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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » NEW PB/Polling Matters podcast: NHS funding, ‘Brexit dividends

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  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 113,957

    Solo has been such a disaster that all other Star Wars spin off films have been put on an indefinite hold.

    Solo was a perfectly fine movie
    It was a bit meh.

    Solo is the first Star Wars film I’ve only seen twice at the cinema.

    Most of the others I’ve seen at least a dozen times.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 113,957

    Mr. Eagles, it sounds like they were really overdoing both the release schedule (although Marvel manages to make it work, but that's with the comicbook back catalogue to draw on) and the PC nonsense that's riled some fans.

    Currently, I'm glad I've not seen a Star Wars film since Rogue One.

    You’ve not watched The Last Jedi?

    Honestly that’s the finest Star Wars film since Empire.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 47,786
    Alistair said:

    May steering us to soft brexit will save the union as it does not breach the SNP's red lines. There would be no justification for IndyRef2.

    A soft Brexit would strengthen the case for an independent Scotland to join the EU and “take back control”.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 113,957
    Nigelb said:

    :lol: 3rd July Cabinet holed up in Chequers.

    https://twitter.com/BethRigby/status/1009695229803417600

    David Davis is all fart and no follow through.
    Don't know about that. He's certainly crapped all over the Brexit negotiations.
    True.

    Anyhoo all put your money on England to be bowled out for less than a 100 today.

    After missing Trent Bridge I’m going to the Riverside today.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,933
    Mr. Eagles, interesting. I decided to watch a review of it, which gave it, I think 2/10. It sounded quite irksome and unsatisfactory. Anyway, once it comes to TV I shall watch just to see if it is that bad, but have no regrets about not seeing (and paying for) it at the cinema.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 40,950
    Seems to me that if you are a normal person then Solo is fine enough as an adventure, thriller film.

    If you are a looney tunes Star Wars franchise nut who probably dresses up at weekends as Han Solo and hence your distress at this particular portrayal of him, then you hate it.

    I think Radiohead are crap also.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,933
    Mr. Topping, worth recalling those 'nuts' are the same people who kept the interest going for decades with the expanded universe books etc.
  • AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670
    I see Australia voted to abolish all income taxes from 2024. Bold. Bold.

    Apparently it was done by accident.
  • JonathanJonathan Posts: 20,901
    The Last Jedi killed Solo, at least in my household. My kids had no interest in seeing it.
  • another_richardanother_richard Posts: 24,967
    A much better CBI Industrial Trends report yesterday after a few disappointing months:

    http://www.cbi.org.uk/news/recovery-in-manufacturing-order-books-promising/

    There's been a rash of new construction sites setting up and no retail chain has shut down this week.

    The economy looks like it might be improving.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 40,950

    Mr. Topping, worth recalling those 'nuts' are the same people who kept the interest going for decades with the expanded universe books etc.

    so?
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 38,517

    Delayed from yesterday here is Wednesday's Tesco Strawberry score:

    Fife
    Perthshire
    Nottinghamshire
    Staffordshire
    Cambridgeshire
    Norfolk
    Herefordshire
    Surrey
    Kent

    The nine being an increase in one from Tuesday with the only change being the addition of Norfolk.

    As mentioned before, I fear that whilst your count is accurate, I have some scepticism about whether the data on the labels is accurate. It's not as though supermarkets have not recently been caught out cheating on labels ...
  • FregglesFreggles Posts: 3,486
    "We hold all the cards" is back, in Trump form.

    https://twitter.com/ddale8/status/1009594000595193856?s=19
  • DecrepitJohnLDecrepitJohnL Posts: 13,300

    ‪Is ‘smooth and orderly’ the new ‘strong and stable’?‬

    twitter.com/10downingstreet/status/1009529579940261888?s=21

    Did you even read the 2017 manifesto which promised a strong and stable government for a smooth and orderly Brexit? 18 strong and stables and six smooth and orderlies, iirc.
    I’m repressing the 2017 Tory manifesto.

    It was the main reason Mrs May lost Dave’s majority, against Corbyn FFS.
    No it isn't. Crosby's duff campaign was the problem. Lock the Cabinet away and rely on Theresa May mindlessly parroting strong and stable to hand-picked audiences, and personal abuse of the Labour leader: what could go wrong?
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,709
    TOPPING said:

    HYUFD said:

    HYUFD said:


    Technically the only fighting we would ever now be doing on our own is to defend the Falklands or Gibraltar

    Fck me, that escalated quickly.
    Presumably in that scenario the EU (-1) would unequivocally back Spain.

    HYUFD is wrong. Our military will be fully engaged in trying to restore order after UDI in Northern Ireland.

    We won’t have the resources to fight in either Gibraltar or The Malvinas.
    No the loyalist paramilitaries would be doing that mainly but we could probably beat the Republic of Ireland, Spain and Argentina combined if necessary, all 3 have much weaker armed forces than the UK does though the chances of that being needed are near 0
    yeah but who would win: UK, RoI, Spain and Argentina vs a bear?
    Ask Putin
  • AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670

    Alistair said:

    May steering us to soft brexit will save the union as it does not breach the SNP's red lines. There would be no justification for IndyRef2.

    A soft Brexit would strengthen the case for an independent Scotland to join the EU and “take back control”.
    There wouldn't be any IndyRef2. Not without another Holyrood election.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,709

    HYUFD said:


    Technically the only fighting we would ever now be doing on our own is to defend the Falklands or Gibraltar

    Fck me, that escalated quickly.
    Presumably in that scenario the EU (-1) would unequivocally back Spain.

    HYUFD is wrong. Our military will be fully engaged in trying to restore order after UDI in Northern Ireland.

    We won’t have the resources to fight in either Gibraltar or The Malvinas.
    Hmm.
    Bloody Mon-Sat then.
    This is the time for the SNP to declare UDI, all 35 constituencies will be loyal to the SNP.

    Honestly if you can’t defeat Gavin Williamson then you don’t deserve independence.
    Actually most of those 35 SNP seats voted No to independence from the UK in 2014 though I expect we could survive UDI by Yes voting Glasgow and Dundee
  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633
    Jonathan said:

    The Last Jedi killed Solo, at least in my household. My kids had no interest in seeing it.

    They are missing out - its a hugely entertaining film. Without any big eared horses in casinos.
  • asjohnstoneasjohnstone Posts: 1,276
    MaxPB said:

    Solo has been such a disaster that all other Star Wars spin off films have been put on an indefinite hold.

    Solo was a perfectly fine movie
    Which movie did you watch?!

    They completely ruined the character.
    Nonsense, I thought he captured the character very well, same with Lando. Might have started a little slow, but it hit it's stride well in the second act. Not Rouge One, but a perfectly fine movie.

    The Last Jedi on the other hand was appalling, close to a franchise killer

  • AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670
    HYUFD said:

    HYUFD said:


    Technically the only fighting we would ever now be doing on our own is to defend the Falklands or Gibraltar

    Fck me, that escalated quickly.
    Presumably in that scenario the EU (-1) would unequivocally back Spain.

    HYUFD is wrong. Our military will be fully engaged in trying to restore order after UDI in Northern Ireland.

    We won’t have the resources to fight in either Gibraltar or The Malvinas.
    Hmm.
    Bloody Mon-Sat then.
    This is the time for the SNP to declare UDI, all 35 constituencies will be loyal to the SNP.

