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  • BartholomewRobertsBartholomewRoberts Posts: 26,766

    Nigelb said:

    While condemning Lammy's policy on jury trials, refit to him for this change, which I think is a just one.

    https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/dec/02/rape-victims-england-wales-protected-serial-liar-trope-legal-shake-up
    Rape victims will no longer be depicted as serial liars in courtrooms in England and Wales as part of the biggest shake-up “in a generation”, the Guardian can reveal.

    New measures will stop the “profound injustice” of victims being questioned, sometimes without warning, about past rapes that they have reported to the police, said David Lammy, the justice secretary.

    Lammy, who on Tuesday announced jury trials would be scrapped for cases where sentences are likely to be less than three years, said too many rape victims left the criminal justice system feeling like they had been put on trial, with defence barristers using sensitive details of past relationships and abuse to discredit them.

    He said: “That is a profound injustice, and it has driven far too many women and girls out of the justice system altogether. This must stop, and our new reforms will ensure that survivors are not demonised for the abuse they have suffered.”

    Under new laws, “bad character” evidence related to a victim’s past sexual history or abuse will no longer be allowed, unless lawyers have evidence to suggest a complainant has previously lied. Previous compensation claims for experiences of crime by victims will be banned under similar conditions...

    This is subversion of justice. Not justice.
    Why? If there is evidence it absolutely should be able to be presented, but in the absence of evidence?
  • BartholomewRobertsBartholomewRoberts Posts: 26,766
    Sandpit said:

    Russian cosmonaut fired from US space programme for espionage.

    https://x.com/bayraktar_1love/status/1995925724977606966

    He was due to have launched with SpaceX next year to the ISS, one of very few programmes that have survived Russian sanctions, and is now even more important due to the loss of the launch pad in Khazakstan last week.

    He was caught smuggling files and images of classified or confidential material out of the training base, and will be replaced with the designated backup cosmonaut for the mission.

    Replacing a Russian spy with another cosmonaut seems fairly futile.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 58,648
    edited 7:24AM

    Sandpit said:

    Russian cosmonaut fired from US space programme for espionage.

    https://x.com/bayraktar_1love/status/1995925724977606966

    He was due to have launched with SpaceX next year to the ISS, one of very few programmes that have survived Russian sanctions, and is now even more important due to the loss of the launch pad in Khazakstan last week.

    He was caught smuggling files and images of classified or confidential material out of the training base, and will be replaced with the designated backup cosmonaut for the mission.

    Replacing a Russian spy with another cosmonaut seems fairly futile.
    Unfortunately that’s not how the ISS missions work. If the collaboration stops then the ISS as a whole quickly returns to Earth.

    If it takes a year for the scumbags to rebuild their own launch platform, there’s going to be a few passengers from that side of the ISS needing to use SpaceX launches up and down. The Western side had to use Soyuz missions for nearly a decade after the Shuttle retired.

    Hopefully it’s just the one spy and it doesn’t turn into a pattern. Also much better that they found him while he was still on Earth.
  • RochdalePioneersRochdalePioneers Posts: 31,480
    With Farage telling donors he will do a deal with the Tories "on his terms" perhaps the question is what are those terms?

    Perhaps the future is that we are left with a rump Conservative Party, those who refuse Anschluss with their Farage.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 84,056

    Nigelb said:

    While condemning Lammy's policy on jury trials, refit to him for this change, which I think is a just one.

    https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/dec/02/rape-victims-england-wales-protected-serial-liar-trope-legal-shake-up
    Rape victims will no longer be depicted as serial liars in courtrooms in England and Wales as part of the biggest shake-up “in a generation”, the Guardian can reveal.

    New measures will stop the “profound injustice” of victims being questioned, sometimes without warning, about past rapes that they have reported to the police, said David Lammy, the justice secretary.

    Lammy, who on Tuesday announced jury trials would be scrapped for cases where sentences are likely to be less than three years, said too many rape victims left the criminal justice system feeling like they had been put on trial, with defence barristers using sensitive details of past relationships and abuse to discredit them.

    He said: “That is a profound injustice, and it has driven far too many women and girls out of the justice system altogether. This must stop, and our new reforms will ensure that survivors are not demonised for the abuse they have suffered.”

    Under new laws, “bad character” evidence related to a victim’s past sexual history or abuse will no longer be allowed, unless lawyers have evidence to suggest a complainant has previously lied. Previous compensation claims for experiences of crime by victims will be banned under similar conditions...

