Wouldn't it be better to discuss the BBC and its relentless agenda of diversity and equality, to the point that they talk of little else.
The BBC is now reduced to asking why there has only been been on person of colour as President of the US. If only Barak Obama had failed, the BBC could have had a field day.
Yours disgruntled and now ITV news watcher .
Get rid of the license fee. Let those who want the BBC pay for it. I would happily pay for BBC4.
Isn’t BBC4 one of the channels they want to get rid of?
We could discuss the National Trust’s apparent desire to move away from being a cultural institution, get rid of all its specialist curators and put much of its furniture and paintings into storage so that it can flog us “experiences”. Given that these houses and their contents were gifted in lieu of inheritance task on the basis that they would be available to the public, I do wonder how this proposal is consistent with the original bequests or its charitable purposes.
Yes, sadly, BBC4 is a channel they want to dump.
The National Trust sounds like it’s going to go through dramatic changes and none of them will improve it.
GPs are fucking useless part 26 - my dad got a text from the GP surgery, he needs a regular BP check up, fine. Text as follows "due to exceptional virus containment measures we are currently not taking any in person appointments, however, we still need to test your BP, could you please purchase a BP machine from a pharmacy, take a measurement and respond to this message with the reading".
Honestly, what the fuck is going on with the NHS. This is absolutely fucking disgraceful, they are now using the virus as an excuse to just not do any work. I might start a new boo the NHS at 8pm on Thursday trend.
I've told him to contact the Daily Mail with the text and let them write about it.
A health service that doesn;t want patients. A school system that doesn;t want pupilms.
And a government that doesn´t want citizens.
You can't accuse this Government of acting purely to court votes....
They like votes, I think. But today´s Conservatives are not much bothered about voters - the people behind the votes.
If that's true why did they get millions more voters to back them than any other party - and why despite it being midterm and governments typically being behind in the polls by this stage normally - do millions more voters still back them according to the polls?
That was what I was saying, Mr Thompson. They like votes, they like seeming to do well in opinion polls, but they are not much bothered by the long-term impact on the lives of real people.
And of course they "did well" at the last election - their main opponent was Jeremy Corbyn, who they promoted well beyond anything reasonable in order to panic people into voting for the lazy, useless Johnson as the alternative. Plus they were helped by a broken voting system, and oodles of Russian support.
Still moaning about the standard voting system used by billions of people worldwide? Simply because you lost the election isn't a reason to change voting systems. Try to win next time, not give prizes to losers.
Corbyn was not their only opponent. They also had to contend with "next Prime Minister Jo Swinson" remember though somehow they managed to do that. 🤣😂🤣
The long-term impact on the lives of real people is precisely what this government is dealing with and doing so better than any alternative.
That Times stuff about Corbyn is completely damning. The 2019 campaign was completely and utterly dysfunctional.
When you put very stupid, highly factional and utterly vindictive people in charge of an election campaign, yoiu end up with the result that Labour got. McDonnell was literally the only one among them who had even the slightest clue. In another life, he could have been a serious politician at the heart of government rather than the only sentinent member of a destructive, clueless cabal.
The other thing from the ST piece worth noting is how much worse for Labour it could have been (and how much better for the LibDems) if Starmer's referendum strategy had not been adopted by McDonnell.
Labour is very lucky Swinson also seemed to sabotage herself.
A few angry LDs on Twitter complaining that Swinson would "let in anybody". As I have responded the party needs to win votes from across the spectrum so bringing in new members not an issue. The Flight of Icarus nature of the Swinson targeting strategy was the problem. It was chaos.
Wasn't the fundamental issue there that Swinson genuinely believed she would become PM?
To be fair to her, they do have a massive long list of seats that they could take next time. The problem though in 2019 was Labour was too unpopular for many voters to vote Lib Dem. Will that be the case with Keir, time will tell
She could not have been that stupid surely.
It was an easily defused trick question. She should have said: I lead a national party which is contesting every seat in this GE. My obligation to my members, candidates and voters is to aim for the top. You are welcome to make your own judgment as to the probability of the various possible outcomes of the election.
That Times stuff about Corbyn is completely damning. The 2019 campaign was completely and utterly dysfunctional.
When you put very stupid, highly factional and utterly vindictive people in charge of an election campaign, yoiu end up with the result that Labour got. McDonnell was literally the only one among them who had even the slightest clue. In another life, he could have been a serious politician at the heart of government rather than the only sentinent member of a destructive, clueless cabal.
The other thing from the ST piece worth noting is how much worse for Labour it could have been (and how much better for the LibDems) if Starmer's referendum strategy had not been adopted by McDonnell.
Labour is very lucky Swinson also seemed to sabotage herself.
A few angry LDs on Twitter complaining that Swinson would "let in anybody". As I have responded the party needs to win votes from across the spectrum so bringing in new members not an issue. The Flight of Icarus nature of the Swinson targeting strategy was the problem. It was chaos.
Wasn't the fundamental issue there that Swinson genuinely believed she would become PM?
To be fair to her, they do have a massive long list of seats that they could take next time. The problem though in 2019 was Labour was too unpopular for many voters to vote Lib Dem. Will that be the case with Keir, time will tell
She could not have been that stupid surely.
It was an easily defused trick question. She should have said: I lead a national party which is contesting every seat in this GE. My obligation to my members, candidates and voters is to aim for the top. You are welcome to make your own judgment as to the probability of the various possible outcomes of the election.
It wasn't a trick question, it was how she introduced herself and what she put on the front of her publications.
I think a lot of people are forgetting one of the major reasons we voted to Leave was the obstinance of the EU. Events are confirming those fears
You are right, I have absolutely no recollection on "obstinacy" ever being mentioned in 2016. I do remember being told that a free trade deal would be easy, that of course we would retain single market access, and that we hold all the cards. If only Leavers were as talented at formulating a plan or negotiating as they are at rewriting history.
Obstinacy was a huge factor even if it wasn’t described in those terms.
It was my view certainly - the EU had the potential to be great, but was dead set on a path that was increasingly divergent from one that suited us and refused to countenance reform
It had 27 other countries thoughts and feelings to consider apart from a truculent England.
The English have no experience of engaging with the world except on their own terms. You'd have thought they would have figured out by now that the British Empire was over and they can't force the world to dance to their tune, but I guess they're slow learners. Brexit might be a useful part of their education, it's just a shame that the Scots have to be dragged through it with them.
The best way to engage with the world is to put your own best feet forward on your own terms.
Engaging on other people's terms just gets them to walk all over you. The English are one of the world's most successful countries for the past thousand years and still today precisely because we don't do that.
I do love alternate histories. How did 1952 go in your timeline?
That Times stuff about Corbyn is completely damning. The 2019 campaign was completely and utterly dysfunctional.
When you put very stupid, highly factional and utterly vindictive people in charge of an election campaign, yoiu end up with the result that Labour got. McDonnell was literally the only one among them who had even the slightest clue. In another life, he could have been a serious politician at the heart of government rather than the only sentinent member of a destructive, clueless cabal.
The other thing from the ST piece worth noting is how much worse for Labour it could have been (and how much better for the LibDems) if Starmer's referendum strategy had not been adopted by McDonnell.
Labour is very lucky Swinson also seemed to sabotage herself.
A few angry LDs on Twitter complaining that Swinson would "let in anybody". As I have responded the party needs to win votes from across the spectrum so bringing in new members not an issue. The Flight of Icarus nature of the Swinson targeting strategy was the problem. It was chaos.
Wasn't the fundamental issue there that Swinson genuinely believed she would become PM?
To be fair to her, they do have a massive long list of seats that they could take next time. The problem though in 2019 was Labour was too unpopular for many voters to vote Lib Dem. Will that be the case with Keir, time will tell
She could not have been that stupid surely.
It was an easily defused trick question. She should have said: I lead a national party which is contesting every seat in this GE. My obligation to my members, candidates and voters is to aim for the top. You are welcome to make your own judgment as to the probability of the various possible outcomes of the election.
It wasn't a trick question, it was how she introduced herself and what she put on the front of her publications.
Alexa - show me a picture of hubris.
Ha ha ha, that’s brilliant. Never seen it before. Absolutely hoist by her own petard and a victim of her own vanity.
GPs are fucking useless part 26 - my dad got a text from the GP surgery, he needs a regular BP check up, fine. Text as follows "due to exceptional virus containment measures we are currently not taking any in person appointments, however, we still need to test your BP, could you please purchase a BP machine from a pharmacy, take a measurement and respond to this message with the reading".
