Deeping Davie

Bloody brilliant. Well done.

And merry Christmas George! We are allowed to have different views and I know we believe in the same outcomes. Take care

Brexit reversal will come but was not in the manifesto. Argument needs to be fought and won on immigration and FOM first

I will take no lectures from you about my profile pal. Better to be in government making real changes than shouting from the sidelines. He is a good man. Come back in 4 years and tell me I’m wrong

But is in government and making real changes

Small beer wfa compared to the scale of progressive budget changes. He is certainly not supporting war crimes and yes, the manifesto had compromises but better to be in government than ethically pure and in the wilderness

£40b tax increase to improve public services is not a government devoid of principles. It’s exactly what many of us voted for.

Exactly what I was thinking! Makes you see it as much more than a derelict building

Training up UK workers may not bring down net migration, Starmer warned Skilled overseas workers contribute 20 times more than UK-born adults, while some shortages may be due to pay and conditions, say advisers

"Average migrant who comes to the UK on a skilled worker visa contributes 20 times more than the average UK-born adult."
Labour needs to drop the "open borders" rhetoric, and start focusing on shifting language to being about how and why immigration is a benefit.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024...

Still looking amazing today, nearly 100 years later

FOM is the blocker I guess. While I think on balance it’s undoubtedly in our interest, I feel the public debate on this needs to be fought and won first.

Stunning photo of Ely Cathedral

Some nice skies over Lincs this week

Our incredible run against them must end at some time but I feel it will not be today. 2 nil.

While this must be on the Government’s radar, before even formally proposing something that was ruled out in the manifesto, I think they need a 2 year PR campaign to educate the public about benefits of both SM and freedom of movement.

The media is failing tremendously by not stating at the end of every single interview with these lunatics that “the science is clear, no debate is needed, vaccines work, and if we do not use them, many people will die.”

Good God!

I agree that the narrative has been poor. However if in 4 years time the improvements they have articulated are close to being met, then surely people will feel that?

Surely you need targets to measure success? Do you think the targets proposed are not what people want? Reduced waiting lists? More homes? Climate change targets?

Do you think the Tories would have raised an additional £40b on taxes to pay for better public spending ?

Tbf Reeves did note Brexit as a key root cause of low growth in the budget. It has to be other radar but they are understandably cautious cos of free movement being a likely cost for real progress with the EU.

'Piccadilly at Night' by John Atkinson Grimshaw (1885-6)

(Private Collection)

'Piccadilly Circus' (1960) by LS Lowry

(Private collection)

"I'm begging of you please don't take my man"

Absolute classic. Added affection for us as oddly, the BBC put it on in July 1986 when my lovely wife and I were on our honeymoon in Oban.

I followed him for years. Though a Tory, he was somewhat likeable, articulate and rational. His descent over the last 10 years was alarming but maybe a fitting metaphor for the whole Brexit disaster

The Sherpas came to me and said “Sir, we’ve never seen a better climber…”

I don't love it either, but I'm not sure how you tell a man that he should let his only surviving son rot in prison to respect norms, institutions, and the rule of law, when the country you devoted your life to serving just pretty comprehensively voted they don't give a shit about any of that.

You’ve heard of Elf on the Shelf, now get ready for…