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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Theresa May tops Boris for the first time in CONHome survey

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  • Quincel said:

    SeanT said:

    It's also worth noting that many of our children have to eat halal meat, whether they want to or not, to accommodate Muslims, likewise diners at takeways etc.

    But Muslims can refuse to serve us alcohol or pork even when we have patiently queued to do so, and when we have no desire to offend.

    Grotesque.

    When are people forced to eat halal meat? If you don't want it you can buy from another takeaway.
    Much supermarket lamb is halal, but not labelled as such. However I believe in the UK at least it is slaughtered in such a way that the animal is stunned in a non-lethal way (electrically I think) before its throat is cut. Islam apparently accepts this as long as the animal is not dead before it is bled out.


  • TykejohnnoTykejohnno Posts: 7,362
    SeanT said:



    "Muslim staff working for Marks & Spencer have been given permission to refuse to serve customers buying alcohol or pork products

    One customer, who declined to be named, said: “I had one bottle of champagne, and the lady, who was wearing a headscarf, was very apologetic but said she could not serve me. She told me to wait until another member of staff was available."

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10532782/Muslim-staff-at-Marks-and-Spencer-can-refuse-to-sell-alcohol-and-pork.html

    Crazy. We are turning into a crazy country.

    We are,just this morning we have our EU friendly media (BBC,sky) giving the Bulgarian president a good slant on attacking our own PM.

    The Bulgarian president going mad because Cameron tightening up our benefits for new EU countries,why doesn't our media look into if these new eastern European countries if they are doing a softly approach of some sort of ethnic cleansing of the roma people to britain




  • When in 2012 Anna Soubray was described by a Tory backbencher as a train wreck waiting to happen, Andrew Mitchell came to her defence, see

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2201131/Anna-Soubry-accused-train-wreck-waiting-happen-branding-assisted-suicide-law-ridiculous.html

    Andrew Mitchell was sacked as a minster for allegedly using the word pleb. However, he is a man and educated at a public school. Anna Soubray is a woman educated at a comprehensive and Cameron thinks he needs more of these.
  • MrJonesMrJones Posts: 3,523
    Quincel said:

    If a small number of schools with a large number of Christian pupils refused to serve Muslims halal meat would that be a restriction? Forcing others to adopt your customs and values is by definition a restriction on freedom.

    Firstly, Islam prohibits followers from eating non-halal meat. Christianity does not prevent followers from eating kosher, halal or any other meat. Secondly, how is being forced to eat halal meat any worse than there being very limited options on the menu each day?
    How the animals are killed.
  • QuincelQuincel Posts: 4,042
    SeanT said:

    Quincel said:

    Mr. Quincel, I may be wrong but I think some schools serve only halal meat.

    While I could well believe that a small number of schools with a large number of Muslim pupils only serve halal meat, I don't buy that this is a meaningful restriction on our freedom. If nothing else, there is likely always another school in the area which doesn't and since the right-wing in Britain has often said that people should just move to new areas to find work etc I don't buy that they can credibly draw the line at moving schools.
    Fool. Entire London boroughs serve halal-only. What are the parents meant to do? Move to a different borough?
    Firstly, there is a difference between foolishness and ignorance. The latter does not imply the former by any stretch,

    Secondly, while I'd agree with you all too often the answer to that question seems to be 'Yes' when it comes to poverty. What are key workers like nurses meant to do as rents increase in London and council housing isn't built fast enough? Frankly, I'm not convinced the situation we're discussing is nearly as harmful as that, yet where is your sympathy and concern there?
  • QuincelQuincel Posts: 4,042
    MrJones said:

    Quincel said:

    If a small number of schools with a large number of Christian pupils refused to serve Muslims halal meat would that be a restriction? Forcing others to adopt your customs and values is by definition a restriction on freedom.

    Firstly, Islam prohibits followers from eating non-halal meat. Christianity does not prevent followers from eating kosher, halal or any other meat. Secondly, how is being forced to eat halal meat any worse than there being very limited options on the menu each day?
    How the animals are killed.
    Halal slaughter techniques (especially in the modern era) are both safe and ethical. There is no reason for that to be a concern for anyone.
  • malcolmg said:

    We should all be thanking Soubry for giving us something to talk about over the Christmas break. :-)

    You must be planning a very boring break if that is what you will talk about
    Well, for any couples bored over Christmas, it gives you something to try...

  • SMukeshSMukesh Posts: 1,759
    As usual PB`ers over-reacting.

    Halal meat is only meat in which the animal is killed instantly resulting in a painless death.Who can be against that?
  • MrJonesMrJones Posts: 3,523
    edited December 2013
    Quincel said:

    MrJones said:

    Quincel said:

    If a small number of schools with a large number of Christian pupils refused to serve Muslims halal meat would that be a restriction? Forcing others to adopt your customs and values is by definition a restriction on freedom.

    Firstly, Islam prohibits followers from eating non-halal meat. Christianity does not prevent followers from eating kosher, halal or any other meat. Secondly, how is being forced to eat halal meat any worse than there being very limited options on the menu each day?
    How the animals are killed.
    Halal slaughter techniques (especially in the modern era) are both safe and ethical. There is no reason for that to be a concern for anyone.
    Says you.

    edit: and if you knew that was what the argument was about why ask what it was about?
  • I'm not overly fussed about eating halal, aside from the animal welfare aspect of it. You'd be surprised just how much meat sold in this country is halal. Not be ng told it is halal, is a little sneaky, however.
  • JohnOJohnO Posts: 4,291
    edited December 2013
    SeanT said:

    JohnO said:

    antifrank said:

    I like the Anna Soubry comment on Nigel Farage. His po-faced response, however, shows that he doesn't like it up him.

    Me too. And hasn't pb become a bunch of prudes? Oh Maude. Please, another sherry and the smelling salts...oooh, I feel quite dizzy.

    Prediction: this'll be a one day wonder, to be overtaken completely by the hols (when we'll all be saying things we will probably regret)....no hits for Anna, she'll be fine as a Minister and in Broxtowe.
    Nah, she's f*cked. She will now never be promoted, and she will lose her seat in 2015.
    The next reshuffle will be about a year from now....and this will long be forgotten by then. Yes, she could lose her ultra marginal seat in 2015 and if, as you are predicting, that Miliband will be the next PM, then she definitely will.

    I'm rather more confident about the national outcome, in which case she stands a more than reasonable chance of holding on. Maybe Broxtowe constituents like having a 'character' as their MP. I'm sure Nick Palmer has many qualities but...
  • TykejohnnoTykejohnno Posts: 7,362
    SMukesh said:

    As usual PB`ers over-reacting.

    Halal meat is only meat in which the animal is killed instantly resulting in a painless death.Who can be against that?

    Bollocks,it's cruel.
  • MrJonesMrJones Posts: 3,523
    Tories are letting their dislike of Farage blind them.
  • SMukesh said:

    As usual PB`ers over-reacting.

    Halal meat is only meat in which the animal is killed instantly resulting in a painless death

    Unlikely that it is killed instantly, and in fact if it did so it would violate the basic principle, which is that the heart is still beating when the throat is cut so that it is completely bled out. Which in hot countries is something of a food hygiene necessity.

  • I'm not overly fussed about eating halal, aside from the animal welfare aspect of it. You'd be surprised just how much meat sold in this country is halal. Not be ng told it is halal, is a little sneaky, however.

    What's the point of not telling customers the meat is halal? Sounds a bit odd - unless halal meat is cheaper for some reason.
  • QuincelQuincel Posts: 4,042

    I'm not overly fussed about eating halal, aside from the animal welfare aspect of it. You'd be surprised just how much meat sold in this country is halal. Not be ng told it is halal, is a little sneaky, however.

    I'll agree with that. There should be no reason for hiding it, and all it does is encourage suspicion as to the meat when there needn't be.
    MrJones said:

    Quincel said:

    MrJones said:

    Quincel said:

    If a small number of schools with a large number of Christian pupils refused to serve Muslims halal meat would that be a restriction? Forcing others to adopt your customs and values is by definition a restriction on freedom.

