danielmcelroy0.bsky.social
@danielmcelroy0.bsky.social
forever blurring the lines between truth and irony. always exhibiting signs of severe cognitive decline. posting too much for my own sanity.
Reposted by danielmcelroy0.bsky.social
Something particularly annoying about the trade secretary in the last Conservative government, who signed not a single trade deal that is incompatible with anything in the EU-UK reset, kvetching about a Brexit 'betrayal'.
May 18, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Something particularly annoying about the trade secretary in the last Conservative government, who signed not a single trade deal that is incompatible with anything in the EU-UK reset, kvetching about a Brexit 'betrayal'.
Reposted by danielmcelroy0.bsky.social
There is a false dichotomy drawn between "the ivory tower" and "the real world," and I'm here to report that in a post-industrial society, your real-world economy absolutely hinges on the university.
University towns are factory towns. Universities drive economic activity, not the other way around.
University towns are factory towns. Universities drive economic activity, not the other way around.
A must read
May 18, 2025 at 9:20 AM
There is a false dichotomy drawn between "the ivory tower" and "the real world," and I'm here to report that in a post-industrial society, your real-world economy absolutely hinges on the university.
University towns are factory towns. Universities drive economic activity, not the other way around.
University towns are factory towns. Universities drive economic activity, not the other way around.
Reposted by danielmcelroy0.bsky.social
Paralleling the slow deaths of the SDLP and UUP. The remaining voters tend to be elderly types who can’t bear to vote for SF or the DUP.
The Ulsterisation of British Politics continues….
@gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social @nialloconghaile.bsky.social
The Ulsterisation of British Politics continues….
@gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social @nialloconghaile.bsky.social
May 2, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Paralleling the slow deaths of the SDLP and UUP. The remaining voters tend to be elderly types who can’t bear to vote for SF or the DUP.
The Ulsterisation of British Politics continues….
@gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social @nialloconghaile.bsky.social
The Ulsterisation of British Politics continues….
@gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social @nialloconghaile.bsky.social
Reposted by danielmcelroy0.bsky.social
An illustration of how FPP goes from sandbag to springboard - Reform votes and seats in different councils:
Oxfordshire: 18% vote, 2% seats
Cambridgeshire: 23% vote, 16% seats
Devon: 27% vote, 30% seats
Leicestershire: 33% vote, 46% seats
Derbyshire: 37% vote, 66% seats
Oxfordshire: 18% vote, 2% seats
Cambridgeshire: 23% vote, 16% seats
Devon: 27% vote, 30% seats
Leicestershire: 33% vote, 46% seats
Derbyshire: 37% vote, 66% seats
May 2, 2025 at 5:07 PM
An illustration of how FPP goes from sandbag to springboard - Reform votes and seats in different councils:
Oxfordshire: 18% vote, 2% seats
Cambridgeshire: 23% vote, 16% seats
Devon: 27% vote, 30% seats
Leicestershire: 33% vote, 46% seats
Derbyshire: 37% vote, 66% seats
Oxfordshire: 18% vote, 2% seats
Cambridgeshire: 23% vote, 16% seats
Devon: 27% vote, 30% seats
Leicestershire: 33% vote, 46% seats
Derbyshire: 37% vote, 66% seats
Reposted by danielmcelroy0.bsky.social
I.e. Labour didn't just supplant the Liberals in Wales, essentially overnight, they also won places like Limehouse which had been Conservative even when the party was losing nationally, and e.g. that is also the case in miniature in, say, Durham County Council.
May 2, 2025 at 12:33 PM
I.e. Labour didn't just supplant the Liberals in Wales, essentially overnight, they also won places like Limehouse which had been Conservative even when the party was losing nationally, and e.g. that is also the case in miniature in, say, Durham County Council.
Reposted by danielmcelroy0.bsky.social
One way that it is very reminiscent of what happened to the Liberal Party is it has the same pattern of 'oh, Labour have won a bunch of safe Liberal seats plus they've nabbed a Conservative area that the Liberals have never touched even in wave years'.
The Conservative Party which until yesterday ran Lincolnshire council is essentially being replaced, wholesale, by Reform UK
May 2, 2025 at 12:32 PM
One way that it is very reminiscent of what happened to the Liberal Party is it has the same pattern of 'oh, Labour have won a bunch of safe Liberal seats plus they've nabbed a Conservative area that the Liberals have never touched even in wave years'.
Reposted by danielmcelroy0.bsky.social
15% is the Tories worst ever score, against an unpopular government, as the main opposition. It really is starting to look terminal for them.
BBC PROJECTED NATIONAL SHARES:
Reform 30
Lab 20
Lib Dem 17
Cons 15
Greens 11
Oth 7
Reform's 30 is best ever for a third party, exceeding high water mark of LDs in mid 2000s. Cons 15 (and 4th) worst ever. Lab 20 joint worst ever.
Reform 30
Lab 20
Lib Dem 17
Cons 15
Greens 11
Oth 7
Reform's 30 is best ever for a third party, exceeding high water mark of LDs in mid 2000s. Cons 15 (and 4th) worst ever. Lab 20 joint worst ever.