Honestly, what the fuck is going on with the NHS. This is absolutely fucking disgraceful, they are now using the virus as an excuse to just not do any work. I might start a new boo the NHS at 8pm on Thursday trend.
I've told him to contact the Daily Mail with the text and let them write about it.
A health service that doesn;t want patients. A school system that doesn;t want pupilms.
And a government that doesn´t want citizens.
You can't accuse this Government of acting purely to court votes....
They like votes, I think. But today´s Conservatives are not much bothered about voters - the people behind the votes.
If that's true why did they get millions more voters to back them than any other party - and why despite it being midterm and governments typically being behind in the polls by this stage normally - do millions more voters still back them according to the polls?
That was what I was saying, Mr Thompson. They like votes, they like seeming to do well in opinion polls, but they are not much bothered by the long-term impact on the lives of real people.
And of course they "did well" at the last election - their main opponent was Jeremy Corbyn, who they promoted well beyond anything reasonable in order to panic people into voting for the lazy, useless Johnson as the alternative. Plus they were helped by a broken voting system, and oodles of Russian support.
Still moaning about the standard voting system used by billions of people worldwide? Simply because you lost the election isn't a reason to change voting systems. Try to win next time, not give prizes to losers.
Corbyn was not their only opponent. They also had to contend with "next Prime Minister Jo Swinson" remember though somehow they managed to do that. 🤣😂🤣
The long-term impact on the lives of real people is precisely what this government is dealing with and doing so better than any alternative.
If FPTP is good enough for the US and India, it’s obviously the correct system.
It is bizarre that there is a tone of mockery from England about the idea of Scotland going it alone and creating a currency. That England has gone batshit and is about to hurl itself from the White Cliffs in the sure and certain faith that there is no cliff is just funny.
If the UK was facing a glorious properous future and Scotland was threatening to jump into the unknown then I can see the argument. However, it is the UK about to jump and Scotland trying to stay behind in sanity land.
The SNP will win the election next year promising a referendum vote. The UK will try and refuse. Scotland will hold it anyway. It won't be close. Westminster will accept the inevitable. Scotland leaves the UK and joins the EU. England mocks, abuses, insults. And then the newspaper reports of how Scotland is fairing better than rUK...
And down Edinburgh's Royal Mile, there's a triumphant, joyous celebration of civic, European, Scotland's victory against lumpen, bigoted Leaver England. Michel Barnier is guest of honour as he embraces Nicola Sturgeon for the typical gallic kiss on both cheeks. The bells of St Giles ring out - ring- -ring- they seem to get louder and more insistent with each peal - RING- - RING-
RP wakes up and realises it's his alarm.
Can I refer you to mockery? Of my comments: 1. The UK is throwing itself off the cliff 2. The SNP will win the 2021 Holyrood election with a mandate for a referendum 3. The referendum will be held
Those three are reality. Beyond that?
4. Leave will win 60:40 - a projection but based on hardening of the mood tracked by polling 5. Scotland will join the EU. Both sides are up for this, it allows Brussels to flick the Vs at London, Edinburgh gets financial backing 6. rUK will watch in wonder. I don't think no dealers comprehend just how rough this is going to be...
2 is not certain 3 is wrong. Boris has made clear he will block indyref2 whatever the circumstances for the rest of his premiership.
6. Even if Scotland was allowed indyref2 and voted to leave the UK because of No Deal Brexit that means tariffs on all Scottish exports to England and border posts at the Scottish border. 70% of Scottish exports go to England. I don't think Yes supporters comprehend how rough that would be...
2. Nothing is certain in politics. However, your hope of a Unionist grand coalition keeping the nats out of power is a long long shot at best 3. I couldn't give a toss what Shagger has said. He openly lies and contradicts himself anyway so just because he says "I won't put a border down the Irish Sea" doesn't mean he won't then sign a treaty putting a border down the Irish Sea. A Scottish government elected with a clear mandate for a referendum cannot be stopped holding one. Will the army come in and arrest them? Yes it will be unofficial. But when that shows a clear mandate for Independence the UK politically cannot just say no.
As for your comments about the size and heft of the UK, we are about to scale back said heft and cut ourselves off from everyone. As the supplicant in the trading relationships to come you will see just how painful this will be. You can't say "no foreign power can set our laws" and then defend the US congress imposing US food standards and access on the UK so that we have to accept their weevil infested "food". yet you will be on here defending it.
2 If Unionists unite at constituency level anything could happen next year. 3. As Madrid showed in Catalonia a national government can block a nationalist regional government from holding an independence referendum if it wishes. The Tories have a comfortable majority at Westminster and Tory MPs will vote down any indyref2.
I voted Remain and yes I would accept some regulatory alignment for a FTA provided we end free movement and replace it with a points system and do our own trade deals.
However while No Deal would be damaging for the UK economy under 50% of UK exports go to the EU. No Deal followed by Scotland leaving the UK would devastate the Scottish economy as 70% of Scottish exports go to England
Scotland is not Catalonia though. A breakaway region wanting to create a new entity is not the same as a legally recognised and separate nation wanting to dissolve an entity. Glad to see you are supporting the UK's supplication with regards to trade deals though. You telling us all how the US trade deal that gives us far worse terms than our current US trade deal and imposes US standards on the UK is the UK being sovereign and free will be genuinely funny.
Catalonia is as entitled to consider itself a separate nation as is Scotland. The same would apply to Wessex- Mercia- Northumbria et al.
It is bizarre that there is a tone of mockery from England about the idea of Scotland going it alone and creating a currency. That England has gone batshit and is about to hurl itself from the White Cliffs in the sure and certain faith that there is no cliff is just funny.
If the UK was facing a glorious properous future and Scotland was threatening to jump into the unknown then I can see the argument. However, it is the UK about to jump and Scotland trying to stay behind in sanity land.
The SNP will win the election next year promising a referendum vote. The UK will try and refuse. Scotland will hold it anyway. It won't be close. Westminster will accept the inevitable. Scotland leaves the UK and joins the EU. England mocks, abuses, insults. And then the newspaper reports of how Scotland is fairing better than rUK...
And down Edinburgh's Royal Mile, there's a triumphant, joyous celebration of civic, European, Scotland's victory against lumpen, bigoted Leaver England. Michel Barnier is guest of honour as he embraces Nicola Sturgeon for the typical gallic kiss on both cheeks. The bells of St Giles ring out - ring- -ring- they seem to get louder and more insistent with each peal - RING- - RING-
RP wakes up and realises it's his alarm.
Can I refer you to mockery? Of my comments: 1. The UK is throwing itself off the cliff 2. The SNP will win the 2021 Holyrood election with a mandate for a referendum 3. The referendum will be held
Those three are reality. Beyond that?
4. Leave will win 60:40 - a projection but based on hardening of the mood tracked by polling 5. Scotland will join the EU. Both sides are up for this, it allows Brussels to flick the Vs at London, Edinburgh gets financial backing 6. rUK will watch in wonder. I don't think no dealers comprehend just how rough this is going to be...
2 is not certain 3 is wrong. Boris has made clear he will block indyref2 whatever the circumstances for the rest of his premiership.
6. Even if Scotland was allowed indyref2 and voted to leave the UK because of No Deal Brexit that means tariffs on all Scottish exports to England and border posts at the Scottish border. 70% of Scottish exports go to England. I don't think Yes supporters comprehend how rough that would be...
2. Nothing is certain in politics. However, your hope of a Unionist grand coalition keeping the nats out of power is a long long shot at best 3. I couldn't give a toss what Shagger has said. He openly lies and contradicts himself anyway so just because he says "I won't put a border down the Irish Sea" doesn't mean he won't then sign a treaty putting a border down the Irish Sea. A Scottish government elected with a clear mandate for a referendum cannot be stopped holding one. Will the army come in and arrest them? Yes it will be unofficial. But when that shows a clear mandate for Independence the UK politically cannot just say no.
As for your comments about the size and heft of the UK, we are about to scale back said heft and cut ourselves off from everyone. As the supplicant in the trading relationships to come you will see just how painful this will be. You can't say "no foreign power can set our laws" and then defend the US congress imposing US food standards and access on the UK so that we have to accept their weevil infested "food". yet you will be on here defending it.
2 If Unionists unite at constituency level anything could happen next year. 3. As Madrid showed in Catalonia a national government can block a nationalist regional government from holding an independence referendum if it wishes. The Tories have a comfortable majority at Westminster and Tory MPs will vote down any indyref2.
I voted Remain and yes I would accept some regulatory alignment for a FTA provided we end free movement and replace it with a points system and do our own trade deals.
