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Apparently Mr Sunak has paid ( out of his own money btw )for the National Grid to be upgraded in his remote neck of the woods so that in can cope with running his new heated swimming pool .
Meanwhile lots of community pools are struggling to keep going with the cost of energy depriving kids vital life saving skills but as he keeps saying he fully understands how people are struggling 🤔
Just gets better and better 🙄
I think he provides an example to everyone - he didn't rely on the taxpayers to upgrade the national grid when it didn't suit his purpose, he dug into his pocket and paid for it himself.
Edit: And he's not expecting the government to provide him with swimming facilities.
If he can afford it then it isn't really a surprise...the surprise would be if he then offered use of his pool to local schools so the kids can benefit from learning to swim...
I am not a fan but I am not sure how you can blame him for paying for something out of his own pocket.
Yeah, at least he's not one of these lazy lefty scrounging teachers! Never known a real day's work in their lives!!
Anyway I was wondering, off the back of this story - how much power do you actually need for a swimming pool? I mean, a kettle is 2 - 3Kw. And that's for a cup. A whole pool must be a fair old chunk. 10s, even 100s of Kw? And then - this must be really annoying lol - it immediately starts cooling off so would need almost constant topping up?
It must cost an absolute ****ing fortune!
Ask someone with a hot tub, that is probably the in-between from a kettle and a house swimming pool (unless of course, the PM has a 25m swimming pool).
The thing that's really odd about this story is that he's built a 12m pool. What use is that - at least make it 25m.
That said, I guess 12m is like 24 times his body length.
Seems like something we could usefully try here...
Does this mean he meets the STW definition of rich? Or is he just comfortable?
Meh, I struggle to get upset about the fact that a wealthy bloke spent his own money on a luxury item. See also mountain bikes, vans, holidays etc.
Are you suggesting that politicians should be on the bread line so they can empathise with other people on the bread line?
STW Ice Bath is where it's at...
[img] https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/resources/images/12338871/?type=responsive-gallery-fullscreen [/img]
STW Ice Bath is where it’s at…
Nice pointing though 😉 oh, and your bike has no tyres 🤷♀️
proper northeastern summer that ^
Our brown/garden waste bin collection is about to start being charged for here. I now know what I'm going to use my redundant brown wheelie bin for 🙂
Swimming pools cost a shitload to operate. Our local area has 13 swimming pools for a population of 160k folk: 3 main sports sites, 8 high schools plus 1 ASN school. 4 school pools plus 1 main centre are propsed for closure. It doesn't help that use of them's poorly programmed and that all 3 main swimming pools are 25-30+ years old meaning they're inefficient and towards end of life.
Tiny data centre used to heat public swimming pool
That's quite mental!
And a great idea, if it works
@the-muffin-man quite versatile things those wheelie bins. I slept in one after a rather boozy night out when I was in sixth form.
Are you suggesting that politicians should be on the bread line so they can empathise with other people on the bread line?
You don't need to be on the breadline to empathise with people who are but it's the optics of it all. Like heating the stables and cleaning the moat and upgrading the duck house... Doesn't look great when there are families struggling to choose between eating and heating, families on benefits despite being in full time employment because the money doesn't cover rent and bills, food bank use at an all time high...and top of the PMs list is building a new swimming pool in his mansion.
Not so much "all in the same boat" but all in the same storm-tossed sea and they're in a ****-off huge superyacht while we're all in little dinghies.
Sunak and his wife have more wealth (by quite a substantial amount) than the entire annual budget of Manchester City Council.
It's a non-story.
Does go to show how much heat these data centres create!
If he has installed more than enough renewable production to power the pool then no objection. I doubt he's done it personally, and he absolutely hasn't done it with the UK energy poilicy he's respobsible for.
Our local swimming pool runs on the urban heating system powered by the local refuse incinerator. I'm happy swimming in that.
All this talk of "his own money"... are we not going to mention that they are a family of UK tax dodgers?
Nice pointing though
How do you know? His hands are underwater.
You've all got hearts of stone. He's got a very stressful job.
After a busy day trying to stop Suella feeding immigrants into a wood-chipping machine and Dom from flushing civil servants heads down the bog, do you not think Little Rishi deserves to kick back a bit?
I can picture him now with his matching Bob the Builder trunks and water wings on, splashing about with a big inflatable unicorn. Bless him.
