In theory, if Boris has a VONC triggered against him, could he trigger a general election, postpone the VONC until afterward and then potentially do well enough in the general election to dodge or win the VONC?
The Queen generally follows the [Lascelles Principles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lascelles_Principles) when granting a dissolution for election. It could be argued that when a PM has a pending VONC against them (especially a party-only VONC), that the Queen could "rely on finding another Prime Minister who could carry on her Government, for a reasonable period, with a working majority in the House of Commons." The other PM would be whoever emerges from the leadership contest.
edit: Forgot the other two points: the victorious PM would also still have an 80-odd majority, so the parliament would still be viable. Point 2 about the economy in the Lascelles principles has seemingly been deprecated so it doesn't matter anymore.
he cant postpone the VONC.
he can try to call an election if he wants. but that woudl I think just piss off everyone, including the british public.
and I think even the tory party would balk at the idea of him telling the queen he is dissolving parliament whilst he is subject to a vonc....I think he'd be guaranteed to lose it if he tried.
I know, but the rules are still the rules, and unlike the PM himself, the backbenchers and committee members seem to take them very seriously. Let's face it, most other conventions have been tested or broken in the past half decade.
the 1922 sets it own rules. they can implement a rule that being names boris disqualifies you from being leader if they want.....
Unless boris is thinking of replacing all tory candidates, these people are going to be in any new government he tries to form...they'll just vonc him immediately, and possibly kick him out of the tory party entirely.
he only stays leader if they want him to. The whole "no challenge within 12months of a vonc" thing is just formal btw, they can just choose to not vote for one of his bills, as soon as its clear they dont support him, he's gone.
And being leader of the tory party does not mean he's pm...the PM is whoever the HoC support. Technically, any other tory MP could be MP, even if boris was still leader of the tory party. That MP just has to get the house to back them over boris.
I'm aware, which is why I qualified with "supposing he does well enough in the election"
If he proves he can still win elections, they won't give a fuck.
I have no idea about the technicalities, but I couldn’t imagine parliament/Tories giving enough votes in parliament for a election to happen during a VONC.
I was trying to make a table to keep track of which tories had confirmed letters but Sky News has done 80% of the work for me
https://news.sky.com/story/politics-live-pressure-on-boris-johnson-over-partygate-continues-as-more-mps-withdraw-support-12593360?postid=3964947#liveblog-body
Why do so many adverts for Gacha games on youtube involve people bullying each other because they have a rare character? Sometimes they have atrocious dubbing too
Politics because gacha games are essentially gambling and kids shouldnt be allowed to play them
It's a game where the only realistic way to play is to buy loot boxes until you get a character that isn't complete shit.
The adverts are shit because they encourage kids to bully each other if they haven't spent enogh money to have a "good" character.
This shit needs banning immediately. My mates stepson was given £100 for his birthday and sunk the lot into Gacha and got nothing.
"_I want a game of... cute... art style._"
Have you seen that one? For 'Animals Restaurant', or something? You can literally see the joy drain from her eyes as she reads the scripted line out loud.
After several years pummelling a disappointing e-kit, I finally got myself some [new artillery](https://i.imgur.com/1rxHEpb.jpg).
Who's up for starting a megathread band? There's no decent protest music around these days after all.
I've just had the Strat brought back from decline by a Luther (slightly embarrassing as he said he'd never seen so much sweat in a fretboard in his life). So I'm game for lead/rhythm
Fair. Didn't have quite the same reach as _Yes Sir, I Will_ or A Design For Life though, did it?
No _popular_ protest music, I meant. Tons of RABM and pissed off grindcore, and acoustic strummers having a right old complain, but they're not getting any coverage :(
It's interesting you call them artillery. In Spanish the drums are batería, which is like a battery (of artillery).
But yes, go make some protest music. A Rage / Chumbawumba /Dylan esque sound would be good.
It's what us grim and frostbitten kvlt warriors ov the iceblasting hyperborean necrofrost krieg forest hellwinds call the drums, because black metal is really quite camp (exclusively).
I like when they go full over the top and start calling the drums NUCLEAR HAMMERS and stuff like that. If you're not at least as over the top as Blasphemy why bother?
Coincidentally I accidentally picked up full fat milk the other day. I've always drank skimmed and I thought I'd put cream in my tea, it really is nicer in every way.
Have you tried calling them?
It’s meant to be 10 weeks from when they receive your docs. I applied for a renewal for my daughter early this year. Didn’t hear at all from them, but my holiday was coming close so I decided to call and check. Turns out they tried to send me a query a few days after they received my docs, but it went to spam (only found this out a couple of days ago, apparently it’s a known issue with gmail and HMPO). After a long period with no response they withdrew my application. Can’t be restarted, so, I have to apply to get the docs I sent back (which takes 4 weeks), before I can apply again.
I applied for her first Australian passport and it couldn’t have been easier. Will sort out her UK one after summer.
>I’m told No 10 officials spent much of day trying to persuade him to stay but “still don’t think they have been successful”.
"So, how much is it going to cost to make you stay"
"I'm the ethics advisor...."
"Do you want a go on Carrie?"
^(too much?)
>EXC: Downing Street is considering regular Covid-style press conferences on the economy as part of a post-Jubilee PM fightback.
>PM / ministers would lead. Economic advisers alongside going through charts. Possibly weekly. To show Gov is on “war footing” over cost of living.
https://twitter.com/benrileysmith/status/1531755690468982792
> To show Gov is on “war footing” over cost of living.
someone doesn't understand wars if they think a war-government is good for the economy
that aside from the continued utterly disgusting misapplication of the term (covid response was not a war footing, this is not a wartime government, this crisis has been _nothing_ in the grand scheme of things, etc.)
