Stop voting for fucking Tories

[Tichtheid]

The latest "poll of polls" has Lab on 39%, Con on 35%

How?

What would make 35% of respondents say they were going to vote for this party?

I just don't get it, is it really that a budgie in a blue rosette would get their vote?

This is an absolutely terrible incarnation of the Tory party but the alternative is a Labour party that is quite far removed from its traditional constituency.

I'm struggling to think of a good incarnation of the Tory party.

[Slick]

I really hope that there will be a real change and hearts and minds willing to vote tactically as a bulwark against the Tories.
I suspect the Boris may have split the Union now and Scotland should rightly be given the opportunity to be self governed.
Boris and his little Englander persona along with JRM are an absulte anachronism. Yet because of the MSM and vompliant press in the UK they are not scrutinised one bit.
The Tory Parties ties with Russia are an absolute disgrace and yet there has not been an outcry.
Ffs if this cost of living carnage does not bring about proper change then the UK is evem more fucked than many can imagine.
Sunak and JRM have made and are making millions from these Russian bastards.

A poll out today suggested that Boris is not having as big an impact as you might think in Scotland, which I’m pretty amazed about. At least replacing him with Starmer, Sunak or Truss would not move the dial much

[petej]

The latest "poll of polls" has Lab on 39%, Con on 35%

How?

What would make 35% of respondents say they were going to vote for this party?

I just don't get it, is it really that a budgie in a blue rosette would get their vote?

This is an absolutely terrible incarnation of the Tory party but the alternative is a Labour party that is quite far removed from its traditional constituency.

I'm struggling to think of a good incarnation of the Tory party.

Previous Tory parties at least valued British businesses and the economy.

Define labour's traditional constituency?

[SaintK]

The Government appear to be pissing off their own side with every announcement they make at present.

The UK’s LGBT+ business champion has resigned “with a heavy heart” over the government’s “profoundly shocking” position on banning conversion therapy for transgender people, PA News reports. Iain Anderson said trust and belief in the government’s commitment to LGBT+ rights has been damaged, after a series of U-turns on plans to introduce legislation to ban conversion therapy.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/20 ... actices

Boris Johnson is facing a backlash from senior Tories over plans to privatise Channel 4, with the former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson describing it as “the opposite of levelling up”.
Davidson led calls for the government to reconsider, along with the former cabinet ministers Damian Green and Jeremy Hunt. The scale of Conservative opposition to the proposals has already raised questions over whether the government has the votes to pass the required legislation through the House of Commons, with even tougher opposition expected in the House of Lords.

https://www.theguardian.com/media/202 ... ion-plans

[Insane_Homer]

[dpedin]

The Government appear to be pissing off their own side with every announcement they make at present.

The UK’s LGBT+ business champion has resigned “with a heavy heart” over the government’s “profoundly shocking” position on banning conversion therapy for transgender people, PA News reports. Iain Anderson said trust and belief in the government’s commitment to LGBT+ rights has been damaged, after a series of U-turns on plans to introduce legislation to ban conversion therapy.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/20 ... actices

Boris Johnson is facing a backlash from senior Tories over plans to privatise Channel 4, with the former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson describing it as “the opposite of levelling up”.
Davidson led calls for the government to reconsider, along with the former cabinet ministers Damian Green and Jeremy Hunt. The scale of Conservative opposition to the proposals has already raised questions over whether the government has the votes to pass the required legislation through the House of Commons, with even tougher opposition expected in the House of Lords.

https://www.theguardian.com/media/202 ... ion-plans

Even if do these heartless ghouls haven't the balls to vote against the Brexit Ultras and their guard dogs - they huff and puff to salve their conscious and then do what they are told.

[I like neeps]

If true...

[Margin__Walker]

What a guy.

All going a bit tits up for his No 10 ambitions this month. Should have put the knife in last year.

[C69]

What a guy.

All going a bit tits up for his No 10 ambitions this month. Should have put the knife in last year.

Ooh you deserve a slap from Rishi across the face for that.

[fishfoodie]

Agree with every single word of this.

