That’s what I used to believe until it was pointed out to me on here all the negative effects of a tidal barrage thingy.
tidal flow rather than barrages are the way forward. Two sites - pentland firth and sound of Islay would give a nice steady baseload as the tides are 4 hours apart. Unfortunately has had no significant investment despite the tech being available. Not without its own issues but not insurmountable
I cannot see any large scale hydro being built again in the UK
I would consider tidal barrages as hydro, and there are quite a few potential sites. That's not the same as tidal flow generation.
Unfortunately has had no significant investment despite the tech being available.
Just because you see some article on Facebook doesn't mean it's available to use. The startups that do these things get people to write articles about how amazing and almost ready they are - but there are significant technical challenges still.
Of course, it should be backed by the state. It's ridiculous that something as vital as energy generation is not state-run and.. oh look a Labour policy.
What’s the wow for? You vote communist.
Because shouting "communist" is a standard right-wing response when they can't think of anything else to say. From Daily Mail column writers to US Republicans.
Just remind everyone that I'm a communist....... that should do it.
I will probably be backing the LibDem candidate in my safe Tory seat btw, he is extremely good on Gaza.
I'm not shouting. You said you voted communist in the London elections. With that in mind, it's not really a surprise that you consider the current Labour leadership right wing. Their positions on most things are to the right of me as well. I just accept that a Labour government in modern times just isn't going to happen if you scare off the voters with a program too close to my own personal politics.
Voting communist? Are there actually communist candidates standing anywhere? I have never seen any
tidal flow rather than barrages are the way forward. Two sites – pentland firth and sound of Islay would give a nice steady baseload as the tides are 4 hours apart. Unfortunately has had no significant investment despite the tech being available. Not without its own issues but not insurmountable
TJ- They have trying to harness that power for literally decades.
So far the issues have been insurmountable on a commercially viable scale.
I was involved in 1 project in 2012 and it didn't go well.
Fair enough but the tech worksd in other places does it not? Its certainly true that there has been little investment compared to say nuclear
Its no panacea tho - huge amounts of concrete needed to anchor the turbines and maintenance is a key issue. Can you say which project it was?
the tech worksd in other places does it not?
I don't think so - they can build all manner of turbines but the problem is keeping it running with a load of moving parts sitting in salt water getting covered in barnacles and sand and whatnot.
Grasmere is soooo tempting. Sadly the Cotswolds are limestone so no joy there.
There are few places left behind by the North of Scotland Hydroelectric Board - some that come to mind are Caiplich/Avon (Cairngorm). Tarf (Athol) and the biggy, Fisherfield in Wester Ross.
I am aware that some of the existing dams are never at full capacity now - Monar's cut off dam, the concrete wall is never allowed to impound water, so some expansion, rainfall willing, of existing infrastructure is a possibility.
You said you voted communist in the London elections.
I also said that I voted Green. I voted Green in the mayoral election, Green for the local London assembly member, and Communist for the party list.
The idea that I am not entitled to express my opinions on here because you don't like the way I vote is absurd.
I am perfectly open about my political views and I certainly won't tailor them to suit you.
And btw try to perhaps be a little less arrogant with your use of the term "we". Others might share your opinions, many obviously do, but I am fairly certain that you don't speak for everyone. Most people manage fine with "I" when expressing their opinions.
The idea that I am not entitled to express my opinions on here because you don’t like the way I vote is absurd.
Now you're be absurd.
the alternative was to sit on the opposition benches feeling “right” for yet another term.
Or make the case that neo-liberalism is not in anyone's interest (those who work for someone else on a small wage).
Or make the case that neo-liberalism is not in anyone’s interest
The Clive Lewis approach.. a Labour MP I would agree with on most things.. but a soon as you're using the term new-liberalism you've lost a huge swath of the voting public, and the General Election.
Anyway... I've got to find out how I can help with Labour leaflet drops now we're into the campaign period proper... don't buy into the "they're all the same" narrative... do what you can in your seat to kick and keep the Tories out.
It was a protype sub sea turbine.
They ended up failing to complete the installation before the current peaked, which resulted in damage to the cable making it useless.
The technology exists in regards to the turbines etc. That's pretty straight forward.
It's the issues with the installation and maintenance in such a hostile environment and it being commercially viable.
Personally, I always thought they should try doing it areas with lower currents but believe me a lot of very smart people have been trying to crack this for years.
