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Has Johnson got it right clamping down on home working? – politicalbetting.com

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  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 28,368
    Dura_Ace said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    Carnyx said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    I shot down a drone that some arsehole was flying over our property at the weekend so I am fully expecting a visit from the Old Bill at some point. If I disappear it's because the WiFi is shit in HMP Frankland. (MANPADS employed: Adler A110, 24" barrel, #5 steel shot)

    Was it hovering or how much did you have to lead it?
    Hovering outside the kitchen fucking window. Mrs DA was out and knows nothing about it. It's going to be a lovely surprise for her.
    Has she not noticed the massive shotgun hole in the shattered kitchen window yet?

    Anyway, good on you. What was it doing spying through your kitchen window. ****. 'em!
    I reckon it's some sort of semi-sophisticated rural burglary operation. Flying ISTAR missions to look for quad bikes, etc. to nick.
    Well shooting to he ****** down should be viewed as a civic duty, public service. Good work!
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 13,501
    Applicant said:

    Taz said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Government transparency latest. Cabinet Office refuses to reveal cost of taxpayer of "custom built" wardrobe in former Johnson aide's office.

    Top scoop by @SophiaSleigh

    https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/cabinet-office-refuses-to-reveal-price-of-custom-built-wardrobe-for-ex-johnson-aide_uk_624c3061e4b068157f7c4540

    “Scoop” 😂😂😂😂
    I'm unable to report facts or figures, I'm a newshound!

    I have a scoop - the cabinet office have not confirmed to me the price or colour of Boris Johnson's pants and whether they are tax payer funded
    If, as you imply, the wardrobe is unimportant, why is the government set on keeping it secret?
    Wardrobegate. We demand answers.

    First question. If they simply answered surely it would be a brief story quickly forgotten - by not answering the fools have erected a huge sign - LOOK HERE, LOOK AT THIS,
    I saw a man pushing a lion and a witch into a wardrobe. I asked him what he was doing, he said "Narnia business".
    Fantastic. 😀
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,561

    Dura_Ace said:

    I shot down a drone that some arsehole was flying over our property at the weekend so I am fully expecting a visit from the Old Bill at some point. If I disappear it's because the WiFi is shit in HMP Frankland. (MANPADS employed: Adler A110, 24" barrel, #5 steel shot)

    Amusing, but I suspect that will be their excuse to revoke your shotgun certificate.
    We've all seen footage of those drones dropping bombs in Ukraine. I was acting in self defence, your honour....
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 10,061
    edited May 2022

    Unpopular said:

    Scott_xP said:

    This appears to be a major change. Now saying he’ll resign if the police say he breached rules, not just if he’s issued an FPN. https://twitter.com/REWearmouth/status/1526172579958071296

    Must be confident he isn't going to even get his wrist slapped.

    I honestly though that was going to be the politically convenient fudge for everybody. Plod say looks like there was probably a minor breach, but even if they had known about it at the time, they would have just advised how to ensure better adherence to the rules. Then, Starmer gets to play man of integrity card.
    Apologies if I'm getting my scandals mixed up, but surely that won't wash since, I believe, plod were there?
    Yes. Security detail were at Partygate and Beergate. No one can get away with lying.

    Except possibly the police.

    “ looks like there was probably a minor breach, but even if they had known about it at the time, they would have just advised how to ensure better adherence to the rules.”

    so what you thinking was the minor breach? Rules for mixing indoors not same as partygate, all they need to at currygate is isay they worked through takeaway and on afterwards, they don’t even have to prove it, it had to be proved they didn’t - sounds like they did or they didn’t, what can be a minor breach of those rules? Not keeping two poppadoms apart?
    It had to be reasonably necessary for work. They could, for example, have given everyone an hour to go to a takeout or eat alone outdoors at a pub etc. Inconvenient, but that's what the rest of us were stuck with.
    Hence they needed to be doing something as part of the 15 person meal workwise that required them to all be there.
    'It wouldn't have made sense to all go off on our own' is not an excuse.
    Which is the point- the rules he eagerly supported were complete bollocks
    Still doesn’t answer the question though, what exactly are you proving they did wrong, even for just an advisory note?
    They need to show the meal and being 'gathered together we 15' was reasonably necessary for work purposes, or rather the police merely need to say they do not believe it was and a breach of the guidelines and law, technical or otherwise, has occurred

    Edit - 15 people were not allowed to eat together indoors except where reasonably necessary for work. 15 people did, the onus is on them to show it was reasonably necessary
  • Nigel_ForemainNigel_Foremain Posts: 14,310

    Scott_xP said:

    This appears to be a major change. Now saying he’ll resign if the police say he breached rules, not just if he’s issued an FPN. https://twitter.com/REWearmouth/status/1526172579958071296

    Must be confident he isn't going to even get his wrist slapped.

    I honestly though that was going to be the politically convenient fudge for everybody. Plod say looks like there was probably a minor breach, but even if they had known about it at the time, they would have just advised how to ensure better adherence to the rules. Then, Starmer gets to play man of integrity card.
    It could be that he is that that people believe is a rare thing in politicians - a person with genuine integrity. I think you can probably also list Brown, Major and Thatcher, and perhaps Cameron in that list. It is not as rare as apologists for Boris Johnson would like you to believe.
    Brown had integrity. You are having a laugh right. A man who knew nothing about 2 guys sitting right next to him organising disgusting smear campaigns.
    OK, strike him from the list. I was trying to have a bit of balance. Robin Cook then. Ugly fecker, but he had integrity.
    What about his dalliance with Gaynor?
    Forgotten about that. Power is a strange aphrodisiac. You would think it impossible for Robin Cook or John Prescott to find anyone to have a dalliance with, but apparently not.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 81,991
    Goldman Sachs to offer senior staff unlimited holiday
    https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61465605

    But the dogs bodies down the chain, no extra days off for you.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,153

    Goldman Sachs to offer senior staff unlimited holiday
    https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61465605

    But the dogs bodies down the chain, no extra days off for you.

    When I was there, management always used to say that it was a better motivator to offer "aspirational pay". That is, people would work harder now for the opportunity to earn more money when they were more senior.

    I was never completely convinced by the theory.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 28,368
    Scott_xP said:

    Breaking: Sinn Fein’s @MaryLouMcDonald says they’ve had a “tough” meeting with the pm and clear that the British govt priority is not getting Stormont up and running. https://twitter.com/AnushkaAsthana/status/1526200658948497408/photo/1

    She says “in the mind of Boris Johnson government here in the north” involves placating dup on protocol. “Our absolute dismay” that this is where we are at.

    It is touch and go as to whether Corbyn would have been a worse Prime Minister, and he was a solid 0/10 rating for the role.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 81,991
    edited May 2022
    rcs1000 said:

    Goldman Sachs to offer senior staff unlimited holiday
    https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61465605

    But the dogs bodies down the chain, no extra days off for you.

    When I was there, management always used to say that it was a better motivator to offer "aspirational pay". That is, people would work harder now for the opportunity to earn more money when they were more senior.

    I was never completely convinced by the theory.
    Sounds like the drug dealer economy....corner boy on minimum wage, keeping them keen.
  • FlatlanderFlatlander Posts: 4,664
    edited May 2022

    Goldman Sachs to offer senior staff unlimited holiday
    https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61465605

    But the dogs bodies down the chain, no extra days off for you.

    "Unlimited Holiday" as long as you don't take any...
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 71,070
    The Russian 'Lib Dems' ...

    https://mobile.twitter.com/kamilkazani/status/1526200298343129090
    On April 20, Russian MP from the Liberal-Democratic Party Sergey Leonov suggested forcing the Ukrainian POWs to donate their blood.

    His exact framing is very interesting:

    "There is an offer for the Ukrainian POWs to become the compulsory (в обязательном порядке) blood donors"
  • northern_monkeynorthern_monkey Posts: 1,639
    edited May 2022
    Foaming, madcap, swivel-eyed Remoanerism from the *checks notes* Associate Editor of the Daily Telegraph.

    The FT article Warner’s commenting on, by Andrew Posen, is decidedly more punchy in tone than Warner’s tweet. I referenced a blog post pointing out the economic damage of Brexit a couple of weeks ago that was in turn referencing Posen, and got a scolding from Leon for my lack of understanding of economics.

    Well, I happily concede I don’t understand economics. But I also don’t distrust experts. If the FT are happy to publish Posen and a senior member of staff from the DT agrees with the argument, that’s good enough for me.


  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 35,990

    It is touch and go as to whether Corbyn would have been a worse Prime Minister, and he was a solid 0/10 rating for the role.

    BoZo really is going to have "breakup of the UK" as his legacy.
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 10,061
    Nigelb said:

    The Russian 'Lib Dems' ...

    https://mobile.twitter.com/kamilkazani/status/1526200298343129090
    On April 20, Russian MP from the Liberal-Democratic Party Sergey Leonov suggested forcing the Ukrainian POWs to donate their blood.

    His exact framing is very interesting:

    "There is an offer for the Ukrainian POWs to become the compulsory (в обязательном порядке) blood donors"

    Turns out Vampire Ed Davey was evil's kingpin
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,835
    edited May 2022

    Foaming, madcap, swivel-eyed Remoanerism from the *checks notes* Associate Editor of the Daily Telegraph.

    The FT article Warner’s commenting on, by Andrew Posen, is decidedly more punchy in tone than Warner’s tweet. I referenced a blog post pointing out the economic damage of Brexit a couple of weeks ago that was in turn referencing Posen, and got a scolding from Leon for my lack of understanding of economics.

    Well, I happily concede I don’t understand economics. But I also don’t distrust experts. If the FT are happy to publish Posen and a senior member of staff from the DT agrees with the argument, that’s good enough for me.


    I looked at his twitter site just to make sure there wasn't a "/2 but it is still well worth it" tweet. But there doesn't seem to be. Instead, I found this ...

    https://twitter.com/JeremyWarnerUK/status/1526134365759184897?cxt=HHwWgoC96dXH9a0qAAAA

    'Best policy on the NI Protocol is not to pass a law to suspend it, which apart from threatening relations with the US is just political signalling of little immediate practical significance, but indefinite extension of grace periods, putting the ball firmly in the EU's court.'
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 13,501
    edited May 2022

    Unpopular said:

    Scott_xP said:

    This appears to be a major change. Now saying he’ll resign if the police say he breached rules, not just if he’s issued an FPN. https://twitter.com/REWearmouth/status/1526172579958071296

    Must be confident he isn't going to even get his wrist slapped.

    I honestly though that was going to be the politically convenient fudge for everybody. Plod say looks like there was probably a minor breach, but even if they had known about it at the time, they would have just advised how to ensure better adherence to the rules. Then, Starmer gets to play man of integrity card.
    Apologies if I'm getting my scandals mixed up, but surely that won't wash since, I believe, plod were there?
    Yes. Security detail were at Partygate and Beergate. No one can get away with lying.

    Except possibly the police.

    “ looks like there was probably a minor breach, but even if they had known about it at the time, they would have just advised how to ensure better adherence to the rules.”

    so what you thinking was the minor breach? Rules for mixing indoors not same as partygate, all they need to at currygate is isay they worked through takeaway and on afterwards, they don’t even have to prove it, it had to be proved they didn’t - sounds like they did or they didn’t, what can be a minor breach of those rules? Not keeping two poppadoms apart?
    It had to be reasonably necessary for work. They could, for example, have given everyone an hour to go to a takeout or eat alone outdoors at a pub etc. Inconvenient, but that's what the rest of us were stuck with.
    Hence they needed to be doing something as part of the 15 person meal workwise that required them to all be there.
    'It wouldn't have made sense to all go off on our own' is not an excuse.
    Which is the point- the rules he eagerly supported were complete bollocks
    Still doesn’t answer the question though, what exactly are you proving they did wrong, even for just an advisory note?
    They need to show the meal and being 'gathered together we 15' was reasonably necessary for work purposes, or rather the police merely need to say they do not believe it was and a breach of the guidelines and law, technical or otherwise, has occurred

    Edit - 15 people were not allowed to eat together indoors except where reasonably necessary for work. 15 people did, the onus is on them to show it was reasonably necessary
    Shouldn’t be too difficult that? Top politicians in election campaign wouldn’t expect to be standard hours, and to make the most of all in one place opportunities for days wash up and planning. Especially as they passed police phone and server logs to prove they were working, can’t really leave police with much of a doubt?
  • northern_monkeynorthern_monkey Posts: 1,639
    Carnyx said:

    Foaming, madcap, swivel-eyed Remoanerism from the *checks notes* Associate Editor of the Daily Telegraph.

    The FT article Warner’s commenting on, by Andrew Posen, is decidedly more punchy in tone than Warner’s tweet. I referenced a blog post pointing out the economic damage of Brexit a couple of weeks ago that was in turn referencing Posen, and got a scolding from Leon for my lack of understanding of economics.

    Well, I happily concede I don’t understand economics. But I also don’t distrust experts. If the FT are happy to publish Posen and a senior member of staff from the DT agrees with the argument, that’s good enough for me.


    I looked at his twitter site just to make sure there wasn't a "/2 but it is still well worth it" tweet. But there doesn't seem to be. Instead, I found this ...

    https://twitter.com/JeremyWarnerUK/status/1526134365759184897?cxt=HHwWgoC96dXH9a0qAAAA

    'Best policy on the NI Protocol is not to pass a law to suspend it, which apart from threatening relations with the US is just political signalling of little immediate practical significance, but indefinite extension of grace periods, putting the ball firmly in the EU's court.'
    ‘Taking back control.’
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 13,501

    Dura_Ace said:

    I shot down a drone that some arsehole was flying over our property at the weekend so I am fully expecting a visit from the Old Bill at some point. If I disappear it's because the WiFi is shit in HMP Frankland. (MANPADS employed: Adler A110, 24" barrel, #5 steel shot)

    Amusing, but I suspect that will be their excuse to revoke your shotgun certificate.
    We've all seen footage of those drones dropping bombs in Ukraine. I was acting in self defence, your honour....
    “FREE THE PB ONE” We are all behind you Ace! Even though you don’t know who we are.
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 10,061

    Unpopular said:

    Scott_xP said:

    This appears to be a major change. Now saying he’ll resign if the police say he breached rules, not just if he’s issued an FPN. https://twitter.com/REWearmouth/status/1526172579958071296

    Must be confident he isn't going to even get his wrist slapped.

    I honestly though that was going to be the politically convenient fudge for everybody. Plod say looks like there was probably a minor breach, but even if they had known about it at the time, they would have just advised how to ensure better adherence to the rules. Then, Starmer gets to play man of integrity card.
    Apologies if I'm getting my scandals mixed up, but surely that won't wash since, I believe, plod were there?
    Yes. Security detail were at Partygate and Beergate. No one can get away with lying.

    Except possibly the police.

    “ looks like there was probably a minor breach, but even if they had known about it at the time, they would have just advised how to ensure better adherence to the rules.”

    so what you thinking was the minor breach? Rules for mixing indoors not same as partygate, all they need to at currygate is isay they worked through takeaway and on afterwards, they don’t even have to prove it, it had to be proved they didn’t - sounds like they did or they didn’t, what can be a minor breach of those rules? Not keeping two poppadoms apart?
    It had to be reasonably necessary for work. They could, for example, have given everyone an hour to go to a takeout or eat alone outdoors at a pub etc. Inconvenient, but that's what the rest of us were stuck with.
    Hence they needed to be doing something as part of the 15 person meal workwise that required them to all be there.
    'It wouldn't have made sense to all go off on our own' is not an excuse.
    Which is the point- the rules he eagerly supported were complete bollocks
    Still doesn’t answer the question though, what exactly are you proving they did wrong, even for just an advisory note?
    They need to show the meal and being 'gathered together we 15' was reasonably necessary for work purposes, or rather the police merely need to say they do not believe it was and a breach of the guidelines and law, technical or otherwise, has occurred

    Edit - 15 people were not allowed to eat together indoors except where reasonably necessary for work. 15 people did, the onus is on them to show it was reasonably necessary
    Shouldn’t be too difficult that? Top politicians in election campaign wouldn’t expect to be standard hours, and to make the most of all in one place opportunities for wash up and planning. Especially as they passed police phone and server logs to prove they were working, can’t really leave police with much of a doubt?
    Well, given witnesses present have said no work was done and some of them were pissed there's clearly some doubt from some that it was necessary, dilligent work. And 'wash up and planning' do not require you to breach the rules on numbers indoors together. It can be done remotely, via zoom etc. 'Making the most of all in one place opportunities' was indeed explicitly against the guidelines for campaigning during Covid. In person meetings were to be minimized.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 122,921

    Goldman Sachs to offer senior staff unlimited holiday
    https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61465605

    But the dogs bodies down the chain, no extra days off for you.