However while No Deal would be damaging for the UK economy under 50% of UK exports go to the EU. No Deal followed by Scotland leaving the UK would devastate the Scottish economy as 70% of Scottish exports go to England
Scotland is not Catalonia though. A breakaway region wanting to create a new entity is not the same as a legally recognised and separate nation wanting to dissolve an entity. Glad to see you are supporting the UK's supplication with regards to trade deals though. You telling us all how the US trade deal that gives us far worse terms than our current US trade deal and imposes US standards on the UK is the UK being sovereign and free will be genuinely funny.
Catalonia is as entitled to consider itself a separate nation as is Scotland. The same would apply to Wessex- Mercia- Northumbria et al.
Although it should be noted that Spain united considerably more recently than England did.
Wouldn't it be better to discuss the BBC and its relentless agenda of diversity and equality, to the point that they talk of little else.
The BBC is now reduced to asking why there has only been been on person of colour as President of the US. If only Barak Obama had failed, the BBC could have had a field day.
Yours disgruntled and now ITV news watcher .
Get rid of the license fee. Let those who want the BBC pay for it. I would happily pay for BBC4.
Isn’t BBC4 one of the channels they want to get rid of?
We could discuss the National Trust’s apparent desire to move away from being a cultural institution, get rid of all its specialist curators and put much of its furniture and paintings into storage so that it can flog us “experiences”. Given that these houses and their contents were gifted in lieu of inheritance task on the basis that they would be available to the public, I do wonder how this proposal is consistent with the original bequests or its charitable purposes.
Yes, sadly, BBC4 is a channel they want to dump.
The National Trust sounds like it’s going to go through dramatic changes and none of them will improve it.
It’s a common theme afflicting lots of places: M&S, John Lewis, for instance.
Forget to treasure and value what is good about you and what people like. Turn your back on your core and try and make yourself relevant to some new trendy young customers. Don’t don’t really do that properly - it all becomes like embarrassing “Dad dancing”. Meanwhile you don’t attract enough new people and you lose your existing customers/members and your purpose. Eventually you disappear or are transformed out of all recognition.
But in the meanwhile those at the top manage to trouser a lot of money so they’re all right Jack.
I think a lot of people are forgetting one of the major reasons we voted to Leave was the obstinance of the EU. Events are confirming those fears
You are right, I have absolutely no recollection on "obstinacy" ever being mentioned in 2016. I do remember being told that a free trade deal would be easy, that of course we would retain single market access, and that we hold all the cards. If only Leavers were as talented at formulating a plan or negotiating as they are at rewriting history.
Obstinacy was a huge factor even if it wasn’t described in those terms.
It was my view certainly - the EU had the potential to be great, but was dead set on a path that was increasingly divergent from one that suited us and refused to countenance reform
It had 27 other countries thoughts and feelings to consider apart from a truculent England.
The English have no experience of engaging with the world except on their own terms. You'd have thought they would have figured out by now that the British Empire was over and they can't force the world to dance to their tune, but I guess they're slow learners. Brexit might be a useful part of their education, it's just a shame that the Scots have to be dragged through it with them.
The best way to engage with the world is to put your own best feet forward on your own terms.
Engaging on other people's terms just gets them to walk all over you. The English are one of the world's most successful countries for the past thousand years and still today precisely because we don't do that.
I do love alternate histories. How did 1952 go in your timeline?
Its not an alternate history.
In my timeline 1952 was more than two-thirds of a century ago, it was three decades before I was born . . . and 68 years later the UK is still one of the best and most successful countries in the entire world.
So yes we may have ups and downs, but overall the story of England is a successful one and still is to this day.
That Times stuff about Corbyn is completely damning. The 2019 campaign was completely and utterly dysfunctional.
When you put very stupid, highly factional and utterly vindictive people in charge of an election campaign, yoiu end up with the result that Labour got. McDonnell was literally the only one among them who had even the slightest clue. In another life, he could have been a serious politician at the heart of government rather than the only sentinent member of a destructive, clueless cabal.
The other thing from the ST piece worth noting is how much worse for Labour it could have been (and how much better for the LibDems) if Starmer's referendum strategy had not been adopted by McDonnell.
Labour is very lucky Swinson also seemed to sabotage herself.
A few angry LDs on Twitter complaining that Swinson would "let in anybody". As I have responded the party needs to win votes from across the spectrum so bringing in new members not an issue. The Flight of Icarus nature of the Swinson targeting strategy was the problem. It was chaos.
Wasn't the fundamental issue there that Swinson genuinely believed she would become PM?
To be fair to her, they do have a massive long list of seats that they could take next time. The problem though in 2019 was Labour was too unpopular for many voters to vote Lib Dem. Will that be the case with Keir, time will tell
She could not have been that stupid surely.
It was an easily defused trick question. She should have said: I lead a national party which is contesting every seat in this GE. My obligation to my members, candidates and voters is to aim for the top. You are welcome to make your own judgment as to the probability of the various possible outcomes of the election.
Hardly a trick question though, given she stated it herself.
It is bizarre that there is a tone of mockery from England about the idea of Scotland going it alone and creating a currency. That England has gone batshit and is about to hurl itself from the White Cliffs in the sure and certain faith that there is no cliff is just funny.
If the UK was facing a glorious properous future and Scotland was threatening to jump into the unknown then I can see the argument. However, it is the UK about to jump and Scotland trying to stay behind in sanity land.
The SNP will win the election next year promising a referendum vote. The UK will try and refuse. Scotland will hold it anyway. It won't be close. Westminster will accept the inevitable. Scotland leaves the UK and joins the EU. England mocks, abuses, insults. And then the newspaper reports of how Scotland is fairing better than rUK...
And down Edinburgh's Royal Mile, there's a triumphant, joyous celebration of civic, European, Scotland's victory against lumpen, bigoted Leaver England. Michel Barnier is guest of honour as he embraces Nicola Sturgeon for the typical gallic kiss on both cheeks. The bells of St Giles ring out - ring- -ring- they seem to get louder and more insistent with each peal - RING- - RING-
RP wakes up and realises it's his alarm.
Can I refer you to mockery? Of my comments: 1. The UK is throwing itself off the cliff 2. The SNP will win the 2021 Holyrood election with a mandate for a referendum 3. The referendum will be held
Those three are reality. Beyond that?
4. Leave will win 60:40 - a projection but based on hardening of the mood tracked by polling 5. Scotland will join the EU. Both sides are up for this, it allows Brussels to flick the Vs at London, Edinburgh gets financial backing 6. rUK will watch in wonder. I don't think no dealers comprehend just how rough this is going to be...
2 is not certain 3 is wrong. Boris has made clear he will block indyref2 whatever the circumstances for the rest of his premiership.
6. Even if Scotland was allowed indyref2 and voted to leave the UK because of No Deal Brexit that means tariffs on all Scottish exports to England and border posts at the Scottish border. 70% of Scottish exports go to England. I don't think Yes supporters comprehend how rough that would be...
2. Nothing is certain in politics. However, your hope of a Unionist grand coalition keeping the nats out of power is a long long shot at best 3. I couldn't give a toss what Shagger has said. He openly lies and contradicts himself anyway so just because he says "I won't put a border down the Irish Sea" doesn't mean he won't then sign a treaty putting a border down the Irish Sea. A Scottish government elected with a clear mandate for a referendum cannot be stopped holding one. Will the army come in and arrest them? Yes it will be unofficial. But when that shows a clear mandate for Independence the UK politically cannot just say no.
As for your comments about the size and heft of the UK, we are about to scale back said heft and cut ourselves off from everyone. As the supplicant in the trading relationships to come you will see just how painful this will be. You can't say "no foreign power can set our laws" and then defend the US congress imposing US food standards and access on the UK so that we have to accept their weevil infested "food". yet you will be on here defending it.
2 If Unionists unite at constituency level anything could happen next year. 3. As Madrid showed in Catalonia a national government can block a nationalist regional government from holding an independence referendum if it wishes. The Tories have a comfortable majority at Westminster and Tory MPs will vote down any indyref2.
I voted Remain and yes I would accept some regulatory alignment for a FTA provided we end free movement and replace it with a points system and do our own trade deals.
However while No Deal would be damaging for the UK economy under 50% of UK exports go to the EU. No Deal followed by Scotland leaving the UK would devastate the Scottish economy as 70% of Scottish exports go to England
Scotland is not Catalonia though. A breakaway region wanting to create a new entity is not the same as a legally recognised and separate nation wanting to dissolve an entity. Glad to see you are supporting the UK's supplication with regards to trade deals though. You telling us all how the US trade deal that gives us far worse terms than our current US trade deal and imposes US standards on the UK is the UK being sovereign and free will be genuinely funny.