There's no doubt that it's solvable, some of the engineering in offshore O&G is incredible, but O&G can produce a lot more energy for a smaller investment, than tidal ever will.
I haven’t heard of any new pump storage projects ( not a dig – genuine interest)
Think still all at the proposal stage.
That’s what I used to believe until it was pointed out to me on here all the negative effects of a tidal barrage thingy.
It depends on the type. Some seem more viable and lower impact than others. The severn one for example would likely be horrendous but ones using tidal range rather than barriers could be effective. However would need a lot of investment since very early days.
Ta dissonance / gobuchal
What worries me most is people assuming it’s a done deal – and seeing no point in voting, as Labour are all set to win. (several people in my office have said this already this morning)
During Brexit, I assumed it won’t actually happen, surely not. You can never assume!!
For all interested in pumped hydro schemes, this is being actively worked on at the moment by SSE: https://www.coireglas.com/
Maybe it’s just me who is slightly concerned by the longer term future..
labour will win by a landslide, serve 5 years and when they’ve not managed to undo 14 years of Tory mismanagement and incompetence the tories will be back in.
only this time it’ll be an even more ghastly incarnation (is that possible) led by one of the few nutters in parliament they’ll have left come 4th July
Tidal is a 10 year not 5 year thing though… and laying down new renewable energy sources FAST will be the theme of the next parliament… so won’t come into play at this election at all. Long term though, we should be using it.
As a bare minimum it's a long way off. And it's a limited number of sites.
I don't think people quite comprehend how big the windfarms going in on the North Sea are. They're huge both individually and in the areas being covered. It's not like looking out of your window and seeing a handful of small onshore turbines on a nearby hill. And those onshore ones are small, and it is a handful in comparison tow hat's being put up offshore. That's a reflection of the amount of low carbon energy required. Tidal flow is probably 40 years behind that sort of roll-out. It's not just technological. It's
Design a system that works reliably
Develop the infrastructure to install it
Grow the companies that could build them,
Grow the companies that could operate them.
You don't just need £billions to get it off the ground, you need someone to set up a company to do it as well to give those billions to. Otherwise you're in a Chris Grayling giving contracts to ferry companies with no boats scenario.
On a side note.
Simon Case is finally appearing at the covid inquiry today. He must be chuffed that a)the election is taking up most of the headlines and b)the few it isnt taking up Vennels is for the post office inquiry.
Ta for the info about the pumped storage.
This is the eternal labour issue. Some of them would rather remain in opposition and be able to bitch about everything than accept there will never be their socialist utopia.
Repeating this tiresome crap doesn't make it true. The left has shown repeatedly that it will hold its nose and support a centrist candidate. Compare and contrast with how centrists treated Corbyn.
It was Starmer who conflated himself with Thatcher
No doubt belongs is on his own thread, but having checked what he actually said in the article in question, I don't think it's what the Haterz (want to) believe it to be.
Compare and contrast with how centrists treated Corbyn.
I didn't like Corbyn because he was shit at the job. Labour was in a shambles, he let the anti-Semitics off, he was useless during the EU referendum because he was a closeted brexiteer, and couldn't muster up any clear plans or policies that could be implemented.
Put me forward a competent left wing leader and I'll happily get behind them.
I'm not a big fan of Starmer but he's had a plan and put the people in place to deliver it. As long as Rayner is beside him shouting loudly I'm happy
'Labour leader says former PM 'set loose our natural entrepreneurialism' in appeal to Tory voters to back him' is an example of a congruent conflation. He's saying to Tory voters elements of what they saw in Thatcher they can also see in him.
Compare and contrast with how centrists treated Corbyn.
I absolutely despised Magic Grandad with a passion, not because of his beliefs, but because he was a completely hopeless politician, was an absolute gift to the Tories, had more baggage than the cargo hold of a 747 and was also as passionate a Brexiteer as Farage
Not only did I vote for him twice but I went out and campaigned for the useless old goat (or the party under his laughably bad ‘leadership’) because ANY Labour government has to be better than the Tory’s. Plenty of other people did the same
You lefties should really take your tinfoil helmets off every once in a while
Labour are 15-30 ahead on the polls. It’s worth remembering that when grandad belatedly shuffled off to the allotment they were 24 points behind the Tory’s having just suffered a catastrophic defeat
Repeating this tiresome crap doesn’t make it true. The left has shown repeatedly that it will hold its nose and support a centrist candidate. Compare and contrast with how centrists treated Corbyn.
And immediately it gets turned into an attack on centrists......
