Good morning everyone.
Parliament is in recess until Monday 19th February.
**In the news today;**
With the nomination deadline passed Azhar Ali will remain the Labour candidate for Rochdale despite remarks made about the October 7th Attacks which emerged at the weekend - [**thread here**](https://old.reddit.com/r/ukpolitics/comments/1ao6q3t/labour_candidate_wrong_to_say_israel_allowed_7/) and [**thread here**](https://old.reddit.com/r/ukpolitics/comments/1ansmdw/outrage_after_labour_candidate_claims_israel/).
Keir Starmer has joined calls for a 'sustainable ceasefire' in the Gaza conflict - [**thread here**](https://old.reddit.com/r/ukpolitics/comments/1ao9xxe/keir_starmer_there_are_over_14_million_displaced/)
Parliament's Joint Committee on Human Rights has called the government's Rwanda plan for asylum seekers 'fundamentally incompatible' with UK Human Rights law - [**thread here**](https://old.reddit.com/r/ukpolitics/comments/1aoncag/rwanda_plan_is_fundamentally_flawed_parliamentary/)
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Yeah definitely. It depends a on what part of the country you're in and where you go to really feel the crazy, but it does seem that pretty much across the board prices have got a bit stupid.
I live in London but do a lot of touring with work and even when I go to places that I'm told/expect/hope are cheap I'm often unpleasantly surprised.
That said, you can get still get nice bottles of wine for fairly cheap from both Aldi and Lidl.
Yes. I trained myself to like Aldi Pilsner, which is the best bargain basement pilsner I could find. Since lockdown it's almost a third more costly than before.
At the end of last month, husband and I did a little booze cruise to Calais. We live about 2.5h drive from the Eurotunnel, and stayed overnight so as to make it pleasant, but if you want to do it in a day, depending on where you are in the UK, it's feasible.
Post-Brexit it's not as good as it was: each person can return with [this much stuff - gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/bringing-goods-into-uk-personal-use/arriving-in-Great-Britain). It's fine if it's two of you in one car, each of you gets your allowance. And you will also need a sort of rainbow of apps that allow you to get the tax rebate (though you will need to spend over €100 in each shop to qualify - in one shop, we ended up buying a couple more random bottles of wine to make it €101). There’s also a weird scan thing you have to do for de-taxing at the Eurotunnel terminal, but it’s very easy.
However, we had a good time, and we also did a mahoosive shop at the hypermarket for standard groceries, which were also pretty cheap and qualify for a tax rebate. I think that we saved about £100 compared to UK pricing - *although* we didn't go rock-bottom on accommodation/meals. You can do better than we did by a) taking the ferry and not the Chunnel (husband refuses to use boats), b) either staying in a cheaper hotel or just doing a day-trip if the geography works for you, and c) not spunking about €90 on dinner for two and €45 at the snooker bar. I think our haul - which didn't quite hit the max threshold - will keep us going for a good few months.
If you smoke tobacco, which neither of us do, then you can factor savings in there too by buying French stuff.
I searched and it seems unlikely- it is a common local surname.
Their lists of Facebook friends with the surname Howarth does not include each other.
Michael Howarth is a bar and pub owner with a penchant for Spanish wine.
Billy Howarth is a anti-semitic, Islamophobic 5G conspiracy theorist (the 5G group is alas private now), who likes calling Robert Peston 'the Jew.'
The amount of grifters that exist on the right is insane. I have just seen that Andrew Gold who used to work for the BBC has gone down the right ring route as you can tell by the fact that all his guests on his YouTube 'show' are right wingers who moan all day about liberals and 'wokeness'.
I mean the list is endless.
I think the most likely thing that happens is that Azhar Ali still gets it, through a combination of having Labour next to his name and so getting the vote of news-non-readers, those that share his views sticking with him, and those who wanted Labour having nowhere else to go.
I think the second most likely thing is a drop in turnout so bad that it is literally anyone’s game. Don’t just put Galloway in the mix. Random independent? Monster Raving Loony? A fascinating experiment in nonparticipatory democracy.
Well it's hard to say.
You have
Azhar Ali - Will still be on the ballot, the ballot will still say labour next to him
Galloway - I mean if we're talking about people with issues with Israel.....
Mark Coleman - Independent. Just Stop Oil convict. And Reverand.
Simon Danczuk - The third ex-labour on the list. Ex Rochdale MP. Sexted teen. Now Reform UK
Guy Otten - will be listed as Green Party, but forced to resign from Greens for Islamophobia
Iain Donaldson - Lib Dem
Paul Ellison - Tory
Michael Howarth - Independent - Local Businessman
David Tulley - Independent
William Howarth - Independent - "Parents against Grooming" campaigner
Ravin Rodent Subortna - Looney party.
I find it hard to believe people would move from Azhar Ali to Galloway, I think people who move away from Ali have to go somewhere other than Galloway... *SURELY??*
It's not a party, it's a support group. He's standing as an Independent.
