Author Archives: James Higham

Friday [1 to 5]

(0025) Awoke early to a Paul Temple still running. Strange posting by me as I’m leaving it unredacted and going back to sleep. Hopefully. Continue at first light.

dddd

4. “Family voting”

Sam Coates of Sky

The Electoral Commission give Democracy Volunteers access to polling stations at election time. Only they and the police can go inside. They’ve just issued this report about “family voting” in Gorton and Denton: Democracy Volunteers deployed four accredited election observers across the Gorton and Denton Westminster Parliamentary By-election today. The team attended 22 of the 45 polling stations in the constituency, spending between 30 and 45 minutes in each. The observers worked in pairs using the international standard for election observation – the four eyes principle. Each team assessed several aspects of the polling process, from accessibility to issues around the integrity of the vote. Staff were welcoming to the team and we would like to thank them for their time in accommodating our work. The team assessed two significant aspects of electoral integrity – family voting (where two voters either confer, collude or direct each other on voting) which breaches the secret ballot. The team also assessed the impact of the requirement for voters to show ID before they are issued with a ballot paper. 2023 saw the enactment of the Ballot Secrecy Act, which made the practice of family voting more clearly a breach of the secret ballot, making it more enforceable by staff in polling stations. Signage is now available to discourage the practice. Signage was only seen in 45% of the polling stations observed. The observer team saw family voting in 15 of the 22 polling stations observed, some 32 cases in total, nine cases in one polling station alone. The team observed a sample of 545 voters casting their votes – meaning 12% of those voters observed either caused or were affected by family voting. Commenting John Ault, Director of Democracy Volunteers said; ‘Today we have seen concerningly high levels of family voting in Gorton and Denton. Based on our assessment of today’s observations, we have seen the highest levels of family voting at any election in our 10 year history of observing elections in the UK.’ ‘We rarely issue a report on the night of an election, but the data we have collected today on family voting, when compared to other recent by-elections, is extremely high.’ ‘In the other recent Westminster parliamentary by-election in Runcorn and Helsby we saw family voting in 12% of polling stations, affecting 1% of voters. In Gorton and Denton, we observed family voting in 68% of polling stations, affecting 12% of those voters observed.’ The team also observed cases of voters being turned away, however, in each case this was due to them not being a registered voter for Westminster elections, such as having EU citizenship, and only being allowed to vote in local elections. The team also saw a number of voters taking photographs of their ballot papers and one voter being authorised to vote despite them already having been marked as voted earlier in the day. Democracy Volunteers has informed elections staff at Manchester City Council about our findings today.

2. Cremation of dull care


https://thebohemiangrove.info

Thursday [16 till close of play]

(1643) Evening all. Real life savagely intruded and the afternoon was spent dealing with both a govt dept and bank. What fun.

 

21. This goes together with some US investigations

… up to 173 ingredients in bsic bread.


20. DAD has a Sam video up

… at 1306

19. Moo corner

|https://youtu.be/hTG7hnnqD5w?si=gKsYWG5iNuPEyPew

18. MP behaviour


17. Steve corner

The imperatives sought by war: how do you make a winning strategy, in this case drone warfare, cheaper and at the same time more effective than before? A good place to start is the materials you’re using to manufacture something that is only used once. The Russians got there first, any guesses?

Video is accessible from comments, won’t open here.

16. IYE corner

a. Iran is smarter than you think:

Video is up at 1306.

“….He also addresses the single most important data point in the story: the gap between what Trump publicly demands and what American negotiators are actually asking for at the table in Geneva — and what that reveals about the 50-year formula that has always governed the Iran-US relationship…..”

b. Operation Timber Sycamore 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timber_Sycamore

c. Head of WEF steps down – Borge Brende gone. Surprise! Island man connections. Ya don’t say ….

Thur Mat

 

A review:

“Stewart Granger looks for “The Whole Truth” in this 1958 film also starring Donna Reed, George Sanders, and Gianna Maria Canale. The exotic Canale plays the star of producer Granger’s film. He once had an affair with her when his wife (Reed) briefly left him. It’s over, but she wants to start it up again.

At man (Sanders) visits Granger posing as a Scotland Yard detective and informs him that his star is dead. Except she’s not – she shows up at a party at Sanders’ house. He drives her home, leaves the car, and when he returns to it, she is indeed dead. Granger must then prove that he was framed.

This film is a little disjointed. It has some neat twists and is told with some humor, but somehow, it doesn’t hang together. Reed, normally quite good, isn’t much of a presence. The rest of the acting is better. Granger is very believable as a producer, and we’ve seen George Sanders do elegant sinister many times. I actually enjoyed Canale the most. She kind of reminded me of Gina Lollabrigida.”

Thursday [11 to 15]

(1201) Afternoon all … enjoy. (1201)

 

15. Moosh corner again


14. Twofer


13. I want one


12. The meaning of roses


11. Steve corner

Plus:

Thursday [6 to 10]

(1029) Did I say morning all? Right … though today’s frenetic, that’s nothing to tomorrow, when I take on the NHS, or rather get drawn into its innards. I’d like to get all I plan to blog on done by about 0930/45, after which I’m out of it till maybe 1600. Juss sayin’ like. (1043)

 

10. Moo corner


9. The state of our roads


8. This is one of those sightings of Maddie

… with someone we recognise:

7. Selling off the family jewels


6. First threefer for the day

Toodles and the fine art of humility

 

Toodles and I were speaking of some photos (by another) which I saw of her … poor Cuddles, it’s the old Dr. Hook song all over again.

