Haven't seen that story, but what if you didn't buy a house or you live somewhere where houses don't cost £500k, which is just about anywhere outside of commuting distance from London or where Londoners buy holiday homes? Middlesbrough for example. Her big brave words about 'social justice' as hollow as expected, this will only hit those dependent on state pensions. Seems like May spent 6 years in a government she didn't agree with, especially policies designed by George Osborne. Still the least worst choice for the Tories but I think the new girl bounce will wear off pretty quickly with the public. I think she's a very cautious ditherer. Edit: triple lock story just been denied by Government. May promises to rid Britian of 'modern slavery'. The numbers of 'slaves' tripled during her time as Home Secretary, a third of them kids.
No change in the triple lock according to the government. I don't agree that May is a ditherer. She is incredibly thorough and won't rush into bad decisions, but I don't see that as dithering. You there next Sunday?
Yes, actually looking forward to it. Meeting Roller at the Bull in Westfield pre match, the only pub likely to be open that early. If the trains let him get there. Might try and get to the Conningham after, as Fingy and I think Tooting will be there. Will you be in the Loft for brains trust? Re May, it is known that she doesn't want 3rd runway at Heathrow, and is against Chinese influence in Hinckley. Instead of increasing uncertainty by delaying decisions, she should just exert her authority and cancel them (I don't actually have much of an opinion on either, though it strikes me that Hinckley would be a millstone around our necks for decades. Allowing night flights at Heathrow would be a positive change for me personally, not sure we need years of building to achieve that or increase capacity). It's not as if there is any new info to be had, these things have been discussed in cabinet for years. I think she also has doubts about HS2 (her constituency is in the nimby zone) but it might be too late to stop that extension of the London commuter zone. Likewise looking forward to some clarity on our aims for Brexit negotiation, her ministers seem to be contradicting each other at the moment. If Fox wins the day seems it will be easy, a decisive total withdrawal. But you know me, I'm just impatient and unrealistic. It's exactly why I have never sought and never been given ultimate accountability for anything except myself.
I'll aim to get there by 11.00, it's a noon kick off isn't it? I'll be driving and at that time won't be wanting anything more than a pint. If Mrs Rangercol is looking for a little light retail therapy, I seem to remember that the Westfield shops don't open until quite late on Sunday, good to look it up.
We'll be there by 11am. We'll call in to the Bull. Won't be staying long as the lad usually likes to watch the warm up.
This morning's miscellaneous collection from the trumpet of news: Chinese getting uppity about delay to Hinckley. Good, all for anything that pisses their government off. UKIP, bless 'em, still can't organise a piss up in a brewery or a simple leadership election. Most credible candidate 'forgot' a driving conviction, may not have paid his subs, and submitted his application late. One of his opponents standing on a platform of referendum on the death penalty, charging prisoners £40k a year to be in prison, and cheaper beer. Outstanding. My company's retiring CEO has said in the FT that he doesn't think we will shift our R&D facility in the UK because of Brexit as long as we can still bring in top scientists regardless of nationality. What could pose a threat is the fact that we haven't discovered anything there for decades that we can actually sell (though to be fair they did find our biggest selling ever drug. In about 1990). I have to bite my tongue when I see them all shuffling out of the labs for coffee at the same time, the temptation to yell "get back to work and find something useful" is huge. 'Sir' (temporarily) Phillip Green appears to be heading for a massive stroke, given his size and evident fury at the universe. Not only the BHS pension pot, but also his Arcadia group one in mega shortfall, along with BAE, GSK and GKN. Expect more to come, the hit on the Gilts market has been massive. 'Sir' Phillip is famously a resident of Monaco, with its zero tax for everything status, along with multiple other billionaires, Formula 1 drivers etc etc. Anyone ever been there? I went through once. It's hideous, just tasteless bling, horrible architecture (concrete block flats) and perma tanned surgically enhanced pensioners.The natural habitat of Flávio Briatore. I reckon Monaco does a great job of gathering up these people so we don't have to see so much of them. I am totally unmoved by the Cameron honours list stuff. Who doesn't believe that this is based on patronage and favour returning? It doesn't devalue the honours given to 'ordinary' people at all in my view, because I can tell the difference between a kind dinner lady from Goole who has done her job for 40 years, and Samantha Cameron's hairstylist.
I spent a day in Monaco once whilst holidaying in Nice. A horrible place, making one wonder what attracts so many vastly rich people to the tax haven. I heard that our Tour de France hero, Chris Froome lives there. Born in Kenya, raised in South Africa, has never had a permanent residence in the UK, but British through and through.
UKIP ban their one credible candidate for leader from standing. Three members of their executive committee resign. Superb.
I too thought Steven Woolfe a credible candidate, although if the plonker can't manage to get his nomination papers registered in time, how does he plan to run the country? Way is open now for Diane James, who seems to be sane if unexciting
There are some vile types and some head cases in UKIP no doubt. Let's hope the new leader is strong enough to throw them out on their ear. Then, the next question is - what is UKIP for? A repository for dissatisfied Labour voters at present
Yep. Just had Bill Etheridge on the local news, calling the party he wants to lead a shambles. The big issues according to him are the death penalty, people covering their faces in public, and 'political correctness gone mad'. Clearly UKIP under him will be the party for people who want to turn the clock back to 1953. They will sink into irrelevance pretty quickly, one hopes, though if the Toris fail to deliver whatever it is the Leave voters actually wanted, they may get a second wind.
Good job you are patient then Just seen the new anti terror police unit in full rig on the telly. Scary looking blokes, riding, err, BMW bikes. Armed French police patrols now on cross channel ferries. Hope they are just a precaution, rather than acting on intelligence.
One person reported dead ( female ) and at least six people injured following an attack by knife wielding maniac at Russell Square in central London. please log in to view this image