Catalonia is as entitled to consider itself a separate nation as is Scotland. The same would apply to Wessex- Mercia- Northumbria et al.
Although it should be noted that Spain united considerably more recently than England did.
Well yes, Wiki tells me England united on 12 July 927.
It is bizarre that there is a tone of mockery from England about the idea of Scotland going it alone and creating a currency. That England has gone batshit and is about to hurl itself from the White Cliffs in the sure and certain faith that there is no cliff is just funny.
If the UK was facing a glorious properous future and Scotland was threatening to jump into the unknown then I can see the argument. However, it is the UK about to jump and Scotland trying to stay behind in sanity land.
The SNP will win the election next year promising a referendum vote. The UK will try and refuse. Scotland will hold it anyway. It won't be close. Westminster will accept the inevitable. Scotland leaves the UK and joins the EU. England mocks, abuses, insults. And then the newspaper reports of how Scotland is fairing better than rUK...
And down Edinburgh's Royal Mile, there's a triumphant, joyous celebration of civic, European, Scotland's victory against lumpen, bigoted Leaver England. Michel Barnier is guest of honour as he embraces Nicola Sturgeon for the typical gallic kiss on both cheeks. The bells of St Giles ring out - ring- -ring- they seem to get louder and more insistent with each peal - RING- - RING-
RP wakes up and realises it's his alarm.
Can I refer you to mockery? Of my comments: 1. The UK is throwing itself off the cliff 2. The SNP will win the 2021 Holyrood election with a mandate for a referendum 3. The referendum will be held
Those three are reality. Beyond that?
4. Leave will win 60:40 - a projection but based on hardening of the mood tracked by polling 5. Scotland will join the EU. Both sides are up for this, it allows Brussels to flick the Vs at London, Edinburgh gets financial backing 6. rUK will watch in wonder. I don't think no dealers comprehend just how rough this is going to be...
2 is not certain 3 is wrong. Boris has made clear he will block indyref2 whatever the circumstances for the rest of his premiership.
6. Even if Scotland was allowed indyref2 and voted to leave the UK because of No Deal Brexit that means tariffs on all Scottish exports to England and border posts at the Scottish border. 70% of Scottish exports go to England. I don't think Yes supporters comprehend how rough that would be...
2. Nothing is certain in politics. However, your hope of a Unionist grand coalition keeping the nats out of power is a long long shot at best 3. I couldn't give a toss what Shagger has said. He openly lies and contradicts himself anyway so just because he says "I won't put a border down the Irish Sea" doesn't mean he won't then sign a treaty putting a border down the Irish Sea. A Scottish government elected with a clear mandate for a referendum cannot be stopped holding one. Will the army come in and arrest them? Yes it will be unofficial. But when that shows a clear mandate for Independence the UK politically cannot just say no.
As for your comments about the size and heft of the UK, we are about to scale back said heft and cut ourselves off from everyone. As the supplicant in the trading relationships to come you will see just how painful this will be. You can't say "no foreign power can set our laws" and then defend the US congress imposing US food standards and access on the UK so that we have to accept their weevil infested "food". yet you will be on here defending it.
2 If Unionists unite at constituency level anything could happen next year. 3. As Madrid showed in Catalonia a national government can block a nationalist regional government from holding an independence referendum if it wishes. The Tories have a comfortable majority at Westminster and Tory MPs will vote down any indyref2.
I voted Remain and yes I would accept some regulatory alignment for a FTA provided we end free movement and replace it with a points system and do our own trade deals.
However while No Deal would be damaging for the UK economy under 50% of UK exports go to the EU. No Deal followed by Scotland leaving the UK would devastate the Scottish economy as 70% of Scottish exports go to England
Scotland is not Catalonia though. A breakaway region wanting to create a new entity is not the same as a legally recognised and separate nation wanting to dissolve an entity. Glad to see you are supporting the UK's supplication with regards to trade deals though. You telling us all how the US trade deal that gives us far worse terms than our current US trade deal and imposes US standards on the UK is the UK being sovereign and free will be genuinely funny.
Catalonia is as entitled to consider itself a separate nation as is Scotland. The same would apply to Wessex- Mercia- Northumbria et al.
I agree in principle but there is a major difference.
The UK and the world at large legally recognises Scotland as a country. The UK does not legally recognise Wessex etc to be one. Spain does not do the same for Catalonia.
That Times stuff about Corbyn is completely damning. The 2019 campaign was completely and utterly dysfunctional.
When you put very stupid, highly factional and utterly vindictive people in charge of an election campaign, yoiu end up with the result that Labour got. McDonnell was literally the only one among them who had even the slightest clue. In another life, he could have been a serious politician at the heart of government rather than the only sentinent member of a destructive, clueless cabal.
The other thing from the ST piece worth noting is how much worse for Labour it could have been (and how much better for the LibDems) if Starmer's referendum strategy had not been adopted by McDonnell.
Labour is very lucky Swinson also seemed to sabotage herself.
A few angry LDs on Twitter complaining that Swinson would "let in anybody". As I have responded the party needs to win votes from across the spectrum so bringing in new members not an issue. The Flight of Icarus nature of the Swinson targeting strategy was the problem. It was chaos.
Wasn't the fundamental issue there that Swinson genuinely believed she would become PM?
To be fair to her, they do have a massive long list of seats that they could take next time. The problem though in 2019 was Labour was too unpopular for many voters to vote Lib Dem. Will that be the case with Keir, time will tell
She could not have been that stupid surely.
It was an easily defused trick question. She should have said: I lead a national party which is contesting every seat in this GE. My obligation to my members, candidates and voters is to aim for the top. You are welcome to make your own judgment as to the probability of the various possible outcomes of the election.
Hardly a trick question though, given she stated it herself.
OK but that makes my point the stronger: she should have had an oven-ready answer.
That Times stuff about Corbyn is completely damning. The 2019 campaign was completely and utterly dysfunctional.
When you put very stupid, highly factional and utterly vindictive people in charge of an election campaign, yoiu end up with the result that Labour got. McDonnell was literally the only one among them who had even the slightest clue. In another life, he could have been a serious politician at the heart of government rather than the only sentinent member of a destructive, clueless cabal.
The other thing from the ST piece worth noting is how much worse for Labour it could have been (and how much better for the LibDems) if Starmer's referendum strategy had not been adopted by McDonnell.
Labour is very lucky Swinson also seemed to sabotage herself.
A few angry LDs on Twitter complaining that Swinson would "let in anybody". As I have responded the party needs to win votes from across the spectrum so bringing in new members not an issue. The Flight of Icarus nature of the Swinson targeting strategy was the problem. It was chaos.
Wasn't the fundamental issue there that Swinson genuinely believed she would become PM?
To be fair to her, they do have a massive long list of seats that they could take next time. The problem though in 2019 was Labour was too unpopular for many voters to vote Lib Dem. Will that be the case with Keir, time will tell
She could not have been that stupid surely.
It was an easily defused trick question. She should have said: I lead a national party which is contesting every seat in this GE. My obligation to my members, candidates and voters is to aim for the top. You are welcome to make your own judgment as to the probability of the various possible outcomes of the election.
Hardly a trick question though, given she stated it herself.
OK but that makes my point the stronger: she should have had an oven-ready answer.
She did have an oven-ready answer. Her oven-ready answer was she was going to be our next Prime Minister.
It is bizarre that there is a tone of mockery from England about the idea of Scotland going it alone and creating a currency. That England has gone batshit and is about to hurl itself from the White Cliffs in the sure and certain faith that there is no cliff is just funny.
If the UK was facing a glorious properous future and Scotland was threatening to jump into the unknown then I can see the argument. However, it is the UK about to jump and Scotland trying to stay behind in sanity land.
The SNP will win the election next year promising a referendum vote. The UK will try and refuse. Scotland will hold it anyway. It won't be close. Westminster will accept the inevitable. Scotland leaves the UK and joins the EU. England mocks, abuses, insults. And then the newspaper reports of how Scotland is fairing better than rUK...
And down Edinburgh's Royal Mile, there's a triumphant, joyous celebration of civic, European, Scotland's victory against lumpen, bigoted Leaver England. Michel Barnier is guest of honour as he embraces Nicola Sturgeon for the typical gallic kiss on both cheeks. The bells of St Giles ring out - ring- -ring- they seem to get louder and more insistent with each peal - RING- - RING-
RP wakes up and realises it's his alarm.
Can I refer you to mockery? Of my comments: 1. The UK is throwing itself off the cliff 2. The SNP will win the 2021 Holyrood election with a mandate for a referendum 3. The referendum will be held
Those three are reality. Beyond that?