Fergus Finlay: Brexit Britain's response to Ukraine crisis is an international joke

The people of Britain have made it clear they want to help but the generals who led the country into Brexit are incapable of seeing outside the blinkers that they wear

More and more I believe that for Britain, the end of history is at hand. To put it another way, when the history of this century is written, Brexit will be seen to have been a terrible mistake that doomed ‘Great Britain’ to irrelevance.

Over time, its economy will dwindle, its people will become more and more disenfranchised, its leadership (especially if it remains as it is now) will come to be seen as an international joke.

It’s a tragedy. Throughout its history Britain has had a profound impact on the world. Of course, it wasn’t always a positive one, and its mistakes (and cruelties) were as great as its achievements. But it left a mark everywhere. I think it’s true to say that this would be an entirely different world today if it weren’t for the leadership, courage and doggedness shown by Britain and its people during the Second World War.

In all sorts of ways that have nothing to do with global politics, Britain has enriched us. Its writers, actors, musicians, creative artists, sports people (maybe not the English rugby team!) have made lasting impressions on us all.

And it is a beautiful, friendly, hospitable country. Some of the best times we’ve ever had have been in places like Cornwall and parts of Scotland. London is a city of endless fascination. I love Blackpool, where my brother lived, and its nearby Lake District. Some of my favourite in-laws are English or have lived there all their lives.

So I don’t feel like sneering or belittling the heritage and history of our nearest neighbour. But I don’t know if you saw a couple of things recently that really hammered home the point of decline.

...

Why is Britain alone in insisting on visas for Ukrainian refugees? Brexit is the real reason — everyone knows that. But the British home secretary Priti Patel has claimed another reason. “I’m afraid it is naive and misguided to think that only men can be covert operatives,” she told a Tory gathering last week. She went on: “Or that refugee flows would not be subject to some form of exploitation.”

Yes. Britain, alone of all the countries in Europe, has decided that among the traumatised and often bereaved women and children arriving in Britain there could be some cunning Russian operatives, armed to the teeth with poisons and radioactive weapons, to cause havoc among the innocent Brits. That’s why, even if you’ve lost everything in a brutal war, you’ll still be turned back at Calais unless you have your paperwork right.

The likelihood of terrorist women or children from Ukraine might seem far-fetched to us, or to the leaders of France, Germany, or Spain. But that’s what Brexit does for you. Any excuse for inaction or for selfishness will do. And it will be offered by the same leaders who continuously assert how wonderful Britain is — how far-seeing, how generous, how inspired in its leadership. They have an astonishing ability to talk from both sides of their mouths.

In a few short years, Britain has gone from being a recognised world leader to an inward-looking, claustrophobic and closed version of its former self.

The phrase “lions led by donkeys” dates from the First World War. It is often used to contrast the bravery of ordinary troops with the incompetence of their generals. The people of Britain have made it clear again and again that they want to help. But the generals who led Britain into Brexit are incapable of seeing outside the blinkers that donkeys wear.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/c ... 44147.html

[I like neeps]

[quote=fishfoodie post_id=197131 time=1649274537 user_id=94]
Agree with every single word of this.

[quote]
[b][size=150]Fergus Finlay: Brexit Britain's response to Ukraine crisis is an international joke[/size][/b]

The people of Britain have made it clear they want to help but the generals who led the country into Brexit are incapable of seeing outside the blinkers that they wear

More and more I believe that for Britain, the end of history is at hand. To put it another way, when the history of this century is written, Brexit will be seen to have been a terrible mistake that doomed ‘Great Britain’ to irrelevance.

Over time, its economy will dwindle, its people will become more and more disenfranchised, its leadership (especially if it remains as it is now) will come to be seen as an international joke.

It’s a tragedy. Throughout its history Britain has had a profound impact on the world. Of course, it wasn’t always a positive one, and its mistakes (and cruelties) were as great as its achievements. But it left a mark everywhere. I think it’s true to say that this would be an entirely different world today if it weren’t for the leadership, courage and doggedness shown by Britain and its people during the Second World War.

In all sorts of ways that have nothing to do with global politics, Britain has enriched us. Its writers, actors, musicians, creative artists, sports people (maybe not the English rugby team!) have made lasting impressions on us all.