May 2, 2025 at 3:47 PM
15% is the Tories worst ever score, against an unpopular government, as the main opposition. It really is starting to look terminal for them.
Reposted by danielmcelroy0.bsky.social
Key point is this hasn't happened elsewhere. We're really unusual in how little we support those who are unemployed. It's the root cause of so many problems in the benefits system (and society more generally).
March 18, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Key point is this hasn't happened elsewhere. We're really unusual in how little we support those who are unemployed. It's the root cause of so many problems in the benefits system (and society more generally).
Reposted by danielmcelroy0.bsky.social
the most servile people imaginable. completely unsuited for democratic citizenship. they would be better off under a despot.
Just hours after President Trump called for the impeachment of a federal judge who ruled against his deportation of hundreds of Venezuelans over the weekend, House Republicans introduced a measure to do just that.
House Republicans move swiftly to impeach judge targeted by Trump
Judge James Boasberg is at least the fifth judge to face a Republican impeachment effort.
www.axios.com
March 18, 2025 at 6:31 PM
the most servile people imaginable. completely unsuited for democratic citizenship. they would be better off under a despot.
Reposted by danielmcelroy0.bsky.social
SCOOP—Trump plans to issue an executive order designating fentanyl as a "Weapon of Mass Destruction," per copy of EO reviewed by me. Source at State speculates purpose is to designate cartels as terrorist orgs/justify military ops in Mexico/Canada.
Context/full text of draft only on The Handbasket:
Context/full text of draft only on The Handbasket:
Trump to declare fentanyl “Weapon of Mass Destruction," per draft EO
A copy of the draft was obtained and reviewed by The Handbasket.
www.thehandbasket.co
March 18, 2025 at 6:18 PM
SCOOP—Trump plans to issue an executive order designating fentanyl as a "Weapon of Mass Destruction," per copy of EO reviewed by me. Source at State speculates purpose is to designate cartels as terrorist orgs/justify military ops in Mexico/Canada.
Context/full text of draft only on The Handbasket:
Context/full text of draft only on The Handbasket:
And if they’re just going to do these big above the head improvements for people in the economy - shout about it! Bash us over the head with it!
Recent Political Fix episode hit the nail on the head for me - a Labour government being restrictive towards business while not really offering a handout to its key voters is probably doing to struggle to make a long term case for its own existence. Structural delivery is never enough (see Biden).
March 18, 2025 at 2:54 PM
And if they’re just going to do these big above the head improvements for people in the economy - shout about it! Bash us over the head with it!
Recent Political Fix episode hit the nail on the head for me - a Labour government being restrictive towards business while not really offering a handout to its key voters is probably doing to struggle to make a long term case for its own existence. Structural delivery is never enough (see Biden).
March 18, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Recent Political Fix episode hit the nail on the head for me - a Labour government being restrictive towards business while not really offering a handout to its key voters is probably doing to struggle to make a long term case for its own existence. Structural delivery is never enough (see Biden).
Reposted by danielmcelroy0.bsky.social
Saying "Until the Fentanyl issue" presumes there actually is one.
Anyway, Canada should apply an export tariff to energy.
Anyway, Canada should apply an export tariff to energy.
#FordNation its time, close down the dams and starve the hydro.
February 1, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Saying "Until the Fentanyl issue" presumes there actually is one.
Anyway, Canada should apply an export tariff to energy.
Anyway, Canada should apply an export tariff to energy.
Reposted by danielmcelroy0.bsky.social
Unironically think they should bring back the north bits of HS2 under the name "Queen Elizabeth High Speed Railway" and then accuse anyone who opposes it of hating the late queen
Introducing the Trump Train: an American built train capable of going up to 200 mph! We need these trains to connect all major cities in the country together so that everyone can get on the Trump Train 🇺🇸🚄
January 11, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Unironically think they should bring back the north bits of HS2 under the name "Queen Elizabeth High Speed Railway" and then accuse anyone who opposes it of hating the late queen
Reposted by danielmcelroy0.bsky.social
I think this wholly correct point is one of those things that on the one hand, everyone knows that Brexit drained focus away from administering the country and then the final term they were just incompetent, but no-one really appreciates what a big loss to the country it was.
Post the coalition and 2016 referendum the quality and expertise of Ministers noticeably declined.
January 11, 2025 at 4:45 PM
I think this wholly correct point is one of those things that on the one hand, everyone knows that Brexit drained focus away from administering the country and then the final term they were just incompetent, but no-one really appreciates what a big loss to the country it was.
Reposted by danielmcelroy0.bsky.social
So many of their problems in government, and so many of their problems in opposition have the same root: by the end most ministers just weren’t across the detail and many of them have no experience of anything resembling functional policymaking.
Kemi Badenoch shadow minister rejected calls for mandatory child abuse reporting in 2018
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
Tory shadow minister rejected calls for mandatory child abuse reporting in 2018
Then-safeguarding minister Victoria Atkins - now a member of Kemi Badenoch's shadow cabinet - said the case for a mandatory reporting duty had "not been made."
www.mirror.co.uk
January 11, 2025 at 2:48 PM
So many of their problems in government, and so many of their problems in opposition have the same root: by the end most ministers just weren’t across the detail and many of them have no experience of anything resembling functional policymaking.
