Stop voting for fucking Tories

[Paddington Bear]

Crossrail/Elizabeth Line to open later this month. Obviously it's late and will have teething problems, but this is an incredible piece of engineering and a step change in infrastructure terms. Possible to get very negative about the country, but projects like this are things we do very well.

I'm sure this news will warm the heart of passengers chugging along on TransPennine Express.

The fact that other services are shit doesn't change what I've posted. I've posted before that we need to change the Treasury's attitude to infrastructure projects outside of London, but this is still a good value project that will provide serious economic benefits, and is a very impressive engineering feat.

[sockwithaticket]

Crossrail took out two of the best and most accessible (for those coming in via Waterloo) venues in London. RIP The Astoria and Mean Fiddler.

[petej]

Crossrail/Elizabeth Line to open later this month. Obviously it's late and will have teething problems, but this is an incredible piece of engineering and a step change in infrastructure terms. Possible to get very negative about the country, but projects like this are things we do very well.

I'm sure this news will warm the heart of passengers chugging along on TransPennine Express.

The fact that other services are shit doesn't change what I've posted. I've posted before that we need to change the Treasury's attitude to infrastructure projects outside of London, but this is still a good value project that will provide serious economic benefits, and is a very impressive engineering feat.

It isn't a step change in infrastructure terms. They've always been willing to spend there. Stop with the self congratulatory bullshit. Be happy for London but fuck right off on this people shouldn't be so negative about this country. Building good infrastructure in one region of the country doesn't make it less shit elsewhere particularly when elsewhere is aware of it.

[Hal Jordan]

Crossrail/Elizabeth Line to open later this month. Obviously it's late and will have teething problems, but this is an incredible piece of engineering and a step change in infrastructure terms. Possible to get very negative about the country, but projects like this are things we do very well.

I'm sure this news will warm the heart of passengers chugging along on TransPennine Express.

They can come to London and warm all of their bodies on Crossrail.

[Paddington Bear]

I'm sure this news will warm the heart of passengers chugging along on TransPennine Express.

The fact that other services are shit doesn't change what I've posted. I've posted before that we need to change the Treasury's attitude to infrastructure projects outside of London, but this is still a good value project that will provide serious economic benefits, and is a very impressive engineering feat.

It isn't a step change in infrastructure terms. They've always been willing to spend there. Stop with the self congratulatory bullshit. Be happy for London but fuck right off on this people shouldn't be so negative about this country. Building good infrastructure in one region of the country doesn't make it less shit elsewhere particularly when elsewhere is aware of it.

I'm not sure what your point is - my point was that we can build superb infrastructure when we put our mind to it and should do more, as I've mentioned a number of times. Besides, this connects Reading/Heathrow to Woolwich/Shenfield through Central London which I'd guess makes this line accessible to what? at a minimum 1/8th of the population, probably significantly more. Not to mention I was discussing with a mate who lives in Devon and needs to be in the City twice a week how much easier this will make his life, same is true for South Wales.

We don't solve any issues in the north or anyone else by holding London back, and this is clearly a step change in infrastructure terms.

[tabascoboy]

^ And very much a result of cross-party collaboration right from the project's beginning in 2005 to the end. I'm sure Tory PR and Labour Greater London Authority will both milk it to the fullest!

[Rinkals]

[Biffer]

The fact that other services are shit doesn't change what I've posted. I've posted before that we need to change the Treasury's attitude to infrastructure projects outside of London, but this is still a good value project that will provide serious economic benefits, and is a very impressive engineering feat.

It isn't a step change in infrastructure terms. They've always been willing to spend there. Stop with the self congratulatory bullshit. Be happy for London but fuck right off on this people shouldn't be so negative about this country. Building good infrastructure in one region of the country doesn't make it less shit elsewhere particularly when elsewhere is aware of it.

I'm not sure what your point is - my point was that we can build superb infrastructure when we put our mind to it and should do more, as I've mentioned a number of times. Besides, this connects Reading/Heathrow to Woolwich/Shenfield through Central London which I'd guess makes this line accessible to what? at a minimum 1/8th of the population, probably significantly more. Not to mention I was discussing with a mate who lives in Devon and needs to be in the City twice a week how much easier this will make his life, same is true for South Wales.

