Thoughts and prayers for Lord Mandelson, he's not even been charged let alone convicted, this is very unfair on him.
Mandelson set to give up Wiltshire home
Telegraph understands peer considering handing back keys to rented property as he faces drop in income
Lord Mandelson is set to leave his second home in Wiltshire to cut his outgoings following the fallout over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
The peer, arrested on Feb 23 on suspicion of misconduct in public office, has not been seen at his Wiltshire home for weeks. The Telegraph understands that he is now considering handing back the keys to the rented property.
The former Labour minister rents the four-bedroom farmhouse in Pewsey Vale from Nat Rothschild, the multi-millionaire financier, paying the market rate of between £2,000 and £3,000 per month.
He also owns a four-storey town house near Regent’s Park in London, which he bought for £7.6m in 2011. Land Registry documents show that in 2019 he had a mortgage of £3.8m on the property.
Global Counsel, the lobbying firm co-founded by Lord Mandelson, was placed into administration on Feb 20 after fresh disclosures about the peer’s links to Epstein had a “monumental impact on the business”, according to a statement from the administrator.
It's very hard to change a regime by bombing alone.
At the end of the first Gulf War, it was assumed that with Saddam's army mostly destroyed and the no fly zone, he would be rapidly overthrown.
It didn't happen.
Despite utterly destroying German cities, the Nazis never came close to capitulating.
And most recently, Russia's constant missile and drone attacks on Ukraine have not caused the collapse of the country.
The US has killed Iran's Supreme Leader. It has neutered any ability of theirs to project force, and shown their missiles to be useless.
But it has not come anywhere near unseating the Islamic Government.
Indeed it took US and allied ground troops to remove Saddam's regime and US and allied ground troops to remove the Taliban and in the latter case they returned as soon as Biden withdrew them.
Only when there is already a mass rebel insurgency and protests on the streets as in Libya when Gaddaffi fell do western airstrikes alone work and it has gone somewhat quiet in terms of the Tehran student protests. Assad was removed by rebels without western intervention
I hope I am wrong but these bastards seem so much more committed to the cause. If there was a window of opportunity I feel that was last month before 30,000 protestors were executed.
Thoughts and prayers for Lord Mandelson, he's not even been charged let alone convicted, this is very unfair on him.
Mandelson set to give up Wiltshire home
Telegraph understands peer considering handing back keys to rented property as he faces drop in income
Lord Mandelson has not been seen at his second home in Wiltshire for weeks Lord Mandelson has not been seen at his second home in Wiltshire for weeks Credit: Ben Birchall/PA Lord Mandelson is set to leave his second home in Wiltshire to cut his outgoings following the fallout over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
The peer, arrested on Feb 23 on suspicion of misconduct in public office, has not been seen at his Wiltshire home for weeks. The Telegraph understands that he is now considering handing back the keys to the rented property.
The former Labour minister rents the four-bedroom farmhouse in Pewsey Vale from Nat Rothschild, the multi-millionaire financier, paying the market rate of between £2,000 and £3,000 per month.
He also owns a four-storey town house near Regent’s Park in London, which he bought for £7.6m in 2011. Land Registry documents show that in 2019 he had a mortgage of £3.8m on the property.
Global Counsel, the lobbying firm co-founded by Lord Mandelson, was placed into administration on Feb 20 after fresh disclosures about the peer’s links to Epstein had a “monumental impact on the business”, according to a statement from the administrator.
Some say Kier Starmer is the worst politician in recent British history, but I disagree. He's actually the worst THING in recent British history. He's so spineless, he's only held up by the starch in his shirt. He's as hollow and soulless as the chalk outline around the corpse of Labour.
Thoughts and prayers for Lord Mandelson, he's not even been charged let alone convicted, this is very unfair on him.
Mandelson set to give up Wiltshire home
Telegraph understands peer considering handing back keys to rented property as he faces drop in income
Lord Mandelson is set to leave his second home in Wiltshire to cut his outgoings following the fallout over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
The peer, arrested on Feb 23 on suspicion of misconduct in public office, has not been seen at his Wiltshire home for weeks. The Telegraph understands that he is now considering handing back the keys to the rented property.
The former Labour minister rents the four-bedroom farmhouse in Pewsey Vale from Nat Rothschild, the multi-millionaire financier, paying the market rate of between £2,000 and £3,000 per month.
He also owns a four-storey town house near Regent’s Park in London, which he bought for £7.6m in 2011. Land Registry documents show that in 2019 he had a mortgage of £3.8m on the property.
Global Counsel, the lobbying firm co-founded by Lord Mandelson, was placed into administration on Feb 20 after fresh disclosures about the peer’s links to Epstein had a “monumental impact on the business”, according to a statement from the administrator.
Some say Kier Starmer is the worst politician in recent British history, but I disagree. He's actually the worst THING in recent British history. He's so spineless, he's only held up by the starch in his shirt. He's as hollow and soulless as the chalk outline around the corpse of Labour.
This is the Trump playbook to a T. Make up claims of voter fraud and "threats to democracy". Reform have been compliaining about the wrong sort of postal voting for years, but have never produced any actual evidence of fraud. Goodwin didn't lose because of Commonwealth citizens voting. I remain lost what role cousin marriages supposedly played in his defeat.
(Also, Reform have clarified that their policy of only British citizens can vote isn't actually that only British citizens should be able to vote. They want to keep the vote for Irish citizens.)
FFS, why?
Ireland went independent well over a century ago.
Time to end this bullshit.
One of the Acts in (I think) 1948 states that "Ireland is in no way a foreign country". The separation was entirely justified but was also traumatic and people needed time to work it out.
There is a shit-ton of Irish, Irish-descended or Irish-identified people in GB and the first party to suggest removing their vote involuntarily loses big time. There is a shit-ton of Irish, Irish-descended, Irish-identified, British, British-descended or British-identified people in NI and the first party to suggest removing their vote involuntarily (without a referendum) spends the rest of their life looking under their car with a mirror. Even Goodwin isn't that stupid.
Acts can be repealed. Ireland is a foreign country.
Absolutely in NI it is logical to accept either citizenship, special circumstances. But in Britain? No.
I'd love to be Irish on the terms outlined. Then I could wave my EU passport about with gay abandon.
Thoughts and prayers for Lord Mandelson, he's not even been charged let alone convicted, this is very unfair on him.
Mandelson set to give up Wiltshire home
Telegraph understands peer considering handing back keys to rented property as he faces drop in income
Lord Mandelson has not been seen at his second home in Wiltshire for weeks Lord Mandelson has not been seen at his second home in Wiltshire for weeks Credit: Ben Birchall/PA Lord Mandelson is set to leave his second home in Wiltshire to cut his outgoings following the fallout over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
The peer, arrested on Feb 23 on suspicion of misconduct in public office, has not been seen at his Wiltshire home for weeks. The Telegraph understands that he is now considering handing back the keys to the rented property.
