Interesting to see Burnham and others getting excited about this story.
This provision in the 1971 Immigration Act didn't just appear overnight - it's been there as long as we've had decimal currency and both Labour and Conservative Governments have seemingly been happy with it until now.
The question is whether this five year rule still exists and if it is to be amended (and that's a question for Parliament), there'spresumably no provision to apply it retrospectively which begs the other question as to how many of the foreign-born criminals in British jails are detained in UK prisons because of the same provision which apparently prevents us deporting Shabir Ahmed?
Why can't a law be applied retrospectively if parliament so desires?
Interesting to see Burnham and others getting excited about this story.
This provision in the 1971 Immigration Act didn't just appear overnight - it's been there as long as we've had decimal currency and both Labour and Conservative Governments have seemingly been happy with it until now.
The question is whether this five year rule still exists and if it is to be amended (and that's a question for Parliament), there'spresumably no provision to apply it retrospectively which begs the other question as to how many of the foreign-born criminals in British jails are detained in UK prisons because of the same provision which apparently prevents us deporting Shabir Ahmed?
Why can't a law be applied retrospectively if parliament so desires?
Interesting to see Burnham and others getting excited about this story.
This provision in the 1971 Immigration Act didn't just appear overnight - it's been there as long as we've had decimal currency and both Labour and Conservative Governments have seemingly been happy with it until now.
The question is whether this five year rule still exists and if it is to be amended (and that's a question for Parliament), there'spresumably no provision to apply it retrospectively which begs the other question as to how many of the foreign-born criminals in British jails are detained in UK prisons because of the same provision which apparently prevents us deporting Shabir Ahmed?
Why can't a law be applied retrospectively if parliament so desires?
I couldn't get invested in England playing football before today. But I picked my daughter up earlier from a friend of hers whose mother said she couldn't stand watching England play because of all the flags. When I looked less than instantly comprehending, she elaborated that they're probably all Reform voters. This struck me as such an arse-clenchingly sub-Comment-is-Free everything-is-racist view that I have now become quite keen on England staying in this thing a bit longer. I mean - ours aren't the only fans whi have flags, surely?
I couldn't get invested in England playing football before today. But I picked my daughter up earlier from a friend of hers whose mother said she couldn't stand watching England play because of all the flags. When I looked less than instantly comprehending, she elaborated that they're probably all Reform voters. This struck me as such an arse-clenchingly sub-Comment-is-Free everything-is-racist view that I have now become quite keen on England staying in this thing a bit longer. I mean - ours aren't the only fans whi have flags, surely?
She's wrong. The flag is fine for England games. Either wave or wear or display.
I couldn't get invested in England playing football before today. But I picked my daughter up earlier from a friend of hers whose mother said she couldn't stand watching England play because of all the flags. When I looked less than instantly comprehending, she elaborated that they're probably all Reform voters. This struck me as such an arse-clenchingly sub-Comment-is-Free everything-is-racist view that I have now become quite keen on England staying in this thing a bit longer. I mean - ours aren't the only fans whi have flags, surely?
She's wrong. The flag is fine for England games. Either wave or wear or display.
I couldn't get invested in England playing football before today. But I picked my daughter up earlier from a friend of hers whose mother said she couldn't stand watching England play because of all the flags. When I looked less than instantly comprehending, she elaborated that they're probably all Reform voters. This struck me as such an arse-clenchingly sub-Comment-is-Free everything-is-racist view that I have now become quite keen on England staying in this thing a bit longer. I mean - ours aren't the only fans whi have flags, surely?
I couldn't get invested in England playing football before today. But I picked my daughter up earlier from a friend of hers whose mother said she couldn't stand watching England play because of all the flags. When I looked less than instantly comprehending, she elaborated that they're probably all Reform voters. This struck me as such an arse-clenchingly sub-Comment-is-Free everything-is-racist view that I have now become quite keen on England staying in this thing a bit longer. I mean - ours aren't the only fans whi have flags, surely?
She's wrong. The flag is fine for England games. Either wave or wear or display.
I wish we as a nation weren't so embarrassed about our flags. Go to, say, Greece, and their flags are everywhere. I would argue that it's only in any way a far right thing because the polite classes so firmly disavow it. Though I concede cause and effect goes both ways here. But I wish it weren't so. The flag is everyone's.
Off topic, but to bring up something that a former now banned contributor has previously noted: where are all the Mosquitoes?
This seems a worldwide, or at least Eurasia-wide phenomenon. Now, I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, and it's nice to be sitting outside on a humid night by the sea with bare feet, ankles and wrists fully exposed, and no fear of attack. But, it's a bit weird isn't it?
