Iain
@iainbhx.bsky.social
Former politician, keen psephologist, cat dad, Germanophile, likes traveling by train, average cook, occasional writer. Oh and I do things with SQL for coin.
When I left home for Uni, I rang my parents every Sunday, that was enough for them. When I was at home and coming back late there was no one sat up waiting and if I didn't get back - I was just called a dirty stop out in the morning. It was a bit different for young women, but not that different.
November 30, 2025 at 6:26 PM
When I left home for Uni, I rang my parents every Sunday, that was enough for them. When I was at home and coming back late there was no one sat up waiting and if I didn't get back - I was just called a dirty stop out in the morning. It was a bit different for young women, but not that different.
There are a number of other seats where a Muslim Independent candidate - with or without the Your Party will challenge strongly with at least four of them being in Birmingham.
November 30, 2025 at 1:00 PM
There are a number of other seats where a Muslim Independent candidate - with or without the Your Party will challenge strongly with at least four of them being in Birmingham.
They work hard on student recruitment each year and keep their numbers up that way - but they are probably below 2k because they do burn people out.
November 30, 2025 at 9:38 AM
They work hard on student recruitment each year and keep their numbers up that way - but they are probably below 2k because they do burn people out.
Crescent rolls - almost certainly ready to bake out of a tube.
November 29, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Crescent rolls - almost certainly ready to bake out of a tube.
Reasonable for the waste of culinary space which is a turkey.
November 29, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Reasonable for the waste of culinary space which is a turkey.
Cheese is obviously woke. What Mac & Cheese is doing near a roast dinner I don't know.
November 29, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Cheese is obviously woke. What Mac & Cheese is doing near a roast dinner I don't know.
So no-one in the family can carve?
November 29, 2025 at 9:24 PM
So no-one in the family can carve?
And if they are "interested" in local government it's always Westminster and Wandsworth. Media and government like elected mayors for the same reason - less people to have to talk to. The reduction of much local media to farming for hate-clicks on facebook doesn't help either.
November 29, 2025 at 12:44 PM
And if they are "interested" in local government it's always Westminster and Wandsworth. Media and government like elected mayors for the same reason - less people to have to talk to. The reduction of much local media to farming for hate-clicks on facebook doesn't help either.
Used to get a letter every April from a couple who proclaimed that they had always voted LibDem but they were so appalled by issue X they this time they were voting Labour. They sent this letter before every election from 2002 to 2017 when they moved off the electoral roll.
November 29, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Used to get a letter every April from a couple who proclaimed that they had always voted LibDem but they were so appalled by issue X they this time they were voting Labour. They sent this letter before every election from 2002 to 2017 when they moved off the electoral roll.
They are completely bonkers on Warwickshire where they don't even have a majority, but the Tories feel they cannot oppose them. I dread to think what they will be like on some of the Mets they will almost certainly gain control of next May such as Walsall or Sunderland.
November 29, 2025 at 12:31 PM
They are completely bonkers on Warwickshire where they don't even have a majority, but the Tories feel they cannot oppose them. I dread to think what they will be like on some of the Mets they will almost certainly gain control of next May such as Walsall or Sunderland.
Birmingham is, as I currently see it, going to be completely ungovernable after the 2026 all ups. There again, we have the commissioners in, so they will stop any total idiocy. I'm glad I'm out of it these days.
November 29, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Birmingham is, as I currently see it, going to be completely ungovernable after the 2026 all ups. There again, we have the commissioners in, so they will stop any total idiocy. I'm glad I'm out of it these days.
Well, it is and it isn't. It does have some chilling effects on the system, but it also usually stops drastic change. It also means in theory, that parties keep in touch with their electorate through the cycle. Now we elect all-up in Birmingham, I've not heard from anyone but the LibDems since 22.
November 29, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Well, it is and it isn't. It does have some chilling effects on the system, but it also usually stops drastic change. It also means in theory, that parties keep in touch with their electorate through the cycle. Now we elect all-up in Birmingham, I've not heard from anyone but the LibDems since 22.
It was like you never increase members allowances in an election year, which if you elected by thirds made thinks interesting.
November 29, 2025 at 12:09 PM
It was like you never increase members allowances in an election year, which if you elected by thirds made thinks interesting.
I typed the T word earlier and a Tedious Twat descended. I blocked them immediately.
November 28, 2025 at 8:38 PM
I typed the T word earlier and a Tedious Twat descended. I blocked them immediately.
Well, that's mostly normal for her. But the Roman state did have subsidies for the poor and it was a fairly sophisticated state.
November 28, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Well, that's mostly normal for her. But the Roman state did have subsidies for the poor and it was a fairly sophisticated state.
But Roman-Celtic paganism still had adherents even after the Romans left hence the Temple of Nodens in Lydney.
November 28, 2025 at 1:04 PM
But Roman-Celtic paganism still had adherents even after the Romans left hence the Temple of Nodens in Lydney.
Nearly all pagan kings and the kingdoms of the invaders had to be reconverted. Christianity survived in Wales, Cornwall, Cumbria and some evidence of Lancashire.
November 28, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Nearly all pagan kings and the kingdoms of the invaders had to be reconverted. Christianity survived in Wales, Cornwall, Cumbria and some evidence of Lancashire.
Trump would quite like the decor but would add more gilt
November 28, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Trump would quite like the decor but would add more gilt
Looks a lot like the sort of nawties representation of five star comfort in a chain hotel.
November 27, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Looks a lot like the sort of nawties representation of five star comfort in a chain hotel.
Some of which may actually be based in Britain.
November 26, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Some of which may actually be based in Britain.
I wouldn't be surprised if Reform didn't end up with majorities in Barnsley, Gateshead, Sandwell, St Helens, Sunderland, Wakefield and Walsall and they will do well in others, I wouldn't be surprised if they got 20 out of 24 in Dudley for instance.
November 25, 2025 at 8:40 PM
I wouldn't be surprised if Reform didn't end up with majorities in Barnsley, Gateshead, Sandwell, St Helens, Sunderland, Wakefield and Walsall and they will do well in others, I wouldn't be surprised if they got 20 out of 24 in Dudley for instance.
I'd be more worried about Newton Abbot than Aberhonddu.
November 25, 2025 at 8:25 PM
I'd be more worried about Newton Abbot than Aberhonddu.
South Shrops, West Worcestershire and Kenilworth & Southam. There's also a dark horse seat.
November 25, 2025 at 8:23 PM
South Shrops, West Worcestershire and Kenilworth & Southam. There's also a dark horse seat.