maryportfuncity

Nadhim Zahawi, former chancellor (but then, which Tory isn't the former chancellor?) - standing down at the next election: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68982016 Sitting on a 20,000 majority in Stratford-on-Avon having scooped 60% of the votes in 2019, his seat is one of those the Lib Dems are fancying with a combi or Tory collapse and tactical voting by way of a pile on to oust them. So, we might just have had a Portillo moment there in other circumstances.

Probably, but it's not like either side would openly admit it. It's often more along the coded lines of "I'm thinking..." followed by someone else saying "If I were you I wouldn't..." all carried out in the House of Commons tea room, or so I understand having gleaned most of this from various bits of gossip heard etc. Elphicke surprised everyone so you'd imagine it was a case of an initial contact with a Tory whip, maybe even overseen in the House by Tories who never imagined she'd defect, followed by a behind closed doors meeting or phone call.

Sir Jackie's 84 and the only surviving world champion to win a title in the 1960s, looks like he has a few laps left in the old chassis yet

Story in the Sunday Times a couple of days back suggested Boris' people and Farage's people are considering some joint activity to pitch the pair of them into positions that'll allow them to take over Tory operations after the pending defeat. All entertaining nonesense IMHO which suggests two things that are blatant bollocks; firstly that in the aftermath of the car crash election defeat the nation's concerns will continue to be the right-wing stuff currently being peddled by the Tories as the potential turn-the-polls-around miracle they need and secondly that Boris and Nige could act in ways trustworthy enough to build a solid basis to work together.

Tory gallows humour

Oh aye, my bad - and of course the prestige of the FA Cup still to play for (arf!)

Aye, and - apparently - convinced several people of the value of going that route

Palace currently 4-0 up vs Manchester United, which will leave United looking at a maximum 60 points. Taxi for ten Hag, then?

Totally random but the mention of gin above reminded me of our sometime colleague hereabouts, Bruno Brimley, last visted 2016 according to a search I just did. Anyone know owt of his current situation?

Meanwhile in Scotland, John Swinney will be enthroned rather than elected against an opponent - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy0lgnm3037o

Sid's Emporium again - 1 May, apparently

BBC chart at the moment has the Tories in THIRD place on seats won, four behind the Lib Dems (who've gained 25 seats whilst the Tories have lost 150) - so any claims about the mayoral victory are just third polishing (heh heh, see what I did there!)

Leaf Label reporting Joseph Dierker dead - obit here: https://funerals.coop/obituaries/joseph-dierker.html