Simon Watkins

That the interviewer trying to get to the source of Bessent’s thinking.

GenZ includes 14 year olds. Boomers are 65+.
The useful measure of change should not be: ‘Do today’s teenagers think differently from today’s 65 year olds?’ But: ‘Do today’s teenagers think differently from teenagers 45 years ago?’ I don’t know the answer, but this article does not really help.

I’ve heard it argued that at local level people are actually quite good at these judgements, even under FPTP. They know how to vote tactically, even when outside pollsters can’t quite see the wood for the trees. Bring on PR. But in meantime, I can only put my hope on the wisdom of local crowds.

The first episode of Foundation is promising, but the series is a dud.

Academic has been picking books off the shelf to look for references. The shelves are empty, but if the camera pulled back we would see books piled a dozen deep on the floor and every other available surface.

‘Capitalist running dogs’?

Some say that if there’s an anti-democratic criminal regime that sponsors terrorism in other countries and which is opposed by much of its own population, one should bomb that country hoping the people take over.
This is utterly wrong and I will always be opposed to missile strikes on Washington.

Labour MP Clive Lewis doesn’t hold back on the Gorton and Denton result in this interview with ITV

The current argument of the British right is that Muslims turned out in "blocs" with "family voting" to cast their ballots for a party led by a gay Jewish man, and this shows that multiculturalism has failed, voting is "sectarian" and we are in a crisis.

Hmmmmmm.

Indeed. I am trying, with another person on this thread, to draw out what we all know is behind this. I think it is easy for some people to grasp a political principle that we would all agree with (free un-coerced voting) without seeing how it is being used in today’s context for another purpose.

Abstract thinking can distract you from political reality.
Why now is this an issue? Who is making it so? Who are they referring to? What impression is it trying to create? Why does it cast doubt upon this election as opposed to any other? What are the background issues underlying political debate?

In principle yes. But the influence of close friends/family has been the reality of electoral democracy since 5th century BC. Has it become more of a problem recently? If it’s been a fundamental weakness in democracy forever, why have we suddenly starting discussing it now? What is the agenda here?

Is this phenomenon new and therefore a reason why election outcomes might be different from the past?

Am I being dim? The way people vote is influenced by the conversations they have with other family members about political principles and tactics. People can be convinced by the arguments presented in that context. Is this new? Is their a subtext I am not understanding?

I don’t think the distinction matters any more.

I like to think that people are slow to spot the signs of proto-fascism (pro-Brexit campaign), but once the mask is off (Reform) they see it for what it is. I could be wrong.

Given the appalling state of mental health care available on the NHS, I will resort to self-medication by doubling my dosage of OTC depressants. (More beer.)

In honour of the Sunday Telegraph's editor and offical maddest columnist, we have created the Allister Heath headline generator...
stirring-fox-7e1fab.netlify.app

Quick precis? Sorry that’s an awful question, but go on, give it a bit of promotion.

I hope so. When faced with greedy Tory mediocrity vs pusillanimous Labour mediocrity, I understand voter apathy. But I like to think that when presented with obvious fascistic evil, the overwhelmingly majority take a stand, turn out and vote tactically.

A dead mayfly floating in a swimming pool.

My phone has looked through my photos and decided this is one of my ‘Pet Friends’.

8.30pm.

One of us: “Why is he making so much noise? Er… did anyone feed the cat?”

Cat: “You will all burn in hell for this.”

However, didn’t everyone watching (regardless of their class) warm to Terry not Bob?

I had no idea this existed and it looks fantastic. But now I feel I really need to see it in real life.

In Altman’s case it appears to be taking even longer than 20 years.

A repeat of the naive argument/debate of 25 years ago.
“Will the internet liberate the world from government and corporate greed, misinformation and control?”
No.

I am just enjoying the Windows 11 update.

Further evidence that the IT industry is hell bent on destroying itself.

We have a crisis in underfunding of palliative care and support for the elderly.
We are introducing assisted dying.
This combination makes me very uneasy to say the least.
I do not doubt the good intentions of the AD Bill.
I worry about the broader context and the unintended societal consequences.

Just so I have got this clear…
It possible to be deported from the UK for entering under false pretences. This now includes not admitting that you are actually British. (?)

And that would be ridiculous, because everyone knows it’s Bye Bye Baby.