As Marie Antoinette didn't say: "Let them heat lake"
Rishi is just like us and a true man of the People.
Hell, he's even register with an NHS GP.
He never goes there of course as the Harley Street doctor is just more convenient to get to. There's also a discount if you are in the 6th form.
You communists probably want billionaire families to be taxed more. But if that happened, people like Sunak would move abroad, and we wouldn't have the benefit of his leadership. You'd regret it then, wouldn't you? Eh? Eh???
Paid out his own money but does that mean he won't claim it back as expenses ( did one of them not claim heated stables for the horses)
The thing that’s really odd about this story is that he’s built a 12m pool.
I think with his stature,he can manage short lengths 😉
Sadly, I read it earlier.
Tiny data centre used to heat public swimming pool
I think this is far more attention worthy story. Imagine how much hot air this forum generates!
LOLz @ Polite camera
So are we now saying that the PM shouldn't earn enough money to put in a swimming pool in at his own house?
Or is it that the population is out of touch that they dont understand that high pressured, high responsibility jobs tend to be paid good salaries.
The thing that’s really odd about this story is that he’s built a 12m pool.
he is clearly not rich 😉
You think that kind of money comes from his PM salary?
Most of England's electricity is still made from burnt gas.
Until that is fixed, excessive consumption by the rich remains obscene.
You think that kind of money comes from his PM salary?
Nope, but every politician is at it, and the higher up the chain they get in government and opposition the more earning opportunities they get.
I have just tried to google if Keir Starmer has a swimming pool, I am sure he will do, and probably bigger than 12m in one of his 4 houses, and net worth of between £7.5m- £15m
I'm at a bit of a loss as to what the shock is. We know the Sunaks are obscenely rich, it's been plastered across the news for ages.
Organisations (and individuals) requiring grid reinforcement works are liable for the cost of those so you'd expect him to pay if reinforcement was required and I'd rather he did that personally than push the cost back through public expenditure.
The only issue would be if he was using his position to jump the queue, I know that in some places grid connections are being delayed until as late as 2039 because of capacity to deliver works. But there is no suggestion of that which I've seen.
I’m at a bit of a loss as to what the shock is.
No shock. Just a reminder. And a contrast to other people's lives this winter.
At least he's magnanimous enough to leave space on the road and rails.
I’m at a bit of a loss as to what the shock is.
The "shock" is that the man responsible for the economy and energy prices that ordinary working people pay is having problems with heating his swimming pool.
The Tories are currently in dire straits politically the last thing they need is headlines concerning their leader's problems heating his swimming pool whilst people are struggling to heat their homes.
The message the Tories are desperately trying to get across is that they understand the problems which ordinary working people are facing. This story simply helps to drive home the likelihood of that.
Yep, with all the ordure going into the sea you can't blame him for having a pool built. Any responsible parent would do the same.
Indeed...
https://inews.co.uk/news/defra-bathing-status-rivers-rejected-furious-campaigners-2205667
The Government has rejected all but one application for sites on English rivers to be granted official bathing water status
Is this true? It wasn’t in the Daily Mail!!!
Wonder how big Corbyn’s pool is.
Gene or swimming??
Seems like Defra is trying to paper over the cracks.
I suppose it all depends on how you view disproportionate wealth and conspicuous consumption when it comes to those elected to govern? TBH if you don't want your "personal choices" to be picked over and compared to the plight of the plebs and/or your policies then don't take up politics, much less ascend to the bloody leadership...
I know I'm a broken record but cost of living crisis, food banks, Pre-pay meters eating Vs heating and the chap (currently) at the top of the political pile is having to pay even more money so he can crank up the juice to heat his pool? It simply serves to highlight the gulf in living standards and expectations between the rich and the rest of society...
Not to mention it hardly sends a positive message about tory environmental policies when the figurehead is pissing leccy away to heat a private pool.
His predecessor lost the gig by trying to un-cap banker's bonuses, the one before that was attacking the bubbly and nibbles having locked the nation down and then went on to organise himself a mega loan or two.
They're living on a different planet...
His predecessor lost the gig by trying to un-cap banker’s bonuses
AFAIK the cap will be lifted this year. Scrapping the banker's bonus cap was the one thing out of Kwasi Kwarteng's mini budget which Jeremy Hunt was determined to keep.
