DJ360

Me too, but I'm baffled as to why the difference exists.

It's not necessarily 'left wing'. It's pro democracy and anti the far right crooks who are damaging our democracy. As for 'stating the blindingly obvious'. It clearly isn't blindingly obvious to anything like a majority of voters in this country, which is why Open Britain exists. I still can't find any reference to a survey or Brexit.

Miracle of miracles. . I had my morning coffee sitting on the patio in minimal attire and bathed in glorious sunshine. Not quite beach weather, but warm enough for my first sunbathing session of the year. It will undoubtedly cloud up later..as ever.. but I'm still 'on' for lunch on the patio so far...

Another of your 'Blanket Dismissals' I think. There are three, pages which open, but it isn't necessary to open any of them to understand that Ofcom has found that GB News is in breach of News Broadcasting Regulations on at least FIVE occasions, by using active politicians as Newsreaders, in breach of rules on Impartiality. In fact, I didn't open any of them before posting. It wasn't necessary to open the links to share the FACTS of Ofcom's findings. I'm not sure which 'nonsensical' Survey you refer to. Let's be honest here.. anyone who has not yet worked ou

Jim, you will note that I did not endorse or otherwise comment upon the surgeon's evidence. He was interviewed on the BBC News Channel and I simply posted a brief summary of his comments. I got the impression, but cannot confirm or deny, that he has been in Gaza recently. Did you see it? I'm not sure 'pontificating' is an entirely fair representation of what he said. I've not seen that on TV. so can't comment, but Shin Bet doesn't have an entirely unblemished record, to say the least. It seems that in the current conflict, Shin Bet is largely employed in identifying

Speaking of truth...

I can't open that link but will watch it on iplayer later

Meanwhile.. I have just watched a segment on BBC News in which a Surgeon from the Oxford University Hospitals Trust spoke about Gaza. I think his name was Nick Mason or similar. He said he has worked in Gazan hospitals for many years though he isn't there at present. He claims he has never seen any evidence whatever of Hamas fighters basing themselves in hospitals. Furthermore, he claimed that when IDF troops enter hospitals they routinely destroy vital systems and kit such as scanners, oxygen supplies etc, which are of no military value. He is apparently due to give evidence

Oz. Follow the money...

All happening at Chez Col. I'm in the middle of a bathroom refurb. Lick of paint and new 'vanity unit, basin etc... plus new flooring. My knees are just about coping... This p m though I cut the back lawn while it was dry for a few minutes.

You never know your luck!

I didn't hear what she said, but I would hope that she doesn't mean PFI.

If you read the Reform Manifesto, it is full of superficially attractive proposals and even some, such as Proportional Representation, which I agree with. But when you dig deeper, there are some worrying ideas.

Agreed, and yes, lots have done it, including, as I recall, Churchill. But just because it's been done, doesn't mean it should. I'd be in favour of insisting on a by election for anyone wishing to change party allegiance, or even anyone who has 'the whip' permanently removed by their party.

I'm in general agreement, but I don't recall anyone saying 'it's just Populism'..which sort of implies it doesn't matter. Of course it matters, because employing 'populist' tropes, around things like immigration, race, religion etc., to unite an electorate behind a 'Saviour' (Read: Trump, Farage, Mosley, Galtieri, Putin, Hitler, Mussolini, Tice etc,etc.) against a common, albeit imaginary enemy, is the classic method employed by Fascists and Dictators the World over.

I'd certainly favour something along those lines. I don't know for certain but apparently they are told to do so, by the people smugglers. It's a minefield Jim and I have no easy answers. Neither, I would argue, has anyone else.. which is part of why I'm so annoyed by the Tory efforts to keep immigration, and now their idea of 'Extremism' Front and Centre, as a distraction from their myriad failures. We have to face the fact that the 'Middle East and Global South', are the focus of Political and Religious unrest, catastrophic environmental change etc.

It seems to me that it's usually a question of recognising what is most important to you in any situation. So, for e.g., my 'primary imperative' at the next General Election is to get rid of the Tories, so I'd be prepared to vote for whoever is most likely to prevent a Tory win in my constituency. On the other hand, in local elections I have frequently voted for the candidate rather than their party, so, the odd Lib Dem, Green, or even occasional Independent (only if I know them very well..as there's a recent trend for the 'unelectable' with a track record of extremism, to stand as 'Inde

I did say 'generally' Jim. All is relative.

Hardly.. Maybe if I'd said 'that's ONE option for Labour too'. Play them at their own game, only better. At present, there is little real pre-election 'sloganising' to be seen from either party, but I'd say that for those prepared to listen to the detail, the performance of most Labour folks on the Telly, on such progs as Newsnight, The Daily Politics, QT, etc., etc., generally blows the Tories out of the water. Even with a relatively poorly developed 'message' and policy offer, Labour come out on top because the Tories just have no answers.. Their 'Govt' has been such a chaot

@Brew, Regarding my 'proxy' Manifesto for Starmer, it was of course a 'back of a fag packet' list, which I came up with in a matter of moments. I was just highlighting the lack of anything in Starmer's message to inspire ordinary voters, and at the same time pointing to issues which people are really 'p'd off about that they are looking for someone, anyone, to fix. How hard would it be to join the two into a simple message of hope for a tired and disillusioned electorate? If I sat down and really concentrated there's hardly an aspect of British Govt, Infrastructure an

Starmer puzzles me. If I were him, I'd be promising to tackle regulation of privatised utilities such as water and energy suppliers, forcing them to end pollution of our rivers etc., Fat Cat salaries, shareholder dividends etc, on threat of Re-Nationalisation without compensation. Also Rail and other public transport. I'd be promising to fix our roads. I'd be promising to fix Education and Training and to end the 'businessification' of Higher Ed which is destroying both the reputations of our Uni's and the experiences/outcomes for students. I'd be promising to root out sleaze a

What people should do, is to read ALL of any party's manifesto. Just as Johnson and Co. 'telegraphed' their real, anti democratic objectives in their manifesto, so Reform hide their darker and and more authoritarian ambitions behind their Populist and simplistic message.

I'm not here to defend Blair. As I repeatedly say, my politics are pretty much fixed and often most closely align to Labour's, but that doesn't make me a Blairite or a Starmerite. At present the party which has most closely aligned itself with my views is probably the Greens, but sadly they won't unseat the Tories, which is my priority at the next election. So..to Blair. I repeat, I'm not defending him, but his use of statutory instruments, though clearly pretty extensive, was qualitatively different to what some Tories have tried to achieve since 2010. The vast majority of Statut

I didn't do Latin, but I'm assuming 'Vanity of vanities, all is vanity!!' Cheer up old chap! Dum spiro spero! The HP motto was 'Virtus Sola Nobilitas', which I was reliably informed translates as 'Virtue Is The Only Nobility', a sentiment with which this old lefty fully concurs!

I can only speak for myself Oz. I'm pretty uninterested in 'The Royals', though not an active Republican, in the sense of wanting them all removed etc. The problem around Kate as I see it, is that there is intense speculation around her health, which in my view is her own business... and as they say 'nature abhors a vacuum', so that in the absence of any real facts, the rumour mill goes wild and seizes on the photo. Quite why she published it is my only question.