    Honestly if you can’t defeat Gavin Williamson then you don’t deserve independence.
    Actually most of those 35 SNP seats voted No to independence from the UK in 2014 though I expect we could survive UDI by Yes voting Glasgow and Dundee
    Nope, they voted SNP, by your impeccable NI logic they are 100% bastions of independence.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,933
    Mr. Topping, so if those who support a franchise feel they've been treated with contempt, that is not necessarily going to encourage them to keep supporting it. It's also profoundly ungrateful to take people for granted (as political parties sometimes do).
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 47,786

    ‪Is ‘smooth and orderly’ the new ‘strong and stable’?‬

    twitter.com/10downingstreet/status/1009529579940261888?s=21

    Did you even read the 2017 manifesto which promised a strong and stable government for a smooth and orderly Brexit? 18 strong and stables and six smooth and orderlies, iirc.
    I’m repressing the 2017 Tory manifesto.

    It was the main reason Mrs May lost Dave’s majority, against Corbyn FFS.
    No it isn't. Crosby's duff campaign was the problem. Lock the Cabinet away and rely on Theresa May mindlessly parroting strong and stable to hand-picked audiences, and personal abuse of the Labour leader: what could go wrong?
    Nick Timothy has popped up again to tell people it wasn’t his fault.

    https://twitter.com/georgeeaton/status/1009424975353253888?s=21
  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633

    Alistair said:

    May steering us to soft brexit will save the union as it does not breach the SNP's red lines. There would be no justification for IndyRef2.

    A soft Brexit would strengthen the case for an independent Scotland to join the EU and “take back control”.
    It might strengthen the case in the minds of a few. But irrelevant as support for Sindy 2 is still on life support and the pulse is weakening.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 40,950

    Mr. Topping, so if those who support a franchise feel they've been treated with contempt, that is not necessarily going to encourage them to keep supporting it. It's also profoundly ungrateful to take people for granted (as political parties sometimes do).

    Yes and I'm sure the moment people were told that Santa Claus doesn't exist was equally traumatic.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,709
    Alistair said:

    HYUFD said:

    HYUFD said:


    Technically the only fighting we would ever now be doing on our own is to defend the Falklands or Gibraltar

    Fck me, that escalated quickly.
    Presumably in that scenario the EU (-1) would unequivocally back Spain.

    HYUFD is wrong. Our military will be fully engaged in trying to restore order after UDI in Northern Ireland.

    We won’t have the resources to fight in either Gibraltar or The Malvinas.
    Hmm.
    Bloody Mon-Sat then.
    This is the time for the SNP to declare UDI, all 35 constituencies will be loyal to the SNP.

    Honestly if you can’t defeat Gavin Williamson then you don’t deserve independence.
    Actually most of those 35 SNP seats voted No to independence from the UK in 2014 though I expect we could survive UDI by Yes voting Glasgow and Dundee
    Nope, they voted SNP, by your impeccable NI logic they are 100% bastions of independence.
    Nope as in NI all DUP seats would vote to stay in the UK too
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,709
    Alistair said:

    HYUFD said:

    HYUFD said:


    Technically the only fighting we would ever now be doing on our own is to defend the Falklands or Gibraltar

    Fck me, that escalated quickly.
    Presumably in that scenario the EU (-1) would unequivocally back Spain.

    HYUFD is wrong. Our military will be fully engaged in trying to restore order after UDI in Northern Ireland.

    We won’t have the resources to fight in either Gibraltar or The Malvinas.
    Hmm.
    Bloody Mon-Sat then.
    This is the time for the SNP to declare UDI, all 35 constituencies will be loyal to the SNP.

    Honestly if you can’t defeat Gavin Williamson then you don’t deserve independence.
    Actually most of those 35 SNP seats voted No to independence from the UK in 2014 though I expect we could survive UDI by Yes voting Glasgow and Dundee
    Nope, they voted SNP, by your impeccable NI logic they are 100% bastions of independence.
    Nope as in NI all DUP seats would vote to stay in the UK too
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,933
    Mr. Topping, trolling? Otherwise that analogy is utterly flawed.

    Nobody thinks Star Wars is real. That doesn't mean people enjoy the rules of the universe being changed, or characters being rewritten. Internal consistency and plot coherence matter, as does not taking fans for granted.
  • DecrepitJohnLDecrepitJohnL Posts: 13,300

    A much better CBI Industrial Trends report yesterday after a few disappointing months:

    http://www.cbi.org.uk/news/recovery-in-manufacturing-order-books-promising/

    There's been a rash of new construction sites setting up and no retail chain has shut down this week.

    The economy looks like it might be improving.

    The carbon dioxide shortage threatens chicken as well as beer. Though I suppose from the chickens' point of view, that might be a good thing.
    https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/6582743/first-beer-and-fizzy-drinks-now-co2-crisis-could-cause-a-chicken-shortage/
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,709
    edited June 2018

    MaxPB said:

    Solo has been such a disaster that all other Star Wars spin off films have been put on an indefinite hold.

    Solo was a perfectly fine movie
    Which movie did you watch?!

    They completely ruined the character.
    Nonsense, I thought he captured the character very well, same with Lando. Might have started a little slow, but it hit it's stride well in the second act. Not Rouge One, but a perfectly fine movie.

    The Last Jedi on the other hand was appalling, close to a franchise killer

    Rubbish, the Last Jedi was brilliant, the best Star Wars film since the Empire Strikes Back and a huge box office hit and hit with the critics unlike the flop that has been Solo. I fell asleep in Rogue One
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,709

    Alistair said:

    May steering us to soft brexit will save the union as it does not breach the SNP's red lines. There would be no justification for IndyRef2.

    A soft Brexit would strengthen the case for an independent Scotland to join the EU and “take back control”.
    Over a third of SNP voters voted Leave, EFTA/EEA would be more likely
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 20,392
    I note from the Podcast that the proportion of the population who are pot-heads has been declining significantly over the past two decades.

    Decriminalisation to boost demand?


    And does this explain the drop in support for the LibDems?


    O.K., being serious, I was surprised to hear that stat. It sounds like a *good thing* and anything we might do as a society to disrupt that downward trend sounds like a bad idea.

    Overall, it would appear that Millennials are a cleaner living bunch than us older reprobates. Possibly the only upside from student fees. (That sounds like the subject matter for a thesis.)
  • StereotomyStereotomy Posts: 4,092

    Solo has been such a disaster that all other Star Wars spin off films have been put on an indefinite hold.

    Solo was a perfectly fine movie
    But financially, a disaster
  • TheWhiteRabbitTheWhiteRabbit Posts: 12,387
    Very strong borrowing figures, revising down last year by £1bn and this year (Just April) by £1 meaning debt falling significantly as a % of GDP. Also some chunky revisions.to previous years, e.g. 2014/15 down £1bn.

    2017/8 now under the £40bn mark, meeting GO's 2016 budget forecast (prereferendum) and 2018/19 could now easily be £30bn, meaning a surplus much sooner than expected. Or rather more.money for the NHS
  • another_richardanother_richard Posts: 24,967
    Good government borrowing figures:

    https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/governmentpublicsectorandtaxes/publicsectorfinance/bulletins/publicsectorfinances/may2018#revisions-since-previous-release

    2017/18 was now £39.5bn compared with the £45.2bn predicted by the OBR in March.