Not to mention it hardly sends a positive message about tory environmental policies when the figurehead is pissing leccy away to heat a private pool.
You're not seriously suggesting someone who is at that great a risk of attack or kidnap should just pop down to the council swimming baths are you? And it's fair enough if her husband wants to use it too.
He should toughen up and swim in an unheated pool. In solidarity with people who can't afford to heat their homes.
That would help to convey the message that he understands the hardship that ordinary people are having to endure.
AFAIK the cap will be lifted this year. Scrapping the banker’s bonus cap was the one thing out of Kwasi Kwarteng’s mini budget which Jeremy Hunt was determined to keep.
Not exactly convincing me they've changed their spots there...
You’re not seriously suggesting someone who is at that great a risk of attack or kidnap should just pop down to the council swimming baths are you? And it’s fair enough if her husband wants to use it too.
Meh, it's a security measure now? Why aren't we paying for her hot tub out of our taxes then?
It doesn't really matter what the Sunaks do with their ill gotten millions. It simply highlights again (IMO) that a Hedge fund manager married to the heiress of a multi-billion dollar company probably lacks any real appreciation of the state of the country he apparently governs (for now). And that tory priorities don't really align with the majority of people's in this country...
Like I said don't take office if you're dripping with money and don't want the growing wealth gap you've partly presided over to be pointed out. Especially while everyone is talking down your chances in a GE that looms on the Horizon, and the COL for us plebs is an increasing hot button topic...
I think anyone's being a little hard on Sunak tbh.
His £5 million flat in Santa Monica has a pet spa. A pet spa.
He's having to cut back so much due to the cost of living crisis that he can't even afford a pool there, just a pet spa!
Please, think of the huge sacrifice this man makes every time he flies first class to LA without even having a heated pool there.
FunkyDunc
You think that kind of money comes from his PM salary?
Nope, but every politician is at it
Yeah. Nah.
We are all supposed to be trying to use less energy for environmental reasons, not more because you can afford it...that misses the point entirely.
I limit my usage for this reason, i can afford to pay for and use more but i try my best not to.
Rishi is obviously not thinking the same way he tells us we must think.
The bankers bonuses policy has been massively misrepresented, and unless you’re against funding public services is hard to argue against.
The UK was originally obliged to cap the ratio of bonus to base salary as part of action following the GFC - it’s also a legal requirement for banks operating in the EU27.
The removal of the legal constraint potentially means more high paying jobs will be created in London. Financial institutions can currently choose to build / extend their operations not just in London or the EU but in other locations where the cap doesn’t apply.
In those locations a newly created role can be appointed at a lower base salary - with a greater “performance” element. This reduces the risk of creating new roles - in a good year, bonuses get paid but in a bad year the “lower” base salary limits the loss.
This is highly attractive to Banks. It potentially means more high paying jobs in London and a lot more tax paid as a result - not just employment related taxes - but also corporation tax if the profits are recognised here.
Every £300k new job potentially raises £160-£180k in additional taxes - and also supports jobs in the wider economy as the salary / bonus is spent by the employee.
As this is SingleTrack I fully expect the progressive left big hitters to pop up shortly telling us why rich people paying a lot of tax here that could have been paid somewhere is a bad thing for public services.
As this is SingleTrack I fully expect the progressive left big hitters to pop up shortly telling us why rich people paying a lot of tax here that could have been paid somewhere is a bad thing for public services.
I don't know how they can do that when you have provided such a convincing argument in favour of trickle down economics.
If only Kwasi Kwarteng had been able to do the same. It seems so unfair.
Sunak and his wife wife have now been told off by the police for a dog off the lead in a park where its not allowed. rules really don't apply to him do they?
We are all supposed to be trying to use less energy for environmental reasons, not more because you can afford it…that misses the point entirely.
ban electric bikes then, it’s the same difference
Sunak and his wife wife have now been told off by the police for a dog off the lead in a park where its not allowed
This is quite disappointing. I thought he’d have a snow leopard or something more Bond Villain-esque
This is quite disappointing. I thought he’d have a snow leopard or something more Bond Villain-esque
The dog is what he takes out in public for his "man of the people" persona.
The snow leopard is in the lair next to the heated swimming pool.
Obviously.
The bankers bonuses policy has been massively misrepresented, and unless you’re against funding public services is hard to argue against...
