Recent posts

#31

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

Last post by Sheilbh - Today at 03:42:12 PM

I hope this AI thing isn't just the first instance of what the Tories and Johnson especially were doing: doing a big announcement to feed the press for a month and then not doing a single thing to ever implement it.

I mean that's just government

And I mean that only semi-cynically. The big announcements in and of themselves are important because they are organising government to some extent. There will have been lots of work in advance between departments in order for the PM to have something to announce, more will be in the detailed briefing note provided to the press. It will have given all the government their lines for media appearances today. Having something to announce to the press or, more rarely, parliament gives something for the civil service to be working towards on issues. I don't quite see how it ties into the governments six milestones, five missions, three foundations, two guiding principles etc which I think is the bigger issue.

So far I don't see much evidence that this government has any intention to push the type of radical reform needed to back up its intent. I think there's also worrying signs that in a lot of areas there's a bit of institutional capture by the civil service, I think Reeves particularly feels like the Treasury's Chancellor rather than being able to say it's Reeves' Treasury (as it was Brown's Treasury or Osborne's Treasury). I'm not sure they've actually got very clear ideas on basically anything. The positive case is that Starmer has shown he changes when things aren't working and is pretty ruthless in doing that - my concern is I think that might come too late in government.

It won't distract the press because they'll just ask about whatever's the latest frothy political story - for example today I think Starmer was asked four times in four different ways if he still backed Reeves. But that's a separate issue that the press is always focused on the Westminster/political angle - I've mentioned it before but Robert Peston, doing his best Bob Woodward impression, trying to nail Johnson on whether a scotch egg was a "substantial meal" was a particular low point

#32

Off the Record / Re: TV/Movies Megathread

Last post by Sheilbh - Today at 03:22:37 PM

The Red Riding series (adapted from David Pearce's books) on Channel 4 was also really good on that theme set in West Yorkshire.

#33

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

Last post by Tamas - Today at 03:21:06 PM

I hope this AI thing isn't just the first instance of what the Tories and Johnson especially were doing: doing a big announcement to feed the press for a month and then not doing a single thing to ever implement it.

#34

Off the Record / Re: Israel-Hamas War 2023

Last post by Razgovory - Today at 03:19:33 PM

Yes, you have to worry about "prickly" people.  Putting them into camps is really the only viable solution I suppose.

#35

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

Last post by Sheilbh - Today at 03:16:02 PM

Starmer made a big pitch on AI today and from what I've seen it's broadly good stuff, particularly the bits from DSIT and Energy Department working together on streamlined processes for planning applications in certain AI hubs. It makes a lot of sense to me.

But couldn't help but think about the employer NI rise. Labour increasing payroll taxes (particularly on the lowest paid) at the same time as making a big push on AI....If I was being cynical I'd say that put together, that's a policy mix designed to push automation and AI adoption with fairly significant changes to employment and society. I don't think that is Labour's plan - in fact I think it's the opposite of what they want to achieve....but...

I'm also not sure it'll work because I'm very much in the believe it when I see it view when it comes to streamlined process to build the infrastructure for AI. Especially given that within hours of Starmer launching this, a major concern from the Guardian was water shortages:
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/13/labour-ai-datacentre-growth-zone-water-shortages-abingdon-reservoir

Labour's first artificial intelligence growth zone will be sited close to the UK's first new reservoir in 30 years, sparking fears that the AI push will add to the "severe pressure" on water supplies in the area.

Keir Starmer announced on Monday that he would hugely increase artificial intelligence capacity and reduce planning restrictions on companies that wanted to build datacentres by setting up "growth zones" with fewer constraints.

The first of these will be in Culham, Oxfordshire, only seven miles from a reservoir planned by Thames Water in Abingdon, which was supposed to provide water to people in the severely water-stressed south-east of England. This is the area of the country most at risk of running out of water, according to the Environment Agency. Oxfordshire has faced particular issues, with areas reliant on bottled water during heatwaves.

I'd add that planned reservoir in Abingdon has been planned since the early 2000s and opposed by the regulator for a number of years because the need was not proven and the water companies wanting to build it could do more on demand management. I don't think there's a bigger example of failure than, having not built a reservoir since 1992 (and the population increasing by 20% in the same period), now facing water scarcity and people in a proverbially rainy country need to rely on bottled water

Edit: Also this is going to be how the Guardian and a lot of the left will frame any attempt at reforms to build more. There will always be environmental concerns and those campaign groups opposing it will find a very receptive audience in the Guardian, and will be amplified by the Greens - and politically, I'm not sure this government is quite ready for that. I'm not sure they're hard-nosed enough on this yet.

#36

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

Last post by Barrister - Today at 03:13:44 PM

There's nothing we can do, they buy too much of our oil for them to have a positive trade balance. They'll continue buying the oil with the tariffs and everything else will be somewhat reduced so they can implement tax cuts.

I think the Trudeau PMship will be forgotten and treated like a footnote between Harper and the disastrous PP PMship.

You have to think that Trump voters won't love how the tariffs will increase the price of gas at the pump.

And my understanding is that Canada has a large trade balance - in goods.  When it comes to services, and investments (that is - Canadians investing in the US) the flow in money is even or in fact favours the US.


I find POilievre to be a bit of a mystery - which is worrisome - but not some guarantee of "disaster".

#37

Off the Record / Re: 🐐

Last post by Duque de Bragança - Today at 03:11:57 PM

Yes, clearly Roger Murdock.

Roger

Over.

#38

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

Last post by Grey Fox - Today at 03:02:09 PM

There's nothing we can do, they buy too much of our oil for them to have a positive trade balance. They'll continue buying the oil with the tariffs and everything else will be somewhat reduced so they can implement tax cuts.

I think the Trudeau PMship will be forgotten and treated like a footnote between Harper and the disastrous PP PMship.

#39

Off the Record / Re: 🐐

Last post by Barrister - Today at 02:40:29 PM

Kareem was on the jive plane with Frank Drebin, that has to count for something.

It's funny how life works, isn't it.

Apparently Kareem accepted the role on Airplane! because he wanted to buy some fancy oriental rug.

https://www.basketballnetwork.net/off-the-court/the-absurd-reason-behind-kareem-abdul-jabbars-demand-for-a-5000-salary-increase-in-airplane

I had to look it up - Kareem retired in 1989, but with most of his success in the 70s and early 80s.  While I know of his as a basketball player - what he might be most famous for these days is Airplane!

Much like Wilt Chamberlain is famous for claiming to sleep with 20,000 women.


I'm going to vote for Lebron.

#40

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

Last post by Barrister - Today at 02:31:40 PM

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-premier-danielle-smith-donald-trump-kevin-o-leary-1.7429546

So this is global politics in 2025 - Alberta Premier meets up with President-elect Trump - as the guest of reality TV star Kevin O'Leary.

I'm okay with Smith going freelance on diplomacy - as long as it works.  So far it doesn't seem like it's working.

Trump seems determined to implement his 25% tariffs on Canada.  No clear message on exactly what he wants Canada to do to avoid it - he just loves tariffs.

It seems like Smith's strategy was to seek an oil and gas "carve out".  Which on the one hand makes sense - I can't believe Trump is going to impose a tariff on oil imports.  Obviously though that is also throwing Ontario and the ROC under the bus.  Not that it seems like it is working anyways.