NJS

As I said, you can write them off or come up with something that will work - I do think this is a simplistic solution however.

Whatever else is said about Blair, "A man without conviction" would be the ultimate definition.

Blair was more than happy to wear a union jack - I don't see any difference.

I can grit my teeth if it's a part of a whole and does mean places like Blyth can be won back. There may be other arguments which can do it but they'd be fighting 40 years of propaganda.

I think the Queen is a very simplistic symbol of an identity which could work if it was framed in a better way but it has too much baggage for me and again is hard to talk about reasonably due to polarisation.

It's an interesting question - Billy Bragg has written a lot of stuff (and some songs) regarding this topic and about how the left can talk about patriotism. I think I've said before there are broadly two kinds of patriotism - a shared sense of identity and values and common ground which I'm happy to be a part of and the Queen/establishment/empire/exceptionalist version which seems more prevalent. Its the latter that gets associated with the flag thanks to its vocal proponents which unfortunately stifles debate as you're either seen as for them or against them.

Paul Sweeney and Mark Stimson without even thinking about it.

We definitely had a debate about pressing the button and trident where you stated (probably correctly) that old, northern voters wouldn't vote for Corbyn because of that issue.

I thought Renton was the cheerleader for Corbyn losing votes due to the nuclear button/sing the national anthem shit? If this gets red wall gammons thinking of voting Labour again then it's not that bad a thing as long as it doesn't become the be all and end all of the whole party strategy.

I admired him for his efforts but I always feel uneasy about charity for the NHS - seeing people who want to abolish it praising his efforts was also sickening. Still sad he died before he could be vaccinated of course. RIP.

Ah, okay - I read the statement from his daughter saying he'd been treated at home for pneumonia.

Don't want to be harsh but someone in his family wants shooting for not keeping him safe.

I think it's a minor complaint in the scheme of things but then again I'd classify it as political campaigning rather than statutory duties.

Our offices did reopen last summer after being made safe but they're shut again now - it's not hard. (Yes I know I'm very lucky).

Fucks sake

Novavax announced as 89% effective. None available for a while though.

Yeah but the EU have a lot more Pfizer and Moderna doses ordered. It's not like it's all or nothing with AZ.

I have to say that Biden has impressed me so far - still think he's too much of a centrist but he's made a good start.

Will be quite funny if he does go because we lost when they've e shown something that could be built on.

It's becoming like the republicans - an alliance of the very rich and uncaring well off, white uneducated men and pensioners make up their base now.

Like all the banks have. You could also argue the like of Amazon are/were "clever" with registration within the EU to avoid tax.

They were probably chosen as a flag bearer to be used as a success while everyone else was screwed over.

As usual you have to factor in the proportion of tory voters who are over 65 so don't give a fuck about businesses or even the economic prospects of their children/grandchildren.

He was making a living within the EU but thought his life would be better out of it - just like knackers who work in car factories who fucking knew it was dependent on jit manufacturing. Just like the people of Lincolnshire who hated the Eastern European farm workers but wouldn't do the jobs when they left. There was a lot of shite propaganda but fuck me they still have to own it which is why this let's all forgive and forget bullshit leaves me cold.

It's the narrow world view of most brits that is exposed - we take the piss out of Americans without passports but far too many British people have no interest in anything beyond going to Spain for a fortnight - that's why bemoaning mainly young people being denied freedom of movement meant nowt to leave voters. Another thing that never entered their minds was simple things like buying things from abroad. I've bought some electronics from the US and from Hong Kong or China in the past and have accepted the ball ache of customs and vat by including it in the price but obviously it being a thing for EU countries is new. "If it doesn't affect me it doesn't matter" is the mantra.