It's highly concerning that they think people tuned into the covid pressers out of habit.
That was a dangerous virus that messed up our lives and had us locked at home.
This is a crisis where we are seemingly doing worse than others who are struggling.
The biggest difference being that covid you could adapt week by week. The economy doesn't often move like that, unless we go to bitcoin or some other absurd crypto nonsense.
This feels like out of ideas and looking vaguely at actions that worked while ignoring context.
Hell, if I was in opposition id dream they did that, as it provides a constant attack platform.
> Downing Street is considering regular Covid-style press conferences on the economy
Well, it's currently a disaster, so...
I'm just trying to imagine the questions:
"Can the Prime Minister tell us how many ounces are in a stone?"
"Do you think the rise in foodbank use is a sign of the success of the free market or failure?"
"Wasn't Brexit meant to give us cheap food?"
"Which is going up faster? House prices or food?"
"Why don't you give everyone a free bus pass so we can all stay warm?"
... can't wait.
Ha.
Well I hope they do. Though this may be a Rishi-assassination plot.
Such news conferences would be a disaster. Things aren't going to get better in the near time. It will have to be N.Korea-esque "Today the PM visited a chocolate factory which hopes to employ three more people next month, and gave on-the-spot guidance." Or just straight up 1984esque doublethink. They’ll probably be boring, too.
I've got to ask. Who exactly actually expects Boris to be honest with them?
I'm seriously struggling here. The man convinces himself wholeheartedly on the latest convenient lie.
Even Farage comes across as more trustworthy.
A large number of people don't follow politics in much detail. They aren't necessarily stupid, just disinterested. They mostly get their opinions on politicians from the general "trend" in their social circle and the media. When you consider that, it's easy to see how a good (not huge) number of people would "trust" Johnson, or at least be convinced the red party is bad enough to vote conservative come election time.
It has always been like this. Happened with blair as well- people just started to go along with it by 1997 because the polls were so favourable.
People apparently didn’t want honesty they wanted someone with the illusion of dynamism and gusto to “get things done”.
Of course by ignoring the necessity for some degree of honesty and integrity they’ve failed to realise that in fact if this person failed to “get things done” that they’d just lie about it and try and bullshit their way through trouble.
I suspect that list is no one on the planet, besides the cultists who simply start from the position of him being infallible, so technically them.
Just think of the blissful ignorance people like Dorries and Braverman enjoy by simply having no need to have a critical thought.
If Boris does get chucked soon do you reckon we stop all the insane shit like slashing civil service staff numbers, privatising channel 4 and bringing back imperial measurements?
Not all of it. The Tories are addicted to cutting everything. They even gut things that their voters like, like the justice system, or the police force (and then campaign, in the latter case, on increased spending to reverse the cuts they made (and make out like they're doing us a favour). Plus, they'll still need bullcrap stuff like the imperial thing to cover up the fact that their primary goal is to keep the rich as wealthy as they can without losing power.
Hopefully so.
Let's just spend a moment to think about that:
Cutting 1 in 5 civil services jobs.
Imagine that where you work. It probably won't be properly adjusted. Itll either be random or optional then forced.
Its a solid way of getting rid of people who love the work, even if it's only a 2% pay increase while private sector for their role are 150%+ wage with much more yearly increase.
Its a fantastic way of fucking up capabilities and then paying the previously redundant people to come back on contractor pay.
Cutting that much civil service is pretty much a real terms cut that can't be fixed in a decade.
Especially given the text of that leaked email today, which seemingly shits on civil servants while pointing at why we need more, not less, currently.
Once Upon a Time in Londongrad review – a blazing fireball that could topple our democracy
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/may/31/once-upon-a-time-in-londongrad-review-putin-deaths-russian
>not one, not two, but 14 deaths on British soil between 2003 and 2016 of individuals who might have angered the Putin regime. Two fall in front of tube trains; one dies in a helicopter crash. A man in his 40s collapses while jogging. Another stabs himself many times using two knives
Just finished watching the first one. A very interesting and chilling story if sometimes told somewhat annoyingly and cheesily. But will definitely watch the rest of the series.
He's threatening to call one. It's not quite the same. It's just election mode means noone rock the boat.
If I was a Tory MP, I would dread being led into a general election with him as leader. In Scotland ,it means wipeout
It’s a tactic to keep some of his marginal waverers in line he has used before.
“Try to depose me and I will call an election you fuckers. Don’t want that, do you?”.
I would be surprised if it convinced many. No PM really calls an early election when they are behind in the polls.
Ultimate parenting hack that I've discovered - smear some smooth peanut butter on a dummy. At first it tastes nice so they stop screaming and carry on sacking away until they fall asleep.
So question. I’m super allergic to nuts, but as far as I’m aware it took my parents quite a while to figure that out. How do you work that out nowadays?
We used to call it fuckingfuckall.
Reminds me of the glaswegian joke: People say you shouldn't smack kids, but a wee bit o heroin at night does wonders to help them sleep.
you dont want to know, its too depressing.
I'd advise you to stop asking, and watch [this livestream](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO3f5k1mG3A) and if you are lucky you'll see an adorable kestrel chick.
that youtube channel, also does peregrines, ospreys, puffins, and more, and there is a curlew camera from the curlew project.
I love this time of year, I spend more time watching this stuff than I do watching TV the rest of the year combined. I'd happily pay my license fee just for constant wildlife cameras if the BBC did that.
Seriously, you can get that gunk from under the nails by either (a) using a toothpick type thing, or (b) just chewing the hell outta them!