The former Labour minister rents the four-bedroom farmhouse in Pewsey Vale from Nat Rothschild, the multi-millionaire financier, paying the market rate of between £2,000 and £3,000 per month.
He also owns a four-storey town house near Regent’s Park in London, which he bought for £7.6m in 2011. Land Registry documents show that in 2019 he had a mortgage of £3.8m on the property.
Global Counsel, the lobbying firm co-founded by Lord Mandelson, was placed into administration on Feb 20 after fresh disclosures about the peer’s links to Epstein had a “monumental impact on the business”, according to a statement from the administrator.
Some say Kier Starmer is the worst politician in recent British history, but I disagree. He's actually the worst THING in recent British history. He's so spineless, he's only held up by the starch in his shirt. He's as hollow and soulless as the chalk outline around the corpse of Labour.
Thoughts and prayers for Lord Mandelson, he's not even been charged let alone convicted, this is very unfair on him.
Mandelson set to give up Wiltshire home
Telegraph understands peer considering handing back keys to rented property as he faces drop in income
Lord Mandelson has not been seen at his second home in Wiltshire for weeks Lord Mandelson has not been seen at his second home in Wiltshire for weeks Credit: Ben Birchall/PA Lord Mandelson is set to leave his second home in Wiltshire to cut his outgoings following the fallout over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
The peer, arrested on Feb 23 on suspicion of misconduct in public office, has not been seen at his Wiltshire home for weeks. The Telegraph understands that he is now considering handing back the keys to the rented property.
The former Labour minister rents the four-bedroom farmhouse in Pewsey Vale from Nat Rothschild, the multi-millionaire financier, paying the market rate of between £2,000 and £3,000 per month.
He also owns a four-storey town house near Regent’s Park in London, which he bought for £7.6m in 2011. Land Registry documents show that in 2019 he had a mortgage of £3.8m on the property.
Global Counsel, the lobbying firm co-founded by Lord Mandelson, was placed into administration on Feb 20 after fresh disclosures about the peer’s links to Epstein had a “monumental impact on the business”, according to a statement from the administrator.
BREAKING: Keir Starmer says the U.K. has given the US permission to use British bases to launch strikes on Iran
That is risky politically for him, it won't go down well with the Labour left and risks further leakage from Labour to the Greens but would be the right thing to do for the country and Iranian people. Starmer has hedged it though by saying the US can only launch planes to bomb Iranian missile launch sites or storage depots hitting Gulf states sites and not sites in Iran beyond that
Some say Kier Starmer is the worst politician in recent British history, but I disagree. He's actually the worst THING in recent British history. He's so spineless, he's only held up by the starch in his shirt. He's as hollow and soulless as the chalk outline around the corpse of Labour.
Some say Kier Starmer is the worst politician in recent British history, but I disagree. He's actually the worst THING in recent British history. He's so spineless, he's only held up by the starch in his shirt. He's as hollow and soulless as the chalk outline around the corpse of Labour.
The Government is working on plans to evacuate hundreds of thousands of Brits from the Middle East More than 76,000 Brits have registered their location and contact details with the Foreign Office
UAE British population is estimated at 250k.
If anyone does know people in the Gulf who are affected by the situation here, please make sure they register themselves with the British embassy. It might help with getting on flights when they do reopen.
They choose to live there they should get themselves out.
Dubai to Dover is a long way in a small boat.
Not long enough Red, bloody parasites, tax avoiding no marks should be told to F Off.
Well, they remain citizens of this country.
I need to be careful tarring everyone with the same brush, for example we’re dog sitting for a couple who’ve got stranded in Doha in their way back from Sri Lanka. But, let’s face it, we all know the sort of rich classless “expat” Dubai knobs I’m talking about.
I am not a particular fan of those flashy Dubai type people, and hate Dubai, but let’s be fair, the ‘They’re a British citizen’ was used with no nuance to make the case for Shamima Begum and Alaa Abd El Fattah, so it should extend to people who British citizens who live elsewhere for tax purposes
I said the other day Starmer needed a small war as a distraction. Well he's got one!
Thats basically No change at all.
Cesspit journalism
Starmer has just announced on Sky he has given permission for the US to use UK bases, as Iran is striking British interests and our allies in the region have asked us to do more to protect them
This is the Trump playbook to a T. Make up claims of voter fraud and "threats to democracy". Reform have been compliaining about the wrong sort of postal voting for years, but have never produced any actual evidence of fraud. Goodwin didn't lose because of Commonwealth citizens voting. I remain lost what role cousin marriages supposedly played in his defeat.
(Also, Reform have clarified that their policy of only British citizens can vote isn't actually that only British citizens should be able to vote. They want to keep the vote for Irish citizens.)
FFS, why?
Ireland went independent well over a century ago.
Time to end this bullshit.
One of the Acts in (I think) 1948 states that "Ireland is in no way a foreign country". The separation was entirely justified but was also traumatic and people needed time to work it out.
There is a shit-ton of Irish, Irish-descended or Irish-identified people in GB and the first party to suggest removing their vote involuntarily loses big time. There is a shit-ton of Irish, Irish-descended, Irish-identified, British, British-descended or British-identified people in NI and the first party to suggest removing their vote involuntarily (without a referendum) spends the rest of their life looking under their car with a mirror. Even Goodwin isn't that stupid.
Acts can be repealed. Ireland is a foreign country.
Absolutely in NI it is logical to accept either citizenship, special circumstances. But in Britain? No.
I'd love to be Irish on the terms outlined. Then I could wave my EU passport about with gay abandon.
Didn't he present the late show on RTE before he died.
This is the Trump playbook to a T. Make up claims of voter fraud and "threats to democracy". Reform have been compliaining about the wrong sort of postal voting for years, but have never produced any actual evidence of fraud. Goodwin didn't lose because of Commonwealth citizens voting. I remain lost what role cousin marriages supposedly played in his defeat.
(Also, Reform have clarified that their policy of only British citizens can vote isn't actually that only British citizens should be able to vote. They want to keep the vote for Irish citizens.)
FFS, why?
Ireland went independent well over a century ago.
Time to end this bullshit.
I imagine one would have to renegotiate the GFA. It is a silly anomaly that citizens of any territory that once belonged to the British empire should have the right to vote here.
The Commonwealth issue is subtly differnt to the Ireland issue, in that Irish citizens are not considered 'aliens', and have the same rights as British citizens.
The former -the Commonwealth issue- is all the more anomolous, in that a British citizen living lawfully in India with a visa has no right to vote there. As far as I am aware, there would be no treaty issues associated with ending the right of Commonwealth citizens to vote, and -simply- if you want to vote... become a British citizen.
