Hmm.
I'm one of the people who do take this stuff seriously.
If the two main options are
(a) Farage as PM
or
(b) a Labour govt dependent on the Greens
then I judge (b) to be the lower risk.
TBH as a Lib Dem I genuinely think my party is the only one taking UK security seriously; Labour next best
I'm one of the people who do take this stuff seriously.
If the two main options are
(a) Farage as PM
or
(b) a Labour govt dependent on the Greens
then I judge (b) to be the lower risk.
TBH as a Lib Dem I genuinely think my party is the only one taking UK security seriously; Labour next best
December 7, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Hmm.
I'm one of the people who do take this stuff seriously.
If the two main options are
(a) Farage as PM
or
(b) a Labour govt dependent on the Greens
then I judge (b) to be the lower risk.
TBH as a Lib Dem I genuinely think my party is the only one taking UK security seriously; Labour next best
I'm one of the people who do take this stuff seriously.
If the two main options are
(a) Farage as PM
or
(b) a Labour govt dependent on the Greens
then I judge (b) to be the lower risk.
TBH as a Lib Dem I genuinely think my party is the only one taking UK security seriously; Labour next best
*Europe* should want Europe to take over the majority of NATO’s defence capabilities (not stopping at conventional, either.)
Trump, Vance and Hegseth are Russia’s friends, not ours.
Trump, Vance and Hegseth are Russia’s friends, not ours.
December 6, 2025 at 6:17 PM
*Europe* should want Europe to take over the majority of NATO’s defence capabilities (not stopping at conventional, either.)
Trump, Vance and Hegseth are Russia’s friends, not ours.
Trump, Vance and Hegseth are Russia’s friends, not ours.
My favourite of the central London parks (partly because I was privileged to spend a year in student Halls of Residence next to it - Regent's Park was my back garden for a year.)
December 6, 2025 at 9:34 AM
My favourite of the central London parks (partly because I was privileged to spend a year in student Halls of Residence next to it - Regent's Park was my back garden for a year.)
My starter would always be, "Well, the Eastern Roman Empire reoccupied most of the Western Med coast (including Rome itself) by 550 CE and carried on as a major power until at least 1204, and as a minor power for another 250 years, so we do rather need to take that into account"
December 4, 2025 at 5:27 PM
My starter would always be, "Well, the Eastern Roman Empire reoccupied most of the Western Med coast (including Rome itself) by 550 CE and carried on as a major power until at least 1204, and as a minor power for another 250 years, so we do rather need to take that into account"
I hate to think what my cat would get up to if given access to dog hardware.
December 4, 2025 at 4:09 PM
I hate to think what my cat would get up to if given access to dog hardware.
But have you considered that everyone in the Shankhill would be Republican if it weren't for NATO's occupation of Ulster, eh?
December 4, 2025 at 4:06 PM
But have you considered that everyone in the Shankhill would be Republican if it weren't for NATO's occupation of Ulster, eh?
It might not. I know people who will be trying to ensure it doesn't (and of course Stuff could happen between now and May.)
But Swindon is the one place in the likely region where it's more likely than not, and that speaks to an underlying cultural difference.
But Swindon is the one place in the likely region where it's more likely than not, and that speaks to an underlying cultural difference.
December 3, 2025 at 6:14 PM
It might not. I know people who will be trying to ensure it doesn't (and of course Stuff could happen between now and May.)
But Swindon is the one place in the likely region where it's more likely than not, and that speaks to an underlying cultural difference.
But Swindon is the one place in the likely region where it's more likely than not, and that speaks to an underlying cultural difference.
I suspect the root problem is cultural, i.e. Swindon will go RefUK next May but nowhere in the West of England region will; and there are underlying reasons for that.
December 3, 2025 at 6:09 PM
I suspect the root problem is cultural, i.e. Swindon will go RefUK next May but nowhere in the West of England region will; and there are underlying reasons for that.
(Joking aside, I really don't think there's any comparison between Swindon and Bristol.
Bristol has a great arts scene, and is one of the most successful cities in the UK, albeit a small one; Swindon hasn't and isn't.)
Bristol has a great arts scene, and is one of the most successful cities in the UK, albeit a small one; Swindon hasn't and isn't.)
December 3, 2025 at 6:06 PM
(Joking aside, I really don't think there's any comparison between Swindon and Bristol.
Bristol has a great arts scene, and is one of the most successful cities in the UK, albeit a small one; Swindon hasn't and isn't.)
Bristol has a great arts scene, and is one of the most successful cities in the UK, albeit a small one; Swindon hasn't and isn't.)
My sources are within Wiltshire UA and, while I've never met anyone who actually liked Swindon, they think it is folly for Swindon to not be in the same region.
December 3, 2025 at 6:06 PM
My sources are within Wiltshire UA and, while I've never met anyone who actually liked Swindon, they think it is folly for Swindon to not be in the same region.