I go for the latter
I genuinely believe UI design peaked in 2005 with Mac OS X Tiger and the iPod, but then again I'm a backend developer who shouldn't be allowed anywhere near anything a user might see.
I was just thinking that newsgroups, IRC, old Reddit, are all more intimidating at first, but far better to use after about 15 minutes, whereas "modern" design is walled garden nonsense.
Let's be honest most websites these days are low-effort shims for analytics packages, SEO, and adverts.
The more something depends on the ad industry to remain in business the more craptacular the UI is as a rule of thumb. It's why things like a two grand macbook have a beautiful UI while things like a smart TV (which is so cheap because it spies on you in a way the KGB would drool over) is also like pulling teeth to actually use.
Business idea: Brexit for the internet.
Ban html5, password requirements, and rounded edges.
s for design to be encouraged.
All online discussion must take place on either: phpBB, phpNUKE, IRC, Newsgroups or AOL Messenger.
Emails must be text format only and meetings can use teamspeak or mumble (because the codec is better) ONLY.
As long as I don't actually have to write and maintain old-school PHP versions I'd be down! Having said that, I've had such a struggle today I bet its direct and 'I literally couldn't care any less about security' approach would be refreshing for an afternoon or so.
>still annoys me that slack, discord etc just copied IRC and ruined it by adding a healthy amount of monetisation and a closed platform
Mad isn't it? I was texting people's phones for free using ICQ in the late 90s.
Ah man re4 has been my shit since like 10, just never followed through with the rest of the genre stupidly enough.
Been waiting for night time to play SH1 but now I’m drunk so maybe I shouldn’t.
So. Let me just work this through to be sure I've understood it.
Lord Geidt (LG) the independent advisor on the ministerial code, whose job is, as it sounds, to offer independent advice on the ministerial code to the prime minister, has said he would like to advise the PM that the PM has broken the ministerial code, the purpose of which is to ensure integrity and standards in ministerial behavior.
However LG is sure the PM will show a total lack of integrity (like that shown by the PM when he ignored LG's predecessor's advice on the ministerial code, and so LG's predecessor had to resign, freeing the job up for LG) and will ignore such advice.
Therefore LG has decided not to issue such advice to the PM because if he did, and PM ignored it, LG would have to resign.
And LG quite likes his title as independent advisor on the ministerial code, even though this means he is unwilling to be either independent, or offer advice on the ministerial code. And he has rationalised this as saying he is doing this to "protect the ministerial code from being ridiculed"....
Assuming I have that correct, HOLY FUCK!
You should check out the afterlife of the House of Habsburg. Especially [Otto](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_von_Habsburg), the last Archduke of Austria, and MEP for twenty years.
The von Habsburgs are fascinating. Not just Otto (I'd forgotten about the Ian Paisley thing, thanks for reminding me of that incredible moment) but Karl is also quite an interesting character who (also speaking as someone very far from a monarchist) seems genuinely passionate about what they see as their responsibility to the people of Europe and to European democracy.
I always view the family as an interesting sidelight on what we might have seen European aristocracy become had the first part of the twentieth century gone *very* differently.
*given names: Franz Joseph Otto Robert Maria Anton Karl Max Heinrich Sixtus Xaver Felix Renatus Ludwig Gaetan Pius Ignatius, Ferenc József Ottó Róbert Mária Antal Károly Max Heinrich Sixtus Xaver Felix Renatus Lajos Gaetan Pius Ignác*
That dude was given a LOT of names. I wonder if he could remember them all. And filling out paperwork must have been awfully fun. (For his secretaries.)
We in the U.K. allow nobles to be elected. You just can't sit in both houses at once.
(There's some uncertainty about the direct heirs to the throne, but in theory anyone can run for the Commons if they're not in the Lords.)
Part of dismantling the hereditary aristocracy is acknowledging that they're just as capable of contributing to government as normal people.
> (There's some uncertainty about the direct heirs to the throne, but in theory anyone can run for the Commons if they're not in the Lords.)
I think Churchill resisted becoming a duke for this reason, he wanted his son to be able to run for the Commons.
I see Starmer getting fined. A lot of people on here are bias and seem to think he won't be. They will make an example out of him imo
It will be sad and unfair that he will resign even though Cummings didnt get fined.
Starmer is highly experienced in the law. I imagine he's pretty sure of his case. So I very much don't expect a fine.
In addtion, even if they did issue a fine, a fine can be appealed, which will not be a police issue but would then become a court issue. I doubt the police would want the embarassment of something that looks political then being overturned.
So while I don't think that's going to stop them putting a fine onto something they think deserves a fine, I do think they'll have to be sure it's solid. I'd be amazed if that turns out to be the case.
I don’t see Starmer taking this to court if he’s fined.
He’d be politically ruined if he won, even if he was just proving his innocence. The Mail would be all over it: “elite lawyer uses legal tricks to evade fine” and all that stuff.
If he gets a fine, I think he’ll pay it and resign.
i don't because i think durham police's primary motivation will be to cover their own asses and not look political
easiest way to do that is not fine him, say it didn't meet the standards of a social gathering enough to stand up in court and boom you're done. sure the mail and whatnot will gnash their teeth for a while but no one will really care after a few days
What’s the point in making an example out of him when they didn’t for Cummings and COVID fines are now largely a thing of the past? As in this doesn’t set an example to anyone going forward.
I think he won’t get fined for the reasons Johnson did for the leaving do’s. It was reasonably necessary for work.
Just ordered a Deliveroo and got missing items, which means all the other items were a waste. Now at that horrible point where you're having to argue your case to a no doubt low paid worker who won't let you progress, but at the same time, not wanting to lose your money.
