Forum Topics

Divide, separate, rule

"In the entire area between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, the Israeli regime implements laws, practices and state violence designed to cement the supremacy of one group – Jews – over another – Palestinians. A key method in pursuing this goal is engineering space differently for each group.Jewish citizens live as though the entire area were a single space (excluding the Gaza Strip). The Green Line means next to nothing for them: whether they live west of it, within Israel’s sovereign territory, or east of it, in settlements not formally annexed to Israel, is irrelevant to their rights or status.Where Palestinians live, on the other hand, is crucial. The Israeli regime has divided the area into several units that it defines and governs differently, according Palestinians different rights in each. This division is relevant to Palestinians only. The geographic space, which is contiguous for Jews, is a fragmented mosaic for Palestinians:Palestinians who live on land defined in 1948 as Israeli sovereign territory (sometimes called Arab-Israelis) are Israeli citizens and make up 17% of the state’s citizenry. While this status affords them many rights, they do not enjoy the same rights as Jewish citizens by either law or practice – as detailed further in this paper. Roughly 350,000 Palestinians live in East Jerusalem, which consists of some 70,000 dunams [1 dunam = 1,000 square meters] that Israel annexed to its sovereign territory in 1967. They are defined as permanent residents of Israel a status that allows them to live and work in Israel without needing special permits, to receive social benefits and health insurance, and to vote in municipal elections. Yet permanent residency, unlike citizenship, may be revoked at any time, at the complete discretion of the Minister of the Interior. In certain circumstances, it can also expire. Although Israel never formally annexed the West Bank, it treats the territory as its own. More than 2.6 million Palestinian subjects live in the West Bank, in dozens of disconnected enclaves, under rigid military rule and without political rights. In about 40% of the territory, Israel has transferred some civilian powers to the Palestinian Authority (PA). However, the PA is still subordinate to Israel and can only exercise its limited powers with Israel’s consent. The Gaza Strip is home to about two million Palestinians, also denied political rights. In 2005, Israel withdrew its forces from the Gaza Strip, dismantled the settlements it built there and abdicated any responsibility for the fate of the Palestinian population. After the Hamas takeover in 2007, Israel imposed a blockade on the Gaza Strip that is still in place. Throughout all of these years, Israel has continued to control nearly every aspect of life in Gaza from outside.Israel accords Palestinians a different package of rights in every one of these units – all of which are inferior compared to the rights afforded to Jewish citizens. The goal of Jewish supremacy is advanced differently in every unit, and the resulting forms of injustice differ: the lived experience of Palestinians in blockaded Gaza is unlike that of Palestinian subjects in the West Bank, permanent residents in East Jerusalem or Palestinian citizens within sovereign Israeli territory. Yet these are variations on the fact that all Palestinians living under Israeli rule are treated as inferior in rights and status to Jews who live in the very same area."From:-https://www.btselem.org/publications/fulltext/202101_this_is_apartheid

David Ainsworth ● 20d7 Comments ● 18d

Deuteronomy 20

16 Howbeit of the cities of these peoples, that the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth,17 but thou shalt utterly destroy them: the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee;18 that they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods, and so ye sin against the LORD your God. What should we call this?

David Ainsworth ● 22d9 Comments ● 20d

3.30 pm

Anybody know if there has been an accident. A helicopter has been going round and round. Over the river area,  can see it from the back of my house.

Barbara Stevens ● 20d0 Comments ● 20d

Random pic 10 October 2024

A busy bee, Putney https://flic.kr/p/2oHk5ip

Michael Ixer ● 20d2 Comments ● 20d

Hereditary MPs

Thank god they are getting rid of hereditary peers,the privilege the entitlements just stank too too much.Meanwhile back in the lower house there is Hamish Falconer son on Labour peer Charlie. But as Tory web site Guido Fawkes points out "these little connections are everywhere. Morgan McSweeney, the new Downing Street chief of staff, is married to Imogen Walker, the newly-elected Labour MP for Hamilton and Clyde Valley. Liam Conlon, who won the Beckenham and Penge seat for Labour in the election, is the son of Sue Gray. Richard Burgon is the nephew of Colin Burgon, a Labour MP from 1997-2010. Markus Campbell-Savours MP is the son of former Labour MP Dale Campbell-Savours. Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker and a former Labour MP, is the son of former Labour MP, Douglas Hoyle. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is the sister of Lewisham West MP, Ellie Reeves. Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, is married to Ed Balls, the former MP and minister. Then there’s Hilary Benn (son of Tony) and Stephen Kinnock (son of Neil). There’s Valerie Vaz, who is the sister of former MP, Keith. It is all part of being in the ever-expanding Labour family.To be fair, this kind of thing is not confined to Labour. Plenty of Tories have relatives as former MPs, such as Bernard Jenkin (son of Patrick, who served as a minister under Margaret Thatcher) and Tom Tugendhat (whose uncle Christopher was an MP during the 1970s) – it is just that there are infinitely more on the Labour side of the house"

Hugh Thompson ● 22d12 Comments ● 21d

Front page

Dugard butchers on the front page.  Sainsbury's better be a bit politer to customers, or we will being going somewhere else.

Barbara Stevens ● 22d1 Comments ● 21d

New butcher

Great to see a butcher is opening on PHS. That's exactly the sort of thing that we need, not vape shops and their ilk. I hope it thrives and and the owners are supported by the locals. I'm sure Waitrose's meat counter can take the hit.  Next up lets have some independent bakers etc.

