[kreuzberger]

It's doubtful that they would have the certifications and training to squirt 100,000 litres of unleaded in to your local Asda.

[Oboogie]

It's doubtful that they would have the certifications and training to squirt 100,000 litres of unleaded in to your local Asda.

They don't, no army tanker drivers do because they don't need them for their job. That's why they had to be trained by the industry.

https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/196226 ... ers-grays/

[Nigredo]

Johnson's figure of 127 hasn't included the 100 army drivers drafted in to help the logistics crisis, I wonder if the beeb will mention that

As the army are British and therefore don't need visas, I don't understand why you think the BBC would mention them?

I just assumed it was client journalists making a small (and probably insignificant) error that still spares Johnson's blushes somewhat.

[Malcolm Armsteen]

It seems that the DfT gave the number as 27. The SofS said 27.

Johnson said 127. Complete fabrication. No basis in fact.

Client journalists quoted Johnson widely and ignored the DfE and SoS statements.

Courtiers.

[Andy McDandy]

Meanwhile over on That Twitter, much discussion of claims by a senior Torygraph journo (now taken down, but available for posterity) that Laura K and someone off Newsnight were at a TPC disco on Tuesday night, among other things engaging in rap battles (?) with Govey, and shouting out "Any Tory scum in tonight?" to a delighted crowd. All vehemently denied by the BBC of course.

Also popping up are rumours that "that" row between Johnson and Antoinette was sparked by her accusation that a certain BBC political correspondent was taking dick-tation from him.

True or false? At this stage I don't really care. I'm that jaded by the entire thing.

[Youngian]

If all the BBC get for being a good lap dog is Nadine Dorries, they might as well go down fighting. And finding shit to pour on Johnson isn’t hard or even bias.

[Nigredo]

Meanwhile over on That Twitter, much discussion of claims by a senior Torygraph journo (now taken down, but available for posterity) that Laura K and someone off Newsnight were at a TPC disco on Tuesday night, among other things engaging in rap battles (?) with Govey, and shouting out "Any Tory scum in tonight?" to a delighted crowd. All vehemently denied by the BBC of course.

Also popping up are rumours that "that" row between Johnson and Antoinette was sparked by her accusation that a certain BBC political correspondent was taking dick-tation from him.

I dearly wish I can find the former on the Twittosphere.

As for the latter, Sara Pascoe was on HIGNFY (I think) years ago and commented on that shot of Bozza and Laura K on the park bench with "They've definitely banged haven't they? You can just tell by the way they look at each other." Seems to be a more astute observation as the years go on.

[Oboogie]

It seems that the DfT gave the number as 27. The SofS said 27.

Johnson said 127. Complete fabrication. No basis in fact.

Client journalists quoted Johnson widely and ignored the DfE and SoS statements.

Courtiers.

"Prime Minister Boris Johnson said 127 foreign drivers had applied for visas aimed at tackling shortages, however, the Department for Business said only 27 drivers had been identified. It has not confirmed what Mr Johnson's number was referring to.
The Times reported that just 27 people from the European Union had applied to be tanker drivers."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58800848

[Boiler]

Seems hard to believe that this is almost* the same BBC that 95 years ago told Churchill to get stuffed when he wanted to take control of it during the General Strike.

(*British Broadcasting Company back then.)

https://www.bbc.com/historyofthebbc/res ... al-strike/

[Malcolm Armsteen]

If all the BBC get for being a good lap dog is Nadine Dorries, they might as well go down fighting. And finding shit to pour on Johnson isn’t hard or even bias.

I'm really sorry to pull you up, Ian, but this is the second time I've seen this today (the other time on RS Archer's Twitter feed, so you're in good company), and it drives me screaming round the bend.

'Bias' is a noun. Meaning that which leans to one side.
Therefore something which displays bias is 'biased', an adjective modifying another noun (e.g. a 'biased opinion')

Imagine saying 'In that statement he is prejudice' - you wouldn't.

A thousand apologies, but you trod on the bee in my bonnet.

[RedSparrows]

Commonly seen on the US interwebz, alongside 'addicting' and other travesties.

[Boiler]

Meanwhile over on That Twitter, much discussion of claims by a senior Torygraph journo (now taken down, but available for posterity) that Laura K and someone off Newsnight were at a TPC disco on Tuesday night, among other things engaging in rap battles (?) with Govey, and shouting out "Any Tory scum in tonight?" to a delighted crowd. All vehemently denied by the BBC of course.

Is that why she's trending on Twitter ATM? I can't, for whatever reason, click on the "trending" thing without being told to sign up for Twitter.

[Samanfur]

The BBC are denying it, despite the fact that the journalist in question claimed to've spoken to Gove at the time.

[Watchman]

Wonder if they share any of Gove’s other pastimes

[kreuzberger]

Bias;

I saw that linguistic vandalism on RS Archer's feed today, too. It irked. I usually like him as a writer, even if this eurosexual persona of his is bolleurques complets.

Moreover, the moderately fragrant Sarah Smith was on World at One today, burbling on about "a myriad of" something or other. Granted, she might have been distracted by the Mussolini name being back in the news today. (He was a-very-passionate-man, don't you know?) Still, she'll be pulling comfortably six figures for this illiterate drivel which, when all is said and done, should be a capital offence.

[Malcolm Armsteen]

And don't get me started on 'very unique', 'chaise lounge' or 'entrée' meaning a plat principal.

[Youngian]

If all the BBC get for being a good lap dog is Nadine Dorries, they might as well go down fighting. And finding shit to pour on Johnson isn’t hard or even bias.

'Bias' is a noun. Meaning that which leans to one side.
Therefore something which displays bias is 'biased', an adjective modifying another noun (e.g. a 'biased opinion')

Strangely I dithered about that when I wrote it. ‘Show a bias’ would work.

[Abernathy]

Ooh, are we off on a gripe about language mis-uses again?

A mention here of my regret and dismay at the widespread replacement of the adjectival intensifier”very” with the just-plain-wrong “super”.

For example, “We were very happy with our new sofa” is pointlessly turned into “We were super happy with our new sofa”.

ARRRGLEARGGLEFARGLEARGGGGGG.

[Youngian]

“We were super happy with our new sofa”.

Well sorted

[Youngian]

Who is this notorious spy?

Facepalm. ‘Wasn’t he in Jaws?’ asked the work experience bod.