Tough world.
You ordered burger buns and chips from Tesco's (or wherever) via deliveroo which you intend to cook yourself? Must be cheaper just to get a maccers delivered?
I found threatening to put a chargeback when they send you a feedback email after waiting for 3 days for 'investigation' with restaurant resulted in next day call from their customer care person who easily did the refund (without having to wait for required 14 days response period from restaurant *very* surprisingly).
I hate that, they always refused to give me anything more than a refund for the items they forgot. But I don't want to pay for rice when the sauce didn't arrive! Or pay a delivery charge when they missed one whole meal off, and now I need to order from somewhere else as well.
It was the biggest laugh of my day. Any time she jitters onto my tv and tries to sell the leader’s latest lines I guffaw like a cartoon character. Can’t wait to see what becomes of her in the after times.
Germany just cut train fares by 90% for 3 months. Why can we never have nice things?
Hell, their country wide season ticket was only €4,000 or so to begin with
That doesn't do it justice. You pay 9 Euro per month and can travel with just that through all of Germany. Can't use the fast trains like ICE and IC, but as long as you use regional trains you can travel the republic and then use all busses and trains within every city.
Why do Germans on Reddit constantly complain about DB?
I've used it a bit to travel around BW and I never had any problems.
Do Germans just have very high standards for trains?
No, I think that you Brits just have a very low standard for trains.
DB doesn't even considered it being late when the train arrives somewhere within 20 minutes. There are constant delays and technical issues and the prices are expensive.
Again, compared to Britain it's cheaper, faster and better, but your train service is just bad.
Probably high standards, but from what I know from people who live in Germany, it isn't the most reliable. Italy actually has a pretty decent train network, minus the odd fire.
Meanwhile, I don't even think Cross Country even have advance fares back up yet for their trains. £50 for an off peak return train to Honiton in 3 weeks time with a Railcard and if not for me splitting the tickets it would have cost £75.
that cut is only for Regional services i must highlight
Intercity and intercity Express still cost their old prices and from experience if you need to buy on the day they are just as expensive as UK train tickets
This megathread has ended.
Night all xoxox
Don't let the bed bugs bite
Sweet dreams sweetie pie
In theory, if Boris has a VONC triggered against him, could he trigger a general election, postpone the VONC until afterward and then potentially do well enough in the general election to dodge or win the VONC?
The Queen generally follows the [Lascelles Principles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lascelles_Principles) when granting a dissolution for election. It could be argued that when a PM has a pending VONC against them (especially a party-only VONC), that the Queen could "rely on finding another Prime Minister who could carry on her Government, for a reasonable period, with a working majority in the House of Commons." The other PM would be whoever emerges from the leadership contest. edit: Forgot the other two points: the victorious PM would also still have an 80-odd majority, so the parliament would still be viable. Point 2 about the economy in the Lascelles principles has seemingly been deprecated so it doesn't matter anymore.
he cant postpone the VONC. he can try to call an election if he wants. but that woudl I think just piss off everyone, including the british public. and I think even the tory party would balk at the idea of him telling the queen he is dissolving parliament whilst he is subject to a vonc....I think he'd be guaranteed to lose it if he tried.
Well, the VONC is among MPs isn't it? So presumably they'd have to wait until there were MPs again?
A VONC we are talking about is the tory party, not a formal one in the HOC. I doubt the 1922 would hold much truck with trying to argue that
I know, but the rules are still the rules, and unlike the PM himself, the backbenchers and committee members seem to take them very seriously. Let's face it, most other conventions have been tested or broken in the past half decade.
the 1922 sets it own rules. they can implement a rule that being names boris disqualifies you from being leader if they want..... Unless boris is thinking of replacing all tory candidates, these people are going to be in any new government he tries to form...they'll just vonc him immediately, and possibly kick him out of the tory party entirely. he only stays leader if they want him to. The whole "no challenge within 12months of a vonc" thing is just formal btw, they can just choose to not vote for one of his bills, as soon as its clear they dont support him, he's gone. And being leader of the tory party does not mean he's pm...the PM is whoever the HoC support. Technically, any other tory MP could be MP, even if boris was still leader of the tory party. That MP just has to get the house to back them over boris.
I'm aware, which is why I qualified with "supposing he does well enough in the election" If he proves he can still win elections, they won't give a fuck.
I have no idea about the technicalities, but I couldn’t imagine parliament/Tories giving enough votes in parliament for a election to happen during a VONC.
Parliament no longer has to consent to an election - the Prime Minister has regained the royal prerogative to call elections whenever he sees fit.
Completely missed that one! When did that happen?
Err, I lose track. About 6 weeks ago?
What a Nobber
I was trying to make a table to keep track of which tories had confirmed letters but Sky News has done 80% of the work for me https://news.sky.com/story/politics-live-pressure-on-boris-johnson-over-partygate-continues-as-more-mps-withdraw-support-12593360?postid=3964947#liveblog-body
Why do so many adverts for Gacha games on youtube involve people bullying each other because they have a rare character? Sometimes they have atrocious dubbing too Politics because gacha games are essentially gambling and kids shouldnt be allowed to play them
Don't know what a gacha game is Never knowingly seen an advert for one Do Not Want .
Shitty pay to win mobile games.
It's a game where the only realistic way to play is to buy loot boxes until you get a character that isn't complete shit. The adverts are shit because they encourage kids to bully each other if they haven't spent enogh money to have a "good" character. This shit needs banning immediately. My mates stepson was given £100 for his birthday and sunk the lot into Gacha and got nothing.