    This is subversion of justice. Not justice.
    Why ?
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 12,737
    Number 1 article on the BBC this morning is about SUVs. Hopefully we'll follow the French and reform VED into something that deters people from buying them.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy7vdvl2531o
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 17,337
    Could Honduras be another case where a Trump endorsement lost his candidate the election? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9895x3039ro
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 20,877

    With Farage telling donors he will do a deal with the Tories "on his terms" perhaps the question is what are those terms?

    Perhaps the future is that we are left with a rump Conservative Party, those who refuse Anschluss with their Farage.

    Two things to remember,

    One is that centrist Conservatives are called 'wets' for a reason.

    The other is that the mainstream right always thinks it can use the hard right to defeat the left, and then 'control' them. It never ever works.

  • RochdalePioneersRochdalePioneers Posts: 31,480
    Eabhal said:

    Number 1 article on the BBC this morning is about SUVs. Hopefully we'll follow the French and reform VED into something that deters people from buying them.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy7vdvl2531o

    Though of course a significant driver as to why cars are getting bigger is safety - so much of the packaging bloat is there to protect the occupants.
  • RochdalePioneersRochdalePioneers Posts: 31,480

    With Farage telling donors he will do a deal with the Tories "on his terms" perhaps the question is what are those terms?

    Perhaps the future is that we are left with a rump Conservative Party, those who refuse Anschluss with their Farage.

    Two things to remember,

    One is that centrist Conservatives are called 'wets' for a reason.

    The other is that the mainstream right always thinks it can use the hard right to defeat the left, and then 'control' them. It never ever works.

    Farage is in bluster mode denying it, which suggests it is true. If he thinks he needs to do a deal with the Tories it suggests he thinks he can't win otherwise...
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 58,648

    Eabhal said:

    Number 1 article on the BBC this morning is about SUVs. Hopefully we'll follow the French and reform VED into something that deters people from buying them.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy7vdvl2531o

    Though of course a significant driver as to why cars are getting bigger is safety - so much of the packaging bloat is there to protect the occupants.
    Yes, but a Mini meets the safety regulations just as a Range Rover does.

    We should be discouraging people from buying massive SUVs just for the school run in the city.
    (Yes, rural Scotland is a little different!)
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 20,877
    Sandpit said:

    Eabhal said:

    Number 1 article on the BBC this morning is about SUVs. Hopefully we'll follow the French and reform VED into something that deters people from buying them.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy7vdvl2531o

    Though of course a significant driver as to why cars are getting bigger is safety - so much of the packaging bloat is there to protect the occupants.
    Yes, but a Mini meets the safety regulations just as a Range Rover does.

    We should be discouraging people from buying massive SUVs just for the school run in the city.
    (Yes, rural Scotland is a little different!)
    Whilst both meet the regulations, the SUV looks safer, and people want themselves and those they love to feel safer...

    ... even if it's at the expense of everyone else.
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 17,337
    Sandpit said:

    Andy_JS said:

    "China | Talent flows
    America is foolishly waving goodbye to thousands of Chinese boffins
    Hostile policies and attacks on science are driving them back into China’s arms"

    https://www.economist.com/china/2025/12/02/america-is-foolishly-waving-goodbye-to-thousands-of-chinese-boffins

    Typical Economist globalist framing, ignoring that the biggest issues are the amount of American IP stolen by China over the past few years, a recent Chinese law that means mandatory ‘debriefing’ for Chinese nationals working or studying in the US, and the appearance of Chinese “police stations” in a number of American cities.

    Much easier to say OrangeManBad.

    As with the UK discussion about the new Chinese Embassy in London, it’s very clear they are not our friends and are trying to extract huge amounts of intelligence material from Western countries.
    Are you saying the Orange Man *is* our friend?
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 54,191

    With Farage telling donors he will do a deal with the Tories "on his terms" perhaps the question is what are those terms?

    Perhaps the future is that we are left with a rump Conservative Party, those who refuse Anschluss with their Farage.

    No, I think that when Farage leaves parliament the Tories will regain the mantle of the principle party of the right. Reform is an ego vehicle and won't last long in government. The history of Faragist parties is that they wilt very quickly when Farage leaves.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 53,471

    With Farage telling donors he will do a deal with the Tories "on his terms" perhaps the question is what are those terms?

    Perhaps the future is that we are left with a rump Conservative Party, those who refuse Anschluss with their Farage.

    Two things to remember,

    One is that centrist Conservatives are called 'wets' for a reason.

    The other is that the mainstream right always thinks it can use the hard right to defeat the left, and then 'control' them. It never ever works.