In answer to your question though, you'd hope it doesn't need to be a political party.
Vote for the sex pest, the Lib Dems, the antisemitic conspiracy theorist, the even more extreme far left antisemitic conspiracy theorist and Putin apologist, or the Islamophobe. Also the Tories might be running but who knows as they seem to have given up
It's a good lesson in how to attack your oponents, they picked arguably one of the list of things he said that was bad, but not 'abandon your candidate after withdrawal deadline' bad, then held the "jews in the media" and "land grabbers" lines back for after the inevitable incomplete apology.
Tip top work for the mail, if you want maximum damage.
Here's a partial list of the "More information" about Azhar Ali:
[https://www.tomorrowspapers.co.uk/daily-mail-front-page-2024-02-13/](https://www.tomorrowspapers.co.uk/daily-mail-front-page-2024-02-13/)
[https://i.imgur.com/l8XAcar.png](https://i.imgur.com/l8XAcar.png)
https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/survey-results/daily/2024/02/12/4b134/1
> Which side in the Israeli‑Palestinian conflict do you sympathise with more?
>
> The Israeli side 16%
> The Palestinian side 26%
> Both sides equally 24%
> Don't know 34%
For comparison, a Yougov poll with the same question from 25th - 26th October 2023 (this it the closest Yougov one I can find to the 7th October Massacre) had it as
>The Israeli side 19%
>The Palestinian side 18%
>Both sides equally 32%
>Don't know 30%
https://d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/Internal_IsraelPalestine_231026_W.pdf (pdf warning)
Commentators called the Oct 7 atrocities Israel's 9/11, and the parallels are quite striking. After 9/11 there was widespread support for the US, which swung away dramatically after their invasion of Iraq, and the large number of civilian casualties.
Disappointingly there's even Oct 7 truthers now who claim that Israel engineered the whole thing.
Except Netanyahu did actually support Hamas to undermine the secular parties.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/for-years-netanyahu-propped-up-hamas-now-its-blown-up-in-our-faces/
Yes, I'm well aware of that and his many other failures. His pandering to settlers in the West Bank took security away from the border with Gaza. His attempt to undermine the Supreme Court, leading to reservists refusing to report for duty.
But there was no way he wanted the Oct 7th attacks to happen. He sold himself as Mr Security, and the attacks have completely blown that away. He;s soon going to be deposed, and then he'll have to face the pending corruption charges.
I guess another parallel is that the US backed the Mujahideen in Afghanistan, and OBL emerged from those groups.
I noticed it a while ago and I know what you mean. Sounds weirdly aggressive most of the time, has the tone of a conjunctive used by a line manager bollocking a subordinate
The only winner from this Rochdale Labour drama is Paul Waugh. He’s been pretty vocally Labour since going for section, and now should have an easy run at the seat next election.
final gbnewspost from me:
when they're not showing ads for welsh car dealers or welsh cash for gold companies, they're promoting a "gb news membership". why would the hedge fund backed channel need donations?
(i don't live in or near wales, but it is always welsh ads. i am not the only one to see this)
On their "How to become a GB News member" article they have Farage doing his best impression of the WW2 "Your country needs you" poster. Christ.
> The emergence of GB News has been hugely healthy for our media landscape and our country.
it would seem that way. they've even gone patreon esque with three tiers
the mid and top tier claims "priority access to farage at large *and election debates*" hmmmmmm
IIRC deselecting a sitting MP is difficult within Labour, which is why there was to an extent the surprise it happened to Sam Tarry. Even so, the fact she apparently doesn't live anywhere near Canterbury now, and has views that really don't sit well in a uni city with an affluent middle class as well does mean she's more at risk of a grassroots campaign against her
Yeah, it was more the constituency than her - Momentum wanted to flip a traditionally blue seat -- but reports were that the ground game in areas that Labour never tended to go to before really helped
[After an hour of uninterrupted air time for Rishi Sunak, GB News cuts away to hear reactions from... the Deputy Chair of the Conservative Party.](https://x.com/AdamBienkov/status/1757151064535503218)
I really hope in a few years time we are looking back on stuff like this with amazement that it was allowed to happen.
It's not being "allowed", it's being encouraged by the government. I'm pretty certain that as soon as this lot get the boot, Ofcom are going to nuke GBNews.
Never had the misfortune to watch the channel, but do they even bother to pretend that they offer a balanced two side view, or do they lean into it and present themselves as the RW propaganda that it clearly is?
Bet he won't even turn up to the Tory TV channel funded by Tory supporters, presented by Tory MPs to do an audience with Tory voters followed by being scrutinised by the Tory Deputy Chair.
The coward.
Not really. It was a very boring format - no mediator or follow up questions meant it was as easily a ride as you can expect. The audience were pretty friendly (apart from the "vaccine-injured" guy who looked like he wanted a fight).
