Social democrats basically believe that in perfect societal conditions everyone tempted by extreme ideologies or behaviour would be a social democrat too. It's a very paternal instinct, and for many people it is obviously the case. But for many it just isn't and many don't know how to handle that.

What they will actually do is probably Fleur East and move Anton as the nice judge slot is easier to fill.

Silksong is a harder game than its predecessor but by the end I was better at it than I was at the end of Hollow Knight, which speaks volumes for how well designed it is.

Also Sherma is the best ever NPC.

The entire democratic world did not swing against their respective governing parties last year because of local leadership issues. Macro factors clearly have a huge impact on livelihoods. But blaming everything on a domestic government level empowers people who ignore this the most.

Has government mismanagement led to peoples lives getting worse over the last 15 years? Obviously yes.

Is the government *solely* responsible for why an older working class retiree feels dissatisfied or alienated from society despite the entire state being geared towards their demographic? No.

Big news events really didn't factor very much.

Slightly timeless number six would be not coming out until I was 18.

The big difference is how much time you think you'd be allowed by an impatient electorate who don't all want the same thing and how your comms has to adjust and how you balance short term action and long term planning as a result.

I very much think the Labour bit of Labour YIMBYism demands a synergy of the two, community building not just place building. New Towns sit in the middle, but also requires long term thinking on how you revive sense of community in working class places previously written off suffering social probs.

It's incredibly mean, but in a way I actually enjoy.

Apparently not!

When we say things could always be worse. They really, really could.

On the bright side I have a fair few pints to call in

Sunak genuinely likeable in person and don't get the vibe anyone at the end of the day blamed him specifically for the result. Bad opening hands are easier to fuck up with.

(Don't think they were meant to tell me where the request had come from)

They cancelled the moment I said yes!

The moment that confirmed the strategy had worked was when a week before the election, I got contacted by the Country Land and Business Association saying the PM's team had asked them to put on a last min invite-only rural issues hustings between me, him, and the Lib Dem for their members and NFU.