We don't solve any issues in the north or anyone else by holding London back, and this is clearly a step change in infrastructure terms.

Much as I understand when people say that London shouldn’t be held back in order to spend in the North, no one seems to object to holding back the north in order to spend 9n London, except in a cursory ‘oh yes, isn’t it awful, tsk tsk’ way

[Paddington Bear]

It isn't a step change in infrastructure terms. They've always been willing to spend there. Stop with the self congratulatory bullshit. Be happy for London but fuck right off on this people shouldn't be so negative about this country. Building good infrastructure in one region of the country doesn't make it less shit elsewhere particularly when elsewhere is aware of it.

I'm not sure what your point is - my point was that we can build superb infrastructure when we put our mind to it and should do more, as I've mentioned a number of times. Besides, this connects Reading/Heathrow to Woolwich/Shenfield through Central London which I'd guess makes this line accessible to what? at a minimum 1/8th of the population, probably significantly more. Not to mention I was discussing with a mate who lives in Devon and needs to be in the City twice a week how much easier this will make his life, same is true for South Wales.

We don't solve any issues in the north or anyone else by holding London back, and this is clearly a step change in infrastructure terms.

Much as I understand when people say that London shouldn’t be held back in order to spend in the North, no one seems to object to holding back the north in order to spend 9n London, except in a cursory ‘oh yes, isn’t it awful, tsk tsk’ way

I get the point but I've been pretty consistent on here when it's come up that we could and should spend much more on transport in the north, up to and including entirely resetting how the Treasury calculate Cost to Benefit ratios. I'm not an MP and no party is offering what I propose so I'm not sure what else I'm supposed to do. It also isn't relevant to my points about economic benefits and how impressive the infrastructure actually is.

Also relevant is that 70% of the funding came directly from Londoners, and without getting too granular a pretty significant chunk of the remaining 30% would have as well.
Basically this shouldn't be a 'one or the other' situation - London can fund a lot of it's own capital investment but does need Central Government involvement as well as it is a massive globally competitive city. The 70/30 local:central ratio probably needs to be reversed to get things off the ground in Manchester/Leeds etc but there's no reason we can't do both at the same time.

[Biffer]

I'm not sure what your point is - my point was that we can build superb infrastructure when we put our mind to it and should do more, as I've mentioned a number of times. Besides, this connects Reading/Heathrow to Woolwich/Shenfield through Central London which I'd guess makes this line accessible to what? at a minimum 1/8th of the population, probably significantly more. Not to mention I was discussing with a mate who lives in Devon and needs to be in the City twice a week how much easier this will make his life, same is true for South Wales.

We don't solve any issues in the north or anyone else by holding London back, and this is clearly a step change in infrastructure terms.

Much as I understand when people say that London shouldn’t be held back in order to spend in the North, no one seems to object to holding back the north in order to spend 9n London, except in a cursory ‘oh yes, isn’t it awful, tsk tsk’ way

I get the point but I've been pretty consistent on here when it's come up that we could and should spend much more on transport in the north, up to and including entirely resetting how the Treasury calculate Cost to Benefit ratios. I'm not an MP and no party is offering what I propose so I'm not sure what else I'm supposed to do. It also isn't relevant to my points about economic benefits and how impressive the infrastructure actually is.

Also relevant is that 70% of the funding came directly from Londoners, and without getting too granular a pretty significant chunk of the remaining 30% would have as well.
Basically this shouldn't be a 'one or the other' situation - London can fund a lot of it's own capital investment but does need Central Government involvement as well as it is a massive globally competitive city. The 70/30 local:central ratio probably needs to be reversed to get things off the ground in Manchester/Leeds etc but there's no reason we can't do both at the same time.

Not particularly aimed at you, just highlighting that argument is also used to not invest in the north.

[bogbunny]

Crossrail took out two of the best and most accessible (for those coming in via Waterloo) venues in London. RIP The Astoria and Mean Fiddler.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Loved that place around '89/'90

[sockwithaticket]

Crossrail took out two of the best and most accessible (for those coming in via Waterloo) venues in London. RIP The Astoria and Mean Fiddler.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Loved that place around '89/'90

I spent a good chunk of the 00s in there watching various heavy bands. For a while it was one of the few spots other than The Underworld you could reliably go for those sorts of gigs.