    Though they will be required to take at least 3 weeks annual leave
  • tlg86tlg86 Posts: 26,175
    Compare and contrast:

    https://talksport.com/football/fa-cup/1087521/manchester-city-apology-liverpool-hillsborough-fa-cup/amp/

    Manchester City have issued an apology on behalf of the supporters who booed during the tribute to those affected by the Hillsborough disaster.

    https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11669/12614482/jurgen-klopp-liverpool-manager-does-not-expect-man-city-to-drop-points-against-aston-villa

    Klopp said: "Of course I have thoughts, but in these situations, I think the question is why does it happen?

    "I maybe haven't been here long enough to understand the reasons for it. The majority of our supporters are wonderful people - really smart, go through lows and highs, suffer together.

    "They wouldn't do it without reason, but it was not something I enjoyed."
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 4,587

    Carnyx said:

    Foaming, madcap, swivel-eyed Remoanerism from the *checks notes* Associate Editor of the Daily Telegraph.

    The FT article Warner’s commenting on, by Andrew Posen, is decidedly more punchy in tone than Warner’s tweet. I referenced a blog post pointing out the economic damage of Brexit a couple of weeks ago that was in turn referencing Posen, and got a scolding from Leon for my lack of understanding of economics.

    Well, I happily concede I don’t understand economics. But I also don’t distrust experts. If the FT are happy to publish Posen and a senior member of staff from the DT agrees with the argument, that’s good enough for me.


    I looked at his twitter site just to make sure there wasn't a "/2 but it is still well worth it" tweet. But there doesn't seem to be. Instead, I found this ...

    https://twitter.com/JeremyWarnerUK/status/1526134365759184897?cxt=HHwWgoC96dXH9a0qAAAA

    'Best policy on the NI Protocol is not to pass a law to suspend it, which apart from threatening relations with the US is just political signalling of little immediate practical significance, but indefinite extension of grace periods, putting the ball firmly in the EU's court.'
    ‘Taking back control.’
    This refers to grace periods on UK to NI exports, i.e the grace periods effectively allow smuggling into NI, which we don’t care about but the EU do. Your comment would make sense if it were in relation to the extension of grace periods on EU to UK export, at any border. That is a lack-of-taking-control on our part, arguably.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,835

    Carnyx said:

    Foaming, madcap, swivel-eyed Remoanerism from the *checks notes* Associate Editor of the Daily Telegraph.

    The FT article Warner’s commenting on, by Andrew Posen, is decidedly more punchy in tone than Warner’s tweet. I referenced a blog post pointing out the economic damage of Brexit a couple of weeks ago that was in turn referencing Posen, and got a scolding from Leon for my lack of understanding of economics.

    Well, I happily concede I don’t understand economics. But I also don’t distrust experts. If the FT are happy to publish Posen and a senior member of staff from the DT agrees with the argument, that’s good enough for me.


    I looked at his twitter site just to make sure there wasn't a "/2 but it is still well worth it" tweet. But there doesn't seem to be. Instead, I found this ...

    https://twitter.com/JeremyWarnerUK/status/1526134365759184897?cxt=HHwWgoC96dXH9a0qAAAA

    'Best policy on the NI Protocol is not to pass a law to suspend it, which apart from threatening relations with the US is just political signalling of little immediate practical significance, but indefinite extension of grace periods, putting the ball firmly in the EU's court.'
    ‘Taking back control.’
    Hmm. We've got a majority in NI for Remain, a majority voting for parties not to scrap the NIP, business leaders of lots of kinds saying HMG is flat out lying it's bad for them, and now the DT is rowing back ... I know the DUP don't like dinosaurs, but the comparison with dinosaurs 65 and a bit million years ago is inevitably growing.
  • MISTYMISTY Posts: 1,594
    tlg86 said:

    Compare and contrast:

    https://talksport.com/football/fa-cup/1087521/manchester-city-apology-liverpool-hillsborough-fa-cup/amp/

    Manchester City have issued an apology on behalf of the supporters who booed during the tribute to those affected by the Hillsborough disaster.

    https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11669/12614482/jurgen-klopp-liverpool-manager-does-not-expect-man-city-to-drop-points-against-aston-villa

    Klopp said: "Of course I have thoughts, but in these situations, I think the question is why does it happen?

    "I maybe haven't been here long enough to understand the reasons for it. The majority of our supporters are wonderful people - really smart, go through lows and highs, suffer together.

    "They wouldn't do it without reason, but it was not something I enjoyed."

    Actually I think Klopp has a point. It might be instructive to ask the supporters what is was, exactly, they were booing?
  • NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,523



    I wonder how many people working from home are aware of their right to claim part of their energy costs, council tax, etc, against their income tax?

    Hasn’t WFH tax rebate already scrapped?
    No, but you now have to show that your employer requires you to wfh. People working hybrid don't get it any more.
  • MalcolmDunnMalcolmDunn Posts: 139
    My experience of dealing with companies with large numbers of staff working from home mostly in financial services but also in travel related businesses is that their efficiency has fallen off a cliff. Covid disruption is no longer an acceptable excuse for poor service.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 51,627
    @vonderleyen
    Dear Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, congratulations on your reelection today.

    The EU faces unprecedented challenges.

    I look forward to working together to ensure we can collectively address them successfully.


    https://twitter.com/vonderleyen/status/1526193863890706432

    @eucopresident
    In these testing times, the EU’s unity and sovereignty are our main strengths.

    Congratulations on your re-election dear Viktor Orban and looking forward to our continued cooperation at the European Council.


    https://twitter.com/eucopresident/status/1526198093124886528
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,835
    HYUFD said:

    Goldman Sachs to offer senior staff unlimited holiday
    https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61465605

    But the dogs bodies down the chain, no extra days off for you.

    Though they will be required to take at least 3 weeks annual leave
    Big deal.

    Law of the land requires that, indeed significantly more.

    https://www.gov.uk/holiday-entitlement-rights

    That is the entitlement - not the actual leave taken which can be shuffled between years eg for hols - but plainly the 3 week limit is not sustainable in the long term.
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 13,501

    Unpopular said:

    Scott_xP said:

    This appears to be a major change. Now saying he’ll resign if the police say he breached rules, not just if he’s issued an FPN. https://twitter.com/REWearmouth/status/1526172579958071296

    Must be confident he isn't going to even get his wrist slapped.

    I honestly though that was going to be the politically convenient fudge for everybody. Plod say looks like there was probably a minor breach, but even if they had known about it at the time, they would have just advised how to ensure better adherence to the rules. Then, Starmer gets to play man of integrity card.
    Apologies if I'm getting my scandals mixed up, but surely that won't wash since, I believe, plod were there?
    Yes. Security detail were at Partygate and Beergate. No one can get away with lying.

    Except possibly the police.

    “ looks like there was probably a minor breach, but even if they had known about it at the time, they would have just advised how to ensure better adherence to the rules.”

    so what you thinking was the minor breach? Rules for mixing indoors not same as partygate, all they need to at currygate is isay they worked through takeaway and on afterwards, they don’t even have to prove it, it had to be proved they didn’t - sounds like they did or they didn’t, what can be a minor breach of those rules? Not keeping two poppadoms apart?
    It had to be reasonably necessary for work. They could, for example, have given everyone an hour to go to a takeout or eat alone outdoors at a pub etc. Inconvenient, but that's what the rest of us were stuck with.
    Hence they needed to be doing something as part of the 15 person meal workwise that required them to all be there.
    'It wouldn't have made sense to all go off on our own' is not an excuse.
    Which is the point- the rules he eagerly supported were complete bollocks
    Still doesn’t answer the question though, what exactly are you proving they did wrong, even for just an advisory note?
    They need to show the meal and being 'gathered together we 15' was reasonably necessary for work purposes, or rather the police merely need to say they do not believe it was and a breach of the guidelines and law, technical or otherwise, has occurred

    Edit - 15 people were not allowed to eat together indoors except where reasonably necessary for work. 15 people did, the onus is on them to show it was reasonably necessary
    Shouldn’t be too difficult that? Top politicians in election campaign wouldn’t expect to be standard hours, and to make the most of all in one place opportunities for wash up and planning. Especially as they passed police phone and server logs to prove they were working, can’t really leave police with much of a doubt?
    Well, given witnesses present have said no work was done and some of them were pissed there's clearly some doubt from some that it was necessary, dilligent work. And 'wash up and planning' do not require you to breach the rules on numbers indoors together. It can be done remotely, via zoom etc. 'Making the most of all in one place opportunities' was indeed explicitly against the guidelines for campaigning during Covid. In person meetings were to be minimized.
    I believe the whistleblowers only went as far as saying some people didn’t do much work, treated it more as a social, and this has in turn been disputed. Can the police actually use that to prove guilt on anyone? Trusting so much on testimony of a whistleblower has caused police so much grief in other cases hasn’t it, they are bound to be cautious, or even have a different take direct from whistleblower witnesses than we have via the media?
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 33,431
    Can an old man, long retired comment on the WFH; I've experienced most of the options.
    Mother, a self-employed retail pharmacist while I was small, ran her own pharmacy in one of those shops, once common, where the proprietor lived behind and over. Her sister was full-time caring (father was away; wartime). Mother could, and did pop into the living area sometimes.
    Later on I ran a pharmacy but lived elsewhere, so arrived 8.45 or so, left at 6.15 or so. Similar when I worked in a hospital..... go to work, stay until finishing time, go home.
    However I've also run a consultancy from home, where I had to go to site, come home and write up.

    That was probably the best, quality of life-wise.
  • ApplicantApplicant Posts: 3,379
    Carnyx said:

    HYUFD said:

    Goldman Sachs to offer senior staff unlimited holiday
    https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61465605

    But the dogs bodies down the chain, no extra days off for you.

    Though they will be required to take at least 3 weeks annual leave
    Big deal.

    Law of the land requires that, indeed significantly more.

    https://www.gov.uk/holiday-entitlement-rights

    That is the entitlement - not the actual leave taken which can be shuffled between years eg for hols - but plainly the 3 week limit is not sustainable in the long term.
    That's an entitlement rather than a requirement, though.
  • northern_monkeynorthern_monkey Posts: 1,639
    carnforth said:

    Carnyx said:

    Foaming, madcap, swivel-eyed Remoanerism from the *checks notes* Associate Editor of the Daily Telegraph.

    The FT article Warner’s commenting on, by Andrew Posen, is decidedly more punchy in tone than Warner’s tweet. I referenced a blog post pointing out the economic damage of Brexit a couple of weeks ago that was in turn referencing Posen, and got a scolding from Leon for my lack of understanding of economics.

    Well, I happily concede I don’t understand economics. But I also don’t distrust experts. If the FT are happy to publish Posen and a senior member of staff from the DT agrees with the argument, that’s good enough for me.


    I looked at his twitter site just to make sure there wasn't a "/2 but it is still well worth it" tweet. But there doesn't seem to be. Instead, I found this ...

    https://twitter.com/JeremyWarnerUK/status/1526134365759184897?cxt=HHwWgoC96dXH9a0qAAAA

    'Best policy on the NI Protocol is not to pass a law to suspend it, which apart from threatening relations with the US is just political signalling of little immediate practical significance, but indefinite extension of grace periods, putting the ball firmly in the EU's court.'
    ‘Taking back control.’
    This refers to grace periods on UK to NI exports, i.e the grace periods effectively allow smuggling into NI, which we don’t care about but the EU do. Your comment would make sense if it were in relation to the extension of grace periods on EU to UK export, at any border. That is a lack-of-taking-control on our part, arguably.
    Told you I don’t understand economics!
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 13,501

    Nigelb said:

    The Russian 'Lib Dems' ...

    https://mobile.twitter.com/kamilkazani/status/1526200298343129090
    On April 20, Russian MP from the Liberal-Democratic Party Sergey Leonov suggested forcing the Ukrainian POWs to donate their blood.

    His exact framing is very interesting:

    "There is an offer for the Ukrainian POWs to become the compulsory (в обязательном порядке) blood donors"

    Turns out Vampire Ed Davey was evil's kingpin
    No. He was hiking at the time.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,835
    edited May 2022
    Applicant said:

    Carnyx said:

    HYUFD said:

    Goldman Sachs to offer senior staff unlimited holiday
    https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61465605

    But the dogs bodies down the chain, no extra days off for you.

    Though they will be required to take at least 3 weeks annual leave
    Big deal.

    Law of the land requires that, indeed significantly more.

    https://www.gov.uk/holiday-entitlement-rights

    That is the entitlement - not the actual leave taken which can be shuffled between years eg for hols - but plainly the 3 week limit is not sustainable in the long term.
    That's an entitlement rather than a requirement, though.
    That's a difference I did take into account. GS can't tell me to work 3 weeks one year and then turn round and say I can only have 3 weeks the next year and **** the carry over.

    Edit: and if HMG says it is a right, that sounds like an entitlement to me.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 122,921
    Carnyx said:

    HYUFD said:

    Goldman Sachs to offer senior staff unlimited holiday
    https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61465605

    But the dogs bodies down the chain, no extra days off for you.

    Though they will be required to take at least 3 weeks annual leave
    Big deal.

    Law of the land requires that, indeed significantly more.

    https://www.gov.uk/holiday-entitlement-rights

    That is the entitlement - not the actual leave taken which can be shuffled between years eg for hols - but plainly the 3 week limit is not sustainable in the long term.
    Given even first year junior analysts at Goldmans get £79,000 a year pretty good deal still in my view

    https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/aug/02/goldman-sachs-raises-pay-for-junior-bankers-after-100-hour-week-complaints
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,835
    HYUFD said:

    Carnyx said:

    HYUFD said:

    Goldman Sachs to offer senior staff unlimited holiday
    https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61465605

    But the dogs bodies down the chain, no extra days off for you.

    Though they will be required to take at least 3 weeks annual leave
    Big deal.

    Law of the land requires that, indeed significantly more.

    https://www.gov.uk/holiday-entitlement-rights

    That is the entitlement - not the actual leave taken which can be shuffled between years eg for hols - but plainly the 3 week limit is not sustainable in the long term.
    Given even first year junior analysts at Goldmans get £79,000 a year pretty good deal still in my view

    https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/aug/02/goldman-sachs-raises-pay-for-junior-bankers-after-100-hour-week-complaints
    Even so, simply flat out not following the law of the land is not a good look. For one thing, it doesn't help with industrial tribunals.
  • ApplicantApplicant Posts: 3,379
    Carnyx said:

    Applicant said:

    Carnyx said:

    HYUFD said:

    Goldman Sachs to offer senior staff unlimited holiday
    https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61465605

    But the dogs bodies down the chain, no extra days off for you.

    Though they will be required to take at least 3 weeks annual leave
    Big deal.

    Law of the land requires that, indeed significantly more.

    https://www.gov.uk/holiday-entitlement-rights

    That is the entitlement - not the actual leave taken which can be shuffled between years eg for hols - but plainly the 3 week limit is not sustainable in the long term.
    That's an entitlement rather than a requirement, though.
    That's a difference I did take into account. GS can't tell me to work 3 weeks one year and then turn round and say I can only have 3 weeks the next year and **** the carry over.

