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Brexit
Jul 23, 2019 13:55:33 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2019 13:55:33 GMT
Decided it's not a huge deal really, so cancelled the license fee direct debit. I think it was three monthly, and probably about due. Just can't bear the nonsense any longer. Checked to make sure and BBC radio is free so, for now, I'm happier getting my news in weekly recap form, or maybe the Westminster Hour on R4. It feels half the country has been driven three-quarters mad by hair-on-fire 24-hour news. Might one party consider running a manifesto idea of scrapping the licence fee - there has always been factions of the Tory Party that don't like the Beeb and the Labour Party under Corbyn is fairly anti-establishment. Promising to save people £154.50 a year would enable taxes to be put up a bit and still leave people in pocket. This money could be used on NHS, Police etc. A lot of people will wonder why they have to fund Symphony Orchestras and greedy bitches who weren't content with well over 100k per year.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2019 13:57:49 GMT
Well it’s finally happened, Boris is now the new PM. With all his buffoonery is he really the guy who can unite both a divided Tory party and country and get Brexit finally over the line? With the current Westminster political arithmetic, it’s hard to see how he’s going to achieve it without changing the numbers which means going to the country with a general election (and probably risk political destruction of the Conservatives). With Boris in London, Trump in the U.S., Putin in Russia and Kim Jong un in N. Korea, these are going to be interesting times indeed. Especially in this country with Boris as PM whose main challenger is Corbyn and the rise of the nutters could be complete when Mad Charles Windsor becomes King. I could see him doing the Proroguing of Parliament possibly when the Labour Party is at Conference. I'd figure the advice that a PM gives the Monarch is private and you cannot challenge the Queen's authority in court. Just threaten anyone who tries with treason.
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Post by The Matthew on Jul 23, 2019 14:27:29 GMT
Although I'm not surprised at the result I'm deeply disappointed in the Conservative Party. They took someone who was nothing but dishonest through the Brexit campaign, has been openly bigoted on many occasions, and has outright declared that he'd act like a dictator and shut down parliament if he doesn't get his way, and they said: "This guy. This is the person who represents what the Conservative Party stands for."
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Brexit
Jul 23, 2019 14:30:13 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2019 14:30:13 GMT
We were talking about something in 2026 in work the other day and I found myself genuinely thinking “if we even get that far”... hope for the future seriously waining. The debacle with the US Ambassador was the latest in a series of very worrying events. We aren't just drifting into the arena of the unwell, we're sliding into the fetid pit of the toxic. Maybe it's a good job we're cooking ourselves alive through the destruction of the natural world. I guess it means we'll come to a swifter demise and suffer less as a consequence of global sanity spiralling out of control.
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Post by missthelma on Jul 23, 2019 14:53:52 GMT
The popularity and success of Johnson despite mountains of evidence as to his mendacity and incompetence remains bewildering to me. When he ran for London Mayor in 2008, I scoffed thinking nobody would vote for such a figure but two terms later, a stint as MP then a woeful Foreign Secretary and crash bang he's PM. Never underestimate a priveleged white man with a monstrous ego and boundless unwarranted confidence (see also Donald Trump)
Rather like Brexit, if someone could point out the actual positives that are brought I am eager to hear them
It does confuse me though that many backed away from the challenges May took on as PM given it was such a poisoned chalice and yet 12 (!!) of them lined up for a stab at this go round when surely the chalice is laced with more poison than before and there seems no way out.