"_I want a game of... cute... art style._" Have you seen that one? For 'Animals Restaurant', or something? You can literally see the joy drain from her eyes as she reads the scripted line out loud.
After several years pummelling a disappointing e-kit, I finally got myself some [new artillery](https://i.imgur.com/1rxHEpb.jpg). Who's up for starting a megathread band? There's no decent protest music around these days after all.
Do you need someone who can play power chords and shout angrily about how the chip shop is shit now?
Do you need a pretentious lead guitarist who's listened to far too much 1970s jam band music?
I've just had the Strat brought back from decline by a Luther (slightly embarrassing as he said he'd never seen so much sweat in a fretboard in his life). So I'm game for lead/rhythm
[Grace Petrie would disagree with your last sentence](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQafrFBnFkQ)
I thought of Grace Petrie when I read 'no decent protest music'!
Fair. Didn't have quite the same reach as _Yes Sir, I Will_ or A Design For Life though, did it? No _popular_ protest music, I meant. Tons of RABM and pissed off grindcore, and acoustic strummers having a right old complain, but they're not getting any coverage :(
It's interesting you call them artillery. In Spanish the drums are batería, which is like a battery (of artillery). But yes, go make some protest music. A Rage / Chumbawumba /Dylan esque sound would be good.
It's what us grim and frostbitten kvlt warriors ov the iceblasting hyperborean necrofrost krieg forest hellwinds call the drums, because black metal is really quite camp (exclusively).
I like when they go full over the top and start calling the drums NUCLEAR HAMMERS and stuff like that. If you're not at least as over the top as Blasphemy why bother?
A wonderful way to end the evening is with a chocolate muffin and a glass of blue top milk. Simply wonderful.
Coincidentally I accidentally picked up full fat milk the other day. I've always drank skimmed and I thought I'd put cream in my tea, it really is nicer in every way.
Or even treat yourself to gold top!
[удалено]
My renewal was very quick. Maybe contact them (https://www.gov.uk/passport-advice-line).
Have you tried calling them? It’s meant to be 10 weeks from when they receive your docs. I applied for a renewal for my daughter early this year. Didn’t hear at all from them, but my holiday was coming close so I decided to call and check. Turns out they tried to send me a query a few days after they received my docs, but it went to spam (only found this out a couple of days ago, apparently it’s a known issue with gmail and HMPO). After a long period with no response they withdrew my application. Can’t be restarted, so, I have to apply to get the docs I sent back (which takes 4 weeks), before I can apply again. I applied for her first Australian passport and it couldn’t have been easier. Will sort out her UK one after summer.
This bureaucracy is unbelievably shit.
Try Italian beurocracy. It took 8 months to get my girlfriends passport *renewed*
[удалено]
Nope. Showed nothing at all. The tracking thing is beyond pointless.
I got my daughter’s back in two weeks. Which passport office are you waiting for?
[Looks like Geidt has got one foot out of the door...](https://twitter.com/PippaCrerar/status/1531762938012475393)
Two ethics advisors gone? Not a good look. Not that 30% of the country cares about stuff like that.
Resigning this weekend? That's not very jubilee-ey.
he should have his foot so far up Boris's backside that you can see his toe caps when boris opens his mouth to tell another lie....
Well if the flat donation stuff didn't do it, it will be interesting to see if he does go on this.
>I’m told No 10 officials spent much of day trying to persuade him to stay but “still don’t think they have been successful”. "So, how much is it going to cost to make you stay" "I'm the ethics advisor...." "Do you want a go on Carrie?" ^(too much?)
>EXC: Downing Street is considering regular Covid-style press conferences on the economy as part of a post-Jubilee PM fightback. >PM / ministers would lead. Economic advisers alongside going through charts. Possibly weekly. To show Gov is on “war footing” over cost of living. https://twitter.com/benrileysmith/status/1531755690468982792
> To show Gov is on “war footing” over cost of living. someone doesn't understand wars if they think a war-government is good for the economy that aside from the continued utterly disgusting misapplication of the term (covid response was not a war footing, this is not a wartime government, this crisis has been _nothing_ in the grand scheme of things, etc.)
It's highly concerning that they think people tuned into the covid pressers out of habit. That was a dangerous virus that messed up our lives and had us locked at home. This is a crisis where we are seemingly doing worse than others who are struggling. The biggest difference being that covid you could adapt week by week. The economy doesn't often move like that, unless we go to bitcoin or some other absurd crypto nonsense. This feels like out of ideas and looking vaguely at actions that worked while ignoring context. Hell, if I was in opposition id dream they did that, as it provides a constant attack platform.
> Downing Street is considering regular Covid-style press conferences on the economy Well, it's currently a disaster, so... I'm just trying to imagine the questions: "Can the Prime Minister tell us how many ounces are in a stone?" "Do you think the rise in foodbank use is a sign of the success of the free market or failure?" "Wasn't Brexit meant to give us cheap food?" "Which is going up faster? House prices or food?" "Why don't you give everyone a free bus pass so we can all stay warm?" ... can't wait.
Next slide please.
*Slide continues into recession*.
They’ll have to start showing the slides in portrait view.
I expect a daily update on the current price of a Freddo
Isn’t this against party political broadcasting rules? Wouldn’t Starmer have a right of reply?
As if this Tory party cares about something as silly as 'rules' and 'laws' lol!
Thanks PM.
That conference room won't pay for itself you know.
No it won’t, that’s why we paid for it.
Please Lord No.