    Edit: and if HMG says it is a right, that sounds like an entitlement to me.
    I think we're talking at cross purposes here.

    The government says " you have the right to 28 days holiday" but doesn't set a minimum.

    GS is saying "you must take at least 15 days including five consecutive" but (for senior staff) isn't setting a maximum.
  • NerysHughesNerysHughes Posts: 3,375
    edited May 2022

    My experience of dealing with companies with large numbers of staff working from home mostly in financial services but also in travel related businesses is that their efficiency has fallen off a cliff. Covid disruption is no longer an acceptable excuse for poor service.

    Absolutely, my experience of dealing with people working from home it that the work does not happen.
    Councils I deal with are still doing it, their huge offices remian empty and it is a nightmare as their systems are no longer followed and trying to get payment or an answer from them takes 10 times as long as before.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,835
    Applicant said:

    Carnyx said:

    Applicant said:

    Carnyx said:

    HYUFD said:

    Goldman Sachs to offer senior staff unlimited holiday
    https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61465605

    But the dogs bodies down the chain, no extra days off for you.

    Though they will be required to take at least 3 weeks annual leave
    Big deal.

    Law of the land requires that, indeed significantly more.

    https://www.gov.uk/holiday-entitlement-rights

    That is the entitlement - not the actual leave taken which can be shuffled between years eg for hols - but plainly the 3 week limit is not sustainable in the long term.
    That's an entitlement rather than a requirement, though.
    That's a difference I did take into account. GS can't tell me to work 3 weeks one year and then turn round and say I can only have 3 weeks the next year and **** the carry over.

    Edit: and if HMG says it is a right, that sounds like an entitlement to me.
    I think we're talking at cross purposes here.

    The government says " you have the right to 28 days holiday" but doesn't set a minimum.

    GS is saying "you must take at least 15 days including five consecutive" but (for senior staff) isn't setting a maximum.
    Beg to differ, this sets a clear minimum (but can include Bank Holidays - though these dont' amount to 13 days a year do they?)

    "Most workers who work a 5-day week must receive at least 28 days’ paid annual leave a year. This is the equivalent of 5.6 weeks of holiday."
  • eekeek Posts: 28,370
    Applicant said:

    Carnyx said:

    Applicant said:

    Carnyx said:

    HYUFD said:

    Goldman Sachs to offer senior staff unlimited holiday
    https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61465605

    But the dogs bodies down the chain, no extra days off for you.

    Though they will be required to take at least 3 weeks annual leave
    Big deal.

    Law of the land requires that, indeed significantly more.

    https://www.gov.uk/holiday-entitlement-rights

    That is the entitlement - not the actual leave taken which can be shuffled between years eg for hols - but plainly the 3 week limit is not sustainable in the long term.
    That's an entitlement rather than a requirement, though.
    That's a difference I did take into account. GS can't tell me to work 3 weeks one year and then turn round and say I can only have 3 weeks the next year and **** the carry over.

    Edit: and if HMG says it is a right, that sounds like an entitlement to me.
    I think we're talking at cross purposes here.

    The government says " you have the right to 28 days holiday" but doesn't set a minimum.

    GS is saying "you must take at least 15 days including five consecutive" but (for senior staff) isn't setting a maximum.
    That 15 days is I suspect is for Americans who get sod all holiday usually...
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,821
    Applicant said:

    I think we're talking at cross purposes here.

    The government says " you have the right to 28 days holiday" but doesn't set a minimum.

    GS is saying "you must take at least 15 days including five consecutive" but (for senior staff) isn't setting a maximum.

    Banks and some other financial services companies are required by the regulator to ensure that employees have a minimum of a certain number of consecutive days' holiday annually. It's a bit of an oddity. The reason for it something to do with fraud being easier to cover up if a dishonest employee never takes holiday.
  • Great to see Finland and Sweden both formally confirming applications to join NATO.

    In four months the Great Russian Bear has been humiliated by Slava Ukraini, pushed back first from Kyiv and then from Kherson and seen two nations famous for neutrality for decades now aligning with NATO.

    And now NATO are talking openly about the possibility of Ukraine winning the war. If they do, they should join NATO themselves.

    What a catastrophic humiliating screw up by Putin.
  • ApplicantApplicant Posts: 3,379
    Carnyx said:

    Applicant said:

    Carnyx said:

    Applicant said:

    Carnyx said:

    HYUFD said:

    Goldman Sachs to offer senior staff unlimited holiday
    https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61465605

    But the dogs bodies down the chain, no extra days off for you.

    Though they will be required to take at least 3 weeks annual leave
    Big deal.

    Law of the land requires that, indeed significantly more.

    https://www.gov.uk/holiday-entitlement-rights

    That is the entitlement - not the actual leave taken which can be shuffled between years eg for hols - but plainly the 3 week limit is not sustainable in the long term.
    That's an entitlement rather than a requirement, though.
    That's a difference I did take into account. GS can't tell me to work 3 weeks one year and then turn round and say I can only have 3 weeks the next year and **** the carry over.

    Edit: and if HMG says it is a right, that sounds like an entitlement to me.
    I think we're talking at cross purposes here.

    The government says " you have the right to 28 days holiday" but doesn't set a minimum.

    GS is saying "you must take at least 15 days including five consecutive" but (for senior staff) isn't setting a maximum.
    Beg to differ, this sets a clear minimum (but can include Bank Holidays - though these dont' amount to 13 days a year do they?)

    "Most workers who work a 5-day week must receive at least 28 days’ paid annual leave a year. This is the equivalent of 5.6 weeks of holiday."
    That's a clear minimum entitlement - it doesn't say anything about how many days an employee must actually take.
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 13,501

    My experience of dealing with companies with large numbers of staff working from home mostly in financial services but also in travel related businesses is that their efficiency has fallen off a cliff. Covid disruption is no longer an acceptable excuse for poor service.

    Absolutely, my experience of dealing with people working from home it that the work does not happen.
    Councils I deal with are still doing it, their huge offices remian empty and it is a nightmare as their systems are no longer followed and trying to get payment or an answer from them takes 10 times as long as before.
    I think to sum up question in this thread header, No, most posts in reply a surprisingly on topic thread, we DONT think Boris Johnson has got it wrong, or out of step with public opinion on this.
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 10,061
    edited May 2022

    Unpopular said:

    Scott_xP said:

    This appears to be a major change. Now saying he’ll resign if the police say he breached rules, not just if he’s issued an FPN. https://twitter.com/REWearmouth/status/1526172579958071296

    Must be confident he isn't going to even get his wrist slapped.

    I honestly though that was going to be the politically convenient fudge for everybody. Plod say looks like there was probably a minor breach, but even if they had known about it at the time, they would have just advised how to ensure better adherence to the rules. Then, Starmer gets to play man of integrity card.
    Apologies if I'm getting my scandals mixed up, but surely that won't wash since, I believe, plod were there?
    Yes. Security detail were at Partygate and Beergate. No one can get away with lying.

    Except possibly the police.

    “ looks like there was probably a minor breach, but even if they had known about it at the time, they would have just advised how to ensure better adherence to the rules.”

    so what you thinking was the minor breach? Rules for mixing indoors not same as partygate, all they need to at currygate is isay they worked through takeaway and on afterwards, they don’t even have to prove it, it had to be proved they didn’t - sounds like they did or they didn’t, what can be a minor breach of those rules? Not keeping two poppadoms apart?
    It had to be reasonably necessary for work. They could, for example, have given everyone an hour to go to a takeout or eat alone outdoors at a pub etc. Inconvenient, but that's what the rest of us were stuck with.
    Hence they needed to be doing something as part of the 15 person meal workwise that required them to all be there.
    'It wouldn't have made sense to all go off on our own' is not an excuse.
    Which is the point- the rules he eagerly supported were complete bollocks
    Still doesn’t answer the question though, what exactly are you proving they did wrong, even for just an advisory note?
    They need to show the meal and being 'gathered together we 15' was reasonably necessary for work purposes, or rather the police merely need to say they do not believe it was and a breach of the guidelines and law, technical or otherwise, has occurred

    Edit - 15 people were not allowed to eat together indoors except where reasonably necessary for work. 15 people did, the onus is on them to show it was reasonably necessary
    Shouldn’t be too difficult that? Top politicians in election campaign wouldn’t expect to be standard hours, and to make the most of all in one place opportunities for wash up and planning. Especially as they passed police phone and server logs to prove they were working, can’t really leave police with much of a doubt?
    Well, given witnesses present have said no work was done and some of them were pissed there's clearly some doubt from some that it was necessary, dilligent work. And 'wash up and planning' do not require you to breach the rules on numbers indoors together. It can be done remotely, via zoom etc. 'Making the most of all in one place opportunities' was indeed explicitly against the guidelines for campaigning during Covid. In person meetings were to be minimized.
    I believe the whistleblowers only went as far as saying some people didn’t do much work, treated it more as a social, and this has in turn been disputed. Can the police actually use that to prove guilt on anyone? Trusting so much on testimony of a whistleblower has caused police so much grief in other cases hasn’t it, they are bound to be cautious, or even have a different take direct from whistleblower witnesses than we have via the media?
    Well, we will see what they have gathered I guess but essentially if there's enough 'doubt' they can fudge it, say it looks like there may have been a breach, that they aren't issuing retrospective fines but have spoken to all concerned to ensure they are aware of their responsibilities 'should such a situation arise in future'. Or 'spoken to everyone about the importance of following the law in its entirety'
    And Starmer is left with a tricky choice.
    Also note there is no need to 'prove guilt' for a FPN, they just need to be reasonably sure it would hold up if taken to court in dispute.

    Edit - and from a public perspective, it remains the case that we all had to jump through stupid hoops, so there is simply no valid reason from a fairness perspective for SKS to have sat down and had booze and supper with 14 other people indoors. It was simply unnecessary. Convenient, perhaps, but it would have been convenient for a lot of us to do a lot of things we couldn't
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 13,501
    This could be a thing. 😟. Did UK government get its deal with RWANDA by promising to extradite people living in UK the Rwandan claim are criminals and up till now UK not handed over?

    “British judges have blocked extradition on the grounds the suspects would not receive a fair trial in Rwanda.”
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 71,070

    Great to see Finland and Sweden both formally confirming applications to join NATO.

    In four months the Great Russian Bear has been humiliated by Slava Ukraini, pushed back first from Kyiv and then from Kherson and seen two nations famous for neutrality for decades now aligning with NATO.

    And now NATO are talking openly about the possibility of Ukraine winning the war. If they do, they should join NATO themselves.

    What a catastrophic humiliating screw up by Putin.

    An admission that his reason for the special military operation was bollocks from the start.

    https://twitter.com/DAlperovitch/status/1526175012096548864
    Putin today:
    NATO expansion is artificial. Russia has no problems with Finland and Sweden, so their entry into NATO does not pose an immediate threat. Russia's response to the entry of Finland and Sweden into NATO will depend on the expansion of the alliance's infrastructure...
  • StuartDicksonStuartDickson Posts: 12,146
    Big day in Sweden, and a lot of politicians here are making memorable statements. The atmosphere is grave.

    Our foreign minister Ann Linde just said on the SR P1 NATO special (think BBC R4 abandons whole schedule and dedicates channel to the NATO application):

    - “… är det en ökad sårbarhet för Sverige. Det är helt klart.

    … Därför så har vi också varit noga med och se till och fått säkerhetsförsäkringar från de stora länderna som USA, Frankrike, Tyskland, de nordiska länderna och så vidare, för att öka säkerheten.”

    - ”… it is an increased vulnerability for Sweden. That's quite clear.

    … Therefore, we have also been careful to ensure and receive security promises from the major countries such as the United States, France, Germany, the Nordic countries and so on, to increase security.”

    Hmm… sorry Boris, when it comes to selling NATO to the Swedish people, there is one state nobody is boasting about. The “UK” is just an “etc”.
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 63,034
    edited May 2022
    Anyone listening to the governor of the Bank of England being questioned by the Treasury Select Committee would not be comforted by his comments, as the combination of the Ukraine war with it's effect on the supply of wheat to the world, to the likelyhood of oil and gas price hikes continuing for an inderminnate period as reliance on Russia as a supplier is sidelined, and the looming disaster of the effects of covid and China's zero covid policy, leaves them virtually powerless to mitigate the economic damage in a meaningful way
  • Nigelb said:

    Great to see Finland and Sweden both formally confirming applications to join NATO.

    In four months the Great Russian Bear has been humiliated by Slava Ukraini, pushed back first from Kyiv and then from Kherson and seen two nations famous for neutrality for decades now aligning with NATO.

    And now NATO are talking openly about the possibility of Ukraine winning the war. If they do, they should join NATO themselves.

    What a catastrophic humiliating screw up by Putin.

    An admission that his reason for the special military operation was bollocks from the start.

    https://twitter.com/DAlperovitch/status/1526175012096548864
    Putin today:
    NATO expansion is artificial. Russia has no problems with Finland and Sweden, so their entry into NATO does not pose an immediate threat. Russia's response to the entry of Finland and Sweden into NATO will depend on the expansion of the alliance's infrastructure...
    Also an admission that despite all his bellicose rhetoric about NATO expansion, the defanged Russian bear has been revealed to be utterly impotent and can't do anything about expansion. While they're comprehensively failing in a war with Ukraine, they're not going to open a second front in Finland.

    Now is the perfect cover for any Eastern European nations who aren't under the umbrella of NATO protection to take the opportunity to do so, fast.
  • eekeek Posts: 28,370

    Anyone listening to the governor of the Bank of England being questioned by the Treasury Select Committee would not be comforted by his comments, as the combination of the Ukraine war with it's effect on the supply of wheat to the world, to the likelyhood of oil and gas price hikes continuing for an inderminnate period as reliance on Russia as a supplier is sidelined, and the looming disaster of the effects of covid and China's zero covid policy, leaves them virtually powerless to mitigate the economic damage in a meaningful way

    Any excuse to avoid raising interest rates...

    However, nothing he is saying there is incorrect but with interest rates set at current levels you would be insane not to maximise your borrowing...
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 32,557
    O/T

    Disaster in North Korea according to Dr John Campbell.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcWxX68y19E
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 10,061
    edited May 2022

    Nigelb said:

    Great to see Finland and Sweden both formally confirming applications to join NATO.

    In four months the Great Russian Bear has been humiliated by Slava Ukraini, pushed back first from Kyiv and then from Kherson and seen two nations famous for neutrality for decades now aligning with NATO.

    And now NATO are talking openly about the possibility of Ukraine winning the war. If they do, they should join NATO themselves.

    What a catastrophic humiliating screw up by Putin.

    An admission that his reason for the special military operation was bollocks from the start.

    https://twitter.com/DAlperovitch/status/1526175012096548864
    Putin today:
    NATO expansion is artificial. Russia has no problems with Finland and Sweden, so their entry into NATO does not pose an immediate threat. Russia's response to the entry of Finland and Sweden into NATO will depend on the expansion of the alliance's infrastructure...
    Also an admission that despite all his bellicose rhetoric about NATO expansion, the defanged Russian bear has been revealed to be utterly impotent and can't do anything about expansion. While they're comprehensively failing in a war with Ukraine, they're not going to open a second front in Finland.

    Now is the perfect cover for any Eastern European nations who aren't under the umbrella of NATO protection to take the opportunity to do so, fast.
    Moldova and Austria are the only 2 left (Belarus is pro russian). Moldova vacillates between pro Russian and pro European and is very unlikely to join. Austria.... not sure they are bothered and is more central Europe anyway
    Serbia is an ally of Russia
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 42,835
    edited May 2022
    Applicant said:

    Carnyx said:

    Applicant said:

    Carnyx said:

    Applicant said:

    Carnyx said:

    HYUFD said:

    Goldman Sachs to offer senior staff unlimited holiday
    https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61465605

    But the dogs bodies down the chain, no extra days off for you.

    Though they will be required to take at least 3 weeks annual leave
    Big deal.