I couldn't get invested in England playing football before today. But I picked my daughter up earlier from a friend of hers whose mother said she couldn't stand watching England play because of all the flags. When I looked less than instantly comprehending, she elaborated that they're probably all Reform voters. This struck me as such an arse-clenchingly sub-Comment-is-Free everything-is-racist view that I have now become quite keen on England staying in this thing a bit longer. I mean - ours aren't the only fans whi have flags, surely?
She's wrong. The flag is fine for England games. Either wave or wear or display.
I wish we as a nation weren't so embarrassed about our flags. Go to, say, Greece, and their flags are everywhere. I would argue that it's only in any way a far right thing because the polite classes so firmly disavow it. Though I concede cause and effect goes both ways here. But I wish it weren't so. The flag is everyone's.
Yes it is a shame - I feel that too - but I'm afraid it is by and large only dodgeballs who want to roll around in an England flag outside special events.
I couldn't get invested in England playing football before today. But I picked my daughter up earlier from a friend of hers whose mother said she couldn't stand watching England play because of all the flags. When I looked less than instantly comprehending, she elaborated that they're probably all Reform voters. This struck me as such an arse-clenchingly sub-Comment-is-Free everything-is-racist view that I have now become quite keen on England staying in this thing a bit longer. I mean - ours aren't the only fans whi have flags, surely?
She's wrong. The flag is fine for England games. Either wave or wear or display.
The flag is fine. Any time.
If everyone flew it regularly then the racists would have no link to it.
So, just so I know, all this nonsense about we're now bound to lose to Mexico ... is this the PB cricket etiquette being rolled out for football now?
Seems a hard gig. Mexico are at home, and home is at altitude in presumably quite unEnglish conditions. And Mexico is a bigger country than England and football is their main sport. On the face of it it's hard to see why England would expect to win. Still, come on England, eh? Arivaderci, it's one on one. And so on.
Off topic, but to bring up something that a former now banned contributor has previously noted: where are all the Mosquitoes?
This seems a worldwide, or at least Eurasia-wide phenomenon. Now, I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, and it's nice to be sitting outside on a humid night by the sea with bare feet, ankles and wrists fully exposed, and no fear of attack. But, it's a bit weird isn't it?
They were out already in Italy in late May, and I am sure they will still be there when I return in the autumn
I couldn't get invested in England playing football before today. But I picked my daughter up earlier from a friend of hers whose mother said she couldn't stand watching England play because of all the flags. When I looked less than instantly comprehending, she elaborated that they're probably all Reform voters. This struck me as such an arse-clenchingly sub-Comment-is-Free everything-is-racist view that I have now become quite keen on England staying in this thing a bit longer. I mean - ours aren't the only fans whi have flags, surely?
She's wrong. The flag is fine for England games. Either wave or wear or display.
It's not fine when it isn't an England game?
Or other special event. Eg ... no it's not for me to say. People have their own feelings on what constitutes a special event.
I couldn't get invested in England playing football before today. But I picked my daughter up earlier from a friend of hers whose mother said she couldn't stand watching England play because of all the flags. When I looked less than instantly comprehending, she elaborated that they're probably all Reform voters. This struck me as such an arse-clenchingly sub-Comment-is-Free everything-is-racist view that I have now become quite keen on England staying in this thing a bit longer. I mean - ours aren't the only fans whi have flags, surely?
She's wrong. The flag is fine for England games. Either wave or wear or display.
I wish we as a nation weren't so embarrassed about our flags. Go to, say, Greece, and their flags are everywhere. I would argue that it's only in any way a far right thing because the polite classes so firmly disavow it. Though I concede cause and effect goes both ways here. But I wish it weren't so. The flag is everyone's.
The issue is we have 2 flags. The Union flag, which is iconic, uncontroversial and rather like the stars and stripes in its crossover into fashion (go to France and be bemused and delighted by the Union flag cushions you see in people's homes); and the St George cross which has for decades been associated first with England football hooliganism abroad during tournaments, and more recently with some of the same people doing far right marches. For better of worse it's got itself associations not dissimilar to the Serbian or confederate flags.
That's why world cups and Euros are such a great opportunity to reclaim it. After all it's just a red cross on a white background.
I think we should make it cooler by redesigning as an offset, Nordic style cross.
So, just so I know, all this nonsense about we're now bound to lose to Mexico ... is this the PB cricket etiquette being rolled out for football now?
Seems a hard gig. Mexico are at home, and home is at altitude in presumably quite unEnglish conditions. And Mexico is a bigger country than England and football is their main sport. On the face of it it's hard to see why England would expect to win. Still, come on England, eh? Arivaderci, it's one on one. And so on.
Toughest game yet for sure. But I'd make us slight favourites. We have a touch more quality.
Whoever controls the replays is an egotistical git. They keep missing the action or end of play on match after match.
On top of that is the infuriating need to switch to show American celebs in the boxes whilst play is happening. If you feel you need to show these people then do it when the ball is out of play. The rest of the world doesn’t give a shit if the running back for the San Francisco 49s is watching next to a music producer.
