Brew

Hopefully Farage will simply fade away, but the present appalling state of politics in the UK is opening doors that should remain closed. The mess made by the present lot and the abysmal Labour lack of direction and passive opinions can make strident voices like Farage and Anderson seem attractive. They're are seemingly offering a positive view and certainty in an uncertain world. I've noted before we should not side-line or ignore him. Those who cry it's just 'populism politics' need to reconsider what that actually means.

A bold statement there Col, I wonder would you consider Ramsey Macdonald in the same way? He and every Labour MP (15),bar one left Labour and formed a new party, 'National Labour.' Did their constituents agree or even have a say? John Strachey, the odd one out, refused to join on the grounds he "did not agree with the party's drift towards Fascism" Or Cripps,or Bevan,......... How many Labour MPs dumped the party and joined the SDP? Leaving a party for another or 'crossing the house' is not so unusual, morally reprehensible, but not unusual.

Like a lot of political speak , sounds good and I'm (mostly) in agreement, but how? it has no bones. Do you mean the old radical Labour practice of throwing money at it? or something more creative? I can't comment of the present state of Ed or training, it's over twenty years now and time and technology has moved on. Utilities - even as a shareholder I'd agree. I think that would be reasonably easy if they cut all the complexity of expenses etc. I see no reason why they keep their own home and buy another house(s) on their expenses. BAN second jobs. When you'

My dad was a member and yes it was years before he got in

The scar on my right wrist is matched by the one on my left. Ten years separate them, one from a broken bottle and one from messing about with a wood chisel at school. They're faded now but used to look for all the world like a suicide attempt.

The end game is control , the Tories by stealth, Labour by draconian law and the creation of criminal offences.. And it will not get better as the situation worsens. Tory v Labour... how can anyone vote for either of them?

I have a scar across my wrist from when I was five years old and taking a pop bottle back for the threepenny deposit. I tripped and fell on the cobbles at the bottom of Nottintone Place and the broken bottle slashed my wrist cutting a vein. Hadn't thought of it for years now I can remember it as if it was yesterday and for some reason I've become all melancholy...

Just finished the link and for an American publication it's quite good, I expected far more hysertia Edit The author Chalrie Ellis may be British, not American as a I thought. Might account for the excellent writng....

You regularly claim tory attacks on our freedoms and I agree. But lets have a quick peek at who did most damage to our freedoms. I did mention my taking part in a very poorly attended protest against the Police, Crime and Sentencing Bill probably the nastiest piece of legislation of this parliament. Will Starmer change anything? NO. Will he remove police powers to coral the people even though they've done no wrong ('kettle' ), for hours on end for instance? NO Will he remove the shackles the police want to impose on legitimate protest I wonder.? That will be another resoundin

Today I've been spitting feathers. The builders had a radio tuned to Radio2 and the Jeremy Vine show. What a pretentious prig he is, however anyone can take his self righteous drivel seriously is beyond me. This morning he was having paroxysms over a photograph of the royals, animals crapping in the house due to mental health issues and beer bikes. In the end I made them turn it off. He really is the epitome of dumbing down.

Bylines is a left wing version of GBnews, it's simply not as widely read. What we don't know is who commissioned Corbets piece. It was not a researched paper, there is no title page, abstract, introduction, discussion, or references. I'm of the opinion it's nothing more than his opinion and if Byline commissioned it then then he who pays the piper... Did Byline shop around for tame sympathiser? Why would an expert on defence choose to write a piece well out of hit area of expertise? I do not dismiss valid criticism, I'm increasingly of the opinion we do not

This often means they're embarrassed at the cost overrun and would risk voter confidence if they made the figures public. There should be no such thing for any non national security organisation that spends tax payers money. Spending money to promote an event and encourage visitors is understandable. Is there an FOI in Australia? Unless we're talking big numbers and it's to reduce the congestion they can cause, the logic of providing free transport just for ticket holders escapes me . Posting on here Qz is fine and you make good points but i's doubtful if an

One of your quotes: "The Tory party has no excuses. New Labour knew how they wanted Britain to work. The Conservatives have produced no such vision. Conservatism is in general allergic to big ideas and systemic thinking. Most Tory mps are happier moaning about institutions than altering them." Apart from being years out of date it could just as easily apply to the present Starmer opposition. When they stop contemplating their collective navels will they ever tell us what they propose? For all the information Rachel Reeves gave us today (Kuenssberg BBC this m

The government attacking the BBC? Wilson did it, Blair did it, Johnson too, again nothing new there

The kings College article. Turns out is not an unbiased report by a number of academics, it's another Byline times article written by Dr Corbet who is using his employers name to add credence. The first half is nothing more than a reiteration of events during the Johnson era, something we are aware of have discussed at length so nothing new there. Though there is vague reference to Chris Mullin's novel "A Very British Coup" hoping those who read if will recognise political shenanigans at Westminster. It is also almost four years out date and as yet no coup has taken pla

I don't, they are what they are, part of the huffing and puffing of political rhetoric. Malicious intent I simply don't see.

Again no... that's simply your usual extreme view and interpretation

No...

The methodology is unknown, the results I question on the grounds of known bias by the authors. I tend to read more than your links, authors publishers, etc .The articles, the tone of the writing and the choice of subject all tend to make me think the facts are cherry picked to present their case to their advantage and by association the conclusion is suspect. I don't have time to read the new link, I'm tired now but will look later. I will say I would take an established University research paper over those with an axe to grind.

What you mean is you stole a book 35 years ago...

Shal I ask what they think of the successive governments who created it as well? You know as well as I do what happens the the printing presses roll. The problem is Labour is obsessed with looking back to find excuses and someone to blame, Forget Truss, may Cameron et.al, It is what it is so lets deal with it. While we look backwards we can't look forward and see what's coming.

It's from your link to the ridiculous Byline supplement, the one where they carefully photographed Anderson behind a microphone to give hi the appearance of a Hitler moustache. the one where they appeared to give credence to Gallagher claiming to run for PM. They are clearly as left wing as it gets. The two main characters are both Labour supporters, juke is/was a card carrying member Let's consider a couple of the bylines: "Musk is using Twitter to destroy objective truth". "The FarRight Eugenics behind Musks takeove of Twitter" "Putins Brexit C

More birthday wishes from me too margie...

I don't think I've come across such ridiculously biased opinion poll before. you must see that even with your left wing prejudices at full power. They want Lian Gallagher for Prime Minister!? OK now I realise it's a spoof, but it's quite sinister in it's way, a bit like the TikTok/Facebook dumbo posters and those who believe them.

Not sure I follow the logic of that, if it's not tax or borrowed the only other money available are the reserves and, as Brown found out with gold sales, once it 's gone it's gone. Is this one of you Pinkfish radicals? The infrastructure is as you say not in the best of health but piling all the blame on the Tories is stretching it a bit. The crumbling schools are due to construction materials that came into being and used way back in the 50s, and successive governments since have failed to note the potential problems waiting round the corner. Failed pri