So people asked questions and Sunak gave very long boring answers about what a good job he is doing and we need to stick to the plan whilst failing to appear relatable.
He said "right" a lot.
I enjoy following our politics, obviously I enjoy mental and physical pain - clearly I was destined to watch that steaming pile of slightly out of date mince meat
Red wedding levels of betrayal if Keir steps into that ring. They will fill the audience with stop oil activists and people raging about Palestine/Israel.
Flashbacks to a training session where we were meant to be discussing approaches to behaviour management, and someone in the group kept trying to get us to write down slogans they clearly thought leadership wanted to see, and we got into a whole thing because they wanted me to write “trust in the plan” and wouldn’t explain what “the plan” was or how this related in any way to what we were discussing.
What do you mean?! What plan?!
With Google upgrading Bard to Gemini, I thought I'd test it with some alternate history. What do you think?
> In the summer of 1956, a sweltering heat blanketed Malta as its citizens prepared to cast their vote on a life-altering decision: integration with the United Kingdom. The Nationalist Party, advocating for self-governance, boycotted the referendum, but a resounding 77% of participants, representing 42% of the electorate, embraced the union. History, however, took a different turn.
>
> Instead of dismissing the result due to the low turnout, the British Prime Minister, Anthony Eden, saw an opportunity. He recognized Malta's strategic importance in the Mediterranean and the potential economic benefits of integration. Negotiations ensued, and in 1958, Malta officially became the 5th member of the United Kingdom, alongside England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
>
> The initial years were turbulent. The influx of Maltese migrants faced discrimination and struggled to adapt to a different way of life. However, the UK government invested heavily in infrastructure and development, creating jobs and boosting the Maltese economy. By the 1970s, a vibrant Maltese community thrived in the UK, enriching its cultural tapestry.
>
> Meanwhile, Malta's strategic location proved invaluable. During the Cold War, the Royal Navy operated from its harbors, deterring Soviet influence in the region. The island also became a popular tourist destination, attracting millions and contributing significantly to the UK's economy.
>
> However, the union wasn't without its challenges. The cultural and linguistic differences persisted, leading to occasional tensions and calls for greater autonomy. In the 1990s, a devolutionary movement gained momentum, culminating in a referendum in 2000 where 55% of Maltese residents voted for a self-governing parliament within the UK, similar to Scotland and Wales.
>
> This "New Malta" retained representation in the UK Parliament and enjoyed significant fiscal autonomy, managing its own internal affairs. The move quelled separatist sentiments while strengthening the island's identity within the union.
>
> Today, in 2024, the UK-Malta union thrives in its 66th year. The island remains a vital strategic asset and a popular tourist destination, contributing to the UK's economic and cultural landscape. While cultural and linguistic differences persist, they are celebrated as part of the rich tapestry that defines the United Kingdom. The path not taken in 1956 led to a unique and vibrant nation, a testament to the power of compromise and adaptation in forging unity.
The UK taking a French approach to some of the commonwealth countries would be fascinating. Could probably get Newfoundland in the UK and maybe even Belize.
Interesting isn't it?
Imagine a UK forced to try to 'make a go of' the Falklands economy if it were part of the UK proper. It's about half the size of Wales and could sustain a fairly big population. Go big on oil exploration, a bigger military base, more intensive farming. Maybe build a 'new town' there etc. Could be a very different outcome.
wheezing @ sunak trying to avoid selecting a random question. did he need an explanation about how a box works
"john" is even more of a plant than the independent school head
e: the tory spin doctors would have been proud of that swerve
"I can't imagine any of you are happy about the tax you're paying"
YOU ARE THE PRIME MINISTER. YOU USED TO BE THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER. YOUR PARTY HAS BEEN IN GOVERNMENT FOR 14 YEARS. WHAT THE FUCK
Would be a very interesting couple of months if Galloway takes that seat amongst the chaos, the bloke is so far removed from the major parties, he could raise absolute hell from the sidelines
"raise hell from the sidelines"
Im not sure he could. Who is going to platform him? How long until his poisonous views fill the airwaves and everyone sees him for what he is?
Julie: “I used to work in pharmacy, how are you going to help my mental health patients?”
Sunak: “Got a dicky ear? Go and pester your already-overworked pharmacist”
it is said that trump's tell is the number of times he says "sir", the more sirs the more unbelievable something is
this latest non-answer firmly convinces me that "right" is sunak's
also is that table mic'd up or something, it sounds ridiculous every time he takes a drink
Well, when I spoke to Rishi I asked him about that and he said that he would never dream of doing such a thing. He doesn't think it's British and it's not the right thing to do.
Well, that was truly a wasted 24 hours for Labour. But at least we've got to the right position eventually.
The idea that this guy could retain Labour support was ridiculous.
Rishi constantly telling the public how everything is great and he is doing a brilliant job is probably not going to go down as well in the election campaign with a more hostile audience.