John Geoffries ● 21d0 Comments ● 21d

New butcher

Great to see a butcher is opening on PHS. That's exactly the sort of thing that we need, not vape shops and their ilk. I hope it thrives and and the owners are supported by the locals. I'm sure Waitrose's meat counter can take the hit.  Next up lets have some independent bakers etc.

John Geoffries ● 21d0 Comments ● 21d

Random pic 9 October 2024

Edward Heath's Clavichord at his home, Arundells, Salisbury https://flic.kr/p/2oVuseo

Michael Ixer ● 22d0 Comments ● 22d

At last Starmer acting as a PM should

I have been very critical of Starmer as regards his freebie antics.But I have to say his comments on the attack by Iran on Israel show the proper political leadership we expect of our PM.He said according to the BBC News -'Sir Keir used the address from Downing Street to condemn Iran's attack on Israel, saying he was "deeply concerned that the region is on the brink"."We stand with Israel and we recognise her right to self-defence in the face of this aggression," he said.Calling on Iran to stop its attacks, he added: "Together with its proxies like Hezbollah, Iran has menaced the Middle East for far too long, chaos and destruction brought not just to Israel, but to the people they live amongst in Lebanon and beyond."Make no mistake, Britain stands full square against such violence. We support Israel's reasonable demand for the security of its people."Excellent and appropriate comment.Perhaps the West will at last start to fight back against the growing global and local influence of Islamist states, most theocracies and dictatorships, before our civilisation and its values are overwhelmed.

John Hawkes ● 28d114 Comments ● 22d

Real independence

Palestinian police are forbidden from reacting to acts of violence by Israeli settlers [West Bank], a fact which diminishes their credibility among Palestinians.

David Ainsworth ● 22d0 Comments ● 22d

'Lest we forget'

'On October 7, 2023, Hamas and other Palestinian nationalist militant groups launched a coordinated armed incursion from the Gaza Strip into the Gaza Envelope of southern Israel, marking the first invasion of Israeli territory since the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. The attack coincided with the Jewish religious holiday Simchat Torah1. The offensive included launching thousands of rockets at targets in central and southern Israel and breaching the border fence between Israel and Gaza. Many women, children and the elderly were sexually assaulted, raped, murdered or taken hostage. Many hostages have still not been released.

John Hawkes ● 23d5 Comments ● 22d

Random pic 8 October 2024

Soyuz TM-10 Capsule, Speyer Museum, near Darmstadt https://flic.kr/p/2pgtrdG

Michael Ixer ● 23d0 Comments ● 23d

Putney Bridge traffic chaos

"When the work was originally announced, the council did say that traffic was likely to increase but anticipated that driving patterns would settle after a couple of weeks once more people became aware of the delays in the area."Do politicians ever admit they are wrong?

Hugh Thompson ● 24d3 Comments ● 23d

Starmer

Says he will takeaway pensioners free prescriptions and bus passes.

Barbara Stevens ● 24d16 Comments ● 23d

Random pic 7 October 2024

Welcoming Committee or Guard Dog https://flic.kr/p/2qgpSgz

Michael Ixer ● 23d2 Comments ● 23d

More Evidence Of Two-Tier Policing, Yvette?

Nigel Farage and Reform UK threatens to bring private prosecution against men accused of attacking cops at Manchester Airport saying failure to charge them yet is evidence of 'two-tier policing'The party has written to the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper over the incident at the airport in July, which sparked accusations of police brutality after officers were filmed kicking an unconscious man in the head while arresting him.The footage of an officer kicking and stamping on the head of Fahir Amaaz, 19, as he and his brother Muhammed Amaad, 25, were restrained by officers, went viral.But further footage, obtained by the Manchester Evening News, emerged days later which showed the immediate lead-up to the incident on July 23, including when two female police officers being hit to the ground before Mr Amaaz was incapacitated with a Taser.In a press conference today Mr Farage and his deputy Richard Tice questioned the delay in charging the men over the attack and said they would bring a private prosecution if it took too long. They are unhappy at the delay, when protesters convicted of crimes during racist riots following the Southport murders were dealt with quickly.An Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is under way into the incident and nobody has been charged.The letter to Ms Cooper, signed by the party's five MPs, said: 'We have genuine reason to be concerned that in fact the CPS is awaiting for the IOPC to find some fault with the police officers, which will then give them a reason not to progress charges against the assailants. This is totally unacceptable.'The letter added: 'We are therefore serving notice that if the CPS is not going to charge the assailants, then we will organise a private criminal prosecution against them. We have taken initial advice and have a legal team on standby to progress when required.'The letter added that the prosecution would be crowdfunded if necessary.https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13932621/Nigel-Farage-Reform-UK-private-prosecution-Manchester-Airport.html?ito=native_share_article-nativemenubuttonI am really looking forward to hearing Cooper's response. She was very happy carping from the sidelines in Opposition but let's see how she copes doing the job for real?

