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Post by Devil Wincarnate on Apr 29, 2024 5:22:35 GMT
For various reasons this is probably one of my favourite constituencies in Britain, and probably where I'd live if money was no object. That's got the makings of an interesting thread.
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Post by Devil Wincarnate on Apr 28, 2024 18:05:55 GMT
Who was the MP who described Jim Wellbeloved as ironically named? Jon Silkin and Bob Mellish. Probably among others...
We could really do with more MPs like that. He was clearly a bruiser, but a big softie compared to his old boss Roy Mason!
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Post by Devil Wincarnate on Apr 28, 2024 17:19:07 GMT
The Greenwich half was in Woolwich was John Cartwright's (not that one) fiefdom; the SDP were also very strong in the Bexley half, although Erith and Crayford's SDP-defecting Jim Wellbeloved did not hold on. Who was the MP who described Jim Wellbeloved as ironically named?
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Post by Devil Wincarnate on Apr 28, 2024 16:08:24 GMT
Bet in play now!
(Anyone getting that reference is aged 40-50)
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India
Apr 28, 2024 7:28:54 GMT
via mobile
Post by Devil Wincarnate on Apr 28, 2024 7:28:54 GMT
I’m surprised by the massive drop in Pathanamthitta. It’s supposed to be a competitive 3-way race and has a large Christian population. If this is an indication of low Christian turnout then the BJP is going to finally win a seat in Kerala. ibfc how did the election in Kerala go? Christian turnout has collapsed in Kerala. Massive out migration coupled with disgust at Congress’ pandering to Muslims along with a lack of inclination to vote for the BJP has caused this. Where are they migrating to?
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Post by Devil Wincarnate on Apr 27, 2024 22:53:23 GMT
It's a struggle to describe the two (sort of three) communities as cooperating. They live back to back for the most part.
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Post by Devil Wincarnate on Apr 27, 2024 19:15:12 GMT
I thought that being a relatively moderate "Cameronite" he would be more likely to defect to the Liberal Democrats or stand as an Independent. He's retiring. There are few things more cowardly in politics than defecting right at the end of a Parliament. You might as well tell the electorate: "You voted for me to vote one way for nearly half a decade, now I'm going to do the opposite, and I'm not letting you have the chance to remove me". Actually, that would be more honest. All this reminds that Brian Sedgmore was a prick.
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Post by Devil Wincarnate on Apr 26, 2024 21:46:19 GMT
And didn't realise this ward had only become safe for Labour that recently, in said context a very creditable result for them. Until the 1980s Grangetown tended to vote Labour in General Elections but was a marginal ward that often narrowly returned Conservatives in local elections, the latter being a legacy of the machine politics and, ultimately, political issues (temperance!) of another age. Grangetown was once very hostile to the Liberals, not least because of temperance, and was home to the "Hotel de Marl", one of the funniest examples of malicious compliance imaginable.
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Post by Devil Wincarnate on Apr 26, 2024 20:12:04 GMT
No reliable figures but there are reports of a poll showing the MR out in front in Brussels, and Défi collapsing as a result.
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Post by Devil Wincarnate on Apr 25, 2024 19:27:55 GMT
Can I nominate August Haußleiter, who whilst never elected, was a founder member of the CSU - before emerging decades later as a founder member of Die Grünen.
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Post by Devil Wincarnate on Apr 25, 2024 18:22:06 GMT
An impressive number of Green Party posters in St Bartholomew Ward, outnumbering the LibDem ones. The (ex) council estates don't tend to display posters though but normally vote LibDem. Throughout Winchester I have seen three Tory ones, about a dozen Green, and 20 or so LibDem. I was in Winchester last week and only spotted LD ones up in Kings Worthy. Nobody seemed to have anything out.
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Post by Devil Wincarnate on Apr 24, 2024 21:54:00 GMT
I suddenly thought of one of my favourite Belgicisms, which is for a downpour - une drache.
A particularly heavy downpour is une drache nationale!
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Post by Devil Wincarnate on Apr 24, 2024 19:24:45 GMT
Couldn't agree more. When it comes to classic European cooking, the Belgians really know what they're doing. Even down to meatballs and potato croquettes in a pub. I found Belgian wine in the supermarket the other day. Really unusual. I haven't opened it yet so no idea how bad or good it is! This really is a matter of taste. I am a French classics appreciator, but also best end of Italian, Californian, Australian and South African. The Hock scandals put me off from German. I have never taken to Alsace, Belgium or Switzerland for wines despite being coaxed to some of their best products. There is some really good German wine, but it tends to be found at small producers or local festivals. Dry, crisp Rieslings but also Grauburgunder.