    Law of the land requires that, indeed significantly more.

    https://www.gov.uk/holiday-entitlement-rights

    That is the entitlement - not the actual leave taken which can be shuffled between years eg for hols - but plainly the 3 week limit is not sustainable in the long term.
    That's an entitlement rather than a requirement, though.
    That's a difference I did take into account. GS can't tell me to work 3 weeks one year and then turn round and say I can only have 3 weeks the next year and **** the carry over.

    Edit: and if HMG says it is a right, that sounds like an entitlement to me.
    I think we're talking at cross purposes here.

    The government says " you have the right to 28 days holiday" but doesn't set a minimum.

    GS is saying "you must take at least 15 days including five consecutive" but (for senior staff) isn't setting a maximum.
    Beg to differ, this sets a clear minimum (but can include Bank Holidays - though these dont' amount to 13 days a year do they?)

    "Most workers who work a 5-day week must receive at least 28 days’ paid annual leave a year. This is the equivalent of 5.6 weeks of holiday."
    That's a clear minimum entitlement - it doesn't say anything about how many days an employee must actually take.
    Quite, and if they are sacked for taking their entitlement then they have a clear cut case for constructive dismissal.

    Edit: what's so odd is that when one takes BHs into account there's not that much difference with the law, so they are obviously breaching that for not much margin.
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 8,653

    Big day in Sweden, and a lot of politicians here are making memorable statements. The atmosphere is grave.

    Our foreign minister Ann Linde just said on the SR P1 NATO special (think BBC R4 abandons whole schedule and dedicates channel to the NATO application):

    - “… är det en ökad sårbarhet för Sverige. Det är helt klart.

    … Därför så har vi också varit noga med och se till och fått säkerhetsförsäkringar från de stora länderna som USA, Frankrike, Tyskland, de nordiska länderna och så vidare, för att öka säkerheten.”

    - ”… it is an increased vulnerability for Sweden. That's quite clear.

    … Therefore, we have also been careful to ensure and receive security promises from the major countries such as the United States, France, Germany, the Nordic countries and so on, to increase security.”

    Hmm… sorry Boris, when it comes to selling NATO to the Swedish people, there is one state nobody is boasting about. The “UK” is just an “etc”.

    Commiserations. Looks like Ireland for you.
  • BurgessianBurgessian Posts: 2,747

    Big day in Sweden, and a lot of politicians here are making memorable statements. The atmosphere is grave.

    Our foreign minister Ann Linde just said on the SR P1 NATO special (think BBC R4 abandons whole schedule and dedicates channel to the NATO application):

    - “… är det en ökad sårbarhet för Sverige. Det är helt klart.

    … Därför så har vi också varit noga med och se till och fått säkerhetsförsäkringar från de stora länderna som USA, Frankrike, Tyskland, de nordiska länderna och så vidare, för att öka säkerheten.”

    - ”… it is an increased vulnerability for Sweden. That's quite clear.

    … Therefore, we have also been careful to ensure and receive security promises from the major countries such as the United States, France, Germany, the Nordic countries and so on, to increase security.”

    Hmm… sorry Boris, when it comes to selling NATO to the Swedish people, there is one state nobody is boasting about. The “UK” is just an “etc”.

    Wow! You posted all that just to get a pathetic dig in? I hope you're not WFH as well...
    Poor ole @StuartDickson

    Must be all these strange Swedes he seems to knows. All the ones I've been in contact with seem to be pretty cool about the UK's approach to Ukraine and support for Swedish accession to NATO.
  • MISTYMISTY Posts: 1,594

    Anyone listening to the governor of the Bank of England being questioned by the Treasury Select Committee would not be comforted by his comments, as the combination of the Ukraine war with it's effect on the supply of wheat to the world, to the likelyhood of oil and gas price hikes continuing for an inderminnate period as reliance on Russia as a supplier is sidelined, and the looming disaster of the effects of covid and China's zero covid policy, leaves them virtually powerless to mitigate the economic damage in a meaningful way


    I think I'm right in saying UK inflation was at 5% before the Ukraine crisis started, partly as a result of Bailey cranking up the money printing machine to bankroll Johnson and Sunak.

    You would think the tory MPs would be grateful. Now they want to put Bailey in the dock. Imagine if Bailey had refused to keep printing at some point.
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 63,034

    Big day in Sweden, and a lot of politicians here are making memorable statements. The atmosphere is grave.

    Our foreign minister Ann Linde just said on the SR P1 NATO special (think BBC R4 abandons whole schedule and dedicates channel to the NATO application):

    - “… är det en ökad sårbarhet för Sverige. Det är helt klart.

    … Därför så har vi också varit noga med och se till och fått säkerhetsförsäkringar från de stora länderna som USA, Frankrike, Tyskland, de nordiska länderna och så vidare, för att öka säkerheten.”

    - ”… it is an increased vulnerability for Sweden. That's quite clear.

    … Therefore, we have also been careful to ensure and receive security promises from the major countries such as the United States, France, Germany, the Nordic countries and so on, to increase security.”

    Hmm… sorry Boris, when it comes to selling NATO to the Swedish people, there is one state nobody is boasting about. The “UK” is just an “etc”.

    Highly predictable comment from the most anti UK poster on this site

    Many would reject this attitude not least with the current actions of Germany and France enabling Putin's war machine to continue

    https://www.business-standard.com/article/international/uk-signs-security-deal-with-sweden-and-finland-marking-steadfast-support-122051100990_1.html
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 13,501

    Unpopular said:

    Scott_xP said:

    This appears to be a major change. Now saying he’ll resign if the police say he breached rules, not just if he’s issued an FPN. https://twitter.com/REWearmouth/status/1526172579958071296

    Must be confident he isn't going to even get his wrist slapped.

    I honestly though that was going to be the politically convenient fudge for everybody. Plod say looks like there was probably a minor breach, but even if they had known about it at the time, they would have just advised how to ensure better adherence to the rules. Then, Starmer gets to play man of integrity card.
    Apologies if I'm getting my scandals mixed up, but surely that won't wash since, I believe, plod were there?
    Yes. Security detail were at Partygate and Beergate. No one can get away with lying.

    Except possibly the police.

    “ looks like there was probably a minor breach, but even if they had known about it at the time, they would have just advised how to ensure better adherence to the rules.”

    so what you thinking was the minor breach? Rules for mixing indoors not same as partygate, all they need to at currygate is isay they worked through takeaway and on afterwards, they don’t even have to prove it, it had to be proved they didn’t - sounds like they did or they didn’t, what can be a minor breach of those rules? Not keeping two poppadoms apart?
    It had to be reasonably necessary for work. They could, for example, have given everyone an hour to go to a takeout or eat alone outdoors at a pub etc. Inconvenient, but that's what the rest of us were stuck with.
    Hence they needed to be doing something as part of the 15 person meal workwise that required them to all be there.
    'It wouldn't have made sense to all go off on our own' is not an excuse.
    Which is the point- the rules he eagerly supported were complete bollocks
    Still doesn’t answer the question though, what exactly are you proving they did wrong, even for just an advisory note?
    They need to show the meal and being 'gathered together we 15' was reasonably necessary for work purposes, or rather the police merely need to say they do not believe it was and a breach of the guidelines and law, technical or otherwise, has occurred

    Edit - 15 people were not allowed to eat together indoors except where reasonably necessary for work. 15 people did, the onus is on them to show it was reasonably necessary
    Shouldn’t be too difficult that? Top politicians in election campaign wouldn’t expect to be standard hours, and to make the most of all in one place opportunities for wash up and planning. Especially as they passed police phone and server logs to prove they were working, can’t really leave police with much of a doubt?
    Well, given witnesses present have said no work was done and some of them were pissed there's clearly some doubt from some that it was necessary, dilligent work. And 'wash up and planning' do not require you to breach the rules on numbers indoors together. It can be done remotely, via zoom etc. 'Making the most of all in one place opportunities' was indeed explicitly against the guidelines for campaigning during Covid. In person meetings were to be minimized.
    I believe the whistleblowers only went as far as saying some people didn’t do much work, treated it more as a social, and this has in turn been disputed. Can the police actually use that to prove guilt on anyone? Trusting so much on testimony of a whistleblower has caused police so much grief in other cases hasn’t it, they are bound to be cautious, or even have a different take direct from whistleblower witnesses than we have via the media?
    Well, we will see what they have gathered I guess but essentially if there's enough 'doubt' they can fudge it, say it looks like there may have been a breach, that they aren't issuing retrospective fines but have spoken to all concerned to ensure they are aware of their responsibilities 'should such a situation arise in future'. Or 'spoken to everyone about the importance of following the law in its entirety'
    And Starmer is left with a tricky choice.
    Also note there is no need to 'prove guilt' for a FPN, they just need to be reasonably sure it would hold up if taken to court in dispute.

    Edit - and from a public perspective, it remains the case that we all had to jump through stupid hoops, so there is simply no valid reason from a fairness perspective for SKS to have sat down and had booze and supper with 14 other people indoors. It was simply unnecessary. Convenient, perhaps, but it would have been convenient for a lot of us to do a lot of things we couldn't
    “ Starmer is left with a tricky choice.”. Tricky choice? I think he would declare himself exonerated if the outcome was as you described.

    With Partygate, where there was no excuse to be socialising indoors with a beer, but they paid taxpayers money to a photographer to show them socialising indoors with a beer, open and shut case not likely to go to court. Anyone at beergate though, as it’s not so obvious to show wrongdoing, might feel aggrieved enough to take it to court, police will have to be very “reasonably sure” they wouldn’t lose in court.

    “no valid reason from a fairness perspective for SKS to have sat down and had booze and supper with 14 other people indoors. It was simply unnecessary. Convenient, perhaps”. Absolutely right. But it’s not what they did though, they worked, grabbed takeaway whilst working. 100% smack bang in middle of rules at the time.
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 10,061
    Andy_JS said:

    O/T

    Disaster in North Korea according to Dr John Campbell.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcWxX68y19E

    Very dangerous. If the populace get angry and rise, risk is Kim goes for the war distraction
  • StuartDicksonStuartDickson Posts: 12,146
    Applicant said:

    Big day in Sweden, and a lot of politicians here are making memorable statements. The atmosphere is grave.

    Our foreign minister Ann Linde just said on the SR P1 NATO special (think BBC R4 abandons whole schedule and dedicates channel to the NATO application):

    - “… är det en ökad sårbarhet för Sverige. Det är helt klart.

    … Därför så har vi också varit noga med och se till och fått säkerhetsförsäkringar från de stora länderna som USA, Frankrike, Tyskland, de nordiska länderna och så vidare, för att öka säkerheten.”

    - ”… it is an increased vulnerability for Sweden. That's quite clear.

    … Therefore, we have also been careful to ensure and receive security promises from the major countries such as the United States, France, Germany, the Nordic countries and so on, to increase security.”

    Hmm… sorry Boris, when it comes to selling NATO to the Swedish people, there is one state nobody is boasting about. The “UK” is just an “etc”.

    That's because we already have a security arrangement with Sweden independent of (if not entirely orthogonal to) NATO.
    Nope. The UK is just one among a very long list of states who have made the same independent interim security arrangements with Sweden. And the UK arrangement is not even deemed significant enough for the foreign minister to even mention it. She obviously doesn’t read PB.
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 13,501
    MISTY said:

    Anyone listening to the governor of the Bank of England being questioned by the Treasury Select Committee would not be comforted by his comments, as the combination of the Ukraine war with it's effect on the supply of wheat to the world, to the likelyhood of oil and gas price hikes continuing for an inderminnate period as reliance on Russia as a supplier is sidelined, and the looming disaster of the effects of covid and China's zero covid policy, leaves them virtually powerless to mitigate the economic damage in a meaningful way


    I think I'm right in saying UK inflation was at 5% before the Ukraine crisis started, partly as a result of Bailey cranking up the money printing machine to bankroll Johnson and Sunak.

    You would think the tory MPs would be grateful. Now they want to put Bailey in the dock. Imagine if Bailey had refused to keep printing at some point.
    Nonsense. The government are not to blame for inflation, the bottom line is the Bank of England is INDEPENDENT.

    An INDEPENDENT institution messing up its main job controlling inflation, and hypocrites trying to blame government for this.
  • StuartDicksonStuartDickson Posts: 12,146

    MISTY said:

    Anyone listening to the governor of the Bank of England being questioned by the Treasury Select Committee would not be comforted by his comments, as the combination of the Ukraine war with it's effect on the supply of wheat to the world, to the likelyhood of oil and gas price hikes continuing for an inderminnate period as reliance on Russia as a supplier is sidelined, and the looming disaster of the effects of covid and China's zero covid policy, leaves them virtually powerless to mitigate the economic damage in a meaningful way


    I think I'm right in saying UK inflation was at 5% before the Ukraine crisis started, partly as a result of Bailey cranking up the money printing machine to bankroll Johnson and Sunak.

    You would think the tory MPs would be grateful. Now they want to put Bailey in the dock. Imagine if Bailey had refused to keep printing at some point.
    Nonsense. The government are not to blame for inflation, the bottom line is the Bank of England is INDEPENDENT.

    An INDEPENDENT institution messing up its main job controlling inflation, and hypocrites trying to blame government for this.
    So, you’re a “Lib Dem” are you?

    You fail the duck test.
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 10,061

    Unpopular said:

    Scott_xP said:

    This appears to be a major change. Now saying he’ll resign if the police say he breached rules, not just if he’s issued an FPN. https://twitter.com/REWearmouth/status/1526172579958071296

    Must be confident he isn't going to even get his wrist slapped.

    I honestly though that was going to be the politically convenient fudge for everybody. Plod say looks like there was probably a minor breach, but even if they had known about it at the time, they would have just advised how to ensure better adherence to the rules. Then, Starmer gets to play man of integrity card.
    Apologies if I'm getting my scandals mixed up, but surely that won't wash since, I believe, plod were there?
    Yes. Security detail were at Partygate and Beergate. No one can get away with lying.

    Except possibly the police.

    “ looks like there was probably a minor breach, but even if they had known about it at the time, they would have just advised how to ensure better adherence to the rules.”

    so what you thinking was the minor breach? Rules for mixing indoors not same as partygate, all they need to at currygate is isay they worked through takeaway and on afterwards, they don’t even have to prove it, it had to be proved they didn’t - sounds like they did or they didn’t, what can be a minor breach of those rules? Not keeping two poppadoms apart?
    It had to be reasonably necessary for work. They could, for example, have given everyone an hour to go to a takeout or eat alone outdoors at a pub etc. Inconvenient, but that's what the rest of us were stuck with.
    Hence they needed to be doing something as part of the 15 person meal workwise that required them to all be there.
    'It wouldn't have made sense to all go off on our own' is not an excuse.
    Which is the point- the rules he eagerly supported were complete bollocks
    Still doesn’t answer the question though, what exactly are you proving they did wrong, even for just an advisory note?
    They need to show the meal and being 'gathered together we 15' was reasonably necessary for work purposes, or rather the police merely need to say they do not believe it was and a breach of the guidelines and law, technical or otherwise, has occurred

    Edit - 15 people were not allowed to eat together indoors except where reasonably necessary for work. 15 people did, the onus is on them to show it was reasonably necessary
    Shouldn’t be too difficult that? Top politicians in election campaign wouldn’t expect to be standard hours, and to make the most of all in one place opportunities for wash up and planning. Especially as they passed police phone and server logs to prove they were working, can’t really leave police with much of a doubt?
    Well, given witnesses present have said no work was done and some of them were pissed there's clearly some doubt from some that it was necessary, dilligent work. And 'wash up and planning' do not require you to breach the rules on numbers indoors together. It can be done remotely, via zoom etc. 'Making the most of all in one place opportunities' was indeed explicitly against the guidelines for campaigning during Covid. In person meetings were to be minimized.
    I believe the whistleblowers only went as far as saying some people didn’t do much work, treated it more as a social, and this has in turn been disputed. Can the police actually use that to prove guilt on anyone? Trusting so much on testimony of a whistleblower has caused police so much grief in other cases hasn’t it, they are bound to be cautious, or even have a different take direct from whistleblower witnesses than we have via the media?
    Well, we will see what they have gathered I guess but essentially if there's enough 'doubt' they can fudge it, say it looks like there may have been a breach, that they aren't issuing retrospective fines but have spoken to all concerned to ensure they are aware of their responsibilities 'should such a situation arise in future'. Or 'spoken to everyone about the importance of following the law in its entirety'
    And Starmer is left with a tricky choice.
    Also note there is no need to 'prove guilt' for a FPN, they just need to be reasonably sure it would hold up if taken to court in dispute.