I couldn't get invested in England playing football before today. But I picked my daughter up earlier from a friend of hers whose mother said she couldn't stand watching England play because of all the flags. When I looked less than instantly comprehending, she elaborated that they're probably all Reform voters. This struck me as such an arse-clenchingly sub-Comment-is-Free everything-is-racist view that I have now become quite keen on England staying in this thing a bit longer. I mean - ours aren't the only fans whi have flags, surely?
She has it completely bottom about face. A World Cup run will bring people of all races together.
Interesting to see Burnham and others getting excited about this story.
This provision in the 1971 Immigration Act didn't just appear overnight - it's been there as long as we've had decimal currency and both Labour and Conservative Governments have seemingly been happy with it until now.
The question is whether this five year rule still exists and if it is to be amended (and that's a question for Parliament), there'spresumably no provision to apply it retrospectively which begs the other question as to how many of the foreign-born criminals in British jails are detained in UK prisons because of the same provision which apparently prevents us deporting Shabir Ahmed?
Why can't a law be applied retrospectively if parliament so desires?
I don't know - there would be issues:
1) How many foreign-born criminals currently in UK jails would be liable for deportation were the law to be changed?
2) Would YOU (as you seem to have few opinions of your own) take the view that IF a foreign born criminal had served his or her time in a UK prison and had been released and was now living legally in the UK but who would have been deported with a retrospective application of the new law - sorry, a bit long winded, but should they now be deported?
I couldn't get invested in England playing football before today. But I picked my daughter up earlier from a friend of hers whose mother said she couldn't stand watching England play because of all the flags. When I looked less than instantly comprehending, she elaborated that they're probably all Reform voters. This struck me as such an arse-clenchingly sub-Comment-is-Free everything-is-racist view that I have now become quite keen on England staying in this thing a bit longer. I mean - ours aren't the only fans whi have flags, surely?
She's wrong. The flag is fine for England games. Either wave or wear or display.
I wish we as a nation weren't so embarrassed about our flags. Go to, say, Greece, and their flags are everywhere. I would argue that it's only in any way a far right thing because the polite classes so firmly disavow it. Though I concede cause and effect goes both ways here. But I wish it weren't so. The flag is everyone's.
The issue is we have 2 flags. The Union flag, which is iconic, uncontroversial and rather like the stars and stripes in its crossover into fashion (go to France and be bemused and delighted by the Union flag cushions you see in people's homes); and the St George cross which has for decades been associated first with England football hooliganism abroad during tournaments, and more recently with some of the same people doing far right marches. For better of worse it's got itself associations not dissimilar to the Serbian or confederate flags.
That's why world cups and Euros are such a great opportunity to reclaim it. After all it's just a red cross on a white background.
I think we should make it cooler by redesigning as an offset, Nordic style cross.
I take very little interest in football - this evening's racing at Epsom is much more to my taste.
Having reviewed the permutations, it seems to me for England to win the World Cup we will likely need to beat Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and France - to be fair, if we can do that, we will deserve to lift the Jules Rimet trophy.
I couldn't get invested in England playing football before today. But I picked my daughter up earlier from a friend of hers whose mother said she couldn't stand watching England play because of all the flags. When I looked less than instantly comprehending, she elaborated that they're probably all Reform voters. This struck me as such an arse-clenchingly sub-Comment-is-Free everything-is-racist view that I have now become quite keen on England staying in this thing a bit longer. I mean - ours aren't the only fans whi have flags, surely?
She's wrong. The flag is fine for England games. Either wave or wear or display.
The flag is fine. Any time.
If everyone flew it regularly then the racists would have no link to it.
Sorry but I'm not prepared to go around waving a St George flag 24/7 just to swamp the racists.
I couldn't get invested in England playing football before today. But I picked my daughter up earlier from a friend of hers whose mother said she couldn't stand watching England play because of all the flags. When I looked less than instantly comprehending, she elaborated that they're probably all Reform voters. This struck me as such an arse-clenchingly sub-Comment-is-Free everything-is-racist view that I have now become quite keen on England staying in this thing a bit longer. I mean - ours aren't the only fans whi have flags, surely?
She's wrong. The flag is fine for England games. Either wave or wear or display.
I wish we as a nation weren't so embarrassed about our flags. Go to, say, Greece, and their flags are everywhere. I would argue that it's only in any way a far right thing because the polite classes so firmly disavow it. Though I concede cause and effect goes both ways here. But I wish it weren't so. The flag is everyone's.
The issue is we have 2 flags. The Union flag, which is iconic, uncontroversial and rather like the stars and stripes in its crossover into fashion (go to France and be bemused and delighted by the Union flag cushions you see in people's homes); and the St George cross which has for decades been associated first with England football hooliganism abroad during tournaments, and more recently with some of the same people doing far right marches. For better of worse it's got itself associations not dissimilar to the Serbian or confederate flags.