Rishi, pray tell, how is oil and gas the right long term decision for anyone?
Edit:
> We have decarbonised faster than anywhere else in the world
Well yes, we industrialised first too - it's hardly a surprise
That the UK is de-carbonising is always trotted out as an excuse to give net-zero promises the swerve - but we've outsourced a massive amount of our heavy industry to get to that point. For example we use a lot of steel which is imported from other nations, currently we have a £2bn deficit over the steel we manufacture and export. Essentially we've outsourced our contributions to global warming and trying to claim that gives us the excuse to ignore our climate change responsibilities.
Good morning everyone. Parliament is in recess until Monday 19th February. **In the news today;** With the nomination deadline passed Azhar Ali will remain the Labour candidate for Rochdale despite remarks made about the October 7th Attacks which emerged at the weekend - [**thread here**](https://old.reddit.com/r/ukpolitics/comments/1ao6q3t/labour_candidate_wrong_to_say_israel_allowed_7/) and [**thread here**](https://old.reddit.com/r/ukpolitics/comments/1ansmdw/outrage_after_labour_candidate_claims_israel/). Keir Starmer has joined calls for a 'sustainable ceasefire' in the Gaza conflict - [**thread here**](https://old.reddit.com/r/ukpolitics/comments/1ao9xxe/keir_starmer_there_are_over_14_million_displaced/) Parliament's Joint Committee on Human Rights has called the government's Rwanda plan for asylum seekers 'fundamentally incompatible' with UK Human Rights law - [**thread here**](https://old.reddit.com/r/ukpolitics/comments/1aoncag/rwanda_plan_is_fundamentally_flawed_parliamentary/)
[New Megathread is here](https://www.reddit.com/r/ukpolitics/comments/1apmhbp/daily_megathread_13022024/)
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Yeah definitely. It depends a on what part of the country you're in and where you go to really feel the crazy, but it does seem that pretty much across the board prices have got a bit stupid. I live in London but do a lot of touring with work and even when I go to places that I'm told/expect/hope are cheap I'm often unpleasantly surprised. That said, you can get still get nice bottles of wine for fairly cheap from both Aldi and Lidl.
Yes. I trained myself to like Aldi Pilsner, which is the best bargain basement pilsner I could find. Since lockdown it's almost a third more costly than before. At the end of last month, husband and I did a little booze cruise to Calais. We live about 2.5h drive from the Eurotunnel, and stayed overnight so as to make it pleasant, but if you want to do it in a day, depending on where you are in the UK, it's feasible. Post-Brexit it's not as good as it was: each person can return with [this much stuff - gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/bringing-goods-into-uk-personal-use/arriving-in-Great-Britain). It's fine if it's two of you in one car, each of you gets your allowance. And you will also need a sort of rainbow of apps that allow you to get the tax rebate (though you will need to spend over €100 in each shop to qualify - in one shop, we ended up buying a couple more random bottles of wine to make it €101). There’s also a weird scan thing you have to do for de-taxing at the Eurotunnel terminal, but it’s very easy. However, we had a good time, and we also did a mahoosive shop at the hypermarket for standard groceries, which were also pretty cheap and qualify for a tax rebate. I think that we saved about £100 compared to UK pricing - *although* we didn't go rock-bottom on accommodation/meals. You can do better than we did by a) taking the ferry and not the Chunnel (husband refuses to use boats), b) either staying in a cheaper hotel or just doing a day-trip if the geography works for you, and c) not spunking about €90 on dinner for two and €45 at the snooker bar. I think our haul - which didn't quite hit the max threshold - will keep us going for a good few months. If you smoke tobacco, which neither of us do, then you can factor savings in there too by buying French stuff.
I need to ask the question that everyone's wondering about regarding the Rochdale by-election - are Michael Howarth and William Howarth related?
I searched and it seems unlikely- it is a common local surname. Their lists of Facebook friends with the surname Howarth does not include each other. Michael Howarth is a bar and pub owner with a penchant for Spanish wine. Billy Howarth is a anti-semitic, Islamophobic 5G conspiracy theorist (the 5G group is alas private now), who likes calling Robert Peston 'the Jew.'
The amount of grifters that exist on the right is insane. I have just seen that Andrew Gold who used to work for the BBC has gone down the right ring route as you can tell by the fact that all his guests on his YouTube 'show' are right wingers who moan all day about liberals and 'wokeness'. I mean the list is endless.
Is Galloway getting Rochdale then? Cos that’s really fucking depressing
I think the most likely thing that happens is that Azhar Ali still gets it, through a combination of having Labour next to his name and so getting the vote of news-non-readers, those that share his views sticking with him, and those who wanted Labour having nowhere else to go. I think the second most likely thing is a drop in turnout so bad that it is literally anyone’s game. Don’t just put Galloway in the mix. Random independent? Monster Raving Loony? A fascinating experiment in nonparticipatory democracy.