I am told that Swindon is very keen to not be in West of England and Oxon is very determined that Swindon should be.
December 3, 2025 at 5:38 PM
I am told that Swindon is very keen to not be in West of England and Oxon is very determined that Swindon should be.
This investment, and the analysis behind it, can’t be off-the-cuff, it must haver been planned and costed - so why not say “this is the plan” from before the 2024 budget, instead of after the 2025 one?
December 1, 2025 at 8:58 AM
This investment, and the analysis behind it, can’t be off-the-cuff, it must haver been planned and costed - so why not say “this is the plan” from before the 2024 budget, instead of after the 2025 one?
Why not? Why haven’t they shouted from the rooftops that this is the short-termist incompetence, exacerbated by obsessions with Brexit and immigration, that the Tories neglected and Labour is here to fix?
December 1, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Why not? Why haven’t they shouted from the rooftops that this is the short-termist incompetence, exacerbated by obsessions with Brexit and immigration, that the Tories neglected and Labour is here to fix?
Honestly, it’s great from @torstenbell.bsky.social and just shows up how poor previous comms have been. I’m aware the UK hasn’t built reservoirs in decades, it’s a scandal; I *wasn’t* aware the govt had signed off 9.
December 1, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Honestly, it’s great from @torstenbell.bsky.social and just shows up how poor previous comms have been. I’m aware the UK hasn’t built reservoirs in decades, it’s a scandal; I *wasn’t* aware the govt had signed off 9.
One of the best spaces to see theatre in the UK.
December 1, 2025 at 8:06 AM
One of the best spaces to see theatre in the UK.
"Labour" as an adjective sounds suspiciously like a protests-too-much response to a crisis of identity.
The Labour Party are called that because it was founded as the party of an industrial working class which now barely exists, forcing the party to fall back on ancestor worship.
The Labour Party are called that because it was founded as the party of an industrial working class which now barely exists, forcing the party to fall back on ancestor worship.
November 30, 2025 at 11:35 PM
"Labour" as an adjective sounds suspiciously like a protests-too-much response to a crisis of identity.
The Labour Party are called that because it was founded as the party of an industrial working class which now barely exists, forcing the party to fall back on ancestor worship.
The Labour Party are called that because it was founded as the party of an industrial working class which now barely exists, forcing the party to fall back on ancestor worship.
That's remarkable if confirmed.
Following from the recent strikes on two ships in the Black Sea it suggests a new front in the war has just opened.
Fits in with Phillips O'Brien's observation that strikes on refineries make exports of crude more important to Russia.
Following from the recent strikes on two ships in the Black Sea it suggests a new front in the war has just opened.
Fits in with Phillips O'Brien's observation that strikes on refineries make exports of crude more important to Russia.
November 30, 2025 at 6:00 PM
That's remarkable if confirmed.
Following from the recent strikes on two ships in the Black Sea it suggests a new front in the war has just opened.
Fits in with Phillips O'Brien's observation that strikes on refineries make exports of crude more important to Russia.
Following from the recent strikes on two ships in the Black Sea it suggests a new front in the war has just opened.
Fits in with Phillips O'Brien's observation that strikes on refineries make exports of crude more important to Russia.
All of those could literally be true and nobody would be surprised.
November 30, 2025 at 5:04 PM
All of those could literally be true and nobody would be surprised.
"The economy is better than expected.
Clearly the Chancellor must take responsibility and resign."
Clearly the Chancellor must take responsibility and resign."
November 30, 2025 at 5:03 PM
"The economy is better than expected.
Clearly the Chancellor must take responsibility and resign."
Clearly the Chancellor must take responsibility and resign."
Yeah, you're demonstrating my point perfectly.
November 30, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Yeah, you're demonstrating my point perfectly.
Well, same - you can't avoid them either following you or reacting against you, I spose the point is how that plays out!
November 30, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Well, same - you can't avoid them either following you or reacting against you, I spose the point is how that plays out!
Hope you realise that due to Autocorrupt I've spent 5 minutes trying to work out what you would cancel first thing on Advent Sunday.
It doesn't sound such a bad idea at that. Trying to think of what toxic thing I might try to avoid for the next month.
It doesn't sound such a bad idea at that. Trying to think of what toxic thing I might try to avoid for the next month.
November 30, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Hope you realise that due to Autocorrupt I've spent 5 minutes trying to work out what you would cancel first thing on Advent Sunday.
It doesn't sound such a bad idea at that. Trying to think of what toxic thing I might try to avoid for the next month.
It doesn't sound such a bad idea at that. Trying to think of what toxic thing I might try to avoid for the next month.
Yeah, whenever I see one of these freaks I feel better about my own parenting.
November 30, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Yeah, whenever I see one of these freaks I feel better about my own parenting.