Sue Hammond ● 23d1 Comments ● 23d

Trump - “We’re poisoning the blood of our country"

"If genealogy is destiny, as Donald Trump believes, then “poison in the blood” – a phrase Trump repeatedly uses – determines the fate of nations. By Trump’s logic, “blood” is the true and final measure. Trump, like Hitler, appears to classify people and countries by “blood” on a scale of their innate racial characteristics. Those features define the essence of nations, which are themselves delineated on a racial pyramid, with the purest and whitest, the most Aryan, at the pinnacle." "Trump has Hitler on the brain in unknowable ways until he lets his admiration seep out. “Well, but Hitler did some good things,” Trump remarked to his White House chief of staff, General John Kelly. “Well, what?” asked Kelly. “Well, [Hitler] rebuilt the economy,” Trump replied. Kelly was outraged. He told him, “Sir, you can never say anything good about the guy. Nothing.” Kelly reflected, “It’s pretty hard to believe he missed the Holocaust, though, and pretty hard to understand how he missed the 400,000 American GIs that were killed in the European theater,” Kelly told Jim Sciutto, the CNN correspondent. “But I think it’s more, again, the tough guy thing” – Trump’s insatiable need to playact.On 17 September, Trump launched a new theme with an old echo. He made a prophecy about who should be blamed if he is defeated in the election. “I’m not going to call this as a prediction, but in my opinion, the Jewish people would have a lot to do with a loss,” he said. Then, he repeated, “If I don’t win this election – and the Jewish people would really have a lot to do with that if that happens because if 40%, I mean, 60% of the people are voting for the enemy …” He complained that as “the most popular person in Israel” he was not “treated right” by American Jews.Trump’s Jewish son-in-law Jared Kushner, his converted Jewish daughter Ivanka, his Jewish grandchildren, his Jewish adviser Stephen Miller, who is poised to be the implementer of the replacement theory and deportation of millions, including legal immigrants, and his Jewish supporters and donors are exempt from his condemnation of “the Jewish people”. Trump’s family ties don’t give him pause from his obsession. His “blood” makes them kosher. In the case of an inconvenient contradiction his narcissism prevails.Trump’s blame game is his version of the Dolchstosslegende – the stab in the back legend – that Germany did not lose the first world war in battle but was betrayed on the home front by Jews and leftists. Hitler traced his political awakening to his understanding of the Dolchstoss.Now, after all Trump has done for the Jews, after all he has done for Israel, “the Jewish people” are ungrateful. Too many of them support “the enemy”. Trump is warming up his myth of a scapegoat."By Sidney Blumenthal"Donald Trump’s Hitlerian logic is no mistake"https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/oct/07/donald-trumps-hitlerian-logic-is-no-mistake"Israelis broadly pick former President Donald Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris as better for Israel's security and in turn favor Trump for the U.S. presidency, albeit with sharp political divisions, a national survey by Langer Research Associates and PORI (Public Opinion Research Israel) finds.Fifty-eight percent of Israelis in the survey, conducted in September, said Trump would be better for Israel's security, vs. 20% for Harris. If they had a vote in the U.S. election, Israelis said they'd pick Trump over Harris by a similar 54%-24%, with the rest taking a pass."ABC News 4/10/24

David Ainsworth ● 23d0 Comments ● 23d

Reset

"Delaying budget was ‘miscalculation’, Blairites say as Starmer begins reset following Sue Gray’s departure" (Gdn today)A comment in response on Twitter:-"'Reset'.They've been in office three months.Have they actually done anything in that time except squabble about salaries and take bribes?"

David Ainsworth ● 23d0 Comments ● 23d

Sue Gray Says Stuff Starmer!

More in-fighting and chaos at No 10!  #OhDearKier😹P.S. Did old Hatchet Face resign before she was pushed?

Sue Hammond ● 24d5 Comments ● 23d

Starmer's Strategic C##k-Up!

What next for our increasingly autocratic PM? Will it be Gibraltar or the Falklands? He's gone power-mad

Sue Hammond ● 26d48 Comments ● 24d

Battling for Survival in a Selfish & Self-Centred World

https://www.channel4.com/news/tuvalu-the-fight-to-save-a-sinking-nation-from-climate-changeIf this were closer then you would see and hear more about it.  Unfortunately for them their distance from some of the most polluting and greatest users of fossil fuels has given them a huge challenge.  Where will they go?  I bet most people haven't a clue they exist or where they actually live right now.

Philippa Bond ● 32d14 Comments ● 24d

Tail wags dog?

"US launches airstrikes by fighter jets and ships on Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels" (apnews.com, today)Another step on the ladder?On the up-side, perhaps this is a quid pro quo for Israel agreeing to not attack any Iranian nuclear plants.

David Ainsworth ● 26d10 Comments ● 24d

Random pic 6 October 2024

A bespoke vehicle, Rochester, Kent https://flic.kr/p/2qcdJpq

Michael Ixer ● 25d1 Comments ● 24d

Racial inequality?

It is sad to see how people, who are frightened of there being too many immigrants currently, have no sympathy for the Arab majority of Palestine who faced migration which was designed to turn them into second-class citizens in what they might have expected was to become their own state after the end of World War One.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographic_history_of_Palestine_(region)Even Balfour himself admitted that it was so:-"The second difficulty, on which I shall only say a word, arises from the fact that the critics of this movement shelter themselves behind the phrase—but it is more than a phrase—behind the principle of self-determination, and say that, if you apply that principle logically and honestly, it is to the majority of the existing population of Palestine that the future destinies of Palestine should be committed."But weaselled his way out of it. A special case, apparently.And there we go. And here we are.