Ireland is harder, because I believe we've enshrined the rights of Irish citiziens in the UK in that agreement. It's probably worth revisiting, but feels less .. urgent. One could probably also find a compomise that fits inside the the spirit of the GFA, perhaps allowing Irish citizens resident in Northern Ireland (or vice versa) to continue to exercise the right to vote, while eliminating from those who are not Northern irish.
Yes, in Northern Ireland is reasonable, since that allows both sides to effectively claim it while allowing citizens to choose either.
But in Britain? No, and I don't know of any Treaty issue.
As far as I know its not reciprocal there either. As far as I know, if I moved to the Republic of Ireland I would not be able to vote. If I am wrong and its reciprocal then fair enough, but if it is not it is well past time to end it.
As almost always you are wrong.
British people have the right to reside and vote in the Republic of Ireland.
This is the Trump playbook to a T. Make up claims of voter fraud and "threats to democracy". Reform have been compliaining about the wrong sort of postal voting for years, but have never produced any actual evidence of fraud. Goodwin didn't lose because of Commonwealth citizens voting. I remain lost what role cousin marriages supposedly played in his defeat.
(Also, Reform have clarified that their policy of only British citizens can vote isn't actually that only British citizens should be able to vote. They want to keep the vote for Irish citizens.)
FFS, why?
Ireland went independent well over a century ago.
Time to end this bullshit.
I imagine one would have to renegotiate the GFA. It is a silly anomaly that citizens of any territory that once belonged to the British empire should have the right to vote here.
The Commonwealth issue is subtly differnt to the Ireland issue, in that Irish citizens are not considered 'aliens', and have the same rights as British citizens.
The former -the Commonwealth issue- is all the more anomolous, in that a British citizen living lawfully in India with a visa has no right to vote there. As far as I am aware, there would be no treaty issues associated with ending the right of Commonwealth citizens to vote, and -simply- if you want to vote... become a British citizen.
Ireland is harder, because I believe we've enshrined the rights of Irish citiziens in the UK in that agreement. It's probably worth revisiting, but feels less .. urgent. One could probably also find a compomise that fits inside the the spirit of the GFA, perhaps allowing Irish citizens resident in Northern Ireland (or vice versa) to continue to exercise the right to vote, while eliminating from those who are not Northern irish.
Yes, in Northern Ireland is reasonable, since that allows both sides to effectively claim it while allowing citizens to choose either.
But in Britain? No, and I don't know of any Treaty issue.
As far as I know its not reciprocal there either. As far as I know, if I moved to the Republic of Ireland I would not be able to vote. If I am wrong and its reciprocal then fair enough, but if it is not it is well past time to end it.
As almost always you are wrong.
British people have the right to reside and vote in the Republic of Ireland.
This is the Trump playbook to a T. Make up claims of voter fraud and "threats to democracy". Reform have been compliaining about the wrong sort of postal voting for years, but have never produced any actual evidence of fraud. Goodwin didn't lose because of Commonwealth citizens voting. I remain lost what role cousin marriages supposedly played in his defeat.
(Also, Reform have clarified that their policy of only British citizens can vote isn't actually that only British citizens should be able to vote. They want to keep the vote for Irish citizens.)
FFS, why?
Ireland went independent well over a century ago.
Time to end this bullshit.
I imagine one would have to renegotiate the GFA. It is a silly anomaly that citizens of any territory that once belonged to the British empire should have the right to vote here.
The Commonwealth issue is subtly differnt to the Ireland issue, in that Irish citizens are not considered 'aliens', and have the same rights as British citizens.
The former -the Commonwealth issue- is all the more anomolous, in that a British citizen living lawfully in India with a visa has no right to vote there. As far as I am aware, there would be no treaty issues associated with ending the right of Commonwealth citizens to vote, and -simply- if you want to vote... become a British citizen.
Ireland is harder, because I believe we've enshrined the rights of Irish citiziens in the UK in that agreement. It's probably worth revisiting, but feels less .. urgent. One could probably also find a compomise that fits inside the the spirit of the GFA, perhaps allowing Irish citizens resident in Northern Ireland (or vice versa) to continue to exercise the right to vote, while eliminating from those who are not Northern irish.
Yes, in Northern Ireland is reasonable, since that allows both sides to effectively claim it while allowing citizens to choose either.
But in Britain? No, and I don't know of any Treaty issue.
As far as I know its not reciprocal there either. As far as I know, if I moved to the Republic of Ireland I would not be able to vote. If I am wrong and its reciprocal then fair enough, but if it is not it is well past time to end it.
As almost always you are wrong.
British people have the right to reside and vote in the Republic of Ireland.
Any time I am wrong I am prepared to put my hand up and say so, I said "as far as I know" but did not check it. If it is reciprocal, then that is fair enough, and I am happy to take it back and draw a line under it. I was wrong.
The rest of the Commonwealth though should lose their votes. It is not reciprocal with them (unless there's any remaining odd exceptions on a case by case basis).
EDIT: Actually we were both wrong.
British citizens can vote in General Elections, but can not vote in either Referenda or Presidential Elections. So it is a mix of both, a grey area.
On topic, as I have just discovered, it isn't just Ts &Cs. The bet is probably illegal. Under the 1774 Life Insurance Act, so before American independence, life insurance payments are only permitted to compensate your financial losses caused by that person's death. This is known as an insurable interest.
As the Act's preamble puts it: Whereas it hath been found by experience that the making insurances on lives or other events wherein the assured shall have no interest hath introduced a mischievous kind of gaming
This is the Trump playbook to a T. Make up claims of voter fraud and "threats to democracy". Reform have been compliaining about the wrong sort of postal voting for years, but have never produced any actual evidence of fraud. Goodwin didn't lose because of Commonwealth citizens voting. I remain lost what role cousin marriages supposedly played in his defeat.
(Also, Reform have clarified that their policy of only British citizens can vote isn't actually that only British citizens should be able to vote. They want to keep the vote for Irish citizens.)
FFS, why?
Ireland went independent well over a century ago.
Time to end this bullshit.
No it didn't, and you are playing with fire, not bullshit.
After the war of independence "Ireland" was divided into a Dominion - "The Irish Free State" and "Northern Ireland" in July 1921. This triggered an Irish civil war that continued until May 1923 The Irish Free State adopted a new constitution in 1937, and formally became a Republic in 1949. From the late 1960s, discrimination against Catholics in the North led to "The Troubles"- a violent conflict that took place both in Ireland, mostly the North, and in Great Britain and which killed over 3500 and injured around 48,000 people. This ended in a stalemate and ultimately the "Good Friday Agreement" of 1998. It is a fragile and unstable peace, and the Parliament of Northern Ireland- Stormont- was suspended for 2 years, only resuming in February 2024 after difficult negotiations.