4. Leave will win 60:40 - a projection but based on hardening of the mood tracked by polling 5. Scotland will join the EU. Both sides are up for this, it allows Brussels to flick the Vs at London, Edinburgh gets financial backing 6. rUK will watch in wonder. I don't think no dealers comprehend just how rough this is going to be...
2 is not certain 3 is wrong. Boris has made clear he will block indyref2 whatever the circumstances for the rest of his premiership.
6. Even if Scotland was allowed indyref2 and voted to leave the UK because of No Deal Brexit that means tariffs on all Scottish exports to England and border posts at the Scottish border. 70% of Scottish exports go to England. I don't think Yes supporters comprehend how rough that would be...
2. Nothing is certain in politics. However, your hope of a Unionist grand coalition keeping the nats out of power is a long long shot at best 3. I couldn't give a toss what Shagger has said. He openly lies and contradicts himself anyway so just because he says "I won't put a border down the Irish Sea" doesn't mean he won't then sign a treaty putting a border down the Irish Sea. A Scottish government elected with a clear mandate for a referendum cannot be stopped holding one. Will the army come in and arrest them? Yes it will be unofficial. But when that shows a clear mandate for Independence the UK politically cannot just say no.
As for your comments about the size and heft of the UK, we are about to scale back said heft and cut ourselves off from everyone. As the supplicant in the trading relationships to come you will see just how painful this will be. You can't say "no foreign power can set our laws" and then defend the US congress imposing US food standards and access on the UK so that we have to accept their weevil infested "food". yet you will be on here defending it.
2 If Unionists unite at constituency level anything could happen next year. 3. As Madrid showed in Catalonia a national government can block a nationalist regional government from holding an independence referendum if it wishes. The Tories have a comfortable majority at Westminster and Tory MPs will vote down any indyref2.
I voted Remain and yes I would accept some regulatory alignment for a FTA provided we end free movement and replace it with a points system and do our own trade deals.
However while No Deal would be damaging for the UK economy under 50% of UK exports go to the EU. No Deal followed by Scotland leaving the UK would devastate the Scottish economy as 70% of Scottish exports go to England
Scotland is not Catalonia though. A breakaway region wanting to create a new entity is not the same as a legally recognised and separate nation wanting to dissolve an entity. Glad to see you are supporting the UK's supplication with regards to trade deals though. You telling us all how the US trade deal that gives us far worse terms than our current US trade deal and imposes US standards on the UK is the UK being sovereign and free will be genuinely funny.
Catalonia is as entitled to consider itself a separate nation as is Scotland. The same would apply to Wessex- Mercia- Northumbria et al.
Although it should be noted that Spain united considerably more recently than England did.
Agreed. On that basis ,of course, the former independent states of Germany have a stronf case to seek independence.
It is bizarre that there is a tone of mockery from England about the idea of Scotland going it alone and creating a currency. That England has gone batshit and is about to hurl itself from the White Cliffs in the sure and certain faith that there is no cliff is just funny.
If the UK was facing a glorious properous future and Scotland was threatening to jump into the unknown then I can see the argument. However, it is the UK about to jump and Scotland trying to stay behind in sanity land.
The SNP will win the election next year promising a referendum vote. The UK will try and refuse. Scotland will hold it anyway. It won't be close. Westminster will accept the inevitable. Scotland leaves the UK and joins the EU. England mocks, abuses, insults. And then the newspaper reports of how Scotland is fairing better than rUK...
And down Edinburgh's Royal Mile, there's a triumphant, joyous celebration of civic, European, Scotland's victory against lumpen, bigoted Leaver England. Michel Barnier is guest of honour as he embraces Nicola Sturgeon for the typical gallic kiss on both cheeks. The bells of St Giles ring out - ring- -ring- they seem to get louder and more insistent with each peal - RING- - RING-
RP wakes up and realises it's his alarm.
Can I refer you to mockery? Of my comments: 1. The UK is throwing itself off the cliff 2. The SNP will win the 2021 Holyrood election with a mandate for a referendum 3. The referendum will be held
Those three are reality. Beyond that?
4. Leave will win 60:40 - a projection but based on hardening of the mood tracked by polling 5. Scotland will join the EU. Both sides are up for this, it allows Brussels to flick the Vs at London, Edinburgh gets financial backing 6. rUK will watch in wonder. I don't think no dealers comprehend just how rough this is going to be...
2 is not certain 3 is wrong. Boris has made clear he will block indyref2 whatever the circumstances for the rest of his premiership.
6. Even if Scotland was allowed indyref2 and voted to leave the UK because of No Deal Brexit that means tariffs on all Scottish exports to England and border posts at the Scottish border. 70% of Scottish exports go to England. I don't think Yes supporters comprehend how rough that would be...
2. Nothing is certain in politics. However, your hope of a Unionist grand coalition keeping the nats out of power is a long long shot at best 3. I couldn't give a toss what Shagger has said. He openly lies and contradicts himself anyway so just because he says "I won't put a border down the Irish Sea" doesn't mean he won't then sign a treaty putting a border down the Irish Sea. A Scottish government elected with a clear mandate for a referendum cannot be stopped holding one. Will the army come in and arrest them? Yes it will be unofficial. But when that shows a clear mandate for Independence the UK politically cannot just say no.
As for your comments about the size and heft of the UK, we are about to scale back said heft and cut ourselves off from everyone. As the supplicant in the trading relationships to come you will see just how painful this will be. You can't say "no foreign power can set our laws" and then defend the US congress imposing US food standards and access on the UK so that we have to accept their weevil infested "food". yet you will be on here defending it.
2 If Unionists unite at constituency level anything could happen next year. 3. As Madrid showed in Catalonia a national government can block a nationalist regional government from holding an independence referendum if it wishes. The Tories have a comfortable majority at Westminster and Tory MPs will vote down any indyref2.
I voted Remain and yes I would accept some regulatory alignment for a FTA provided we end free movement and replace it with a points system and do our own trade deals.
However while No Deal would be damaging for the UK economy under 50% of UK exports go to the EU. No Deal followed by Scotland leaving the UK would devastate the Scottish economy as 70% of Scottish exports go to England
Scotland is not Catalonia though. A breakaway region wanting to create a new entity is not the same as a legally recognised and separate nation wanting to dissolve an entity. Glad to see you are supporting the UK's supplication with regards to trade deals though. You telling us all how the US trade deal that gives us far worse terms than our current US trade deal and imposes US standards on the UK is the UK being sovereign and free will be genuinely funny.
Catalonia is as entitled to consider itself a separate nation as is Scotland. The same would apply to Wessex- Mercia- Northumbria et al.
I agree in principle but there is a major difference.
The UK and the world at large legally recognises Scotland as a country. The UK does not legally recognise Wessex etc to be one. Spain does not do the same for Catalonia.
A significant minority in Cornwall reject the label of being English.
It is bizarre that there is a tone of mockery from England about the idea of Scotland going it alone and creating a currency. That England has gone batshit and is about to hurl itself from the White Cliffs in the sure and certain faith that there is no cliff is just funny.
If the UK was facing a glorious properous future and Scotland was threatening to jump into the unknown then I can see the argument. However, it is the UK about to jump and Scotland trying to stay behind in sanity land.
The SNP will win the election next year promising a referendum vote. The UK will try and refuse. Scotland will hold it anyway. It won't be close. Westminster will accept the inevitable. Scotland leaves the UK and joins the EU. England mocks, abuses, insults. And then the newspaper reports of how Scotland is fairing better than rUK...
And down Edinburgh's Royal Mile, there's a triumphant, joyous celebration of civic, European, Scotland's victory against lumpen, bigoted Leaver England. Michel Barnier is guest of honour as he embraces Nicola Sturgeon for the typical gallic kiss on both cheeks. The bells of St Giles ring out - ring- -ring- they seem to get louder and more insistent with each peal - RING- - RING-
RP wakes up and realises it's his alarm.
Can I refer you to mockery? Of my comments: 1. The UK is throwing itself off the cliff 2. The SNP will win the 2021 Holyrood election with a mandate for a referendum 3. The referendum will be held
Those three are reality. Beyond that?
4. Leave will win 60:40 - a projection but based on hardening of the mood tracked by polling 5. Scotland will join the EU. Both sides are up for this, it allows Brussels to flick the Vs at London, Edinburgh gets financial backing 6. rUK will watch in wonder. I don't think no dealers comprehend just how rough this is going to be...
2 is not certain 3 is wrong. Boris has made clear he will block indyref2 whatever the circumstances for the rest of his premiership.