    After two months 2018/19 is £4.2bn lower than after two months of 2017/18 - which is again better than the OBR forecast.

    I think Hammond has been given his extra NHS money - I'm not sure he'll be that pleased.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 61,563

    I note from the Podcast that the proportion of the population who are pot-heads has been declining significantly over the past two decades.

    Decriminalisation to boost demand?

    And does this explain the drop in support for the LibDems?

    O.K., being serious, I was surprised to hear that stat. It sounds like a *good thing* and anything we might do as a society to disrupt that downward trend sounds like a bad idea.

    Overall, it would appear that Millennials are a cleaner living bunch than us older reprobates. Possibly the only upside from student fees. (That sounds like the subject matter for a thesis.)

    I'm not convinced decriminalisation would make things worse - particularly if coupled with a strong enough regulatory regime (similar to tobacco, but tougher).
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 40,950

    Mr. Topping, trolling? Otherwise that analogy is utterly flawed.

    Nobody thinks Star Wars is real. That doesn't mean people enjoy the rules of the universe being changed, or characters being rewritten. Internal consistency and plot coherence matter, as does not taking fans for granted.

    Fans' demand more films than seems is sustainable and then are disappointed when the studio tries to assuage that demand. In particular, they are disappointed when the films, which in their obsessed minds should follow a certain ideal path, fail to follow that path.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,008
    TOPPING said:

    tlg86 said:

    DavidL said:

    MaxPB said:

    I'm with the general Brexit means Brexit. Let's leave and get on with the process.

    The cost of building our own fighters/tanks/helicopters is prohibitive. There simply would not be long enough production lines. We either find other countries to work with or we buy American and say goodbye to a lot of skilled jobs.
    I’m much more worried about the reported remarks of May to Williamson in the FT today.
    I'm more worried that there are people in the MoD who think we are still a global military player!
    We are, and rightly so.

    I’m very angry about that FT article this morning, and will be writing to my MP later today who, thankfully, is in the cabinet.
    Weren't you going to join up not so long ago? Now more than ever, your country needs you. Get along to Rochester Row forthwith!
    I would volunteer part-time for territorial work.

    I thought I could work at RAF Odiham one or two evenings a week, but it seems I can’t (nearest base that accepts is miles and miles away) and it doesn’t quite work like that anyway.
  • another_richardanother_richard Posts: 24,967

    A much better CBI Industrial Trends report yesterday after a few disappointing months:

    http://www.cbi.org.uk/news/recovery-in-manufacturing-order-books-promising/

    There's been a rash of new construction sites setting up and no retail chain has shut down this week.

    The economy looks like it might be improving.

    The carbon dioxide shortage threatens chicken as well as beer. Though I suppose from the chickens' point of view, that might be a good thing.
    https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/6582743/first-beer-and-fizzy-drinks-now-co2-crisis-could-cause-a-chicken-shortage/
    There has to be a joke about using parliament for CO2 production.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,008

    :lol: 3rd July Cabinet holed up in Chequers.

    https://twitter.com/BethRigby/status/1009695229803417600

    It’s basically in the UKs national interest to have close alignment on goods and freedom on services.

    Therefore, that’s what I expect May to go for.
  • tlg86tlg86 Posts: 25,164

    I note from the Podcast that the proportion of the population who are pot-heads has been declining significantly over the past two decades.

    Decriminalisation to boost demand?


    And does this explain the drop in support for the LibDems?


    O.K., being serious, I was surprised to hear that stat. It sounds like a *good thing* and anything we might do as a society to disrupt that downward trend sounds like a bad idea.

    Overall, it would appear that Millennials are a cleaner living bunch than us older reprobates. Possibly the only upside from student fees. (That sounds like the subject matter for a thesis.)

    I'd add boy racers to this. You don't see so many souped up hatchbacks these days, presumably because it's so expensive.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 61,563

    Nigelb said:

    :lol: 3rd July Cabinet holed up in Chequers.

    https://twitter.com/BethRigby/status/1009695229803417600

    David Davis is all fart and no follow through.
    Don't know about that. He's certainly crapped all over the Brexit negotiations.
    True.

    Anyhoo all put your money on England to be bowled out for less than a 100 today.

    After missing Trent Bridge I’m going to the Riverside today.
    Have fun, and try not to jinx us.
    Forecast looks a bit breezy.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,841

    :lol: 3rd July Cabinet holed up in Chequers.

    https://twitter.com/BethRigby/status/1009695229803417600

    It’s basically in the UKs national interest to have close alignment on goods and freedom on services.

    Therefore, that’s what I expect May to go for.
    The big one is freedom of movement.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 40,950
    edited June 2018

    TOPPING said:

    tlg86 said:

    DavidL said:

    MaxPB said:

    I'm with the general Brexit means Brexit. Let's leave and get on with the process.

    The cost of building our own fighters/tanks/helicopters is prohibitive. There simply would not be long enough production lines. We either find other countries to work with or we buy American and say goodbye to a lot of skilled jobs.
    I’m much more worried about the reported remarks of May to Williamson in the FT today.
    I'm more worried that there are people in the MoD who think we are still a global military player!
    We are, and rightly so.

    I’m very angry about that FT article this morning, and will be writing to my MP later today who, thankfully, is in the cabinet.
    Weren't you going to join up not so long ago? Now more than ever, your country needs you. Get along to Rochester Row forthwith!
    I would volunteer part-time for territorial work.

    I thought I could work at RAF Odiham one or two evenings a week, but it seems I can’t (nearest base that accepts is miles and miles away) and it doesn’t quite work like that anyway.
    Just one or two evenings a week; you mean like a canasta evening? Call yourself a patriot? Where's your commitment, man? What price do you put on the defence of your country?
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,709
    edited June 2018
    Pulpstar said:

    :lol: 3rd July Cabinet holed up in Chequers.

    https://twitter.com/BethRigby/status/1009695229803417600

    It’s basically in the UKs national interest to have close alignment on goods and freedom on services.

    Therefore, that’s what I expect May to go for.
    The big one is freedom of movement.
    Which of course is non negotiable, especially given the 200 vote Commons majority to leave the single market leaving free movement in place unchecked is a non starter
  • TheWhiteRabbitTheWhiteRabbit Posts: 12,387
    I think that misses the point.

    There are plenty of things parties agree on which, technically, it is for a court or judge of some kind to describe.
  • DecrepitJohnLDecrepitJohnL Posts: 13,300
    edited June 2018
    TOPPING said:

    Mr. Topping, trolling? Otherwise that analogy is utterly flawed.

    Nobody thinks Star Wars is real. That doesn't mean people enjoy the rules of the universe being changed, or characters being rewritten. Internal consistency and plot coherence matter, as does not taking fans for granted.

    Fans' demand more films than seems is sustainable and then are disappointed when the studio tries to assuage that demand. In particular, they are disappointed when the films, which in their obsessed minds should follow a certain ideal path, fail to follow that path.
    I've not seen any Star Wars films since the first one but I'm not sure you can blame fans for the studio firing directors half-way through, which seems to have become a habit.
    https://variety.com/2018/film/features/solo-a-star-wars-story-directors-reshoots-ron-howard-1202817841/
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 37,603
    The PSF figures don't make any kind of sense. There is nominal tax growth of around 4.5% YoY, inflation is running at 2.6%. The growth in government tax receipts is not consistent with stated GDP growth, especially given the lack of tax rises (and in some cases falling tax rates).

