Thursday 13th May 2021

[refitman]

Morning all.

[tinyclanger2]

Hello

[RogerOThornhill]

Good morning.

I see that well known lefty Ruth Davidson has said that photo ID is complete unnecessary. I'm sure the usual suspects will take this on board calmly...no, wait, they'll completely ignore it.

But last night, on ITV’s Peston, Ruth Davidson, the former Conservative party leader in Scotland, condemned the idea in the strongest possible terms. She said:

They can’t cite any evidence of [electoral fraud being a problem] because I don’t think there’s ever any evidence to cite. I think in terms of this particular part of the Queen’s speech, I think it’s total bollocks, and I think it’s trying to give a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist, and that makes it politics as performance.

And I think that given where we are and the year we’ve had, we’ve got real problems to solve in this country, and the idea that this is some sort of legislative priority I think is for the birds.

[AnatolyKasparov]

But "politics about performance" is mostly what this government is about.

Especially when needing to disguise their tilt to the left economically with culture war stuff.

[Sky'sGoneOut]

How likely is Batley & Spen to become the Conservatives’ “most Muslim seat”?

https://www.conservativehome.com/thetor ... -seat.html

[AnatolyKasparov]

Some "interesting" suggestions of who the Labour candidate might be there.

[Sky'sGoneOut]

For me the more interesting question will be whether the Conservatives choose a Muslim candidate in an attempt to gain that 20% share of the Muslim vote they reckon they need.

If they do, they'll lose.

[tinyclanger2]

I keep thinking about Fruit Salads, Blackjacks and Pineapple Chunks.
Is it age, or being in hiding for a year.
Or both.

[Sky'sGoneOut]

https://www.aquarterof.co.uk/fruit-salad-sweets
https://www.aquarterof.co.uk/black-jacks
https://www.aquarterof.co.uk/pineapple-cubes

Blackjacks are horrible, I don't like pineapple, which also rules out fruit salad.

[AnatolyKasparov]

Looks like fun and games outside Old Trafford again.

[Sky'sGoneOut]

While reading Cameron's answers about his grubby behaviour I kept thinking what the hell is 'fintech'? Does Greensill have something to do with Finland? I thought he was Australian.

Then I thought maybe robot sharks.

Sadly it turned out to mean 'finance technology'.

[Sky'sGoneOut]

Looks like fun and games outside Old Trafford again.

I'm so incredibly jealous of the guy in this video. Imagine that, being ridden around on a tricycle in a basket with a poodle by your partner, and then you hold up the Liverpool team coach. I'd be telling that story for the rest of my life.

[Sky'sGoneOut]

Seems the tricyclist was this lady who appears to be thoroughly lovely.

https://twitter.com/tricyclemayor

[tinyclanger2]

Greensill apparently leaves Cameron's "reputation in tatters".
Unlike, say, Brexit.

[gilsey]

Here was Cameron laid bare. A ball of need looking for meaning and affirmation. But finding only contempt. He had failed at everything. As prime minister he had promised to put an end to the “who you know” lobbying culture and he had ended up as the very thing he had most despised. “It gives me no pleasure to say this,” Labour’s Rushanara Ali concluded, trying to conceal a grin. “But your reputation is in tatters.” Which took quite some doing given that he hadn’t had much of a reputation anyway.

Crace.

[Sky'sGoneOut]

Not content with letting the supporters have all the fun Manchester United's players continue the protest on the pitch by deliberately giving Liverpool the ball and letting them score whenever they like. Embarrassingly for Liverpool, despite United's obvious larking about, they only manage to score 4 goals and everyone laughs at them.

[RogerOThornhill]

Squirming under questioning, David Cameron appeared to be a Samson shorn
Devoid of his legendary easy charm, he waffled like a man whose WhatsApping had finally caught up with him

MADELINE GRANT

I thought it was fairly well known that he was an aloof piece of crap - one of those people who would have an "easy charm" if he thought you could be useful to him. Otherwise, he'd ignore you.

[gilsey]

An Eton speciality, isn't it?

[tinyclanger2]

One Clanger's "easy charm" is another Clanger's "kind of face you'd never tire of kicking".
(As my "Auntie Marie" would say).
("Auntie Marie" was a colleague and not an Aunt - or at least not an aunt of mine - but I called her "Auntie Marie").

[Sky'sGoneOut]

[Sky'sGoneOut]

Lisa Nandy doesn't seem like she's in the mood to take any shit this evening.

Nice to see someone from Labour come out fighting for a change.

[Sky'sGoneOut]

According to the audience Scotland has invisible teachers and Scottish democracy is worthless because England has more people in it.

[Sky'sGoneOut]

Noooo....not Dave!

[AnatolyKasparov]

Not content with letting the supporters have all the fun Manchester United's players continue the protest on the pitch by deliberately giving Liverpool the ball and letting them score whenever they like. Embarrassingly for Liverpool, despite United's obvious larking about, they only manage to score 4 goals and everyone laughs at them.

Tbf they have had to play 4 games recently, whilst United have had 8 in the same period.

Absolutely ridiculous, protests or no protests. Hopefully next season's post-Covid schedule will be saner.

[Sky'sGoneOut]

I loved how Michelle Dewberry was making up words as she went along, if she'd been a Yank I have no doubt she'd have ended up working for Trump. Wearing glasses doesn't stop you being a vapid moron petal. I should know.

Robert Buckland saying having to show photo ID in France to vote doesn't reduce their voter participation was another highlight. Photo ID in France is, of course, mandatory.

Paul Mason does more harm than good to 'the left'.

I declare Kate Forbes to be the winner because she appeared to be wryly amused throughout.

With a creditable runners up prize for a plucky Lisa Nandy who evidently has had it up to here with Labour Party navel gazing and a media narrative she rightly takes issue with.

(Edited because I forgot to mention Lisa Nandy in my haste to go for a wee).

[Sky'sGoneOut]

Buckland also brought up photo ID being required in Northern Ireland to vote. Because I'm mildly drunk and tired and can't be arsed to look it up myself, can anyone else think of a reason voter fraud might have been an issue in that part of the world?

[Sky'sGoneOut]

Ah fuck it.

[Sky'sGoneOut]

I probably shouldn't put so much weed into these things.

(This is genuine advice to myself).

[AnatolyKasparov]

SNP hold in Airdrie and Shotts, reduced majority.

[Sky'sGoneOut]