That's why world cups and Euros are such a great opportunity to reclaim it. After all it's just a red cross on a white background.
I think we should make it cooler by redesigning as an offset, Nordic style cross.
I couldn't get invested in England playing football before today. But I picked my daughter up earlier from a friend of hers whose mother said she couldn't stand watching England play because of all the flags. When I looked less than instantly comprehending, she elaborated that they're probably all Reform voters. This struck me as such an arse-clenchingly sub-Comment-is-Free everything-is-racist view that I have now become quite keen on England staying in this thing a bit longer. I mean - ours aren't the only fans whi have flags, surely?
She has it completely bottom about face. A World Cup run will bring people of all races together.
The more people like her despise the England flag the more the right will try to claim it. It's pathetic. Just like Emily Thornberry. For years pubs could get an extension for St Patrick's but not St George's. Too many despise the English identity.
I couldn't get invested in England playing football before today. But I picked my daughter up earlier from a friend of hers whose mother said she couldn't stand watching England play because of all the flags. When I looked less than instantly comprehending, she elaborated that they're probably all Reform voters. This struck me as such an arse-clenchingly sub-Comment-is-Free everything-is-racist view that I have now become quite keen on England staying in this thing a bit longer. I mean - ours aren't the only fans whi have flags, surely?
She has it completely bottom about face. A World Cup run will bring people of all races together.
The more people like her despise the England flag the more the right will try to claim it. It's pathetic. Just like Emily Thornberry. For years pubs could get an extension for St Patrick's but not St George's. Too many despise the English identity.
I couldn't get invested in England playing football before today. But I picked my daughter up earlier from a friend of hers whose mother said she couldn't stand watching England play because of all the flags. When I looked less than instantly comprehending, she elaborated that they're probably all Reform voters. This struck me as such an arse-clenchingly sub-Comment-is-Free everything-is-racist view that I have now become quite keen on England staying in this thing a bit longer. I mean - ours aren't the only fans whi have flags, surely?
She has it completely bottom about face. A World Cup run will bring people of all races together.
The more people like her despise the England flag the more the right will try to claim it. It's pathetic. Just like Emily Thornberry. For years pubs could get an extension for St Patrick's but not St George's. Too many despise the English identity.
Always the same story: FRITLF, the far right is the left's fault.
Why does this narrative only go one way? Why are the offhand comments of a lefty at the school gate such a trigger, yet the thuggish behaviour of extremists on the right isn't going to create a terrifying backlash?
Why the double standards? Tommy and friends behave how they want and we need to respect them and avoid provocation; but lefty woman sounds off about flags and she's going to reap the whirlwind.
This is what the far right does: rule by fear. Don't provoke them. Ooh no. Or else.
Interesting to see Burnham and others getting excited about this story.
This provision in the 1971 Immigration Act didn't just appear overnight - it's been there as long as we've had decimal currency and both Labour and Conservative Governments have seemingly been happy with it until now.
The question is whether this five year rule still exists and if it is to be amended (and that's a question for Parliament), there'spresumably no provision to apply it retrospectively which begs the other question as to how many of the foreign-born criminals in British jails are detained in UK prisons because of the same provision which apparently prevents us deporting Shabir Ahmed?
Why can't a law be applied retrospectively if parliament so desires?
Can be done, but it is and ought to be rare. The War Damage Act of 1965 is a famous example, covering the Burmah Oil case. Once the far right got a taste for deciding the UK subjects no longer were UK subjects, or that the rules under which people received ILR were suddenly and retrospectively different chaos in civil order would ensue.
I couldn't get invested in England playing football before today. But I picked my daughter up earlier from a friend of hers whose mother said she couldn't stand watching England play because of all the flags. When I looked less than instantly comprehending, she elaborated that they're probably all Reform voters. This struck me as such an arse-clenchingly sub-Comment-is-Free everything-is-racist view that I have now become quite keen on England staying in this thing a bit longer. I mean - ours aren't the only fans whi have flags, surely?
She has it completely bottom about face. A World Cup run will bring people of all races together.
The more people like her despise the England flag the more the right will try to claim it. It's pathetic. Just like Emily Thornberry. For years pubs could get an extension for St Patrick's but not St George's. Too many despise the English identity.
Usually in my area (small town and rural north Cumberland) during World Cups/Euros very large numbers of cars fly St George flags from the side windows. Thus far I have seen exactly one such. Are our generally rather nice football people fearful that they will be misidentified with racist hooligans or are we building up, after today's fright, to greater things?
Interesting to see Burnham and others getting excited about this story.
This provision in the 1971 Immigration Act didn't just appear overnight - it's been there as long as we've had decimal currency and both Labour and Conservative Governments have seemingly been happy with it until now.