And it is a beautiful, friendly, hospitable country. Some of the best times we’ve ever had have been in places like Cornwall and parts of Scotland. London is a city of endless fascination. I love Blackpool, where my brother lived, and its nearby Lake District. Some of my favourite in-laws are English or have lived there all their lives.

So I don’t feel like sneering or belittling the heritage and history of our nearest neighbour. But I don’t know if you saw a couple of things recently that really hammered home the point of decline.

...

Why is Britain alone in insisting on visas for Ukrainian refugees? Brexit is the real reason — everyone knows that. But the British home secretary Priti Patel has claimed another reason. “I’m afraid it is naive and misguided to think that only men can be covert operatives,” she told a Tory gathering last week. She went on: “Or that refugee flows would not be subject to some form of exploitation.”

Yes. Britain, alone of all the countries in Europe, has decided that among the traumatised and often bereaved women and children arriving in Britain there could be some cunning Russian operatives, armed to the teeth with poisons and radioactive weapons, to cause havoc among the innocent Brits. That’s why, even if you’ve lost everything in a brutal war, you’ll still be turned back at Calais unless you have your paperwork right.

The likelihood of terrorist women or children from Ukraine might seem far-fetched to us, or to the leaders of France, Germany, or Spain. But that’s what Brexit does for you. Any excuse for inaction or for selfishness will do. And it will be offered by the same leaders who continuously assert how wonderful Britain is — how far-seeing, how generous, how inspired in its leadership. They have an astonishing ability to talk from both sides of their mouths.

[b][u]In a few short years, Britain has gone from being a recognised world leader to an inward-looking, claustrophobic and closed version of its former self. [/u][/b]

The phrase “lions led by donkeys” dates from the First World War. It is often used to contrast the bravery of ordinary troops with the incompetence of their generals. The people of Britain have made it clear again and again that they want to help. But the generals who led Britain into Brexit are incapable of seeing outside the blinkers that donkeys wear.
[/quote]

https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/c ... 44147.html
[/quote]

The refugee thing has been terribly handled - no surprise when the stated policy is as few refugees as is possible.

However, Zelensky has praised the UK on multiple occasions and calls Johnson a friend. So I don't think our response has been internationally bad.

[petej]

Agree with every single word of this.

Fergus Finlay: Brexit Britain's response to Ukraine crisis is an international joke

The people of Britain have made it clear they want to help but the generals who led the country into Brexit are incapable of seeing outside the blinkers that they wear

More and more I believe that for Britain, the end of history is at hand. To put it another way, when the history of this century is written, Brexit will be seen to have been a terrible mistake that doomed ‘Great Britain’ to irrelevance.

Over time, its economy will dwindle, its people will become more and more disenfranchised, its leadership (especially if it remains as it is now) will come to be seen as an international joke.

It’s a tragedy. Throughout its history Britain has had a profound impact on the world. Of course, it wasn’t always a positive one, and its mistakes (and cruelties) were as great as its achievements. But it left a mark everywhere. I think it’s true to say that this would be an entirely different world today if it weren’t for the leadership, courage and doggedness shown by Britain and its people during the Second World War.

In all sorts of ways that have nothing to do with global politics, Britain has enriched us. Its writers, actors, musicians, creative artists, sports people (maybe not the English rugby team!) have made lasting impressions on us all.

And it is a beautiful, friendly, hospitable country. Some of the best times we’ve ever had have been in places like Cornwall and parts of Scotland. London is a city of endless fascination. I love Blackpool, where my brother lived, and its nearby Lake District. Some of my favourite in-laws are English or have lived there all their lives.

So I don’t feel like sneering or belittling the heritage and history of our nearest neighbour. But I don’t know if you saw a couple of things recently that really hammered home the point of decline.

...

Why is Britain alone in insisting on visas for Ukrainian refugees? Brexit is the real reason — everyone knows that. But the British home secretary Priti Patel has claimed another reason. “I’m afraid it is naive and misguided to think that only men can be covert operatives,” she told a Tory gathering last week. She went on: “Or that refugee flows would not be subject to some form of exploitation.”