You obviously do not know any of this.
If you start changing long term rules for Irish citizens- given that the number of residents of Northern Ireland that are Irish citizens, quite often holding dual nationality if they choose, then you are either going to restart the conflict, or Northern Ireland will end up outside the United Kingdom or possibly both. The Baltic Exchange Bomb in April 1992, caused massive devastation right in the heart of the City of London, including my office and that was just one of many attacks.
Those of us that remember the Troubles do not think they should be restarted because some clown thinks that necessary compromise is Bullshit and that it should be overturned for party political reasons.
As for "The Commonwealth", I have more relatives in Canada and Australia than in the UK, and I am certainly not unique in that.
The New York Times reported the CIA tipped off Israel when the leader convened a meeting of top defence aides at his compound in Tehran, triggering a decision to strike.
Israel’s Channel 12 reported that the Israeli army employed a ruse to put the Iranian leadership off its guard. On the morning of the operation, army officers were asked not to park their cars in their usual spaces to avoid detection by Iran’s spies. Misinformation was also leaked suggesting that the chief of staff Lt Gen Eyal Zamir had stayed at home.
The channel cited officials as saying the Israeli air force killed 30 high-ranking Iranian officials within the first 30 seconds of the attack.
Thoughts and prayers for Lord Mandelson, he's not even been charged let alone convicted, this is very unfair on him.
Mandelson set to give up Wiltshire home
Telegraph understands peer considering handing back keys to rented property as he faces drop in income
Lord Mandelson has not been seen at his second home in Wiltshire for weeks Lord Mandelson has not been seen at his second home in Wiltshire for weeks Credit: Ben Birchall/PA Lord Mandelson is set to leave his second home in Wiltshire to cut his outgoings following the fallout over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
The peer, arrested on Feb 23 on suspicion of misconduct in public office, has not been seen at his Wiltshire home for weeks. The Telegraph understands that he is now considering handing back the keys to the rented property.
The former Labour minister rents the four-bedroom farmhouse in Pewsey Vale from Nat Rothschild, the multi-millionaire financier, paying the market rate of between £2,000 and £3,000 per month.
He also owns a four-storey town house near Regent’s Park in London, which he bought for £7.6m in 2011. Land Registry documents show that in 2019 he had a mortgage of £3.8m on the property.
Global Counsel, the lobbying firm co-founded by Lord Mandelson, was placed into administration on Feb 20 after fresh disclosures about the peer’s links to Epstein had a “monumental impact on the business”, according to a statement from the administrator.
Its like text to video AI from 2-3 years ago. Or even if you look closely at crowds in the background of Seed Dance 2.0, there is an unnatural lack of movement.
This is the Trump playbook to a T. Make up claims of voter fraud and "threats to democracy". Reform have been compliaining about the wrong sort of postal voting for years, but have never produced any actual evidence of fraud. Goodwin didn't lose because of Commonwealth citizens voting. I remain lost what role cousin marriages supposedly played in his defeat.
(Also, Reform have clarified that their policy of only British citizens can vote isn't actually that only British citizens should be able to vote. They want to keep the vote for Irish citizens.)
FFS, why?
Ireland went independent well over a century ago.
Time to end this bullshit.
I imagine one would have to renegotiate the GFA. It is a silly anomaly that citizens of any territory that once belonged to the British empire should have the right to vote here.
The Commonwealth issue is subtly differnt to the Ireland issue, in that Irish citizens are not considered 'aliens', and have the same rights as British citizens.
The former -the Commonwealth issue- is all the more anomolous, in that a British citizen living lawfully in India with a visa has no right to vote there. As far as I am aware, there would be no treaty issues associated with ending the right of Commonwealth citizens to vote, and -simply- if you want to vote... become a British citizen.
Ireland is harder, because I believe we've enshrined the rights of Irish citiziens in the UK in that agreement. It's probably worth revisiting, but feels less .. urgent. One could probably also find a compomise that fits inside the the spirit of the GFA, perhaps allowing Irish citizens resident in Northern Ireland (or vice versa) to continue to exercise the right to vote, while eliminating from those who are not Northern irish.
Yes, in Northern Ireland is reasonable, since that allows both sides to effectively claim it while allowing citizens to choose either.
But in Britain? No, and I don't know of any Treaty issue.
As far as I know its not reciprocal there either. As far as I know, if I moved to the Republic of Ireland I would not be able to vote. If I am wrong and its reciprocal then fair enough, but if it is not it is well past time to end it.
British citizens in Ireland are allowed to vote in the Dail elections (i.e. their General Election). But not in referendum.
Thoughts and prayers for Lord Mandelson, he's not even been charged let alone convicted, this is very unfair on him.
Mandelson set to give up Wiltshire home
Telegraph understands peer considering handing back keys to rented property as he faces drop in income
Lord Mandelson has not been seen at his second home in Wiltshire for weeks Lord Mandelson has not been seen at his second home in Wiltshire for weeks Credit: Ben Birchall/PA Lord Mandelson is set to leave his second home in Wiltshire to cut his outgoings following the fallout over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
The peer, arrested on Feb 23 on suspicion of misconduct in public office, has not been seen at his Wiltshire home for weeks. The Telegraph understands that he is now considering handing back the keys to the rented property.
The former Labour minister rents the four-bedroom farmhouse in Pewsey Vale from Nat Rothschild, the multi-millionaire financier, paying the market rate of between £2,000 and £3,000 per month.
He also owns a four-storey town house near Regent’s Park in London, which he bought for £7.6m in 2011. Land Registry documents show that in 2019 he had a mortgage of £3.8m on the property.
Global Counsel, the lobbying firm co-founded by Lord Mandelson, was placed into administration on Feb 20 after fresh disclosures about the peer’s links to Epstein had a “monumental impact on the business”, according to a statement from the administrator.
Some say Kier Starmer is the worst politician in recent British history, but I disagree. He's actually the worst THING in recent British history. He's so spineless, he's only held up by the starch in his shirt. He's as hollow and soulless as the chalk outline around the corpse of Labour.
He is basically again arguing the legal advice has changed, so his opinion has changed.
To be fair that's exactly what's happened AFAICS. Taking part in an unprovoked attack on another country to kill its head of state is a completely different circumstance under the law from responding to rocket attacks by the same state against your country or allies.
Two senior Iranian Shiite religious leaders, Grand Ayatollah Hossein Nouri Hamedani and Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, have issued fatwas calling on Muslims worldwide to take revenge for the killing of Khamenei. (Iran International)
This is the Trump playbook to a T. Make up claims of voter fraud and "threats to democracy". Reform have been compliaining about the wrong sort of postal voting for years, but have never produced any actual evidence of fraud. Goodwin didn't lose because of Commonwealth citizens voting. I remain lost what role cousin marriages supposedly played in his defeat.