David Ainsworth ● 24d0 Comments ● 24d

Farage ~ Wants Urgent Debate

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle is under pressure to call an emergency debate on Monday on Labour's surrender of the Chagos Islands after Nigel Farage complained that the 'damaging capitulation' occurred while MPs were away from Westminster.The Reform UK leader's move comes as diplomatic sources revealed Sir Keir ­Starmer's humiliating handover of the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius, a close ally of China, had been rushed through before a potential Donald Trump victory in next month's US Presidential election.Trump's allies have complained that the deal represents a strategic coup for Beijing.The move – plans for which were first revealed in The Mail on Sunday last year – have triggered fresh speculation about the future of the Falkland islands and Gibraltar after the Prime Minister refused to guarantee that no other British Overseas Territories would be given away.Argentina's foreign minister Diana Mondino said of the Chagos deal: 'We welcome this step in the right direction and the end to outdated practices. With concrete actions and not empty rhetoric, we will recover full sovereignty of Las Malvinas.'In a letter sent this weekend to Foreign Secretary David Lammy and copied to Sir Lindsay, Mr Farage wrote: 'The strategic importance of the Chagos Islands to our nation and to our most important ally, America, is well known... The future of the Chagos Islands was announced when the House was not sitting, meaning that members of all parties remain in the dark about so many aspects of this decision.https://mol.im/a/13927957

Sue Hammond ● 25d3 Comments ● 25d

Wimbledon Tennis expansion approved

Wimbledon Tennis have won the development battle 🙁Time for the many who really care about this dreadful decision Fleur needs to make a statement.

Paul Beer ● 33d22 Comments ● 26d

Random pic 5 October 2024

The Quartet, Ron Arad RA, RA Summer Exhibition 2024 https://flic.kr/p/2qapVKbMore details:https://www.operagallery.com/news/ron-arad-in-the-royal-academy-of-arts-summer-exhibition

Michael Ixer ● 26d0 Comments ● 26d

Just Give It Up!

Bianca Williams and boyfriend to appeal reinstatement of Met officers. 
No more Oscar histrionics Bianca, you've already played the race card and over-milked your 15 minutes of fame, time to move on now.😵Glad the two police officers have been reinstated and will be paid all their backhttps://mol.im/a/13925043

Sue Hammond ● 26d1 Comments ● 26d

Carrie Johnson

I am sure I saw Carrie Johnson in PHS this afternoon.  If it wasn’t her, then she has a double.  

Martine Guy ● 26d5 Comments ● 26d

Putney Bridge roadworks

Hi all,Does anyone know what they are doing to Putney Bridge? (Aside from causing more traffic?!) Is there somewhere you can see an actual plan, I had a google and can’t find it?Thanks!

Claire Smith ● 27d3 Comments ● 26d

Random pic 4 October 2024

International commuter ... https://flic.kr/p/25TJn5E

Michael Ixer ● 27d3 Comments ● 26d

Soho

Now a black cab driver has been shot at in Soho. Broke his windscreen.

Barbara Stevens ● 29d3 Comments ● 27d

Random pic 3 October 2024

Bayfordbury Observatory, Listening to the Universe https://flic.kr/p/rHUJZ2

Michael Ixer ● 28d4 Comments ● 27d

Map of defibrillators in Putney

There's a map of where the current defibrillators are in Putney on the Putney Society website. Do have a look, as it's useful to know where they are, especially when the shops and businesses are shut. There are only 6 available 24/7.Spencer Arms, Putney Bridge Road outside Jubliee House, Putney Station, Wandsworth Park cricket pavilion, Brandelhow School, London Rowing Club and King's College School Rowing Club. That's it! www.putneysociety.org.ukAnd join the Putney Society whilst you're at it! :-)Thanks.

Putney Society ● 27d0 Comments ● 27d

2 More JSO Morons Convicted Today👍

Two Just Stop Oil activists have been found guilty of criminal damage after throwing tinned soup at one of Vincent van Gogh’s most famous paintings.Anna Holland and Phoebe Plummer, both 22, damaged the frame of the post-impressionist’s Sunflowers in London’s National Gallery.Judge Christopher Hehir – who last week jailed the co-founder of Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion for five years at the same court – told the duo they will be released on bail until they are sentenced on September 27 at the same court.

Sue Hammond ● 97d69 Comments ● 27d

Westminster Academy

An acid attack a girl and boy and a teacher unwell, also a couple of police officers fell ill. Happened at 4.45pm yesterday.  Should be on the news soon.

Barbara Stevens ● 29d7 Comments ● 28d

Road Works By st Mary's Church

Perhaps other residents have noticed that little thought has gone into either the preparation or the effect that the latest road works at the traffic lights by St Mary's church are having? The traffic lights themselves don't appear to be properly coordinated and beware a small tarmac slope by the pavement on the St Mary's side. When crossing from the opposite side of the road I fell my full length, catching my foot on the base of said tarmac slope which I had not seen. A number of bus timetables have also gone completely awry in response to traffic problems created by the works. Anyway, when I asked to speak to the works supervisor about the tarmac slope which needs highlighting for the benefit of the unwary pedestrian I was told  by one of the workmen that their supervisor had had a heart attack! Not wishing to argue with this I went away....