    Edit - and from a public perspective, it remains the case that we all had to jump through stupid hoops, so there is simply no valid reason from a fairness perspective for SKS to have sat down and had booze and supper with 14 other people indoors. It was simply unnecessary. Convenient, perhaps, but it would have been convenient for a lot of us to do a lot of things we couldn't
    “ Starmer is left with a tricky choice.”. Tricky choice? I think he would declare himself exonerated if the outcome was as you described.

    With Partygate, where there was no excuse to be socialising indoors with a beer, but they paid taxpayers money to a photographer to show them socialising indoors with a beer, open and shut case not likely to go to court. Anyone at beergate though, as it’s not so obvious to show wrongdoing, might feel aggrieved enough to take it to court, police will have to be very “reasonably sure” they wouldn’t lose in court.

    “no valid reason from a fairness perspective for SKS to have sat down and had booze and supper with 14 other people indoors. It was simply unnecessary. Convenient, perhaps”. Absolutely right. But it’s not what they did though, they worked, grabbed takeaway whilst working. 100% smack bang in middle of rules at the time.
    He declares himself a lot of things. Others will differ. And it will taint him in the eyes of many.

    They did not 'grab a takeaway', the meal was pre-planned, it does not state on the plan that it is a working meal, some have said no work took place, others differ. Time will tell, but it's certainly impossible to conclude either it was legal or not at this stage as we weren't there, we can only believe what we believe to be the case.
  • MISTYMISTY Posts: 1,594

    MISTY said:

    Anyone listening to the governor of the Bank of England being questioned by the Treasury Select Committee would not be comforted by his comments, as the combination of the Ukraine war with it's effect on the supply of wheat to the world, to the likelyhood of oil and gas price hikes continuing for an inderminnate period as reliance on Russia as a supplier is sidelined, and the looming disaster of the effects of covid and China's zero covid policy, leaves them virtually powerless to mitigate the economic damage in a meaningful way


    I think I'm right in saying UK inflation was at 5% before the Ukraine crisis started, partly as a result of Bailey cranking up the money printing machine to bankroll Johnson and Sunak.

    You would think the tory MPs would be grateful. Now they want to put Bailey in the dock. Imagine if Bailey had refused to keep printing at some point.
    Nonsense. The government are not to blame for inflation, the bottom line is the Bank of England is INDEPENDENT.

    An INDEPENDENT institution messing up its main job controlling inflation, and hypocrites trying to blame government for this.
    So Bailey should have refused to bankroll furlough and bounceback beyond a certain point, on the pretext inflation would inevitably surge....?

    hmmn....
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 13,501
    edited May 2022

    Unpopular said:

    Scott_xP said:

    This appears to be a major change. Now saying he’ll resign if the police say he breached rules, not just if he’s issued an FPN. https://twitter.com/REWearmouth/status/1526172579958071296

    Must be confident he isn't going to even get his wrist slapped.

    I honestly though that was going to be the politically convenient fudge for everybody. Plod say looks like there was probably a minor breach, but even if they had known about it at the time, they would have just advised how to ensure better adherence to the rules. Then, Starmer gets to play man of integrity card.
    Apologies if I'm getting my scandals mixed up, but surely that won't wash since, I believe, plod were there?
    Yes. Security detail were at Partygate and Beergate. No one can get away with lying.

    Except possibly the police.

    “ looks like there was probably a minor breach, but even if they had known about it at the time, they would have just advised how to ensure better adherence to the rules.”

    so what you thinking was the minor breach? Rules for mixing indoors not same as partygate, all they need to at currygate is isay they worked through takeaway and on afterwards, they don’t even have to prove it, it had to be proved they didn’t - sounds like they did or they didn’t, what can be a minor breach of those rules? Not keeping two poppadoms apart?
    It had to be reasonably necessary for work. They could, for example, have given everyone an hour to go to a takeout or eat alone outdoors at a pub etc. Inconvenient, but that's what the rest of us were stuck with.
    Hence they needed to be doing something as part of the 15 person meal workwise that required them to all be there.
    'It wouldn't have made sense to all go off on our own' is not an excuse.
    Which is the point- the rules he eagerly supported were complete bollocks
    Still doesn’t answer the question though, what exactly are you proving they did wrong, even for just an advisory note?
    They need to show the meal and being 'gathered together we 15' was reasonably necessary for work purposes, or rather the police merely need to say they do not believe it was and a breach of the guidelines and law, technical or otherwise, has occurred

    Edit - 15 people were not allowed to eat together indoors except where reasonably necessary for work. 15 people did, the onus is on them to show it was reasonably necessary
    Shouldn’t be too difficult that? Top politicians in election campaign wouldn’t expect to be standard hours, and to make the most of all in one place opportunities for wash up and planning. Especially as they passed police phone and server logs to prove they were working, can’t really leave police with much of a doubt?
    Well, given witnesses present have said no work was done and some of them were pissed there's clearly some doubt from some that it was necessary, dilligent work. And 'wash up and planning' do not require you to breach the rules on numbers indoors together. It can be done remotely, via zoom etc. 'Making the most of all in one place opportunities' was indeed explicitly against the guidelines for campaigning during Covid. In person meetings were to be minimized.
    I believe the whistleblowers only went as far as saying some people didn’t do much work, treated it more as a social, and this has in turn been disputed. Can the police actually use that to prove guilt on anyone? Trusting so much on testimony of a whistleblower has caused police so much grief in other cases hasn’t it, they are bound to be cautious, or even have a different take direct from whistleblower witnesses than we have via the media?
    Well, we will see what they have gathered I guess but essentially if there's enough 'doubt' they can fudge it, say it looks like there may have been a breach, that they aren't issuing retrospective fines but have spoken to all concerned to ensure they are aware of their responsibilities 'should such a situation arise in future'. Or 'spoken to everyone about the importance of following the law in its entirety'
    And Starmer is left with a tricky choice.
    Also note there is no need to 'prove guilt' for a FPN, they just need to be reasonably sure it would hold up if taken to court in dispute.

    Edit - and from a public perspective, it remains the case that we all had to jump through stupid hoops, so there is simply no valid reason from a fairness perspective for SKS to have sat down and had booze and supper with 14 other people indoors. It was simply unnecessary. Convenient, perhaps, but it would have been convenient for a lot of us to do a lot of things we couldn't
    “ Starmer is left with a tricky choice.”. Tricky choice? I think he would declare himself exonerated if the outcome was as you described.

    With Partygate, where there was no excuse to be socialising indoors with a beer, but they paid taxpayers money to a photographer to show them socialising indoors with a beer, open and shut case not likely to go to court. Anyone at beergate though, as it’s not so obvious to show wrongdoing, might feel aggrieved enough to take it to court, police will have to be very “reasonably sure” they wouldn’t lose in court.

    “no valid reason from a fairness perspective for SKS to have sat down and had booze and supper with 14 other people indoors. It was simply unnecessary. Convenient, perhaps”. Absolutely right. But it’s not what they did though, they worked, grabbed takeaway whilst working. 100% smack bang in middle of rules at the time.
    He declares himself a lot of things. Others will differ. And it will taint him in the eyes of many.

    They did not 'grab a takeaway', the meal was pre-planned, it does not state on the plan that it is a working meal, some have said no work took place, others differ. Time will tell, but it's certainly impossible to conclude either it was legal or not at this stage as we weren't there, we can only believe what we believe to be the case.
    Exactly. We’ll trust the police. 🙂

    You know the meal wasn’t in the same room as the working?
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 50,255

    Nigelb said:

    Great to see Finland and Sweden both formally confirming applications to join NATO.

    In four months the Great Russian Bear has been humiliated by Slava Ukraini, pushed back first from Kyiv and then from Kherson and seen two nations famous for neutrality for decades now aligning with NATO.

    And now NATO are talking openly about the possibility of Ukraine winning the war. If they do, they should join NATO themselves.

    What a catastrophic humiliating screw up by Putin.

    An admission that his reason for the special military operation was bollocks from the start.

    https://twitter.com/DAlperovitch/status/1526175012096548864
    Putin today:
    NATO expansion is artificial. Russia has no problems with Finland and Sweden, so their entry into NATO does not pose an immediate threat. Russia's response to the entry of Finland and Sweden into NATO will depend on the expansion of the alliance's infrastructure...
    Also an admission that despite all his bellicose rhetoric about NATO expansion, the defanged Russian bear has been revealed to be utterly impotent and can't do anything about expansion. While they're comprehensively failing in a war with Ukraine, they're not going to open a second front in Finland.

    Now is the perfect cover for any Eastern European nations who aren't under the umbrella of NATO protection to take the opportunity to do so, fast.
    There are no European Countries left who would want to be in NATO - Serbia definitely wouldn't, Bosnia probably not. Austria is neutral by treaty, Switzerland relies on he fact that you'd have to fight all the way though NATO to get to them....

    https://www.nato.int/nato-on-the-map
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 8,653
    edited May 2022

    Applicant said:

    Big day in Sweden, and a lot of politicians here are making memorable statements. The atmosphere is grave.

    Our foreign minister Ann Linde just said on the SR P1 NATO special (think BBC R4 abandons whole schedule and dedicates channel to the NATO application):

    - “… är det en ökad sårbarhet för Sverige. Det är helt klart.

    … Därför så har vi också varit noga med och se till och fått säkerhetsförsäkringar från de stora länderna som USA, Frankrike, Tyskland, de nordiska länderna och så vidare, för att öka säkerheten.”

    - ”… it is an increased vulnerability for Sweden. That's quite clear.

    … Therefore, we have also been careful to ensure and receive security promises from the major countries such as the United States, France, Germany, the Nordic countries and so on, to increase security.”

    Hmm… sorry Boris, when it comes to selling NATO to the Swedish people, there is one state nobody is boasting about. The “UK” is just an “etc”.

    That's because we already have a security arrangement with Sweden independent of (if not entirely orthogonal to) NATO.
    Nope. The UK is just one among a very long list of states who have made the same independent interim security arrangements with Sweden. And the UK arrangement is not even deemed significant enough for the foreign minister to even mention it. She obviously doesn’t read PB.
    I don't think you can characterise a British Nuclear Warhead as an "etc", as much as you want to belittle the UK.
  • BurgessianBurgessian Posts: 2,747

    Applicant said:

    Big day in Sweden, and a lot of politicians here are making memorable statements. The atmosphere is grave.

    Our foreign minister Ann Linde just said on the SR P1 NATO special (think BBC R4 abandons whole schedule and dedicates channel to the NATO application):

    - “… är det en ökad sårbarhet för Sverige. Det är helt klart.

    … Därför så har vi också varit noga med och se till och fått säkerhetsförsäkringar från de stora länderna som USA, Frankrike, Tyskland, de nordiska länderna och så vidare, för att öka säkerheten.”

    - ”… it is an increased vulnerability for Sweden. That's quite clear.

    … Therefore, we have also been careful to ensure and receive security promises from the major countries such as the United States, France, Germany, the Nordic countries and so on, to increase security.”

    Hmm… sorry Boris, when it comes to selling NATO to the Swedish people, there is one state nobody is boasting about. The “UK” is just an “etc”.

    That's because we already have a security arrangement with Sweden independent of (if not entirely orthogonal to) NATO.
    Nope. The UK is just one among a very long list of states who have made the same independent interim security arrangements with Sweden. And the UK arrangement is not even deemed significant enough for the foreign minister to even mention it. She obviously doesn’t read PB.
    Possibly she reads The Guardian? From 5 days ago.

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/11/johnson-security-assurances-sweden-and-finland-not-just-symbolic

    "UK goes further than any other Nato country in Sweden and Finland pledge"

    I should leave off @StuartDickson while you're still only a thousand miles behind.
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 10,061

    Applicant said:

    Big day in Sweden, and a lot of politicians here are making memorable statements. The atmosphere is grave.

    Our foreign minister Ann Linde just said on the SR P1 NATO special (think BBC R4 abandons whole schedule and dedicates channel to the NATO application):

    - “… är det en ökad sårbarhet för Sverige. Det är helt klart.

    … Därför så har vi också varit noga med och se till och fått säkerhetsförsäkringar från de stora länderna som USA, Frankrike, Tyskland, de nordiska länderna och så vidare, för att öka säkerheten.”

    - ”… it is an increased vulnerability for Sweden. That's quite clear.

    … Therefore, we have also been careful to ensure and receive security promises from the major countries such as the United States, France, Germany, the Nordic countries and so on, to increase security.”

    Hmm… sorry Boris, when it comes to selling NATO to the Swedish people, there is one state nobody is boasting about. The “UK” is just an “etc”.

    That's because we already have a security arrangement with Sweden independent of (if not entirely orthogonal to) NATO.
    Nope. The UK is just one among a very long list of states who have made the same independent interim security arrangements with Sweden. And the UK arrangement is not even deemed significant enough for the foreign minister to even mention it. She obviously doesn’t read PB.
    No, they just had a press conference with the PM and personal visit from our PM to announce it rather than being part of a list of 'also starrings'
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 63,034

    Applicant said:

    Big day in Sweden, and a lot of politicians here are making memorable statements. The atmosphere is grave.

    Our foreign minister Ann Linde just said on the SR P1 NATO special (think BBC R4 abandons whole schedule and dedicates channel to the NATO application):

    - “… är det en ökad sårbarhet för Sverige. Det är helt klart.

    … Därför så har vi också varit noga med och se till och fått säkerhetsförsäkringar från de stora länderna som USA, Frankrike, Tyskland, de nordiska länderna och så vidare, för att öka säkerheten.”

    - ”… it is an increased vulnerability for Sweden. That's quite clear.

    … Therefore, we have also been careful to ensure and receive security promises from the major countries such as the United States, France, Germany, the Nordic countries and so on, to increase security.”

    Hmm… sorry Boris, when it comes to selling NATO to the Swedish people, there is one state nobody is boasting about. The “UK” is just an “etc”.

    That's because we already have a security arrangement with Sweden independent of (if not entirely orthogonal to) NATO.
    Nope. The UK is just one among a very long list of states who have made the same independent interim security arrangements with Sweden. And the UK arrangement is not even deemed significant enough for the foreign minister to even mention it. She obviously doesn’t read PB.
    Your prejudice against UK and your comments will be warmly welcomed in the Kremlin and by Putin, not so much by Sweden and Finland
  • LeonLeon Posts: 55,277

    Mr. Dean, remote working makes it much more viable to live in remoter, more rural areas (provided there's sufficient comms infrastructure). If you demand everyone goes into an office for vague and mystical reasons then that just returns to the pattern of cramming people into and near cities.

    The internet might yet be the first thing in history that (through success rather than collapse) leads to cities diminishing and villages proliferating. But it needs remote working to happen.

    Who wants to live in a fucking village? Inbred nerds
  • Nigel_ForemainNigel_Foremain Posts: 14,310
    Leon said:

    Mr. Dean, remote working makes it much more viable to live in remoter, more rural areas (provided there's sufficient comms infrastructure). If you demand everyone goes into an office for vague and mystical reasons then that just returns to the pattern of cramming people into and near cities.

    The internet might yet be the first thing in history that (through success rather than collapse) leads to cities diminishing and villages proliferating. But it needs remote working to happen.

