HeadNun

And don't forget 'racist', though that was deleted and time was served.

Yes, these are all good points. I agree with you, that division has led us down dangerous paths in the past. And I deplore any kind of racism (as I think you probably know). But I feel that a lot of the current wave of xenophobia we're witnessing is actually more about a general malaise and discontent. I know non-white people around here who are surprisingly vocal about immigrants - legal or otherwise. I think this feeling transcends skin colour for a lot of people and isn't as simple as, say, the Jew hatred of the 1930s or the Irish and Black racism that we saw laterally. I think people feel ignored and looked down upon. What you don't realise, Sephiroth, is that I actually agree with a lot of what you're saying. I just think that looking down on people because of their voting history and opinions is self-defeating. And that's where Labour's getting it wrong and Reform is reaping the rewards.

I don't have a beef with you. But I do have a beef with people who feel that a certain portion of the public's opinion isn't valid. I don't like racism any more than anyone else here. But I do dislike the idea that an individual's thoughts, beliefs and feelings, no matter how much I may disagree with them, are somehow worth less than my own. And I get the sense that that is what many disenfranchised voters are feeling - that they are being looked down upon as ignorant, racists who have no right to be in the conversation. And that's what brings out people on the margins and drives them towards extremes, like Reform. Whether you like it or not, the racist, bigot, anti-european nextdoor to you has just as much say in the country as you do. Intellectual superiority is never going to bring them round.

I don't need you to tell me to 'fight against' racism. I know what it looks it like, thank you. And China would be our enemy whether we were in Europe or not (and has been for a long time), so that's immaterial. I remember covering an EDL march 12 years ago, when there was a Cons-Lib Dem coalition, so the idea that this is a new problem is rubbish. BUT Reform is doing an excellent job of galvanising a minority in reaction to smug liberals like you, who blame the electorate's collective ignorance for all the country's demons. What right have you for a moral mandate?

No they aren't. You're coming across as a smug, superior liberal, and that's what old fashioned voters (labour, Cons and now Reform) hate. That 'the deplorables' 'they're all ignorant racists' line is what's driving people away from the traditional parties and towards Reform. You're as guilty of looking back as Labour. This is a new, post-europe world and we all need to come to terms with that, make do with what we have, and move forward.

Yes, all this. Totally Sephiroth. The electorate wants to see transformation overnight. That's not possible. But what is possible is leading with the right comms strategy, which isn't cutting through. As I've said before, messaging matters more now than policy, that's the only way to bring the electorate with you. And I worry that that's how Reform's going to get into power. And the media LOVES Reform.

Messaging, messaging, messaging. That's all it boils down to. There are only so many fiscal policies out there, and they're there for the taking, no matter which party you're in. I hate to say it, but Farage gets it right every time. Even when Reform reneges on fiscal policy, it does it with enough confidence and candidness that no one is wringing their hands. Instead, they're quietly admired for their pragmatism. Strangely, it's exactly the same as Labour has done, with its manifesto reverse on income tax, but it's going to bomb. Blaming the Tories / Brexit / Covid / Putin ... none of it washes with the public anymore - it wants to be sold a vision of the future, not reminded of the disasters of the past. Labour put itself on the back foot with its 'the tories fucked it all up' stance right at the beginning of its tenure. All Lammy had to do (as with Reeves and Raynor etc) was say 'mea culpa. We've made a mistake, we'll fix it. Sorry guys, we're on it'. But instead it's 'nothing to see here / it's someone else's fault / I was buying a suit / hadn't been briefed yet'. And, of course, the press smells blood, which never helps. Oh! And Reeve's speech on Wednesday was so drab and predictable that even the journalists at the press conference couldn't really be arsed to come up with any challenging questions.

Is it lame? Or is it Lamey? (sorry)

They all need to progress out of passionate, angry student activist mode and into boss mode. It's the tail wagging the dog at the moment.

Yep CRP Dave. It reminded me of Jess Phillips a couple of weeks ago, when the grooming gangs enquiry started going tits up. It's not very statesman-like to lose your shit like that in the chamber. It's one unedifying display after another.

Oh you tease...! Whatever next?

I was referring more to his performance at PMQs yesterday. It was quite a riot! Almost topped Mastermind

Just this, really. I'll say one thing, it's never boring with Labour

I got in a right tizz last night, thinking 'this fireworks business is worse than ever tonight, it's outrageous!' ....then realised what date it was... We gave Kalms to the mutt, thanks to Angelina's advice. It's hard to tell after just one night if they work, but I'll definitely try them again, as I'm sure a few people still have a few bangers left over. Did anyone see the coverage of the scenes in Liverpool and Birmingham? I wonder if this might lead councils to finally clamp down on sales.

What my friend saw yesterday wasn't a drill, as has been suggested. She's a met police officer, so I think she'd know the difference. I even checked the court circular - saddo that I am - and it wasn't for a royal. Still intrigued... Sounds like the mini today was a police chase?