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#31

Off the Record / Re: Brexit and the waning days...

Last post by mongers - May 14, 2026, 03:44:25 PM

Also Burnham on his way:

Shortly after 17:00 BST, Labour's Makerfield MP Josh Simons announced that he was resigning to make way for Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to seek a return to Parliament.

Here's what followed:

In his statement, Simons said his decision had "not been easy" but that Burnham could "drive the change" he says the UK needs
A few minutes later, Burnham confirmed that he would be seeking permission from Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC) to stand in the seat
Burnham said he was looking to "bring the change we have brought to Greater Manchester to the whole of the UK"

#32

Off the Record / Re: Brexit and the waning days...

Last post by mongers - May 14, 2026, 03:43:40 PM

He's the opposite of Johnson surely? All substance, zero style.

What substantive policy does he have?

https://fullfact.org/government-tracker/

Fair bit of small but positive stuff behind the scenes.
The main problem is this just isn't communicated at all.

They could be doing more too of course. Should be making some big changes like democratic reform, killing the water companies and getting a move on with the planning system.
But stuff is happening.

Stark contrast to johnsons talk about ridiculous big things and not doing anything.

Though Jess Philips's criticism of him using Woman's rights as a fig-leaf is telling.

[Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition]

#33

Off the Record / Re: TV/Movies Megathread

Last post by mongers - May 14, 2026, 03:41:22 PM

Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition

Not groundbreaking, but deals with the past troubles and uneasy periods :DiAnno, Bayley, Dickinson in and out.
The – upscaled– archival footage is worth it for fans or if only just to (re)discover Iron Maiden, from the very beginning; even references the Winter of Discontent plus a possible second one.
Fan interviews are also interesting, less for perhaps for the music business fans such as Gene Simmons despite his jab at grunge (I smiled).

Limited screenings on cinemas here but your kilometrage may vary.

I'd like to see that, always been a fan of Bruce 'Air raid Warning Siren' Dickenson. 

#34

Off the Record / Re: [Canada] Canadian Politics...

Last post by Syt - May 14, 2026, 03:25:22 PM

Hey, Beeb, good to see you.

#35

Off the Record / Re: Brexit and the waning days...

Last post by Josquius - May 14, 2026, 03:17:51 PM

He's the opposite of Johnson surely? All substance, zero style.

What substantive policy does he have?

https://fullfact.org/government-tracker/

Fair bit of small but positive stuff behind the scenes.
The main problem is this just isn't communicated at all.

They could be doing more too of course. Should be making some big changes like democratic reform, killing the water companies and getting a move on with the planning system.
But stuff is happening.

Stark contrast to johnsons talk about ridiculous big things and not doing anything.

#36

Off the Record / Re: [Canada] Canadian Politics...

Last post by Barrister - May 14, 2026, 03:16:27 PM

Alberta petition for secession declared invalid by court.

I came back curious to see if this was being discussed.

Turns out this is the sum total of the discussion.

So here's the entire decision in all it's glory.

https://www.canlii.org/en/ab/abkb/doc/2026/2026abkb375/2026abkb375.html

So I think I need to do a bunch of caveats here:

1. I think Alberta succession is a dumb idea.  The large majority of Albertans agree it's a dumb idea - independence polls less than 20%.

2. I dislike the proponents of Alberta secession.  They have been far too cute about their ties to the US government, their funding has been opaque, and have serious doubts that all of their signatures are legitimate.

3. I've only appeared in front of this Justice in very limited capacity as a judge, but used to have regular contact with her when she was in practice and found her to be very capable.

4. I dislike how our current government seems to have a "no enemies to the right" approach and panders to the worst feverish impulses of a minority of her own party.

5. This is all my opinion only. 

But with that - I feel like thus decision was a mistake.  Governments have the right to make dumb decisions like this one.

The decision is on very technical grounds, and is written in a very technical fashion.  I feel like both are a mistake.  The technical grounds are A: on a judicial review, the CEO of Elections Alberta misinterpreted the law and should not have granted the parties the ability to start the petition process, and B: there was a duty to consult with First Nations prior to starting the petition process.

So technically, the Justice wasn't saying you could never have a secession referendum - just that the government went about it the wrong way.

Both judicial review, and FN duty to consult, have been huge legal messes for years, with no clear legal tests - which has led to tons of litigation and uncertainty.  To apply them to what is very much a political question is deeply unsatisfying.  And it has led to some criticism.  Some of it to be sure is talk about a "Trudeau-appointed Judge", but more broadly about how it seems to circumvent a democratic process.

Let's remember hear - even if the vote were to be a "yes" - that would only be the start of the process, not the end.  This is one of the many reasons why I think secession is dumb.  It would be like UK Brexit times ten with endless negotiations and uncertainty.

But let's have this argument in the public sphere, not a courtroom.

#37

Off the Record / Re: Brexit and the waning days...

Last post by PJL - May 14, 2026, 02:19:05 PM

Yeah I think there's zero substance just the image/style of it. He comes across as a technocrat, serious etc but there's no there there.

Yes, that's been my thinking as well re Starmer, it's been less of a Labour government than a technocratic one.

#38

Computer Affairs / Re: Ahhh!!!

Last post by HisMajestyBOB - May 14, 2026, 02:03:03 PM

That sucks!

You might check over the connections to/from the power supply if you feel confident. Basically just making nothing is loose or wobbly, and everything is securely fastened.

#39

Off the Record / Re: Brexit and the waning days...

Last post by garbon - May 14, 2026, 01:29:09 PM

I see Rayner now cleared so back in play.

#40

Off the Record / Re: Brexit and the waning days...

Last post by Sheilbh - May 14, 2026, 12:56:47 PM

Feels very over. Josh Simon (who had to resign as minister after revelations he'd commissioned opposition research/smears on investigative journalists) has said it's time for an "orderly transition". He was head of Labour Together a questionably funded think tank that was very close to Morgan McSweeney and basically provided the staff for Starmer's leadership campaign (and also played a huge role in selecting parliamentary candidates).

Wow it's all going House of Cards. This guy who was key to Starmer's rise and close to McSweeney is the guy who will stand down so Burnham can run in his seat.

I assume (especially with Streeting's move earlier) that this means the soft left and Labour right have done a deal to oust Starmer - with union blessing.

Edit: In fact this is so surprising that I'm seeing conspiracy theories that this is a plot by the Labour right Basically this is a Reform-Labour area that currently Reform would be favoured to win so Burnham may not even get in - I think this is London people underestimating Burnham's personal popularity in the Notth-West.

But also that he might prefer a Labour-Green seat to pitch left. I think that's wrong too and misreads Burnham. But also I think it's entirely the wrong way of looking at what Labour need to fix post-Starmer. I'd add that I actually think in the North-West many Labour-Green seats will have a large Muslim population and I think the break of many Muslim voters from Labour is more permanent - so I'm not actually sure that type of seat would be "easier".