    Firstly, Islam prohibits followers from eating non-halal meat. Christianity does not prevent followers from eating kosher, halal or any other meat. Secondly, how is being forced to eat halal meat any worse than there being very limited options on the menu each day?
    How the animals are killed.
    Halal slaughter techniques (especially in the modern era) are both safe and ethical. There is no reason for that to be a concern for anyone.
    Says you.

    edit: and if you knew that was what the argument was about why ask what it was about?
    What makes you think I knew that was your concern? Also, yes says me. Also says various regulators and so on just like any other meat. If you have a problem with the system in general I suggest you go veggie.
  • TykejohnnoTykejohnno Posts: 7,362
    JohnO said:

    SeanT said:

    JohnO said:

    antifrank said:

    I like the Anna Soubry comment on Nigel Farage. His po-faced response,
    however, shows that he doesn't like it up him.

    Me too. And hasn't pb become a bunch of prudes? Oh Maude. Please, another sherry and the smelling salts...oooh, I feel quite dizzy.

    Prediction: this'll be a one day wonder, to be overtaken completely by the hols (when we'll all be saying things we will probably regret)....no hits for Anna, she'll be fine as a Minister and in Broxtowe.
    Nah, she's f*cked. She will now never be promoted, and she will lose her seat in 2015.
    The next reshuffle will be about a year from now....and this will long be forgotten by then. Yes, she could lose her ultra marginal seat in 2015 and if, as you are predicting, that Miliband will be the next PM, then she definitely will.

    I'm rather more confident about the national outcome, in which case she stands a more than reasonable chance of holding on. Maybe Broxtowe constituents like having a 'character' as their MP. I'm sure Nick Palmer has many qualities but.....
    It may be forgotten by then but she can't stop putting her foot in it.
  • Sean_F said:

    taffys said:

    Farage really doesn't have to do anything does he? his opponents just keep handing him victory after victory.

    Today we have Soubry, and we also learn that M&S are allowing their muslim staff to refuse to sell alcohol and pork to customers and to ask them to use another till. Politely of course (that's very nice of them).

    Is there a proper (non-dodgy-British-newspaper) source for this? As described the policy sounds really bad for Muslim staff too. Customers will avoid the tills of Muslim-looking people, which is going to be weird and uncomfortable, and potentially prevent stores from hiring them if they think they can get away with it,
    I have to say I'm a bit suspicious of the story. I could see that M & S might deploy Muslim staff in roles where they don't have to sell alcohol, but I find it hard to believe any supermarket would actually allow staff to refuse to serve a customer.

    Right, it seems a bit unlikely doesn't it, at least as a considered policy, although you can imagine some over-promoted manager in a single store coming up with it. It's probably best to wait until some unlucky person at M&S has been dragged back to the office and worked out what's going on and given a proper explanation without their words being filtered through a British newspaper.
  • MrJonesMrJones Posts: 3,523
    Quincel said:

    I'm not overly fussed about eating halal, aside from the animal welfare aspect of it. You'd be surprised just how much meat sold in this country is halal. Not be ng told it is halal, is a little sneaky, however.

    I'll agree with that. There should be no reason for hiding it, and all it does is encourage suspicion as to the meat when there needn't be.
    MrJones said:

    Quincel said:

    MrJones said:

    Quincel said:

    If a small number of schools with a large number of Christian pupils refused to serve Muslims halal meat would that be a restriction? Forcing others to adopt your customs and values is by definition a restriction on freedom.

    Firstly, Islam prohibits followers from eating non-halal meat. Christianity does not prevent followers from eating kosher, halal or any other meat. Secondly, how is being forced to eat halal meat any worse than there being very limited options on the menu each day?
    How the animals are killed.
    Halal slaughter techniques (especially in the modern era) are both safe and ethical. There is no reason for that to be a concern for anyone.
    Says you.

    edit: and if you knew that was what the argument was about why ask what it was about?
    What makes you think I knew that was your concern? Also, yes says me. Also says various regulators and so on just like any other meat. If you have a problem with the system in general I suggest you go veggie.
    "If you have a problem with the system in general I suggest you go veggie."

    Perfect example.
  • JohnLilburneJohnLilburne Posts: 6,312
    edited December 2013

    I'm not overly fussed about eating halal, aside from the animal welfare aspect of it. You'd be surprised just how much meat sold in this country is halal. Not be ng told it is halal, is a little sneaky, however.

    What's the point of not telling customers the meat is halal? Sounds a bit odd - unless halal meat is cheaper for some reason.
    I think it is the other way round. Certain cuts of lamb are not very popular in the supermarket but are popular in certain ethnic communities - so you can maximise the value of a carcase by ensuring it is halal.

  • SMukesh said:

    As usual PB`ers over-reacting.

    Halal meat is only meat in which the animal is killed instantly resulting in a painless death.Who can be against that?

    The cutting of the major artery does not convey instant death: I have known a man who has had his major [left-neck] artery slashed but had his life saved by a policeman (who understood the pressure points). I hope that my initial impression [that you work in England's Health Service] is wrong...!



  • QuincelQuincel Posts: 4,042
    SeanT said:

    SMukesh said:

    As usual PB`ers over-reacting.

    Halal meat is only meat in which the animal is killed instantly resulting in a painless death.Who can be against that?

    Again, it's the double standards that enrages people. The UK does everything possible to accommodate Muslim "differentness", but there is no reciprocality.
    If you go to court cases about Christian workers wanting adjustments and so on you'll find that there is reciprocity. But since so many of the basic systems (Christian holidays being public holidays and so on) are based on Christianity, much less adjustments are needed on a case-by-case tweaking.
  • MrJonesMrJones Posts: 3,523

    I'm not overly fussed about eating halal, aside from the animal welfare aspect of it. You'd be surprised just how much meat sold in this country is halal. Not be ng told it is halal, is a little sneaky, however.

    What's the point of not telling customers the meat is halal? Sounds a bit odd - unless halal meat is cheaper for some reason.
    Because if they told people it was halal then those people who objected wouldn't buy it.
  • QuincelQuincel Posts: 4,042
    MrJones said:

    Quincel said:

    I'm not overly fussed about eating halal, aside from the animal welfare aspect of it. You'd be surprised just how much meat sold in this country is halal. Not be ng told it is halal, is a little sneaky, however.

    I'll agree with that. There should be no reason for hiding it, and all it does is encourage suspicion as to the meat when there needn't be.
    MrJones said:

    Quincel said:

    MrJones said:

    Quincel said:

    If a small number of schools with a large number of Christian pupils refused to serve Muslims halal meat would that be a restriction? Forcing others to adopt your customs and values is by definition a restriction on freedom.

    Firstly, Islam prohibits followers from eating non-halal meat. Christianity does not prevent followers from eating kosher, halal or any other meat. Secondly, how is being forced to eat halal meat any worse than there being very limited options on the menu each day?
    How the animals are killed.
    Halal slaughter techniques (especially in the modern era) are both safe and ethical. There is no reason for that to be a concern for anyone.
    Says you.

    edit: and if you knew that was what the argument was about why ask what it was about?
    What makes you think I knew that was your concern? Also, yes says me. Also says various regulators and so on just like any other meat. If you have a problem with the system in general I suggest you go veggie.
    "If you have a problem with the system in general I suggest you go veggie."

    Perfect example.
    Perfect example of?
  • MrJonesMrJones Posts: 3,523
    Quincel said:

    MrJones said:

    Quincel said:

    I'm not overly fussed about eating halal, aside from the animal welfare aspect of it. You'd be surprised just how much meat sold in this country is halal. Not be ng told it is halal, is a little sneaky, however.

    I'll agree with that. There should be no reason for hiding it, and all it does is encourage suspicion as to the meat when there needn't be.
    MrJones said:

    Quincel said:

    MrJones said:

    Quincel said:

    If a small number of schools with a large number of Christian pupils refused to serve Muslims halal meat would that be a restriction? Forcing others to adopt your customs and values is by definition a restriction on freedom.