(Also, Reform have clarified that their policy of only British citizens can vote isn't actually that only British citizens should be able to vote. They want to keep the vote for Irish citizens.)
FFS, why?
Ireland went independent well over a century ago.
Time to end this bullshit.
No it didn't, and you are playing with fire, not bullshit.
After the war of independence "Ireland" was divided into a Dominion - "The Irish Free State" and "Northern Ireland" in July 1921. This triggered an Irish civil war that continued until May 1923 The Irish Free State adopted a new constitution in 1937, and formally became a Republic in 1949. From the late 1960s, discrimination against Catholics in the North led to "The Troubles"- a violent conflict that took place both in Ireland, mostly the North, and in Great Britain and which killed over 3500 and injured around 48,000 people. This ended in a stalemate and ultimately the "Good Friday Agreement" of 1998. It is a fragile and unstable peace, and the Parliament of Northern Ireland- Stormont- was suspended for 2 years, only resuming in February 2024 after difficult negotiations.
You obviously do not know any of this.
If you start changing long term rules for Irish citizens- given that the number of residents of Northern Ireland that are Irish citizens, quite often holding dual nationality if they choose, then you are either going to restart the conflict, or Northern Ireland will end up outside the United Kingdom or possibly both. The Baltic Exchange Bomb in April 1992, caused massive devastation right in the heart of the City of London, including my office and that was just one of many attacks.
Those of us that remember the Troubles do not think they should be restarted because some clown thinks that necessary compromise is Bullshit and that it should be overturned for party political reasons.
As for "The Commonwealth", I have more relatives in Canada and Australia than in the UK, and I am certainly not unique in that.
Oh do piss off with the sanctimonious claptrap.
I remember the Troubles, well some of it. I remember my home town getting bombed by the IRA.
I remember a child of my own age, and an even younger child too, getting murdered in that bomb.
I have no interest in restarting the Troubles and said all along that obviously in NI it makes sense for the Irish citizens to be able to vote, but in England etc only if it is reciprocal. Since it has since been pointed out it is reciprocal, that is the end of the matter as far as I am concerned, it is reasonable. If it were not, adjusting that in England (not NI) would be a trigger to restart the Troubles.
As for citizens in the Commonwealth, good for you. I have plenty across the Commonwealth too. However that is not a reason for Commonwealth citizens to vote in their elections. My Scottish father-in-law who now lives in Canada only got the vote in Canada when he acquired Canadian citizenship, which is entirely reasonable of Canada. So why should the same not apply here?
Any Commonwealth citizens who move here and acquire citizenship should be entitled to vote, same as any Brits who emigrate and acquire citizenship, or any non-Commonwealth citizens who move here and acquire it.
I would really recommend reading this. Unlike this thread it is a discussion by people who know what they're talking about. An Israeli living in London a University professor from Tehran and a US jouralist. An extremely informed conversation. Trump is a total moron next to these people. He's just an oaf.
This is the Trump playbook to a T. Make up claims of voter fraud and "threats to democracy". Reform have been compliaining about the wrong sort of postal voting for years, but have never produced any actual evidence of fraud. Goodwin didn't lose because of Commonwealth citizens voting. I remain lost what role cousin marriages supposedly played in his defeat.
(Also, Reform have clarified that their policy of only British citizens can vote isn't actually that only British citizens should be able to vote. They want to keep the vote for Irish citizens.)
FFS, why?
Ireland went independent well over a century ago.
Time to end this bullshit.
I imagine one would have to renegotiate the GFA. It is a silly anomaly that citizens of any territory that once belonged to the British empire should have the right to vote here.
The Commonwealth issue is subtly differnt to the Ireland issue, in that Irish citizens are not considered 'aliens', and have the same rights as British citizens.
The former -the Commonwealth issue- is all the more anomolous, in that a British citizen living lawfully in India with a visa has no right to vote there. As far as I am aware, there would be no treaty issues associated with ending the right of Commonwealth citizens to vote, and -simply- if you want to vote... become a British citizen.
Ireland is harder, because I believe we've enshrined the rights of Irish citiziens in the UK in that agreement. It's probably worth revisiting, but feels less .. urgent. One could probably also find a compomise that fits inside the the spirit of the GFA, perhaps allowing Irish citizens resident in Northern Ireland (or vice versa) to continue to exercise the right to vote, while eliminating from those who are not Northern irish.
Yes, in Northern Ireland is reasonable, since that allows both sides to effectively claim it while allowing citizens to choose either.
But in Britain? No, and I don't know of any Treaty issue.
As far as I know its not reciprocal there either. As far as I know, if I moved to the Republic of Ireland I would not be able to vote. If I am wrong and its reciprocal then fair enough, but if it is not it is well past time to end it.
Presumably anyone born in the 26 counties before 1922 was British by birth and not forced to surrender British citizenship, which would then mean their children would be automatically British which would be a very large number of Irish people . Rather than open a can of worms about people's identity was probably easier to say that anyone from the 26 counties living in Britain could vote in British elections.
Thoughts and prayers for Lord Mandelson, he's not even been charged let alone convicted, this is very unfair on him.
Mandelson set to give up Wiltshire home
Telegraph understands peer considering handing back keys to rented property as he faces drop in income
Lord Mandelson has not been seen at his second home in Wiltshire for weeks Lord Mandelson has not been seen at his second home in Wiltshire for weeks Credit: Ben Birchall/PA Lord Mandelson is set to leave his second home in Wiltshire to cut his outgoings following the fallout over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
The peer, arrested on Feb 23 on suspicion of misconduct in public office, has not been seen at his Wiltshire home for weeks. The Telegraph understands that he is now considering handing back the keys to the rented property.
The former Labour minister rents the four-bedroom farmhouse in Pewsey Vale from Nat Rothschild, the multi-millionaire financier, paying the market rate of between £2,000 and £3,000 per month.
He also owns a four-storey town house near Regent’s Park in London, which he bought for £7.6m in 2011. Land Registry documents show that in 2019 he had a mortgage of £3.8m on the property.
Global Counsel, the lobbying firm co-founded by Lord Mandelson, was placed into administration on Feb 20 after fresh disclosures about the peer’s links to Epstein had a “monumental impact on the business”, according to a statement from the administrator.
Trump murdered Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, former president of Iran, who - whatever you think of him - was a civilian, not in the military, and so it was murder, plain and simple. As illegal and as murderous as Iran bombing and killing, say, George W Bush at his home in Dallas.
Starmer is tying himself in knots saying it is a defensive move to stop the missiles by allowing the US to use Diego Garcia to bomb the sites in Iran
It makes logical sense to me - UK allies and interests are being damaged; hit the source of that damage. I actually think Starmer has got it right here so far - the initial strike was damned reckless and we were right not take part; but now it's kicked off we've got to do what we must.
