[Malcolm Armsteen]

I don’t think it does outweigh them - that’s why I’m in favour of change and making it easier and shorter. I just think certification for the youngest age groups allowed might need some minimal interaction rather than be entirely self-led. Not medically or psychologically interfering, just some sort of space to ensure the person has thought everything through.

It’s a big step - having a sounding board could be a good positive reinforcement for most and reassure them they’re doing the right thing.

Exactly.
Rather in the same way it can't be beyond the wit of lawmakers to cover the Rowling objection (men self-identifying to enter women-only spaces etc.)

But as we've seen in sports recently wits seem to be thin on the ground.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Balance of benefits and harms? Doesn't it?

[Tubby Isaacs]

Mark Drakeford, not particularly impressive here.

The UK government’s decision to use powers that have never been used in the history of devolution is a very dangerous moment.

I agree with the first minister of Scotland that this could be a very slippery slope indeed.

I have a bit of an aversion to slippery slope arguments in general, not least on things like trans rights, where you get "they'll be allowing 2 year olds to transition next" bollocks. What's the slope Drakeford has in mind here? That the Government's going to challenge everything, that it's going to abolish the Scottish Parliament, what exactly? I know I said I'd say what Sturgeon is saying in her shoes, but I've no idea why the Leader of Labour in Wales is saying her stuff for her. Just say it's a shit decision, which it seems very much to be.

[Andy McDandy]

And if I were Sunak, I'd say that important as Scottish democracy is, there's something bigger at stake, which is British democracy and unity. Followed by Labour and the SNP are trying to destroy Britain.

[Bones McCoy]

Does this mean that we all have to take a position on the trans issue?

We have two trans friends, (one each way), and I see them as exactly who they are. That's not me being all woke and right-on, it's just observation. So, that is possibly a position of sorts, but one which is born of friendship rather than a hill upon which I would gladly meet my maker.

Cautiously, I would suggest that the don't-give-a-toss tendency are in the majority but, as per usual, it's the Gammon who will hog the mic; it will all be Jocks in Frocks and whining about bogs where the traps have doors on them anyway.

Culture Wars - just another waste of breath and handy diversion for the ghastliest government in living memory.

Men have been wearing "skirts" in these parts for centuries.

Perhaps Rishi fancies himself as a new King George, re-establishing the 1746 Dress Act.

[Bones McCoy]

Allister Jack has said he can’t explain his reasons to Parliament because it would be too boring. Seriously, he did. Statement to be put out later, when he won’t be around to answer for it.

Pretty much confirms it then - it’s not about a sensible debate on the issues. It’s about opposing for the sake of power and getting the supporters fired up about boogeymen who want to turn their children into perverts.

A very similar target audience as the ones who opposed the HPV vaccine rollout at school.

The ones who believed the only thing deterring their teenage daughters from full blown nyphomania was fear of a disease that none of the had heard of.

[Tubby Isaacs]

I read the Grauniad's transcript - he came across like someone tripping themselves up on the James O'Brien show. A good roll call of knobhead Kipper reject MPs propping him up with supportive statements written by someone else.

I think having an incredibly useless Scottish Secretary could be a problem for the Government here. They still have a lot of well-educated supporters, though far less than before. They really don't need a bunch more of those bailing on them because the party comes across as stupid to them. Sunak seems to be doing OK with some of the Lib Dem leaners so far, but does this stuff help with that?

It'll get worse if Wales does the same, Secretary of State is David TC Davies.

[Crabcakes]

I know no one expects much from Rishi above and beyond being better at PMQs than Truss (and there are breeze blocks that could do that job), but he was fucking terrible today.

[Andy McDandy]

I saw a part of it. He was answering every one of Starmer's questions with "Why aren't Labour backing our bill?". I'd have loved Starmer to say "Because we think it's a piece of unworkable shit that hurts working people while not addressing the root causes of genuine grievances". One can hope though.

He was also at pains to say that the NHS shouldn't be politicised, right before going off on "Labour NHS in Wales", before someone seemed to remind him that no, that's not the line, and it's now "the NHS is fucked everywhere and it's not our fault".

Penny Mordaunt looked pissed off throughout, while I think Braverman's turning into Sunak's Dorries.

[Abernathy]

Also noticed that Lindsay "Chocolate Fireguard" Hoyle failed yet again to pull up Sunak for trying to turn PMQs into Leader of the Opposition's questions.

[Crabcakes]

If he’s that keen on asking Starmer questions, he should call a GE and make it official.

[Youngian]

Speaker Hoyle likes to show who’s boss but it’s not him.

[Andy McDandy]

He's the soft as shite supply teacher acting tough but actually just bantering with the class clowns in the hope they don't turn on him.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Genius Sunak says Catterick should get money it doesn’t seem to need because soldiers live there. Seriously, he did.

[kreuzberger]

Another day, another private jet, and a clear decision that the seatbelt laws do not apply to him.

There can be no remaining doubt that Sunak is ripping the piss for all its worth. Does he have a paper tricorn and a big badge with "I'm The Boss" on it?

[Tubby Isaacs]

Rishi Sunak says people ‘not idiots’ and know why he cannot cut taxes

Fair play, calling John Redwood and IDS idiots.

[Watchman]

Every utterance proves again and again, that he has absolutely no comprehension of what is actually happening, not just here but in the whole world. He just cannot get beyond “but isn’t everyone privileged”

[Tubby Isaacs]

Rishi goes to Blackpool while elitist Starmer goes to Davos, that probably sounded good on paper.

[Andy McDandy]

Starmer presents Labour as a government in waiting, while Rishi and Jeremy patronise the plebs.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Rishi's still got the Brains Trust on board.

Nobody was saying they had to take trains all the way, but for info London-Morecambe is 1 change.

If this was anyone who wasn't a Tory, Jenkinson would be talking about "Davos man in private jets while we aren't even allowed cars" or something.