    There is a disconnect, the deficit can't be falling as rapidly as it is if the economy saw just 1.2% YoY growth.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,933
    Mr. Max, how much of that could be explained by the fairly sizeable margin of error?
  • StereotomyStereotomy Posts: 4,092
    If May's strategy was really to placate the Brexiteers ahead of having to make lots of concessions to the EU, it seems odd that JRM is helping her.
  • ElliotElliot Posts: 1,516

    TOPPING said:

    Mr. Topping, trolling? Otherwise that analogy is utterly flawed.

    Nobody thinks Star Wars is real. That doesn't mean people enjoy the rules of the universe being changed, or characters being rewritten. Internal consistency and plot coherence matter, as does not taking fans for granted.

    Fans' demand more films than seems is sustainable and then are disappointed when the studio tries to assuage that demand. In particular, they are disappointed when the films, which in their obsessed minds should follow a certain ideal path, fail to follow that path.
    I've not seen any Star Wars films since the first one but I'm not sure you can blame fans for the studio firing directors half-way through, which seems to have become a habit.
    https://variety.com/2018/film/features/solo-a-star-wars-story-directors-reshoots-ron-howard-1202817841/
    I haven't seen Solo, but broadly agree with the fan consensus that TFA and Rogue One were great and TLJ was a disappointment. I don't think 65% approval shows obsession.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 40,950

    TOPPING said:

    Mr. Topping, trolling? Otherwise that analogy is utterly flawed.

    Nobody thinks Star Wars is real. That doesn't mean people enjoy the rules of the universe being changed, or characters being rewritten. Internal consistency and plot coherence matter, as does not taking fans for granted.

    Fans' demand more films than seems is sustainable and then are disappointed when the studio tries to assuage that demand. In particular, they are disappointed when the films, which in their obsessed minds should follow a certain ideal path, fail to follow that path.
    I've not seen any Star Wars films since the first one but I'm not sure you can blame fans for the studio firing directors half-way through, which seems to have become a habit.
    https://variety.com/2018/film/features/solo-a-star-wars-story-directors-reshoots-ron-howard-1202817841/
    It seems to happen quite a lot with varying degrees of success. It seems that in this particular instance, Solo, the makers pushed their luck too far.

    But the broader point is that now that the inviolability of the Franchise has been shattered, maybe fans won't put up with endless rehashes around the same theme with minor amendments each time.

    Same with Marvel which has some way to go I think. Same with Harry Potter, for that matter.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,841
    So Grieve voted against his own motion for no actual territory ceeded by the Gov't ?
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,008
    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    tlg86 said:

    DavidL said:

    MaxPB said:

    I'm with the general Brexit means Brexit. Let's leave and get on with the process.

    The cost of building our own fighters/tanks/helicopters is prohibitive. There simply would not be long enough production lines. We either find other countries to work with or we buy American and say goodbye to a lot of skilled jobs.
    I’m much more worried about the reported remarks of May to Williamson in the FT today.
    I'm more worried that there are people in the MoD who think we are still a global military player!
    We are, and rightly so.

    I’m very angry about that FT article this morning, and will be writing to my MP later today who, thankfully, is in the cabinet.
    Weren't you going to join up not so long ago? Now more than ever, your country needs you. Get along to Rochester Row forthwith!
    I would volunteer part-time for territorial work.

    I thought I could work at RAF Odiham one or two evenings a week, but it seems I can’t (nearest base that accepts is miles and miles away) and it doesn’t quite work like that anyway.
    Just one or two evenings a week; you mean like a canasta evening? Call yourself a patriot? Where's your commitment, man? What price do you put on the defence of your country?
    Ah, I see - you wanted to have a dig.

    My mistake, I thought you were serious.
  • BarnesianBarnesian Posts: 7,979
    Freggles said:

    "We hold all the cards" is back, in Trump form.

    https://twitter.com/ddale8/status/1009594000595193856?s=19

    The US consumer is enjoying cheap goods from around the world paid for by magic money-tree dollars. That sounds like a good deal for the US consumer to me.

    Trump wants to reverse that so that the US consumer (and manufacturers) pay much more. That looks fair and reasonable to me. But there will be high inflation, a big hike in US interest rates and falling real incomes. That's what holding all the cards means. Good luck with that.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 116,709
    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    Mr. Topping, trolling? Otherwise that analogy is utterly flawed.

    Nobody thinks Star Wars is real. That doesn't mean people enjoy the rules of the universe being changed, or characters being rewritten. Internal consistency and plot coherence matter, as does not taking fans for granted.

    Fans' demand more films than seems is sustainable and then are disappointed when the studio tries to assuage that demand. In particular, they are disappointed when the films, which in their obsessed minds should follow a certain ideal path, fail to follow that path.
    I've not seen any Star Wars films since the first one but I'm not sure you can blame fans for the studio firing directors half-way through, which seems to have become a habit.
    https://variety.com/2018/film/features/solo-a-star-wars-story-directors-reshoots-ron-howard-1202817841/
    It seems to happen quite a lot with varying degrees of success. It seems that in this particular instance, Solo, the makers pushed their luck too far.

    But the broader point is that now that the inviolability of the Franchise has been shattered, maybe fans won't put up with endless rehashes around the same theme with minor amendments each time.

    Same with Marvel which has some way to go I think. Same with Harry Potter, for that matter.
    Same with James Bond too
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 12,880
    TOPPING said:



    Just one or two evenings a week; you mean like a canasta evening? Call yourself a patriot? Where's your commitment, man? What price do you put on the defence of your country?

    Cleaning chip fat stains off the seats of No. 27 Squadron Chinooks two nights a week IS a commitment.
  • ElliotElliot Posts: 1,516
    tlg86 said:

    I note from the Podcast that the proportion of the population who are pot-heads has been declining significantly over the past two decades.

    Decriminalisation to boost demand?


    And does this explain the drop in support for the LibDems?


    O.K., being serious, I was surprised to hear that stat. It sounds like a *good thing* and anything we might do as a society to disrupt that downward trend sounds like a bad idea.

    Overall, it would appear that Millennials are a cleaner living bunch than us older reprobates. Possibly the only upside from student fees. (That sounds like the subject matter for a thesis.)

    I'd add boy racers to this. You don't see so many souped up hatchbacks these days, presumably because it's so expensive.
    It's more a broader level of responsibility and shows up in drug use, binge drinking, school attendance, and sleeping around statistics. My personal theory is that it's an effect of immigration from more conservative parts of the world shaping the broader generational culture.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,008
    Pulpstar said:

    :lol: 3rd July Cabinet holed up in Chequers.

    https://twitter.com/BethRigby/status/1009695229803417600

    It’s basically in the UKs national interest to have close alignment on goods and freedom on services.

    Therefore, that’s what I expect May to go for.
    The big one is freedom of movement.
    Yes, one theory I have (although it’s a complex one) is that the EU will kick the UK out of stuff that doesn’t really matter (or it could happily do itself or with others) as the “price” for opting out of freedom of movement, like the EAW or Galileo.

    Meanwhile, on the stuff that really matters (basically the free flow of goods and supply chains across Europe) it won’t be an issue at all.

    It’s a question of how much you think this is well choreographed panto v. strategic obstinacy, political cock-ups and meaningful disagreement.

