Westminstenders: Frozen

[RedToothBrush]

Boris Johnson was empty chaired by C4 with a block of ice.

The Conservatives went mental and have threatened to look at C4 broadcast remit.

This is illiberal and anti democratic.

Journalists are supposed to hold power to account on behalf of the public. If MPs don't turn up then they can't be held to account.

They have a duty to show. It's not good enough to avoid scrutiny because it might make you look bad. That's the whole point.

The contempt with which Johnson holds the press and public is reprehensible and you should be concerned whatever your political alligence. It allows corruption to fester without consequence.

And to then threaten C4 because they do their job in line with their responsibility as a broadcaster is alarming.

This is how authoritarian dictators work.

Johnson desperate not to meet Trumpy, may have to arrange an interview with Andrew Neil to create a diary clash.

mockers what a dilemma for Tory HQ!

YouGov just asked me what I thought of Johnson and the Conservative election campaign.

Given the essay I just wrote for them, I think they might regret that

Alexei Sayles Sandwich bar (BBC R4) is comedy gold. Worth it for the story about how an experience gift offer led to murder in a suburban home.

His short stories are very good too. There's a really eerily prescient one about a bunch of OAPs that become hitmen as they'd be better off in jail (if caught) than eking out their last miserable years on a pension. Also old people are famously invisible.

"Drain the swap ?"

BJ and his ERG cronies are the smelliest part of that swamp !

www.thelondoneconomic.com/food-drink/bakery-imprints-fck-boris-and-for-the-many-into-loafs-ahead-of-election/02/12/

That quote by Charlie Brooker about the Tories....I have just seen that for the first time. That they appeal exclusively to bigots, toffs, money minded machine men, faded entertainers, and selfish, grasping simpletons who have an essential part of their soul missing.

Perfection.

YouGov just asked me what I thought of Johnson and the Conservative election campaign. [] Given the essay I just wrote for them, I think they might regret that

I've decided I'm going to lie from hereonin

So:

1. I'm defintely not voting.
2. Although I am defintely not voting I am 100% sure to vote Tory
3. Johnson is doing an excellent job
4. Labour ? Who ?

and so on.

We should all try it. One thing my DF still doesn't understand about the British mindset is how willing you are to tell the truth to strangers. It's certainly not universal in the world ...

I was looking for the Young Ones reference to Albania.

I didn't find it but I did find this:

Oh there’s plenty of times I don’t tell the truth on these sorts of things - but on this occasion it was quite a useful vent.

Yonks ago when I listened to Sayle on the telly a couple of times, I found him too left wing anti-establishment for me

Now that he's got derxa's endorsement of quality, I must give him another go

Alexei Sayles "Cak !" was the first comedy album I bought, after listening to friends older siblings (and/or parents) Monty Python, Pete'n'Dud, etc ..

I'd skipped the end of the thread and didn't realise Alexei Sayle had already been brought up.

He was the first (an only) thing to come to mind when Albania started being discussed.

Now that he's got derxa's endorsement of quality, I must give him another go I'm just old and have fallen into the trap of 'people are just not funny nowadays' maybe. Similar to 'all modern music is shite'.

@Drblackbird - I realise the NZ health system is not perfect.
In terms of Dr's - and this is probably due to the size of population (and also maybe NZ'ers mindset) work both in the private and public sector. My mother initially saw her Oncologist in the state system - but then was treated privately due to one drug he recommended not being funded. The other drugs that were required for her treatment were still provided by the state.

With regards to the life expectancy of the Maori and Pacific Island population - there are huge cultural issues there (that I won't go into as it's a compete derail) that have impacts life expectancy/ not going to Dr's soon enough - rather than the quality of the care that they have access too. A lot of that is around lack of education. Something that I would say the country is hugely focused on.

Similar to 'all modern music is shite'.

I still listen to Radio 1 occasionally to see if Ive finally crossed over so to speak

all modern music is shite

I find that there's just too much of it nowadays.

I have been canvassing in a Lab/Con marginal during the weekend. Loads of people had come to help, the local organiser said he'd never seen the like of it.
However, none of those I talked to seemed to be local...so whether the surge in activism will be translated in a significant swing remains to be seen.

While ~30% of those who opened their door had yet to decide who to vote for, I am glad to report that nobody mentioned swamps that needed draining

@prettybird
I missed Nicola this morning- but she has so impressed me in all the debates. Sorry I didn't watch last nights - I could stomach NF. My TV was at risk and this is an expensive enough time of year.

@TatianaLarina and @Drblackbird
You would never have complicated surgery at a private hospital in NZ - they are just not set up for that. More like hip and knee replacements. I know a couple of people who have had mastectomy's. But major surgery would always happen publicly

Sayeeda Warsi
@SayeedaWarsi
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12m
With families still coming to terms with the shock &grief of losing loved ones this is insensitive campaigning
@Conservatives
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Focus on the good in the victims not the evil in the terrorist
We are the United Kingdom not Trumps America
As a nation we are better than this 👇🏽
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Yep, DH & I got one of those Ian Austin letters through the post urging us to vote for the conservatives. In very tiny letters at the bottom it says sent by the Conservative party.

John Belushi's parents were from Albania.

I totally support the Balkan states being allowed to join the EU

• they then make the EU complete through to Greece
• they are tiny population wise
• they are very poor and it will be cheaper for the rich countries to employ them than provide aid

Reading about Albania is saner than reading what lying shit politicians are saying.

I think Sayeda Warsi just needs to come to terms with the fact that she is in the wrong party.