@stephenashford.bsky.social
Deeply depressing. Short-termism rules again.
Feels like a different age when we intended to decarbonise the economy. Not going to happen.
Also rail will be in a bad place in (say) 25 years time, still heavily dependent on diesel - and many of those diesels will be very old.
Feels like a different age when we intended to decarbonise the economy. Not going to happen.
Also rail will be in a bad place in (say) 25 years time, still heavily dependent on diesel - and many of those diesels will be very old.
November 9, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Deeply depressing. Short-termism rules again.
Feels like a different age when we intended to decarbonise the economy. Not going to happen.
Also rail will be in a bad place in (say) 25 years time, still heavily dependent on diesel - and many of those diesels will be very old.
Feels like a different age when we intended to decarbonise the economy. Not going to happen.
Also rail will be in a bad place in (say) 25 years time, still heavily dependent on diesel - and many of those diesels will be very old.
Roland, I am in awe that read you this bilge day in day out and remain sane.
November 8, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Roland, I am in awe that read you this bilge day in day out and remain sane.
Obviously haven't thought things through.
If the Tories came to power and implemented the bill, there would follow years of chaos as they continually chopped and changed thecrules.
If the Tories came to power and implemented the bill, there would follow years of chaos as they continually chopped and changed thecrules.
October 22, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Obviously haven't thought things through.
If the Tories came to power and implemented the bill, there would follow years of chaos as they continually chopped and changed thecrules.
If the Tories came to power and implemented the bill, there would follow years of chaos as they continually chopped and changed thecrules.
And according to Labour, an immigrant would have do some volunteering in their spare time!!
Many work very long hours in modestly paid jobs that are absolutely vital.
How many Brits in full time work also volunteer?
Many work very long hours in modestly paid jobs that are absolutely vital.
How many Brits in full time work also volunteer?
October 21, 2025 at 11:28 AM
And according to Labour, an immigrant would have do some volunteering in their spare time!!
Many work very long hours in modestly paid jobs that are absolutely vital.
How many Brits in full time work also volunteer?
Many work very long hours in modestly paid jobs that are absolutely vital.
How many Brits in full time work also volunteer?
I would finger Feathers McGraw as a prime suspect...
October 19, 2025 at 7:26 PM
I would finger Feathers McGraw as a prime suspect...
When these idiots are dribbling and incontinant 80 and 90 year olds, who do they imagine will be wiping their f**king arses?
Cruelty, inhumanity, ripping up agreements and treaties, and just plain batshit crazy.
Cruelty, inhumanity, ripping up agreements and treaties, and just plain batshit crazy.
October 19, 2025 at 12:33 PM
When these idiots are dribbling and incontinant 80 and 90 year olds, who do they imagine will be wiping their f**king arses?
Cruelty, inhumanity, ripping up agreements and treaties, and just plain batshit crazy.
Cruelty, inhumanity, ripping up agreements and treaties, and just plain batshit crazy.
Lam is both completely unhinged and a seriously unpleasant individual.
Where do the Tories find these idiots?
Where do the Tories find these idiots?
October 19, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Lam is both completely unhinged and a seriously unpleasant individual.
Where do the Tories find these idiots?
Where do the Tories find these idiots?
Radio4's More or Less looked at this. Benefits received from the state is very broadly defined and includes pensions and the value of health care, social care and education.
Most pensioner households and many with school-age kids are 'spongers'!!
Most pensioner households and many with school-age kids are 'spongers'!!
October 17, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Radio4's More or Less looked at this. Benefits received from the state is very broadly defined and includes pensions and the value of health care, social care and education.
Most pensioner households and many with school-age kids are 'spongers'!!
Most pensioner households and many with school-age kids are 'spongers'!!
I think we should be trying very hard to find ways to reduce MPs casework. Lots of casework suggests severe problems with housing/benefits/immigration etc. These problems need fixing and/or alternative means for people to get help.
MPs should concentrate on legislative matters.
MPs should concentrate on legislative matters.
October 10, 2025 at 6:54 PM
I think we should be trying very hard to find ways to reduce MPs casework. Lots of casework suggests severe problems with housing/benefits/immigration etc. These problems need fixing and/or alternative means for people to get help.
MPs should concentrate on legislative matters.
MPs should concentrate on legislative matters.
I would bet on the Tories coming fourth behind Labour, Reform and Libdems.
But there is plenty of time for things to change - the wheels could easily come off Reform.
But there is plenty of time for things to change - the wheels could easily come off Reform.
October 8, 2025 at 9:35 AM
I would bet on the Tories coming fourth behind Labour, Reform and Libdems.
But there is plenty of time for things to change - the wheels could easily come off Reform.
But there is plenty of time for things to change - the wheels could easily come off Reform.
And that arts and culture employ lots of people and generate income for the UK. Think music, museums, theatre, tourism, TV and film etc.
I live in Watford (someone has to) and the film and TV industry is huge round here.
I live in Watford (someone has to) and the film and TV industry is huge round here.
October 8, 2025 at 9:15 AM
And that arts and culture employ lots of people and generate income for the UK. Think music, museums, theatre, tourism, TV and film etc.
I live in Watford (someone has to) and the film and TV industry is huge round here.
I live in Watford (someone has to) and the film and TV industry is huge round here.