    I think it’s a bit of both, but i think there’s a lot more in the bag than not.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 40,950

    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    tlg86 said:

    DavidL said:

    MaxPB said:

    I'm with the general Brexit means Brexit. Let's leave and get on with the process.

    The cost of building our own fighters/tanks/helicopters is prohibitive. There simply would not be long enough production lines. We either find other countries to work with or we buy American and say goodbye to a lot of skilled jobs.
    I’m much more worried about the reported remarks of May to Williamson in the FT today.
    I'm more worried that there are people in the MoD who think we are still a global military player!
    We are, and rightly so.

    I’m very angry about that FT article this morning, and will be writing to my MP later today who, thankfully, is in the cabinet.
    Weren't you going to join up not so long ago? Now more than ever, your country needs you. Get along to Rochester Row forthwith!
    I would volunteer part-time for territorial work.

    I thought I could work at RAF Odiham one or two evenings a week, but it seems I can’t (nearest base that accepts is miles and miles away) and it doesn’t quite work like that anyway.
    Just one or two evenings a week; you mean like a canasta evening? Call yourself a patriot? Where's your commitment, man? What price do you put on the defence of your country?
    Ah, I see - you wanted to have a dig.

    My mistake, I thought you were serious.
    You are the one that is not being serious. What exactly do you think is required of a national defence force? Turning up for an evening or two a week, and then what?
  • ElliotElliot Posts: 1,516
    Barnesian said:

    Freggles said:

    "We hold all the cards" is back, in Trump form.

    https://twitter.com/ddale8/status/1009594000595193856?s=19

    The US consumer is enjoying cheap goods from around the world paid for by magic money-tree dollars. That sounds like a good deal for the US consumer to me.

    Trump wants to reverse that so that the US consumer (and manufacturers) pay much more. That looks fair and reasonable to me. But there will be high inflation, a big hike in US interest rates and falling real incomes. That's what holding all the cards means. Good luck with that.
    It won't happen because of Trump's massive tax cut. He's too stupid to realise that if the government takes out a massive loan and gives the money out to its citizens, they will spend it on a level of consumption that's beyond what their economy can produce.
  • ElliotElliot Posts: 1,516
    Jonathan said:

    The Last Jedi killed Solo, at least in my household. My kids had no interest in seeing it.

    +1
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,008
    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    tlg86 said:

    DavidL said:

    MaxPB said:

    I'm with the general Brexit means Brexit. Let's leave and get on with the process.

    The cost of building our own fighters/tanks/helicopters is prohibitive. There simply would not be long enough production lines. We either find other countries to work with or we buy American and say goodbye to a lot of skilled jobs.
    I’m much more worried about the reported remarks of May to Williamson in the FT today.
    I'm more worried that there are people in the MoD who think we are still a global military player!
    We are, and rightly so.

    I’m very angry about that FT article this morning, and will be writing to my MP later today who, thankfully, is in the cabinet.
    Weren't you going to join up not so long ago? Now more than ever, your country needs you. Get along to Rochester Row forthwith!
    I would volunteer part-time for territorial work.

    I thought I could work at RAF Odiham one or two evenings a week, but it seems I can’t (nearest base that accepts is miles and miles away) and it doesn’t quite work like that anyway.
    Just one or two evenings a week; you mean like a canasta evening? Call yourself a patriot? Where's your commitment, man? What price do you put on the defence of your country?
    Ah, I see - you wanted to have a dig.

    My mistake, I thought you were serious.
    You are the one that is not being serious. What exactly do you think is required of a national defence force? Turning up for an evening or two a week, and then what?
    There is a vast amount of skill and expertise in the private sector on things like project management, contract and commercial management, problem solving and analysis, and logistics management. There’s a large pool of people the armed forces could draw upon here, at low cost, but it needs to be much more flexible in how and when you can engage, whilst of course agreeing to commit yourself more fully in times of crisis.

    Incidentally, this isn’t just my experience. One of my closest friends (who used to be in the university air squadron, and a private pilot) found the whole process so convulted and bureaucratic, with the nearest base over 100 miles away from his home, that he gave up.
  • AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    Here's a story that should get a lot more coverage but won't, because it's not on the Westminster radar:

    https://twitter.com/jonesarwyn/status/1009085150964174848
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 40,950
    edited June 2018

    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    tlg86 said:

    DavidL said:

    MaxPB said:

    I'm with the general Brexit means Brexit. Let's leave and get on with the process.

    The cost of building our own fighters/tanks/helicopters is prohibitive. There simply would not be long enough production lines. We either find other countries to work with or we buy American and say goodbye to a lot of skilled jobs.
    I’m much more worried about the reported remarks of May to Williamson in the FT today.
    I'm more worried that there are people in the MoD who think we are still a global military player!
    We are, and rightly so.

    I’m very angry about that FT article this morning, and will be writing to my MP later today who, thankfully, is in the cabinet.
    Weren't you going to join up not so long ago? Now more than ever, your country needs you. Get along to Rochester Row forthwith!
    I would volunteer part-time for territorial work.

    I thought I could work at RAF Odiham one or two evenings a week, but it seems I can’t (nearest base that accepts is miles and miles away) and it doesn’t quite work like that anyway.
    Just one or two evenings a week; you mean like a canasta evening? Call yourself a patriot? Where's your commitment, man? What price do you put on the defence of your country?
    Ah, I see - you wanted to have a dig.

    My mistake, I thought you were serious.
    You are the one that is not being serious. What exactly do you think is required of a national defence force? Turning up for an evening or two a week, and then what?
    There is a vast amount of skill and expertise in the private sector on things like project management, contract and commercial management, problem solving and analysis, and logistics management. There’s a large pool of people the armed forces could draw upon here, at low cost, but it needs to be much more flexible in how and when you can engage, whilst of course agreeing to commit yourself more fully in times of crisis.

    Incidentally, this isn’t just my experience. One of my closest friends (who used to be in the university air squadron, and a private pilot) found the whole process so convulted and bureaucratic, with the nearest base over 100 miles away from his home, that he gave up.
    Exactly. It's not for everyone. If he gave up, and it sounds like he gave it a go, I'd rate the chances of a guy making claims on an internet forum doing or staying at it at close to zero. Perhaps actually zero.
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 12,880
    tlg86 said:



    I'd add boy racers to this. You don't see so many souped up hatchbacks these days, presumably because it's so expensive.

    Insurance costs have killed that particular aspect of youth culture. I remember going into massive debt to get a Mk.2 GTI 16v in the early 90s and then flipping it over on Anglesey within a month of getting it. My mate smashed his front teeth out. What larks. The youth of today don't know what they're missing.
  • BarnesianBarnesian Posts: 7,979
    Elliot said:

    Barnesian said:

    Freggles said:

    "We hold all the cards" is back, in Trump form.

    https://twitter.com/ddale8/status/1009594000595193856?s=19

    The US consumer is enjoying cheap goods from around the world paid for by magic money-tree dollars. That sounds like a good deal for the US consumer to me.