Miles Thompson ● 35d13 Comments ● 28d

Oh dear sir Keir more double standards

Now it emerges he used Lord Alli's flat for a couple of months so his son could study for his GCSEs in peace.I bet all those kids on housing estates in overcrowded conditions with nowhere to revise would have loved the chance to do that.Or the parents being punished by 20% vat for wanting to give their kids the same priveleged chance as his get.Also used the same flat for his stay safe stay home message during the pandemic even placing family photos etc in camera view to make it look like his home.Why? To deceive.This is clearly a man of dubious character who has fooled the public into believing he is some sort of honest broker. Maybe there should be an independent review of his beer and curry party during the pandemic.What comes next ?

Andy Pike ● 34d41 Comments ● 28d

Clapham

Another Stabbing, one dead and a few injured.  When is this going to stop. Has anybody heard about the Barnes Station Stabbing.

Barbara Stevens ● 30d3 Comments ● 28d

Free Electricity for 5 years - Is this for real?

https://www.express.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/1954121/octopus-energy-reduces-bills-0-five-years

Philippa Bond ● 32d5 Comments ● 28d

News this morning.

Discussion on stopping over 75 yr old's from driving and taking away their driving license.  Some idiot saying the older you get you can't drive as well and cause more accidents.

Barbara Stevens ● 29d6 Comments ● 28d

Random pic 2 October 2024

Leeds University https://flic.kr/p/2qbTGNU

Michael Ixer ● 28d0 Comments ● 28d

Random pic 1 October 2024

Evening time, Glastonbury https://flic.kr/p/2qckEc6

Michael Ixer ● 29d0 Comments ● 29d

Random pic 30 September 2024

Lights in the RSA building, John Adams Street https://flic.kr/p/2dFBVzM

Michael Ixer ● 30d2 Comments ● 30d

Rosie Duffield's Resignation Letter

"I can no longer stay a Labour MP under your management of the party, and this letter is my notice that I wish to resign the Labour Party whip with immediate effect.Although many "last straws" have led to my decision, my reason for leaving now is the programme of policies you seem determined to stick to, however unpopular they are with the electorate and your own MPs. You repeat often that you will make the "tough decisions" and that the country is "all in this together". But those decisions do not directly affect any one of us in Parliament. They are cruel and unnecessary, and affect hundreds of thousands of our poorest, most vulnerable constituents.This is not what I was elected to do. It is not even wise politics, and it certainly is not "the politics of service". I did not vote for you to lead our party for reasons I won't describe in detail here. But, as someone elevated immediately to a shadow cabinet position without following the usual path of honing your political skills on the backbenches, you had very little previous political footprint. It was therefore unclear what your political passions, drive or direction might be as the leader of the Labour Party, a large movement of people united by a desire for social justice and support for those most in need. You also made the choice not to speak up once about the Labour Party's problems with antisemitism during your time in the shadow cabinet, leaving that to backbenchers, including new MPs such as me. Since you took office as Leader of the Opposition you have used various heavy-handed management tactics but have never shown what most experienced backbenchers would recognise as true or inspiring leadership. You have never regularly engaged with your own backbench MPs, many of whom have been in Parliament far longer than you, and some of whom served in the previous Labour government. You have chosen neither to seek our individual political opinions, nor learn about our constituency experiences, nor our specific or collective areas of political knowledge. We clearly have nothing you deem to be of value. Your promotion of those with no proven political skills and no previous parliamentary experience but who happen to be related to those close to you, or even each other, is frankly embarrassing. In particular, the recent treatment of Diane Abbott, now Mother of the House, was deeply shameful and led to comments from voters across the political spectrum. A woman of her political stature and place in history is deserving of respect and support, regardless of political differences. As Prime Minister, your managerial and technocratic approach, and lack of basic politics and political instincts, have come crashing down on us as a party after we worked so hard, promised so much, and waited a long fourteen years to be mandated by the British public to return to power. Since the change of government in July, the revelations of hypocrisy have been staggering and increasingly outrageous. I cannot put into words how angry I and my colleagues are at your total lack of understanding about how you have made us all appear. How dare you take our longed-for victory, the electorate's sacred and precious trust, and throw it back in their individual faces and the faces of dedicated and hardworking Labour MPs?! The sleaze, nepotism and apparent avarice are off the scale. I am so ashamed of what you and your inner circle have done to tarnish and humiliate our once proud party. Someone with far-above-average wealth choosing to keep the Conservatives' two-child limit to benefit payments which entrenches children in poverty, while inexplicably accepting expensive personal gifts of designer suits and glasses costing more than most of those people can grasp — this is entirely undeserving of holding the title of Labour Prime Minister. Forcing a vote to make many older people iller and colder while you and your favourite colleagues enjoy free family trips to events most people would have to save hard for — why are you not showing even the slightest bit of embarrassment or remorse? I now have no confidence in your commitment to deliver the so-called "change" you promised during the General Election campaign and the changes we have been striving for as a political party for over a decade. My values are those of a democratic socialist Labour Party and I have been elected three times to act on those values on behalf of my constituents. Canterbury made history when its voters elected their first woman, and only non-Conservative, MP since the seat was created in the thirteenth century. My constituents elected an independent-minded MP who vowed to put constituency before party, and to keep tackling the issues that most affect us here — Brexit fallout, funding for our universities, our desperately struggling East Kent NHS, dire housing situation, repeated sewage pollution and protecting our vital green spaces. I am confident that I can continue to do so as an independent MP guided by my core Labour values. Sadly, the Labour Party has never shown any interest in my wonderful constituency in the seven years that I have been in Parliament. But I am proud of my community and will continue to serve them to the best of my ability. My constituents care deeply about social issues such as child poverty and helping those who cannot help themselves. I will continue to uphold those values as I pledged to do when I first stood before them for election in 2017. As someone who joined a trade union in my first job, at seventeen, Labour has always been my natural political home. I was elected as a single mum, a former teaching assistant in receipt of tax credits. The Labour Party was formed to speak for those of us without a voice, and I stood for election partly because I saw decisions about the lives of those like me being made in Westminster by only the most privileged few. Right now, I cannot look my constituents in the eye and tell them that anything has changed. I hope to be able to return to the party in the future, when it again resembles the party I love, putting the needs of the many before the greed of the few."Wow!! Don't hold back Rosie!! 😹