    Farage is in bluster mode denying it, which suggests it is true. If he thinks he needs to do a deal with the Tories it suggests he thinks he can't win otherwise...
    If it did come to pass, I wonder whether it might force Labour to finally move off its usual stance of asserting divine right to stand in every seat, and enter discussions with other centre-left parties?
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 125,064

    NEW THREAD

  • TimSTimS Posts: 16,484
    Foxy said:

    With Farage telling donors he will do a deal with the Tories "on his terms" perhaps the question is what are those terms?

    Perhaps the future is that we are left with a rump Conservative Party, those who refuse Anschluss with their Farage.

    No, I think that when Farage leaves parliament the Tories will regain the mantle of the principle party of the right. Reform is an ego vehicle and won't last long in government. The history of Faragist parties is that they wilt very quickly when Farage leaves.
    Depends how far Reform has got its feet under the table by then. I don’t think it’s the same beast its predecessor was in 2015/16.

    The French RN is an analogy. It was very much a vehicle for Jean Marie Le Pen’s ego, but it’s achieved something akin to escape velocity since his departure.

    I still think the Tories will bounce back but I don’t think Reform is going back to low single digit vote shares.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 58,648

    Sandpit said:

    Andy_JS said:

    "China | Talent flows
    America is foolishly waving goodbye to thousands of Chinese boffins
    Hostile policies and attacks on science are driving them back into China’s arms"

    https://www.economist.com/china/2025/12/02/america-is-foolishly-waving-goodbye-to-thousands-of-chinese-boffins

    Typical Economist globalist framing, ignoring that the biggest issues are the amount of American IP stolen by China over the past few years, a recent Chinese law that means mandatory ‘debriefing’ for Chinese nationals working or studying in the US, and the appearance of Chinese “police stations” in a number of American cities.

    Much easier to say OrangeManBad.

    As with the UK discussion about the new Chinese Embassy in London, it’s very clear they are not our friends and are trying to extract huge amounts of intelligence material from Western countries.
    Are you saying the Orange Man *is* our friend?
    I’m saying he’s the enemy of our enemy.
  • CumberlandGapCumberlandGap Posts: 325
    Nigelb said:

    Nigelb said:

    While condemning Lammy's policy on jury trials, refit to him for this change, which I think is a just one.

    https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/dec/02/rape-victims-england-wales-protected-serial-liar-trope-legal-shake-up
    Rape victims will no longer be depicted as serial liars in courtrooms in England and Wales as part of the biggest shake-up “in a generation”, the Guardian can reveal.

    New measures will stop the “profound injustice” of victims being questioned, sometimes without warning, about past rapes that they have reported to the police, said David Lammy, the justice secretary.

    Lammy, who on Tuesday announced jury trials would be scrapped for cases where sentences are likely to be less than three years, said too many rape victims left the criminal justice system feeling like they had been put on trial, with defence barristers using sensitive details of past relationships and abuse to discredit them.

    He said: “That is a profound injustice, and it has driven far too many women and girls out of the justice system altogether. This must stop, and our new reforms will ensure that survivors are not demonised for the abuse they have suffered.”

    Under new laws, “bad character” evidence related to a victim’s past sexual history or abuse will no longer be allowed, unless lawyers have evidence to suggest a complainant has previously lied. Previous compensation claims for experiences of crime by victims will be banned under similar conditions...

    This is subversion of justice. Not justice.
    Why ?
    The evidence is often he said / she said, with the jury coming down on whichever witness gives the most convincing evidence. It is important that as much information is possible to the jury, with out predetermining the outcome. You might end up with a higher conviction rate, but also a higher rate of wrongful conviction.

    The reason convictions are low is because it’s really hard to prove behind reasonable doubt.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 54,191
    Sandpit said:

    Sandpit said:

    Andy_JS said:

    "China | Talent flows
    America is foolishly waving goodbye to thousands of Chinese boffins
    Hostile policies and attacks on science are driving them back into China’s arms"

    https://www.economist.com/china/2025/12/02/america-is-foolishly-waving-goodbye-to-thousands-of-chinese-boffins

    Typical Economist globalist framing, ignoring that the biggest issues are the amount of American IP stolen by China over the past few years, a recent Chinese law that means mandatory ‘debriefing’ for Chinese nationals working or studying in the US, and the appearance of Chinese “police stations” in a number of American cities.

    Much easier to say OrangeManBad.

    As with the UK discussion about the new Chinese Embassy in London, it’s very clear they are not our friends and are trying to extract huge amounts of intelligence material from Western countries.
    Are you saying the Orange Man *is* our friend?
    I’m saying he’s the enemy of our enemy.
    Russia isn't his enemy.
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