BRFR Cake Stop 'breaking news' miscellany

[Rusty Nails]

I find it interesting that the BBC and Swinney report on the Holyrood elections as if it was a success for the SNP when in fact the Party has six fewer seats than before.

AFAICS it's pretty much as before wrt independence supporting parties and the same number of (unionist) seats, albeit even more right wing.

 

[Rusty Nails]

No

As do the Americans, proving that he appeals to all age groups.

Not sure he'd be a good replacement for Starmer though when it comes to the next GE.

 

[Pblakeney]

I find it interesting that the BBC and Swinney report on the Holyrood elections as if it was a success for the SNP when in fact the Party has six fewer seats than before.

AFAICS it's pretty much as before wrt independence supporting parties and the same number of (unionist) seats, albeit even more right wing.

Possibly because until mid 2024 they were expected to get a proper kicking so "only" losing 6 seats is a relative victory.
FWIW if you don't know, the system there is specifically designed to create coalitions. The SNP majority in 2012 was an anomaly.

 

[briantrumpet]

Reform coming second in a lot of wards?

That'd be my guess, with lots of tactical voting against Reform.

 

[Stevo 666]

What a great way to hit back against striking teachers:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/20...nline revealed the,walked out three weeks ago.

Quote in case firewalled:
"Teenage girls have taken to the streets to confront their striking teachers.

About 130 pupils and parents at Connaught School for Girls in Leytonstone, east London, have begun holding counter-protests to demand an end to “unreasonable” industrial action.

Video shared online revealed the moment dozens of teenagers shouted back at their striking teachers, telling them: “Teach us or quit.”

Parents at the school told The Telegraph that up to 80 students were being taught together in the assembly hall by one teacher, after most staff walked out three weeks ago. They are now expected to strike until June."

 

[briantrumpet]

An interesting read from David Gauke – interesting not least in that his arguments, not least in the "Don't go chasing Reform voters", could equally apply to Labour. It's also interesting that he's still fighting the Conservative corner, and doesn't dismiss Badenoch.

https://conservativehome.com/2026/0...t-labours-dilemma-is-also-that-of-the-tories/

 

[Pinno718]

Space Karen faces criminal charges

 

[briantrumpet]

See if you can spot when Ottawa banned speed cameras... the dots mark the percentage of drivers doing over 15km/h over the speed limit.

 

[Dorset Boy]

But if there are no speed cameras, how do they know if people are speeding?

 

[briantrumpet]

But if there are no speed cameras, how do they know if people are speeding?

My guess would be that they are defining 'speed cameras' as ones that are generating fines, and that data is either coming from them once not collecting fines, or that they are collecting speed data by other means to judge the outcome of turning off the fine generation function. It's not surprising that people who are likely to speed are more likely to do so if they know they are unlikely to be caught.

It is interesting the general downwards drift while they certainly were operational... it does suggest that those likely to speed will, over time, adjust their behaviour, if there are penalties.

 

[briantrumpet]

BTW, obviously this didn't belong in the Bad Graphs thread, as not only does the Y axis start on zero, but both axes are clearly labelled. The only omission is their definition of "High end speeders".

 

[Pross]

But if there are no speed cameras, how do they know if people are speeding?

Speed checks using loops (or simply with guns just to check speeds rather than actually using them for enforcement).

 

[icowden]

But if there are no speed cameras, how do they know if people are speeding?

it's not "no speed cameras". On 14th November 2025 Automated Speed Enforcement cameras were removed in school and community safety zones as the provincial government said they were a "cash grab". They were replaced with signs instead.

As a result - lots of speeding by schools. This does not stop the Police running speed checks using their own speed guns and fines in these zones have not dropped - they are just being enforced by the Police at probably more expense than the cameras.

 

[briantrumpet]

Hmm...

 

[icowden]

Hmm...

Whilst it's plausible, Habib does have a rather large axe to grind against Reform and Farage...