Sue Hammond ● 31d4 Comments ● 31d

The Independent's 100 Climate Warriors

Gail Bradbrook:  “Simple, human-made rules – such as corporate laws that prioritise shareholders’ profits over life and wellbeing… have built an economy that is dominated by psychopathic actors (banks, oil companies, billionaires, corporations peddling false solutions) that are prepared to see the world burn and unravel just so their obscene profits can keep rolling in.”Here are the faces:  Check out your knowledge by seeing how many you recognise from all aspects of our lives.https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/climate-100/climate-100-list-2024-nyc-b2613432.html

Philippa Bond ● 36d9 Comments ● 31d

Random pic 29 September 2024

A Spitalfields Optician https://flic.kr/p/2qd1c9b

Michael Ixer ● 31d2 Comments ● 31d

Now the Guardians at it, yes the guardian

As none of the devotees of the Guardian have posted Starmer ( the beloved Arsenal devotee) has had to re declare another £16,000 of clothes money that he previously mis titled ( honestly?) As a general expenses donation earlier this year.Now declaring it as general expenses suggests he knew if declared as ' work clothes ' allowance it was wrong ( not against the rules but maybe the spirit).£16k for work clothes is a bloody expensive boiler suit!

Andy Pike ● 32d4 Comments ● 32d

Free Electricity for 5 years - Is this for real?

https://www.express.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/1954121/octopus-energy-reduces-bills-0-five-years

Philippa Bond ● 32d0 Comments ● 32d

New Shop

Appears to be another shop going to open where the Mountain Warehouse used to be, a Butchers and food. Only saw the sign when coming out of the road opposite.

Barbara Stevens ● 33d6 Comments ● 32d

Random pic 28 September 2024

Chicago Transit Authority https://flic.kr/p/2qbMrSx

Michael Ixer ● 32d0 Comments ● 32d

What are Labour's policy commitments fir this Parliament ?

Can anyone list or point me to a list of the policies that Starmer has promised the Labour Party will legislate for and commit to delivering in this Parliament ?By this I mean policies that have some measurable base and target and are not just woolly platitudes such as Miliband's 'tackling the climate crisis that imperils our world'.Though to be fair to him he did make a measurable promise that we would have 'zero carbon electricity by 2030' which would then save families “up to £300” on their bills per year'.So that's one to watch out for.There will also be a 'The Railway Services Bill - bringing our railways back into public ownership.'Now that will raise a cheer from every £65,000 a year (plus pension and other benefits) train driver.Also especially for their leader Mick Lynch whose annual renumeration package is worth some £124,886 -  a £89,962 gross salary, Employers' NI contributions of £11,590 and pension contributions of £23,334.Will he take a pay cut as he will be negotiating, not with the wicked Tories, but with the Party which shares his political viewpoint and which he supports and is thus more likely to give him what he asks for ?An improvement in service will doubtless result from this Bill with performance targets set, monitored and published one hopes.Furthermore we have been promised an improvement in the NHS presumably in terms of efficiency and outputs.Again we should look for targets and measured achievements.Though no member of the Government has any experience in working in business or industry, one hopes they will adopt many of their performance measurement approaches.

John Hawkes ● 35d12 Comments ● 33d

Is Starmer Unfit For The Job?