Correct. Thatchers legacy is at best a mixed bag. Many of today's problems stem from what she did, e.g. council house sell off, utility privatisation, big bang, lack of public investment.
October 6, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Correct. Thatchers legacy is at best a mixed bag. Many of today's problems stem from what she did, e.g. council house sell off, utility privatisation, big bang, lack of public investment.
And their economic template is Argentina's Milei ?
October 5, 2025 at 8:41 PM
And their economic template is Argentina's Milei ?
Lord Hannan and Lord Frost would beg to differ...
September 28, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Lord Hannan and Lord Frost would beg to differ...
Possibly this is happening already, more by accident than design.
Loads of new road schemes going ahead, lots of enthusiasm for driverless cars, but close to zero funding for new rail schemes. Even London's Bakerloo Line extension is years, even decades away.
Loads of new road schemes going ahead, lots of enthusiasm for driverless cars, but close to zero funding for new rail schemes. Even London's Bakerloo Line extension is years, even decades away.
September 24, 2025 at 6:25 AM
Possibly this is happening already, more by accident than design.
Loads of new road schemes going ahead, lots of enthusiasm for driverless cars, but close to zero funding for new rail schemes. Even London's Bakerloo Line extension is years, even decades away.
Loads of new road schemes going ahead, lots of enthusiasm for driverless cars, but close to zero funding for new rail schemes. Even London's Bakerloo Line extension is years, even decades away.
Though as stated in the Tel, it is the saving per each individual migrant!!!!!
September 22, 2025 at 5:43 AM
Though as stated in the Tel, it is the saving per each individual migrant!!!!!
Also striking how few are switching to the Tories.
Labour have a big problem (maybe partially fixable by radical policy changes which don't seem likely under current leadership), but the Tories are now a complete irrelevance. Tories could be a handful of MPs after the next GE.
Labour have a big problem (maybe partially fixable by radical policy changes which don't seem likely under current leadership), but the Tories are now a complete irrelevance. Tories could be a handful of MPs after the next GE.
September 12, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Also striking how few are switching to the Tories.
Labour have a big problem (maybe partially fixable by radical policy changes which don't seem likely under current leadership), but the Tories are now a complete irrelevance. Tories could be a handful of MPs after the next GE.
Labour have a big problem (maybe partially fixable by radical policy changes which don't seem likely under current leadership), but the Tories are now a complete irrelevance. Tories could be a handful of MPs after the next GE.
Agree. McSweeney ought to go. But he will probably neither go nor be sacked.
As an aside, did it not occur to Mandleson that his previous relations with Epstein might come out? And that would be a huge embassessment for him and UK govt?
As an aside, did it not occur to Mandleson that his previous relations with Epstein might come out? And that would be a huge embassessment for him and UK govt?
September 12, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Agree. McSweeney ought to go. But he will probably neither go nor be sacked.
As an aside, did it not occur to Mandleson that his previous relations with Epstein might come out? And that would be a huge embassessment for him and UK govt?
As an aside, did it not occur to Mandleson that his previous relations with Epstein might come out? And that would be a huge embassessment for him and UK govt?
Business leaders typically get big pay rises every single year. Even in middling companies that aren't particularly successful.
Means the gap between them and ministers has grown to be enormous.
Also means genuinely talented people don't want to go into politics.
Means the gap between them and ministers has grown to be enormous.
Also means genuinely talented people don't want to go into politics.
September 11, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Business leaders typically get big pay rises every single year. Even in middling companies that aren't particularly successful.
Means the gap between them and ministers has grown to be enormous.
Also means genuinely talented people don't want to go into politics.
Means the gap between them and ministers has grown to be enormous.
Also means genuinely talented people don't want to go into politics.
And how many people actually buy or read newspapers?
Outside the media and Westminster bubbles, almost nobody.
Outside the media and Westminster bubbles, almost nobody.
September 10, 2025 at 7:35 AM
And how many people actually buy or read newspapers?
Outside the media and Westminster bubbles, almost nobody.
Outside the media and Westminster bubbles, almost nobody.
Who are these millions?
September 3, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Who are these millions?
Presumably universal ID cards then? Else anyone could just say that do not have one.
September 2, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Presumably universal ID cards then? Else anyone could just say that do not have one.
CW interviewed the book's author on his Calling All Stations podcast. Defo worth a listen.
HS2 debacle will likely prove disastrous for the prospects of future rail investment. The railway now is as good as it will ever be.
HS2 debacle will likely prove disastrous for the prospects of future rail investment. The railway now is as good as it will ever be.
August 30, 2025 at 7:21 PM
CW interviewed the book's author on his Calling All Stations podcast. Defo worth a listen.
HS2 debacle will likely prove disastrous for the prospects of future rail investment. The railway now is as good as it will ever be.
HS2 debacle will likely prove disastrous for the prospects of future rail investment. The railway now is as good as it will ever be.
Years ago, there was a similar problem with the River Hit in Shefford, Bedfordshire.
August 26, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Years ago, there was a similar problem with the River Hit in Shefford, Bedfordshire.
Quite. Senior engineers were junior engineers once upon a time....
No jobs for juniors means a shortage of senior engineers in the future.
No jobs for juniors means a shortage of senior engineers in the future.
August 26, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Quite. Senior engineers were junior engineers once upon a time....
No jobs for juniors means a shortage of senior engineers in the future.
No jobs for juniors means a shortage of senior engineers in the future.