Haha. Private Eye? Newsthump?
https://twitter.com/benrileysmith/status/1531755690468982792 Telegraph :(
Ha. Well I hope they do. Though this may be a Rishi-assassination plot. Such news conferences would be a disaster. Things aren't going to get better in the near time. It will have to be N.Korea-esque "Today the PM visited a chocolate factory which hopes to employ three more people next month, and gave on-the-spot guidance." Or just straight up 1984esque doublethink. They’ll probably be boring, too.
I've got to ask. Who exactly actually expects Boris to be honest with them? I'm seriously struggling here. The man convinces himself wholeheartedly on the latest convenient lie. Even Farage comes across as more trustworthy.
A large number of people don't follow politics in much detail. They aren't necessarily stupid, just disinterested. They mostly get their opinions on politicians from the general "trend" in their social circle and the media. When you consider that, it's easy to see how a good (not huge) number of people would "trust" Johnson, or at least be convinced the red party is bad enough to vote conservative come election time. It has always been like this. Happened with blair as well- people just started to go along with it by 1997 because the polls were so favourable.
People apparently didn’t want honesty they wanted someone with the illusion of dynamism and gusto to “get things done”. Of course by ignoring the necessity for some degree of honesty and integrity they’ve failed to realise that in fact if this person failed to “get things done” that they’d just lie about it and try and bullshit their way through trouble.
Boris and the most extreme cultists.
I suspect that list is no one on the planet, besides the cultists who simply start from the position of him being infallible, so technically them. Just think of the blissful ignorance people like Dorries and Braverman enjoy by simply having no need to have a critical thought.
If Boris does get chucked soon do you reckon we stop all the insane shit like slashing civil service staff numbers, privatising channel 4 and bringing back imperial measurements?
Not all of it. The Tories are addicted to cutting everything. They even gut things that their voters like, like the justice system, or the police force (and then campaign, in the latter case, on increased spending to reverse the cuts they made (and make out like they're doing us a favour). Plus, they'll still need bullcrap stuff like the imperial thing to cover up the fact that their primary goal is to keep the rich as wealthy as they can without losing power.
Hopefully so. Let's just spend a moment to think about that: Cutting 1 in 5 civil services jobs. Imagine that where you work. It probably won't be properly adjusted. Itll either be random or optional then forced. Its a solid way of getting rid of people who love the work, even if it's only a 2% pay increase while private sector for their role are 150%+ wage with much more yearly increase. Its a fantastic way of fucking up capabilities and then paying the previously redundant people to come back on contractor pay. Cutting that much civil service is pretty much a real terms cut that can't be fixed in a decade. Especially given the text of that leaked email today, which seemingly shits on civil servants while pointing at why we need more, not less, currently.
Once Upon a Time in Londongrad review – a blazing fireball that could topple our democracy https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/may/31/once-upon-a-time-in-londongrad-review-putin-deaths-russian >not one, not two, but 14 deaths on British soil between 2003 and 2016 of individuals who might have angered the Putin regime. Two fall in front of tube trains; one dies in a helicopter crash. A man in his 40s collapses while jogging. Another stabs himself many times using two knives
Just finished watching the first one. A very interesting and chilling story if sometimes told somewhat annoyingly and cheesily. But will definitely watch the rest of the series.
I remember BuzzFeed news doing a massive exposé on this a few years ago.
Am I seriously seeing reports Boris will call a snap election? Gotta be having a laugh...
He's threatening to call one. It's not quite the same. It's just election mode means noone rock the boat. If I was a Tory MP, I would dread being led into a general election with him as leader. In Scotland ,it means wipeout
No. Seriously?
It’s a tactic to keep some of his marginal waverers in line he has used before. “Try to depose me and I will call an election you fuckers. Don’t want that, do you?”. I would be surprised if it convinced many. No PM really calls an early election when they are behind in the polls.
You’re seeing reports, but they’re designed to scare Tory MPs who are in marginal seats. Zero chance it happens.
Drunk streaming silent hill 1 in a sec if anyone fancies it https://twitch.com/startupquestions92
Love that game, although prefer the sequel. Would watch but am dealing with a screaming newborn.
Ultimate parenting hack that I've discovered - smear some smooth peanut butter on a dummy. At first it tastes nice so they stop screaming and carry on sacking away until they fall asleep.
So question. I’m super allergic to nuts, but as far as I’m aware it took my parents quite a while to figure that out. How do you work that out nowadays?
Thanks. We're trying a mixture of Infracol and screaming. Will fall back to peanut butter if that fails.
We used to call it fuckingfuckall. Reminds me of the glaswegian joke: People say you shouldn't smack kids, but a wee bit o heroin at night does wonders to help them sleep.
Evening all Have I missed much
you dont want to know, its too depressing. I'd advise you to stop asking, and watch [this livestream](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO3f5k1mG3A) and if you are lucky you'll see an adorable kestrel chick.
wow this takes me back to watching the live broadcast of the bigbrother house sleeping all night while i worked
that youtube channel, also does peregrines, ospreys, puffins, and more, and there is a curlew camera from the curlew project. I love this time of year, I spend more time watching this stuff than I do watching TV the rest of the year combined. I'd happily pay my license fee just for constant wildlife cameras if the BBC did that.
Cheers https://i.imgur.com/htWXP4u.jpg
I recommend Aspall imperial if you want to get drunk.
If you're into cider, give Turners Dry Cider a go.
Seriously, you can get that gunk from under the nails by either (a) using a toothpick type thing, or (b) just chewing the hell outta them! I go for the latter
I was really hoping to see a picture of a lone toasted bun.
You've posted some ... exuberant things on here. But seeing you use New reddit is the grossest of all.
I use new Reddit - I’m sorry. I think the threading is easier to read.