Just because you don't believe it is true, doesn't make it incorrect. Labour consistently falls into infighting from factions. The tories just want power and will focus on that. If you are not in power it doesn't matter what you want...
MP resignation letter dated a month ago
https://twitter.com/Jochurchill_MP/status/1793576859407729050?t=ujXaikCkWNCxTKkz_KaRcg&s=19
She must be one of the MPs told to hold back going public & spacing out resignations over the summer, now forced to act over Sunaks u-turn
Expect a flood of these from very pissed off MPs
You lefties should really take your tinfoil helmets off every once in a while
It really is an absolute mystery as to why the Labour vote is so fractured.
Anyway.......This thread from Ben Goldacre is important if you were on here yesterday asking about your kids at uni etc can register and where, and that their (or anybody's) ID does not need to have an address on it
https://twitter.com/bengoldacre/status/1793352703776625062
You lefties should really take your tinfoil helmets off every once in a while
I don't think he's talking about you binners, we all know you're the most loyal of party loyalists, even when you were calling him an anti-semite. The problem is not people like you who didn't like him or thought he was useless, the problem was labour MPs and party officials who at every turn did their best to prevent a labour government and ensure the tories stayed in power. Even with all his faults the UK would be a very different, less chaotic and less hostile place now than it was in 2017 and 2019, and everything that the tories have done in that time is in no small way a result of the actions of those labour MPs, officials and others. They can all f*** right off as far as I'm concerned.
Expect a flood of these from very pissed off MPs
Agree.
So of course the Tories will need to find new candidates at no notice...that is going to go well then.
Also for anyone struggling with an appropriate ID:
https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate
Bitch as much as you want about how centre-right Labour/Starmer are, but right now stage 1 of any meaningful change in UK politics is to get this bunch of self serving, corrupt crooks who have been wrecking the country for their own benefit out of office. To be as effective as possible that means tactical voting. That's easy for me to say as the only opposition to the incumbent Tory in my constituency is a Libdem who I would be voting for anyway. But if some other party was better placed to beat the Tory I would vote for them. Oh and bring on the Reform candidates, the more the better, to take votes off the Tories.
I reckon part of the sudden "we'll call an election" is that they know that Rwanda flights won't be happening anytime soon if at all - so by calling an election now, they're now saying "our flights are ready to go, we've got them all lined up" (Sunak has actually already said this) and use that as an election tool. If they win, they can just break that promise and blame woke lefties (as usual), if they lose they can then say that everything was in order but Evil Labour have cancelled it all.
Yet more lies to win a vote - all they really need to do is write it on the side of a bus...
Oh and bring on the Reform candidates, the more the better, to take votes off the Tories.
Careful what you wish for, that was the attitude of some socialists in France going back a few elections. The Socialist Party is now insignificant and the FN/RN the second biggest or biggest force in French politics. Sure they took votes off the Repulicans but took votes off everyone else too.
I was watching the lunchtime news today. The Beeb had its usual trio of journalists shadowing the party leaders.
However this time the third journalist was tracking the Reform UK leader not the Lib Dems (who hardly got a mention).
I vote Lib Dem but are they a spent force?
However this time the third journalist was tracking the Reform UK leader not the Lib Dems (who hardly got a mention).
If they stick with that format, they will almost certainly rotate the third party slot.
Lib Dems, SNP, Reform, whoever...
I vote Lib Dem but are they a spent force?
More like what are they for?
They were always the party in the middle between Labour and Tories (centrists, you could say). Now Labour policies are very similar to many of the Tories' policies but their main selling point is they are not corrupt and incompetent.
Where does that leave the LibDems? Less corrupt and incompetent than the Tories but more corrupt and incompetent than Labour?
They need some principles (and some policies).
I vote Lib Dem but are they a spent force?
Not at all, it's just that the media have an absolute obsession with UKIP / Reform. In the recent Mayoral elections, the Green party candidate came 3rd in EMCCA. The media weren't interested in anything he had to say, they rushed straight to the Reform guy who got about 1% of the votes.
Look at how many times Frogface Farage has appeared on Question Time in spite of not being an MP, not being a credible candidate. There are loads of LD / Green and other "minority" parties who'd love even 10% of the coverage that Reform get.
You lefties should really take your tinfoil helmets off every once in a while
I see. I must've imagined the mass resignations and Labour MPs advising people to vote Tory.