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Brexit
Jul 23, 2019 14:59:24 GMT
Post by Backdrifter on Jul 23, 2019 14:59:24 GMT
Although I'm not surprised at the result I'm deeply disappointed in the Conservative Party. They took someone who was nothing but dishonest through the Brexit campaign, has been openly bigoted on many occasions, and has outright declared that he'd act like a dictator and shut down parliament if he doesn't get his way, and they said: "This guy. This is the person who represents what the Conservative Party stands for." Some will probably have genuinely thought that, but I think the majority of tory MPs at the parliamentary party voting stage thought, "the brexit party has become a serious threat and, detest Johnson though I do, unfit for this office though he clearly is, he's realistically the only candidate who can win back the defectors." Literally, how do we keep the party on life-support a bit longer, without realising their actions may hasten the plug being yanked out. Never underestimate a priveleged white man with a monstrous ego and boundless unwarranted confidence Absolutely spot-on, to which I'd add to also not underestimate the British public's weakness for that kind of character. I never cease to be amazed and dismayed by the rock-solid vein of class deference that still runs deep through this country. The very people most likely to be utterly shafted by the likes of Johnson, those who will rail against privilege and entitlement and point out the bad hand they are being dealt, will then vote for him. It's completely infuriating - whatever resentful rhetoric they come out with, they end up tugging their forelocks to the posh rich white men. Those most likely to be adversely affected by a Johnson-led administration and a no-deal brexit seem to be on a determined mission of self-harm.
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Brexit
Jul 23, 2019 15:02:36 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2019 15:02:36 GMT
The popularity and success of Johnson despite mountains of evidence as to his mendacity and incompetence remains bewildering to me. When he ran for London Mayor in 2008, I scoffed thinking nobody would vote for such a figure but two terms later, a stint as MP then a woeful Foreign Secretary and crash bang he's PM. Never underestimate a priveleged white man with a monstrous ego and boundless unwarranted confidence (see also Donald Trump) Rather like Brexit, if someone could point out the actual positives that are brought I am eager to hear them It does confuse me though that many backed away from the challenges May took on as PM given it was such a poisoned chalice and yet 12 (!!) of them lined up for a stab at this go round when surely the chalice is laced with more poison than before and there seems no way out. Ah but now they have a scapegoat! They have proven themselves to be ruthless and cutthroat against each other, no doubt if the end result is diabolical (which is likely) they can blame May's catastrophically failed attempts at anything remotely like a deal.
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Brexit
Jul 23, 2019 17:14:53 GMT
Post by londonpostie on Jul 23, 2019 17:14:53 GMT
Decided it's not a huge deal really, so cancelled the license fee direct debit. I think it was three monthly, and probably about due. Just can't bear the nonsense any longer. Checked to make sure and BBC radio is free so, for now, I'm happier getting my news in weekly recap form, or maybe the Westminster Hour on R4. It feels half the country has been driven three-quarters mad by hair-on-fire 24-hour news. Might one party consider running a manifesto idea of scrapping the licence fee - there has always been factions of the Tory Party that don't like the Beeb and the Labour Party under Corbyn is fairly anti-establishment. Promising to save people £154.50 a year would enable taxes to be put up a bit and still leave people in pocket. This money could be used on NHS, Police etc. A lot of people will wonder why they have to fund Symphony Orchestras and greedy bitches who weren't content with well over 100k per year. I think the idea was valid for its time, in the sense everyone watched the BBC, we didn't know any different and society hadn't fragmented a millions ways as it began to do in the 80s. Literally half the adult population watched Morcambe and Wise ...
Since the 80s the idea has been to offer everyone something - catering for all aspects society to some extent.
The breaking point for me has been news and current affairs, which I don't think has fragmented and we're rather left to self-medicate in a sort of Blair-ite utopia. Nothing irritates more than the mantra 'well if both sides are complaining we must be doing something right' i.e. we dismiss or cut out of te discussion ideas that aren't centrist and or a little to the right. It's a bias designed decades ago to placate the middle class sharp elbows.
As events have shown, if you marginalise and/or disengage with areas of society that aren't well, or at all, represented, it can come back to bite you in te bum.
I'm starting to rant now so it's time to stop. To respond to your point; the BBC does good, sometimes excellent, work in so many areas of the arts. I do't now what the answer is tbh.
