Recent content by zaphod

His pass through to Bola showed really good touch.

The seats that were lost were mostly those of deserters from other parties who joined in 2019. Jo Swinson also lost hers. The LibDems' vote share went up to 11.5% from 7.4% in 2017.

The LibDem vote didn't collapse in 2019, as claimed above, despite a stupid and self-defeating campaign. At the moment the LibDems support Universal Basic Income (as do Greens and SNP), which is surely a touchstone of "leftishness".

What is becoming increasingly apparent about the BBC is that it is incredibly badly managed and has been for years. It isn't even any good at cover-ups. On the main topic, I don't think the average voter gives a toss about Islamophobia or antisemitism or the misbehaviour of individual MPs...

It seems she was a bystander casualty in a gang related shooting, rather than being targeted for her activism. Her friend said she had been successfully operated on. Hopefully she'll recover.

He probably hasn't yet realised the Boro saved his career. It was a risky move to sign him.

I find it amazing that (presumably successful) businessmen completely misunderstand their market (ie the fans) and don't realise how important it is to any business to listen to customers. If they view their clubs as "products" (which I'm sure they do), they have to make their "product"...

Brian Clough

The bids for The bids for televising football have been going down. The French football deal collapsed in February. https://www.france24.com/en/sport/20210205-bleeding-cash-top-french-football-league-signs-stopgap-tv-deal-with-canal

I would quite like to see Leicester, West Ham and Everton battle it out for the PL. The nasty 12 would only get rich if they could get a lucrative TV contract. Sky, BT et al would be frightened off if fans made it clear they would boycott it. The majority of revenues comes from home markets...

It's a myth to say that science disproves life after death. There is no "proof" one way or the other. In the absence of solid proof, everyone has to make up their mind based on the available evidence. This is the scientific method, which applies in all unprovable areas, such as evolution...

I wouldn't say I've enjoyed it, but it hasn't been too bad. As I'm retired, not financially stressed and enjoy my wife's company, I feel I'm much better off than most people. The main drawback in both lockdowns has been not seeing much of my children and grandchildren. Zoom has been a godsend...

I went to Redcar Races once with my week's pay in my pocket when I was 18. I was utterly jubilant when I backed a winner and then utterly distraught when I found I'd had my pocket picked and lost all my wages. Never been racing since.

It's all very well saying Hartlepool should vote Labour because of high unemployment and deprivation, but the vast majority of voters are neither unemployed nor deprived. A lot of people are doing all right, even in Red Wall seats, as this week's Economist article "Barratt Britain" points out...

This exodus of EU nationals probably explains why UK GDP has fallen further than other countries. The emigration of 1.3 million workers and consumers has probably taken 2% to 3% off GDP on its own.