Just in terms of layout it was one of the greatest venues I've ever had the privilege of going to and I still miss it.

[Slick]

Thoroughly enjoying my father in law telling me there is no way Boris can be replaced because of the job he is doing In Ukraine and that “the Daily Mail say Lord Frost should become an MP and be the next leader”

This is what we are up against

[bogbunny]

Crossrail took out two of the best and most accessible (for those coming in via Waterloo) venues in London. RIP The Astoria and Mean Fiddler.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Loved that place around '89/'90

I spent a good chunk of the 00s in there watching various heavy bands. For a while it was one of the few spots other than The Underworld you could reliably go for those sorts of gigs.

Just in terms of layout it was one of the greatest venues I've ever had the privilege of going to and I still miss it.

Used to go to a lot of Sunday lunchtime/afternoon gigs as well as some better known bands Friday/Saturday nights.

Absolutely epic venue, with loads of Colleens to drink with.

[Muttonbird]

Thoroughly enjoying my father in law telling me there is no way Boris can be replaced because of the job he is doing In Ukraine and that “the Daily Mail say Lord Frost should become an MP and be the next leader”

This is what we are up against

What do you mean, we? You're a hard right wing nub job as far as I can tell.

[Slick]

Thoroughly enjoying my father in law telling me there is no way Boris can be replaced because of the job he is doing In Ukraine and that “the Daily Mail say Lord Frost should become an MP and be the next leader”

This is what we are up against

What do you mean, we? You're a hard right wing nub job as far as I can tell.

I think that’s probably because you are an idiot though

[Rinkals]

Thoroughly enjoying my father in law telling me there is no way Boris can be replaced because of the job he is doing In Ukraine and that “the Daily Mail say Lord Frost should become an MP and be the next leader”

This is what we are up against

What do you mean, we? You're a hard right wing nub job as far as I can tell.

I think that’s probably because you are an idiot though

Harsh but fair.

[SaintK]

Thoroughly enjoying my father in law telling me there is no way Boris can be replaced because of the job he is doing In Ukraine and that “the Daily Mail say Lord Frost should become an MP and be the next leader”

This is what we are up against

What do you mean, we? You're a hard right wing nub job as far as I can tell.

I think that’s probably because you are an idiot though

Nah, far too kind!!!

[Muttonbird]

You're seeing this a lot in the local elections. Tories pretending not to be tories, as if they are embarrassed by something. They're referring to themselves as local conservatives instead.

[JM2K6]

Thoroughly enjoying my father in law telling me there is no way Boris can be replaced because of the job he is doing In Ukraine and that “the Daily Mail say Lord Frost should become an MP and be the next leader”

This is what we are up against

What do you mean, we? You're a hard right wing nub job as far as I can tell.

[petej]

The fact that other services are shit doesn't change what I've posted. I've posted before that we need to change the Treasury's attitude to infrastructure projects outside of London, but this is still a good value project that will provide serious economic benefits, and is a very impressive engineering feat.

It isn't a step change in infrastructure terms. They've always been willing to spend there. Stop with the self congratulatory bullshit. Be happy for London but fuck right off on this people shouldn't be so negative about this country. Building good infrastructure in one region of the country doesn't make it less shit elsewhere particularly when elsewhere is aware of it.

I'm not sure what your point is - my point was that we can build superb infrastructure when we put our mind to it and should do more, as I've mentioned a number of times. Besides, this connects Reading/Heathrow to Woolwich/Shenfield through Central London which I'd guess makes this line accessible to what? at a minimum 1/8th of the population, probably significantly more. Not to mention I was discussing with a mate who lives in Devon and needs to be in the City twice a week how much easier this will make his life, same is true for South Wales.

We don't solve any issues in the north or anyone else by holding London back, and this is clearly a step change in infrastructure terms.

It is a self perpetuating cycle. It will help route more things through London which you kind of have to do because lets be honest public transport is fucking shite everywhere else. The structure of tfl and public transport in London is an absolute pisstake when the rest of the country has to put up with shitty disorganised privatisation. What you'll have noticed about various big infrastructure projects (London 2012 Olympics, super sewer, crossrail, hs2) is that they all serve the same population. The capability to build infrastructure never went away the political will did.