Reposted by danielmcelroy0.bsky.social
This is why the people who are saying “don’t take anything Trump says seriously” are very stupid. The fact the entire conservative intellectual and punditry class is bending over backwards to justify the Canada and Greenland stuff means anything he says will be given the same treatment by them.
Exactly so: the fact that "making Canada a US state" was on absolutely no one's intellectual agenda two weeks ago, and now there's a whole industry that's spun up a structure of feeling to make it seem reasonable -- all because a deranged old man said so -- tells you how things are working
Like, the conservative minds that can justify invading Panama and Greenland and trying to force Canada into the US via economic force can also end up working their way into horrific crimes against humanity at home
January 11, 2025 at 4:47 PM
This is why the people who are saying “don’t take anything Trump says seriously” are very stupid. The fact the entire conservative intellectual and punditry class is bending over backwards to justify the Canada and Greenland stuff means anything he says will be given the same treatment by them.
Reposted by danielmcelroy0.bsky.social
You keep thinking the Tories will notice that every time they pile in on a Reform issue it helps Farage. But yet they keep doing it. Rats learn faster.
In our first @moreincommonuk.bsky.social voting intention of 2025, Labour & Tories remain at 26%. Reform is at 22% - the highest figure we’ve recorded for them
🌳CON 26% (nc)
🌹LAB 26% (nc)
➡️ REF UK 22% (+3)
🔶 LIB DEM 12% ( -1)
🌍 GREEN 7% (-1)
🟡 SNP 3% (nc)
N = 2,011 6 - 8 Jan, Change w 10 Dec
🌳CON 26% (nc)
🌹LAB 26% (nc)
➡️ REF UK 22% (+3)
🔶 LIB DEM 12% ( -1)
🌍 GREEN 7% (-1)
🟡 SNP 3% (nc)
N = 2,011 6 - 8 Jan, Change w 10 Dec
January 9, 2025 at 7:04 PM
You keep thinking the Tories will notice that every time they pile in on a Reform issue it helps Farage. But yet they keep doing it. Rats learn faster.
Reposted by danielmcelroy0.bsky.social
A reminder that this was the same line George Osborne was advised to cancel by the Treasury when he became Chancellor
More than 500 million passenger journeys have been made on the Elizabeth line in its first two and a half years, making it the single busiest railway service in the UK, according to new Transport for London data released today
January 10, 2025 at 9:43 AM
A reminder that this was the same line George Osborne was advised to cancel by the Treasury when he became Chancellor
I regret to inform you Rachel but you’ll be doing just that in a years time!
I get Rachel Reeves saying she doesn’t want a repeat of last month’s big tax-raising Budget but todays language at CBI seems like a hostage to fortune:
“Public services now need to live within their means because I’m really clear I’m not coming back with more borrowing or more taxes.”
“Public services now need to live within their means because I’m really clear I’m not coming back with more borrowing or more taxes.”
November 25, 2024 at 10:30 PM
I regret to inform you Rachel but you’ll be doing just that in a years time!
Reposted by danielmcelroy0.bsky.social
I can tell you right now this isn't happening.
I get Rachel Reeves saying she doesn’t want a repeat of last month’s big tax-raising Budget but todays language at CBI seems like a hostage to fortune:
“Public services now need to live within their means because I’m really clear I’m not coming back with more borrowing or more taxes.”
“Public services now need to live within their means because I’m really clear I’m not coming back with more borrowing or more taxes.”
November 25, 2024 at 10:25 PM
I can tell you right now this isn't happening.
Reposted by danielmcelroy0.bsky.social
Suing Kendrick for having a superior diss track is something Kendrick would say Drake does in a diss track
November 25, 2024 at 10:22 PM
Suing Kendrick for having a superior diss track is something Kendrick would say Drake does in a diss track
Reposted by danielmcelroy0.bsky.social
contemporary technology plays role of reinforcing extreme individualism, supporting the illusion that one can find all the answers and take care of oneself without overt "public" institutional support
November 6, 2024 at 6:06 PM
contemporary technology plays role of reinforcing extreme individualism, supporting the illusion that one can find all the answers and take care of oneself without overt "public" institutional support
Reposted by danielmcelroy0.bsky.social
perhaps the Covid years forged a new political coalition united in their opposition to ideas of public health, public well-being, the "public" as something they should ever have to take into consideration
November 6, 2024 at 6:04 PM
perhaps the Covid years forged a new political coalition united in their opposition to ideas of public health, public well-being, the "public" as something they should ever have to take into consideration
Reposted by danielmcelroy0.bsky.social
I do this every day - it's so useful because there's so many stories you'd never otherwise notice.
I read a paper edition of the Financial Times today, cover to cover. Encountered all kinds of topics that algorithms would never show me.
November 22, 2024 at 9:31 AM
I do this every day - it's so useful because there's so many stories you'd never otherwise notice.