"In practice, the financially secure are most likely to vote either Labour or the Tories while the struggling go Green or Reform, depending on whether they’re socially liberal or conservative." @gabyhinsliff.bsky.social in today's Guardian. An important insight into voting patterns in #UKPolitics

We're going to see voting intention poll after poll after poll in the coming weeks for Makerfield. Most will be total bollocks put out by one party or another to favour its own candidate. Here's the baseline from 2024 GE. My guess? Green again. People don't like being told who to vote for.

I've got £5,000,000 in crypto that says otherwise ...

via Church of Jeff. Pretty much, in my 'umble, how it is.

With First Ministers of each of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales all representing parties with manifesto commitments to independence from the UK, perhaps they should be having a three way summit to discuss chucking England out of the union? Might be a quick way around the problem.

With First Ministers of each of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales all representing parties with manifesto commitments to independence from the UK, perhaps they should be having a three way summit to discuss chucking England out of the union? Might ge quick way around the problem.

Latest odds for the Gorton and Denton by-election from Ladbrokes. The bookies tend to do their homework, they don't like losing money. Currently they reckon it's close Reform v Green with the bad guys very slightly ahead. Greens heavily backed which has shortened their odds, too. #UKPolitics

"The UK has a gay Jew leading Muslims to vote Green" I reckon that's brilliant. But it was written by Katie "racistfucker" Hopkins trying to show the opposite. Long may gay Jewish people & enlightened Muslims & Hindus and whoever else be prominent in secular politics. A rainbow nation is great.

Understand that after Nuremberg, many were not allowed to live. Jail was not an option. This was not just the highest ranking. This was for many, many of those who served the Nazi regime at all ranks, including administrators. This can happen again.

Not the only lie in his graceless, stupid speech today. "America isn't the way it is because he's president, he's president because America is the way it is." (Canadian Broadcasting Corp)

"America isn't the way it is because he's president, he's president because America is the way it is." -Canadian Broadcasting Corporation 2026. Canada appears to have seen the truth of the matter. It's deeper than one man.

imagine if it happens on tv

Thoughts on Starmer's speech. A bit too wordy for this format, so I screenshot it.

From Spring '27 former service personnel will be eligible for recall to until the age 65. Reasons updated to include the government and military making "warlike preparations" rather than there being a declared "national emergency" or "state of war." That's not just a minor tweak. #UKPolitics

I live in the UK. To all US visitors who pretend to be Canadian because you're embarrassed. Mostly, we can tell you're lying. There's enough Canadian accents on the internet that we generally know the difference. Just own it.

The Clash, July 1978. "The Only Band That Matters" played 4 nights at the Music Machine in Camden. The climax of their On Parole tour. Guesting on guitar, Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols. What a time to have been alive. (Photographer unknown to me, apologies for lack of credit).

Mealy-mouthed #BBC referring to Trump "acquiring" Greenland. Try using that language if Putin was talking about a possible invasion of Estonia. Would Russia "acquire" Estonia or invade and annexe it? Trump and the USA is threatening to invade and annexe Greenland. NOT fucking acquire it. #UKPolitics

Excellent analysis by We Have, I Fear, Confused Power With Greatness across on FB. #UKPolitics

From the great Modern Toss.

Are people suggesting that your darling son is a war criminal? Oh dear. How sad. Never mind. They're saying it because he is. Not the worst, just a thick-as-shit grunt, but he carried out illegal orders and (from the sound of it) knowingly. No excuses. Jail them all at the 1st opportunity.

Yup. Every last one. From the president to the lowest grunt with a rifle who "just obeyed orders." Nuremberg established the precedent. The top get a rope, lower down get jail time. The day will come. But, dear American public, not until you make it happen. And that won't happen at a ballot box.

A porcelain plate from the Soviet Union. Circa 1977. And why not?

This can be read as equivocation if you're feeling generous. I'm not. I think this sounds like support, but he doesn't want to come right out and say that because too many right-thinking people are outraged and understand the actual ramifications.

My money's on an abstention by our gallant PM, another terrific reason to stop voting Labour. Yes, I've seen plenty of "who would be better right now?" posts. Answer - certainly no one to the right. Polanski? Don't know, but I reckon he'd back a UN censure ...