I vote Lib Dem but are they a spent force?
its a good point, realistically the Lib Dems have the best chance of some major upsets in the blue wall, Gove, Mogg, etc, but a real danger a big labour swing in those constituencies could split the anti tory vote
It's so disappointing when what should be a challenging and interesting discussion gets infected with the reductionism of 'tin foil helmets, haterz, lefties, bitching' in place of an argument or bit of evidence. It doesn't reflect well on people.
It’s so disappointing when what should be a challenging and interesting discussion gets infected with the reductionism of ‘tin foil helmets, haterz, lefties, bitching’ in place of an argument or bit of evidence. It doesn’t reflect well on people.
I suggest STW should introduce a pro/am distinction for politics threads.
Let the usual suspects bicker and feel superior in the "pro" thread, and the rest of us can have a sensible discussion in the "amateur" thread.
its just so cringey
https://twitter.com/ITVNewsPolitics/status/1793628105250402676
They need some principles (and some policies).
They have both, possibly too many of the former.
The problem for them is that their core vote is smaller and is heavily diffused throughout the country and its more tricky for them to appeal to the wider voters vs labour/tory who can hope their core vote remain loyal whilst chasing the lib dem voters.
its just so cringey
Reminds me of when a multi national I was working for decided to sponsor a premier league team. Had a global call with people from all over cheering and sounding happy and then got to the UK where it was met with mostly sullen silence since whilst a small number of people supported them the majority either didnt give a toss about football or supported another team.
Just had my labour candidate at the door (dedication considering the weather) having had a labour campaigner back in November. Judging by the leaflets I've been given they were ready to go and are not surprised and clearly putting effort into changing the seat from SNP to Labour.
You lefties should really take your tinfoil helmets off every once in a while
Am lost here - if anti-tory then should be pro-left?
That would be one way to correct the errors of right-wing policy that we all despise.
Bitch as much as you want about how centre-right Labour/Starmer are, but right now stage 1 of any meaningful change in UK politics is to get this bunch of self serving, corrupt crooks who have been wrecking the country for their own benefit out of office.
I don't think it unreasonable to ask for something more than that in an election where the odds are stacked against the Tories.
Parties have to earn your votes. Sell me something good and I'm in. But it's mostly been very very poor.
Here is some more info about deadlines for registering to vote and for postal votes etc
https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter
How to register and how to vote.
I must’ve imagined the mass resignations and Labour MPs advising people to vote Tory.
Pretty much, a few low level councillors scoring political points on an issue that their party couldn't really influence and was hardly applicable to local level politics, but we've done this death and it's yesterday's news. Starmer has long since purged the party of the problematic members who only wanted to be in opposition.
Meanwhile we actually have a Labour party with a good chance of being a real party of government that will represent a large proportion of the population, not just the left. What still scares me is the number of people who would rather vote Tory than give Labour a chance. Despite the wailing and gnashing of teeth on here about Labour's move to the centre the message still doesn't seem to have reached parts of the population.
The Lib Dem’s have the best chance of getting PR into mainstream UK politics. Whether this is the right time for that is another question, but part of me would love to see Labour win, but without a majority and for the Lib Dem’s to agree to govern, but in exchange for a vote on PR. If PR gets into play, it’s doubtful that the Tories would ever govern again.
I reckon part of the sudden “we’ll call an election” is that they know that Rwanda flights won’t be happening anytime soon if at all – so by calling an election now, they’re now saying “our flights are ready to go, we’ve got them all lined up” (Sunak has actually already said this) and use that as an election tool.
the downside of that election tool is... Labour have been preparing in case there was an early election just in case Sunak's 'second half of 2024' turned out to be a bluff so they got their ducks in a row. The Conservative Party itself seems to have been banking on the election being as late as possible - partly in the hope that 'something might happen' that might somehow improve their fortunes, partly as a courtesy to all the incumbent MPs who'll doubtless lose their seats and giving them a few more pay-cheques. Having called the election as early in the 'second half of the year' as possible Sunak seems to have outwitted his own party- with so many current MPs standing down theres quite a lot of seats where they haven't actually lined up a candidate yet, They've started a campaign with nobody to actually campaign for. The conservatives as a party aren't ready for a July election.
Lets face it - they weren't even ready for rain.
Lib Dem’s to agree to govern, but in exchange for a vote on PR.
Groundhog Day
If PR gets into play, it’s doubtful that the Tories would ever govern again.
Oh PR wouldn't stop the Tories from governing, they would just have to regularly form coalitions. As conservative parties currently do in most of Europe.