But I'm aware I'm in a tiny minority sitting between "level Tehran" and "Don't ever get involved in the Middle East again", which much more weight on the latter. Starmer's ratings can't tank because he's nearly bottomed out anyway.
This is the Trump playbook to a T. Make up claims of voter fraud and "threats to democracy". Reform have been compliaining about the wrong sort of postal voting for years, but have never produced any actual evidence of fraud. Goodwin didn't lose because of Commonwealth citizens voting. I remain lost what role cousin marriages supposedly played in his defeat.
(Also, Reform have clarified that their policy of only British citizens can vote isn't actually that only British citizens should be able to vote. They want to keep the vote for Irish citizens.)
FFS, why?
Ireland went independent well over a century ago.
Time to end this bullshit.
One of the Acts in (I think) 1948 states that "Ireland is in no way a foreign country". The separation was entirely justified but was also traumatic and people needed time to work it out.
There is a shit-ton of Irish, Irish-descended or Irish-identified people in GB and the first party to suggest removing their vote involuntarily loses big time. There is a shit-ton of Irish, Irish-descended, Irish-identified, British, British-descended or British-identified people in NI and the first party to suggest removing their vote involuntarily (without a referendum) spends the rest of their life looking under their car with a mirror. Even Goodwin isn't that stupid.
Utter rubbish.
And yet true. Did you not know this?
Ireland Act 1949
Section 2: Republic of Ireland not a foreign country. Subsection (1): "...It is hereby declared that, notwithstanding that the Republic of Ireland is not part of His Majesty's dominions, the Republic of Ireland is not a foreign country for the purposes of any law in force in any part of the United Kingdom or in any colony, protectorate or United Kingdom trust territory, whether by virtue of a rule of law or of an Act of Parliament or any other enactment or instrument whatsoever, whether passed or made before or after the passing of this Act, and references in any Act of Parliament, other enactment or instrument whatsoever, whether passed or made before or after the passing of this Act, to foreigners, aliens, foreign countries, and foreign or foreign-built ships or aircraft shall be construed accordingly..."
Irish-identified people in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales)
"...White Irish is an ethnicity classification used in the census in the United Kingdom for England, Scotland and Wales. In the 2021 census, the White Irish population was 564,342 or 0.9% of Great Britain's total population..."
Starmer is tying himself in knots saying it is a defensive move to stop the missiles by allowing the US to use Diego Garcia to bomb the sites in Iran
It makes logical sense to me - UK allies and interests are being damaged; hit the source of that damage. I actually think Starmer has got it right here so far - the initial strike was damned reckless and we right not take part; but now it's kicked off we've got to do what we must.
But I'm aware I'm in a tiny minority sitting between "level Tehran" and "Don't ever get involved in the Middle East again", which much more weight on the latter. Starmer's ratings can't tank because he's nearly bottomed out anyway.
No, Carney had it right, the initial strikes were fully justified and should be fully supported.
To be fair though, the Americans can hardly complain about allies being late to the fight.
Starmer is tying himself in knots saying it is a defensive move to stop the missiles by allowing the US to use Diego Garcia to bomb the sites in Iran
It makes logical sense to me - UK allies and interests are being damaged; hit the source of that damage. I actually think Starmer has got it right here so far - the initial strike was damned reckless and we were right not take part; but now it's kicked off we've got to do what we must.
But I'm aware I'm in a tiny minority sitting between "level Tehran" and "Don't ever get involved in the Middle East again", which much more weight on the latter. Starmer's ratings can't tank because he's nearly bottomed out anyway.
Except we aren't....""We are not joining these strikes", "we will not join offensive action now"
Been out with the family all day. The Giants exhibition at the National Museum in Edinburgh is worth a visit if you’re in the area. Anyhoo, what’ve I missed?
Starmer is tying himself in knots saying it is a defensive move to stop the missiles by allowing the US to use Diego Garcia to bomb the sites in Iran
It makes logical sense to me - UK allies and interests are being damaged; hit the source of that damage. I actually think Starmer has got it right here so far - the initial strike was damned reckless and we right not take part; but now it's kicked off we've got to do what we must.
But I'm aware I'm in a tiny minority sitting between "level Tehran" and "Don't ever get involved in the Middle East again", which much more weight on the latter. Starmer's ratings can't tank because he's nearly bottomed out anyway.
Lot of sense in that, but certainly the UK and I understand the EU are collectively taking the view their interests and people are under threat and accordingly are rowing in behind the US
On topic, as I have just discovered, it isn't just Ts &Cs. The bet is probably illegal. Under the 1774 Life Insurance Act, so before American independence, life insurance payments are only permitted to compensate your financial losses caused by that person's death. This is known as an insurable interest.
As the Act's preamble puts it: Whereas it hath been found by experience that the making insurances on lives or other events wherein the assured shall have no interest hath introduced a mischievous kind of gaming
Interesting Starmer gave permission for those bases but not Akrotiri in Cyprus .
Is this I wonder because the Iranian missiles can’t reach the former and there’s a lot of anger in Cyprus at the island being dragged into this together with the effect it would have on tourism .
IDS had a core. He believed in things. His desire to improve the lot of the working class by minimising their dependence on benefits (or making it easier to wean people off them) was sincere. I remember his roar of triumph as Universal Credit came in.
Starmer wanted to kill old sick people because Esther Rantzen told him to.
Starmer is tying himself in knots saying it is a defensive move to stop the missiles by allowing the US to use Diego Garcia to bomb the sites in Iran
It makes logical sense to me - UK allies and interests are being damaged; hit the source of that damage. I actually think Starmer has got it right here so far - the initial strike was damned reckless and we right not take part; but now it's kicked off we've got to do what we must.
But I'm aware I'm in a tiny minority sitting between "level Tehran" and "Don't ever get involved in the Middle East again", which much more weight on the latter. Starmer's ratings can't tank because he's nearly bottomed out anyway.
No, Carney had it right, the initial strikes were fully justified and should be fully supported.
To be fair though, the Americans can hardly complain about allies being late to the fight.
I know this is futile with you but I would make a distinction between "justified" and something that should be "fully supported".
Killing Khamenei in isolation was justifiable but given the potential consequences and uncertainty it's not something I could have supported. So far it's make no difference to the prospects pf the Iranian people, or even made them worse, while causing a massive degree of economic and humanitarian chaos across the Gulf and Middle East.
If in 6 months they are holding elections and opening gay bars in Tehran then I'll concede you were right.
Nearly a dozen KC-135R/T Stratotankers with the U.S. Air Force have departed air bases tonight in Spain bound for bases in Germany, the U.K. and other countries in Europe, with the it possible that Spain has ordered the withdrawal of the U.S. aerial-refueling fleet from the country in protest of the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Interesting Starmer gave permission for those bases but not Akrotiri in Cyprus .