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on Jul 23, 2019 17:35:54 GMT
We’ve been at war for some time now, although people generally haven’t cottoned on to it because it has been mostly fought with data, manipulation of media and through state sponsored criminal activity. This is why Putin is there (and he is one of the prime instigators), it’s why the Brexit vote happened and why Trump/Salvini/Erdogan/Le Pen etc are where they are. Weaponised data use is rife, so much so that Cambridge Analytica was supposed to check anything it was doing abroad with the British government. So either the current government knows how the world’s democracies have been destabilised by them or it has turned a blind eye. There is no good answer here.
Brexit is actually only a small part of this, though the goal of destroying a powerful entity that promotes liberal democracy is well served by it. We are at war, yet because we can’t see the bodies piling up, we are imagining that everything will turn out okay.
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Brexit
Jul 23, 2019 18:30:35 GMT
Post by missthelma on Jul 23, 2019 18:30:35 GMT
That's an excellent and quite terrifying post Cardinal Pirelli. Given how much data people give away willingly too, even moreso. I have used a fake online birthday for years now but am becoming more aware of other things now, is there an emoji for a 'shudder'
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Post by Backdrifter on Jul 23, 2019 18:47:20 GMT
I have used a fake online birthday for years now Me too. Often the drop down menu for the year goes back to 1890 so I tend to put that. Not because I think I'm striking a blow to The Man, but because I find it amusing they allow for users who are pushing 130. When I signed up to the C4 player it asked me all the usual stuff and said it was so they could tailor recommendations to my tastes. So I signed up as 130 year old woman and awaited my helpful recommendations. The first one was for New Girl.
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Brexit
Jul 23, 2019 23:30:23 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2019 23:30:23 GMT
Might one party consider running a manifesto idea of scrapping the licence fee - there has always been factions of the Tory Party that don't like the Beeb and the Labour Party under Corbyn is fairly anti-establishment. Promising to save people £154.50 a year would enable taxes to be put up a bit and still leave people in pocket. This money could be used on NHS, Police etc. A lot of people will wonder why they have to fund Symphony Orchestras and greedy bitches who weren't content with well over 100k per year. I think the idea was valid for its time, in the sense everyone watched the BBC, we didn't know any different and society hadn't fragmented a millions ways as it began to do in the 80s. Literally half the adult population watched Morcambe and Wise ...
Since the 80s the idea has been to offer everyone something - catering for all aspects society to some extent.
The breaking point for me has been news and current affairs, which I don't think has fragmented and we're rather left to self-medicate in a sort of Blair-ite utopia. Nothing irritates more than the mantra 'well if both sides are complaining we must be doing something right' i.e. we dismiss or cut out of te discussion ideas that aren't centrist and or a little to the right. It's a bias designed decades ago to placate the middle class sharp elbows.
As events have shown, if you marginalise and/or disengage with areas of society that aren't well, or at all, represented, it can come back to bite you in te bum.
I'm starting to rant now so it's time to stop. To respond to your point; the BBC does good, sometimes excellent, work in so many areas of the arts. I do't now what the answer is tbh.
The BBC's political department or the Addams Family as I call it now due to the weird and wonderful characters in it is still one of the best and has always been the place I go for political news. What annoyed me was the self entitled female mob many on over 150k per year before we throw in all their speaking, conference facilitating, writing books on triathlons etc complaining they weren't being paid enough.
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Post by lynette on Jul 24, 2019 11:29:28 GMT
I don’t know about each woman's salary, large or small, whatever it is, but I think one is entitled to moan a bit if you as a woman or anything else for that matter, are being paid less than a bloke doing the same job.
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Brexit
Jul 24, 2019 14:12:38 GMT
Post by londonpostie on Jul 24, 2019 14:12:38 GMT
Though they aren't paid salaries in the conventional sense of there being a salary for a job type. Each has an agent and the agent negotiates a contract on behalf of their client. If there was a set salary for the job type, paying men and women differently would be illegal under the Equal Pay Act 1970.