Nothing but positives?
Remind me again why the cap was originally implemented?
@hite-rite Doesn't seem to quite understand what the bankers' bonus un-cap means in the real world of London banking. the kind of bonus that is affected by the capping is unlikely to help the UK coffers as much as you might think (or wish for), as some of the taxation will be 'avoided' and the spending will be on quite large items.. Like a first class fortnight in the Maldives for the family, a Porsche or a chalet in the Alps. That's the territory involved here; Twenty years ago, I remember looking at the accounts of a small investment spin off where the smallest bonus among the 100+ staff, given to the receptionist (yes, really) was over £50k. At the other end, the top handful all received over £1m bonus each. Annually.
We're now expecting to see the City deregulated to that same extent. So, out of touch? yup.
Meanwhile, those earning over £90k will be able to receive extra taxpayer support with their childcare in a desperate bid for votes.
Let's not forget that Sunak and Sharp were some of these overpaid bankers and how good are they? Banking jobs going abroad is more to do with Brexit than salaries. We should be flattered by the unknown non-paying people who turn up on here when there's a bit of a skirmish.
Meh, it’s a security measure now?
That whooshed over your head like the Sunaks' helicopter on the school run.
TJ : “Sunak and his wife wife have now been told off by the police for a dog off the lead in a park where its not allowed. rules really don’t apply to him do they?
… link to Guardian Article”
Rule 1 of reading the Guardian is to assume pretty much everything has been made up to suit its prevailing political agenda.
There’s actually no requirement to walk dogs on leads in the Royal Parks apart from specified periods of the year e.g. when the deer are birthing - typically April.
The Park regulations - see point 5 - actually state:
“No person using a Park shall fail to keep any animal of which he is in charge under control or on a lead“
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1997/1639/regulation/3/made
When pointing the finger at rule breakers it’s always helpful to establish what the rules are first.
When pointing the finger at rule breakers it’s always helpful to establish what the rules are first.
Looks like you may want to tell the police that
Well,
No person using a Park shall
(5) fail to keep any animal of which he is in charge under control or on a lead—
(a)after having been required by a constable to do so, or
(b)in contravention of a notice exhibited by order of the Secretary of State
The linked articlke suggests that there were signs in the area; perhaps they meet the desciption in 5b and presumably the police officer involved felt that the animal was not under control, since the Metropolitan police force said: “An officer, who was present at the time, spoke to a woman and reminded her of the rules,” - and presumably 5a then applies anyway because the dog was put on the lead ? (nothing about April and birthing deer in your linked regs)
Course, it's irrelevant to the more important state of the government/nation
One of my family members works for Royal Parks, their office is in Hyde Park, about 300m from that spot... I'll ask what's what...
Rule 1 of reading the Guardian is to assume pretty much everything has been made up to suit its prevailing political agenda.
Ok its slanted towards the centre but made up? ReallY?
Its the right wing papers that make stuff up
One example of the Guardian making stuff up please>?
One of my family members works for Royal Parks, their office is in Hyde Park, about 300m from that spot… I’ll ask what’s what…
Website seems pretty clear to me
(disclosure - wife's mate used to be parkie in Richmond park and indeed was often wheeled out to talk about out of control dogs. Most notably Fenton - after we've seen the footage, he's then the bloke wheeled out to say not to let your dogs do that)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-15864761
Shame he couldn't control his own
https://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/1534714.dog-that-wolfed-sir-davids-cheese/
Rule 1 of reading the Guardian is to assume pretty much everything has been made up to suit its prevailing political agenda.
That reminds me of this famous quote from former Tory Cabinet minister Jonathan Aitken when he claimed that the Guardian newspaper was lying:
"If it falls to me to start a fight to cut out the cancer of bent and twisted journalism in our country with the simple sword of truth and the trusty shield of fair play, so be it. I am ready for the fight"
Unfortunately for Jonathan Aitken things didn't quite pan out as he had hoped and he ended up doing time in the clink for perjury and perverting the course of justice.
Great idea on heating the swimming pool. I've seen it for years in buildings where they have a chiller on the roof that cools the building (on the roof as they get hot and need to dissipate the heat). With the boiler in the basement heating water for the building. Madness that they can't be joined together, although I think heat reclaim is more of a thing these days. Although how many older buildings have crap heating and cooling designs.