Brexit and the waning days of the United Kingdom

[Zanza]

It would be epic if Count Binface wins.

[Sheilbh]

And new Times reporting today about this dodgy money - police are investigating and two people have been interviewed under caution about trying to disguise its source. I suspect even if it doesn't happen at this by-election, this will be like Mandelson for Starmer (or Partygate etc) where theres more coming and you can't just draw a line under it.

[Sheilbh]

Apologies for X (but BlueSky tends not to be very interested in the Telegraph), clip from interview on their podcast with Tim Stanley. particularly enjoyed the last bit:
https://x.com/haggis_uk/status/2074901713669025934?s=46&t=o9GOIj6BKKcLcHiyQTlAoA

[Sheilbh]

Was going to post about Anne Widdecombe (RIP) as someone with a slight soft spot for her from her "something of the night" days. But just seen that the place have opened a murder investigation which is awful, very surprising news:
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cp9l8l05vxet

Edit: Good Lord looking for a white male after she was found this morning with "serious injuries". That's dreadful.

[garbon]

Was going to post about Anne Widdecombe (RIP) as someone with a slight soft spot for her from her "something of the night" days. But just seen that the place have opened a murder investigation which is awful, very surprising news:
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cp9l8l05vxet

Edit: Good Lord looking for a white male after she was found this morning with "serious injuries". That's dreadful.

I'd seen the story earlier today. I am now shocked with this now suspected murder.

[mongers]

Was going to post about Anne Widdecombe (RIP) as someone with a slight soft spot for her from her "something of the night" days. But just seen that the place have opened a murder investigation which is awful, very surprising news:
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cp9l8l05vxet

Edit: Good Lord looking for a white male after she was found this morning with "serious injuries". That's dreadful.

I'd seen the story earlier today. I am now shocked with this now suspected murder.

Good grief that's terrible, hope it isn't also 'politically' motivated. 

[Sheilbh]

Same - even beyond that being obviously shocking on its own terms - while she might still pop up to give her opinion on things, she must be 80-something by now. So it'd be a very strange target - although I suspect the types given to politically motivated killing are often a little deranged so maybe that doesn't mean anything.

Edit: Although I think police have said it sounds like a burglary gone wrong.

[Richard Hakluyt]

A shocking business.

It is also regrettable that the police have to announce that the suspect is white to prevent the usual suspects from jumping to erroneous conclusions.

Judging by the pics I have seen she lived in a fairly isolated large detached house, so burglary gone wrong is certainly a possibility.

[Sheilbh]

In fairness I think that was also part of the sort of manhunt info - assuming the bare description with more for the other police forces.

26 year old man has been arrested.

Separately absolutely disgusted by Adam Boulton's comments on Sky News that she was a "spinster" and what at her age you'd call "an old maid" and noting that she'd said she was a "virgin". Just seems utterly inappropriate and deeply misogynistic.

[Richard Hakluyt]

A white man is not a huge help in rural Devon, narrows it down to half the population I suppose.

Anyway, glad they have already apprehended the suspect.

[Josquius]

Been doing a lot of thinking of how British planning is such a mess lately.
It's really weird how we ended up with the worst of both worlds isn't it?
The pre war free for all created reams of horrific sprawl paving over the country and destroying community cohesion. Valid to want to tackle this.

And then the 1947 system. Limiting private sector development is a feature, not a side effect.
And as much stick as it gets it actually worked when the government did was it was meant to and built.
Led to developments that were far more logical than what the private sector would have done.

The trouble came with the diluting and eventual virtual elimination of government building powers. An adoption of an idea of leaving everything to the private sector.... Within a framework specifically designed to limit private sector development.
It couldn't not fail.

The French are the ones who got it right aren't they.

[garbon]

Jos saying something positive about the French?

Blink twice if you are being held hostage.

[Sheilbh]

Sad to hear about Dermot Murnaghan, always quite liked him and 68 is no age nowadays