[Paddington Bear]

It isn't a step change in infrastructure terms. They've always been willing to spend there. Stop with the self congratulatory bullshit. Be happy for London but fuck right off on this people shouldn't be so negative about this country. Building good infrastructure in one region of the country doesn't make it less shit elsewhere particularly when elsewhere is aware of it.

I'm not sure what your point is - my point was that we can build superb infrastructure when we put our mind to it and should do more, as I've mentioned a number of times. Besides, this connects Reading/Heathrow to Woolwich/Shenfield through Central London which I'd guess makes this line accessible to what? at a minimum 1/8th of the population, probably significantly more. Not to mention I was discussing with a mate who lives in Devon and needs to be in the City twice a week how much easier this will make his life, same is true for South Wales.

We don't solve any issues in the north or anyone else by holding London back, and this is clearly a step change in infrastructure terms.

It is a self perpetuating cycle. It will help route more things through London which you kind of have to do because lets be honest public transport is fucking shite everywhere else. The structure of tfl and public transport in London is an absolute pisstake when the rest of the country has to put up with shitty disorganised privatisation. What you'll have noticed about various big infrastructure projects (London 2012 Olympics, super sewer, crossrail, hs2) is that they all serve the same population. The capability to build infrastructure never went away the political will did.

Not convinced HS2 is of most benefit to London but I take your point in general terms. With that said, to repeat - 70% of the cash for this came directly from London sources, making this a no brainer for the Treasury. There's also the element that there isn't another British city where 26 miles of tunnelling is remotely necessary as London is on a different scale.

This project should serve as a model - leaders in Manchester/Leeds etc should be exploring how they can raise 30-50% of the capital for major projects (some levers they already have like land value uplift etc, others like taxation need agreement of course), build cross party support locally and then deliver the plan almost as a fait accompli to central Government. Some of this has already happened - see Manchester and taking back control of it's buses.

[JM2K6]

It isn't a step change in infrastructure terms. They've always been willing to spend there. Stop with the self congratulatory bullshit. Be happy for London but fuck right off on this people shouldn't be so negative about this country. Building good infrastructure in one region of the country doesn't make it less shit elsewhere particularly when elsewhere is aware of it.

I'm not sure what your point is - my point was that we can build superb infrastructure when we put our mind to it and should do more, as I've mentioned a number of times. Besides, this connects Reading/Heathrow to Woolwich/Shenfield through Central London which I'd guess makes this line accessible to what? at a minimum 1/8th of the population, probably significantly more. Not to mention I was discussing with a mate who lives in Devon and needs to be in the City twice a week how much easier this will make his life, same is true for South Wales.

We don't solve any issues in the north or anyone else by holding London back, and this is clearly a step change in infrastructure terms.

It is a self perpetuating cycle. It will help route more things through London which you kind of have to do because lets be honest public transport is fucking shite everywhere else. The structure of tfl and public transport in London is an absolute pisstake when the rest of the country has to put up with shitty disorganised privatisation. What you'll have noticed about various big infrastructure projects (London 2012 Olympics, super sewer, crossrail, hs2) is that they all serve the same population. The capability to build infrastructure never went away the political will did.

Tbf the super sewer is a strange one to put in there, it's not like Telford needs it - it's specifically a London solution to a London problem

[I like neeps]

Another normal day in our retreating democracy.

[shaggy]

Another normal day in our retreating democracy.

I very rarely bother to comment here but is there a difference in the ID needed to obtain those types of passes, hence some have more ‘integrity’ than others?

[I like neeps]

Another normal day in our retreating democracy.

I very rarely bother to comment here but is there a difference in the ID needed to obtain those types of passes, hence some have more ‘integrity’ than others?

I have never applied for an old persons bus card. I have applied for railcards and to do you so need a passport. So I can't possibly imagine how...

[petej]

Another normal day in our retreating democracy.

I very rarely bother to comment here but is there a difference in the ID needed to obtain those types of passes, hence some have more ‘integrity’ than others?

I have never applied for an old persons bus card. I have applied for railcards and to do you so need a passport. So I can't possibly imagine how...