Yes. Britain, alone of all the countries in Europe, has decided that among the traumatised and often bereaved women and children arriving in Britain there could be some cunning Russian operatives, armed to the teeth with poisons and radioactive weapons, to cause havoc among the innocent Brits. That’s why, even if you’ve lost everything in a brutal war, you’ll still be turned back at Calais unless you have your paperwork right.

The likelihood of terrorist women or children from Ukraine might seem far-fetched to us, or to the leaders of France, Germany, or Spain. But that’s what Brexit does for you. Any excuse for inaction or for selfishness will do. And it will be offered by the same leaders who continuously assert how wonderful Britain is — how far-seeing, how generous, how inspired in its leadership. They have an astonishing ability to talk from both sides of their mouths.

In a few short years, Britain has gone from being a recognised world leader to an inward-looking, claustrophobic and closed version of its former self.

The phrase “lions led by donkeys” dates from the First World War. It is often used to contrast the bravery of ordinary troops with the incompetence of their generals. The people of Britain have made it clear again and again that they want to help. But the generals who led Britain into Brexit are incapable of seeing outside the blinkers that donkeys wear.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/c ... 44147.html

It picks on one aspect where we aren't good and ignores the bits where we have been good and where some of the EU countries have been very poor or none-existant. Britain is a small country that will become less relevant but maybe not a bad thing if what we are doing otherwise just makes us unhappy and backward looking towards an age and empire that is never coming back. The current donkeys will leave at some point. Brexit is bad in many ways as it took one of the most hawkish nations about Russia out of the EU and one of the two nuclear powers.

[SaintK]

What a guy.

All going a bit tits up for his No 10 ambitions this month. Should have put the knife in last year.

This won't help him very much either

Rishi Sunak’s multi-millionaire wife claims non-domicile status, it has emerged, which allows her to save millions of pounds in tax on dividends collected from her family’s IT business empire.

Akshata Murthy, who receives about £11.5m in annual dividends from her stake in the Indian IT services company Infosys, declares non-dom status, a scheme that allows people to avoid tax on foreign earnings.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics ... e-status

[Paddington Bear]

That article is a steaming pile of shit that's typical of a certain type of Irish columnist who would probably be better off just writing 'I am an anglophobe'.

Including 'some of my best friends/in laws are English' is basically hilarious.
He manages to ignore the point that we were the only ones who really took Ukraine seriously in Europe for some time and have armed/trained them with the weapons to defend their country. This, and not taking in refugees, is the most critical thing and is why Ukraine still exists in a recognisable form.
This is not a defence of the government's refugee scheme, which is needlessly nasty, and as it happens out of touch with public opinion.
It's also worth mentioning that the Ukrainian government doesn't really seem to want Western Europe to take in too many refugees, for fairly obvious reasons.

It would be nice if some of these Irish commentators would take a moment's introspection on international affairs as they yet again stay on the sidelines but blow enough smoke up their arses to manage to maintain the moral high ground, even as they have anti-tank weapons they'll never use gathering dust whilst Ukraine desperately holds on. Look to your own country's response and stop obsessing over someone else's.

Oh, and 'lions led by donkeys' doesn't lead back to the First World War, it was made up by Alan Clark to sell a book some years later.

[petej]

From John Bull in the Daily Fail

Ireland the parasite -Summary
I love Ireland, guinness and leprechauns but they have done basically zero to help Ukraine. While hiding away on the western edge knowing that it is unlikely they will have to take many refugees they love their paddy neutrality as they know they are basically shielded by their neighbour and in the EU by France. What have Ireland done for western defence bar steal corporate tax away from those very countries they hide behind? They have offered nothing towards to the defence Ukraine. The absolute tight fisted parasitical behaviour shown while others have been generously sending Ukraine the means to defend themselves does not reflect well on a nation known for its hospitality.

[Margin__Walker]

That article is a steaming pile of shit that's typical of a certain type of Irish columnist who would probably be better off just writing 'I am an anglophobe'.

