While I don’t disagree with your opinion on privatisation, not sure why you think it should cost the taxpayer a penny to ‘acquire’ Thames or any other of the indebted water companies, the Shareholders & Lenders knew the risks
It will never cost the tax payer a penny.
But they will use public money (new money) and build it back up and hand it back to the private sector, for sure.
Best off to just to damn nationalise the whole lot - there are no good arguments these days for water privatisation.
Both parties on the same page with this - but it's bluster.
This is probably the first glimpse of total failure of public utility needing public money to survive. I'm all for the government putting their hands in their huge pockets but they must not return it back to the private sector.
We will see how the country is financed very soon when the government who is the backstop for failed industry creates the money needed when things are too big to fail.
Tories might just want to pass this shit on to Labour though.
Don't forget that only a few weeks ago Labour didn't have a PPC in >200 constituencies.
They have made some (limited) progress since then but that number is still >100.
Without a PPC, effective campaigning is not possible so I can see Labour scrambling around - but, hopefully, not panicking - if Sunak goes for June.
The fine words about...being ready and bring it on...are not supported by the reality.
anniversary of D-Day..... with lots of faux patriotism and flag shagging.
An awful lots of those seats are where Labour have been running third... the numbers don't tell the whole story. In fact in many battleground seats that have selected PPC, the accelerated timetables didn't go down well with members (and some potential candidates) but was strategically the right thing to do... get candidates known by members and potential voters alike before the campaign period begins (whenever the hell that is).
Proper fixed term parliaments should be a thing.
Without a PPC, effective campaigning is not possible so I can see Labour scrambling around – but, hopefully, not panicking – if Sunak goes for June.
I suppose it depends on the constituency. We’re in a key marginal and I got my latest lot of election bumph (council and general election) to go out and deliver only this morning. The campaigning started in Autumn last year and has been ongoing.
The assumption has always been he would go for May, but he’s bottled it.
I've been doing leafletting recently but only for PCC and East Midlands Mayor as there is still no PPC.
Candidates were selected anything upto 18 months ago for battleground seats/key marginals - Hamish Falconer, Charlie's boy, was selected in late 2022 in Lincoln Central which is an adjoining constituency to mine.
Since then more seats have moved from long-shot to winnable so...more battleground ground seats.
I live in jenrick's constituency which, until recently, was a very long way down the target list as it was viewed as solid tory; recent polling shows a Labour lead - and that's without a PPC so the anti-jenrick and anti-tory sentiment is strong.
As for...'an awful lof those seats are where Labour have been running third' - complete nonsense. In most of them Labour have been running second.
I don't want to start another political thread so I'll leave this one here - Jeffrey Donaldson has resigned as DUP leader due to 'allegations of a historical nature'.
BBC describing them as '...of a sexual nature'; he's been charged and a court date has been set.
Naughty boy.
Since then more seats have moved from long-shot to winnable so…more battleground ground seats.
Good point.
Priority has been give to (more likely) winnable seats though. A lot of those PPC announced this month, and those still not selected, are in seats where Labour have been running third, or in more normal times a distant second. You're right that shouldn't be a guide this year... and selection should have been stepped up in what traditionally have been "unwinnable" seats in recent general elections. But "200" still not being selected before this month started looks far worse than it is... there are a great many seats where the Labour national lead in the polls doesn't mean Labour have any realistic chance of winning... and shouldn't be made a priority (or even more cynically, the local constituency party should perhaps soft pedal to avoid splitting the "get the Tories out" vote).
theres an richard littlejohn opinion piece in the fail demanding Sunak call an election
richard who?
yeah i can't see them being in any rush to call one soon
https://twitter.com/PippaCrerar/status/1774154741829763551?t=VrJ3qIrlbKhWDhoFgXELkg&s=19
Pretty dire for the Greens too - predicted to lose their only MP
that's weird other pols have them gaining an extra one, Bristol i think
I expect the SNP to lose more than that but I have never bought the predicted big losses. 10 to 15 losses i bet
Lucas has proven herself as a parliamentarian. One of our best. Her support is greater than that for her party. I’ve donated to her fighting fund at the last few elections, despite not voting Green. Berry is likely to lose out to Labour if the election is soonish. She made little impact while (joint) leader, and Labour are riding high. I’m hoping she holds the seat, and the party can pick up another. I don’t think it’s likely though.
Anyway, Sunak won’t be thinking about the Green Party, they are not a threat in any way come a general election. It’s Labour & LibDems that can take seats, and Reform that can help lose them seats.
Pretty dire for the Greens too – predicted to lose their only MP
Not great, the only party that can spell progressive
Apart from tbe snp and Scottish greens😜
Apart from tbe snp and Scottish greens
Last time I checked I cannot vote for them and they will also never be in government so pretty irrelevant to the country as a whole.
She's taking it for some pagan tory slaughter ritual isn't she?
It looks photoshopped to me.
The hem of her coat looks weird.
I honestly think she has an addiction of some kind
Power and money.
Nah she's just doing her usual Easter Nurse Ratchet impression
She deliberately drowned that lamb seconds later in a chocolate fountain in a bizarre mixed metaphor accident - 'cos she's as retarded as she is sadistic
a rotten sign!
just had some tory spam shoved through the letter box..... it was very comic like, Rishi & MP (and we're not conservative, not us absolutely not conservatives) on nasty rough paper..... really really bizarre like something from a supermarket in the 50's
today's poll has the Tories in 3rd
https://twitter.com/rodsof5wizards/status/1774848778371055841?t=GhKgABfo9iLfUH9zjqr4dA&s=19
ernielynch
Full Member
The desecration of that ^^ church, truly she has summoned the diabolical power of Lord Satan
She killed the queen let's not forget.
She's like a bad remake of The Omen.
Rishi's latest great idea - criminalising homelessness (because that's bound to solve the whole problem) - is a step too far for even his own MPs, renowned as they are for their compassion and empathy. Looks like theres quite a few of them who don't agree with Cruella's asssertion that sleeping on the street is a 'lifestyle choice' and will vote against it.
I wonder if Rishi will make this another hill, along with Rwanda, that he chooses to die on? He's going to, isn't he?
Ministers face Tory revolt over plans to criminalise rough sleeping
He also seems to be under the impression, despite all evidence to the contrary, that performative cruelty against the most vulnerable in society is a vote-winner. But I suppose when you associate with the kind of people he does and you do everything in your power to avoid any actual voters, then you could well reach that conclusion
How many hills can you die on? Does anyone know for sure?
What a horse's arse he is
I assume the criminalisation of homelessness involves imprisoning people who enact policies that leave people destitute?
sunak and his cabinet - and many politicians - know fk all about homelessness and care even less.
For decades it's been consigned to the 'too difficult to sort' box with the lid nailed firmly shut.
Unless there's a massive change of political attitude towards homelessness and a real determination to make a difference, politicians will continue to be useless - honourable exceptions for Bob Blackman and a few others.
Theres a lot of difference between being useless, which this lot certainly are, and actively seeking to criminalise people, then use the full force of the law to further target and punish the most marginalised in society
Thats just pure evil!
Rishi’s latest great idea – criminalising homelessness (because that’s bound to solve the whole problem)
Who could have foreseen that cutting support services and council funding and safe hostels and drug addiction services could have lead to a rise in homelessness?!
I mean, what are the chances?
sunak and his cabinet – and many politicians – know fk all about homelessness and care even less.
Gillian Keegan found it all very amusing that someone homeless could be arrested if deemed "smelly" 😕