[Bones McCoy]

Half the population is below...

Sea Level?

[satnav]

When I was in Amsterdam in August I went on a walking tour of the city and the guide made a joke about the fact that Dutch people are tall because so much of the country is below sea level.

[Youngian]

When I was in Amsterdam in August I went on a walking tour of the city and the guide made a joke about the fact that Dutch people are tall because so much of the country is below sea level.

Tibetans and Peruvians are short people. Its because you are nearer to the centre of gravity in Holland so it stretches your bones further. Coincidentally I heard this theory from a punter in an Amsterdam coffee shop.

[Bones McCoy]

When I was in Amsterdam in August I went on a walking tour of the city and the guide made a joke about the fact that Dutch people are tall because so much of the country is below sea level.

Tibetans and Peruvians are short people. Its because you are nearer to the centre of gravity in Holland so it stretches your bones further. Coincidentally I heard this theory from a punter in an Amsterdam coffee shop.

The social Darwinists will speculate that an additional 10cm might save you during one of the great floods.

But there's a compelling argument in favour of the health benefits of a diet rich in fish, dairy and green veg, when much of northern Europe subsisted on even blander fare

[Bones McCoy]

A blast from the (very distant) past

t'zijn spekken!

"They're Gammon!" - an insult and warcry against their Spanish occupiers since 1628.

[Tubby Isaacs]

I know nothing about Dutch politics, but this seems broadly positive? Wilders down a lot. Though looks like some other goons have gone up, but from a lower base.

[Youngian]

D66 are the left leaning liberal party close to the Lib Dems. The centre right Christian Democrats have risen from the dead after being cannibalised by hard right blow hards and Rutte’s slicker liberal centre right party (VVD only lost one seat and will be stable government partners to D66). Kemi might like to note that a moderate centrist leader is responsible for the Christian Dem revival. A bad result for Wilders but I think that JA21 is a more socially conservative rival.

[mattomac]

Good to see.

[The Weeping Angel]

Ok, so when will we get the what Labour can learn thinkpieces?

[Youngian]

The Dutch Labour Party ran in coalition with the Greens and the left party. And lost five seats.
The extent of D66 gains surprised even them. They were offering stability and international co-operation to solve problems of migration, security and climate change instead Eurosceptic posturing in Brussels. I'm guessing Putin's shadow is now a bigger fear factor than burkhas.
The fractious coalition fell after two years when Wilders walked. He's probably been playing the victim claiming the establishment ganged up on him, please give me a mandate to govern and teach the elites a lesson. Not likely when you acted like a petulant child in power.
Lesson for Labour is take Reform council gains next May as an opportunity to ask voters whether you want this crackpot rabble running the country?

[Tubby Isaacs]

Ok, so when will we get the what Labour can learn thinkpieces?

Never. Mamdani winning a primary against Andrew Cuomo, that's the real thing they should be looking at. Or something.

[mattomac]

Goodwin probably wrote it but didn’t bother.

[Youngian]

Can’t find any analysis on Labour’s lack lustre result but its leader Fran’s Timmerman is an experienced safe pair of hands (a former Commissioner). In contrast D66’s leader was a young fresh faced newcomer. So mentioning Mamdani Vs Cuomo for the left vote might be precedent.