Toods, in reaction to those photos, and in all humility, sent this:

And here’s one of the photos but somehow, you know, I just suspect ……..


Uh huh. Well, with me being Mr. ‘Umble ‘n all, along with you boys and our gals … well here’s my reply:

Thursday [1 to 5]

(0632) Morning all, had a good sleep, did wonders. It will still take time to get on top of it all again though. Must mention two things … Gorton and Denton (Thurs, Fri, in Thu 1) plus my own tomorrow’s medical thing, combined with all other outside jobs at the same time. Complicated tomorrow. Hopefully back to normal on Saturday. Hope you’re all ok(ish).

 

5. The great race


4. Meanwhile

Andy: Neil Oliver is catching up fast. |  https://youtu.be/pN09CGyhqVo?si=KbaN6Z5eTb2DIPGW

IYE: Second part of that tweet verified

https://archive.is/MEUts

“Sir John Sawers, who served as the chief of the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) from 2009 to 2014, set up a meeting in July 2019 between Alex Karp, the chief executive of Palantir Technologies, and John Manzoni, then permanent secretary for the Cabinet Office, according to documents obtained by The Times and openDemocracy….”

Sorry spelled the guy’s name wrong at first. Made no difference to the searches which I did later.

3. Steve at 1305

  • RINO Senate Leader John Thune Confirms He’s Forcing a Vote on the SAVE America Act
  • Epstein ties fallout
  • New Report Claims UK Officers Drove Police Cars to Help Traffic Vulnerable British Girls to Pakistani Rape Gangs
  • Trump Points to Democrats in the Chamber and Calls Them Out – ‘These People Are Crazy’
  • ICYMI: Republicans Bring Out War Heroes, Gold Medal Hockey Team, Grieving Mother, Courageous Girl Hurt by Illegal Driver to SOTU – Democrats Bring Out Wife-Beater, MS13 Member and Accused Human Trafficker to Their Counter Rally
  • Putin Says Kiev Plans Black Sea Pipeline Attack Gives West Nuclear Warning; Trump Speech Iran Strike
  • Trump Admin To Launch New Free-Speech Site To Combat Censorship Abroad
  • Mystery religions have always attempted to infiltrate Christian churches
  • Much more.

2. DAD at 1305

a) France: The bill on euthanasia was approved in its second reading.

b) A little background to a) ‘While some aspects are agreed upon, the renewed review of the text has revealed several points that have sparked debate….

c) Macron’s Team argues with Diplomats rather than confront the Far-Left….

d) The result of c) is…France to revoke US envoy’s government access after summons no-show….

e)  Continuing with c)…..With France in turmoil, Macron tells the World to ‘Stop Talking About Quentin….

1. Gorton and Denton (the Manchester by-election)

For those outside the UK … it’s a strange by-election in the Manchester area, an area overrun by you know who in the past decades. The communists have the edge by all accounts, as with Mamdani, a highly unstable and toxic mess … they call themselves Greens, promise free stuff, the simple normies do like free stuff.

Main rival is the exploded, faux Reform, led by the called-out Farage … a toxic mix of chancers, low quality Tories and Moose Limbs, one a known terrorist, relying on capture of the dissident vote, trying to appear rightwing patriot but actually nothing of the kind where the decisions are made. The ordinary, gullible voter thinks they’re the ants’ pants though. And there are really nice people at rank and file level, quite unaware or in denial about the brass.

It was a Labour area before, it combines two areas really. If the faux polls can be credited, Greens should edge it, adding to Starmer’s gall in possibly calling a snap GE. If Reform edge it, new ball game in controlled opposition. The fourth party, Advance … good people in there at rank and file level, as in Reform but Buckley does not seem to resonate … might be quite wrong on that. Results tonight or tomorrow morning.

Restore are not in this by-election … too early in its history.

Over at OoL:

https://orphansofliberty.blogspot.com/2026/02/quick-look-at-gorton-and-denton-by.html

Wednesday [16 till close of play]

(1410) Afternoon all. (1724) Pegging out a bit now, not 100% … bed. Apple-logs to Andy, IYE, Steve, DAD, readers all.

 

22. That sinking feeling


21. Former UKIP, Brexit, briefly Reformer, Vicky, just posted

“Nigel Farage has a consistent pattern of behaviour. He rallies dedicated patriots and grassroots supporters to achieve big goals: first forcing the EU referendum and delivering the Brexit vote, then building Reform UK into a serious political force. But history shows what happens next. Once victory is secured or he gets the deal he wants, such as the partnership, pact, or “reverse takeover” arrangement with the Conservatives he has long hinted at to donors and in reports, he dumps the very people who did the hard work: the loyal patriots, the activists, and those who expected to stand as candidates. In short: Farage uses committed supporters to gain power, then discards them when they are no longer useful to his ambitions. The grassroots who built the movements and parties are left behind once the top prize is in sight.”

20. Sad thing the state of kids who have the vote


I commented: “Good idea, done well but why oh why the horrible noise drowning out what each person was saying? This is a very American habit … they can’t just have people conversing, they have to use mood music to persuade. Not a good look.”

19. Moo corner


18. Complete impunity these days?


17. Think I’ve found a political home


16. Timing and speed