Simon Watkins

To be clear: deportations to increase cultural homogeneity is the text book definition of ethnic cleansing. Demands that come even close to this are so far outside any democratic norm and the rule of law. What has happened to a country when this is not condemned in the strongest possible terms?

Heartbreaking scene, because of the flicker of recognition and its implications on what follows.

X is a cesspit led by an unhinged billionaire who is desperately trying to stir up civil war in Britain.

Nobody with any sense or decency should be there.

No organisations, government departments, or politicians should be there.

Everyone who is, is enabling this monster.

2/2 ‘We have been unable to fix the economy or anything else, because of Brexit. So our failures are not really our fault. But we recognise that a full public mandate is needed to reverse Brexit - so that is really what this election is about.’

In order to pivot and not appear to be reversing the referendum without a mandate to do so, they need to wait and make it the election issue.
I reckon the pitch goes like this: ‘We have tried to make it work, fix the economy and solve migration, but it has become clear Brexit is the problem…1/2

If they are facing electoral disaster, it’s an emergency parachute.

I believe this is exactly what they will do.

ALovecraft story about a Silicon Valley lunatic who builds ‘Christian AI’ in order to hasten the return of Christ.

Types his first question: “When will we see the second coming?”

Reply: “Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn.”

Telegraph pole, painted with bizarre fantastic images.

Waking up, again, to the sound of two white men on the radio arguing about whether it is ok to be made "mad" by the very sight of black and Asian people on TV. 😒

DHMIS is utterly brilliant. It is genuinely the most disturbing thing I have ever watched.

When you make one of those large Yorkshire puddings, the natural question is: what do you put inside it? The obvious answer is, some more smaller Yorkshire puddings.

2/2. This all comes down to perception and communication, not the technical reality. But in public debate in a democracy it matters.

I think the problem is that while independence of the BoE (and indeed other institutions like OBR) makes economic sense, our public political discourse has not adapted to it. And politicians of both stripes have sometimes exploited that, taking credit or apportioning blame when it suits. 1/2

Intriguing. Obv no right answers here, but for me, if anything, it has the opposite connotation of a slightly begrudging exercise that possibly lacks genuine engagement.

Yet again a scene from the Thick of it actually comes true. Series 3. Ep.1:

Tucker: Is that you chair?

Murray: Cool isn't it? It's got lumbar support.

MT: Bin it. People don't like their politicians to be comfortable…

NM: So what should I be sitting on?
Should I just get an upturned KFC bucket?

I fear much of the media will react by its usual faux balance, inviting people to ‘debate the issue’.

The odd thing is they seem to understand very easily when the clocks go forward.

"Man goes scorched earth on ICE agents kidnapping people in his hometown."

Source:
old.reddit.com/r/PublicFrea...

That one set in the Antarctic with an alien.

Yep. You’re right.
In my defence I would say it’s not helpful to understanding or consistency to have a widely reported fall in membership to 300k, but in fact the number who can vote in internal elections is apparently higher than that for Starmers leadership election in 2020.

I am wrong. @electionmaps.uk has explanation. Eligible voters include affiliated union members who opt in and so is close to 1 million.
Still makes all the numbers we hear about membership and turnout sound a bit daft.

But you’re right everyone is reporting 16%.

I can’t follow these numbers being reported. They don’t make sense. 160k votes cast. Turnout 16%. That implies a membership of 1 million.
At current member ship estimate of c300k. The turnout would be close to 60%.
Is there a typo or a mishearing in the reporting?

Just seen One Battle After Another. A much better film than Vineland is a book.

Pentheus: ‘I climbed the tree in order to look at some tractors.’

If come GE they are still languishing in polls, they can say that, after trying to make the best of Brexit, they have concluded it should be reversed and they will do so if re-elected.
We get a single issue election.
Labour record in office becomes small beer in face of ‘the big issue’.

I went to London with a thirst for knowledge;
The queue extended to St Martin’s College.