NIMBYism is perfectly rational unless people enjoy energy cost discounts for living next to this stuff.
“I’ve been stunned to hear this awful news," she says during a visit to Portsmouth.
“To be honest, I’ve really struggled to find the words.
“Ann Widdecombe was a very fun and feisty woman who spoke her mind.
“She was 78 years old. She was an elderly woman. I don’t understand how someone could do something so horrific to an elderly person.
“It was a nasty, horrific attack. My heart is breaking for her family."
Badenoch continues: “It is one thing when someone dies but to know they have been murdered in this horrible way is just awful.
“The Conservative Party is reeling.
“I want to convey my condolences to Nigel Farage and to everyone in Reform on behalf of the Conservatives because we’ve both lost a friend.”
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cp9l8l05vxet
Tory ex-MP #AnnWiddecombe is dead!
She opposed every gay law reform for 40 years, supporting every legal discrimination against LGBTs
She also backed bids to 'cure' homosexuality & said people should have the right to discriminate against LGBTs
BIGOT!
https://x.com/petertatchell/status/2075573480590823652?s=61&t=LYVEHh2mqFy1oUJAdCfe-Q
You're a prick.
https://x.com/rupertlowe10/status/2075592256619200641?s=61&t=LYVEHh2mqFy1oUJAdCfe-Q
(Also, I would note that more solar power, means more gas for the Haber process, which means more fertilezer and therefore cheaper food.)
Starmer won't be drawn yet on whether this was a politically motivated assassination as with the murders of MPs Jo Cox and David Amess
Have they said what leads them to suspect a white male? Camera footage somewhere presumably?
* rated only moderate for agricultural value, no SSSI etc etc
One is people celebrating the death of a political opponent, which I think demeans the person who is doing the celebrating, but in truth I am a flawed person, and I expect to celebrate the death of the Presidents of at least two nuclear powers. With God's grace I will not have to wait long to so demean myself.
The second is speculation about the motives for Widdecombe's murder. At present we have no information on which to base this, except for the race of the suspect, and so literally almost anything is possible. Some of this speculation might prove to be very upsetting to friends of the deceased, and some would have the potential to provoke civil disorder, were it to be taken seriously.
It's become de rigeur for politicians and police to ask the public not to speculate in situations like this, because although it is pointless - we have no information to go on - it can have serious consequences. But, of course, it is very natural to try to come up with explanations for why such a thing would have happened. So I'm not surprised people speculate.
We will know soon enough and really it makes bugger all difference to the fact that an elderly lady has been killed (assuming it turns out it was murder)
And I suspect that even if you offered people free energy bills forever, they would still rather not have the development.
So I'd just take it at face value, and hope the enquiry proceeds well.
One of the roles of the planning system is to absorb and dissipate peoples frustrations, and provide a way for the most objectionable corners to be knocked off proposals so that people can reconcile themselves to them.
And free year-round energy from living close to the local solar farm is a pretty big incentive.
I find that quite morally hard to justify.
Rule 44 allows 25 days to seek rehearing. It requires the support of at least one Justice from the majority, and is rarely granted.
https://x.com/olex_scherba/status/2075340025013690644
Compare to a sewage works, pig farm, factory, housing estate, quarry or landfill site. Most people would choose the solar farm every time in preference.
I think they need to reconsider then come back with a modified proposal.
It could be made acceptable in planning terms.
https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/26264886.seaham-solar-park-plans-refused-durham-county-council/
The circumstances of the decision are a little murky:
The decision came after the developer submitted an appeal against the council for failing to determine the application within the required timescale. However, council officers said they had not received confirmation from the Planning Inspectorate that the appeal had been accepted.
"It is extremely disappointing that this decision was made the day before this committee meeting," the council said.
@Madz_Grant
Adam Boulton talking mean-spiritedly about Ann Widdecombe in front of what looks like a picture of himself. He describes her – a possible murder victim – as a 'spinster', a 'battleaxe', 'a bruiser', an 'old maid', and mentions her virginity, before speculating irresponsibly about her death. Horrible, horrible stuff"
https://x.com/Madz_Grant/status/2075611852818563408