Kurosagi

Really thought it would be easier this resale, but didn't even get a sniff of a chance...wondering if I'll ever be back. Oh well, I'll be trying again come the autumn. Have a great one all those who got tix today.

I believe that could be the tl;dr summary. Passionate people with social justice concerns are finding out the hard way that not everyone who cares about due diligence on novel treatments is a... <insert slur of choice>.

The rise of gender identification amongst the younger generation is notable, especially compared to older generations. In the US, LGBT(etc.) identification is around 20% of Gen Z (rising from 15% in 2020) compared to 3% of Gen X (stable and unchanged over the last 10 years). https://www.statista.com/statistics/719685/american-adults-who-identify-as-homosexual-bisexual-transgender-by-generation/

The Cass report makes very sober reading, Appendix 4 especially and how Cass was actively prevented from trying to collect even rudimentary follow up data from GIDS. Labour's (Streeting's) response should be tempered in the context of Anneliese Dodds recent doubling down last night on the problematic conversion therapy bill: A Labour conversion therapy bill would inadvertently have criminalised Cass, and other's looking to provide evidence-based care, for not 'affirming' children who believe they are transgender. Lloyd Russell-Moyle's private member's bill was presumably a dry run of what a Labour government's position would be: "A Bill to prohibit practices whose predetermined purpose is to change a person’s sexual orientation or to change a person to or from being transgender; and for connected purposes." The combining of 'orientation' with 'transgender' is one of the reasons why the Tories ended up dropping it in it's current form because they were engaging with Cass and the fallout from the Tavistock, which all happened after they started the bill. Cass concluding that a more 'holistic' approach to caring for gender confused children (i.e. paying attention to co-morbidities) has historically been viewed as 'transphobic' by Stonewall. Hopefully, the Cass report will result in children being treated with more appropriate care for their needs rather than blanket affirmation in the future.

Interesting summary, I like a good graphic. Surprised there isn't a little red man going over to Reform. I have a few friends and relatives in Red Wall seats who now eat up reform messages. I guess it just means that the ex labour people that Johnson got to vote tory in 2019 are now planning to vote reform rather than go back to labour and that reform's popularity isn't attracting any fresh labour voters.

'building britain together' WTF?

If this is just pointless electioneering by trying to appear to be prime ministerial it's likely to backfire. And if he announces any restrictions on protests it will definitely backfire.

Disagree. There is a febrile atmosphere of 'a plague on both your houses'. At a GE that translates into a choice of: a) don't turn up to vote b) spoil your ballot c) hold your nose and vote for the least worse d) vote for an mp on local issues e) vote for someone that will 'send a message to the WM elite'. I'd argue the anger and disatisfaction that left us with the brexit mess is still simmering away and starmer's policies (careful, prudent, we need to be sensible, steady as you go, it's all the tories fault, we'll fix the mess eventually, you'll have to wait for a second term before we do anything radical) along with his perceived out of touch 'Islington elite' persona is more likely to result in people doing e) than c). I'd also argue that a large section of voters for GG yesterday were NOT voting 100% on Gaza but voting to send GG on his way to WM to bring down the 'crony system' where, and I quote, "Starmer and Sunak are different sides of the same arse". His rhetoric resonates with people who've given up on politics making a difference. It's lazy populism straight from the Trump playbook, but it can be brutally, and depressingly, effective.

...and this is what ends up filling the void when the two parties in a FPTP system end up with a rizla paper difference between them in promised outcomes for the majority of the country. It's going to be a very SHOUTY election campaign.

Heard him on R4 this morning, dear god he was insufferable. I get that it's annoying when the interviewer keeps trying to trap you with 'gotcha' style questions, but if your answer is to keep raising your voice and repeatedly talk over the other person then you just come across as unhinged.

In the months ahead it'll be interesting to see if GG gets much media time. If he does then he'll be a thorn in Starmer's side. The polls show voters aren't over the moon about Starmer and GG will be very articulate in amplifying that at every opportunity.

Agreed, sorry, I wasn't clear enough, wasn't expecting GG to field nationally. But Starmer was relying on recovering labour seats lost up North in the last GE. If Galloway gets his act together (and it's a big if) it could prove tricky for labour. Lots of 'ifs' though and if the polls don't tighten and if SNP continue to implode and if reform split the tory vote down south etc etc then it should still be plain sailing for labour.

If Galloway lives up to his boast of fielding GE candidates wouldn't that mean Reform splitting the tory vote and Workers Party splitting the labour vote?

Won't you be bereft without your nemesis? I thought he brought out the best in you 😉

Unfortunately, centre-right is where the Labour party is at these days. He was a Blair fan-boy so centre-right labour about fits wouldn't you say?

Fair enough, literally can't argue with that.

RIP Bazza

You've had him on block for years.

You're right, coffee-gate was pathetic. I can't remember how that particular pages long argument started but Baz had clearly lost the debate and instead shifted it with Neil onto a clownish 'freeloader' issue instead. About 18 months ago I had a back and forth with him after he'd infuriated me (on another thread) and I accused him of trolling and he was very specific in his replies to explain why it wasn't and why it annoyed him people throwing the troll accusation around. It changed my opinion of him. At the time I even saved a quote from him ready to throwback at him but never needed it and now looks like I never will.

Permanent as in never-allowed-to-darken-our-doors-ever-again-permanent? Or sit on the naughty corner for a bit type permanent? Harsh if the former. I joined efests over 15 years ago, I don't remember the 'terms' and I'm pretty sure there wasn't a 'gold member' option back then so it must have been updated since I joined. Was Baz given the chance to revisit the 'terms' and apologise before being kicked off site? Baz is an irritant but I've found him a useful irritant which has led to me challenging my thinking on some subjects. Don't tend to agree with a lot of his world view, but I don't think he's a deliberate troll. He can be a f**king wind-up at times but I've also been on the thread long enough to see him change his own mind and apologise when challenged. A pity to see him booted.

Is this the first year that no-one from the news thread has managed to get tix?

Another year trying and another fail, not even a sniff of the booking page.

Yep, would like to see them try a different system even if the end result is the same just to alleviate the depressing groundhog day experience. God I hate that effing holding page every year.

Time to find £10k down the back of the sofa for when they do an ebay auction for some tickets...

Some people argue that a lottery system would reduce their chances, but I think it's got sooooo difficult to get tickets now that a 1 in 10 chance of a ticket with a true lottery system sounds like a cracking idea right now!