[Tubby Isaacs]

To be fair, he seems to have a feeling of how much anti-corporate sentiment there is out there. I'm sure that it was to quite a large extent behind Trump's victory, which, in that sense, was one of the greatest examples of bait-and-switch in history.

He was talking about how he used to run a property business in the City today. Schrodinger and all that. Think they're run on business tax cuts when it comes to it. That'll get exposed if they're serious challengers.

Did you see the Glenn Greenwald thing? He's surprised Trump's moved against the consumer protection bureau. I don't know if Monbiot's claimed Starmer changing the head of the Competition and Markets Authority is Trumpets yet.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Ha ha ha. Green Rupert Lowe.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... tax-sector

Reform MP installed solar to cut bills but party calls renewables ‘massive con’
Exclusive: Rupert Lowe recently fitted panels on his farm, it emerges, as Reform claims renewables are more expensive

Lowe says he supports Green energy just not the way it's being done, or something. The policy announced went a bit further than that,

He does the usual "China India coal" thing. Both of those have massively expanded renewables because they don't want to be dependent on unstable oil producers. Rupert and co want exactly that for some reason.

[The Weeping Angel]

Council by-election in Torfean if Reform win expect all hell to break loose.

https://labourlist.org/2025/02/torfaen- ... el-farage/

A Labour minister has admitted the party faces a “close” council by-election in his constituency today, in an area analysts call a “must-win for Reform” ahead of the next Senedd and general elections.

Voters in Trevethin and Penygam ward in Torfaen are going to the polls to elect a new councillor following the resignation of Labour councillor Sue Malson.

With Reform sailing in the opinion polls nationally, the amount of campaign activity on Reform’s social media channels suggests Nigel Farage’s upstart party has its eyes on the seat.

Reform has called on activists to help “make history”, as winning would hand Reform their very first elected – rather than defecting – councillor in Wales.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Reform won easily. South Wales is a very good area for them.

[Killer Whale]

Reform won easily. South Wales is a very good area for them.

Even with plentiful stories about how shit their existing councillors are doing the rounds. They really are the 'fuck you, I don't care' option in communities that have lost hope.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Yep. I'm hopeful that a couple of high profile Reform politicians in power (like Andrea Jenkyns, who should win the Lincolnshire mayoralty) might shift things against them. Then again, Republican state governors don't seem to pay any price for this shit.

I've said before, Labour might as well chuck the Barnett Formula away, or at least find someway to get more money to Wales via special funds. Torfaen is kind of difficult for that though. At least in Merthyr or wherever you can point to the upgraded A465 or better trains to Cardiff.

[Andy McDandy]

I used to work in Monmouth, the county council sharing County Hall in Cwmbran with Torfaen council.

It's very bland as places go. It doesn't have the tourism or heritage that some of the other valleys councils can offer. It's overshadowed by Newport and Cardiff for business, retail and so on.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Blaenavon is a World Heritage Site, but I doubt there's much local pride that comes from that. Liverpool used to be (until absurdly losing it) and seemed to get some civic pride from it, but it would come some way behind football and music on that score. Not that a revival of Pontypool RFC is going to make much difference.

One sad thing for South Wales is seeing historic building that in (nearly all) Southern England would have found a private developer to do it up. Not that this helps you if you're poor or sick or anything, but it maybe adds to the sense of gloom. If I were a billionaire I might look to do up historic buildings in poor towns.

[Killer Whale]

I've said before, Labour might as well chuck the Barnett Formula away, or at least find someway to get more money to Wales via special funds.

They're too scared of English marginals and "how come the Taffs are getting more than me?" sentiment.

[Tubby Isaacs]

They've altered the funding within England so that poorer areas get more. But yeah, that might be true. My preference would be to get some money off Scotland. Say what you like about the SNP, they're played a blinder by putting central government on the back foot. Can't believe we'd not have.a more needs based formula by now.

Must be some way though. Mrs Thatcher managed (via Patrick Jenkin) to come up with a something that in the first year gave more money to Liverpool. Unfortunately, the council then overplayed its hand and lost massively.

[The Weeping Angel]

Reform won easily. South Wales is a very good area for them.

Do you think they can win next year's elections in Wales?

[Tubby Isaacs]

Might well top the poll, yes.

[The Weeping Angel]

Would they then form the next government?

[Tubby Isaacs]

Wouldn't think so. They'll kill the Tories and the others won't want to deal with them.

They'll be very happy with that, European Parliament all over again.

[Youngian]

Having run a business, Tice is an expert in geopolitical and military strategy. Are Labour more timid towards Reform than err Julia Hartley Brewer?

[Abernathy]

This piece in The Grauniad on Farage and the Reform "party" is very long, but is probably worth your attention on a "know thine enemy" basis.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... 5zf-Wy-vpg

TL:DR : Unspeakable wankers with too much money seeking ways to get even more money.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Nigel Farage calls for reindustrialisation of Britain and higher birthrates

Tice, Lowe and Farage aren't people who scream "steeped in manufacturing" at me. Industrial strategy isn't easy. This is policy for nostalgics. Big "for other people's kids" vibe about this, as with the same people's "too many universities" policy.

[Youngian]

higher birthrates

So we're not overcrowded then.
Higher defence spending is one of the few ways politicians can pull a lever to create manufacturing jobs. Perhaps Nigel is supporting the development of a pan European military industrial complex to see off bad Vlad.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Farage's mate, Victor Orban, is spending over 5% of GDP on pro-natalist policies, with very little obvious effect. Is Farage on board with that sort of big state stuff?

[Youngian]

Haven't seen any indications that Farage’s voters are in favour of more noisy little brats running around.