Jon the Hat

Harsh to talk as if he was just a celebrity. He was one of the foremost science / medical TV journalists of his generation. A great communicator and behind a lot of TV in this space for the past 20 years or so. Had a huge role in improving the health of a lot of people. Just because you weren't one of them doesn't mean it isn't news. Many people would say the same about coverage of a sports person for example.

Very sad indeed. They didn't think he was that far away I guess, but its a great shame they didn't have enough resources on it to take a look before then.

I would think the point of bringing someone in who knows what a good DOF and Analytics team looks like is he will demand better.

The challenge to Labour of the 2K tax bill is that Labour are in the difficult position of on one hand saying they will not increaser the 3 main levers of tax, and on the other hand saying things will improve, and also trying to not to about the need for further spending cuts in their non core areas. It is easy to suggest it doesn't all add up. However the Tories are now promising tax cuts and more Help to Buy funding, which doesn't sound too costed either.. Its all bollocks.

This is arguable of any opposition ever after such a long period out of power. They have no record, they have very people still around from 14+ years ago. They are also however deliberately delaying policy announcements because they know very well the Tories will try to counter them, so there is now a standoff. Give it a week or so and things will become clearer. I must say Angela Rayner on the NewsAgents podcast yesterday made a lot of sense.

Is coconut a phrase often used people of Tamil / SriLankan descent in a racist context? I Suspect you are all projecting, but I don't know the guy so it is impossible to judge.

You would expect it to be clean when you picked up the keys no? This is a weird thing to get hung up on tbh.

You are just making this up now, he only just got the keys. You are basing this all on the fact that the place was previously an airbnb. He has stated he has signed a long term lease.

Get Bach in your box...

There are Bach recordings?

I can confirm I will not be voting for the Conservatives at this election. My postal vote is coming to Australia in the next week or so apparently. GO Lib Dems.

Lots of MPs move into a constituency after they are selected - this guy has done it almost immediately. Just because the house was previously an Airbnb doesn't mean he cannot lease it for 12 months. I did exactly that when I moved to Australia for a start. No issue with local candidates for other parties pointing out he is from Putney, that is normal campaigning. Making out his moving into the area is some kind of scam is clearly nonsense.

Nonsense. Ok.

Compared to which recording artists who write without any collaboration? Who are they?

Is it? Neither have any reflection on their commitment or ability or fitness to do the job.

All I'm saying is people don't always have poor intentions. Do you really think he is going to move out of the area against if he gets elected? Honestly we pick apart everyone all the time then wonder why we have awful politicians. The same re Angela Rayner and this which house did she stay in the most nights crap.

Can't play everyone can we?

In this market he would be doing well to find and move into a permanent rental or potentially sell his house and buy in the couple of weeks since he was selected. Fair play to him. Also, fair chance he is not in fact the MP for Surrey Heath in 4 weeks time. Would you sign a 12 month lease?

Who on earth is Davide Ancelotti?

We can only hope like Labour post Corbyn they ditch the right and move back towards the centre and some new talent emerges. In some respects I hope the chance to jump ship to Reform takes the worst of the party out leaving the economically conservative socially liberal types I can at least see some alignment with.

Yes I am not saying she isn't just that I find it interesting how people get there. How they listen to the right-wing bollocks and think, hell yes! Rather than the rest of us who look at it and think this is indeed bollocks. Its possible this woman is not a great example to base my question on. Its sad, and as even the most gleeful woohoo the Tories are toast Labour supporters can see there is a risk here of Reform types getting a lot more of the pie here. Do you think there is a lack of general awareness of the rise of the right here? I didn't see much coverage of the TR protests for example. Is ignoring them the right plan here. I don't know.

She clearly is racist (edit for avoidance of doubt). I am quite interested though in how people get to this position. I think it is generally accepted fact that most people find themselves more comfortable with what they know, and uncomfortable with rapid change. It is not that hard to see that someone might struggle when they live in a community which in their lifetime has gone from mostly white people she grew up with or knew, or who were at least fairly local, to seeing a large influx of first generation immigrants, who while they might speak perfect English choose to speak to each other in their own language, live rather different lives and have different beliefs, dress differently, have different sometimes awful backgrounds before arriving, can be fearful and defensive - and of course this is worsened by a mixed welcome. I think it is harsh to say she is only accepting of people who do something for her - she is in fact seeing the person when she gets to know them. People who she interacts with are of course those she will get to know, and both communities can be insular. Into this mix then add the fear stocking about jihadis, the fact that Mulsim communities do often disagree with the locals on issue slike Gaza, on sex eduction, on all kinds of things and you have a position where it is very easy for Farage and the like to wind up concerns. Such people actually live the daily challenges of multiculturalism, which I think can be a lot harder than the politically aware like to recognise. I feel sympathy for them, both for finding it hard to deal with, and for being ripe for exploitation by the right-wing arseholes. Even saying that though makes me feel like I am being a condescending arsehole like those who dismiss their concerns as coming from racism as if they have no basis in reality. If she was talking about the influx of Polish community with their Catholicism and loads of kids, would you say she was racist?

Truss would never have been elected either. Awful in front of the public both of them.

Very closely aligned with how much mortgage repayment people are making I would imagine. A huge proportion of those older groups have paid of all or most of their home.

Good point! It could be a generation he is right. It might take that long to get a new generation. I'm not sure I understand what you are saying? She will be paying the amount of tax her income and capital gains require under the law.