And then there's ... the gender pay gap, which is a whole other ballgame.
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Brexit
Jul 24, 2019 17:27:44 GMT
Post by n1david on Jul 24, 2019 17:27:44 GMT
Strong and stable.
Stability obviously the key this evening.
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Post by Backdrifter on Jul 24, 2019 17:35:34 GMT
I don’t know about each woman's salary, large or small, whatever it is, but I think one is entitled to moan a bit if you as a woman or anything else for that matter, are being paid less than a bloke doing the same job. Yes and you're also entitled to, aside from whatever job you hold, write books about whatever you like including strenuous endurance events, do conference speaking or indeed anything else. And you shouldn't then be expected to think "Despite my being paid less than men doing the same broadcasting job, I'm doing all these other things too do I should probably just keep quiet really. Lest I be seen as part of a, oh I don't know, mob or something."
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Brexit
Jul 24, 2019 19:56:17 GMT
via mobile
Post by Backdrifter on Jul 24, 2019 19:56:17 GMT
New cabinet so far looking grim. Priti Patel as Home Sec, someone previously sacked for lying. Javid, a greasy specimen who sucked up to Farage, is Chancellor. Raab, who didn't seem to know we are an island or that the Channel was significant to trade, is Foreign Sec.
But of course, brextremists one and all.
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Post by d'James on Jul 24, 2019 20:05:38 GMT
New cabinet so far looking grim. Priti Patel as Home Sec, someone previously sacked for lying. Javid, a greasy specimen who sucked up to Farage, is Chancellor. Raab, who didn't seem to know we are an island or that the Channel was significant to trade, is Foreign Sec. But of course, brextremists one and all. Prieto Patel as Home Secretary is brextremely scary. Her views on equal marriage and the death penalty in particular.
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Brexit
Jul 31, 2019 21:45:21 GMT
Post by n1david on Jul 31, 2019 21:45:21 GMT
So... all those people who posted earlier this year (mentioning no names) saying that of course a deal would be done and the disputes were all bluster and the EU would fold. Still confident a deal will be done? No-deal Brexit plans to get £2.1bn boost www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-49183324
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Post by adolphus on Jul 31, 2019 23:18:24 GMT
If anyone caves it will be BJ and co. The reality of the chaos a no deal will unleash is quite quickly becoming very clear to everyone including the Keystone Cabinet, hence this panic-stricken announcement. An extra £2.1 bn is a drop in the ocean when you consider it will prob take a few years to restrike new trade deals with the EU or anyone else. Nancy Pelosi and the Irish American lobby have made it quite clear a UK/US deal will never materialise if the GFA is endangered as it is will be if the UK exits without a deal.
BJ said today there would be no hard border in Ireland, but a few hours later we're being told of increased border patrols. And the most vulnerable border is always going to be in Ireland. This fool can't catch his own tail
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Brexit
Aug 1, 2019 21:44:41 GMT
Post by londonpostie on Aug 1, 2019 21:44:41 GMT
This fool isn't spending time in the north promoting a new crossrail and the northern powerhouse becasue of Brexit.
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Brexit
Aug 2, 2019 5:57:18 GMT
via mobile
Post by Someone in a tree on Aug 2, 2019 5:57:18 GMT
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Brexit
Aug 2, 2019 8:23:34 GMT
via mobile
Post by greenice on Aug 2, 2019 8:23:34 GMT
There's a few interesting things about that result:
UKIP in last place behind the Loony Party. Despite all the disarray and chaos, the Tories could conceivably have won with a fresh candidate. Labour only just retains its deposit. Brexit party takes votes from both Labour and Tories.
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Post by Backdrifter on Aug 2, 2019 9:14:15 GMT
the Tories could conceivably have won with a fresh candidate It's as though they wanted to lose. I love that the expenses fabricator then complained of other parties' "dirty" campaigns.