And, once again, the US proves itself a rogue state. Maduro ain't a good guy. I know. But intl law and norms are there for good reason. Sanctions on USA now. Universal travel ban. Freeze Tr*mp's UK assets, ditto all US "defence" officials.

And, once again, the US proves itself a rogue state. Maduro ain't a good guy. I know. But intl law and norms are there for good reason. Sanctions on USA now. Universal travel ban. Freeze Tr*mp's UK assets, ditto all US "defence" officials.

In a sudden turn of events ...

Ten years gone today. He played rock and roll. youtu.be/j0kGTC-aoWw?...

Rarely was a truer word written. The US is a rogue state. The US is not an ally. The US must be treated as hostile, its citizens refused entry as potential threats and its military expelled. Maybe it can be readmitted to civilized company in a couple of decades. It'll take at least that long.

I'm probably several decades behind everyone else, but I heard these days between Christmas and New Year referred to as Betwixtmas this morning and I like the word. Betwixtmas it is, then.

So it's ok for the rich to flee the country if we tax them, but it's not ok for us to down tools if we're not paid enough? Why is tax flight thought reasonable but striking a sin? (paraphrase Hale) I like the idea of an exit tax. 25% of assets held above £1million on emigration - or maybe 40%?

Head. Nail. Hit.

Merry Never Mind the Bollocks from the greatest one album band. (Probably). Composite photo from Glen Matlock's FB page.

However you're marking the midwinter festival (midsummer down under), whatever you believe these days represent - I hope you have the best of times in your own way. If these days are hard for you, I hope for better things for you and that you get through unscathed. Merry whatsits to one and all.

Supermarket today Wished our cashier a merry Christmas. She smiled and responded "and to you too." I said "ah, it's the only time of year when you work in customer service and can say 'and to you too' to your customers." Got an extra smile. I've worked a railway ticket office. I know.

Incorrect, stop simping. Philanthropy is a symptom of a sick society. Billionaires should not exist. Not even "good ones." No one on this earth needs to be worth more than, *plucks figure from thin air*, £10million. She's not a bad person. A society that allows billionaires is a bad society.

"I think people need to know that we at Clash are anti-fascist, against violence, we are anti-racist and for creativity. We are against ignorance." Joe Strummer (Ankara, 21 August 1952 – Broomfield, Somerset, 22 December 2002) 23 years gone today.

A post of mine from the other channel, too wordy to translate to this one so I screenshot and alt-texted it. Happy Solstice.

If the image says "share if you agree!" or "hit like if you agree" I guarantee that I won't be sharing or liking. What I will be doing is thinking to myself that the person who did share it is a bit easily led, possibly not very bright, and the person who made the image knows and relies on this.

As someone who recently moved to Ireland, it looks the same from the Emerald Isle too.

The older I get, the more my politics mature from childish, naïve beliefs like "the world is complicated and leaders have to make hard decisions" to more serious, adult principles like "hurting people is bad and helping people is good."

To be fair, there is almost no less an authority than Liz Truss.

Absolutely no chance. "The nation's sons & daughters" might need a great deal of persuading. Fighting for what, exactly? A future of personal debt, climate collapse &huge wealth inequality? All while the sons and daughters of the wealthy play on far flung beaches at the same time?

The demonstration has come and gone, but Billy Bragg's song written to counter the"Putting the Christ Back into Christmas" demo by far-right racist criminal Tommeh Robinson is a great piece of work ... youtu.be/liRd9pjSBDA?...

Without suggesting stopping our individual efforts, there's a bigger picture. We need to create a right to repair law into manufacturing (including imports) and to ban materials that aren't environmentally safe. End the focus on consumers changing behaviours, focus on manufacturers doing better.

Shame on the #BBC for our cowardice in its failure to stand up for what is so obviously right and to lose a good person and thus ruin an excellent programme.

US National Security Statement apparently has a part 2. The administration has a stated aim of "supporting" 4 countries to leave the EU. (Translation: interfering in other countries' domestic politics). Austria, Poland, Hungary, Italy. US agents wil be active in your countries. Source in comments.

At least Denmark is waking up. The Danish equivalent(ish) of a National Security Statement includes a short statement suggesting that the US is now a "potential security concern." Well done, Denmark. Not before time.