Renton

How does he have the media in his hands? What is the viewership of GB news? We are not in the same situation as the states. He's been off the hook so far because he's not been seen as a genuine threat, more a curiosity. Labour have been happy to let him eat the Tories, which is where the large majority of his support come from. Natural right wingers. But Farage is inexorably linked to Trump and is on record as saying he wants to scrap the NHS. People might not know this yet, but they will. And you are completely underestimating the SHEER incompetence of Reform representatives and their capacity for self destruction. This isn't wishful thinking on my behalf, I just can't see any scenario where a party led by Farage can achieve a majority. He is blatantly not in. Most people's interests. It ain't happening and a by election result and a few council seats aren't stopping that. But at the moment, its as pointless trying to predict 4 years in advance in poliltics as it isti predict what position NUFC will be in then.

I dunno. Plenty of examples where popularism has been over turned without resorting to combating fire with fire. Look at Canada. We've got to resist the descent into a post truth world otherwise what's the point? Policy needs to be evidenced based. Those countries that adopt this perspective will inevitably be more successful imo. Conversely, the US is about to demonstrate how damaging political incompetence and corruption is.

It's a spot on point. I think tactically Labour wait it out. There is a long, long time before the GE, who knows what will happen by then. The US will have an election first for one thing (2 with the mid terms). Reform and the Tories might unite. If they go with Farage, there is plenty of ammunition from what he's said and done in the past to throw at him. I genuinely believe he is not electable.

Agreed. For the life of me, I just don't get how the right have made the culture war an important issue. Who the fuck cares about it from a political pov? The only thing that matters to me is economics in its broader sense including provision of public serves, taxation, and addressing wealth inequality. And add a few foreign affairs into the pot.

40! Young whipper snapper. Honestly, you'd be regarded as old in my previous workplace. I was literally in the top 5% by age at 54. The only person older than me in the Newcastle team was made redundant and I got the unenviable title of office grand dad. Not as bad in my new place but am still relatively ancient.

More like, "Kids? Kids!!!!"

Give it to the King of the North*. * Burnhamsy.

The comms have been appalling, and I would definitely agree both Starmer and Reeves are as wooden as Pinocchio with oddly irritating voices.

That's not pragmatism you're describing, it's impossibilism (?). To be pragmatic in that regard, appeal to everyone, would be popularism underpinned by lies. Every thing comes with trade offs and this is a point most people fundamentally don't understand. I think Labour has stuck quite well to it's manifesto commitments. They didn't promise much, the main thing was stability. We've got that. Things are improving incrementally, NHS metrics for instance. We're inching closer to Europe. No revolution was promised and it's been less than a year. What do people expect? So what's gone wrong? Winter fuel allowance withdrawn? Is that 150 quid a year enough to make pensioners switch to Reform en mass? At this point, you can only conclude that people are voting Reform as a protest or that they are genuine bone fide morons if they think Farage has solutions.

Starmer should have shown his face, shook a few hands, in retrospect. But fuck the idiots in Runcorn. Canada showed us the way a few days ago. In Runcorn they're thinking, yeah, let's have a bit of Trumpism popularism over here by supporting his odious ickle spittle.

The parliamentary system isn't set up for 3 or 4 major parties, fuck knows what will happen tbh. Agreed though the worst thing Labour can do is chase the reform vote. I still think they will hoist themselves on their own petard.

Fair enough, I agree. I honestly don't resent kids having a good time on the beach. I know the pubs are too expensive. It's just the shear volume and the fact it's every night, not just weekends, and the inevitable antisocial side effects. It's definitely a new thing as well, since covid. I blame Sam Fender.

I am a bit. Just a very noticeable change in recent years. Whenever the weather is nice, the place is mobbed. Shouting, fighting, vandalism, litter, fires, police presence required 7 days a week. Was a stabbing last year. Just a cultural thing since the pandemic but aye, quite irritating for old farts like me with kids who can't sleep. No objection to surf culture but add in charvers and not so much.

Talking of King EH's Bay, its moonlight fanny as well nowadays. This was taken at 7.40 today, and it was just as busy 2 hours later. When did hordes of kids hanging out on the beach become a thing? All getting pissed up. It's getting horribly busy and rowdy nowadays, as soon as the kids leave school, I'm buying something in the countryside.

Yeah, not saying Trump's demise is imminent and I don't know what mechanism will take him out. But in the end it is the incompetence of the regime and the impact this will have on the economy and the average Joe that will do it for him. He's an idiot surrounded by sycophantic idiots, can't possibly end well for him.

US economy is fucked. Who could have predicted it? This lad sasha is on the nail. Can even Trump survive this?

HMHM" How very dare you".

Kin hell. Scantily clad nubile student hordes have descended on King Eddie Howe's Bay. I don't know how to feel, lustful or wistful. Both I guess which is a bad combination. This didn’t go down well.

Fortunately half the train emptied at Leeds and I didnt need to engage her, I am now the master of my own dominion (double seats). And then when I went to charge my phone, there is a Plug AND USB charger, so that's on me, since I have a plug adapter. Anyway, she got on at Liverpool I think, train delayed, and still talking to whoever now near York? 2 hour convo? GTF. She needs a special collection in your HGV MF. That's all am saying at this point.

Heading back home. The kids are alright, they were rightly in awe of me. Transpennine has been great using them so far. This morning in first class got a decent full breakfast, all things considered. Until now. Train dalayed and ended up feeling like Bombay central with the crowds and the heat. Cattle class, seating reservations fucked, and I am sat next to a mackem twat woman I want to kill. She's been talking to her other half incessantly for 45 minutes now, her phone hogging the only charger whilst my battery is almost dead. Her fucking patter is so dull she almost makes Keith sound interesting. This is all shit, but what am thinking is, who the fuck is the cuckold on the other end of this mundane shitness? What man talks to his wife/gf/whatever on the phone for almost an hour so far at this point. She's middle aged and not attractive BTW. Might be a lezzer I guess but dont think so. Anyway, need my battery just to pay for shit and display my ticket nowadays. Laters*. * If there is news tonight of a murder on the TPE, Rayvin did it.

PM? Showing your age their ewerk, it's all about the DM these days. 👍

Heading into Manchester for my first meeting with my team. They're all relative kids, nearly as bad as my last job. When I started posting on this forum I was their fucking age! Where has the time gone?! Me in an hour.

Reminds me of Beverley Gardens in Cullercoats or places in Jesmond/Gosforth. I just think "Eeeh, they'd cost a fortune to heat". Bob Monk house was from Forest Hall?

It's not up to Starmer though. Not even the police, ultimately it's the CPS who are not stupid and not politically motivated. The summer rioters were and shit stirrers were justifiably imprisoned, Kneecap have no case to answer. The UK remains a free country. The biggest concern for Kneecap will be touring the states where they'll end up in El Salvador. I am sure they'll avoid travelling there, not sure what their fanbase is like there mind, could be a financial hit.

It's very well crafted actually. Says a bit more than that. Fuck it, can't even get the url from blusky to paste here for some reason, hate using my phone for Toontasticing. Anyway, they're spot on.