    Trump wants to reverse that so that the US consumer (and manufacturers) pay much more. That looks fair and reasonable to me. But there will be high inflation, a big hike in US interest rates and falling real incomes. That's what holding all the cards means. Good luck with that.
    It won't happen because of Trump's massive tax cut. He's too stupid to realise that if the government takes out a massive loan and gives the money out to its citizens, they will spend it on a level of consumption that's beyond what their economy can produce.
    Yes. An overheated economy will also drive high inflation on top of the increased import costs. So there will be much higher interest rates and a much stronger dollar making imports even more expensive. Trump might close the trade gap but at a very high cost to the US consumer. I don't know what the lead times are on this and whether it will show by November.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,841
    Dura_Ace said:

    tlg86 said:



    I'd add boy racers to this. You don't see so many souped up hatchbacks these days, presumably because it's so expensive.

    Insurance costs have killed that particular aspect of youth culture. I remember going into massive debt to get a Mk.2 GTI 16v in the early 90s and then flipping it over on Anglesey within a month of getting it. My mate smashed his front teeth out. What larks. The youth of today don't know what they're missing.
    Spending a fortune on dentistry by the sound of it.
  • David_EvershedDavid_Evershed Posts: 6,506
    edited June 2018
    Pulpstar said:

    The Remainers or the Brexiters are going to be incandessant when the Speaker decides either to allow or not to allow amendments,
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 12,880
    Pulpstar said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    tlg86 said:



    I'd add boy racers to this. You don't see so many souped up hatchbacks these days, presumably because it's so expensive.

    Insurance costs have killed that particular aspect of youth culture. I remember going into massive debt to get a Mk.2 GTI 16v in the early 90s and then flipping it over on Anglesey within a month of getting it. My mate smashed his front teeth out. What larks. The youth of today don't know what they're missing.
    Spending a fortune on dentistry by the sound of it.
    He got the finest dental treatment the RAF could provide (I was on exchange as a QFI at Valley at the time) and consequently had a teeth like a mouthful of broken glass. No harm done as he ended up on on the Tucano for about 10 years and therefore had no reason to smile.
  • AnazinaAnazina Posts: 3,487
    HYUFD said:

    MaxPB said:

    Solo has been such a disaster that all other Star Wars spin off films have been put on an indefinite hold.

    Solo was a perfectly fine movie
    Which movie did you watch?!

    They completely ruined the character.
    Nonsense, I thought he captured the character very well, same with Lando. Might have started a little slow, but it hit it's stride well in the second act. Not Rouge One, but a perfectly fine movie.

    The Last Jedi on the other hand was appalling, close to a franchise killer

    Rubbish, the Last Jedi was brilliant, the best Star Wars film since the Empire Strikes Back and a huge box office hit and hit with the critics unlike the flop that has been Solo. I fell asleep in Rogue One
    Agreed that The Last Jedi is unfairly castigated – I throughly enjoyed it. Also agree that Rogue One is vastly overrated – the first half of the picture is plain dull.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,933
    Mr. Meeks, indeed. I'm also (mildly) surprised Lisa Nandy's PMQs/e-mail story didn't get any national coverage (it did make the Look North local news).
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,008
    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    tlg86 said:

    DavidL said:

    MaxPB said:

    I'm with the general Brexit means Brexit. Let's leave and get on with the process.

    The cost of building our own fighters/tanks/helicopters is prohibitive. There simply would not be long enough production lines. We either find other countries to work with or we buy American and say goodbye to a lot of skilled jobs.
    I’m much more worried about the reported remarks of May to Williamson in the FT today.
    I'm more worried that there are people in the MoD who think we are still a global military player!
    We Row forthwith!
    I .
    Just one or two evenings a week; you mean like a canasta evening? Call yourself a patriot? Where's your commitment, man? What price do you put on the defence of your country?
    Ah, I see - you wanted to have a dig.

    My mistake, I thought you were serious.
    You are the one that is not being serious. What exactly do you think is required of a national defence force? Turning up for an evening or two a week, and then what?
    Te gave up.
    Exactly. It's not for everyone. If he gave up, and it sounds like he gave it a go, I'd rate the chances of a guy making claims on an internet forum doing or staying at it at close to zero. Perhaps actually zero.
    The point is the MoD needs to be much more flexible in drawing upon the skills of the civilian population, which would be much better value for the taxpayer both in direct terms and in the cost and administrative efficiency of the armed forces themselves. At the moment the MoD is struggling to fill these positions, and take advantage of these skills, and this is a large part of the reason why.

    I don’t think there’s anything I can say or do to influence conclusions you’ve already reached about me, which I suspect is largely goading for your entertainment, driven by our political differences, but I don’t make stuff like this up.

    Others can decide what they think themselves.
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 37,603
    Other than it not making sense, the PSF figures are extremely good. At the current rate of consolidation we should see borrowing drop by another £10-12bn, bringing it to around £28bn for the year, or around 1.4% of GDP.

    I expect the November budget to target around £33-35bn in terms of the deficit and the additional money to be earmarked for the first stage of the NHS budget increase. The next stage will be done via fiscal drag and possibly reintroducing NICs for retired people (NICs are dropping while income tax is rising much faster than inflation), the final stage will be the controversial "Brexit dividend" in 2022. There will be £10bn in the budget to spend after we leave, that money exists, whether it should be spent on the NHS is another matter, it definitely exists.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 40,950

    The point is the MoD needs to be much more flexible in drawing upon the skills of the civilian population, which would be much better value for the taxpayer both in direct terms and in the cost and administrative efficiency of the armed forces themselves. At the moment the MoD is struggling to fill these positions, and take advantage of these skills, and this is a large part of the reason why.

    I don’t think there’s anything I can say or do to influence conclusions you’ve already reached about me, which I suspect is largely goading for your entertainment, driven by our political differences, but I don’t make stuff like this up.

    Others can decide what they think themselves.

    The point is, like I'm sure many people who are doing well in their job, you want to "give something back" to the nation and, looking around at potential options, you thought: the army - they can use my skills.

    You then say how the MoD needs to be much more flexible in asking @Casino_Royale to help them in their hour of need but unaccountably you haven't received the phone call.

    But it is all bollocks. You don't have the commitment to do anything for HMF apart from repeating to yourself when you're in front of a mirror or on an internet chatroom what an asset you would be to them, and thereby feeling like you're "doing your bit".

    Nothing to do with your political views. Which are what, by the way?
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,008
    This is a small piece of good news. Note the Capital Economics forecast:

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/business-44559960?__twitter_impression=true
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 61,563
    edited June 2018
    Dura_Ace said:

    tlg86 said:



    I'd add boy racers to this. You don't see so many souped up hatchbacks these days, presumably because it's so expensive.

    Insurance costs have killed that particular aspect of youth culture. I remember going into massive debt to get a Mk.2 GTI 16v in the early 90s and then flipping it over on Anglesey within a month of getting it. My mate smashed his front teeth out. What larks. The youth of today don't know what they're missing.
    Not just that - the amount of traffic compared to 25 years ago makes driving a great deal less fun, so it's barely worthwhile even if you could afford the insurance.

    (I still regret having to sell my Caterham to buy my first kitchen...)
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,008
    TOPPING said:

    The point is the MoD needs to be much more flexible in drawing upon the skills of the civilian population, which would be much better value for the taxpayer both in direct terms and in the cost and administrative efficiency of the armed forces themselves. At the moment the MoD is struggling to fill these positions, and take advantage of these skills, and this is a large part of the reason why.

    I don’t think there’s anything I can say or do to influence conclusions you’ve already reached about me, which I suspect is largely goading for your entertainment, driven by our political differences, but I don’t make stuff like this up.

    Others can decide what they think themselves.