    Who wants to live in a fucking village? Inbred nerds
    Anyone who wants to keep away from towny twats like yourself.
  • Nigel_ForemainNigel_Foremain Posts: 14,310

    @vonderleyen
    Dear Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, congratulations on your reelection today.

    The EU faces unprecedented challenges.

    I look forward to working together to ensure we can collectively address them successfully.


    https://twitter.com/vonderleyen/status/1526193863890706432

    @eucopresident
    In these testing times, the EU’s unity and sovereignty are our main strengths.

    Congratulations on your re-election dear Viktor Orban and looking forward to our continued cooperation at the European Council.


    https://twitter.com/eucopresident/status/1526198093124886528

    And your point is?
  • NerysHughesNerysHughes Posts: 3,375

    Unpopular said:

    Scott_xP said:

    This appears to be a major change. Now saying he’ll resign if the police say he breached rules, not just if he’s issued an FPN. https://twitter.com/REWearmouth/status/1526172579958071296

    Must be confident he isn't going to even get his wrist slapped.

    I honestly though that was going to be the politically convenient fudge for everybody. Plod say looks like there was probably a minor breach, but even if they had known about it at the time, they would have just advised how to ensure better adherence to the rules. Then, Starmer gets to play man of integrity card.
    Apologies if I'm getting my scandals mixed up, but surely that won't wash since, I believe, plod were there?
    Yes. Security detail were at Partygate and Beergate. No one can get away with lying.

    Except possibly the police.

    “ looks like there was probably a minor breach, but even if they had known about it at the time, they would have just advised how to ensure better adherence to the rules.”

    so what you thinking was the minor breach? Rules for mixing indoors not same as partygate, all they need to at currygate is isay they worked through takeaway and on afterwards, they don’t even have to prove it, it had to be proved they didn’t - sounds like they did or they didn’t, what can be a minor breach of those rules? Not keeping two poppadoms apart?
    It had to be reasonably necessary for work. They could, for example, have given everyone an hour to go to a takeout or eat alone outdoors at a pub etc. Inconvenient, but that's what the rest of us were stuck with.
    Hence they needed to be doing something as part of the 15 person meal workwise that required them to all be there.
    'It wouldn't have made sense to all go off on our own' is not an excuse.
    Which is the point- the rules he eagerly supported were complete bollocks
    Still doesn’t answer the question though, what exactly are you proving they did wrong, even for just an advisory note?
    They need to show the meal and being 'gathered together we 15' was reasonably necessary for work purposes, or rather the police merely need to say they do not believe it was and a breach of the guidelines and law, technical or otherwise, has occurred

    Edit - 15 people were not allowed to eat together indoors except where reasonably necessary for work. 15 people did, the onus is on them to show it was reasonably necessary
    Shouldn’t be too difficult that? Top politicians in election campaign wouldn’t expect to be standard hours, and to make the most of all in one place opportunities for wash up and planning. Especially as they passed police phone and server logs to prove they were working, can’t really leave police with much of a doubt?
    Well, given witnesses present have said no work was done and some of them were pissed there's clearly some doubt from some that it was necessary, dilligent work. And 'wash up and planning' do not require you to breach the rules on numbers indoors together. It can be done remotely, via zoom etc. 'Making the most of all in one place opportunities' was indeed explicitly against the guidelines for campaigning during Covid. In person meetings were to be minimized.
    I believe the whistleblowers only went as far as saying some people didn’t do much work, treated it more as a social, and this has in turn been disputed. Can the police actually use that to prove guilt on anyone? Trusting so much on testimony of a whistleblower has caused police so much grief in other cases hasn’t it, they are bound to be cautious, or even have a different take direct from whistleblower witnesses than we have via the media?
    Well, we will see what they have gathered I guess but essentially if there's enough 'doubt' they can fudge it, say it looks like there may have been a breach, that they aren't issuing retrospective fines but have spoken to all concerned to ensure they are aware of their responsibilities 'should such a situation arise in future'. Or 'spoken to everyone about the importance of following the law in its entirety'
    And Starmer is left with a tricky choice.
    Also note there is no need to 'prove guilt' for a FPN, they just need to be reasonably sure it would hold up if taken to court in dispute.

    Edit - and from a public perspective, it remains the case that we all had to jump through stupid hoops, so there is simply no valid reason from a fairness perspective for SKS to have sat down and had booze and supper with 14 other people indoors. It was simply unnecessary. Convenient, perhaps, but it would have been convenient for a lot of us to do a lot of things we couldn't
    “ Starmer is left with a tricky choice.”. Tricky choice? I think he would declare himself exonerated if the outcome was as you described.

    With Partygate, where there was no excuse to be socialising indoors with a beer, but they paid taxpayers money to a photographer to show them socialising indoors with a beer, open and shut case not likely to go to court. Anyone at beergate though, as it’s not so obvious to show wrongdoing, might feel aggrieved enough to take it to court, police will have to be very “reasonably sure” they wouldn’t lose in court.

    “no valid reason from a fairness perspective for SKS to have sat down and had booze and supper with 14 other people indoors. It was simply unnecessary. Convenient, perhaps”. Absolutely right. But it’s not what they did though, they worked, grabbed takeaway whilst working. 100% smack bang in middle of rules at the time.
    He declares himself a lot of things. Others will differ. And it will taint him in the eyes of many.

    They did not 'grab a takeaway', the meal was pre-planned, it does not state on the plan that it is a working meal, some have said no work took place, others differ. Time will tell, but it's certainly impossible to conclude either it was legal or not at this stage as we weren't there, we can only believe what we believe to be the case.
    The video of him stood up drinking beer with people wondering around with no covid precautions being followed does not look good and such "work events" were not happening at that time.

    I would be very surprised if Durham Police approve the event and make a statement to that effect. i think the minimum will be "it should not have happened"
  • Nigel_ForemainNigel_Foremain Posts: 14,310

    Unpopular said:

    Scott_xP said:

    This appears to be a major change. Now saying he’ll resign if the police say he breached rules, not just if he’s issued an FPN. https://twitter.com/REWearmouth/status/1526172579958071296

    Must be confident he isn't going to even get his wrist slapped.

    I honestly though that was going to be the politically convenient fudge for everybody. Plod say looks like there was probably a minor breach, but even if they had known about it at the time, they would have just advised how to ensure better adherence to the rules. Then, Starmer gets to play man of integrity card.
    Apologies if I'm getting my scandals mixed up, but surely that won't wash since, I believe, plod were there?
    Yes. Security detail were at Partygate and Beergate. No one can get away with lying.

    Except possibly the police.

    “ looks like there was probably a minor breach, but even if they had known about it at the time, they would have just advised how to ensure better adherence to the rules.”

    so what you thinking was the minor breach? Rules for mixing indoors not same as partygate, all they need to at currygate is isay they worked through takeaway and on afterwards, they don’t even have to prove it, it had to be proved they didn’t - sounds like they did or they didn’t, what can be a minor breach of those rules? Not keeping two poppadoms apart?
    It had to be reasonably necessary for work. They could, for example, have given everyone an hour to go to a takeout or eat alone outdoors at a pub etc. Inconvenient, but that's what the rest of us were stuck with.
    Hence they needed to be doing something as part of the 15 person meal workwise that required them to all be there.
    'It wouldn't have made sense to all go off on our own' is not an excuse.
    Which is the point- the rules he eagerly supported were complete bollocks
    Still doesn’t answer the question though, what exactly are you proving they did wrong, even for just an advisory note?
    They need to show the meal and being 'gathered together we 15' was reasonably necessary for work purposes, or rather the police merely need to say they do not believe it was and a breach of the guidelines and law, technical or otherwise, has occurred

    Edit - 15 people were not allowed to eat together indoors except where reasonably necessary for work. 15 people did, the onus is on them to show it was reasonably necessary
    Shouldn’t be too difficult that? Top politicians in election campaign wouldn’t expect to be standard hours, and to make the most of all in one place opportunities for wash up and planning. Especially as they passed police phone and server logs to prove they were working, can’t really leave police with much of a doubt?
    Well, given witnesses present have said no work was done and some of them were pissed there's clearly some doubt from some that it was necessary, dilligent work. And 'wash up and planning' do not require you to breach the rules on numbers indoors together. It can be done remotely, via zoom etc. 'Making the most of all in one place opportunities' was indeed explicitly against the guidelines for campaigning during Covid. In person meetings were to be minimized.
    I believe the whistleblowers only went as far as saying some people didn’t do much work, treated it more as a social, and this has in turn been disputed. Can the police actually use that to prove guilt on anyone? Trusting so much on testimony of a whistleblower has caused police so much grief in other cases hasn’t it, they are bound to be cautious, or even have a different take direct from whistleblower witnesses than we have via the media?
    Well, we will see what they have gathered I guess but essentially if there's enough 'doubt' they can fudge it, say it looks like there may have been a breach, that they aren't issuing retrospective fines but have spoken to all concerned to ensure they are aware of their responsibilities 'should such a situation arise in future'. Or 'spoken to everyone about the importance of following the law in its entirety'
    And Starmer is left with a tricky choice.
    Also note there is no need to 'prove guilt' for a FPN, they just need to be reasonably sure it would hold up if taken to court in dispute.

    Edit - and from a public perspective, it remains the case that we all had to jump through stupid hoops, so there is simply no valid reason from a fairness perspective for SKS to have sat down and had booze and supper with 14 other people indoors. It was simply unnecessary. Convenient, perhaps, but it would have been convenient for a lot of us to do a lot of things we couldn't
    “ Starmer is left with a tricky choice.”. Tricky choice? I think he would declare himself exonerated if the outcome was as you described.

    With Partygate, where there was no excuse to be socialising indoors with a beer, but they paid taxpayers money to a photographer to show them socialising indoors with a beer, open and shut case not likely to go to court. Anyone at beergate though, as it’s not so obvious to show wrongdoing, might feel aggrieved enough to take it to court, police will have to be very “reasonably sure” they wouldn’t lose in court.

    “no valid reason from a fairness perspective for SKS to have sat down and had booze and supper with 14 other people indoors. It was simply unnecessary. Convenient, perhaps”. Absolutely right. But it’s not what they did though, they worked, grabbed takeaway whilst working. 100% smack bang in middle of rules at the time.
    He declares himself a lot of things. Others will differ. And it will taint him in the eyes of many.

    They did not 'grab a takeaway', the meal was pre-planned, it does not state on the plan that it is a working meal, some have said no work took place, others differ. Time will tell, but it's certainly impossible to conclude either it was legal or not at this stage as we weren't there, we can only believe what we believe to be the case.
    The video of him stood up drinking beer with people wondering around with no covid precautions being followed does not look good and such "work events" were not happening at that time.

    I would be very surprised if Durham Police approve the event and make a statement to that effect. i think the minimum will be "it should not have happened"
    You hope perhaps?
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 13,501
    edited May 2022

    MISTY said:

    Anyone listening to the governor of the Bank of England being questioned by the Treasury Select Committee would not be comforted by his comments, as the combination of the Ukraine war with it's effect on the supply of wheat to the world, to the likelyhood of oil and gas price hikes continuing for an inderminnate period as reliance on Russia as a supplier is sidelined, and the looming disaster of the effects of covid and China's zero covid policy, leaves them virtually powerless to mitigate the economic damage in a meaningful way


    I think I'm right in saying UK inflation was at 5% before the Ukraine crisis started, partly as a result of Bailey cranking up the money printing machine to bankroll Johnson and Sunak.

    You would think the tory MPs would be grateful. Now they want to put Bailey in the dock. Imagine if Bailey had refused to keep printing at some point.
    Nonsense. The government are not to blame for inflation, the bottom line is the Bank of England is INDEPENDENT.

    An INDEPENDENT institution messing up its main job controlling inflation, and hypocrites trying to blame government for this.
    So, you’re a “Lib Dem” are you?

    You fail the duck test.
    Oh dear you are having a terrible afternoon bulldozey, wrong with every post. Maybe you should log off log back in again to see if your posts can be any better. What I posted is 100% accurate - Bank of England independent, it’s main responsibility control inflation - unless you want to state Boris can move interest rates up an down?

    In what persons mind are Lib Dems ever left wing? libdems is all right of centre stuff, individual choice individual freedom, and liberalism, in every way, life, love and money. Like all my posts 🙂
  • wooliedyedwooliedyed Posts: 10,061

    Unpopular said:

    Scott_xP said:

    This appears to be a major change. Now saying he’ll resign if the police say he breached rules, not just if he’s issued an FPN. https://twitter.com/REWearmouth/status/1526172579958071296

    Must be confident he isn't going to even get his wrist slapped.

    I honestly though that was going to be the politically convenient fudge for everybody. Plod say looks like there was probably a minor breach, but even if they had known about it at the time, they would have just advised how to ensure better adherence to the rules. Then, Starmer gets to play man of integrity card.
    Apologies if I'm getting my scandals mixed up, but surely that won't wash since, I believe, plod were there?
    Yes. Security detail were at Partygate and Beergate. No one can get away with lying.

    Except possibly the police.

    “ looks like there was probably a minor breach, but even if they had known about it at the time, they would have just advised how to ensure better adherence to the rules.”

    so what you thinking was the minor breach? Rules for mixing indoors not same as partygate, all they need to at currygate is isay they worked through takeaway and on afterwards, they don’t even have to prove it, it had to be proved they didn’t - sounds like they did or they didn’t, what can be a minor breach of those rules? Not keeping two poppadoms apart?
    It had to be reasonably necessary for work. They could, for example, have given everyone an hour to go to a takeout or eat alone outdoors at a pub etc. Inconvenient, but that's what the rest of us were stuck with.
    Hence they needed to be doing something as part of the 15 person meal workwise that required them to all be there.
    'It wouldn't have made sense to all go off on our own' is not an excuse.
    Which is the point- the rules he eagerly supported were complete bollocks
    Still doesn’t answer the question though, what exactly are you proving they did wrong, even for just an advisory note?
    They need to show the meal and being 'gathered together we 15' was reasonably necessary for work purposes, or rather the police merely need to say they do not believe it was and a breach of the guidelines and law, technical or otherwise, has occurred

    Edit - 15 people were not allowed to eat together indoors except where reasonably necessary for work. 15 people did, the onus is on them to show it was reasonably necessary
    Shouldn’t be too difficult that? Top politicians in election campaign wouldn’t expect to be standard hours, and to make the most of all in one place opportunities for wash up and planning. Especially as they passed police phone and server logs to prove they were working, can’t really leave police with much of a doubt?
    Well, given witnesses present have said no work was done and some of them were pissed there's clearly some doubt from some that it was necessary, dilligent work. And 'wash up and planning' do not require you to breach the rules on numbers indoors together. It can be done remotely, via zoom etc. 'Making the most of all in one place opportunities' was indeed explicitly against the guidelines for campaigning during Covid. In person meetings were to be minimized.
    I believe the whistleblowers only went as far as saying some people didn’t do much work, treated it more as a social, and this has in turn been disputed. Can the police actually use that to prove guilt on anyone? Trusting so much on testimony of a whistleblower has caused police so much grief in other cases hasn’t it, they are bound to be cautious, or even have a different take direct from whistleblower witnesses than we have via the media?
    Well, we will see what they have gathered I guess but essentially if there's enough 'doubt' they can fudge it, say it looks like there may have been a breach, that they aren't issuing retrospective fines but have spoken to all concerned to ensure they are aware of their responsibilities 'should such a situation arise in future'. Or 'spoken to everyone about the importance of following the law in its entirety'
    And Starmer is left with a tricky choice.
    Also note there is no need to 'prove guilt' for a FPN, they just need to be reasonably sure it would hold up if taken to court in dispute.

    Edit - and from a public perspective, it remains the case that we all had to jump through stupid hoops, so there is simply no valid reason from a fairness perspective for SKS to have sat down and had booze and supper with 14 other people indoors. It was simply unnecessary. Convenient, perhaps, but it would have been convenient for a lot of us to do a lot of things we couldn't
    “ Starmer is left with a tricky choice.”. Tricky choice? I think he would declare himself exonerated if the outcome was as you described.

