Andrew Eldritch begs to differ.

Not enough attention is paid to the “ef” part of “Chief”, and in fact as all civics students should know this stands for “eff-off Conway you deranged nazi zombie”.

There’s some logic in the premises. Most people aren’t either galloping racists or outright socialists, so theoretically something centrist ought to be popular. I’d consider myself a person who, as a sort of European-style social democrat, isn’t adequately represented in mainstream politics.

I think that was my original point. The people voting for this stuff think they’re getting rid of foreigners, whereas the more proximate outcome is robbing themselves of any lingering protections afforded by the post-war consensus of social democracy. I didn’t say anyone bought these votes (though I do think the right…

Yeah to be fair that was a simplification. However, it does seem that a key goal of Brexit for its financial and media backers is to tear Britain away from the employment protections and social safety net the EU guarantees. Vote to get rid of the foreigners, get rewarded with a (further) eviscerated welfare state and…

Horse race journalism is unsubstantiated speculation about winners and losers in the political process. “By shooting people at the border Trump will solidify support among red state senators”. Data journalism is - or should be - actually trying to prove what impact political messages and actions have on voters. “By…

It’s ironic, really. For all the differences between the two countries, they’re still doing pretty much exactly the same thing (prostrating themselves at the feet of their capitalist overlords) for pretty much exactly the same reasons (racism). It’s almost as if there’s some sort of anglo-celtic self-loathing gene…

Actually, our saving grace is the compulsory vote. It continues to amuse me that the hard right lunatics can’t figure out why appealing ever more closely to their hardcore of elderly racist supporters isn’t a pathway to electoral nirvana.

Oh fuck off, we’ve got problems of our own.

When you roll a die it is in fact impossible for it to land on any number. I mean, the chance of it landing on each number is less than 17% which is basically nothing, so by definition it can’t land on any number.

Yeah but some Democrats wouldn’t make the world a perfect place full of sunshine and fairies, either, so I guess it’s fine not to bother voting - wouldn’t you say, Nick?

Don’t forget that arch patriot Nigel Farage is also up to his neck in Russian connections! https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jun/16/arron-banks-nigel-farage-leave-brexit-russia-connection

I am a British person living in Australia. Hello. I think desire to disown colonial crimes is pretty universal. Australians tend to file the genocide of aboriginal people into the “stuff that happened before we were really Australian” folder, for instance, even as they continue making contemporary aboriginal people’s…

I don't think spending lots of time doing something you genuinely love says much for your work ethic. I mean, I spent last Sunday lying around and wanking but I'm not claiming to be some kind of stakhanovite hero for getting the fourth one out.

Nobody realised how complicated international diplomacy could be.

This seems like a pretty big miss I have to say. You think Acosta is a bit of a blowhard so your editorial line is, basically, "they're both as bad as each other"? I can only hope you get better support from your peers, should you ever need it.

My guess is you’re arguing with someone aged 17-21 who has never had to deal with more responsibilities than taking out the rubbish on a Sunday night or confronted a greater requirement to compromise than finishing the washing up before they can borrow the car. Meanwhile, in the real world...

That was a beautiful piece of writing. Thank you.

It matters if you’re British. Most pubs stop serving at 11pm so anything close to a three hour run time makes it tight to get a pint afterwards on a weeknight viewing. Madness.