Is this I wonder because the Iranian missiles can’t reach the former and there’s a lot of anger in Cyprus at the island being dragged into this together with the effect it would have on tourism .
As Iran have already shown, it won't matter. They have already fired at Cyprus, they will do so again regardless if jets are launched from there or not. They aren't going to be worrying about the distinction and what an egg headed lawyer on international law thinks.
Starmer is tying himself in knots saying it is a defensive move to stop the missiles by allowing the US to use Diego Garcia to bomb the sites in Iran
It makes logical sense to me - UK allies and interests are being damaged; hit the source of that damage. I actually think Starmer has got it right here so far - the initial strike was damned reckless and we were right not take part; but now it's kicked off we've got to do what we must.
But I'm aware I'm in a tiny minority sitting between "level Tehran" and "Don't ever get involved in the Middle East again", which much more weight on the latter. Starmer's ratings can't tank because he's nearly bottomed out anyway.
Except we aren't....""We are not joining these strikes", "we will not join offensive action now"
You're right. But that makes me curious as to the value of these bases to the Americans. I don't want to go full Leon but are they going to start carpet bombing Tehran with B52s? That's what's based at Fairford.
On topic, as I have just discovered, it isn't just Ts &Cs. The bet is probably illegal. Under the 1774 Life Insurance Act, so before American independence, life insurance payments are only permitted to compensate your financial losses caused by that person's death. This is known as an insurable interest.
As the Act's preamble puts it: Whereas it hath been found by experience that the making insurances on lives or other events wherein the assured shall have no interest hath introduced a mischievous kind of gaming
Interesting Starmer gave permission for those bases but not Akrotiri in Cyprus .
Is this I wonder because the Iranian missiles can’t reach the former and there’s a lot of anger in Cyprus at the island being dragged into this together with the effect it would have on tourism .
As Iran have already shown, it won't matter. They have already fired at Cyprus, they will do so again regardless if jets are launched from there or not. They aren't going to be worrying about the distinction and what an egg headed lawyer on international law thinks.
Starmer is tying himself in knots saying it is a defensive move to stop the missiles by allowing the US to use Diego Garcia to bomb the sites in Iran
It makes logical sense to me - UK allies and interests are being damaged; hit the source of that damage. I actually think Starmer has got it right here so far - the initial strike was damned reckless and we were right not take part; but now it's kicked off we've got to do what we must.
But I'm aware I'm in a tiny minority sitting between "level Tehran" and "Don't ever get involved in the Middle East again", which much more weight on the latter. Starmer's ratings can't tank because he's nearly bottomed out anyway.
Except we aren't....""We are not joining these strikes", "we will not join offensive action now"
You're right. But that makes me curious as to the value of these bases to the Americans. I don't want to go full Leon but are they going to start carpet bombing Tehran with B52s? That's what's based at Fairford.
iiuc the hallmark of this campaign is precision strikes, not carpet bombing
Starmer is tying himself in knots saying it is a defensive move to stop the missiles by allowing the US to use Diego Garcia to bomb the sites in Iran
It makes logical sense to me - UK allies and interests are being damaged; hit the source of that damage. I actually think Starmer has got it right here so far - the initial strike was damned reckless and we were right not take part; but now it's kicked off we've got to do what we must.
But I'm aware I'm in a tiny minority sitting between "level Tehran" and "Don't ever get involved in the Middle East again", which much more weight on the latter. Starmer's ratings can't tank because he's nearly bottomed out anyway.
Except we aren't....""We are not joining these strikes", "we will not join offensive action now"
You're right. But that makes me curious as to the value of these bases to the Americans. I don't want to go full Leon but are they going to start carpet bombing Tehran with B52s? That's what's based at Fairford.
iiuc the hallmark of this campaign is precision strikes, not carpet bombing
There cannot be anything more tiresome than people angling for a Labour leadership contest two days into a major regional conflict that we may get dragged into given the breadth of Iran's retaliation.
Seriously, give it a break and come back after May if things have calmed down. The government needs to be focussing on governing through what is objectively a difficult situation to navigate.
Comments
BREAKING: Keir Starmer says the U.K. has given the US permission to use British bases to launch strikes on Iran
Did he genuinely think that "staying out of it" would work? Given past UK actions, the likes of Iran will still see the UK as part of the evil empire.
He is arguing it is "defensive" not "offensive", so that is the difference now. Pin head dancing.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/royals/article-15602593/Palace-bans-Beatrice-Eugenie-Ascot-royal-events.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=social-twitter_mailonline
Bloodthirsty seals are killing and EATING dolphins off British coast and experts have no idea why
"if you stub your toe on a rock, you can be sure an Englishman left it there"
They also tell me that the regime calls the US "the great Satan", and the UK "the little Satan".
Candidly, I'm insulted.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcFD_9A_5Dg
Mandelson set to give up Wiltshire home
Telegraph understands peer considering handing back keys to rented property as he faces drop in income
Lord Mandelson is set to leave his second home in Wiltshire to cut his outgoings following the fallout over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
The peer, arrested on Feb 23 on suspicion of misconduct in public office, has not been seen at his Wiltshire home for weeks. The Telegraph understands that he is now considering handing back the keys to the rented property.
The former Labour minister rents the four-bedroom farmhouse in Pewsey Vale from Nat Rothschild, the multi-millionaire financier, paying the market rate of between £2,000 and £3,000 per month.
He also owns a four-storey town house near Regent’s Park in London, which he bought for £7.6m in 2011. Land Registry documents show that in 2019 he had a mortgage of £3.8m on the property.
Global Counsel, the lobbying firm co-founded by Lord Mandelson, was placed into administration on Feb 20 after fresh disclosures about the peer’s links to Epstein had a “monumental impact on the business”, according to a statement from the administrator.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/01/mandelson-set-to-give-up-wiltshire-home/
Some say Kier Starmer is the worst politician in recent British history, but I disagree. He's actually the worst THING in recent British history. He's so spineless, he's only held up by the starch in his shirt. He's as hollow and soulless as the chalk outline around the corpse of Labour.
https://bsky.app/profile/russincheshire.bsky.social/post/3mfzok3yj4s2l
Trump has released a new video statement on Iran through Truth Social.
On casualties:
“Sadly, there will likely be more before it ends.
“That is the way it is.”
SKS looks and sounds like AI from mid 2025
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqj9g11p1ezo
The average ss temperature has risen 3 degrees in past decade
Massive change in fish species found and behaviour patterns..
Seals are growing much bigger, greater numbers of young dolphins inshore.
Massive increase in Octopus last summer invasion obliterated shell fish lobster and crab pots.
Source
University of Plymouth
Brixham Laboratory
A poor show by Starmer and by Starmer Derangement Syndrome sufferers.