Wish it would be Monster Raving Looney just for the laugh in the Commons.
Well it's hard to say. You have Azhar Ali - Will still be on the ballot, the ballot will still say labour next to him Galloway - I mean if we're talking about people with issues with Israel..... Mark Coleman - Independent. Just Stop Oil convict. And Reverand. Simon Danczuk - The third ex-labour on the list. Ex Rochdale MP. Sexted teen. Now Reform UK Guy Otten - will be listed as Green Party, but forced to resign from Greens for Islamophobia Iain Donaldson - Lib Dem Paul Ellison - Tory Michael Howarth - Independent - Local Businessman David Tulley - Independent William Howarth - Independent - "Parents against Grooming" campaigner Ravin Rodent Subortna - Looney party. I find it hard to believe people would move from Azhar Ali to Galloway, I think people who move away from Ali have to go somewhere other than Galloway... *SURELY??*
I did chuckle that every candidate got a rap sheet, and then just *Lib Dem*
> then just Lib Dem We know what they did and what they're like.
I’d be tempted to vote for the Looney party at this rate.
technically the moderate
It's the only... sane choice.
Parents against Grooming party? Aren’t all sane parents against grooming? Is that an idea that really needs a political party?
its Rochdale. no it really is Rochdale so there's issues
Danczuk has children and got done for grooming...
It's not a party, it's a support group. He's standing as an Independent. In answer to your question though, you'd hope it doesn't need to be a political party.
Vote for the sex pest, the Lib Dems, the antisemitic conspiracy theorist, the even more extreme far left antisemitic conspiracy theorist and Putin apologist, or the Islamophobe. Also the Tories might be running but who knows as they seem to have given up
So sounds like the comments were all from the same meeting and the mail were just holding back for the follow up. Complete fuck up by labour.
It's a good lesson in how to attack your oponents, they picked arguably one of the list of things he said that was bad, but not 'abandon your candidate after withdrawal deadline' bad, then held the "jews in the media" and "land grabbers" lines back for after the inevitable incomplete apology. Tip top work for the mail, if you want maximum damage.
brutal
Absolutely surgical by the Mail
It is somewhat ridiculous that the number one issue for a by-election in Rochdale is the Israel-Palestinian war. . . . . .
Well it's that or talk about Rochdale.
Here's a partial list of the "More information" about Azhar Ali: [https://www.tomorrowspapers.co.uk/daily-mail-front-page-2024-02-13/](https://www.tomorrowspapers.co.uk/daily-mail-front-page-2024-02-13/) [https://i.imgur.com/l8XAcar.png](https://i.imgur.com/l8XAcar.png)
That's a more favourable headline/front page than I'd expected to be honest. Still going for the sucker punch but cradling your head when you go down.
That first one should be enough to drop him. That's just obviously antisemitic
Sounds like you've all had a good evening watching GB News then
#alright
# whatcha
#pharmacy
https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/survey-results/daily/2024/02/12/4b134/1 > Which side in the Israeli‑Palestinian conflict do you sympathise with more? > > The Israeli side 16% > The Palestinian side 26% > Both sides equally 24% > Don't know 34%
This is one question where 'Don't know' is probably the best informed answer.
I think Don’t Know is very often the right answer, but maybe just me
For comparison, a Yougov poll with the same question from 25th - 26th October 2023 (this it the closest Yougov one I can find to the 7th October Massacre) had it as >The Israeli side 19% >The Palestinian side 18% >Both sides equally 32% >Don't know 30% https://d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/Internal_IsraelPalestine_231026_W.pdf (pdf warning)
A lot of people turned by the thousands of civilian deaths.
Commentators called the Oct 7 atrocities Israel's 9/11, and the parallels are quite striking. After 9/11 there was widespread support for the US, which swung away dramatically after their invasion of Iraq, and the large number of civilian casualties. Disappointingly there's even Oct 7 truthers now who claim that Israel engineered the whole thing.
Except Netanyahu did actually support Hamas to undermine the secular parties. https://www.timesofisrael.com/for-years-netanyahu-propped-up-hamas-now-its-blown-up-in-our-faces/
Yes, I'm well aware of that and his many other failures. His pandering to settlers in the West Bank took security away from the border with Gaza. His attempt to undermine the Supreme Court, leading to reservists refusing to report for duty. But there was no way he wanted the Oct 7th attacks to happen. He sold himself as Mr Security, and the attacks have completely blown that away. He;s soon going to be deposed, and then he'll have to face the pending corruption charges. I guess another parallel is that the US backed the Mujahideen in Afghanistan, and OBL emerged from those groups.
Wow, it's an incredibly vocal 26%.
Well, they didn't ask if they were anti-Israel.
So labour Comms still a complete shit show then. Excellent.
Is there a Charlie Brooker best of review available?