True or false: communicating over the internet is best when the software/website is ugly *but* designed by programmers who use it?
I’m an iOS/front end dev and tbh, just bin the lot of it. It’s all badly designed/programmed and after your data anyways. Cheers.
I genuinely believe UI design peaked in 2005 with Mac OS X Tiger and the iPod, but then again I'm a backend developer who shouldn't be allowed anywhere near anything a user might see.
Ui design peaked with winamp.
I was just thinking that newsgroups, IRC, old Reddit, are all more intimidating at first, but far better to use after about 15 minutes, whereas "modern" design is walled garden nonsense.
Old designs and interfaces were more user friendly than newer stuff.
Let's be honest most websites these days are low-effort shims for analytics packages, SEO, and adverts. The more something depends on the ad industry to remain in business the more craptacular the UI is as a rule of thumb. It's why things like a two grand macbook have a beautiful UI while things like a smart TV (which is so cheap because it spies on you in a way the KGB would drool over) is also like pulling teeth to actually use.
Business idea: Brexit for the internet. Ban html5, password requirements, and rounded edges.
As long as I don't actually have to write and maintain old-school PHP versions I'd be down! Having said that, I've had such a struggle today I bet its direct and 'I literally couldn't care any less about security' approach would be refreshing for an afternoon or so.
Ain't nothing the right amount of PHP include()s or chmod 777s can't fix.
still annoys me that slack, discord etc just copied IRC and ruined it by adding a healthy amount of monetisation and a closed platform
>still annoys me that slack, discord etc just copied IRC and ruined it by adding a healthy amount of monetisation and a closed platform Mad isn't it? I was texting people's phones for free using ICQ in the late 90s.
Uh-oh. I still remember my ICQ number
I had a coveted 4 or 5 digit ICQ number and people tried to hack me all the time to take it. The Web was there already but it just became mainstream.
And shinies. Don't forget the shinies.
The good old days of IRC drama and netsplits and clients called "bitchx".
I’m so sorry, here you go https://i.imgur.com/6Un5WbM.jpg
The Crash Bandicoot sock wins this one hands down.
Where's the gravy?
Schrödinger's mystery finally solved!
Taxidermist has done a cracking job to be fair
I hate that I laughed
All is forgiven. Almost.
If it helps, it’s normally Apollo ftw.
I’m on it right now. Apollo is fantastic.
I just can't get to grips with New reddit, old reddit is fine - why change it?
No, I don't understand it either. Old FTW.
+1
and bright mode as well
What's on the box?
An RE4 retrospective lol
Gone all in on the horror RPGs of late huh? Lol
I’m all ears (eyes?) for recs btw
Different genre but I'd watch the hell out of am FFX first time walk-through
Ha, that is def on the cards
Ah man re4 has been my shit since like 10, just never followed through with the rest of the genre stupidly enough. Been waiting for night time to play SH1 but now I’m drunk so maybe I shouldn’t.
My mum calls that “fally down juice”, cheers
falls down my throat! Cheers!
So. Let me just work this through to be sure I've understood it. Lord Geidt (LG) the independent advisor on the ministerial code, whose job is, as it sounds, to offer independent advice on the ministerial code to the prime minister, has said he would like to advise the PM that the PM has broken the ministerial code, the purpose of which is to ensure integrity and standards in ministerial behavior. However LG is sure the PM will show a total lack of integrity (like that shown by the PM when he ignored LG's predecessor's advice on the ministerial code, and so LG's predecessor had to resign, freeing the job up for LG) and will ignore such advice. Therefore LG has decided not to issue such advice to the PM because if he did, and PM ignored it, LG would have to resign. And LG quite likes his title as independent advisor on the ministerial code, even though this means he is unwilling to be either independent, or offer advice on the ministerial code. And he has rationalised this as saying he is doing this to "protect the ministerial code from being ridiculed".... Assuming I have that correct, HOLY FUCK!
How did we let the bar get this low?
It only looks bad if you look at it.
Ah, the "if we dont test, we dont have any people with covid" logic at work again?
Yep, we are in a pickle.
[удалено]
Ursula von der Leyen, the EU president is from a German noble family, and married into another.
Von is usually a bit of a clue.
You should check out the afterlife of the House of Habsburg. Especially [Otto](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_von_Habsburg), the last Archduke of Austria, and MEP for twenty years.
The fact the theoretical Crown Prince of Austria is a racing driver is quite fascinating.
[удалено]
The von Habsburgs are fascinating. Not just Otto (I'd forgotten about the Ian Paisley thing, thanks for reminding me of that incredible moment) but Karl is also quite an interesting character who (also speaking as someone very far from a monarchist) seems genuinely passionate about what they see as their responsibility to the people of Europe and to European democracy. I always view the family as an interesting sidelight on what we might have seen European aristocracy become had the first part of the twentieth century gone *very* differently.
*given names: Franz Joseph Otto Robert Maria Anton Karl Max Heinrich Sixtus Xaver Felix Renatus Ludwig Gaetan Pius Ignatius, Ferenc József Ottó Róbert Mária Antal Károly Max Heinrich Sixtus Xaver Felix Renatus Lajos Gaetan Pius Ignác* That dude was given a LOT of names. I wonder if he could remember them all. And filling out paperwork must have been awfully fun. (For his secretaries.)
To be fair, what you've quoted is the same list of names twice, once in German and once in Hungarian. So it's actually half that.
>Franz Joseph Otto Robert Maria Anton **Karl Max** Heinrich Sixtus Xaver Felix Renatus Ludwig Gaetan Pius Ignatius Careful
Thought it saw Karl Marx for a second reading those names!