    Firstly, Islam prohibits followers from eating non-halal meat. Christianity does not prevent followers from eating kosher, halal or any other meat. Secondly, how is being forced to eat halal meat any worse than there being very limited options on the menu each day?
    How the animals are killed.
    Halal slaughter techniques (especially in the modern era) are both safe and ethical. There is no reason for that to be a concern for anyone.
    Says you.

    edit: and if you knew that was what the argument was about why ask what it was about?
    What makes you think I knew that was your concern? Also, yes says me. Also says various regulators and so on just like any other meat. If you have a problem with the system in general I suggest you go veggie.
    "If you have a problem with the system in general I suggest you go veggie."

    Perfect example.
    Perfect example of?
    Of you not getting it.
  • QuincelQuincel Posts: 4,042
    MrJones said:

    Quincel said:

    MrJones said:

    Quincel said:

    I'm not overly fussed about eating halal, aside from the animal welfare aspect of it. You'd be surprised just how much meat sold in this country is halal. Not be ng told it is halal, is a little sneaky, however.

    I'll agree with that. There should be no reason for hiding it, and all it does is encourage suspicion as to the meat when there needn't be.
    MrJones said:

    Quincel said:

    MrJones said:

    Quincel said:

    If a small number of schools with a large number of Christian pupils refused to serve Muslims halal meat would that be a restriction? Forcing others to adopt your customs and values is by definition a restriction on freedom.

    Firstly, Islam prohibits followers from eating non-halal meat. Christianity does not prevent followers from eating kosher, halal or any other meat. Secondly, how is being forced to eat halal meat any worse than there being very limited options on the menu each day?
    How the animals are killed.
    Halal slaughter techniques (especially in the modern era) are both safe and ethical. There is no reason for that to be a concern for anyone.
    Says you.

    edit: and if you knew that was what the argument was about why ask what it was about?
    What makes you think I knew that was your concern? Also, yes says me. Also says various regulators and so on just like any other meat. If you have a problem with the system in general I suggest you go veggie.
    "If you have a problem with the system in general I suggest you go veggie."

    Perfect example.
    Perfect example of?
    Of you not getting it.
    Well with compelling arguments like that, I'm sure I'll get it soon. Until then, I'm off for lunch. Ironically enough, it's lamb today.
  • RightChuckRightChuck Posts: 110
    edited December 2013
    MrJones said:

    I'm not overly fussed about eating halal, aside from the animal welfare aspect of it. You'd be surprised just how much meat sold in this country is halal. Not be ng told it is halal, is a little sneaky, however.

    What's the point of not telling customers the meat is halal? Sounds a bit odd - unless halal meat is cheaper for some reason.
    Because if they told people it was halal then those people who objected wouldn't buy it.
    Maybe, but you'd have thought the point of stocking it was to sell it to people who did, for superstitious reasons, wish to know that that's what it was.
  • Quincel said:

    If you go to court cases about Christian workers wanting adjustments and so on you'll find that there is reciprocity. But since so many of the basic systems (Christian holidays being public holidays and so on) are based on Christianity, much less adjustments are needed on a case-by-case tweaking.

    Although a lot of those were pre-Christian holidays that Christianity managed to adapt itself to...
  • FluffyThoughtsFluffyThoughts Posts: 2,420
    edited December 2013
    Quincel said:

    If you go to court cases about Christian workers wanting adjustments and so on you'll find that there is reciprocity. But since so many of the basic systems (Christian holidays being public holidays and so on) are based on Christianity, much less adjustments are needed on a case-by-case tweaking.

    Ok: Christmas, two days at Easter and Whitsun (dubious). Against [in England] Boxing-Day* New-Year's day, May-day and August....

    :feckwit:

    * Pub beckons! Heck...!
  • SMukeshSMukesh Posts: 1,759

    SMukesh said:

    As usual PB`ers over-reacting.

    Halal meat is only meat in which the animal is killed instantly resulting in a painless death.Who can be against that?

    The cutting of the major artery does not convey instant death: I have known a man who has had his major [left-neck] artery slashed but had his life saved by a policeman (who understood the pressure points). I hope that my initial impression [that you work in England's Health Service] is wrong...!



    I think in Halal, the aim is to cut the windpipe,carotid artery and jugular vein in one swift motion probably resulting in instant unconsciousness and a rather quick death.
  • I'm not overly fussed about eating halal, aside from the animal welfare aspect of it. You'd be surprised just how much meat sold in this country is halal. Not be ng told it is halal, is a little sneaky, however.

    What's the point of not telling customers the meat is halal? Sounds a bit odd - unless halal meat is cheaper for some reason.
    It's the other way round - by labelling only some meat as halal the supermarkets can create an artificial shortage of it and charge Muslims a premium for buying it.

  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,411

    Quincel said:

    If you go to court cases about Christian workers wanting adjustments and so on you'll find that there is reciprocity. But since so many of the basic systems (Christian holidays being public holidays and so on) are based on Christianity, much less adjustments are needed on a case-by-case tweaking.

    Although a lot of those were pre-Christian holidays that Christianity managed to adapt itself to...
    Happy Saturnalia MrTokyo !
  • Sean_F said:

    taffys said:

    Farage really doesn't have to do anything does he? his opponents just keep handing him victory after victory.

    Today we have Soubry, and we also learn that M&S are allowing their muslim staff to refuse to sell alcohol and pork to customers and to ask them to use another till. Politely of course (that's very nice of them).

    Is there a proper (non-dodgy-British-newspaper) source for this? As described the policy sounds really bad for Muslim staff too. Customers will avoid the tills of Muslim-looking people, which is going to be weird and uncomfortable, and potentially prevent stores from hiring them if they think they can get away with it,
    I have to say I'm a bit suspicious of the story. I could see that M & S might deploy Muslim staff in roles where they don't have to sell alcohol, but I find it hard to believe any supermarket would actually allow staff to refuse to serve a customer.

    Right, it seems a bit unlikely doesn't it, at least as a considered policy, although you can imagine some over-promoted manager in a single store coming up with it. It's probably best to wait until some unlucky person at M&S has been dragged back to the office and worked out what's going on and given a proper explanation without their words being filtered through a British newspaper.
    It does beggar belief. The articles on the paper websites do seem to be saying that It's official M&S policy, though.
  • MrJonesMrJones Posts: 3,523
    edited December 2013

    MrJones said:

    I'm not overly fussed about eating halal, aside from the animal welfare aspect of it. You'd be surprised just how much meat sold in this country is halal. Not be ng told it is halal, is a little sneaky, however.

    What's the point of not telling customers the meat is halal? Sounds a bit odd - unless halal meat is cheaper for some reason.
    Because if they told people it was halal then those people who objected wouldn't buy it.
    Maybe, but you'd have thought the point of stocking it was to sell it to people who did, for superstitious reasons, wish to know that that's what it was.
    Think of it from the wholesalers point of view. They have two groups of people wanting meat done a different way. They could have the expense of doing it the two ways or do it one way and just not tell one of the groups.

    edit: i'm talking about the schools, hospitals, councils btw where it's not being bought individually labelled.
  • MrJones said:

    MrJones said:

    I'm not overly fussed about eating halal, aside from the animal welfare aspect of it. You'd be surprised just how much meat sold in this country is halal. Not be ng told it is halal, is a little sneaky, however.

    What's the point of not telling customers the meat is halal? Sounds a bit odd - unless halal meat is cheaper for some reason.
    Because if they told people it was halal then those people who objected wouldn't buy it.
    Maybe, but you'd have thought the point of stocking it was to sell it to people who did, for superstitious reasons, wish to know that that's what it was.
    Think of it from the wholesalers point of view. They have two groups of people wanting meat done a different way. They could have the expense of doing it the two ways or do it one way and just not tell one of the groups.
    Indeed, but for that to work there has to be a widespread assumption among the superstitious that the meat is halal while the opposite belief is held by those of a different view. How do you arrange that?
  • MrJonesMrJones Posts: 3,523

    MrJones said:

    MrJones said:

    I'm not overly fussed about eating halal, aside from the animal welfare aspect of it. You'd be surprised just how much meat sold in this country is halal. Not be ng told it is halal, is a little sneaky, however.