Including 'some of my best friends/in laws are English' is basically hilarious.
He manages to ignore the point that we were the only ones who really took Ukraine seriously in Europe for some time and have armed/trained them with the weapons to defend their country. This, and not taking in refugees, is the most critical thing and is why Ukraine still exists in a recognisable form.
This is not a defence of the government's refugee scheme, which is needlessly nasty, and as it happens out of touch with public opinion.
It's also worth mentioning that the Ukrainian government doesn't really seem to want Western Europe to take in too many refugees, for fairly obvious reasons.

It would be nice if some of these Irish commentators would take a moment's introspection on international affairs as they yet again stay on the sidelines but blow enough smoke up their arses to manage to maintain the moral high ground, even as they have anti-tank weapons they'll never use gathering dust whilst Ukraine desperately holds on. Look to your own country's response and stop obsessing over someone else's.

Oh, and 'lions led by donkeys' doesn't lead back to the First World War, it was made up by Alan Clark to sell a book some years later.

Yep, putting aside the refugee issue, there have been British troops providing training and material support to Ukraine since 2015. Troops were in country right up until mid February.

Doesn't strike me as an international joke of a response to the impending war.

[dpedin]

What a guy.

All going a bit tits up for his No 10 ambitions this month. Should have put the knife in last year.

This won't help him very much either

Rishi Sunak’s multi-millionaire wife claims non-domicile status, it has emerged, which allows her to save millions of pounds in tax on dividends collected from her family’s IT business empire.

Akshata Murthy, who receives about £11.5m in annual dividends from her stake in the Indian IT services company Infosys, declares non-dom status, a scheme that allows people to avoid tax on foreign earnings.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics ... e-status

This is pretty damning although perfectly legal apparently, although there are serious questions about whether her non dom status is actually within the rules, some good threads kicking around Twitter on this. Regardless of all the legalities however it strikes hard into Sunak's ambitions for No10 and merely reinforces the 'one rule for us a different one for them' narrative - the optics on this are plain terrible and it will be interesting to see Sunak's response once he gets back from frolicking in the California sun whilst we all freeze in a cold Easter afraid to put the heating on.

On a separate note, it would appear that there has been a concerted effort to dismantle Sunak's carefully crafted image of being a sensible and safe pair of hands. Between this, donations to his alma mater and cocked up Spring statement and absolutely awful PR attempts at the petrol station its almost like there are forces act work to knock him back a few rungs on the greasy ladder. Wonder who is behind it?

PS Private Eye were discussing Murty's non-dom status a year ago.

[Paddington Bear]

Someone living in the Chancellor's official residence but being non-domiciled for tax purposes is the kind of thing you'd expect in The Thick of It

[petej]

Someone living in the Chancellor's official residence but being non-domiciled for tax purposes is the kind of thing you'd expect in The Thick of It

It's obscene.

[robmatic]

What a guy.

All going a bit tits up for his No 10 ambitions this month. Should have put the knife in last year.

This won't help him very much either

Rishi Sunak’s multi-millionaire wife claims non-domicile status, it has emerged, which allows her to save millions of pounds in tax on dividends collected from her family’s IT business empire.

Akshata Murthy, who receives about £11.5m in annual dividends from her stake in the Indian IT services company Infosys, declares non-dom status, a scheme that allows people to avoid tax on foreign earnings.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics ... e-status

This is pretty damning although perfectly legal apparently, although there are serious questions about whether her non dom status is actually within the rules, some good threads kicking around Twitter on this. Regardless of all the legalities however it strikes hard into Sunak's ambitions for No10 and merely reinforces the 'one rule for us a different one for them' narrative - the optics on this are plain terrible and it will be interesting to see Sunak's response once he gets back from frolicking in the California sun whilst we all freeze in a cold Easter afraid to put the heating on.

On a separate note, it would appear that there has been a concerted effort to dismantle Sunak's carefully crafted image of being a sensible and safe pair of hands. Between this, donations to his alma mater and cocked up Spring statement and absolutely awful PR attempts at the petrol station its almost like there are forces act work to knock him back a few rungs on the greasy ladder. Wonder who is behind it?

PS Private Eye were discussing Murty's non-dom status a year ago.

I've seen some suggestions that this is Number 10 briefing against Sunak - bit of blue-on-blue action.