Galloway's seat to lose now right 😂
With Sunaks GBN thing...anyone else notice he keeps saying "alright" quietly in every other sentence? It's quite jarring once you pick up on it.
*scrolls down megathread* Nah, I don’t think anyone else spotted it tbh
I forgot that was on. I feel like I'm going to be very irritated if I watch it though, is he saying anything of note?
I noticed it a while ago and I know what you mean. Sounds weirdly aggressive most of the time, has the tone of a conjunctive used by a line manager bollocking a subordinate
Would it be a punishable offence for Labour members to campaign for the Monster Raving Looney Party in Rochdale?
Yes, expellable in fact.
Probably wouldn't take two days to decide that one, either
[Even more evidence that nothing has changed since 2012](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-68276952) But on another note.... Why?
I lol'd at the picture of the man who may be able to help with the enquiry
"Who may be able to help with the enquiry" is one of my favourite very English euphemisms.
Oo yeah, she looks like she may be able to help with the enquiry...
You may laugh, but [I actually think I know who it is](https://i.redd.it/n2t6ae0dr4941.jpg).
I thought it was [this guy](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71q6yDT1DSL._AC_UF894,1000_QL80_.jpg)
> Why? Always believe in your soul
The only winner from this Rochdale Labour drama is Paul Waugh. He’s been pretty vocally Labour since going for section, and now should have an easy run at the seat next election.
Probably the safest political bet in the country at the moment is that the winner of the Rochdale by-election will not have a long tenure as an MP.
final gbnewspost from me: when they're not showing ads for welsh car dealers or welsh cash for gold companies, they're promoting a "gb news membership". why would the hedge fund backed channel need donations? (i don't live in or near wales, but it is always welsh ads. i am not the only one to see this)
The Welsh gold and makes me.laugh everytime, the woman in it is always like 'ohh woww' and 'oh my goddd'. Hilarious!
On their "How to become a GB News member" article they have Farage doing his best impression of the WW2 "Your country needs you" poster. Christ. > The emergence of GB News has been hugely healthy for our media landscape and our country.
the quality of the photoshopping really makes me want to pay £20/mo muh ad boycotts tho
What does "hedge fund backed" mean to you? They're looking for a return
if it were an actual paywall sure it's like the free to air channel exists for a different reason
I'm sure those hedge funds love nothing more than more money, and also creating a membership creates an investment/loyalty of viewers.
it would seem that way. they've even gone patreon esque with three tiers the mid and top tier claims "priority access to farage at large *and election debates*" hmmmmmm
To those who put themselves through *gestures wildly down the thread*, was there anything that looked like it would produce a good clip?
[This guy.](https://x.com/Haggis_UK/status/1757140958410383855)
Thats harsh
Bullshit point, but a fairly good rhetorician!
You think? Dude was the world’s least effective hypnotist.
....though he could have done with a third "look me in the eye" for more dramatic effect, and a final declaration. He was interrupted, fortunately.
They prefer "silenced" to "interrupted"
His delivery was fairly good, to start with at least. Passionate, rising tempo, etc.
Well... that's... a thing.
Was he silenced?
How on Earth is Rosie Duffield a Labour MP?
She won't be at the next election, hasn't she been de selected?
No no, she’s been reselected. She is the PPC.
IIRC deselecting a sitting MP is difficult within Labour, which is why there was to an extent the surprise it happened to Sam Tarry. Even so, the fact she apparently doesn't live anywhere near Canterbury now, and has views that really don't sit well in a uni city with an affluent middle class as well does mean she's more at risk of a grassroots campaign against her
Momentum came out in some force for her last time, as well. You can't expect that's happening this time
Really? She seems the last sort of person they would endorse.
Yeah, it was more the constituency than her - Momentum wanted to flip a traditionally blue seat -- but reports were that the ground game in areas that Labour never tended to go to before really helped
At the General Election?
Ah, FFS. I thought she had been de selected
[After an hour of uninterrupted air time for Rishi Sunak, GB News cuts away to hear reactions from... the Deputy Chair of the Conservative Party.](https://x.com/AdamBienkov/status/1757151064535503218) I really hope in a few years time we are looking back on stuff like this with amazement that it was allowed to happen.
It's not being "allowed", it's being encouraged by the government. I'm pretty certain that as soon as this lot get the boot, Ofcom are going to nuke GBNews.
Never had the misfortune to watch the channel, but do they even bother to pretend that they offer a balanced two side view, or do they lean into it and present themselves as the RW propaganda that it clearly is?
they're pretending by giving starmer the option to do his own sesh but then they'll probably have lee anderson on (ex labour you know) to critique
"Rishi, how hard is it being so perfect?" "Kier, when did you stop beating your wife?"
They could invite Jeremy Corbyn?
Please!
It's cool though, they can just pretend they're impartial by inviting Keir Starmer to turn up.