    What's the point of not telling customers the meat is halal? Sounds a bit odd - unless halal meat is cheaper for some reason.
    Because if they told people it was halal then those people who objected wouldn't buy it.
    Maybe, but you'd have thought the point of stocking it was to sell it to people who did, for superstitious reasons, wish to know that that's what it was.
    Think of it from the wholesalers point of view. They have two groups of people wanting meat done a different way. They could have the expense of doing it the two ways or do it one way and just not tell one of the groups.
    Indeed, but for that to work there has to be a widespread assumption among the superstitious that the meat is halal while the opposite belief is held by those of a different view. How do you arrange that?
    You tell one group it's halal and don't tell the other group.
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118
    If a Ukip politician had said that a Tory female MP like having fingers put inside her, and that Christians shouldn't have to serve Muslims dressed in burqas the outrage would be tenfold what it is now.

    @antifrank comment another example of how double standards are allowed... Imagine a man saying similar about a woman...

    The Farage Soubry thing will probably help ukip, so no big deal

    The Muslim Marks and Spencer's thing is all too predictable, and the establishment and excuse makers only have themselves to blame
  • MrJones said:

    MrJones said:

    MrJones said:

    I'm not overly fussed about eating halal, aside from the animal welfare aspect of it. You'd be surprised just how much meat sold in this country is halal. Not be ng told it is halal, is a little sneaky, however.

    What's the point of not telling customers the meat is halal? Sounds a bit odd - unless halal meat is cheaper for some reason.
    Because if they told people it was halal then those people who objected wouldn't buy it.
    Maybe, but you'd have thought the point of stocking it was to sell it to people who did, for superstitious reasons, wish to know that that's what it was.
    Think of it from the wholesalers point of view. They have two groups of people wanting meat done a different way. They could have the expense of doing it the two ways or do it one way and just not tell one of the groups.
    Indeed, but for that to work there has to be a widespread assumption among the superstitious that the meat is halal while the opposite belief is held by those of a different view. How do you arrange that?
    You tell one group it's halal and don't tell the other group.
    How? Secret adverts that only enter muslim minds? Whispering shop staff loitering near meat counters on the lookout for scarves and beards? It's no big deal, I just find it puzzling.
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118
    SeanT said:

    Woman sacked for accidentally serving non halal meat, to Muslim kids, at multi-faith, halal only school:

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2281855/Dinner-lady-sacked-serving-Muslim-children-non-Halal-meat-multi-faith-school.html

    Quite frankly she was lucky to get away with a sacking. 40 lashes is surely more appropriate in modern Britain.

    Yet people on this very site will go to all kinds of lengths to pretend that a segregated society doesn't exist... and anyone who says it is gets criticised for mentioning it
  • MrJonesMrJones Posts: 3,523

    MrJones said:

    MrJones said:

    MrJones said:

    I'm not overly fussed about eating halal, aside from the animal welfare aspect of it. You'd be surprised just how much meat sold in this country is halal. Not be ng told it is halal, is a little sneaky, however.

    What's the point of not telling customers the meat is halal? Sounds a bit odd - unless halal meat is cheaper for some reason.
    Because if they told people it was halal then those people who objected wouldn't buy it.
    Maybe, but you'd have thought the point of stocking it was to sell it to people who did, for superstitious reasons, wish to know that that's what it was.
    Think of it from the wholesalers point of view. They have two groups of people wanting meat done a different way. They could have the expense of doing it the two ways or do it one way and just not tell one of the groups.
    Indeed, but for that to work there has to be a widespread assumption among the superstitious that the meat is halal while the opposite belief is held by those of a different view. How do you arrange that?
    You tell one group it's halal and don't tell the other group.
    How? Secret adverts that only enter muslim minds? Whispering shop staff loitering near meat counters on the lookout for scarves and beards? It's no big deal, I just find it puzzling.
    Schools. No adverts. No shop counters.
  • Mick_PorkMick_Pork Posts: 6,530
    edited December 2013
    SMukesh said:

    As usual PB`ers over-reacting.

    Halal meat is only meat in which the animal is killed instantly resulting in a painless death.Who can be against that?

    Well obviously there are some who just foam at the mouth at the mere mention of muslims, particularly on PB, but after the horsemeat debacle any supermarket should be aware of just how hair trigger the tabloids can be on food scare stories and act accordingly.

    As for Soubry, when you see the footage there's a bit of a context but not that much.
    She made a fool out or herself and though the christmas sherry might have been flowing in the BBC green room she is supposed to be a defence minister and not some desperately 'zany' twit like Fluffycolinhunt.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J0nOUeNQbM

  • A wee 'the way the world is going' metaphor for Christmas.

    'Johnston Press and the Scotsman Publications are to quit their shared home at Barclay House in Edinburgh's Holyrood Road next year, to be replaced as tenants by the world-leading Scottish video games maker Rockstar North.
    The Sunday Herald understands that Rockstar, whose latest game Grand Theft Auto V broke records with sales of $800 million (£500m) within 24 hours of its September release, will start moving into the landmark building in 2014, following alterations.
    It is understood that the plc and the Scotsman group, whose titles include The Scotsman, Scotland on Sunday and the Evening News, have yet to find new headquarters in the capital.'

    http://tinyurl.com/p7h9f92
  • MrJones said:

    MrJones said:

    MrJones said:

    MrJones said:

    I'm not overly fussed about eating halal, aside from the animal welfare aspect of it. You'd be surprised just how much meat sold in this country is halal. Not be ng told it is halal, is a little sneaky, however.

    What's the point of not telling customers the meat is halal? Sounds a bit odd - unless halal meat is cheaper for some reason.
    Because if they told people it was halal then those people who objected wouldn't buy it.
    Maybe, but you'd have thought the point of stocking it was to sell it to people who did, for superstitious reasons, wish to know that that's what it was.
    Think of it from the wholesalers point of view. They have two groups of people wanting meat done a different way. They could have the expense of doing it the two ways or do it one way and just not tell one of the groups.
    Indeed, but for that to work there has to be a widespread assumption among the superstitious that the meat is halal while the opposite belief is held by those of a different view. How do you arrange that?
    You tell one group it's halal and don't tell the other group.
    How? Secret adverts that only enter muslim minds? Whispering shop staff loitering near meat counters on the lookout for scarves and beards? It's no big deal, I just find it puzzling.
    Schools. No adverts. No shop counters.
    A conspiracy of teachers paid by supermarkets then? Fair enough. I know less about this than you. Surprised there's been no whistle-blowing though.

    I was assuming the reason would be more prosaically profit-based.
  • MrJonesMrJones Posts: 3,523

    MrJones said:

    MrJones said:

    MrJones said:

    MrJones said:

    I'm not overly fussed about eating halal, aside from the animal welfare aspect of it. You'd be surprised just how much meat sold in this country is halal. Not be ng told it is halal, is a little sneaky, however.

    What's the point of not telling customers the meat is halal? Sounds a bit odd - unless halal meat is cheaper for some reason.
    Because if they told people it was halal then those people who objected wouldn't buy it.
    Maybe, but you'd have thought the point of stocking it was to sell it to people who did, for superstitious reasons, wish to know that that's what it was.
    Think of it from the wholesalers point of view. They have two groups of people wanting meat done a different way. They could have the expense of doing it the two ways or do it one way and just not tell one of the groups.
    Indeed, but for that to work there has to be a widespread assumption among the superstitious that the meat is halal while the opposite belief is held by those of a different view. How do you arrange that?
    You tell one group it's halal and don't tell the other group.
    How? Secret adverts that only enter muslim minds? Whispering shop staff loitering near meat counters on the lookout for scarves and beards? It's no big deal, I just find it puzzling.
    Schools. No adverts. No shop counters.
    A conspiracy of teachers paid by supermarkets then? Fair enough. I know less about this than you. Surprised there's been no whistle-blowing though.