    The point is, like I'm sure many people who are doing well in their job, you want to "give something back" to the nation and, looking around at potential options, you thought: the army - they can use my skills.

    You then say how the MoD needs to be much more flexible in asking @Casino_Royale to help them in their hour of need but unaccountably you haven't received the phone call.

    But it is all bollocks. You don't have the commitment to do anything for HMF apart from repeating to yourself when you're in front of a mirror or on an internet chatroom what an asset you would be to them, and thereby feeling like you're "doing your bit".

    Nothing to do with your political views. Which are what, by the way?
    You have questioned my integrity this morning and basically called me a liar. You have now resorted to swearing.

    This discussion is over.
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 12,880


    I don’t think there’s anything I can say or do to influence conclusions you’ve already reached about me, which I suspect is largely goading for your entertainment, driven by our political differences, but I don’t make stuff like this up.

    You're going to need to up your banter game if you do end up doing anything in the military.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 40,950
    edited June 2018

    TOPPING said:

    The point is the MoD needs to be much more flexible in drawing upon the skills of the civilian population, which would be much better value for the taxpayer both in direct terms and in the cost and administrative efficiency of the armed forces themselves. At the moment the MoD is struggling to fill these positions, and take advantage of these skills, and this is a large part of the reason why.

    I don’t think there’s anything I can say or do to influence conclusions you’ve already reached about me, which I suspect is largely goading for your entertainment, driven by our political differences, but I don’t make stuff like this up.

    Others can decide what they think themselves.

    The point is, like I'm sure many people who are doing well in their job, you want to "give something back" to the nation and, looking around at potential options, you thought: the army - they can use my skills.

    You then say how the MoD needs to be much more flexible in asking @Casino_Royale to help them in their hour of need but unaccountably you haven't received the phone call.

    But it is all bollocks. You don't have the commitment to do anything for HMF apart from repeating to yourself when you're in front of a mirror or on an internet chatroom what an asset you would be to them, and thereby feeling like you're "doing your bit".

    Nothing to do with your political views. Which are what, by the way?
    You have questioned my integrity this morning and basically called me a liar. You have now resorted to swearing.

    This discussion is over.
    LOL surely the Cicero of our day.

    Oh and Edit: I didn't call you a liar I just pointed out the difference between your misguided desire to "do something" and the reality of what that might entail. I then noted that it was hugely unlikely that anything would come to pass from that stated desire.
  • TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    tlg86 said:

    DavidL said:

    MaxPB said:

    I'm with the general Brexit means Brexit. Let's leave and get on with the process.

    The cost of building our own fighters/tanks/helicopters is prohibitive. There simply would not be long enough production lines. We either find other countries to work with or we buy American and say goodbye to a lot of skilled jobs.
    I’m much more worried about the reported remarks of May to Williamson in the FT today.
    I'm more worried that there are people in the MoD who think we are still a global military player!
    We are, and rightly so.

    I’m very angry about that FT article this morning, and will be writing to my MP later today who, thankfully, is in the cabinet.
    Weren't you going to join up not so long ago? Now more than ever, your country needs you. Get along to Rochester Row forthwith!
    I would volunteer part-time for territorial work.

    I thought I could work at RAF Odiham one or two evenings a week, but it seems I can’t (nearest base that accepts is miles and miles away) and it doesn’t quite work like that anyway.
    Just one or two evenings a week; you mean like a canasta evening? Call yourself a patriot? Where's your commitment, man? What price do you put on the defence of your country?
    Ah, I see - you wanted to have a dig.

    My mistake, I thought you were serious.
    You are the one that is not being serious. What exactly do you think is required of a national defence force? Turning up for an evening or two a week, and then what?
    he gave it a go, I'd rate the chances of a guy making claims on an internet forum doing or staying at it at close to zero. Perhaps actually zero.
    I must admit, I've looked into it a little bit. I'm too old for yomping about carrying a rifle and getting yawped at by 20 year old lads with a stripe on their arm, but I would be interested in the firefighting side of things at airbases and the like. I retire in a few years time, and it would be nice to think my experience and the money local taxpayers have spent on me wouldn't all just be binned just because I've reached a certain middle age. I guess I'm a little bit institutionalised as well......
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 40,950
    edited June 2018

    I must admit, I've looked into it a little bit. I'm too old for yomping about carrying a rifle and getting yawped at by 20 year old lads with a stripe on their arm, but I would be interested in the firefighting side of things at airbases and the like. I retire in a few years time, and it would be nice to think my experience and the money local taxpayers have spent on me wouldn't all just be binned just because I've reached a certain middle age. I guess I'm a little bit institutionalised as well......

    No idea about that I wouldn't be surprised if it's outsourced. Plus (with the same lack of knowledge) I think you might have to go through a bit of being yawped at by 20 year olds before you might be able to take on those tasks.

    And you wouldn't be yawped at by 20 year olds who would understand the relevant experience that you would bring and that you would be volunteering for an important job. Unlike middle manager urban office workers who reckon they could bring a bit of process and efficiency to the armed forces.
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 38,517

    I must admit, I've looked into it a little bit. I'm too old for yomping about carrying a rifle and getting yawped at by 20 year old lads with a stripe on their arm, but I would be interested in the firefighting side of things at airbases and the like. I retire in a few years time, and it would be nice to think my experience and the money local taxpayers have spent on me wouldn't all just be binned just because I've reached a certain middle age. I guess I'm a little bit institutionalised as well......

    An old schoolfriend of mine left school and joined the army, becoming an EOD officer (i.e. bomb disposal). She left the army around 2000, and in late 2001 the army asked if she wouldn't mind rejoining. Given what was happening around the world back then, she decided she was better off out!

    I think she was one of the first female EOD officers in the MOD ...
  • TheWhiteRabbitTheWhiteRabbit Posts: 12,387
    MaxPB said:

    The PSF figures don't make any kind of sense. There is nominal tax growth of around 4.5% YoY, inflation is running at 2.6%. The growth in government tax receipts is not consistent with stated GDP growth, especially given the lack of tax rises (and in some cases falling tax rates).

    There is a disconnect, the deficit can't be falling as rapidly as it is if the economy saw just 1.2% YoY growth.

    Perhaps I've misunderstood but doesn't that mean real tax growth was 1.9% compared to GDP growth (real) of 1.2%? That doesn't seem like an unbridgeable gap.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,841
    Huzzah, growth & inflation has reduced our debt as % of GDP.

    Public sector net debt, excluding public sector banks, was £1,781.4bn at the end of last month, equivalent to 85% of GDP, the ONS said.

    That is £44.7bn higher than a year earlier, but 0.4 percentage points lower as a percentage of GDP.
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 37,603
    .

    MaxPB said:

    The PSF figures don't make any kind of sense. There is nominal tax growth of around 4.5% YoY, inflation is running at 2.6%. The growth in government tax receipts is not consistent with stated GDP growth, especially given the lack of tax rises (and in some cases falling tax rates).

    There is a disconnect, the deficit can't be falling as rapidly as it is if the economy saw just 1.2% YoY growth.

    Perhaps I've misunderstood but doesn't that mean real tax growth was 1.9% compared to GDP growth (real) of 1.2%? That doesn't seem like an unbridgeable gap.
    It's a pretty big gap.
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 37,603
    Pulpstar said:

    Huzzah, growth & inflation has reduced our debt as % of GDP.