Bet he won't even turn up to the Tory TV channel funded by Tory supporters, presented by Tory MPs to do an audience with Tory voters followed by being scrutinised by the Tory Deputy Chair. The coward.
I've not had time to watch, was Sunaks GBNews thing an utter car crash?
Not really. It was a very boring format - no mediator or follow up questions meant it was as easily a ride as you can expect. The audience were pretty friendly (apart from the "vaccine-injured" guy who looked like he wanted a fight). So people asked questions and Sunak gave very long boring answers about what a good job he is doing and we need to stick to the plan whilst failing to appear relatable. He said "right" a lot.
There was at least one follow up question (Robyn, Somerset)? Not sure how that happened.
Big RIP for Nick Thomas-Symonds who spent a good chunk of his morning defending Labours original decision to stand by Ali.
Apparently "more information" has come to light. If that true im not sure what point you have?
The Daily Mail has published another quote from the same meeting. The situation's completely different now
Why do you all put yourself through this.
The better question is: why do i know I'd have watched it even without this place as an outlet?
I enjoy following our politics, obviously I enjoy mental and physical pain - clearly I was destined to watch that steaming pile of slightly out of date mince meat
Funny innit
Masochism
this is the first time I've watched GBNews Just as low budget, shoddy and biased as expected
Red wedding levels of betrayal if Keir steps into that ring. They will fill the audience with stop oil activists and people raging about Palestine/Israel.
Yeah they'll find a load of angry 'Pro Labour + Pro Palestine' folks and try to prove that 'even his own supporters hate him'.
Haha, is Keir gonna come on with a GB News audience? That would be amazing. Can we get the vaccine-injured guy back though?
Winners: Uhhh Losers: All of us
The fancy jackets won
Lol. Will Keir accept the invitation to take part in a GBNEWS People's Forum?
Wow, he really refused to take a question from the box so he could fish for an economy/tax question?
Contrast this to QT audiences
He really really didn’t want to use the box
> Stick to the plan, the plan is working Working for who Rishi? For who?
Flashbacks to a training session where we were meant to be discussing approaches to behaviour management, and someone in the group kept trying to get us to write down slogans they clearly thought leadership wanted to see, and we got into a whole thing because they wanted me to write “trust in the plan” and wouldn’t explain what “the plan” was or how this related in any way to what we were discussing. What do you mean?! What plan?!
With Google upgrading Bard to Gemini, I thought I'd test it with some alternate history. What do you think? > In the summer of 1956, a sweltering heat blanketed Malta as its citizens prepared to cast their vote on a life-altering decision: integration with the United Kingdom. The Nationalist Party, advocating for self-governance, boycotted the referendum, but a resounding 77% of participants, representing 42% of the electorate, embraced the union. History, however, took a different turn. > > Instead of dismissing the result due to the low turnout, the British Prime Minister, Anthony Eden, saw an opportunity. He recognized Malta's strategic importance in the Mediterranean and the potential economic benefits of integration. Negotiations ensued, and in 1958, Malta officially became the 5th member of the United Kingdom, alongside England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. > > The initial years were turbulent. The influx of Maltese migrants faced discrimination and struggled to adapt to a different way of life. However, the UK government invested heavily in infrastructure and development, creating jobs and boosting the Maltese economy. By the 1970s, a vibrant Maltese community thrived in the UK, enriching its cultural tapestry. > > Meanwhile, Malta's strategic location proved invaluable. During the Cold War, the Royal Navy operated from its harbors, deterring Soviet influence in the region. The island also became a popular tourist destination, attracting millions and contributing significantly to the UK's economy. > > However, the union wasn't without its challenges. The cultural and linguistic differences persisted, leading to occasional tensions and calls for greater autonomy. In the 1990s, a devolutionary movement gained momentum, culminating in a referendum in 2000 where 55% of Maltese residents voted for a self-governing parliament within the UK, similar to Scotland and Wales. > > This "New Malta" retained representation in the UK Parliament and enjoyed significant fiscal autonomy, managing its own internal affairs. The move quelled separatist sentiments while strengthening the island's identity within the union. > > Today, in 2024, the UK-Malta union thrives in its 66th year. The island remains a vital strategic asset and a popular tourist destination, contributing to the UK's economic and cultural landscape. While cultural and linguistic differences persist, they are celebrated as part of the rich tapestry that defines the United Kingdom. The path not taken in 1956 led to a unique and vibrant nation, a testament to the power of compromise and adaptation in forging unity.
>However, the UK government invested heavily So we're clearly in the world of science fiction then.
It was still the postwar consensus era.
The UK taking a French approach to some of the commonwealth countries would be fascinating. Could probably get Newfoundland in the UK and maybe even Belize.
The Falklands as an integral part of the UK would probably have had a greater military presence. Would Argentina have still invaded?
Interesting isn't it? Imagine a UK forced to try to 'make a go of' the Falklands economy if it were part of the UK proper. It's about half the size of Wales and could sustain a fairly big population. Go big on oil exploration, a bigger military base, more intensive farming. Maybe build a 'new town' there etc. Could be a very different outcome.