    I was assuming the reason would be more prosaically profit-based.
    No adverts. No shop counters. No supermarkets either.
  • MrJones said:

    MrJones said:

    MrJones said:

    MrJones said:

    MrJones said:

    I'm not overly fussed about eating halal, aside from the animal welfare aspect of it. You'd be surprised just how much meat sold in this country is halal. Not be ng told it is halal, is a little sneaky, however.

    What's the point of not telling customers the meat is halal? Sounds a bit odd - unless halal meat is cheaper for some reason.
    Because if they told people it was halal then those people who objected wouldn't buy it.
    Maybe, but you'd have thought the point of stocking it was to sell it to people who did, for superstitious reasons, wish to know that that's what it was.
    Think of it from the wholesalers point of view. They have two groups of people wanting meat done a different way. They could have the expense of doing it the two ways or do it one way and just not tell one of the groups.
    Indeed, but for that to work there has to be a widespread assumption among the superstitious that the meat is halal while the opposite belief is held by those of a different view. How do you arrange that?
    You tell one group it's halal and don't tell the other group.
    How? Secret adverts that only enter muslim minds? Whispering shop staff loitering near meat counters on the lookout for scarves and beards? It's no big deal, I just find it puzzling.
    Schools. No adverts. No shop counters.
    A conspiracy of teachers paid by supermarkets then? Fair enough. I know less about this than you. Surprised there's been no whistle-blowing though.

    I was assuming the reason would be more prosaically profit-based.
    No adverts. No shop counters. No supermarkets either.
    Ok. So how does it actually work again?
  • Mick_PorkMick_Pork Posts: 6,530

    A wee 'the way the world is going' metaphor for Christmas.

    'Johnston Press and the Scotsman Publications are to quit their shared home at Barclay House in Edinburgh's Holyrood Road next year, to be replaced as tenants by the world-leading Scottish video games maker Rockstar North.
    The Sunday Herald understands that Rockstar, whose latest game Grand Theft Auto V broke records with sales of $800 million (£500m) within 24 hours of its September release, will start moving into the landmark building in 2014, following alterations.
    It is understood that the plc and the Scotsman group, whose titles include The Scotsman, Scotland on Sunday and the Evening News, have yet to find new headquarters in the capital.'

    http://tinyurl.com/p7h9f92

    You would need a heart of stone not to laugh. The press have lived off of fake outrage and 'moral panic' GTA stories for years, not least the Hootsman.
    Grand Theft Auto V: Hawick fury at game inclusion

    http://www.scotsman.com/news/odd/grand-theft-auto-v-hawick-fury-at-game-inclusion-1-3097263
  • Make it stop
  • dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,300
    M and S - discounting clothes before Christmas - Sky report on falling sales.

    There is an element of why now about that 'fuss' over Muslim staff and booze. Will the share price tomorrow morning, head southwards for a while?
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,538

    Sean_F said:

    taffys said:

    Farage really doesn't have to do anything does he? his opponents just keep handing him victory after victory.

    Today we have Soubry, and we also learn that M&S are allowing their muslim staff to refuse to sell alcohol and pork to customers and to ask them to use another till. Politely of course (that's very nice of them).

    Is there a proper (non-dodgy-British-newspaper) source for this? As described the policy sounds really bad for Muslim staff too. Customers will avoid the tills of Muslim-looking people, which is going to be weird and uncomfortable, and potentially prevent stores from hiring them if they think they can get away with it,
    I have to say I'm a bit suspicious of the story. I could see that M & S might deploy Muslim staff in roles where they don't have to sell alcohol, but I find it hard to believe any supermarket would actually allow staff to refuse to serve a customer.

    The Telegraph say it's legit.

    "Muslim staff working for Marks & Spencer have been given permission to refuse to serve customers buying alcohol or pork products

    One customer, who declined to be named, said: “I had one bottle of champagne, and the lady, who was wearing a headscarf, was very apologetic but said she could not serve me. She told me to wait until another member of staff was available."

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10532782/Muslim-staff-at-Marks-and-Spencer-can-refuse-to-sell-alcohol-and-pork.html
    If true, then it's daft. Living where I do, I'll get the chance to try it out at my local M & S, and complain if I'm not served.

    I'm rather partial to halal goat meat.

  • MrJonesMrJones Posts: 3,523

    MrJones said:

    MrJones said:

    MrJones said:

    MrJones said:

    MrJones said:

    I'm not overly fussed about eating halal, aside from the animal welfare aspect of it. You'd be surprised just how much meat sold in this country is halal. Not be ng told it is halal, is a little sneaky, however.

    What's the point of not telling customers the meat is halal? Sounds a bit odd - unless halal meat is cheaper for some reason.
    Because if they told people it was halal then those people who objected wouldn't buy it.
    Maybe, but you'd have thought the point of stocking it was to sell it to people who did, for superstitious reasons, wish to know that that's what it was.
    Think of it from the wholesalers point of view. They have two groups of people wanting meat done a different way. They could have the expense of doing it the two ways or do it one way and just not tell one of the groups.
    Indeed, but for that to work there has to be a widespread assumption among the superstitious that the meat is halal while the opposite belief is held by those of a different view. How do you arrange that?
    You tell one group it's halal and don't tell the other group.
    How? Secret adverts that only enter muslim minds? Whispering shop staff loitering near meat counters on the lookout for scarves and beards? It's no big deal, I just find it puzzling.
    Schools. No adverts. No shop counters.
    A conspiracy of teachers paid by supermarkets then? Fair enough. I know less about this than you. Surprised there's been no whistle-blowing though.

    I was assuming the reason would be more prosaically profit-based.
    No adverts. No shop counters. No supermarkets either.
    Ok. So how does it actually work again?
    Well if it's not teachers at every school taking a vote each day and swanning down the local supermarket with a shopping trolley maybe the sourcing is done centrally by some small lobbyable part of the state bureaucracy.

    Just a wild guess.

  • MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053

    The CEO of M&S is about to have a nightmare day.. A total boycott of the store may be required.

    This may help him on his way:

    Lewis Johnston ‏@lewisadam
    Thus is no ordinary commercial suicide. This is M&S commercial suicide!
  • NextNext Posts: 826
    Sean_F said:

    Sean_F said:

    taffys said:

    Farage really doesn't have to do anything does he? his opponents just keep handing him victory after victory.

    Today we have Soubry, and we also learn that M&S are allowing their muslim staff to refuse to sell alcohol and pork to customers and to ask them to use another till. Politely of course (that's very nice of them).

    Is there a proper (non-dodgy-British-newspaper) source for this? As described the policy sounds really bad for Muslim staff too. Customers will avoid the tills of Muslim-looking people, which is going to be weird and uncomfortable, and potentially prevent stores from hiring them if they think they can get away with it,
    I have to say I'm a bit suspicious of the story. I could see that M & S might deploy Muslim staff in roles where they don't have to sell alcohol, but I find it hard to believe any supermarket would actually allow staff to refuse to serve a customer.

    The Telegraph say it's legit.

    "Muslim staff working for Marks & Spencer have been given permission to refuse to serve customers buying alcohol or pork products

    One customer, who declined to be named, said: “I had one bottle of champagne, and the lady, who was wearing a headscarf, was very apologetic but said she could not serve me. She told me to wait until another member of staff was available."

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10532782/Muslim-staff-at-Marks-and-Spencer-can-refuse-to-sell-alcohol-and-pork.html
    If true, then it's daft. Living where I do, I'll get the chance to try it out at my local M & S, and complain if I'm not served.

    I'm rather partial to halal goat meat.

    Can Catholics refuse to sell condoms?

  • Mick_Pork said:

    A wee 'the way the world is going' metaphor for Christmas.