The question is whether this five year rule still exists and if it is to be amended (and that's a question for Parliament), there'spresumably no provision to apply it retrospectively which begs the other question as to how many of the foreign-born criminals in British jails are detained in UK prisons because of the same provision which apparently prevents us deporting Shabir Ahmed?
Why can't a law be applied retrospectively if parliament so desires?
I don't know - there would be issues:
1) How many foreign-born criminals currently in UK jails would be liable for deportation were the law to be changed?
2) Would YOU (as you seem to have few opinions of your own) take the view that IF a foreign born criminal had served his or her time in a UK prison and had been released and was now living legally in the UK but who would have been deported with a retrospective application of the new law - sorry, a bit long winded, but should they now be deported?
Hard cases make bad law. We’re a better country, with better justice, if we have consistent laws that are applied without politicians interfering. I would rather our new PM do something about the long delays in court cases, something that causes suffering up and down the country, than to spend time on this particular, high profile case.
I couldn't get invested in England playing football before today. But I picked my daughter up earlier from a friend of hers whose mother said she couldn't stand watching England play because of all the flags. When I looked less than instantly comprehending, she elaborated that they're probably all Reform voters. This struck me as such an arse-clenchingly sub-Comment-is-Free everything-is-racist view that I have now become quite keen on England staying in this thing a bit longer. I mean - ours aren't the only fans whi have flags, surely?
She has it completely bottom about face. A World Cup run will bring people of all races together.
The more people like her despise the England flag the more the right will try to claim it. It's pathetic. Just like Emily Thornberry. For years pubs could get an extension for St Patrick's but not St George's. Too many despise the English identity.
Always the same story: FRITLF, the far right is the left's fault.
Why does this narrative only go one way? Why are the offhand comments of a lefty at the school gate such a trigger, yet the thuggish behaviour of extremists on the right isn't going to create a terrifying backlash?
Why the double standards? Tommy and friends behave how they want and we need to respect them and avoid provocation; but lefty woman sounds off about flags and she's going to reap the whirlwind.
This is what the far right does: rule by fear. Don't provoke them. Ooh no. Or else.
My history's a little hazy, Cassius, but didn't thr BNP and NF use the Union flag and NOT the St George's cross?
I couldn't get invested in England playing football before today. But I picked my daughter up earlier from a friend of hers whose mother said she couldn't stand watching England play because of all the flags. When I looked less than instantly comprehending, she elaborated that they're probably all Reform voters. This struck me as such an arse-clenchingly sub-Comment-is-Free everything-is-racist view that I have now become quite keen on England staying in this thing a bit longer. I mean - ours aren't the only fans whi have flags, surely?
She has it completely bottom about face. A World Cup run will bring people of all races together.
The more people like her despise the England flag the more the right will try to claim it. It's pathetic. Just like Emily Thornberry. For years pubs could get an extension for St Patrick's but not St George's. Too many despise the English identity.
Always the same story: FRITLF, the far right is the left's fault.
Why does this narrative only go one way? Why are the offhand comments of a lefty at the school gate such a trigger, yet the thuggish behaviour of extremists on the right isn't going to create a terrifying backlash?
Why the double standards? Tommy and friends behave how they want and we need to respect them and avoid provocation; but lefty woman sounds off about flags and she's going to reap the whirlwind.
This is what the far right does: rule by fear. Don't provoke them. Ooh no. Or else.
There is hardly any far-right in this country, probably less than almost any other country.
I take very little interest in football - this evening's racing at Epsom is much more to my taste.
Having reviewed the permutations, it seems to me for England to win the World Cup we will likely need to beat Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and France - to be fair, if we can do that, we will deserve to lift the Jules Rimet trophy.
We certainly would and we are not going to. Argentina will win it and are value. France, not so much. Spain might be value too.
I couldn't get invested in England playing football before today. But I picked my daughter up earlier from a friend of hers whose mother said she couldn't stand watching England play because of all the flags. When I looked less than instantly comprehending, she elaborated that they're probably all Reform voters. This struck me as such an arse-clenchingly sub-Comment-is-Free everything-is-racist view that I have now become quite keen on England staying in this thing a bit longer. I mean - ours aren't the only fans whi have flags, surely?
She has it completely bottom about face. A World Cup run will bring people of all races together.
The more people like her despise the England flag the more the right will try to claim it. It's pathetic. Just like Emily Thornberry. For years pubs could get an extension for St Patrick's but not St George's. Too many despise the English identity.
Always the same story: FRITLF, the far right is the left's fault.
Why does this narrative only go one way? Why are the offhand comments of a lefty at the school gate such a trigger, yet the thuggish behaviour of extremists on the right isn't going to create a terrifying backlash?
Why the double standards? Tommy and friends behave how they want and we need to respect them and avoid provocation; but lefty woman sounds off about flags and she's going to reap the whirlwind.
