It's voting time again for Hartlepool, as the north-east seat will be voting for a new MP following the resignation of Mike Hill (Labour) on sexism and victimisation charges. With Labour and Sir Keir Starmer flagging in the polls, and with the Hartlepool seat voting by almost 70% to leave the EU, could Reform UK pick up their first seat and could Richard Tice be the man to make political history for them? Also, could Boris face more political problems of his own, with many Covid Recovery Group (CRG) members set to stand aside because they have lost any remaining faith in him? The seats of Wycombe (Steve Baker), Altrincham & Sale West (Sir Graham Brady) and Windsor (Adam Afriyie) are said to be next if the members mentioned stand down from the Government. Should 45 Tory MP's quit, this will trigger a constitutional crisis and a General Election must then take place. The next few weeks could very well be crucial for the political futures of both Boris and Sir Keir, and if Momentum choose to stand in Hartlepool it could well end Labour's chances there. The recently formed Northern Independence Party, standing on a Pro-Devolution platform, will also be contesting the Hartlepool seat. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EV8i6fGW0yQ

The almost 40 something year old song is back in vogue among fans of Welsh football, hailing it as a marvel and a new 'anthem' of Welsh football. Johnny-come-lately fans jumping on the band wagon are keen to sing it thinking it will make them cool or something. You know, the fan types who supported Chelsea and Manchester United until they started to suck and then started to support another team 'because appearances and cool'. As a soon-to-be 37 year old fan of Wales who first saw them at the old National Stadium in 1990 when we played Costa Rica in Gary Speed's first International match for Wales, I have seen the ups and quite often the downs of Wales on the International level from being thrashed by Georgia (the country, not the American State - although they'd have beaten us that day as well!) to the 2-1 victory over Italy in 2002. Many old-stagers like myself do not like the narcistic attitudes of Johnny-come-lately fans into the Wales team 'family'. I love my country and will support Wales in any sport until my dying breath, yet to be inferred to as 'not a fan unless you sing 'Yma O Hyd' and you dress and act appropriate to the standards of a certain group of Wales fans who couldn't tell you who Eric Young, Clayton Blackmore or Paul Mardon were just reeks of 'look at me, I am important'. Wales is more about Dafydd Iwan and 'Yma O Hyd', and I am sure he would be the first to admit it. I have no issue with Dafydd, Welsh Patriotism nor the song itself - which I remember singing in Primary School back in 1991, sorry folks who think that this song just appeared within the past few weeks = but what I do have an issue with is the new 'fans' who think they and their support matters more because they are 'with it'. In short, they are actually (and very soon) going to turn what is a good pro-Wales song into a cringe-fest. I doubt that we'll see many of these people at future Wales matches, once Wales begin to slip and slide down the World rankings, post Bale and Ramsey retiring. Anyway, enjoy, Welsh or not! Link to Dafydd Iwan's original composition (1983-ish) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkBQAvAFjus ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSc2ld3GaPc

It was epic while it lasted, but I move on to bigger fishes and bigger bishes henceforth. Le saltage est magnifique. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0YQPswZUzU

Following the terrible scenes outside the St. Denis Stadium in Paris last weekend, members of the International Rugby Board (IRB) including Bill Beaumont will be meeting over the next few months in order to decide whether to allow the 2023 Rugby World Cup Tournament to stay in France or to move it next door to Italy. Sources: The Rugby Forum, David Pickering, Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY1XN5Gsbgo