    With Partygate, where there was no excuse to be socialising indoors with a beer, but they paid taxpayers money to a photographer to show them socialising indoors with a beer, open and shut case not likely to go to court. Anyone at beergate though, as it’s not so obvious to show wrongdoing, might feel aggrieved enough to take it to court, police will have to be very “reasonably sure” they wouldn’t lose in court.

    “no valid reason from a fairness perspective for SKS to have sat down and had booze and supper with 14 other people indoors. It was simply unnecessary. Convenient, perhaps”. Absolutely right. But it’s not what they did though, they worked, grabbed takeaway whilst working. 100% smack bang in middle of rules at the time.
    He declares himself a lot of things. Others will differ. And it will taint him in the eyes of many.

    They did not 'grab a takeaway', the meal was pre-planned, it does not state on the plan that it is a working meal, some have said no work took place, others differ. Time will tell, but it's certainly impossible to conclude either it was legal or not at this stage as we weren't there, we can only believe what we believe to be the case.
    Exactly. We’ll trust the police. 🙂

    You know the meal wasn’t in the same room as the working?
    I believe it was probably unnecessary to eat and drink booze together indoors and thus against the rules as I understand them.
    I don't believe what they did in the round was unreasonable, but it wouldn't have been unreasonable for me to host a wake for immediate family after my mother's funeral. It would have been illegal, though, so I didn't.
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 13,501

    Unpopular said:

    Scott_xP said:

    This appears to be a major change. Now saying he’ll resign if the police say he breached rules, not just if he’s issued an FPN. https://twitter.com/REWearmouth/status/1526172579958071296

    Must be confident he isn't going to even get his wrist slapped.

    I honestly though that was going to be the politically convenient fudge for everybody. Plod say looks like there was probably a minor breach, but even if they had known about it at the time, they would have just advised how to ensure better adherence to the rules. Then, Starmer gets to play man of integrity card.
    Apologies if I'm getting my scandals mixed up, but surely that won't wash since, I believe, plod were there?
    Yes. Security detail were at Partygate and Beergate. No one can get away with lying.

    Except possibly the police.

    “ looks like there was probably a minor breach, but even if they had known about it at the time, they would have just advised how to ensure better adherence to the rules.”

    so what you thinking was the minor breach? Rules for mixing indoors not same as partygate, all they need to at currygate is isay they worked through takeaway and on afterwards, they don’t even have to prove it, it had to be proved they didn’t - sounds like they did or they didn’t, what can be a minor breach of those rules? Not keeping two poppadoms apart?
    It had to be reasonably necessary for work. They could, for example, have given everyone an hour to go to a takeout or eat alone outdoors at a pub etc. Inconvenient, but that's what the rest of us were stuck with.
    Hence they needed to be doing something as part of the 15 person meal workwise that required them to all be there.
    'It wouldn't have made sense to all go off on our own' is not an excuse.
    Which is the point- the rules he eagerly supported were complete bollocks
    Still doesn’t answer the question though, what exactly are you proving they did wrong, even for just an advisory note?
    They need to show the meal and being 'gathered together we 15' was reasonably necessary for work purposes, or rather the police merely need to say they do not believe it was and a breach of the guidelines and law, technical or otherwise, has occurred

    Edit - 15 people were not allowed to eat together indoors except where reasonably necessary for work. 15 people did, the onus is on them to show it was reasonably necessary
    Shouldn’t be too difficult that? Top politicians in election campaign wouldn’t expect to be standard hours, and to make the most of all in one place opportunities for wash up and planning. Especially as they passed police phone and server logs to prove they were working, can’t really leave police with much of a doubt?
    Well, given witnesses present have said no work was done and some of them were pissed there's clearly some doubt from some that it was necessary, dilligent work. And 'wash up and planning' do not require you to breach the rules on numbers indoors together. It can be done remotely, via zoom etc. 'Making the most of all in one place opportunities' was indeed explicitly against the guidelines for campaigning during Covid. In person meetings were to be minimized.
    I believe the whistleblowers only went as far as saying some people didn’t do much work, treated it more as a social, and this has in turn been disputed. Can the police actually use that to prove guilt on anyone? Trusting so much on testimony of a whistleblower has caused police so much grief in other cases hasn’t it, they are bound to be cautious, or even have a different take direct from whistleblower witnesses than we have via the media?
    Well, we will see what they have gathered I guess but essentially if there's enough 'doubt' they can fudge it, say it looks like there may have been a breach, that they aren't issuing retrospective fines but have spoken to all concerned to ensure they are aware of their responsibilities 'should such a situation arise in future'. Or 'spoken to everyone about the importance of following the law in its entirety'
    And Starmer is left with a tricky choice.
    Also note there is no need to 'prove guilt' for a FPN, they just need to be reasonably sure it would hold up if taken to court in dispute.

    Edit - and from a public perspective, it remains the case that we all had to jump through stupid hoops, so there is simply no valid reason from a fairness perspective for SKS to have sat down and had booze and supper with 14 other people indoors. It was simply unnecessary. Convenient, perhaps, but it would have been convenient for a lot of us to do a lot of things we couldn't
    “ Starmer is left with a tricky choice.”. Tricky choice? I think he would declare himself exonerated if the outcome was as you described.

    With Partygate, where there was no excuse to be socialising indoors with a beer, but they paid taxpayers money to a photographer to show them socialising indoors with a beer, open and shut case not likely to go to court. Anyone at beergate though, as it’s not so obvious to show wrongdoing, might feel aggrieved enough to take it to court, police will have to be very “reasonably sure” they wouldn’t lose in court.

    “no valid reason from a fairness perspective for SKS to have sat down and had booze and supper with 14 other people indoors. It was simply unnecessary. Convenient, perhaps”. Absolutely right. But it’s not what they did though, they worked, grabbed takeaway whilst working. 100% smack bang in middle of rules at the time.
    He declares himself a lot of things. Others will differ. And it will taint him in the eyes of many.

    They did not 'grab a takeaway', the meal was pre-planned, it does not state on the plan that it is a working meal, some have said no work took place, others differ. Time will tell, but it's certainly impossible to conclude either it was legal or not at this stage as we weren't there, we can only believe what we believe to be the case.
    The video of him stood up drinking beer with people wondering around with no covid precautions being followed does not look good and such "work events" were not happening at that time.

    I would be very surprised if Durham Police approve the event and make a statement to that effect. i think the minimum will be "it should not have happened"
    At least we are arguing beergate again. I had missed it 😆
  • StuartDicksonStuartDickson Posts: 12,146

    Big day in Sweden, and a lot of politicians here are making memorable statements. The atmosphere is grave.

    Our foreign minister Ann Linde just said on the SR P1 NATO special (think BBC R4 abandons whole schedule and dedicates channel to the NATO application):

    - “… är det en ökad sårbarhet för Sverige. Det är helt klart.

    … Därför så har vi också varit noga med och se till och fått säkerhetsförsäkringar från de stora länderna som USA, Frankrike, Tyskland, de nordiska länderna och så vidare, för att öka säkerheten.”

    - ”… it is an increased vulnerability for Sweden. That's quite clear.

    … Therefore, we have also been careful to ensure and receive security promises from the major countries such as the United States, France, Germany, the Nordic countries and so on, to increase security.”

    Hmm… sorry Boris, when it comes to selling NATO to the Swedish people, there is one state nobody is boasting about. The “UK” is just an “etc”.

    Wow! You posted all that just to get a pathetic dig in? I hope you're not WFH as well...
    Dearie dearie me. So bitter. What happened to England’s infamous self-confidence? You’re all so insecure.

    (And no, I only occasionally WFH, although I did an awful lot during Covid.)
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 35,990
    Government vs themselves on the NI protocol latest: https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/eu-encouraged-by-downing-street-tone-on-northern-ireland-protocol

    "When [Truss] puts her head on the pillow she thinks 'I voted Remain' so she believes she has to be true Brexit for the Brexiters. She's always talking to the ERG," a senior Tory told @adampayne26
  • Nigel_ForemainNigel_Foremain Posts: 14,310

    Applicant said:

    Big day in Sweden, and a lot of politicians here are making memorable statements. The atmosphere is grave.

    Our foreign minister Ann Linde just said on the SR P1 NATO special (think BBC R4 abandons whole schedule and dedicates channel to the NATO application):

    - “… är det en ökad sårbarhet för Sverige. Det är helt klart.

    … Därför så har vi också varit noga med och se till och fått säkerhetsförsäkringar från de stora länderna som USA, Frankrike, Tyskland, de nordiska länderna och så vidare, för att öka säkerheten.”

    - ”… it is an increased vulnerability for Sweden. That's quite clear.

    … Therefore, we have also been careful to ensure and receive security promises from the major countries such as the United States, France, Germany, the Nordic countries and so on, to increase security.”

    Hmm… sorry Boris, when it comes to selling NATO to the Swedish people, there is one state nobody is boasting about. The “UK” is just an “etc”.

    That's because we already have a security arrangement with Sweden independent of (if not entirely orthogonal to) NATO.
    Nope. The UK is just one among a very long list of states who have made the same independent interim security arrangements with Sweden. And the UK arrangement is not even deemed significant enough for the foreign minister to even mention it. She obviously doesn’t read PB.
    Your prejudice against UK and your comments will be warmly welcomed in the Kremlin and by Putin, not so much by Sweden and Finland
    He has been sent there as a missionary by the SNP in the hope he can convert them to hatred of the English. Putin endorses his actions.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,561

    MISTY said:

    Anyone listening to the governor of the Bank of England being questioned by the Treasury Select Committee would not be comforted by his comments, as the combination of the Ukraine war with it's effect on the supply of wheat to the world, to the likelyhood of oil and gas price hikes continuing for an inderminnate period as reliance on Russia as a supplier is sidelined, and the looming disaster of the effects of covid and China's zero covid policy, leaves them virtually powerless to mitigate the economic damage in a meaningful way


    I think I'm right in saying UK inflation was at 5% before the Ukraine crisis started, partly as a result of Bailey cranking up the money printing machine to bankroll Johnson and Sunak.

    You would think the tory MPs would be grateful. Now they want to put Bailey in the dock. Imagine if Bailey had refused to keep printing at some point.
    Nonsense. The government are not to blame for inflation, the bottom line is the Bank of England is INDEPENDENT.

    An INDEPENDENT institution messing up its main job controlling inflation, and hypocrites trying to blame government for this.
    So, you’re a “Lib Dem” are you?

    You fail the duck test.
    Oh dear you are having a terrible afternoon bulldozey, wrong with every post. Maybe you should log off log back in again to see if your posts can be any better. What I posted is 100% accurate - Bank of England independent, it’s main responsibility control inflation - unless you want to state Boris can move interest rates up an down?

    In what persons mind are Lib Dems ever left wing? libdems is all right of centre stuff, individual choice individual freedom, and liberalism, in every way, life, love and money. Like all my posts 🙂
    Just don't try and build next door to you!
  • LeonLeon Posts: 55,277

    Applicant said:

    Big day in Sweden, and a lot of politicians here are making memorable statements. The atmosphere is grave.

    Our foreign minister Ann Linde just said on the SR P1 NATO special (think BBC R4 abandons whole schedule and dedicates channel to the NATO application):

    - “… är det en ökad sårbarhet för Sverige. Det är helt klart.

    … Därför så har vi också varit noga med och se till och fått säkerhetsförsäkringar från de stora länderna som USA, Frankrike, Tyskland, de nordiska länderna och så vidare, för att öka säkerheten.”

    - ”… it is an increased vulnerability for Sweden. That's quite clear.

    … Therefore, we have also been careful to ensure and receive security promises from the major countries such as the United States, France, Germany, the Nordic countries and so on, to increase security.”

    Hmm… sorry Boris, when it comes to selling NATO to the Swedish people, there is one state nobody is boasting about. The “UK” is just an “etc”.

    That's because we already have a security arrangement with Sweden independent of (if not entirely orthogonal to) NATO.
    Nope. The UK is just one among a very long list of states who have made the same independent interim security arrangements with Sweden. And the UK arrangement is not even deemed significant enough for the foreign minister to even mention it. She obviously doesn’t read PB.
    Your contorted anguish is exquisite
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,817
    I wonder what the weavers would have thought:

    Oh dear me, the mill's gannin' fast
    The puir wee shifters canna get a rest
    Shiftin' bobbins coorse and fine
    They fairly mak' ye work for your ten and nine

    Oh dear me, I wish the day was done
    Rinnin' up and doon the Pass it is nae fun
    Shiftin', piecin', spinnin' warp weft and twine
    Tae feed and clad my bairnie affen ten and nine

    Oh dear me, the warld is ill divided
    Them that works the hardest are the least provided
    I maun bide contented, dark days or fine
    For there's nae much pleasure livin' affen ten and nine

    You cannae weave jute from home, that's for sure. Or, sadly, in Dundee anymore.
  • StuartDicksonStuartDickson Posts: 12,146
    Eabhal said:

    Big day in Sweden, and a lot of politicians here are making memorable statements. The atmosphere is grave.

    Our foreign minister Ann Linde just said on the SR P1 NATO special (think BBC R4 abandons whole schedule and dedicates channel to the NATO application):

    - “… är det en ökad sårbarhet för Sverige. Det är helt klart.

    … Därför så har vi också varit noga med och se till och fått säkerhetsförsäkringar från de stora länderna som USA, Frankrike, Tyskland, de nordiska länderna och så vidare, för att öka säkerheten.”

    - ”… it is an increased vulnerability for Sweden. That's quite clear.

    … Therefore, we have also been careful to ensure and receive security promises from the major countries such as the United States, France, Germany, the Nordic countries and so on, to increase security.”

    Hmm… sorry Boris, when it comes to selling NATO to the Swedish people, there is one state nobody is boasting about. The “UK” is just an “etc”.

    Commiserations. Looks like Ireland for you.
    Huh? Very cryptic. I’d ask you for clarification, but life is too short.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,561

    Nigelb said:

    Great to see Finland and Sweden both formally confirming applications to join NATO.

    In four months the Great Russian Bear has been humiliated by Slava Ukraini, pushed back first from Kyiv and then from Kherson and seen two nations famous for neutrality for decades now aligning with NATO.

    And now NATO are talking openly about the possibility of Ukraine winning the war. If they do, they should join NATO themselves.

    What a catastrophic humiliating screw up by Putin.

    An admission that his reason for the special military operation was bollocks from the start.

    https://twitter.com/DAlperovitch/status/1526175012096548864
    Putin today:
    NATO expansion is artificial. Russia has no problems with Finland and Sweden, so their entry into NATO does not pose an immediate threat. Russia's response to the entry of Finland and Sweden into NATO will depend on the expansion of the alliance's infrastructure...
    Also an admission that despite all his bellicose rhetoric about NATO expansion, the defanged Russian bear has been revealed to be utterly impotent and can't do anything about expansion. While they're comprehensively failing in a war with Ukraine, they're not going to open a second front in Finland.

    Now is the perfect cover for any Eastern European nations who aren't under the umbrella of NATO protection to take the opportunity to do so, fast.
    There are no European Countries left who would want to be in NATO - Serbia definitely wouldn't, Bosnia probably not. Austria is neutral by treaty, Switzerland relies on he fact that you'd have to fight all the way though NATO to get to them....

    https://www.nato.int/nato-on-the-map
    A Belarus that has overthrown its dictator and seen what happened to Ukraine might....
  • Nigel_ForemainNigel_Foremain Posts: 14,310

    Big day in Sweden, and a lot of politicians here are making memorable statements. The atmosphere is grave.

    Our foreign minister Ann Linde just said on the SR P1 NATO special (think BBC R4 abandons whole schedule and dedicates channel to the NATO application):

    - “… är det en ökad sårbarhet för Sverige. Det är helt klart.

    … Därför så har vi också varit noga med och se till och fått säkerhetsförsäkringar från de stora länderna som USA, Frankrike, Tyskland, de nordiska länderna och så vidare, för att öka säkerheten.”