    'Johnston Press and the Scotsman Publications are to quit their shared home at Barclay House in Edinburgh's Holyrood Road next year, to be replaced as tenants by the world-leading Scottish video games maker Rockstar North.
    The Sunday Herald understands that Rockstar, whose latest game Grand Theft Auto V broke records with sales of $800 million (£500m) within 24 hours of its September release, will start moving into the landmark building in 2014, following alterations.
    It is understood that the plc and the Scotsman group, whose titles include The Scotsman, Scotland on Sunday and the Evening News, have yet to find new headquarters in the capital.'

    http://tinyurl.com/p7h9f92

    You would need a heart of stone not to laugh. The press have lived off of fake outrage and 'moral panic' GTA stories for years, not least the Hootsman.
    Grand Theft Auto V: Hawick fury at game inclusion

    http://www.scotsman.com/news/odd/grand-theft-auto-v-hawick-fury-at-game-inclusion-1-3097263
    The way the Scotsman's going, it'll be 'restructured' into 2 blokes in a portakabin in West Lothian by the end of 2014.

  • MrJones said:

    MrJones said:

    MrJones said:

    MrJones said:

    MrJones said:

    MrJones said:

    I'm not overly fussed about eating halal, aside from the animal welfare aspect of it. You'd be surprised just how much meat sold in this country is halal. Not be ng told it is halal, is a little sneaky, however.

    What's the point of not telling customers the meat is halal? Sounds a bit odd - unless halal meat is cheaper for some reason.
    Because if they told people it was halal then those people who objected wouldn't buy it.
    Maybe, but you'd have thought the point of stocking it was to sell it to people who did, for superstitious reasons, wish to know that that's what it was.
    Think of it from the wholesalers point of view. They have two groups of people wanting meat done a different way. They could have the expense of doing it the two ways or do it one way and just not tell one of the groups.
    Indeed, but for that to work there has to be a widespread assumption among the superstitious that the meat is halal while the opposite belief is held by those of a different view. How do you arrange that?
    You tell one group it's halal and don't tell the other group.
    How? Secret adverts that only enter muslim minds? Whispering shop staff loitering near meat counters on the lookout for scarves and beards? It's no big deal, I just find it puzzling.
    Schools. No adverts. No shop counters.
    A conspiracy of teachers paid by supermarkets then? Fair enough. I know less about this than you. Surprised there's been no whistle-blowing though.

    I was assuming the reason would be more prosaically profit-based.
    No adverts. No shop counters. No supermarkets either.
    Ok. So how does it actually work again?
    Well if it's not teachers at every school taking a vote each day and swanning down the local supermarket with a shopping trolley maybe the sourcing is done centrally by some small lobbyable part of the state bureaucracy.

    Just a wild guess.

    Ah. No doubt the evidence will arrive.
  • MrJones said:

    MrJones said:

    MrJones said:

    MrJones said:

    MrJones said:

    MrJones said:

    I'm not overly fussed about eating halal, aside from the animal welfare aspect of it. You'd be surprised just how much meat sold in this country is halal. Not be ng told it is halal, is a little sneaky, however.

    What's the point of not telling customers the meat is halal? Sounds a bit odd - unless halal meat is cheaper for some reason.
    Because if they told people it was halal then those people who objected wouldn't buy it.
    Maybe, but you'd have thought the point of stocking it was to sell it to people who did, for superstitious reasons, wish to know that that's what it was.
    Think of it from the wholesalers point of view. They have two groups of people wanting meat done a different way. They could have the expense of doing it the two ways or do it one way and just not tell one of the groups.
    Indeed, but for that to work there has to be a widespread assumption among the superstitious that the meat is halal while the opposite belief is held by those of a different view. How do you arrange that?
    You tell one group it's halal and don't tell the other group.
    How? Secret adverts that only enter muslim minds? Whispering shop staff loitering near meat counters on the lookout for scarves and beards? It's no big deal, I just find it puzzling.
    Schools. No adverts. No shop counters.
    A conspiracy of teachers paid by supermarkets then? Fair enough. I know less about this than you. Surprised there's been no whistle-blowing though.

    I was assuming the reason would be more prosaically profit-based.
    No adverts. No shop counters. No supermarkets either.
    Ok. So how does it actually work again?
    Well if it's not teachers at every school taking a vote each day and swanning down the local supermarket with a shopping trolley maybe the sourcing is done centrally by some small lobbyable part of the state bureaucracy.

    Just a wild guess.

    You mean there is a secret Government agency responsible for infiltrating things we don't want to eat into our food? Coo. That explains the horsemeat I suppose.

  • isamisam Posts: 41,118
    edited December 2013
    Why must right wing papers keep printing this inflammatory propaganda?

    http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/lee-rigby-killer-michael-adebolajo-2951615
  • MrJonesMrJones Posts: 3,523

    MrJones said:

    MrJones said:

    MrJones said:

    MrJones said:

    MrJones said:

    MrJones said:

    I'm not overly fussed about eating halal, aside from the animal welfare aspect of it. You'd be surprised just how much meat sold in this country is halal. Not be ng told it is halal, is a little sneaky, however.

    What's the point of not telling customers the meat is halal? Sounds a bit odd - unless halal meat is cheaper for some reason.
    Because if they told people it was halal then those people who objected wouldn't buy it.
    Maybe, but you'd have thought the point of stocking it was to sell it to people who did, for superstitious reasons, wish to know that that's what it was.
    Think of it from the wholesalers point of view. They have two groups of people wanting meat done a different way. They could have the expense of doing it the two ways or do it one way and just not tell one of the groups.
    Indeed, but for that to work there has to be a widespread assumption among the superstitious that the meat is halal while the opposite belief is held by those of a different view. How do you arrange that?
    You tell one group it's halal and don't tell the other group.
    How? Secret adverts that only enter muslim minds? Whispering shop staff loitering near meat counters on the lookout for scarves and beards? It's no big deal, I just find it puzzling.
    Schools. No adverts. No shop counters.
    A conspiracy of teachers paid by supermarkets then? Fair enough. I know less about this than you. Surprised there's been no whistle-blowing though.

    I was assuming the reason would be more prosaically profit-based.
    No adverts. No shop counters. No supermarkets either.
    Ok. So how does it actually work again?
    Well if it's not teachers at every school taking a vote each day and swanning down the local supermarket with a shopping trolley maybe the sourcing is done centrally by some small lobbyable part of the state bureaucracy.

    Just a wild guess.

    You mean there is a secret Government agency responsible for infiltrating things we don't want to eat into our food? Coo. That explains the horsemeat I suppose.

    No i think there is a non-secret bit of the state bureaucracy which buys meat wholesale.
  • Mick_PorkMick_Pork Posts: 6,530
    Telegraph wades in and amusingly highlights that Ken Clarke is having a pop too.
    Telegraph Politics ‏@TelePolitics

    Minister apologises for 'crude' Nigel Farage comment http://tgr.ph/JRCnFQ


    Ken Clarke, the Cabinet Minister, this morning suggested people who vote for Ukip are "angry" and "don't care" about the public finances. The party's success in the local elections was a protest at the tough economic climate, he said.

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/ukip/10533408/Minister-apologises-for-crude-Nigel-Farage-comment.html
    First Soubry's anal probing now Ken Clarke pipes up since he is bound to persuade tory kipper waverers. Some kippers might be a touch po-faced about the whole thing but the tory PR machine is as proving as incompetent as ever. Bodes well for the EU elections if this the best they muster to tackle Farage and UKIP.
  • NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,568
    Pulpstar said:

    Official Labour figures should probably keep schtum on social media over this one though. When your opponent is digging a hole best thing to do is let them keep digging.

    Sure NPxMP will be diplomatic about the matter on here ;)

    I won't comment on the story, but in general terms Broxtowe currently has IMO a negative incumbency bonus, more due to perceived attitudes to constituents than anything on TV.

    On something I know more definitively about - animal welfare people like me have always been very critical of halal, though I think we'd qualify it by saying that non-halal slaughterhouses aren't usually nice places either. There is however a little-known twist - Elliott Morley (before he got enmeshed in the expenses scandal) as a Defra Minister persuaded all but one of the halal slaughterhouses to quietly introduce pre-stunning, which is the key issue for us animal types. It's never been publicised since successive governments don't want to get the owners hassled by fundamentalists.

  • MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053
    M&S are really becoming a PC laughing stock.
    The CEO and his immediate underlings should be booted out by shareholders, subito.

    http://www.theguardian.com/money/2013/dec/17/marks-and-spencer-gender-neutral-toys
  • GeoffMGeoffM Posts: 6,071

    It's never been publicised since successive governments don't want to get the owners hassled by fundamentalists.

    ...and so as you are out of power (hopefully forever) you choose to publicise it in the hope that the owners *now* get hassled by fundamentalists.

    Classy.

  • SquareRootSquareRoot Posts: 7,095

    Pulpstar said:

    Official Labour figures should probably keep schtum on social media over this one though. When your opponent is digging a hole best thing to do is let them keep digging.

    Sure NPxMP will be diplomatic about the matter on here ;)

    I won't comment on the story, but in general terms Broxtowe currently has IMO a negative incumbency bonus, more due to perceived attitudes to constituents than anything on TV.

    On something I know more definitively about - animal welfare people like me have always been very critical of halal, though I think we'd qualify it by saying that non-halal slaughterhouses aren't usually nice places either. There is however a little-known twist - Elliott Morley (before he got enmeshed in the expenses scandal) as a Defra Minister persuaded all but one of the halal slaughterhouses to quietly introduce pre-stunning, which is the key issue for us animal types. It's never been publicised since successive governments don't want to get the owners hassled by fundamentalists.


    You would say that wouldn't you, I mean you say you wont comment on the story but in the next few words you slag off your opponent.
  • RightChuckRightChuck Posts: 110
    edited December 2013



    "No i think there is a non-secret bit of the state bureaucracy which buys meat wholesale."


    And distributes it nationally to schools, thus allowing muslims accurately to infer that most supermarket meat is halal.
  • GeoffMGeoffM Posts: 6,071

    Pulpstar said:

    Official Labour figures should probably keep schtum on social media over this one though. When your opponent is digging a hole best thing to do is let them keep digging.

    Sure NPxMP will be diplomatic about the matter on here ;)

    I won't comment on the story, but in general terms Broxtowe currently has IMO a negative incumbency bonus, more due to perceived attitudes to constituents than anything on TV.

    On something I know more definitively about - animal welfare people like me have always been very critical of halal, though I think we'd qualify it by saying that non-halal slaughterhouses aren't usually nice places either. There is however a little-known twist - Elliott Morley (before he got enmeshed in the expenses scandal) as a Defra Minister persuaded all but one of the halal slaughterhouses to quietly introduce pre-stunning, which is the key issue for us animal types. It's never been publicised since successive governments don't want to get the owners hassled by fundamentalists.


    You would say that wouldn't you, I mean you say you wont comment on the story but in the next few words you slag off your opponent.
    Nick Palmer a two-faced hypocrite? My my, you do surprise me [/shocked]

    In the interests of balance I can't stand Soubry either.



  • MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053
    isam said:

    Why must right wing papers keep printing this inflammatory propaganda?

    http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/lee-rigby-killer-michael-adebolajo-2951615

    The Daily Mirror is not and never was a right wing newspaper. In it's heyday 1940 -1965 it was a deeply left wing paper, strongly supporting the Labour Party and Labour governments.
    It was, despite that a well edited and well run paper with some very fine journalists; Cassandra, (William O'Connor), being one I relished in my youth.

    Nowadays, it is not even a shadow of it's former self, everything about it has become debased except the name on the masthead.

  • GeoffMGeoffM Posts: 6,071
    MikeK said:

    isam said:

    Why must right wing papers keep printing this inflammatory propaganda?

    http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/lee-rigby-killer-michael-adebolajo-2951615

    The Daily Mirror is not and never was a right wing newspaper. In it's heyday 1940 -1965 it was a deeply left wing paper, strongly supporting the Labour Party and Labour governments.
    It was, despite that a well edited and well run paper with some very fine journalists; Cassandra, (William O'Connor), being one I relished in my youth.

    Nowadays, it is not even a shadow of it's former self, everything about it has become debased except the name on the masthead.

    You may need to adjust your Sarcasm Detector :)

  • MikeK said:

    isam said:

    Why must right wing papers keep printing this inflammatory propaganda?

    http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/lee-rigby-killer-michael-adebolajo-2951615

    The Daily Mirror is not and never was a right wing newspaper. In it's heyday 1940 -1965 it was a deeply left wing paper, strongly supporting the Labour Party and Labour governments.
    It was, despite that a well edited and well run paper with some very fine journalists; Cassandra, (William O'Connor), being one I relished in my youth.

    Nowadays, it is not even a shadow of it's former self, everything about it has become debased except the name on the masthead.

    You don't do irony very well, do you?

  • isamisam Posts: 41,118
    Pulpstar said:

    Anyone who is a fan of test cricket should be watching the SA/Ind match now

    Looks like they might do it...

    The South African commentators seem a lot less partisan than the English ones on Sky... or is it just Botham?
  • dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,300
    edited December 2013
    Was surprised to hear that a relative received a parking ticket in a supermarket car park, she had gone over the 2 hour limit, due to her slowness and the queues at the store's tills.

    Plenty of other outrage stories over disproportionate private car parking fines for transgressing 'their rules', not quite as fun as bashing M and S.

    A few dropped bottles of wine by the tills might sort out M and S...
  • MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053
    Sam1979 ‏@back_samuel
    So, Monday...Goodbye M&S credit card/bank card/insurance, so long lovely M&S din dins. Tis sad but must be done. I don't do pandering...

    There must be thousands just like him going off M&S
  • dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,300
    edited December 2013
    On PB I keep getting M and S ads with a fetching brunette lady clad only in bra and pants...
  • GeoffMGeoffM Posts: 6,071
    isam said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Anyone who is a fan of test cricket should be watching the SA/Ind match now

    Looks like they might do it...

    The South African commentators seem a lot less partisan than the English ones on Sky... or is it just Botham?
    It's a great match.
    @Pulpstar did you do anything with those odds from last night?
    I sincerely hope you did and will be seriously quids in after another 67 runs...

  • MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053

    MikeK said:

    isam said:

    Why must right wing papers keep printing this inflammatory propaganda?

    http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/lee-rigby-killer-michael-adebolajo-2951615

    The Daily Mirror is not and never was a right wing newspaper. In it's heyday 1940 -1965 it was a deeply left wing paper, strongly supporting the Labour Party and Labour governments.
    It was, despite that a well edited and well run paper with some very fine journalists; Cassandra, (William O'Connor), being one I relished in my youth.

    Nowadays, it is not even a shadow of it's former self, everything about it has become debased except the name on the masthead.

    You don't do irony very well, do you?

    I wasn't being ironic!
  • MrJonesMrJones Posts: 3,523


    "No i think there is a non-secret bit of the state bureaucracy which buys meat wholesale."


    And distributes it nationally to schools, thus allowing muslims accurately to infer that most supermarket meat is halal.

    I don't know what point you're arguing. The point i'm arguing is that switching meat supply to schools, hospitals etc wouldn't involve any kind of massively complicated operation if the meat is sourced wholesale. It would just take a bit of central lobbying.
  • MikeK said:

    MikeK said:

    isam said:

    Why must right wing papers keep printing this inflammatory propaganda?

    http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/lee-rigby-killer-michael-adebolajo-2951615

    The Daily Mirror is not and never was a right wing newspaper. In it's heyday 1940 -1965 it was a deeply left wing paper, strongly supporting the Labour Party and Labour governments.
    It was, despite that a well edited and well run paper with some very fine journalists; Cassandra, (William O'Connor), being one I relished in my youth.

    Nowadays, it is not even a shadow of it's former self, everything about it has become debased except the name on the masthead.

    You don't do irony very well, do you?

    I wasn't being ironic!
    I didn't mean you........