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Brexit
Aug 2, 2019 13:13:52 GMT
Post by The Matthew on Aug 2, 2019 13:13:52 GMT
I love that the expenses fabricator then complained of other parties' "dirty" campaigns. How dare they cheat by being popular and honest.
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Brexit
Aug 2, 2019 14:35:17 GMT
Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2019 14:35:17 GMT
The Tories lost this seat at a by-election in the 1980's. The Brexit Party voters were more likely disgruntled Tory than Labour voters I'd think. Labour likely lost a fair few to Lib Dems.
The maths in the commons get very tight now, factor in the guy in Sheffield who is stepping down next month. That was Nick Clegg's old seat so I could see that going back to Lib Dems too.
Does Boris try to button down the hatches for a No Deal and then maybe have an election afterwards. That would negate Farage and once we are out then to get back in would be much harder for Remainers to demand immediately.
Any coalition between Labour and SNP would only happen if SNP got another independence referendum and minus the SNP and their own Scottish seats Labour would find it impossible to win enough seats to govern unless it was a 1997 landslide type result.
Plus I'll throw in - The Tories have been in power 9 years - will be 12 if this Parliament runs it's full term. Few parties remain in power longer than that so if Labour don't win next election, I'd say they are fairly certain to win the one after that be it 2027 or anytime before that.
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Brexit
Aug 2, 2019 14:44:11 GMT
Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2019 14:44:11 GMT
The Tories lost this seat at a by-election in the 1980's. The Brexit Party voters were more likely disgruntled Tory than Labour voters I'd think. Labour likely lost a fair few to Lib Dems. The maths in the commons get very tight now, factor in the guy in Sheffield who is stepping down next month. That was Nick Clegg's old seat so I could see that going back to Lib Dems too. Does Boris try to button down the hatches for a No Deal and then maybe have an election afterwards. That would negate Farage and once we are out then to get back in would be much harder for Remainers to demand immediately. Any coalition between Labour and SNP would only happen if SNP got another independence referendum and minus the SNP and their own Scottish seats Labour would find it impossible to win enough seats to govern unless it was a 1997 landslide type result. Plus I'll throw in - The Tories have been in power 9 years - will be 12 if this Parliament runs it's full term. Few parties remain in power longer than that so if Labour don't win next election, I'd say they are fairly certain to win the one after that be it 2027 or anytime before that.Oh good lord thats a depressing thought
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Post by missthelma on Aug 7, 2019 13:00:05 GMT
So I'm guessing everyone is feeling super relaxed at the minute what with it all going so swimmingly well?
I am currently toying with buying another freezer (chest?) to fill up with food whilst we still have access.
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Brexit
Aug 7, 2019 14:09:10 GMT
Post by The Matthew on Aug 7, 2019 14:09:10 GMT
If Boris Johnson is ousted before the middle of November he'll have had the shortest time in office of any PM. Will he make it...?
As for the food situation, I expect it'll be like the petrol shortage a few years ago. There wasn't a supply problem at all but a sudden panic over the rumour that there was one drove people to make it true for a couple of days, and then everything went back to normal.
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Post by Latecomer on Aug 7, 2019 14:25:54 GMT
I get so frustrated at all this....it really is not worth watching the news on a regular basis as it changes so much day to day. The most sensible suggestion I can see is to revoke article 50 and then have a series of people’s assemblies throughout the country trying to establish what caused people to vote for “Brexit” and what they meant by it....seems to me we still don't even know that! Surely if this technique can be used by the Irish to tackle the most sensitive issue of abortion then it should be possible to use it to investigate this further (see Wikipedia on it, it’s fascinating how it worked). I have very little hope that that is what will actually happen....how the hell have we got to the state where it seems as though Boris will do anything to crash us out with a no deal Brexit even though parliament has shown that’s not something they would vote through? Take back control? Democracy?
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