6. Even if Scotland was allowed indyref2 and voted to leave the UK because of No Deal Brexit that means tariffs on all Scottish exports to England and border posts at the Scottish border. 70% of Scottish exports go to England. I don't think Yes supporters comprehend how rough that would be...
2. Nothing is certain in politics. However, your hope of a Unionist grand coalition keeping the nats out of power is a long long shot at best 3. I couldn't give a toss what Shagger has said. He openly lies and contradicts himself anyway so just because he says "I won't put a border down the Irish Sea" doesn't mean he won't then sign a treaty putting a border down the Irish Sea. A Scottish government elected with a clear mandate for a referendum cannot be stopped holding one. Will the army come in and arrest them? Yes it will be unofficial. But when that shows a clear mandate for Independence the UK politically cannot just say no.
As for your comments about the size and heft of the UK, we are about to scale back said heft and cut ourselves off from everyone. As the supplicant in the trading relationships to come you will see just how painful this will be. You can't say "no foreign power can set our laws" and then defend the US congress imposing US food standards and access on the UK so that we have to accept their weevil infested "food". yet you will be on here defending it.
2 If Unionists unite at constituency level anything could happen next year. 3. As Madrid showed in Catalonia a national government can block a nationalist regional government from holding an independence referendum if it wishes. The Tories have a comfortable majority at Westminster and Tory MPs will vote down any indyref2.
I voted Remain and yes I would accept some regulatory alignment for a FTA provided we end free movement and replace it with a points system and do our own trade deals.
However while No Deal would be damaging for the UK economy under 50% of UK exports go to the EU. No Deal followed by Scotland leaving the UK would devastate the Scottish economy as 70% of Scottish exports go to England
Scotland is not Catalonia though. A breakaway region wanting to create a new entity is not the same as a legally recognised and separate nation wanting to dissolve an entity. Glad to see you are supporting the UK's supplication with regards to trade deals though. You telling us all how the US trade deal that gives us far worse terms than our current US trade deal and imposes US standards on the UK is the UK being sovereign and free will be genuinely funny.
Catalonia is as entitled to consider itself a separate nation as is Scotland. The same would apply to Wessex- Mercia- Northumbria et al.
I agree in principle but there is a major difference.
The UK and the world at large legally recognises Scotland as a country. The UK does not legally recognise Wessex etc to be one. Spain does not do the same for Catalonia.
A significant minority in Cornwall reject the label of being English.
Its not about what the minority think. Under British and international law Scotland is technically a country - so too are Wales and England.
Wouldn't it be better to discuss the BBC and its relentless agenda of diversity and equality, to the point that they talk of little else.
The BBC is now reduced to asking why there has only been been on person of colour as President of the US. If only Barak Obama had failed, the BBC could have had a field day.
Yours disgruntled and now ITV news watcher .
Get rid of the license fee. Let those who want the BBC pay for it. I would happily pay for BBC4.
Isn’t BBC4 one of the channels they want to get rid of?
We could discuss the National Trust’s apparent desire to move away from being a cultural institution, get rid of all its specialist curators and put much of its furniture and paintings into storage so that it can flog us “experiences”. Given that these houses and their contents were gifted in lieu of inheritance task on the basis that they would be available to the public, I do wonder how this proposal is consistent with the original bequests or its charitable purposes.
Yes, sadly, BBC4 is a channel they want to dump.
The National Trust sounds like it’s going to go through dramatic changes and none of them will improve it.
It’s a common theme afflicting lots of places: M&S, John Lewis, for instance.
Forget to treasure and value what is good about you and what people like. Turn your back on your core and try and make yourself relevant to some new trendy young customers. Don’t don’t really do that properly - it all becomes like embarrassing “Dad dancing”. Meanwhile you don’t attract enough new people and you lose your existing customers/members and your purpose. Eventually you disappear or are transformed out of all recognition.
But in the meanwhile those at the top manage to trouser a lot of money so they’re all right Jack.
Yes, it’s very much ‘trebles all round’. A revolving door of familiar faces cropping up in large businesses and organisation. All part of the same ‘chumocracy’ the sees the likes of Dido Harding promoted to a position she’s clearly not got the track record for. I believe you wrote a good piece about it here recently.
M&S has clearly lost its way in the clothing department although food wise it’s very good and you’re right. You cannot turn your back on your core and chase after other customers without there being some impact.
As for the BBC I just cannot see how it survives in its current form. Younger people don’t seem interested and it’s alienating its core users. YouTube and Netflix seem to be where it’s at these days. I watch more YouTube than any other channel these days.
That Times stuff about Corbyn is completely damning. The 2019 campaign was completely and utterly dysfunctional.
When you put very stupid, highly factional and utterly vindictive people in charge of an election campaign, yoiu end up with the result that Labour got. McDonnell was literally the only one among them who had even the slightest clue. In another life, he could have been a serious politician at the heart of government rather than the only sentinent member of a destructive, clueless cabal.
The other thing from the ST piece worth noting is how much worse for Labour it could have been (and how much better for the LibDems) if Starmer's referendum strategy had not been adopted by McDonnell.
Labour is very lucky Swinson also seemed to sabotage herself.
A few angry LDs on Twitter complaining that Swinson would "let in anybody". As I have responded the party needs to win votes from across the spectrum so bringing in new members not an issue. The Flight of Icarus nature of the Swinson targeting strategy was the problem. It was chaos.
Wasn't the fundamental issue there that Swinson genuinely believed she would become PM?
To be fair to her, they do have a massive long list of seats that they could take next time. The problem though in 2019 was Labour was too unpopular for many voters to vote Lib Dem. Will that be the case with Keir, time will tell
She could not have been that stupid surely.
It was an easily defused trick question. She should have said: I lead a national party which is contesting every seat in this GE. My obligation to my members, candidates and voters is to aim for the top. You are welcome to make your own judgment as to the probability of the various possible outcomes of the election.
Hardly a trick question though, given she stated it herself.
OK but that makes my point the stronger: she should have had an oven-ready answer.
Yes, indeed, you are absolutely right and she should have had a good answer to the questions about the coalition and austerity which Andrew Neil really made her squirm on.
It is bizarre that there is a tone of mockery from England about the idea of Scotland going it alone and creating a currency. That England has gone batshit and is about to hurl itself from the White Cliffs in the sure and certain faith that there is no cliff is just funny.
If the UK was facing a glorious properous future and Scotland was threatening to jump into the unknown then I can see the argument. However, it is the UK about to jump and Scotland trying to stay behind in sanity land.
The SNP will win the election next year promising a referendum vote. The UK will try and refuse. Scotland will hold it anyway. It won't be close. Westminster will accept the inevitable. Scotland leaves the UK and joins the EU. England mocks, abuses, insults. And then the newspaper reports of how Scotland is fairing better than rUK...
And down Edinburgh's Royal Mile, there's a triumphant, joyous celebration of civic, European, Scotland's victory against lumpen, bigoted Leaver England. Michel Barnier is guest of honour as he embraces Nicola Sturgeon for the typical gallic kiss on both cheeks. The bells of St Giles ring out - ring- -ring- they seem to get louder and more insistent with each peal - RING- - RING-
RP wakes up and realises it's his alarm.
Can I refer you to mockery? Of my comments: 1. The UK is throwing itself off the cliff 2. The SNP will win the 2021 Holyrood election with a mandate for a referendum 3. The referendum will be held
Those three are reality. Beyond that?
4. Leave will win 60:40 - a projection but based on hardening of the mood tracked by polling 5. Scotland will join the EU. Both sides are up for this, it allows Brussels to flick the Vs at London, Edinburgh gets financial backing 6. rUK will watch in wonder. I don't think no dealers comprehend just how rough this is going to be...
2 is not certain 3 is wrong. Boris has made clear he will block indyref2 whatever the circumstances for the rest of his premiership.
6. Even if Scotland was allowed indyref2 and voted to leave the UK because of No Deal Brexit that means tariffs on all Scottish exports to England and border posts at the Scottish border. 70% of Scottish exports go to England. I don't think Yes supporters comprehend how rough that would be...
2. Nothing is certain in politics. However, your hope of a Unionist grand coalition keeping the nats out of power is a long long shot at best 3. I couldn't give a toss what Shagger has said. He openly lies and contradicts himself anyway so just because he says "I won't put a border down the Irish Sea" doesn't mean he won't then sign a treaty putting a border down the Irish Sea. A Scottish government elected with a clear mandate for a referendum cannot be stopped holding one. Will the army come in and arrest them? Yes it will be unofficial. But when that shows a clear mandate for Independence the UK politically cannot just say no.