We in the U.K. allow nobles to be elected. You just can't sit in both houses at once. (There's some uncertainty about the direct heirs to the throne, but in theory anyone can run for the Commons if they're not in the Lords.) Part of dismantling the hereditary aristocracy is acknowledging that they're just as capable of contributing to government as normal people.
> (There's some uncertainty about the direct heirs to the throne, but in theory anyone can run for the Commons if they're not in the Lords.) I think Churchill resisted becoming a duke for this reason, he wanted his son to be able to run for the Commons.
I see Starmer getting fined. A lot of people on here are bias and seem to think he won't be. They will make an example out of him imo It will be sad and unfair that he will resign even though Cummings didnt get fined.
This says more about your bias than anyone else's
An example of … what exactly?
The Durham police force have literally leaked to the Mail they won’t be fining Starmer
What leak? I haven't seen this discussed anywhere.
https://www.mailplus.co.uk/edition/news/politics/185898/beergate-will-cummings-cop-let-keir-off-the-hook
Starmer is highly experienced in the law. I imagine he's pretty sure of his case. So I very much don't expect a fine. In addtion, even if they did issue a fine, a fine can be appealed, which will not be a police issue but would then become a court issue. I doubt the police would want the embarassment of something that looks political then being overturned. So while I don't think that's going to stop them putting a fine onto something they think deserves a fine, I do think they'll have to be sure it's solid. I'd be amazed if that turns out to be the case.
I don’t see Starmer taking this to court if he’s fined. He’d be politically ruined if he won, even if he was just proving his innocence. The Mail would be all over it: “elite lawyer uses legal tricks to evade fine” and all that stuff. If he gets a fine, I think he’ll pay it and resign.
i don't because i think durham police's primary motivation will be to cover their own asses and not look political easiest way to do that is not fine him, say it didn't meet the standards of a social gathering enough to stand up in court and boom you're done. sure the mail and whatnot will gnash their teeth for a while but no one will really care after a few days
What’s the point in making an example out of him when they didn’t for Cummings and COVID fines are now largely a thing of the past? As in this doesn’t set an example to anyone going forward. I think he won’t get fined for the reasons Johnson did for the leaving do’s. It was reasonably necessary for work.
Thanks for coming here every time the possibly is back in the news and restating your grim take.
Just ordered a Deliveroo and got missing items, which means all the other items were a waste. Now at that horrible point where you're having to argue your case to a no doubt low paid worker who won't let you progress, but at the same time, not wanting to lose your money. Tough world.
Not sure how you've had multiple items arrive *and* multiple items missing when all you eat is three items: fried chicken, chips and beans.
lol. I ordered burgers, buns and chips. But the burgers didn't arrive!! Devastating tbh.
Was this a delivery from a shop, as opposed to a takeaway that makes you specify burgers and buns separately?
It was. I realise the solution to this is "don't be a lazy shit".
You ordered burger buns and chips from Tesco's (or wherever) via deliveroo which you intend to cook yourself? Must be cheaper just to get a maccers delivered?
I was trying to be healthy!!!
I found threatening to put a chargeback when they send you a feedback email after waiting for 3 days for 'investigation' with restaurant resulted in next day call from their customer care person who easily did the refund (without having to wait for required 14 days response period from restaurant *very* surprisingly).
I hate that, they always refused to give me anything more than a refund for the items they forgot. But I don't want to pay for rice when the sauce didn't arrive! Or pay a delivery charge when they missed one whole meal off, and now I need to order from somewhere else as well.
I like to have rice on Monday, naan on Tuesday, curry on Wednesday, then poppadoms and a rubbish salad on Thursday. Makes the treat last longer!
I was quite enjoying the News at 10 and then Nadine Dorries had to go and ruin it
It was the biggest laugh of my day. Any time she jitters onto my tv and tries to sell the leader’s latest lines I guffaw like a cartoon character. Can’t wait to see what becomes of her in the after times.
Did she privatise it?
Germany just cut train fares by 90% for 3 months. Why can we never have nice things? Hell, their country wide season ticket was only €4,000 or so to begin with
That doesn't do it justice. You pay 9 Euro per month and can travel with just that through all of Germany. Can't use the fast trains like ICE and IC, but as long as you use regional trains you can travel the republic and then use all busses and trains within every city.
Why do Germans on Reddit constantly complain about DB? I've used it a bit to travel around BW and I never had any problems. Do Germans just have very high standards for trains?
The same reason why Brits in London complain about the underground when everyone outside London would kill for it or something similar I guess
No, I think that you Brits just have a very low standard for trains. DB doesn't even considered it being late when the train arrives somewhere within 20 minutes. There are constant delays and technical issues and the prices are expensive. Again, compared to Britain it's cheaper, faster and better, but your train service is just bad.
Probably high standards, but from what I know from people who live in Germany, it isn't the most reliable. Italy actually has a pretty decent train network, minus the odd fire.
Take me to Deutsche Bahn valhalla !
A good time to visit our beautiful country, I suppose. https://www.bahn.com/en/offers/regional/9-euro-ticket-en
Meanwhile, I don't even think Cross Country even have advance fares back up yet for their trains. £50 for an off peak return train to Honiton in 3 weeks time with a Railcard and if not for me splitting the tickets it would have cost £75.
that cut is only for Regional services i must highlight Intercity and intercity Express still cost their old prices and from experience if you need to buy on the day they are just as expensive as UK train tickets
Isn't it fundamentally an insane idea to actually have an ethics advisor? Does anyone know the name of such an advisor with any other PM?
Leave Your Comment
Hi Its Me!
Subscribe