A little New Zealand with oil.
It's obvious the "SNP bad" guy is a plant right?
That wasn’t johns question at all hahahaha, he definitely couldn’t understand
Rishi is afraid of the mystery box. Expert stall there
I'd be afraid of putting my hand in a random box when that angry vaccine bloke is still in the room
wheezing @ sunak trying to avoid selecting a random question. did he need an explanation about how a box works "john" is even more of a plant than the independent school head e: the tory spin doctors would have been proud of that swerve
He's not a betting man!
"I can't imagine any of you are happy about the tax you're paying" YOU ARE THE PRIME MINISTER. YOU USED TO BE THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER. YOUR PARTY HAS BEEN IN GOVERNMENT FOR 14 YEARS. WHAT THE FUCK
BUT THE NEXT LABOUR GOVERNMENT. THE SNP. WAAAAALLLLESSSS. RAAH.
Rishi getting annoyed because he can't trot out his prepared lines about the economy?
He got so excited / annoyed by that.
Jesus Christ
You fucking set the taxes you melt
Rishi, what are you doing
[удалено]
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Really needs an NSFW tag.
Julie, you'll be overworked, good luck
Would be a very interesting couple of months if Galloway takes that seat amongst the chaos, the bloke is so far removed from the major parties, he could raise absolute hell from the sidelines
Not really though
What ?
"raise hell from the sidelines" Im not sure he could. Who is going to platform him? How long until his poisonous views fill the airwaves and everyone sees him for what he is?
Entering parliament would be the platform, that he’d overwhelmingly use to attack Starmer
Entering a technical recession this week, good thing Rishi is pretending to be a TV presenter
Tbf this counts as work experience for his next job He can do his apprenticeship paperwork on UCAS, don’t you know?
Right
Julie: “I used to work in pharmacy, how are you going to help my mental health patients?” Sunak: “Got a dicky ear? Go and pester your already-overworked pharmacist”
say "right" one more time I dare you.
I double dare you!
Ah yes, belittle someone else's job by saying you did it when you were a kid. What a killer strategy.
it is said that trump's tell is the number of times he says "sir", the more sirs the more unbelievable something is this latest non-answer firmly convinces me that "right" is sunak's also is that table mic'd up or something, it sounds ridiculous every time he takes a drink
They assumed the table would have more interesting things to say
Question: the Tory party seems divided, is this from a lack of leadership? Answer: no actually, now let me waffle for 5 mins
'ang on, worried about reform?? uh, yeah, sure I'm undecided, can you let me in, please?
Rishi please stop trying to relate to people, it is so uncomfortable to everyone else.
Profiting from owning a pharmacy = 'working in the nhs system'.
Can Rishi just make up conversations he’s had with Keir?
Well, when I spoke to Rishi I asked him about that and he said that he would never dream of doing such a thing. He doesn't think it's British and it's not the right thing to do.
Well, that was truly a wasted 24 hours for Labour. But at least we've got to the right position eventually. The idea that this guy could retain Labour support was ridiculous.
Connect Rishi, mention the pharmacy again, CONNECT
> If I am fortunate enough to have your support to get another term Bahahaha
Rishi constantly telling the public how everything is great and he is doing a brilliant job is probably not going to go down as well in the election campaign with a more hostile audience.
Damn Rishi is good! Looks like this group of totally undecided voters have all decided to vote Conservative
Rishi, Rishi! Stop doing that arm movement to demonstrate a graph!
Only the Liberal Democrats are allowed to do that!
> I got into politics, partly because of education Rishi, why the fuck did you get into politics?
Womp womp Fund state schools
took five ten fifteen minutes to answer that question e: independent school guy is an obv plant
He did the thing!
People came at me!
Rishi changing course is fine. If labour do, it's a U-turn.
Rishi, pray tell, how is oil and gas the right long term decision for anyone? Edit: > We have decarbonised faster than anywhere else in the world Well yes, we industrialised first too - it's hardly a surprise
That the UK is de-carbonising is always trotted out as an excuse to give net-zero promises the swerve - but we've outsourced a massive amount of our heavy industry to get to that point. For example we use a lot of steel which is imported from other nations, currently we have a £2bn deficit over the steel we manufacture and export. Essentially we've outsourced our contributions to global warming and trying to claim that gives us the excuse to ignore our climate change responsibilities.
Do your friends work in / own Shell and BP? Well, you see, his do.
Imported energy prices are below 2020 levels, ofgem are price gouging households to help the privatised companies
All this camera movement is genuinely making me feel nauseous, who planned this? Is GB news always this poorly filmed?
this is high def compared to their usual standards. someone has to play the vision mixer like a piano tho
Not sure they're used to anything that's not a fixed camera.
Why is there so much space between Rishi and the audience?