  • GeoffMGeoffM Posts: 6,071
    MikeK said:

    MikeK said:

    isam said:

    Why must right wing papers keep printing this inflammatory propaganda?

    http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/lee-rigby-killer-michael-adebolajo-2951615

    The Daily Mirror is not and never was a right wing newspaper. In it's heyday 1940 -1965 it was a deeply left wing paper, strongly supporting the Labour Party and Labour governments.
    It was, despite that a well edited and well run paper with some very fine journalists; Cassandra, (William O'Connor), being one I relished in my youth.

    Nowadays, it is not even a shadow of it's former self, everything about it has become debased except the name on the masthead.

    You don't do irony very well, do you?

    I wasn't being ironic!
    [wah shield up]
    No, but isam was.
    Which was the point.
    [/shield]

  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 54,025
    Pulpstar said:

    Anyone who is a fan of test cricket should be watching the SA/Ind match now

    I was watching it this morning when a howler from the umpire put out Kallis who was scoring a run a ball. When you take that into account this is an incredible batting performance.
  • MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053
    Offence Police ‏@OffencePolice
    Next time you're caught shoplifting at M&S, tell them your religion forbids you from paying for things. They're so shit thick it might work.
  • MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053
    Plastic Aussie ‏@PlasticAussie
    @marksandspencer so now that they can refuse this how long before they can refuse to serve gay customers or single unaccompanied females?

    It's becoming an Avalanche on Twitter!
  • MikeKMikeK Posts: 9,053
    edited December 2013
    GeoffM said:

    MikeK said:

    MikeK said:

    isam said:

    Why must right wing papers keep printing this inflammatory propaganda?

    http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/lee-rigby-killer-michael-adebolajo-2951615

    The Daily Mirror is not and never was a right wing newspaper. In it's heyday 1940 -1965 it was a deeply left wing paper, strongly supporting the Labour Party and Labour governments.
    It was, despite that a well edited and well run paper with some very fine journalists; Cassandra, (William O'Connor), being one I relished in my youth.

    Nowadays, it is not even a shadow of it's former self, everything about it has become debased except the name on the masthead.

    You don't do irony very well, do you?

    I wasn't being ironic!
    [wah shield up]
    No, but isam was.
    Which was the point.
    [/shield]

    Well, I'll use Xmas as an excuse for being thick today.
  • MikeK said:

    Offence Police ‏@OffencePolice
    Next time you're caught shoplifting at M&S, tell them your religion forbids you from paying for things. They're so shit thick it might work.

    Maybe Farage can pull his finger out, and rally UKIP to the anti M&S cause?

  • anotherDaveanotherDave Posts: 6,746
    edited December 2013
    Mick_Pork said:

    Telegraph wades in and amusingly highlights that Ken Clarke is having a pop too.

    Telegraph Politics ‏@TelePolitics

    Minister apologises for 'crude' Nigel Farage comment http://tgr.ph/JRCnFQ


    Ken Clarke, the Cabinet Minister, this morning suggested people who vote for Ukip are "angry" and "don't care" about the public finances. The party's success in the local elections was a protest at the tough economic climate, he said.

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/ukip/10533408/Minister-apologises-for-crude-Nigel-Farage-comment.html
    First Soubry's anal probing now Ken Clarke pipes up since he is bound to persuade tory kipper waverers. Some kippers might be a touch po-faced about the whole thing but the tory PR machine is as proving as incompetent as ever. Bodes well for the EU elections if this the best they muster to tackle Farage and UKIP.It's surprising when professional politicians get the basics wrong.

    Does Mr Clarke think that insulting voters will induce them to vote for a Conservative candidate?

  • MrJonesMrJones Posts: 3,523
    Seems like a three-horse race brewing
    - soubry
    - halal meat at M&S
    - muslims been eating non-halal meat for years that they thought was
  • dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,300
    For those who are in any way outraged over M and S, Nigel Farage, Anna Soulbry or newpaper articles. This link my help you focus your thoughts.

    http://markreckons.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/political-outrage-template-article.html
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118
    Wtf was Lloris doing for that goal?

    I really can't believe Soubry made that remark.... It's just incredible
  • MrJonesMrJones Posts: 3,523
    dr_spyn said:

    For those who are in any way outraged over M and S, Nigel Farage, Anna Soulbry or newpaper articles. This link my help you focus your thoughts.

    http://markreckons.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/political-outrage-template-article.html

    I think the Soubry thing is more about sleaziness than outrage.
  • NextNext Posts: 826
    Labour MP Barry Sheerman, said: “The Anna Soubry comment on Nigel Farage plumbs new depths in political debate and [David] Cameron should sack her now.”

    Trying to work out if that was deliberate.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 43,349


    http://tinyurl.com/p7h9f92

    You would need a heart of stone not to laugh. The press have lived off of fake outrage and 'moral panic' GTA stories for years, not least the Hootsman.
    Grand Theft Auto V: Hawick fury at game inclusion

    http://www.scotsman.com/news/odd/grand-theft-auto-v-hawick-fury-at-game-inclusion-1-3097263
    The way the Scotsman's going, it'll be 'restructured' into 2 blokes in a portakabin in West Lothian by the end of 2014.



    Hmm - the article does say "the Sunday Herald understands" as nobody is admitting it. But to put it into context, those not familiar with the area need to know that

    1. the building in question was specially built in 1999 to give the Scotsman (then owned by Messrs Barclay brothers) to give it a high profile home practically next door to the then new Scottish Parliament (as one might guess from the Holyrood Road address). Which says a lot about JP and the Scotsman's views on their relationships with Holyrood - or whether they can afford to maintain it. (It is the building notorious for the graffiti which appeared on the front, which is very deplorable of course, but it did not help that the unionists pretty much accused Mr Salmond of personally masterminding it ...)

    2. Johnston Press own the Scotsman, AFAIK

    3. Johnston Press shares are a small fraction of what they ysed to be

    4. The Scotsman is rabidly unionist - to the degree that the Scotsman's Sunday paper went to the extent of digitally airbrushing a swastika over the St Andrew's Cross in the Saltire flag being held by some Scots chaps, in an article trying to claim that the indy folk are old fashioned Blood and Soil racist nationalists, like those chaps who used to go around in brown shirts and red, white and black armbands. (In fact, apart from the odd eccentric, the one who did get banged up come WW2 was a local Unionist MP ...). Trouble was they forgot that the original photo happens to be very well known, being used if I recall right as the cover image of one of the most widely published histories of modern Scotland. [I don't regard this as triggering Godwin's Law as it is germane and relevant]. I don't mind sendible unionist arguments in a balanced newspaper, but this ...

    5. The Scotsman is pretty much at the red end of the spectrum for rate of newspaper circulation collapse in the UK, and is already circling the bath outlet, judging from the way it has cut down its content in recent months.

    How far those facts are interconnected, I've often wondered. But upsetting at least 1/3 of your circulation right away, and insulting the intelligence of the rest, does not seem the way to become a successful press baron.

    And it used to be one of the very best newspapers in the UK!



  • GeoffMGeoffM Posts: 6,071
    de Villiers and Duminy out in Jo'burg. 51 off 11.2 with 4 wickets left.
  • dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,300
    @MrJones It must have been too early for her to be over tired and over emotional as a newt.

  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 54,025
    This is incredible. 2 quick wickets and all 3 results are definitely on. Only 11 overs left and 51 runs still required. Surely the game of the year.
  • NextNext Posts: 826
    New Thread
  • What's all this pompous outrage about Soubry and Nigel Farage's bottom? Paul Keating's description of Malcolm Frazer, made in the Australian parliament, is one of the most famous political insults in history:

    'You look Like an Easter Island statue with an arse full of razor blades.'

    And he went on to be PM.
  • Having unloaded all my shopping onto the counter at M&S, if the assistant refuses to serve me because there is alcohol, then I will expect the assistant to move to another counter and have a different assistant. If not then the shopping will remain on the counter and I will go elsewhere for better service.

    This will not need to happen too many times before M&S change their policy. We are fortunate to have competitive markets in this country.
This discussion has been closed.