This is what the far right does: rule by fear. Don't provoke them. Ooh no. Or else.
My history's a little hazy, Cassius, but didn't thr BNP and NF use the Union flag and NOT the St George's cross?
They did, but back then they had little or no influence over politics. Things change.
I am quite keen on the cross of St George. Cross flags look good (offset is better). But it's impossible to deny the connotations the flag now has, just as it's impossible to ignore the undercurrents when you see a Palestine flag. Political semiotics.
If a school mum is intimidated by it, isn't that a problem we need to address, rather than dismiss?
I couldn't get invested in England playing football before today. But I picked my daughter up earlier from a friend of hers whose mother said she couldn't stand watching England play because of all the flags. When I looked less than instantly comprehending, she elaborated that they're probably all Reform voters. This struck me as such an arse-clenchingly sub-Comment-is-Free everything-is-racist view that I have now become quite keen on England staying in this thing a bit longer. I mean - ours aren't the only fans whi have flags, surely?
She has it completely bottom about face. A World Cup run will bring people of all races together.
The more people like her despise the England flag the more the right will try to claim it. It's pathetic. Just like Emily Thornberry. For years pubs could get an extension for St Patrick's but not St George's. Too many despise the English identity.
Always the same story: FRITLF, the far right is the left's fault.
Why does this narrative only go one way? Why are the offhand comments of a lefty at the school gate such a trigger, yet the thuggish behaviour of extremists on the right isn't going to create a terrifying backlash?
Why the double standards? Tommy and friends behave how they want and we need to respect them and avoid provocation; but lefty woman sounds off about flags and she's going to reap the whirlwind.
This is what the far right does: rule by fear. Don't provoke them. Ooh no. Or else.
My history's a little hazy, Cassius, but didn't thr BNP and NF use the Union flag and NOT the St George's cross?
The BNP, I believe, tended to have a mix of both Union flags and St George’s crosses at their demos. The official BNP colours did focus on the Union flag.
I couldn't get invested in England playing football before today. But I picked my daughter up earlier from a friend of hers whose mother said she couldn't stand watching England play because of all the flags. When I looked less than instantly comprehending, she elaborated that they're probably all Reform voters. This struck me as such an arse-clenchingly sub-Comment-is-Free everything-is-racist view that I have now become quite keen on England staying in this thing a bit longer. I mean - ours aren't the only fans whi have flags, surely?
She has it completely bottom about face. A World Cup run will bring people of all races together.
The more people like her despise the England flag the more the right will try to claim it. It's pathetic. Just like Emily Thornberry. For years pubs could get an extension for St Patrick's but not St George's. Too many despise the English identity.
Always the same story: FRITLF, the far right is the left's fault.
Why does this narrative only go one way? Why are the offhand comments of a lefty at the school gate such a trigger, yet the thuggish behaviour of extremists on the right isn't going to create a terrifying backlash?
Why the double standards? Tommy and friends behave how they want and we need to respect them and avoid provocation; but lefty woman sounds off about flags and she's going to reap the whirlwind.
This is what the far right does: rule by fear. Don't provoke them. Ooh no. Or else.
My history's a little hazy, Cassius, but didn't thr BNP and NF use the Union flag and NOT the St George's cross?
The BNP, I believe, tended to have a mix of both Union flags and St George’s crosses at their demos. The official BNP colours did focus on the Union flag.
They both had the catchy chant of 'There's no black in the Union Jack'.
I couldn't get invested in England playing football before today. But I picked my daughter up earlier from a friend of hers whose mother said she couldn't stand watching England play because of all the flags. When I looked less than instantly comprehending, she elaborated that they're probably all Reform voters. This struck me as such an arse-clenchingly sub-Comment-is-Free everything-is-racist view that I have now become quite keen on England staying in this thing a bit longer. I mean - ours aren't the only fans whi have flags, surely?
She has it completely bottom about face. A World Cup run will bring people of all races together.
The more people like her despise the England flag the more the right will try to claim it. It's pathetic. Just like Emily Thornberry. For years pubs could get an extension for St Patrick's but not St George's. Too many despise the English identity.
Always the same story: FRITLF, the far right is the left's fault.
Why does this narrative only go one way? Why are the offhand comments of a lefty at the school gate such a trigger, yet the thuggish behaviour of extremists on the right isn't going to create a terrifying backlash?
Why the double standards? Tommy and friends behave how they want and we need to respect them and avoid provocation; but lefty woman sounds off about flags and she's going to reap the whirlwind.
This is what the far right does: rule by fear. Don't provoke them. Ooh no. Or else.
There is hardly any far-right in this country, probably less than almost any other country.
Levels of racism are, consistently based on surveys, lower in the UK than most other places. Likewise levels of intolerance in other areas such as sexuality and gender. But sadly, through the mafia tactics I mentioned earlier and through the active promotion of far right views by an unholy alliance of Russian troll farms, the Trump administration and Elon Musk, the days of "hardly any" are long gone.