[petej]

Cummings's has been quiet recently. I guess he doesn't want to waste his ammo.

[dpedin]

This won't help him very much either

https://www.theguardian.com/politics ... e-status

This is pretty damning although perfectly legal apparently, although there are serious questions about whether her non dom status is actually within the rules, some good threads kicking around Twitter on this. Regardless of all the legalities however it strikes hard into Sunak's ambitions for No10 and merely reinforces the 'one rule for us a different one for them' narrative - the optics on this are plain terrible and it will be interesting to see Sunak's response once he gets back from frolicking in the California sun whilst we all freeze in a cold Easter afraid to put the heating on.

On a separate note, it would appear that there has been a concerted effort to dismantle Sunak's carefully crafted image of being a sensible and safe pair of hands. Between this, donations to his alma mater and cocked up Spring statement and absolutely awful PR attempts at the petrol station its almost like there are forces act work to knock him back a few rungs on the greasy ladder. Wonder who is behind it?

PS Private Eye were discussing Murty's non-dom status a year ago.

I've seen some suggestions that this is Number 10 briefing against Sunak - bit of blue-on-blue action.

Sounds about right, my thoughts as well plus a wee bit of help from Lord Lebedev?

[C T]

Someone living in the Chancellor's official residence but being non-domiciled for tax purposes is the kind of thing you'd expect in The Thick of It

It's obscene.

It's the "completely legal" defence you read/hear that goes along with it too, it's just missing the point.

So 11.5 million pound a year in dividends, that's about 4.5 million tax to be paid for us mere mortals. A lot of money sure, but still leaving 7 million a year in the pocket.

It's hard to find sympathy when someone could pay the tax and still end up with 7 million. Probably about five times more than a lot of people will earn in their working lives, who manage to pay tax too.

[mos_eisely_]

Someone living in the Chancellor's official residence but being non-domiciled for tax purposes is the kind of thing you'd expect in The Thick of It

[dpedin]

Although head quartered in India where her father founded it, Infosys only earns 3% of its revenue in India. Most of its income, 85%, is derived from US (61%) and Europe, including Russia. Infosys probably earns more income and profits from their UK business than in India yet Murty pays tax in India because it is lower than UK. All legal but it stinks when based in No11.

[SaintK]

Someone living in the Chancellor's official residence but being non-domiciled for tax purposes is the kind of thing you'd expect in The Thick of It

It's obscene.

It's the "completely legal" defence you read/hear that goes along with it too, it's just missing the point.

So 11.5 million pound a year in dividends, that's about 4.5 million tax to be paid for us mere mortals. A lot of money sure, but still leaving 7 million a year in the pocket.

It's hard to find sympathy when someone could pay the tax and still end up with 7 million. Probably about five times more than a lot of people will earn in their working lives, who manage to pay tax too.

Her choice to be a non-dom by the sounds of it and not automatic due to her Indian citizenship

After her status was revealed by the Independent a spokesperson for Murty said that because she was a citizen of India, which does not allow Indians to hold the citizenship of another country simultaneously, she “is treated as non-domiciled for UK tax purposes”. They added: “She has always and will continue to pay UK taxes on all her UK income.”

However, tax experts have said non-dom status is not automatic but a choice.

Prof Richard Murphy, a Sheffield University academic who co-founded the Tax Justice Network, said:

Domicile has nothing to do with a person’s nationality. In other words, the claims made in the statement issued by Ms Murty are wrong, and as evidence, just because a person has Indian citizenship will never automatically grant them non-dom status in the UK.

[sockwithaticket]

Someone living in the Chancellor's official residence but being non-domiciled for tax purposes is the kind of thing you'd expect in The Thick of It

Iannucci famously ended it by saying stating the current state of politics was getting beyond satirisation. We've jumped several further sharks since then.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

Someone living in the Chancellor's official residence but being non-domiciled for tax purposes is the kind of thing you'd expect in The Thick of It

Iannucci famously ended it by saying stating the current state of politics was getting beyond satirisation. We've jumped several further sharks since then.

Rishi as the new Fonzee is that? Maybe, he is tiny but at best it's a paltry pompadour, and his boss is the one more likely to bang on about happy days

[Hal Jordan]

Energy policy announced.

