David Higham

Pity.

Thanks. Makes things clearer, even if they don't make sense.

"Errand boy" Is that a euphemism?

Where Rolls may, or may not, have met Royce but certainly - and more significantly. - where Graham Nash and Allan Clarke doorstepped the Everly Brothers and decided to form a group. One of the great station hotels.

Latest post from by far the best analyst of global economic issues

Agree with that assessment.

The clue lying in the name of the hotel. Tbf it was a sorry sight in its last few years which even I struggle to remember. Refurbished with EU money, of course.

😉

Been to Manchester central complex many times for conferences and rarely has the main hall been so light on outside exhibitors. Lots of padding with empty stands put up by central party

Niche post 👍

I think the most worrying thing is that people aren’t. I, too, remember the party conferences of old when dissent was allowed and political “big beasts” traded blows in the battle of idea (sorry if I sound like I’ve turned into GPT)

The main reason Farage is in a position to win a majority with 30% of the vote is the implosion of the Conservative Party. The easiest route to preventing that outcome is the recovery of the Conservative Party. Everyone on the left, and all the groups the left cares about, have a stake in that.

It's fascinating how there are still replies on this, and indeed on every post about the decline of the Tories, with people on the left and centre-left people going 'good'. Honestly, I don't know how big of a warning sign you need that the death of the Tory party is bad for your politics!

Which is why having a US based correspondent suggests that this is being bankrolled for other reasons.

You’re not the first to make that observation.

Thanks. I’ve saved your post.

He was an interesting commentator on both Japan and economic policy before he decided he preferred clicks to coherent thought.

US and investors gambling on unproven nuclear technology, warn experts Small reactors could prove too costly to be viable despite $9bn investment in power for AI boom

The full piece is here (£). Obviously those interviewed have a particular view they want to advance but the case for SMRs isn’t as clear cut as many suggest (or hope?) on.ft.com/48K3r80 US and investors gambling on unproven nuclear technology, warn experts

Also interesting that the only currently operating plants - in China and Russia - have had big cost overruns despite neither country being much concerned about environmental regulations that so many on the Right blame for cost overruns in Britain,.

Interesting piece in the FT suggesting that SMRs aren’t a particularly cheap technology because there are big economies of scale in nuclear plants and the type of fuel used. Important because the U.K. has followed the US down the SMR route.

From ping-pong champ to Nosferatu in just a few short years.

The Roland Emmerich one about Midway. I’ve been reading about the Pacific Campaign so made for a reasonable way to pass a couple of hours.

Now that made me laugh 👏

That was the phrase that jumped out at me. I think it means you’re not allowed to be prejudiced, which I always thought was part of being a decent human being.

So do I. Haven't worked out how to do it.

Is the correct answer.

I just have no idea who the Tories think the audience is for full bore authoritarianism plus austerity. Very few who want the former want the latter.

That's certainly true.

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IME the old guys in ‘Spoons tend to be more amusing.