As for your comments about the size and heft of the UK, we are about to scale back said heft and cut ourselves off from everyone. As the supplicant in the trading relationships to come you will see just how painful this will be. You can't say "no foreign power can set our laws" and then defend the US congress imposing US food standards and access on the UK so that we have to accept their weevil infested "food". yet you will be on here defending it.
2 If Unionists unite at constituency level anything could happen next year. 3. As Madrid showed in Catalonia a national government can block a nationalist regional government from holding an independence referendum if it wishes. The Tories have a comfortable majority at Westminster and Tory MPs will vote down any indyref2.
I voted Remain and yes I would accept some regulatory alignment for a FTA provided we end free movement and replace it with a points system and do our own trade deals.
However while No Deal would be damaging for the UK economy under 50% of UK exports go to the EU. No Deal followed by Scotland leaving the UK would devastate the Scottish economy as 70% of Scottish exports go to England
Scotland is not Catalonia though. A breakaway region wanting to create a new entity is not the same as a legally recognised and separate nation wanting to dissolve an entity. Glad to see you are supporting the UK's supplication with regards to trade deals though. You telling us all how the US trade deal that gives us far worse terms than our current US trade deal and imposes US standards on the UK is the UK being sovereign and free will be genuinely funny.
Catalonia is as entitled to consider itself a separate nation as is Scotland. The same would apply to Wessex- Mercia- Northumbria et al.
I agree in principle but there is a major difference.
The UK and the world at large legally recognises Scotland as a country. The UK does not legally recognise Wessex etc to be one. Spain does not do the same for Catalonia.
A significant minority in Cornwall reject the label of being English.
Its not about what the minority think. Under British and international law Scotland is technically a country - so too are Wales and England.
That can not be said about Cornwall.
Why would the component parts of Great Britain - or the UK - have a different legal standing to the component parts of Germany and Italy? Are Bavaria and Tuscany seen as countries under International Law?
I think a lot of people are forgetting one of the major reasons we voted to Leave was the obstinance of the EU. Events are confirming those fears
You are right, I have absolutely no recollection on "obstinacy" ever being mentioned in 2016. I do remember being told that a free trade deal would be easy, that of course we would retain single market access, and that we hold all the cards. If only Leavers were as talented at formulating a plan or negotiating as they are at rewriting history.
Obstinacy was a huge factor even if it wasn’t described in those terms.
It was my view certainly - the EU had the potential to be great, but was dead set on a path that was increasingly divergent from one that suited us and refused to countenance reform
It had 27 other countries thoughts and feelings to consider apart from a truculent England.
The English have no experience of engaging with the world except on their own terms. You'd have thought they would have figured out by now that the British Empire was over and they can't force the world to dance to their tune, but I guess they're slow learners. Brexit might be a useful part of their education, it's just a shame that the Scots have to be dragged through it with them.
I love how that's *not* an epic piece of xenophobic bigotry because you said it about English people. Ain't the world grand?
Isn’t BBC4 one of the channels they want to get rid of?
We could discuss the National Trust’s apparent desire to move away from being a cultural institution, get rid of all its specialist curators and put much of its furniture and paintings into storage so that it can flog us “experiences”. Given that these houses and their contents were gifted in lieu of inheritance task on the basis that they would be available to the public, I do wonder how this proposal is consistent with the original bequests or its charitable purposes.
Yes, sadly, BBC4 is a channel they want to dump.
The National Trust sounds like it’s going to go through dramatic changes and none of them will improve it.
It’s a common theme afflicting lots of places: M&S, John Lewis, for instance.
Forget to treasure and value what is good about you and what people like. Turn your back on your core and try and make yourself relevant to some new trendy young customers. Don’t don’t really do that properly - it all becomes like embarrassing “Dad dancing”. Meanwhile you don’t attract enough new people and you lose your existing customers/members and your purpose. Eventually you disappear or are transformed out of all recognition.
But in the meanwhile those at the top manage to trouser a lot of money so they’re all right Jack.
Yes, it’s very much ‘trebles all round’. A revolving door of familiar faces cropping up in large businesses and organisation. All part of the same ‘chumocracy’ the sees the likes of Dido Harding promoted to a position she’s clearly not got the track record for. I believe you wrote a good piece about it here recently.
M&S has clearly lost its way in the clothing department although food wise it’s very good and you’re right. You cannot turn your back on your core and chase after other customers without there being some impact.
As for the BBC I just cannot see how it survives in its current form. Younger people don’t seem interested and it’s alienating its core users. YouTube and Netflix seem to be where it’s at these days. I watch more YouTube than any other channel these days.
The trick is to get new customers without losing existing ones. Much harder to do than write.
Certainly the head of the NT, when interviewed the other day, came across as incredibly arrogant and condescending. I doubt I will be renewing my membership and my eldest son (degree in History of Art) was incandescent at the proposal.
If you do not value what you have, how on earth can you make it attractive / interesting to new people. Too many of the new people in charge give the impression of hating what they’ve been charged with. Complacency is a problem but contempt for what has been entrusted to your temporary care is far more dangerous.
I think a lot of people are forgetting one of the major reasons we voted to Leave was the obstinance of the EU. Events are confirming those fears
You are right, I have absolutely no recollection on "obstinacy" ever being mentioned in 2016. I do remember being told that a free trade deal would be easy, that of course we would retain single market access, and that we hold all the cards. If only Leavers were as talented at formulating a plan or negotiating as they are at rewriting history.
Obstinacy was a huge factor even if it wasn’t described in those terms.
It was my view certainly - the EU had the potential to be great, but was dead set on a path that was increasingly divergent from one that suited us and refused to countenance reform
It had 27 other countries thoughts and feelings to consider apart from a truculent England.
The English have no experience of engaging with the world except on their own terms. You'd have thought they would have figured out by now that the British Empire was over and they can't force the world to dance to their tune, but I guess they're slow learners. Brexit might be a useful part of their education, it's just a shame that the Scots have to be dragged through it with them.
The best way to engage with the world is to put your own best feet forward on your own terms.
Engaging on other people's terms just gets them to walk all over you. The English are one of the world's most successful countries for the past thousand years and still today precisely because we don't do that.
You describe our reason for independence perfectly, even if you are barking about England for at least the last 50 years
It is bizarre that there is a tone of mockery from England about the idea of Scotland going it alone and creating a currency. That England has gone batshit and is about to hurl itself from the White Cliffs in the sure and certain faith that there is no cliff is just funny.
If the UK was facing a glorious properous future and Scotland was threatening to jump into the unknown then I can see the argument. However, it is the UK about to jump and Scotland trying to stay behind in sanity land.
The SNP will win the election next year promising a referendum vote. The UK will try and refuse. Scotland will hold it anyway. It won't be close. Westminster will accept the inevitable. Scotland leaves the UK and joins the EU. England mocks, abuses, insults. And then the newspaper reports of how Scotland is fairing better than rUK...
And down Edinburgh's Royal Mile, there's a triumphant, joyous celebration of civic, European, Scotland's victory against lumpen, bigoted Leaver England. Michel Barnier is guest of honour as he embraces Nicola Sturgeon for the typical gallic kiss on both cheeks. The bells of St Giles ring out - ring- -ring- they seem to get louder and more insistent with each peal - RING- - RING-
RP wakes up and realises it's his alarm.
Can I refer you to mockery? Of my comments: 1. The UK is throwing itself off the cliff 2. The SNP will win the 2021 Holyrood election with a mandate for a referendum 3. The referendum will be held
Those three are reality. Beyond that?
4. Leave will win 60:40 - a projection but based on hardening of the mood tracked by polling 5. Scotland will join the EU. Both sides are up for this, it allows Brussels to flick the Vs at London, Edinburgh gets financial backing 6. rUK will watch in wonder. I don't think no dealers comprehend just how rough this is going to be...
2 is not certain 3 is wrong. Boris has made clear he will block indyref2 whatever the circumstances for the rest of his premiership.
6. Even if Scotland was allowed indyref2 and voted to leave the UK because of No Deal Brexit that means tariffs on all Scottish exports to England and border posts at the Scottish border. 70% of Scottish exports go to England. I don't think Yes supporters comprehend how rough that would be...
2. Nothing is certain in politics. However, your hope of a Unionist grand coalition keeping the nats out of power is a long long shot at best 3. I couldn't give a toss what Shagger has said. He openly lies and contradicts himself anyway so just because he says "I won't put a border down the Irish Sea" doesn't mean he won't then sign a treaty putting a border down the Irish Sea. A Scottish government elected with a clear mandate for a referendum cannot be stopped holding one. Will the army come in and arrest them? Yes it will be unofficial. But when that shows a clear mandate for Independence the UK politically cannot just say no.