Nuclear plants (whenever they get built).

More money for Shell to drill.

Fuck all for the easiest way to quickly help the energy crisis, improving efficiency of homes. No opportunity to cosplay for the photographers in front of the big ticket construction in it, so why bother?

[Rhubarb & Custard]

Their plans to date on home energy efficiency haven't been good. Work has often been done shoddily, damp has often been introduced as a needless problem, no one knows who's sorting problems, who's paying for problems. It's almost like even when they land on a good idea (or it's shoved in front of their faces) they lack the detailed thinking needed to effect a plan

[Paddington Bear]

Someone living in the Chancellor's official residence but being non-domiciled for tax purposes is the kind of thing you'd expect in The Thick of It

Iannucci famously ended it by saying stating the current state of politics was getting beyond satirisation. We've jumped several further sharks since then.

It may have been him as well who said 'the only difference between Westminster and The Thick of It is people in The Thick of It don't run around saying 'this is just like The Thick of It''

[fishfoodie]

Energy policy announced.

Nuclear plants (whenever they get built).

More money for Shell to drill.

Fuck all for the easiest way to quickly help the energy crisis, improving efficiency of homes. No opportunity to cosplay for the photographers in front of the big ticket construction in it, so why bother?

As you say, no cosplay opportunities, but would demand proper funding, & planning.

It's also the only one that could actually deliver, or more likely, fail horribly, before the next GE, the rest of it is all more jam tomorrow.

If the Tories are running scared over the nimbys freaking out over onshore wind farms; how the hell are they going to sell them on a bunch of new Nuclear plants ???

[Paddington Bear]

Energy policy announced.

Nuclear plants (whenever they get built).

More money for Shell to drill.

Fuck all for the easiest way to quickly help the energy crisis, improving efficiency of homes. No opportunity to cosplay for the photographers in front of the big ticket construction in it, so why bother?

As you say, no cosplay opportunities, but would demand proper funding, & planning.

It's also the only one that could actually deliver, or more likely, fail horribly, before the next GE, the rest of it is all more jam tomorrow.

If the Tories are running scared over the nimbys freaking out over onshore wind farms; how the hell are they going to sell them on a bunch of new Nuclear plants ???

What was announced today was new reactors at existing plants I think? Which is probably deliverable.

The NIMBY issue is astonishing and it's hard to look at British politics the same again once you grasp it IMO - NIMBYism is paralysing a government with an 80 seat majority years out from a general election, crippling chances at growth, affordable energy, housing etc, not to mention storing up massive problems for the Tory party in years to come. The worst part is that all polling suggests onshore wind is actually really popular - there's just a small minority who hate them who organise against it.

[dpedin]

Energy policy announced.

Nuclear plants (whenever they get built).

More money for Shell to drill.

Fuck all for the easiest way to quickly help the energy crisis, improving efficiency of homes. No opportunity to cosplay for the photographers in front of the big ticket construction in it, so why bother?

As you say, no cosplay opportunities, but would demand proper funding, & planning.

It's also the only one that could actually deliver, or more likely, fail horribly, before the next GE, the rest of it is all more jam tomorrow.

If the Tories are running scared over the nimbys freaking out over onshore wind farms; how the hell are they going to sell them on a bunch of new Nuclear plants ???

What was announced today was new reactors at existing plants I think? Which is probably deliverable.

The NIMBY issue is astonishing and it's hard to look at British politics the same again once you grasp it IMO - NIMBYism is paralysing a government with an 80 seat majority years out from a general election, crippling chances at growth, affordable energy, housing etc, not to mention storing up massive problems for the Tory party in years to come. The worst part is that all polling suggests onshore wind is actually really popular - there's just a small minority who hate them who organise against it.