Cesspit journalism
British people have the right to reside and vote in the Republic of Ireland.
https://www.electoralcommission.ie/voter-eligibility/
Any time I am wrong I am prepared to put my hand up and say so, I said "as far as I know" but did not check it. If it is reciprocal, then that is fair enough, and I am happy to take it back and draw a line under it. I was wrong.
The rest of the Commonwealth though should lose their votes. It is not reciprocal with them (unless there's any remaining odd exceptions on a case by case basis).
EDIT: Actually we were both wrong.
British citizens can vote in General Elections, but can not vote in either Referenda or Presidential Elections. So it is a mix of both, a grey area.
As the Act's preamble puts it: Whereas it hath been found by experience that the making insurances on lives or other events wherein the assured shall have no interest hath introduced a mischievous kind of gaming
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/apgb/Geo3/14/48
After the war of independence "Ireland" was divided into a Dominion - "The Irish Free State" and "Northern Ireland" in July 1921. This triggered an Irish civil war that continued until May 1923 The Irish Free State adopted a new constitution in 1937, and formally became a Republic in 1949. From the late 1960s, discrimination against Catholics in the North led to "The Troubles"- a violent conflict that took place both in Ireland, mostly the North, and in Great Britain and which killed over 3500 and injured around 48,000 people. This ended in a stalemate and ultimately the "Good Friday Agreement" of 1998. It is a fragile and unstable peace, and the Parliament of Northern Ireland- Stormont- was suspended for 2 years, only resuming in February 2024 after difficult negotiations.
You obviously do not know any of this.
If you start changing long term rules for Irish citizens- given that the number of residents of Northern Ireland that are Irish citizens, quite often holding dual nationality if they choose, then you are either going to restart the conflict, or Northern Ireland will end up outside the United Kingdom or possibly both. The Baltic Exchange Bomb in April 1992, caused massive devastation right in the heart of the City of London, including my office and that was just one of many attacks.
Those of us that remember the Troubles do not think they should be restarted because some clown thinks that necessary compromise is Bullshit and that it should be overturned for party political reasons.
As for "The Commonwealth", I have more relatives in Canada and Australia than in the UK, and I am certainly not unique in that.
The most Starmerly Uturn of all
Israel’s Channel 12 reported that the Israeli army employed a ruse to put the Iranian leadership off its guard. On the morning of the operation, army officers were asked not to park their cars in their usual spaces to avoid detection by Iran’s spies. Misinformation was also leaked suggesting that the chief of staff Lt Gen Eyal Zamir had stayed at home.
The channel cited officials as saying the Israeli air force killed 30 high-ranking Iranian officials within the first 30 seconds of the attack.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/01/trump-open-to-talks-with-iran-as-conflict-deepens-in-middle-east
They told it how wonderful it was.
How shit the UK was.
Well tough shit. They will have tonhunker down and cope.
It's not that some of them didn't claim UK cities were like war zones.
As they say in Brum
#FEA
Two senior Iranian Shiite religious leaders, Grand Ayatollah Hossein Nouri Hamedani and Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, have issued fatwas calling on Muslims worldwide to take revenge for the killing of Khamenei. (Iran International)
https://bsky.app/profile/chadbourn.bsky.social/post/3mfzqjelmms27
He's gone.
Get Ange and Emily in.
I remember the Troubles, well some of it. I remember my home town getting bombed by the IRA.
I remember a child of my own age, and an even younger child too, getting murdered in that bomb.
I have no interest in restarting the Troubles and said all along that obviously in NI it makes sense for the Irish citizens to be able to vote, but in England etc only if it is reciprocal. Since it has since been pointed out it is reciprocal, that is the end of the matter as far as I am concerned, it is reasonable. If it were not, adjusting that in England (not NI) would be a trigger to restart the Troubles.
As for citizens in the Commonwealth, good for you. I have plenty across the Commonwealth too. However that is not a reason for Commonwealth citizens to vote in their elections. My Scottish father-in-law who now lives in Canada only got the vote in Canada when he acquired Canadian citizenship, which is entirely reasonable of Canada. So why should the same not apply here?
Any Commonwealth citizens who move here and acquire citizenship should be entitled to vote, same as any Brits who emigrate and acquire citizenship, or any non-Commonwealth citizens who move here and acquire it.
This will generate lots of great stories. One of best ones from my extended family involves a comical C130 evacuation from Pakistan.
Not sure his ex-Lordship is on the Christmas card list any longer.
No flowers.
He was a far better and more deserving target than some poor conscripted sap in a uniform. Good riddance.
But I'm aware I'm in a tiny minority sitting between "level Tehran" and "Don't ever get involved in the Middle East again", which much more weight on the latter. Starmer's ratings can't tank because he's nearly bottomed out anyway.
Ireland Act 1949
- Section 2: Republic of Ireland not a foreign country. Subsection (1): "...It is hereby declared that, notwithstanding that the Republic of Ireland is not part of His Majesty's dominions, the Republic of Ireland is not a foreign country for the purposes of any law in force in any part of the United Kingdom or in any colony, protectorate or United Kingdom trust territory, whether by virtue of a rule of law or of an Act of Parliament or any other enactment or instrument whatsoever, whether passed or made before or after the passing of this Act, and references in any Act of Parliament, other enactment or instrument whatsoever, whether passed or made before or after the passing of this Act, to foreigners, aliens, foreign countries, and foreign or foreign-built ships or aircraft shall be construed accordingly..."
- See: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Geo6/12-13-14/41/enacted/data.html
Irish-identified people in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales)To be fair though, the Americans can hardly complain about allies being late to the fight.
There really is nothing new under the sun, is there?
Is this I wonder because the Iranian missiles can’t reach the former and there’s a lot of anger in Cyprus at the island being dragged into this together with the effect it would have on tourism .
Starmer wanted to kill old sick people because Esther Rantzen told him to.
Killing Khamenei in isolation was justifiable but given the potential consequences and uncertainty it's not something I could have supported. So far it's make no difference to the prospects pf the Iranian people, or even made them worse, while causing a massive degree of economic and humanitarian chaos across the Gulf and Middle East.
If in 6 months they are holding elections and opening gay bars in Tehran then I'll concede you were right.
Nearly a dozen KC-135R/T Stratotankers with the U.S. Air Force have departed air bases tonight in Spain bound for bases in Germany, the U.K. and other countries in Europe, with the it possible that Spain has ordered the withdrawal of the U.S. aerial-refueling fleet from the country in protest of the ongoing conflict with Iran.
There are reports of an explosion at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. Sirens activated at the base and aircraft scrambled.
Seriously, give it a break and come back after May if things have calmed down. The government needs to be focussing on governing through what is objectively a difficult situation to navigate.