And don't assume that enforced coalitions on right-wing parties necessarily makes them more moderate. In much of Europe it currently means forming a government with far-right parties.
Under PR Reform UK would do far better than it will do on July 4th, when it is very unlikely to get any MPs. It is perfectly feasible for a Tory-ReformUK-DUP coalition in the future under PR.
And I can't see PR bringing in any great benefits for Labour, it would more than likely mean the end of Labour majority governments.
Having said that I strongly support PR. The aim should be to win the argument, not manipulate the electoral system.
blame woke lefties
Mad isn't it how woke lefties/Marxists are to blame for everything yet haven't been in charge of anything, even at a local level as long as I've been alive. So much damage with so little/non-existent power, what an amazing supernatural force!
Anyway according to the voters who actually vote, yeah cantankerous old ****s the problem is it's not been right-wing enough.
The average British voter off to the polling station.
Lib Dem’s to agree to govern, but in exchange for a vote on PR
That went well...
After the recent fallout in the Scottish Parliament, maybe it's not the best time to mention moving to PR 🤣
As for the election, hope labour do well, and i will be voting LibDem again, only choice to oust the tory incumbent (Thornbury and Yate), voted last time thinking it might work and the tories managed to increase their percentage, it shows that it's not a forgone conclusion yet, there are a hell of a lot of tory voters who will always vote tory, even when they continually say they won't, labour need those 'centrists' who may shift their vote to do so, that's where this election will be fought, the middle 20%.
Our election boundary has been redrawn, what was historically true blue is almost certainly going to be LibDem going forward, every seat counts.
It's a little hard to judge how to vote tactically in my constituency to unseat the Tory incumbent. Labour and the LDs were neck and neck last time. But the LD's share was up and Labour well down on the previous time, so my instinct is that Labour's fortunes are on the up so they have the best chance of bouncing back. If it were a bye-election, I'd be voting on who I thought would be the best constituency MP regardless of what colour rosette. But this time I'm not going to waste the opportunity to do all I can to make this safe Tory seat unsafe!
It's a difficult one to call. I suspect the LD argument would be that it sounds like the kind of seat where Lab's vote ceiling is lower than theirs, but it's not (so far as I know) a top target seat either.
Lib Dem’s to agree to govern, but in exchange for a vote on PR
For all those saying 'again' AV isn't proportional so we've never voted on this. I think it's well recognised in the party that asking for an AV referendum was a bit of a tactical blunder (though they went for AV thinking Lab would support this) and I think if they'd asked for STV for local elections instead of the arrant nonsense that is electing in thirds, they'd have got it without a vote.
Very little chance of it going to Labour in my area - which baffles me, it incorporates loads of ex mining villages. Must be the posh lot in Duffield and Quarndon that swing it to Tory!...
I'm just watching Richi chatting shite on the news in a Midlands factory. Why would you agree/volunteer to sit behind or anywhere near the arsehole and not swear at him or heckle?
The audience was carefully selected apparently - the 'off the cuff' questions came from Tory voters.
Why would you agree/volunteer to sit behind or anywhere near the arsehole and not swear at him or heckle
They may not be a representative sample of factory workers... judging by recent headlines.
TJ- They have trying to harness that power for literally decades. So far the issues have been insurmountable on a commercially viable scale.
Can't believe that Starmer has been blocking it for that long. What an absolute dick.
get this bunch of self serving, corrupt crooks who have been wrecking the country for their own benefit out of office. To be as effective as possible that means tactical voting.
In my constituency the Tories have, with remarkable consistency really, had a lower vote share with every election since 1979. They were at 11.7% in 2019 and fancy their chances of continuing the run in 2024...
https://twitter.com/Samfr/status/1793712476816912724
Fieldwork done yesterday and today.
I have only just discovered that due to boundary changes I'm now in a different constituency than I was previously.
The best news is that my current Tory MP - Kieran Mullen - is standing down and none of the 3 other constituencies he tried to get into didn't want him. Apparently he's disliked so much even the Tories hate him!
I'm guessing this means that the local party won't have a clue yet who will be replacing him so with luck Labour will make a good show of it.
@the-muffin-man If you take a look at this page you will see the change from Labour to Conservative occurred at the time of boundary changes in 2010.
"I’m guessing this means that the local party won’t have a clue yet who will be replacing him so with luck Labour will make a good show of it."
Gyles Brandreth's daughter, Aphra, is the Tory candidate - has been in place for some time - nice lady.