I couldn't get invested in England playing football before today. But I picked my daughter up earlier from a friend of hers whose mother said she couldn't stand watching England play because of all the flags. When I looked less than instantly comprehending, she elaborated that they're probably all Reform voters. This struck me as such an arse-clenchingly sub-Comment-is-Free everything-is-racist view that I have now become quite keen on England staying in this thing a bit longer. I mean - ours aren't the only fans whi have flags, surely?
She has it completely bottom about face. A World Cup run will bring people of all races together.
The more people like her despise the England flag the more the right will try to claim it. It's pathetic. Just like Emily Thornberry. For years pubs could get an extension for St Patrick's but not St George's. Too many despise the English identity.
Always the same story: FRITLF, the far right is the left's fault.
Why does this narrative only go one way? Why are the offhand comments of a lefty at the school gate such a trigger, yet the thuggish behaviour of extremists on the right isn't going to create a terrifying backlash?
Why the double standards? Tommy and friends behave how they want and we need to respect them and avoid provocation; but lefty woman sounds off about flags and she's going to reap the whirlwind.
This is what the far right does: rule by fear. Don't provoke them. Ooh no. Or else.
There is hardly any far-right in this country, probably less than almost any other country.
Levels of racism are, consistently based on surveys, lower in the UK than most other places. Likewise levels of intolerance in other areas such as sexuality and gender. But sadly, through the mafia tactics I mentioned earlier and through the active promotion of far right views by an inunholy alliance of Russian troll farms, the Trump administration and Elon Musk, the days of "hardly any" are long gone.
Indeed, I've mentioned the recent incidents of far right abuse aimed at me in the last couple of years.
Sadly Andy is deluded, he wasn't aware that Restore and Reform want to deport Brits who are here legally.
I couldn't get invested in England playing football before today. But I picked my daughter up earlier from a friend of hers whose mother said she couldn't stand watching England play because of all the flags. When I looked less than instantly comprehending, she elaborated that they're probably all Reform voters. This struck me as such an arse-clenchingly sub-Comment-is-Free everything-is-racist view that I have now become quite keen on England staying in this thing a bit longer. I mean - ours aren't the only fans whi have flags, surely?
She has it completely bottom about face. A World Cup run will bring people of all races together.
The more people like her despise the England flag the more the right will try to claim it. It's pathetic. Just like Emily Thornberry. For years pubs could get an extension for St Patrick's but not St George's. Too many despise the English identity.
Always the same story: FRITLF, the far right is the left's fault.
Why does this narrative only go one way? Why are the offhand comments of a lefty at the school gate such a trigger, yet the thuggish behaviour of extremists on the right isn't going to create a terrifying backlash?
Why the double standards? Tommy and friends behave how they want and we need to respect them and avoid provocation; but lefty woman sounds off about flags and she's going to reap the whirlwind.
This is what the far right does: rule by fear. Don't provoke them. Ooh no. Or else.
There is hardly any far-right in this country, probably less than almost any other country.
Says a white man. Ignorance is bliss Andy.
Absolutely no doubt that racism and xenophobia is increasing from personal experience and I live in SW London suburbia.
I take very little interest in football - this evening's racing at Epsom is much more to my taste.
Having reviewed the permutations, it seems to me for England to win the World Cup we will likely need to beat Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and France - to be fair, if we can do that, we will deserve to lift the Jules Rimet trophy.
We certainly would and we are not going to. Argentina will win it and are value. France, not so much. Spain might be value too.
Of course we can win it. Mexico aren't a particularly good team. Brazil are no more than solid. Argentina are a one man band. France are flat track bullies.
So, just so I know, all this nonsense about we're now bound to lose to Mexico ... is this the PB cricket etiquette being rolled out for football now?
Seems a hard gig. Mexico are at home, and home is at altitude in presumably quite unEnglish conditions. And Mexico is a bigger country than England and football is their main sport. On the face of it it's hard to see why England would expect to win. Still, come on England, eh? Arivaderci, it's one on one. And so on.
Yes, Mexico will -rightly- be favorites.
In fact, looking at this side of the bracket, I wouldn't be surprised if Mexico beat out Brazil in the Quarter Finals, and then Argentina in the Semis.
I couldn't get invested in England playing football before today. But I picked my daughter up earlier from a friend of hers whose mother said she couldn't stand watching England play because of all the flags. When I looked less than instantly comprehending, she elaborated that they're probably all Reform voters. This struck me as such an arse-clenchingly sub-Comment-is-Free everything-is-racist view that I have now become quite keen on England staying in this thing a bit longer. I mean - ours aren't the only fans whi have flags, surely?
She has it completely bottom about face. A World Cup run will bring people of all races together.
