leicsmac

Could well be a bit of both. Goodness knows both Trump (and his backers) and Putin would like a likeminded government in terms of policy in the UK.

I agree. I just hope that it doesn't end up pulled when we're so close to the finish line.

I really hope we can get through the last 48-72 hours of this without the thread getting canned - it's gone well so far.

Hopefully so. One wonders about the next time though, other places show the same sentiment is pretty widespread.

Historic match, that.

Their argument, I guess, is that the world is already fine as it is and there's no need to "make it better" as there's no threat from nature that is apparent and we don't need anything on that list improving. Absolute bollocks for manifold reasons, of course.

Here's hoping this kind of Trumpesque policy doesn't catch on much more over in the UK, for the sake of a fair few people short term, and everyone long term.

Yep. Though I would also again say that is merely part of a larger, aggressive ethnonationalist movement in the US, Europe and parts of Asia, driven by online coordination and abetted by poor economic conditions. And history shows that doesn't end well.

Yep. But then seeing his stance on various scientific matters its rather clear that Bridgen has a grasp on reality only when it's convenient for him.

Yeah, economic hard times are a breeding ground for such sentiments. Edit: I think that's an explanation but really not an excuse, though.

Yep. Again, this comes down to social media influence for the most part. Casual misogyny and xenophobia have traction online among the young and digitally savvy.

I guess it comes down to whether or not one thinks an adversarial presence is needed to make someone do the right or best things. Difficult to say, IMO.

I'm not sure. Thanks to the wonders of social media and the like, harder right options like Reform have pretty broad age demographic appeal, it would appear. The Tories might end up trying to tap into that.

It's going to be an interesting rest of the year, I reckon. And there's a reason the Chinese use "interesting" as a curse rather than a benediction.

I wasn't aware that the newspapers ad space had anything to do with their editorial stance given that mostly it's open to the highest bidder, but fair enough.

I hope you're right and I think if the world stays (relatively) stable, I think you will be. But five years is an awful lot of time for something to happen. Edit: I've said it before but I'll repeat here, a party with the ideology of Reform, whether Tory or otherwise, next time round will get either 0 seats or enough seats to shape policy. There will be no middle ground.

I'd tentatively agree, but then I look at the last five years and all that's happened and think no one can be sure, especially given what's happening in Europe and the US right now.

Yep. Which will be negatively consequential for a lot of people.

There definitely needs to be a more flexible approach to discussing and addressing each issue as each is so different. (Though speaking personally on the last matter, there is no discussion on the nature of the problem or its consequences IMO; it's a matter of scientific fact. The only discussion is - at its heart - whether or not we're self-interested enough as a species to let the future burn in the name of the status quo in the present.)

Yeah, but apparently that would be "elitism" and scientists and other people versed in these matters shouldn't be making political decisions.

I'd likely agree with you both based on the numbers, but sadly such things often aren't rational. Hopefully with more time things will ease. Overall I think this has been a really good tournament all round, actually.

Sadly, reputation precedes the English there. And the responsibility for that lies only with the ones that did what they did to give them a bad name across the years. On topic, superb match!

I could be wrong, but Murray didn't usually have many issues with early round opposition at Wimbledon once he was established. Good win for Draper, I do hope he can prove himself as it would be disappointing to go back to mediocrity in mens singles for a Brit perspective.

True. The one thing missing from the trophy cabinet of both Federer and Djokovic, and they both clearly wanted it.

Hear hear. It's been a long time since we first saw him on the grass of Queens in 2005, making much higher ranked players look very foolish. Back then you knew it was just a question of when he would reach the top. He's been unlucky not to win more than he has, but considering he's been playing against three of the best players of the game ever, he's been brilliant.