Or a driver's license.
Edit: on every application form for anything is the requirement for a driver's license or passport.

[sturginho]

Fun times ahead....

https://inews.co.uk/opinion/boris-johns ... ns-1610163

[fishfoodie]

Fun times ahead....

https://inews.co.uk/opinion/boris-johns ... ns-1610163

One challenger taken care of, so move the other one in where she can take the blame for the fucked economy, & cost of living crisis

[tabascoboy]

Fun times ahead....

https://inews.co.uk/opinion/boris-johns ... ns-1610163

One challenger taken care of, so move the other one in where she can take the blame for the fucked economy, & cost of living crisis

Christ alive, Truss as Chancellor; what next? Fabricant as Foreign Secretary?

[sturginho]

Fun times ahead....

https://inews.co.uk/opinion/boris-johns ... ns-1610163

One challenger taken care of, so move the other one in where she can take the blame for the fucked economy, & cost of living crisis

Christ alive, Truss as Chancellor; what next? Fabricant as Foreign Secretary?

Rees-Mogg at DWP where he can bring back workhouses?

[petej]

Fun times ahead....

https://inews.co.uk/opinion/boris-johns ... ns-1610163

One challenger taken care of, so move the other one in where she can take the blame for the fucked economy, & cost of living crisis

Christ alive, Truss as Chancellor; what next? Fabricant as Foreign Secretary?

Chris Grayling, Nadine Dorries, Matt Hancock, Mark Francois, Lord Frost? Plenty of top notch candidates for either position.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

One challenger taken care of, so move the other one in where she can take the blame for the fucked economy, & cost of living crisis

Christ alive, Truss as Chancellor; what next? Fabricant as Foreign Secretary?

Chris Grayling, Nadine Dorries, Matt Hancock, Mark Francois, Lord Frost? Plenty of top notch candidates for either position.

Bridgen not in the running? Okay a judge called him dishonest and noted he lied in court, but that's surely not an issue

[Camroc2]

One challenger taken care of, so move the other one in where she can take the blame for the fucked economy, & cost of living crisis

Christ alive, Truss as Chancellor; what next? Fabricant as Foreign Secretary?

Chris Grayling, Nadine Dorries, Matt Hancock, Mark Francois, Lord Frost? Plenty of top notch candidates for either position.

Mark Francois for Defence, surely ?

Or no doubt The War Office, as he'd rename it

[Rinkals]

Christ alive, Truss as Chancellor; what next? Fabricant as Foreign Secretary?

Chris Grayling, Nadine Dorries, Matt Hancock, Mark Francois, Lord Frost? Plenty of top notch candidates for either position.

Bridgen not in the running? Okay a judge called him dishonest and noted he lied in court, but that's surely not an issue

Not an issue?

It's a fuckin recommendation.

[C69]

Christ alive, Truss as Chancellor; what next? Fabricant as Foreign Secretary?

Chris Grayling, Nadine Dorries, Matt Hancock, Mark Francois, Lord Frost? Plenty of top notch candidates for either position.

Mark Francois for Defence, surely ?

Or no doubt The War Office, as he'd rename it

Nah Mark Francois is surely nailed on for Minster for Women

[JM2K6]

Tbf western countries renaming their departments for war to departments of "defence" was some Orwellian shit to begin with

[dpedin]

Chris Grayling, Nadine Dorries, Matt Hancock, Mark Francois, Lord Frost? Plenty of top notch candidates for either position.

Mark Francois for Defence, surely ?

Or no doubt The War Office, as he'd rename it

Nah Mark Francois is surely nailed on for Minster for Women

Andrew Bridgen - Attorney General?

[SaintK]

More jobs for the donors!

Two businessmen who together donated more than £1m to the Conservative party have been handed prominent public health jobs, igniting a new “cronyism” row.

After the government came under criticism for its awarding of Covid contracts, including a “VIP lane” for suppliers, Labour raised fresh questions about recent appointments to NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

One of those given a senior public health advisory role was chair of a firm that reportedly sued the NHS for hundreds of millions of pounds over a failed IT project.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics ... obs-nhs

[fishfoodie]

With the way the Torygraph is frantically trying to make Starmer drinking a beer with a takeaway a hanging offense, the next news on Partygate must be really fucking awful.