As for your comments about the size and heft of the UK, we are about to scale back said heft and cut ourselves off from everyone. As the supplicant in the trading relationships to come you will see just how painful this will be. You can't say "no foreign power can set our laws" and then defend the US congress imposing US food standards and access on the UK so that we have to accept their weevil infested "food". yet you will be on here defending it.
2 If Unionists unite at constituency level anything could happen next year. 3. As Madrid showed in Catalonia a national government can block a nationalist regional government from holding an independence referendum if it wishes. The Tories have a comfortable majority at Westminster and Tory MPs will vote down any indyref2.
I voted Remain and yes I would accept some regulatory alignment for a FTA provided we end free movement and replace it with a points system and do our own trade deals.
However while No Deal would be damaging for the UK economy under 50% of UK exports go to the EU. No Deal followed by Scotland leaving the UK would devastate the Scottish economy as 70% of Scottish exports go to England
Scotland is not Catalonia though. A breakaway region wanting to create a new entity is not the same as a legally recognised and separate nation wanting to dissolve an entity. Glad to see you are supporting the UK's supplication with regards to trade deals though. You telling us all how the US trade deal that gives us far worse terms than our current US trade deal and imposes US standards on the UK is the UK being sovereign and free will be genuinely funny.
Catalonia is as entitled to consider itself a separate nation as is Scotland. The same would apply to Wessex- Mercia- Northumbria et al.
I do believe Hyfud and Justin are cheeks of the same arse, both absolutely barking as well
It is bizarre that there is a tone of mockery from England about the idea of Scotland going it alone and creating a currency. That England has gone batshit and is about to hurl itself from the White Cliffs in the sure and certain faith that there is no cliff is just funny.
If the UK was facing a glorious properous future and Scotland was threatening to jump into the unknown then I can see the argument. However, it is the UK about to jump and Scotland trying to stay behind in sanity land.
The SNP will win the election next year promising a referendum vote. The UK will try and refuse. Scotland will hold it anyway. It won't be close. Westminster will accept the inevitable. Scotland leaves the UK and joins the EU. England mocks, abuses, insults. And then the newspaper reports of how Scotland is fairing better than rUK...
And down Edinburgh's Royal Mile, there's a triumphant, joyous celebration of civic, European, Scotland's victory against lumpen, bigoted Leaver England. Michel Barnier is guest of honour as he embraces Nicola Sturgeon for the typical gallic kiss on both cheeks. The bells of St Giles ring out - ring- -ring- they seem to get louder and more insistent with each peal - RING- - RING-
RP wakes up and realises it's his alarm.
Can I refer you to mockery? Of my comments: 1. The UK is throwing itself off the cliff 2. The SNP will win the 2021 Holyrood election with a mandate for a referendum 3. The referendum will be held
Those three are reality. Beyond that?
4. Leave will win 60:40 - a projection but based on hardening of the mood tracked by polling 5. Scotland will join the EU. Both sides are up for this, it allows Brussels to flick the Vs at London, Edinburgh gets financial backing 6. rUK will watch in wonder. I don't think no dealers comprehend just how rough this is going to be...
2 is not certain 3 is wrong. Boris has made clear he will block indyref2 whatever the circumstances for the rest of his premiership.
6. Even if Scotland was allowed indyref2 and voted to leave the UK because of No Deal Brexit that means tariffs on all Scottish exports to England and border posts at the Scottish border. 70% of Scottish exports go to England. I don't think Yes supporters comprehend how rough that would be...
2. Nothing is certain in politics. However, your hope of a Unionist grand coalition keeping the nats out of power is a long long shot at best 3. I couldn't give a toss what Shagger has said. He openly lies and contradicts himself anyway so just because he says "I won't put a border down the Irish Sea" doesn't mean he won't then sign a treaty putting a border down the Irish Sea. A Scottish government elected with a clear mandate for a referendum cannot be stopped holding one. Will the army come in and arrest them? Yes it will be unofficial. But when that shows a clear mandate for Independence the UK politically cannot just say no.
As for your comments about the size and heft of the UK, we are about to scale back said heft and cut ourselves off from everyone. As the supplicant in the trading relationships to come you will see just how painful this will be. You can't say "no foreign power can set our laws" and then defend the US congress imposing US food standards and access on the UK so that we have to accept their weevil infested "food". yet you will be on here defending it.
2 If Unionists unite at constituency level anything could happen next year. 3. As Madrid showed in Catalonia a national government can block a nationalist regional government from holding an independence referendum if it wishes. The Tories have a comfortable majority at Westminster and Tory MPs will vote down any indyref2.
I voted Remain and yes I would accept some regulatory alignment for a FTA provided we end free movement and replace it with a points system and do our own trade deals.
However while No Deal would be damaging for the UK economy under 50% of UK exports go to the EU. No Deal followed by Scotland leaving the UK would devastate the Scottish economy as 70% of Scottish exports go to England
Scotland is not Catalonia though. A breakaway region wanting to create a new entity is not the same as a legally recognised and separate nation wanting to dissolve an entity. Glad to see you are supporting the UK's supplication with regards to trade deals though. You telling us all how the US trade deal that gives us far worse terms than our current US trade deal and imposes US standards on the UK is the UK being sovereign and free will be genuinely funny.
Catalonia is as entitled to consider itself a separate nation as is Scotland. The same would apply to Wessex- Mercia- Northumbria et al.
I do believe Hyfud and Justin are cheeks of the same arse, both absolutely barking as well
Your cerebral interventions are always so welcome.
A bad Brexit, a Britain humiliating, fisherman betraying brexit unleashes hell on the tories. Hell. It gives the proliferating refusenik bands in our country something to bite on. Something to unite behind. A real grievance. They already have a base at four per cent of the vote for the BP.
Economic consequences? Conveniently. the economy is already fecked.
I suspect the more savvy, more cynical tories already know this. The conservatives skeptics on the alt right certainly do.
I think Boris could get away with a FTA that maintains some regulatory alignment as long as it regains control of our fishing waters, ends free movement and allows our own trade deals.
Any further concessions and yes there would be a mass exodus of Leavers back from the Tories to the Brexit Party again
So the EU grants a major concession on fishing, worth <1% of GDP and the UK accepts a minor concession on LPF and trade regulation? Sound like a big win for the EU.
Comments
The National Trust sounds like it’s going to go through dramatic changes and none of them will improve it.
Mind you it has been on this trajectory for a while. It risks alienating its core membership while not attracting those it’s hoping to attract with its changes. The BBC is in a similar position. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/aug/12/is-outing-people-remit-of-national-trust
Corbyn was not their only opponent. They also had to contend with "next Prime Minister Jo Swinson" remember though somehow they managed to do that. 🤣😂🤣
The long-term impact on the lives of real people is precisely what this government is dealing with and doing so better than any alternative.
Alexa - show me a picture of hubris.
Ha ha ha, that’s brilliant. Never seen it before. Absolutely hoist by her own petard and a victim of her own vanity.
Forget to treasure and value what is good about you and what people like. Turn your back on your core and try and make yourself relevant to some new trendy young customers. Don’t don’t really do that properly - it all becomes like embarrassing “Dad dancing”. Meanwhile you don’t attract enough new people and you lose your existing customers/members and your purpose. Eventually you disappear or are transformed out of all recognition.
But in the meanwhile those at the top manage to trouser a lot of money so they’re all right Jack.
In my timeline 1952 was more than two-thirds of a century ago, it was three decades before I was born . . . and 68 years later the UK is still one of the best and most successful countries in the entire world.
So yes we may have ups and downs, but overall the story of England is a successful one and still is to this day.
The UK and the world at large legally recognises Scotland as a country.
The UK does not legally recognise Wessex etc to be one.
Spain does not do the same for Catalonia.
It was farcical.
That can not be said about Cornwall.
M&S has clearly lost its way in the clothing department although food wise it’s very good and you’re right. You cannot turn your back on your core and chase after other customers without there being some impact.
As for the BBC I just cannot see how it survives in its current form. Younger people don’t seem interested and it’s alienating its core users. YouTube and Netflix seem to be where it’s at these days. I watch more YouTube than any other channel these days.
NEW THREAD
Certainly the head of the NT, when interviewed the other day, came across as incredibly arrogant and condescending. I doubt I will be renewing my membership and my eldest son (degree in History of Art) was incandescent at the proposal.
If you do not value what you have, how on earth can you make it attractive / interesting to new people. Too many of the new people in charge give the impression of hating what they’ve been charged with. Complacency is a problem but contempt for what has been entrusted to your temporary care is far more dangerous.