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Post by Devil Wincarnate on Apr 24, 2024 14:33:33 GMT
That does surprise me. Knokke is definitely pretty cold but De Haan struck me as very friendly. There are definitely some very hostile spots in Wallonia! I've found the friendliest Belgians are in Limburg, Luxembourg and the two halves of Brabant. I came across a little gem entirely by accident called Saint-Hubert which is insular, upper crust and very old school (or it was when I visited?) and I liked the built environment which was classy and distinguished. I got on very well with people I encountered in hotels and on the streets. For about 10-years I detoured to spend the night there and was very spoiled by the hotel and sometimes asked to join a large party for a bit of a feast at no expense to me. Best end Belgian cuisine is superb. Couldn't agree more. When it comes to classic European cooking, the Belgians really know what they're doing. Even down to meatballs and potato croquettes in a pub. I found Belgian wine in the supermarket the other day. Really unusual. I haven't opened it yet so no idea how bad or good it is!
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Post by Devil Wincarnate on Apr 24, 2024 12:40:24 GMT
Out of interest, where on the coast did you go? Some bits are definitely not great but there are some beautiful spots, some slightly inland (but served by the Coast Tram). The whole length of the coast tram, with time in both termini, and Ostend. It wasn't the place so much, I found the people quite cold and unfriendly. Quite a contrast to Antwerp and Ghent and a world away from a lot of Wallonia That does surprise me. Knokke is definitely pretty cold but De Haan struck me as very friendly. There are definitely some very hostile spots in Wallonia! I've found the friendliest Belgians are in Limburg, Luxembourg and the two halves of Brabant.
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Post by Devil Wincarnate on Apr 24, 2024 10:06:38 GMT
Not widely spoken these days, sadly. Like Flemish in Brussels, a victim of the Francisation efforts in the decades from 1830 to 1898. But it does still rear its head. It is on street signs in Liège and Namur amongst others. And it is quite common to hear the odd Walloon phrase such as "non di dju!" (Nom de Dieu!), barakî (chav), houtsiplou (middle of nowhere) in everyday life. As well as words and grammar taken from Flemish. Belgian French is a brilliant mess. Deeply expressive, loaded with irony, full of archaic terms that don't just speak to pre-revolutionary France but also reflect the days of Burgundy. I understand Belgian French is more logical when it comes to counting numbers. That's correct. Septante instead of soixante-dix, and nonante instead of quatre-vingt-dix. The Swiss do the same. Some Swiss used octante or huitante instead of quatre-vingt. The Belgians also maintain the original order of meals- déjeuner, dîner, souper.
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Post by Devil Wincarnate on Apr 24, 2024 9:10:37 GMT
What just proves, that the Walloons are real French! Just like the similarily ignorant&arrogant Romands in SwitzerLand. There is a separate Walloon language . Not widely spoken these days, sadly. Like Flemish in Brussels, a victim of the Francisation efforts in the decades from 1830 to 1898. But it does still rear its head. It is on street signs in Liège and Namur amongst others. And it is quite common to hear the odd Walloon phrase such as "non di dju!" (Nom de Dieu!), barakî (chav), houtsiplou (middle of nowhere) in everyday life. As well as words and grammar taken from Flemish. Belgian French is a brilliant mess. Deeply expressive, loaded with irony, full of archaic terms that don't just speak to pre-revolutionary France but also reflect the days of Burgundy.
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Post by Devil Wincarnate on Apr 24, 2024 6:33:25 GMT
I don't think they are. I could actually understand their french, which I can do Aquitaine, most of Occitanie, and parts of PACA but definitely cannot do in Paris. The bits I went to looked different to France, felt different to France, and seemed to "work" in a different way to France though I couldn't put my finger on anything specific. Mariembourg felt a little french but that was it. Before going with a friend back in September I had never really thought about the place, but I fell in love with it very quickly (slight exception along the coast and Ostend). I want to go back to the places I made flying visits to and spend some proper time there Out of interest, where on the coast did you go? Some bits are definitely not great but there are some beautiful spots, some slightly inland (but served by the Coast Tram).
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Post by Devil Wincarnate on Apr 24, 2024 6:19:59 GMT
There's an article in the FT this morning about Warrington and its finances. Particularly its links to a Monaco financier. It makes for grim reading.
Unfortunately it's behind the paywall.
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Post by Devil Wincarnate on Apr 24, 2024 6:18:17 GMT
If it did merge. Walloons are fairly proud of being Francophone but not French, and there are differences. Lots of monolingual Francophones in Brussels consider themselves Flemish. Indeed, Jacques Brel (who could speak both) described himself as Flemish, even though his command of the language was dodgy. Is an independent Wallonia even financially viable? Probably not. But it could be if they could break their addiction to spending beyond their means. It could have a lot going for it.
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