Mailwatch(ed) Forum

My MP showing he's just as sharp as ever

Ten years on from the Brexit referendum, Sir David Davis has a piece of advice for the Labour leadership contenders who are talking about rejoining the EU.

“The Labour Party will cease to exist if it goes down that route,” says the former Brexit secretary. “It would be bonkers.”

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/20 ... oin-eu-uk/

With the current rejoin figure standing at well over 60%, Mr Brains Trust demonstrates his uncanny ability to get even the simplest things completely wrong.

The problem is rejoining isn’t as simple as rejoining.

Schegen and currency are two big obstacles that no one wants to address. I would be in favour of both but let’s be honest can you see the country accepting that when it gets in a hissy fit when the Bank of England wants to replace a temporary rotating image of Churchill on a bank note.

Also when you have the likelihood that the next government would kick up a fuss over it would Europe even accept it.

mattomac wrote: ↑Tue Jun 23, 2026 2:30 pm The problem is rejoining isn’t as simple as rejoining.

Schegen and currency are two big obstacles that no one wants to address. I would be in favour of both but let’s be honest can you see the country accepting that when it gets in a hissy fit when the Bank of England wants to replace a temporary rotating image of Churchill on a bank note.

Also when you have the likelihood that the next government would kick up a fuss over it would Europe even accept it.

I think we'd likely get the same deal others have on currency, where in effect you don't join the Euro if you don't want to. But Schengen might not be offered, I agree.

mattomac wrote: ↑Tue Jun 23, 2026 2:30 pm The problem is rejoining isn’t as simple as rejoining.

Schegen and currency are two big obstacles that no one wants to address. I would be in favour of both but let’s be honest can you see the country accepting that when it gets in a hissy fit when the Bank of England wants to replace a temporary rotating image of Churchill on a bank note.

Also when you have the likelihood that the next government would kick up a fuss over it would Europe even accept it.

I thought countries had the option to include their own national figureheads on Euro notes anyway?

The Tories were attributing the Churchill notes thing to DEI, I saw. Which probably makes them look more stupid than they think. I'm hopeful Burnham might stick it to them for this sort of thing better than Starmer did. Frustrating because Starmer at PMQs was actually good at doing it back. Unfortunately, I don't think it works to "rise above", as I think Starmer mostly did.

Shadow science minister Julia Lopez's critique of Burnham's tech sector pronouncements. Even if she's wrong its refreshing to read constructive opposition over moronic culture war bollocks. If its a fair representation of Burnham's position, he needs to defend it as Ludditism is not a good look

Does Burnham mean any of it, I wonder? Manchester is a tech centre, with his full encouragement . Is he really going to change approach in central government.

Do driverless cars work well when 99% of the traffic is not? Like I feel they would work better in a fully automated system or do we get VAR where humans complicate it.

You just need to look at the fiasco that is Waymo to see that they are fucking useless. Johnny Cab they ain't.

Help thicko here out: what is the convincing use case for driverless cars that would outweigh taxis, public transit and... driving yer own car?

Techbros wanking themselves into a stupor.

RedSparrows wrote: ↑Sun Jul 05, 2026 9:16 pm Help thicko here out: what is the convincing use case for driverless cars that would outweigh taxis, public transit and... driving yer own car?

Let’s assume driverless cars will become safer than humans at the wheel, will the roads become fully automated? Can’t see it, more likely to be a mix. People will still choose the human touch for coach tours or Hackney cabs as the driver is offering other services. Delivery vans and bin lorries will still need humans aboard unless robots replace them. Cars could offer automatic pilot function for tiring long motorway journeys but people will still like to drive for pleasure and explore.

Youngian wrote: ↑Mon Jul 06, 2026 12:30 am Cars could offer automatic pilot function for tiring long motorway journeys but people will still like to drive for pleasure and explore.

Colleague of mine claims his Chinese disgrace to the octagonal badge pretty much does that with lane assist and adaptive cruise control turned on, whilst Tosslers in the US seem to have autopilot as an option. It occasionally removes Yanks from the gene pool.

I long ceased driving for pleasure and just view it as a necessary chore now, although the Fiat does occasionally remind me that fun is there to be had.

RedSparrows wrote: ↑Sun Jul 05, 2026 9:16 pm Help thicko here out: what is the convincing use case for driverless cars that would outweigh taxis, public transit and... driving yer own car?

Musk rimmers imagine a world where their car will drop them off at their Ket den and circle the block until they're ready for a comfy lift home.

Most realise we are decades to centuries away form that nirvana.

Car ownership is a hefty burden for many people who only need it for occasional essential runs. Calling a car up for the day that arrives where you want it and drives itself away is a more economical, convenient and attractive proposition than a cab. In big cities you have things called regular reliable public transport services. But they're more of a utopian pipe dream in rural areas and small towns than driverless cars hire.

What became of Zipcar?

Youngian wrote: ↑Mon Jul 06, 2026 12:34 pm Car ownership is a hefty burden for many people who only need it for occasional essential runs. Calling a car up for the day that arrives where you want it and drives itself away is a more economical, convenient and attractive proposition than a cab. In big cities you have things called regular reliable public transport services. But they're more of a utopian pipe dream in rural areas and small towns than driverless cars hire.

However it's probably where it might be less effective knowing the various blackspots around Cornwall and the inability to get anything remotely like a signal say in Truro or Penzance (Or pretty much any town down there).

Youngian wrote: ↑Mon Jul 06, 2026 12:34 pm Car ownership is a hefty burden for many people who only need it for occasional essential runs. Calling a car up for the day that arrives where you want it and drives itself away is a more economical, convenient and attractive proposition than a cab. In big cities you have things called regular reliable public transport services. But they're more of a utopian pipe dream in rural areas and small towns than driverless cars hire.

And do villages have the infrastructure and roads amenable to this arrangement? Particularly as it only appears in cities at the moment?

Edit: and a situation in which a bus service is seen as more economically demanding than the invention and implementation of driverless cars is insane.

H/T to Ben Obese-Jecty today:

Chris Philp seems to be starting a diplomatic incident with France. This is pure Farage.

I can’t empathise enough how dangerous the Tories are right now.