    Public sector net debt, excluding public sector banks, was £1,781.4bn at the end of last month, equivalent to 85% of GDP, the ONS said.

    That is £44.7bn higher than a year earlier, but 0.4 percentage points lower as a percentage of GDP.

    It's down from a peak of 87% I think. The PSNDex-exBoE is falling quite fast and that's the real measure of public debt, the BoE can and would print away any obligations.
  • ralphmalphralphmalph Posts: 2,201
    Pulpstar said:

    Huzzah, growth & inflation has reduced our debt as % of GDP.

    Public sector net debt, excluding public sector banks, was £1,781.4bn at the end of last month, equivalent to 85% of GDP, the ONS said.

    That is £44.7bn higher than a year earlier, but 0.4 percentage points lower as a percentage of GDP.

    Seeing as the QE cash will never be repaid and the interest is waived the effective figure is £1,365 bill or 64.5% of GDP.
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 37,603

    Pulpstar said:

    Huzzah, growth & inflation has reduced our debt as % of GDP.

    Public sector net debt, excluding public sector banks, was £1,781.4bn at the end of last month, equivalent to 85% of GDP, the ONS said.

    That is £44.7bn higher than a year earlier, but 0.4 percentage points lower as a percentage of GDP.

    Seeing as the QE cash will never be repaid and the interest is waived the effective figure is £1,365 bill or 64.5% of GDP.
    And the Term Funding Scheme will eventually be rolled into APF, that's another £126bn off the true debt figure.
  • Ishmael_ZIshmael_Z Posts: 8,981
    Solstice due in 30 odd seconds. Winter is coming.
  • ElliotElliot Posts: 1,516
    This is an interesting old article on immigration.

    https://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2006/03/27/notes-on-immigration/
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453

    Solo was a perfectly fine movie

    Radiohead are a perfectly fine band

    Pineapple is a perfectly fine pizza topping
  • ralphmalphralphmalph Posts: 2,201
    On a separate note Trump has shot himself in the feet. Merc last night said that profits would be lower because of Chinese Tariffs on the SUV's they make in the USA that were exported to China.
    Good job those nice Chinese people can buy Range Rovers then.
  • Torby_FennelTorby_Fennel Posts: 438

    Delayed from yesterday here is Wednesday's Tesco Strawberry score:

    Fife
    Perthshire
    Nottinghamshire
    Staffordshire
    Cambridgeshire
    Norfolk
    Herefordshire
    Surrey
    Kent

    The nine being an increase in one from Tuesday with the only change being the addition of Norfolk.

    Do you ever actually buy any of these strawberries or merely just paw at the packaging each day?
  • ralphmalphralphmalph Posts: 2,201
    MaxPB said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Huzzah, growth & inflation has reduced our debt as % of GDP.

    Public sector net debt, excluding public sector banks, was £1,781.4bn at the end of last month, equivalent to 85% of GDP, the ONS said.

    That is £44.7bn higher than a year earlier, but 0.4 percentage points lower as a percentage of GDP.

    Seeing as the QE cash will never be repaid and the interest is waived the effective figure is £1,365 bill or 64.5% of GDP.
    And the Term Funding Scheme will eventually be rolled into APF, that's another £126bn off the true debt figure.
    What clever chaps those central bankers are.
  • ElliotElliot Posts: 1,516
    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    The point is the MoD needs to be much more flexible in drawing upon the skills of the civilian population, which would be much better value for the taxpayer both in direct terms and in the cost and administrative efficiency of the armed forces themselves. At the moment the MoD is struggling to fill these positions, and take advantage of these skills, and this is a large part of the reason why.

    I don’t think there’s anything I can say or do to influence conclusions you’ve already reached about me, which I suspect is largely goading for your entertainment, driven by our political differences, but I don’t make stuff like this up.

    Others can decide what they think themselves.

    The point is, like I'm sure many people who are doing well in their job, you want to "give something back" to the nation and, looking around at potential options, you thought: the army - they can use my skills.

    You then say how the MoD needs to be much more flexible in asking @Casino_Royale to help them in their hour of need but unaccountably you haven't received the phone call.

    But it is all bollocks. You don't have the commitment to do anything for HMF apart from repeating to yourself when you're in front of a mirror or on an internet chatroom what an asset you would be to them, and thereby feeling like you're "doing your bit".

    Nothing to do with your political views. Which are what, by the way?
    You have questioned my integrity this morning and basically called me a liar. You have now resorted to swearing.

    This discussion is over.
    LOL surely the Cicero of our day.

    Oh and Edit: I didn't call you a liar I just pointed out the difference between your misguided desire to "do something" and the reality of what that might entail. I then noted that it was hugely unlikely that anything would come to pass from that stated desire.
    The guy expressed opinions about something he would like to do and you attacked him aggressively over it with no provocation whatsoever. He's not the one that comes badly out of this.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 40,950
    Elliot said:

    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    The point is the MoD needs to be much more flexible in drawing upon the skills of the civilian population, which would be much better value for the taxpayer both in direct terms and in the cost and administrative efficiency of the armed forces themselves. At the moment the MoD is struggling to fill these positions, and take advantage of these skills, and this is a large part of the reason why.

    I don’t think there’s anything I can say or do to influence conclusions you’ve already reached about me, which I suspect is largely goading for your entertainment, driven by our political differences, but I don’t make stuff like this up.

    Others can decide what they think themselves.

    The point is, like I'm sure many people who are doing well in their job, you want to "give something back" to the nation and, looking around at potential options, you thought: the army - they can use my skills.

    You then say how the MoD needs to be much more flexible in asking @Casino_Royale to help them in their hour of need but unaccountably you haven't received the phone call.

    But it is all bollocks. You don't have the commitment to do anything for HMF apart from repeating to yourself when you're in front of a mirror or on an internet chatroom what an asset you would be to them, and thereby feeling like you're "doing your bit".

    Nothing to do with your political views. Which are what, by the way?
    You have questioned my integrity this morning and basically called me a liar. You have now resorted to swearing.

    This discussion is over.
    LOL surely the Cicero of our day.

    Oh and Edit: I didn't call you a liar I just pointed out the difference between your misguided desire to "do something" and the reality of what that might entail. I then noted that it was hugely unlikely that anything would come to pass from that stated desire.
    The guy expressed opinions about something he would like to do and you attacked him aggressively over it with no provocation whatsoever. He's not the one that comes badly out of this.
    Nah. He came over all armchair general "I'll join up, I will, I'll show everybody." and I just dissected that claim.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 50,761

    Good government borrowing figures:

    https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/governmentpublicsectorandtaxes/publicsectorfinance/bulletins/publicsectorfinances/may2018#revisions-since-previous-release

    2017/18 was now £39.5bn compared with the £45.2bn predicted by the OBR in March.

    After two months 2018/19 is £4.2bn lower than after two months of 2017/18 - which is again better than the OBR forecast.

    I think Hammond has been given his extra NHS money - I'm not sure he'll be that pleased.

    So the OBR was £5.7bn out in their forecasts of the deficit one month before the end of the financial year? That's comfortably more than a 10% error. I'd really like to think that someone might be facing the sack for that level of incompetence.

    I also find it remarkable that an economy that was, according to official figures, barely growing managed to increase employment by over 400k and reduce the deficit by £6.2bn. The latter number is even more remarkable when you consider that public spending rose at a fairly fast rate.
This discussion has been closed.