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Russ Holmes @rholmes.bsky.social · 18m

Are you still anti-nuclear power? If so, how do you propose that the UK generates sufficient electricity during a cold, still period under thick cloud in midwinter? Today's a mild day in October and we are using 60% natural gas. The UK would need massive overcapacity in renewables to replace that.

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Russ Holmes @rholmes.bsky.social · 6h

After last week's blip, seems that Reform are holding steady on 30%. More in Common estimate their standard deviation at 2%.

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Russ Holmes @rholmes.bsky.social · 6h

What better way to learn a language than living and working in another country? We used to get youngsters coming to the UK from other European countries to work for a few years as ours also used to. You don't agree?

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Russ Holmes @rholmes.bsky.social · 7h

Ukraine war and Trump and Brexit piled on top of each other.

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Russ Holmes @rholmes.bsky.social · 18h

I'll give them a go. Samurai Cop, C.H.U.D. and Troll 2 are excellent.

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Russ Holmes @rholmes.bsky.social · 18h

I haven't watched it although it repeatedly comes up in lists of best worst films. He died of cirrhosis of the liver at age 81, which set a new goal for many.

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Russ Holmes @rholmes.bsky.social · 19h

That is worrisome. A demented clown in orange make-up gets 30%.

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Russ Holmes @rholmes.bsky.social · 19h

I stand corrected, so a chickenhawk. I have never been a fan. My father used to make us watch True Grit, upon which I cast a prematurely jaundiced eye.

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Russ Holmes @rholmes.bsky.social · 19h

Much as I dislike Marion Morrison's politics, he does seem to have tried to enlist but was prevented by his studio. Maybe he could have tried harder. Jimmy Stewart was underweight and famously drunk huge volumes of beer to put on weight and successfully try again.

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Russ Holmes @rholmes.bsky.social · 1d

When 20% of the population have a reading level equal to or below that of a 10 year old child, I think a large proportion would fail this test.

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Russ Holmes @rholmes.bsky.social · 1d

What proportion of the British population could achieve a B2 level of English?

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Russ Holmes @rholmes.bsky.social · 1d

Good luck. If you are selected, you will be up against Parliament's worst MP.

www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/read-this/ev...

Every UK MP has been ranked from best to worst in new ‘People-Power Index’ - this is how yours scored

Ahead of the General Election next week (12 December), every MP in the UK has been ranked from best to worst in a new survey.

www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk

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Russ Holmes @rholmes.bsky.social · 1d

Given that any fine will be paid by a 3rd party and therefore non-punitive, the emphasis should be on a custodial sentence.

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Russ Holmes @rholmes.bsky.social · 1d

I think a Scandinavian style population register with personal number is the way to go. We are half way there with NI numbers. If the government was open and honest about their plans, I might be more amenable; when it is framed with the desperate 'STOP THE BOATS' strapline, not so much.

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Russ Holmes @rholmes.bsky.social · 1d

I can already get all those things. The government is drip feeding the true scope of the project. It is a central authenticator linked to a digital id.

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Russ Holmes @rholmes.bsky.social · 1d

Nowhere has anywhere like this. Blunkett's plan was to have everything from taking out a library book to using a bank card authenticate against the central system. It won't do what they propose - stop da foreigners - but it will give the government great power.

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Russ Holmes @rholmes.bsky.social · 1d

That's because it is not ID cards, it seems to be a rehash of New Labour's massive, complicated and invasive identity computer system which wasted between £5 billion and £20 billion before it was scrapped.

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Russ Holmes @rholmes.bsky.social · 1d

I would say that

Jeremy Hunt
Kwasi Kwarteng
Nadhim Zahawi
Rishi Sunak
Sajid Javid
Philip Hammond
George Osborne

have all been much worse.

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Russ Holmes @rholmes.bsky.social · 1d

Cameron & Osborne were a clown show. Putting the Bullingdon club in charge of the country had inevitable consequences. They wrecked it like they used to wreck restaurants. It's just a jape to them. Nothing will change until the leadership selection process is returned from the membership to MPs.

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Russ Holmes @rholmes.bsky.social · 1d

He is a dimwit. What he is providing is access to high level government in exchange for cash.

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Russ Holmes @rholmes.bsky.social · 1d

Until they are equal partners, I can't see that happening. At the moment, the Palestinians are subjugated.

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Russ Holmes @rholmes.bsky.social · 1d

Yes, but it would have Jason Statham instead. Possibly worse.

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Russ Holmes @rholmes.bsky.social · 1d

"a chance to rebuild trust, restore humanity and pursue a just and lasting peace for all."

70 000 dead, 100 000 injured, 80% civilians, children shot in the head and the neighbourhood pulverised. I don't think that is going to happen.

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Russ Holmes @rholmes.bsky.social · 1d

Many years ago I studied there. It was full of yobs.

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Russ Holmes @rholmes.bsky.social · 2d

He's still spouting the same bullshit about sovereignty.

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