    - ”… it is an increased vulnerability for Sweden. That's quite clear.

    … Therefore, we have also been careful to ensure and receive security promises from the major countries such as the United States, France, Germany, the Nordic countries and so on, to increase security.”

    Hmm… sorry Boris, when it comes to selling NATO to the Swedish people, there is one state nobody is boasting about. The “UK” is just an “etc”.

    Wow! You posted all that just to get a pathetic dig in? I hope you're not WFH as well...
    Dearie dearie me. So bitter. What happened to England’s infamous self-confidence? You’re all so insecure.

    (And no, I only occasionally WFH, although I did an awful lot during Covid.)
    I think you suggesting someone else's insecurity is one of the best bits of psychological projection I have seen since Malcolm last called someone "thick".
  • StuartDicksonStuartDickson Posts: 12,146

    Big day in Sweden, and a lot of politicians here are making memorable statements. The atmosphere is grave.

    Our foreign minister Ann Linde just said on the SR P1 NATO special (think BBC R4 abandons whole schedule and dedicates channel to the NATO application):

    - “… är det en ökad sårbarhet för Sverige. Det är helt klart.

    … Därför så har vi också varit noga med och se till och fått säkerhetsförsäkringar från de stora länderna som USA, Frankrike, Tyskland, de nordiska länderna och så vidare, för att öka säkerheten.”

    - ”… it is an increased vulnerability for Sweden. That's quite clear.

    … Therefore, we have also been careful to ensure and receive security promises from the major countries such as the United States, France, Germany, the Nordic countries and so on, to increase security.”

    Hmm… sorry Boris, when it comes to selling NATO to the Swedish people, there is one state nobody is boasting about. The “UK” is just an “etc”.

    Highly predictable comment from the most anti UK poster on this site

    Many would reject this attitude not least with the current actions of Germany and France enabling Putin's war machine to continue

    https://www.business-standard.com/article/international/uk-signs-security-deal-with-sweden-and-finland-marking-steadfast-support-122051100990_1.html
    Stooey’s draft epitaph:

    “He was the most anti UK poster on an obscure blog.”

    Hmmm… needs some work. But cheers for the inspiration.
  • NerysHughesNerysHughes Posts: 3,375

    Unpopular said:

    Scott_xP said:

    This appears to be a major change. Now saying he’ll resign if the police say he breached rules, not just if he’s issued an FPN. https://twitter.com/REWearmouth/status/1526172579958071296

    Must be confident he isn't going to even get his wrist slapped.

    I honestly though that was going to be the politically convenient fudge for everybody. Plod say looks like there was probably a minor breach, but even if they had known about it at the time, they would have just advised how to ensure better adherence to the rules. Then, Starmer gets to play man of integrity card.
    Apologies if I'm getting my scandals mixed up, but surely that won't wash since, I believe, plod were there?
    Yes. Security detail were at Partygate and Beergate. No one can get away with lying.

    Except possibly the police.

    “ looks like there was probably a minor breach, but even if they had known about it at the time, they would have just advised how to ensure better adherence to the rules.”

    so what you thinking was the minor breach? Rules for mixing indoors not same as partygate, all they need to at currygate is isay they worked through takeaway and on afterwards, they don’t even have to prove it, it had to be proved they didn’t - sounds like they did or they didn’t, what can be a minor breach of those rules? Not keeping two poppadoms apart?
    It had to be reasonably necessary for work. They could, for example, have given everyone an hour to go to a takeout or eat alone outdoors at a pub etc. Inconvenient, but that's what the rest of us were stuck with.
    Hence they needed to be doing something as part of the 15 person meal workwise that required them to all be there.
    'It wouldn't have made sense to all go off on our own' is not an excuse.
    Which is the point- the rules he eagerly supported were complete bollocks
    Still doesn’t answer the question though, what exactly are you proving they did wrong, even for just an advisory note?
    They need to show the meal and being 'gathered together we 15' was reasonably necessary for work purposes, or rather the police merely need to say they do not believe it was and a breach of the guidelines and law, technical or otherwise, has occurred

    Edit - 15 people were not allowed to eat together indoors except where reasonably necessary for work. 15 people did, the onus is on them to show it was reasonably necessary
    Shouldn’t be too difficult that? Top politicians in election campaign wouldn’t expect to be standard hours, and to make the most of all in one place opportunities for wash up and planning. Especially as they passed police phone and server logs to prove they were working, can’t really leave police with much of a doubt?
    Well, given witnesses present have said no work was done and some of them were pissed there's clearly some doubt from some that it was necessary, dilligent work. And 'wash up and planning' do not require you to breach the rules on numbers indoors together. It can be done remotely, via zoom etc. 'Making the most of all in one place opportunities' was indeed explicitly against the guidelines for campaigning during Covid. In person meetings were to be minimized.
    I believe the whistleblowers only went as far as saying some people didn’t do much work, treated it more as a social, and this has in turn been disputed. Can the police actually use that to prove guilt on anyone? Trusting so much on testimony of a whistleblower has caused police so much grief in other cases hasn’t it, they are bound to be cautious, or even have a different take direct from whistleblower witnesses than we have via the media?
    Well, we will see what they have gathered I guess but essentially if there's enough 'doubt' they can fudge it, say it looks like there may have been a breach, that they aren't issuing retrospective fines but have spoken to all concerned to ensure they are aware of their responsibilities 'should such a situation arise in future'. Or 'spoken to everyone about the importance of following the law in its entirety'
    And Starmer is left with a tricky choice.
    Also note there is no need to 'prove guilt' for a FPN, they just need to be reasonably sure it would hold up if taken to court in dispute.

    Edit - and from a public perspective, it remains the case that we all had to jump through stupid hoops, so there is simply no valid reason from a fairness perspective for SKS to have sat down and had booze and supper with 14 other people indoors. It was simply unnecessary. Convenient, perhaps, but it would have been convenient for a lot of us to do a lot of things we couldn't
    “ Starmer is left with a tricky choice.”. Tricky choice? I think he would declare himself exonerated if the outcome was as you described.

    With Partygate, where there was no excuse to be socialising indoors with a beer, but they paid taxpayers money to a photographer to show them socialising indoors with a beer, open and shut case not likely to go to court. Anyone at beergate though, as it’s not so obvious to show wrongdoing, might feel aggrieved enough to take it to court, police will have to be very “reasonably sure” they wouldn’t lose in court.

    “no valid reason from a fairness perspective for SKS to have sat down and had booze and supper with 14 other people indoors. It was simply unnecessary. Convenient, perhaps”. Absolutely right. But it’s not what they did though, they worked, grabbed takeaway whilst working. 100% smack bang in middle of rules at the time.
    He declares himself a lot of things. Others will differ. And it will taint him in the eyes of many.

    They did not 'grab a takeaway', the meal was pre-planned, it does not state on the plan that it is a working meal, some have said no work took place, others differ. Time will tell, but it's certainly impossible to conclude either it was legal or not at this stage as we weren't there, we can only believe what we believe to be the case.
    The video of him stood up drinking beer with people wondering around with no covid precautions being followed does not look good and such "work events" were not happening at that time.

    I would be very surprised if Durham Police approve the event and make a statement to that effect. i think the minimum will be "it should not have happened"
    At least we are arguing beergate again. I had missed it 😆
    I am surprised as SKS's confidence that the event was OK and in line with the Covid rules at that time.
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 17,405

    Big day in Sweden, and a lot of politicians here are making memorable statements. The atmosphere is grave.

    Our foreign minister Ann Linde just said on the SR P1 NATO special (think BBC R4 abandons whole schedule and dedicates channel to the NATO application):

    - “… är det en ökad sårbarhet för Sverige. Det är helt klart.

    … Därför så har vi också varit noga med och se till och fått säkerhetsförsäkringar från de stora länderna som USA, Frankrike, Tyskland, de nordiska länderna och så vidare, för att öka säkerheten.”

    - ”… it is an increased vulnerability for Sweden. That's quite clear.

    … Therefore, we have also been careful to ensure and receive security promises from the major countries such as the United States, France, Germany, the Nordic countries and so on, to increase security.”

    Hmm… sorry Boris, when it comes to selling NATO to the Swedish people, there is one state nobody is boasting about. The “UK” is just an “etc”.

    Wow! You posted all that just to get a pathetic dig in? I hope you're not WFH as well...
    Dearie dearie me. So bitter. What happened to England’s infamous self-confidence? You’re all so insecure.

    (And no, I only occasionally WFH, although I did an awful lot during Covid.)
    You think I'm bitter? I'm pointing out your pathetic posts, as other have also done. If it makes you feel better go for it.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 50,255

    Eabhal said:

    Big day in Sweden, and a lot of politicians here are making memorable statements. The atmosphere is grave.

    Our foreign minister Ann Linde just said on the SR P1 NATO special (think BBC R4 abandons whole schedule and dedicates channel to the NATO application):

    - “… är det en ökad sårbarhet för Sverige. Det är helt klart.

    … Därför så har vi också varit noga med och se till och fått säkerhetsförsäkringar från de stora länderna som USA, Frankrike, Tyskland, de nordiska länderna och så vidare, för att öka säkerheten.”

    - ”… it is an increased vulnerability for Sweden. That's quite clear.

    … Therefore, we have also been careful to ensure and receive security promises from the major countries such as the United States, France, Germany, the Nordic countries and so on, to increase security.”

    Hmm… sorry Boris, when it comes to selling NATO to the Swedish people, there is one state nobody is boasting about. The “UK” is just an “etc”.

    Commiserations. Looks like Ireland for you.
    Huh? Very cryptic. I’d ask you for clarification, but life is too short.
    Do you charge rent for Boris Johnson living in your head? You should do - he seems to take up quite a bit of space.
  • Nigel_ForemainNigel_Foremain Posts: 14,310

    Big day in Sweden, and a lot of politicians here are making memorable statements. The atmosphere is grave.

    Our foreign minister Ann Linde just said on the SR P1 NATO special (think BBC R4 abandons whole schedule and dedicates channel to the NATO application):

    - “… är det en ökad sårbarhet för Sverige. Det är helt klart.

    … Därför så har vi också varit noga med och se till och fått säkerhetsförsäkringar från de stora länderna som USA, Frankrike, Tyskland, de nordiska länderna och så vidare, för att öka säkerheten.”

    - ”… it is an increased vulnerability for Sweden. That's quite clear.

    … Therefore, we have also been careful to ensure and receive security promises from the major countries such as the United States, France, Germany, the Nordic countries and so on, to increase security.”

    Hmm… sorry Boris, when it comes to selling NATO to the Swedish people, there is one state nobody is boasting about. The “UK” is just an “etc”.

    Highly predictable comment from the most anti UK poster on this site

    Many would reject this attitude not least with the current actions of Germany and France enabling Putin's war machine to continue

    https://www.business-standard.com/article/international/uk-signs-security-deal-with-sweden-and-finland-marking-steadfast-support-122051100990_1.html
    Stooey’s draft epitaph:

    “He was the most anti UK poster on an obscure blog.”

    Hmmm… needs some work. But cheers for the inspiration.
    I imagine it probably sums up your life's greatest achievement.
  • BlancheLivermoreBlancheLivermore Posts: 5,915

    Applicant said:

    Big day in Sweden, and a lot of politicians here are making memorable statements. The atmosphere is grave.

    Our foreign minister Ann Linde just said on the SR P1 NATO special (think BBC R4 abandons whole schedule and dedicates channel to the NATO application):

    - “… är det en ökad sårbarhet för Sverige. Det är helt klart.

    … Därför så har vi också varit noga med och se till och fått säkerhetsförsäkringar från de stora länderna som USA, Frankrike, Tyskland, de nordiska länderna och så vidare, för att öka säkerheten.”

    - ”… it is an increased vulnerability for Sweden. That's quite clear.

    … Therefore, we have also been careful to ensure and receive security promises from the major countries such as the United States, France, Germany, the Nordic countries and so on, to increase security.”

    Hmm… sorry Boris, when it comes to selling NATO to the Swedish people, there is one state nobody is boasting about. The “UK” is just an “etc”.

    That's because we already have a security arrangement with Sweden independent of (if not entirely orthogonal to) NATO.
    Nope. The UK is just one among a very long list of states who have made the same independent interim security arrangements with Sweden. And the UK arrangement is not even deemed significant enough for the foreign minister to even mention it. She obviously doesn’t read PB.
    Sweden's government website on some of these arrangements..

    "France
    Sweden has well-established cooperation with France in the area of defence. This cooperation focuses on international operations in primarily Africa, exercises and cooperation in the defence materiel area.

    Germany
    Germany and Sweden have a long tradition of bilateral and multilateral cooperation. In June 2017, Sweden’s and Germany’s defence ministers signed a joint letter of intent to deepen and increase cooperation between the Swedish and German armed forces and other defence agencies through the development of the current cooperation and the promotion of new initiatives.

    The United Kingdom
    Sweden’s cooperation with the UK is of particular importance to security in the Baltic Sea region. Sweden and the UK have significant defence equipment cooperation and, in 2019, the countries signed a memorandum of understanding on Future Combat Air Systems Cooperation (FCASC). Exercises and training as well as research and development are other areas in which there is close cooperation. Bilateral agreements between the UK and Sweden are not affected by the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

    Sweden has a long-term interest in continued close cooperation between the EU and the UK in the area of security and defence policy, regardless of whether the UK is a member of the EU or not. Swedish-British cooperation should also be seen as an important support function in the transatlantic link."

    https://www.government.se/government-policy/international-defence-cooperation/bilateral-cooperation/
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 32,557
    edited May 2022

    Leon said:

    Mr. Dean, remote working makes it much more viable to live in remoter, more rural areas (provided there's sufficient comms infrastructure). If you demand everyone goes into an office for vague and mystical reasons then that just returns to the pattern of cramming people into and near cities.

    The internet might yet be the first thing in history that (through success rather than collapse) leads to cities diminishing and villages proliferating. But it needs remote working to happen.

    Who wants to live in a fucking village? Inbred nerds
    Anyone who wants to keep away from towny twats like yourself.
    This is the whole problem with WFT. It's about people isolating themselves in their own little perfect world where they don't have to ever meet anyone they might not like.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,083
    Nigelb said:

    Great to see Finland and Sweden both formally confirming applications to join NATO.

    In four months the Great Russian Bear has been humiliated by Slava Ukraini, pushed back first from Kyiv and then from Kherson and seen two nations famous for neutrality for decades now aligning with NATO.

    And now NATO are talking openly about the possibility of Ukraine winning the war. If they do, they should join NATO themselves.

    What a catastrophic humiliating screw up by Putin.

    An admission that his reason for the special military operation was bollocks from the start.

    https://twitter.com/DAlperovitch/status/1526175012096548864
    Putin today:
    NATO expansion is artificial. Russia has no problems with Finland and Sweden, so their entry into NATO does not pose an immediate threat. Russia's response to the entry of Finland and Sweden into NATO will depend on the expansion of the alliance's infrastructure...
    Based on that comment there are people closer to home who take a more extreme stance than Putin on the 'aggression' that is NATO expansion.

    In latest words anyway - obviously his maniacal actions speak very differently in general.
  • Nigel_ForemainNigel_Foremain Posts: 14,310
    Andy_JS said:

    Leon said:

    Mr. Dean, remote working makes it much more viable to live in remoter, more rural areas (provided there's sufficient comms infrastructure). If you demand everyone goes into an office for vague and mystical reasons then that just returns to the pattern of cramming people into and near cities.

    The internet might yet be the first thing in history that (through success rather than collapse) leads to cities diminishing and villages proliferating. But it needs remote working to happen.

    Who wants to live in a fucking village? Inbred nerds
    Anyone who wants to keep away from towny twats like yourself.
    This is the whole problem with WFT. It's about people isolating themselves in their own little perfect world where they don't have to ever meet anyone they might not like.
    lol
This discussion has been closed.