Easiest thing in the world to announce new nuclear power plants - done in safe knowledge that none will even get off the initial planning stage before next election so they can't be held to account for any non delivery but the Tories will now use this as a mantra for having 'got power fixed' or some such inane slogan. Announcing nuclear far easier to do than something that actually had to be delivered in the remaining time this clusterfuck of a Gov has, such as introducing and delivering home insulation to help those who can't afford bills and can be done relatively quickly and started almost immediately. Problem for the gov is they haven't any money left as a result of profligate spending in pandemic plus impact of Brexit so they can't actually come forward with any power strategy that they actually have to deliver plus their oil/gas big business buddies will get pissed off if they start trying to limit demand side of the equation. Hence the Blonde Bumblecunt's strategy is all about confirming existing plans, focusing on supply side and longer term. It does nothing for short-medium term.

[sockwithaticket]

Someone living in the Chancellor's official residence but being non-domiciled for tax purposes is the kind of thing you'd expect in The Thick of It

Iannucci famously ended it by saying stating the current state of politics was getting beyond satirisation. We've jumped several further sharks since then.

Rishi as the new Fonzee is that? Maybe, he is tiny but at best it's a paltry pompadour, and his boss is the one more likely to bang on about happy days

for carrying on in this direction.

If Rishi can't be The Fonz on the basis of his 'do, then Boris is definitely out.

[GogLais]

I wonder about home insulation. Like millions of people (tens of millions?) I live in a house with a suspended timber floor and solid walls. It’s difficult and expensive to insulate those elements. And it’s difficult and perhaps unwise to go for cavity insulation in newer houses.
Sure stuff as much insulation in the roof as possible and double glaze your windows but tbh I suspect that added insulation will only play a relatively small part in solving our energy problems. Delighted to be wrong.

[fishfoodie]

I wonder about home insulation. Like millions of people (tens of millions?) I live in a house with a suspended timber floor and solid walls. It’s difficult and expensive to insulate those elements. And it’s difficult and perhaps unwise to go for cavity insulation in newer houses.
Sure stuff as much insulation in the roof as possible and double glaze your windows but tbh I suspect that added insulation will only play a relatively small part in solving our energy problems. Delighted to be wrong.

This speaks to why you need a decent Government, with competent Ministers, & God forbid, & actual damn Plan !

Before you aim to spend billions on home improvement, you need to signal the effort, so you can train & certify the tens of thousands of people you'll need to do proper surveys & take the infra-red photos, to show where the heat is leaking out, & then make the recommendations, to the client.

In parallel, they same signal goes out to Industry, & they come up with efficient, & affordable, & available solutions; & the construction industry up skills too, so they can properly install these solutions, because all too often the punter pays a shit load of money to get the job done, & the installer makes a balls of it, & they don't see anything like the savings they expect, & end up with mold & damp or whatever.

Of course none of this happens in a single Parliamentary term, so getting the useless fuckers to do this is impossible.

[Insane_Homer]

[Rhubarb & Custard]

Iannucci famously ended it by saying stating the current state of politics was getting beyond satirisation. We've jumped several further sharks since then.

Rishi as the new Fonzee is that? Maybe, he is tiny but at best it's a paltry pompadour, and his boss is the one more likely to bang on about happy days

for carrying on in this direction.

If Rishi can't be The Fonz on the basis of his 'do, then Boris is definitely out.

There has got to be a Channel 5 show in seeing Rishi, after he's fired perhaps, and Matt Hancock actually jumping sharks. Nadine Dorris has never had an issue taking extended time off her job to go on TV to promote herself so she's in. JRM possibly denies sharks exist having been 'lied' to about the number of years sharks have swum in earth's waters, so he could be a difficult contestant to get, but Chris Grayling might need the work along with Dom Cummings and Sir Gavin of Williamson

[SaintK]

What a contemtible cunt of a man. The BBC link has a video embedded which shows him at his finest

A former cabinet minister has challenged the Grenfell inquiry not to waste his time while giving evidence, before getting the death toll from the disaster wrong.
Lord Pickles, who served as secretary of state at the then Department for Communities and Local Government between 2010 and 2015, sparked anger after he advised the inquiry’s senior counsel to “use your time wisely” as he had an extremely busy day.
Pickles said: “By all means sir, feel free to ask me as many questions as you like, but could I respectfully remind you that you did promise that we would be away this morning and I have changed my schedules to fit this in.”

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/20 ... ll-wrong
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-61029969