There's a very insightful article about Starmer written by Peter Hitchens in the Mail on Sunday. It is behind a paywall so I have copied it below. Look away now if you think Starmer a top man in the top job ...Can it be that the Great Prosecutor Starmer is a colourless empty nobody unfit for the top?Is it possible that Sir Keir Starmer simply isn't up to the job the Labour Party tried so hard to get for him? Anyone who observes modern politics knows that many who now struggle to the top of the greasy pole are deeply unwonderful. I am always amused by journalists who boast of their conversations with 'ministers', as if such people are especially intelligent, informed or talented. Most of them are dullard careerists who hope for an easy route to wealth and status.How could Sir Keir, for instance, not have realised that his childlike readiness to accept shiny gifts was a danger childlike readiness to accept shiny gifts was a danger? Honestly, free suits for him and free dresses for his wife? VIP seats at concerts and football matches? This would be a very cheap price to accept for your soul, if you thought you had one, as he doesn't. Perhaps the free glasses failed to improve his vision and made him unable to spot approaching disaster.We are always told he is the great prosecutor, but really, is heading a staff of trained lawyers, with all the prestige and money of the state on your side, so hard? I'd be more impressed if he were a penniless defence counsel who won his cases against the odds.I've many times drawn attention to Sir Keir's past as a wooden-headed, hard-Leftist, revolutionary dogmatist. He doesn't actually disown this past, though nobody has ever properly questioned him about it. He's still an atheist, perhaps the flattest and most boring world-view known to man. It is empty of hope or depth, based on the view that the universe is nothing but a cosmic car crash in which nothing can therefore matter very much.Amazingly (to me anyway) he confessed before the election that he does not have a favourite book or a favourite poem. Some people say he was afraid of getting into trouble if he revealed such things. But I believe him. He acts at all times as if he has no imagination, and no poetry. It is in the imagination that we work out how our actions will affect others, and with poetry we surprise ourselves by finding out what really moves us.We also know he has an unfavourite work of art, a painting of Margaret Thatcher that so got on his nerves that he had it put in some (as yet unidentified) boxroom. This is in the same class as the leaden decision of his equally colourless Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, to tolerate no paintings in the State Room in 11 Downing Street, except pictures of or by women.When he felt safe to do so, he used to call for the abolition of the monarchy, another crude and unpoetic opinion. Now that this position would lose him votes, he mumbles vaguely nice things about the monarch and accepts various honours from the Crown. But I haven't heard him say he actually prefers a constitutional monarchy to a republic. He has also followed the Blairite practice of displaying Union Jacks everywhere, in the hope that this will fool people into thinking Labour is a traditionalist, patriotic party. But what do you think he really thinks?And this is why he is making such a mess. He has long-term dogmatic aims – his Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, for example, is pursuing those with vigour and spite. But he only ever wanted to be Chief Commissar and Chief Bureaucrat. The ancient splendours of Downing Street, as the King's First Minister, as heir of Pitt, Wellington, Disraeli, Gladstone, Lloyd George and Churchill, mean little to him. He is an uninteresting man, scuttling about in vast echoing halls and chambers built for far bigger people.https://mol.im/a/13876179

Sue Hammond ● 38d13 Comments ● 33d

Story on Front Page of Forum re Retrospective Planning Permission

Is this normal  “retrospective go ahead sought for change to Grade II flat”?  I thought that if alterations to a property were made more than 20 years ago, they were treated as historic. Is this retrospective planning application because it’s a flat or because Fairacres is a Grade II propert?  Just wondered.

Martine Guy ● 40d3 Comments ● 33d

Ladies only

Following up on my earlier post, asking about the state of the Reeves brain, I notice she is reported as demanding that only paintings of or by women should be hung in her office. The Guardian loves the idea, of course, but again I am wondering what kind of narrowness of perception (or maybe I should say prejudice) is afflicting the Chancellor.

Alexander MacLeod ● 41d30 Comments ● 33d

Barnes.

Front page a stabbing at Barnes Station this morning, the person in a critical condition.

Barbara Stevens ● 34d7 Comments ● 33d

David Graham R.I.P.

You might not know his name but you probably know his voice: Thunderbirds: Parker, Brains, Gordon Tracy, Kyrano Fireball XL5: Mat Matic, Lieutenant Ninety Supercar: Dr Beaker, Mitch the Monkey Dr Who: Daleks For the youngsters: Peppa Pig: Grandpa Pig Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom: Wise Old Elf
David Graham passed away on  20 September 2024, aged 99.


Martine Guy ● 33d0 Comments ● 33d

Random pic 27 September 2024

Entertainment, Worthing https://flic.kr/p/2odYBEH

Michael Ixer ● 33d0 Comments ● 33d

Random pic 26 September 2024

Athens, old sites, and new roads https://flic.kr/p/2qbSVUU

Michael Ixer ● 34d0 Comments ● 34d

Have you all done it?

Found it very difficult,  first 3 shops refused but in the end Tesco said ok.So Mr Starmer I have returned the sausages.do we get our WFA back now?

Andy Pike ● 35d8 Comments ● 35d

Random pic 25 September 2024

Mounted Policeman, Washington DC https://flic.kr/p/2qbU1KS

Michael Ixer ● 35d3 Comments ● 35d

Oh dear minister

The early release scheme has released 37 wrong uns not eligible under the scheme.In opposition the Labour leadership wpukd gave demanded ministerial casualties.lets see what they do in government.

Andy Pike ● 35d0 Comments ● 35d

Oh Dear Rache! You Have Upset Your Paymasters!😱

After the boos - the backlash: Unions and MPs warn Rachel Reeves of 'terrible mistake' for refusing to U-turn on axing OAPs' winter fuel cash despite being jeered at Labour conferenceRachel Reeves faced a backlash from unions and her own MPs tonight after she refused to U-turn on axing the winter fuel allowance for millions of pensioners.https://mol.im/a/13882841

Sue Hammond ● 37d1 Comments ● 36d

recycling

morning all, which shops in PHS will accept old light bulbs and batteries? many thanks.

Adam Tripp ● 38d10 Comments ● 36d

Fleur

On front page with her banner.  Also a post on front page regarding Thames path not stopping speeding cyclists.

Barbara Stevens ● 47d23 Comments ● 36d

West Putney SNT Police meeting 24th Sept 6.30pm Granard School

You are all invited to join the West Putney Safer Neighbourhood Police meeting at 18:30pm on Tuesday 24th September 2024 at Granard Primary School, Cortis Road SW15 6XA. Your chance to hear about local crime stats, and put forward any concerns you have.