The more people like her despise the England flag the more the right will try to claim it. It's pathetic. Just like Emily Thornberry. For years pubs could get an extension for St Patrick's but not St George's. Too many despise the English identity.
Always the same story: FRITLF, the far right is the left's fault.
Why does this narrative only go one way? Why are the offhand comments of a lefty at the school gate such a trigger, yet the thuggish behaviour of extremists on the right isn't going to create a terrifying backlash?
Why the double standards? Tommy and friends behave how they want and we need to respect them and avoid provocation; but lefty woman sounds off about flags and she's going to reap the whirlwind.
This is what the far right does: rule by fear. Don't provoke them. Ooh no. Or else.
My history's a little hazy, Cassius, but didn't thr BNP and NF use the Union flag and NOT the St George's cross?
They did, but back then they had little or no influence over politics. Things change.
I am quite keen on the cross of St George. Cross flags look good (offset is better). But it's impossible to deny the connotations the flag now has, just as it's impossible to ignore the undercurrents when you see a Palestine flag. Political semiotics.
If a school mum is intimidated by it, isn't that a problem we need to address, rather than dismiss?
Comments
Hopefully.
https://x.com/Ankaman616/status/2072374282403938758
Need England to get a second.
Kristen Naylor had been taken to a police station after attacking his father
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/violent-drunk-banned-booze-after-34217310
The Eurovision Song Contest just got a lot tougher.
Because next year, Canada is in.
Eat shit Um Bongo boys.
True world class
This struck me as such an arse-clenchingly sub-Comment-is-Free everything-is-racist view that I have now become quite keen on England staying in this thing a bit longer.
I mean - ours aren't the only fans whi have flags, surely?
This seems a worldwide, or at least Eurasia-wide phenomenon. Now, I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, and it's nice to be sitting outside on a humid night by the sea with bare feet, ankles and wrists fully exposed, and no fear of attack. But, it's a bit weird isn't it?
If everyone flew it regularly then the racists would have no link to it.
Still, come on England, eh? Arivaderci, it's one on one. And so on.
That's why world cups and Euros are such a great opportunity to reclaim it. After all it's just a red cross on a white background.
I think we should make it cooler by redesigning as an offset, Nordic style cross.
Going to Score
One More
Than You.
In this world
We've got to find the time
For the Life of Riley.
1) How many foreign-born criminals currently in UK jails would be liable for deportation were the law to be changed?
2) Would YOU (as you seem to have few opinions of your own) take the view that IF a foreign born criminal had served his or her time in a UK prison and had been released and was now living legally in the UK but who would have been deported with a retrospective application of the new law - sorry, a bit long winded, but should they now be deported?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proposed_flag_of_North_West_England
Going to play it right now in fact.
I take very little interest in football - this evening's racing at Epsom is much more to my taste.
Having reviewed the permutations, it seems to me for England to win the World Cup we will likely need to beat Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and France - to be fair, if we can do that, we will deserve to lift the Jules Rimet trophy.
Coughlans Bakery in liquidation after being ‘absolutely smashed’ by £20,000 rise in costs"
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/07/01/romesh-ranganathans-bakery-closed-by-labour-tax-rises
and I can't believe it's true!
Why does this narrative only go one way? Why are the offhand comments of a lefty at the school gate such a trigger, yet the thuggish behaviour of extremists on the right isn't going to create a terrifying backlash?
Why the double standards? Tommy and friends behave how they want and we need to respect them and avoid provocation; but lefty woman sounds off about flags and she's going to reap the whirlwind.
This is what the far right does: rule by fear. Don't provoke them. Ooh no. Or else.
Hope I'm not peaking too early. That was only a last 32 game against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
God.
Fraser Nelson
@FraserNelson
NEW: The Times has established that Nigel Farage and his partner own at least five homes spanning Surrey, Essex and Kent.
All but one were bought with cash since 2000. Farage described himself as "skint" in 2017.
I am quite keen on the cross of St George. Cross flags look good (offset is better). But it's impossible to deny the connotations the flag now has, just as it's impossible to ignore the undercurrents when you see a Palestine flag. Political semiotics.
If a school mum is intimidated by it, isn't that a problem we need to address, rather than dismiss?
Sadly Andy is deluded, he wasn't aware that Restore and Reform want to deport Brits who are here legally.
Buy 5 houses with cash and most of us would be short of a bob.
We have much to teach the US, contrary to what they think.
Absolutely no doubt that racism and xenophobia is increasing from personal experience and I live in SW London suburbia.
In fact, looking at this side of the bracket, I wouldn't be surprised if Mexico beat out Brazil in the Quarter Finals, and then Argentina in the Semis.
Before losing to Les Bleus in the final.
You can't satisfy every nutter.
https://x.com/bevcraig/status/2072365744289964409
Shabir Ahmed must be deported.