Victoria Diamond ● 39d5 Comments ● 36d

Citizen's Advice on Fuel Poverty

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-help-paying-your-bills/grants-and-benefits-to-help-you-pay-your-energy-bills/

Philippa Bond ● 37d1 Comments ● 36d

Random pic 24 September 2024

Highland cattle, Pollok Country Park, Glasgow https://flic.kr/p/2qgveA5

Michael Ixer ● 36d0 Comments ● 36d

Has Ginge Completely Lost The Plot?

Or now that she has finally become a 'very important person' with her very own entourage, has it all gone to her working-class head? Btw did you know Ange is working-class? You must know because she tells us often enough. It is becoming her mantra and used to endorse her good old socialist roots! Now Angela Rayner hires £68,000-a-year 'vanity photographer' Deputy PM is the first to have taxpayer-funded staffer to burnish her image - as sleaze controversy grows.The Mail (boo hiss) can reveal the Deputy Prime Minister, who has been mired in controversy over freebies from Labour donors and could face a sleaze inquiry, has risked a fresh storm by appointing the personal photographer on a salary of £68,000.Although Downing Street has employed photographers to record the Prime Minister for some years, Ms Rayner is the first deputy to be awarded her own. Simon Walker has been given the title of Chief Photographer to the Deputy PM and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. I wonder how long it took the Ginger One to compose that?🙄https://mol.im/a/13879515You really couldn't make this up!

Sue Hammond ● 37d13 Comments ● 37d

Ministers Demand More Heating In The Commons

Ministers 'demand more heaters for their offices in the Commons'As 10million face winter fuel cut, ministers 'demand more heaters for their offices in the Commons' as the weather turns colder.It comes as controversy mounts over the decision to withdraw winter fuel payments – worth up to £300 a year to help with heating bills – from many hard-up pensioners. And last night the Tories accused Labour of ‘hypocrisy beyond belief’ over the radiator requests.Senior Tory MP Paul Holmes said: ‘It’s truly shocking that Labour ministers will stay warm this winter, courtesy of the taxpayer, while pensioners will be forced to choose between heating and eating in the face of Labour’s cruel cut to winter fuel payments. It’s clear this Labour Government is not a government of service but one of self-service.’https://mol.im/a/13877317

Sue Hammond ● 38d23 Comments ● 37d

How far can an electric car go on one charge?

Testing out some electric cars to see how far they will go and whether it is as far as the manufacturer claims:https://www.carwow.co.uk/blog/electric-car-range-test-how-far-can-they-go?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtP4FQckU40How far do you drive?  Most people don't drive very long distances for every journey or long journeys that often.  They make comfort stops and food stops and to stretch their legs or change driver.  Don't Drive Tired!I think one of them claims it can go over 400

Philippa Bond ● 53d26 Comments ● 37d

SPECS AHOY

I noticed the PM's new glasses the moment he started wearing them. They were no doubt expensive (probably a cool £1000), but they don't look right on him. The viewer should notice the face first, and maybe the glasses second. Putting it another way: The man should wear the specs, but in Starmer's case the specs are wearing the man. Another error.

Alexander MacLeod ● 37d2 Comments ● 37d

Random pic 23 September 2023

VW, Dresden https://flic.kr/p/2qbjL7v

Michael Ixer ● 37d1 Comments ● 37d

SPECS AHOY

I noticed the PM's new glasses the moment he started wearing them. They were no doubt expensive (probably a cool £1000), but they don't look right on him. The viewer should notice the face first, and maybe the glasses second. Putting it another way: The man should wear the specs, but in Starmer's case the specs are wearing the man. Another error.

Alexander MacLeod ● 37d0 Comments ● 37d

Thamesfield SNT Police meeting Mon 23rd, 6.30pm St Mary's Church Putney Bridge

Thamesfield Safer Neighbourhood Police meeting this Monday, 6.30pm at St Mary's Church Putney Bridge. Your chance to find out about the latest crime figures and put forward any concerns you may have.  For those who cannot attend in person and would like to attend  the link to join online is belowhttps://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ODVkZmEwMDgtNTE4NS00Zjc1LWJhOTYtNTYxOTE0Njk5M2Ni%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22f3ee2a7e-7235-4d28-ab42-617c4c17f0c1%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%228e58e0d0-f20b-4d3c-9544-fb5199135536%22%7d

Victoria Diamond ● 39d2 Comments ● 37d

Bystander Training, 23 Sept, 7.30pm Community Church Werter Rd

Have you witnessed someone in public behaving in way that bothers you, and wondered what you could do to diffuse the situation? We often want to help and intervene when we see something happening, but we can worry about doing the wrong thing or making the situation worse. The Putney Society has organised a meeting, which will be run by Richmond and Wandsworth Councils, who are delivering Bystander Training teaching us how we can start a conversation on how we can become active bystanders in our communities whilst putting safety first. During this session, we will talk through the psychology of group behaviour, explore some of the different bystander interventions and discuss how they can be applied in different scenarios. This session will be delivered by Kira Evans from the Community Safety Team at Richmond and Wandsworth Councils. 7.30pm at the Community Church, Werter Rd, opposite Sainsbury's.Refreshments and chat will be available afterwards. There is disabled access.

Putney Society ● 46d2 Comments ● 37d

When you are in a hole, aren't you supposed to stop digging?


I mean, really?

Michael Brigo ● 39d2 Comments ● 38d

Wandsworth linked to...

I noticed on Londonlist that Wandsworth is informally linked to Villers-Plouich, France.Does anyone know why, or when this happened, or anything else about this link?

Katrina Black ● 38d4 Comments ● 38d