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Boris Johnson’s opposition to Indyref2 might be as Herculean as his opposition to a border in the Ir

SystemSystem Posts: 11,803
edited April 2021 in General
imageBoris Johnson’s opposition to Indyref2 might be as Herculean as his opposition to a border in the Irish Sea – politicalbetting.com

Some UK ministers believe PM should force a new independence referendum fast amid pandemic job losses & economic turmoil to try to emphasise risks of Scotland going it alone. One said: "The time to do it would be in the middle of economic chaos" https://t.co/Ai1HcOz90K

Read the full story here

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Comments

  • Options
    TimTTimT Posts: 6,328
    wot! no comments?
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    MattWMattW Posts: 19,467
    2nd.
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    SandpitSandpit Posts: 50,761
    Third rate European Super League.
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    MattWMattW Posts: 19,467
    Two Fandangos?

    1 - How are we doing with the Football Fandango? Have the Fatcats reverse-ferreted yet?

    2 - Not sure if the Mercer thing is very important. He does slightly sound as if he has a mirror on a selfie-stick so he can admire himself in a socially distanced manner. Perhaps that is a touch harsh. The problem of an activist as Minister?
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    ydoethurydoethur Posts: 68,332
    Confirming that our cabinet ministers are just as stupid as I thought.

    Times of economic chaos are when people listen to dishonest demagogues proposing easy solutions to intractable problems.

    When everything is rosy, people are less likely to vote for radical change in case they bugger everything up.

    The SNP should have their referendum if they win a majority because of democratic self-determination. No other reason.

    The fact the SNP under Sturgeon make Cummings and Farage look like honest, competent and intelligent anti-racists is a detail but is Scotland’s problem only if they listen to these nutcases.
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    SandpitSandpit Posts: 50,761
    On topic. I can see the PM agreeing to a Constitutional Convention to look at a more federal system of government, to report back after the next GE.

    The topic of another referendum in Scotland, if requested formally by the new Scottish Parliament, will likely be defeated on a free vote.
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    SandpitSandpit Posts: 50,761
    My office are all laughing their arses off about the Super League plans collapsing.

    At a time of such polarisation and division in society, it's great to have everyone agree that these scumbag club chairmen trying to sell out the fans - then failing miserably when they underestimated the reaction - is the most brilliant story of the year so far!
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    MattWMattW Posts: 19,467

    Lets treasure it - the inaugural dinner of the ESL chairmen. They had such a bright future ahead of them!

    How many can we still name? Be honest.....
    Me about 5.
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    NigelbNigelb Posts: 64,235
    This is the best tribute to Mondale that I’ve read.
    https://twitter.com/JoeTrippi/status/1384533738441355264
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    NemtynakhtNemtynakht Posts: 2,314
    ydoethur said:

    Confirming that our cabinet ministers are just as stupid as I thought.

    Times of economic chaos are when people listen to dishonest demagogues proposing easy solutions to intractable problems.

    When everything is rosy, people are less likely to vote for radical change in case they bugger everything up.

    The SNP should have their referendum if they win a majority because of democratic self-determination. No other reason.

    The fact the SNP under Sturgeon make Cummings and Farage look like honest, competent and intelligent anti-racists is a detail but is Scotland’s problem only if they listen to these nutcases.

    Absolutely agree - I think the Government need to consider things strategically. How do we are this playing out over 20. Years. Is it now inevitable? Can the current crisis be used as an excuse to give more time to o adjust to the future realty by giving Scotland more powers as a trade off?
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    TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 40,691
    Did Covid knock 20 pts off people’s IQs or were they dumb fcukers in the first place?

    https://twitter.com/classiclib3ral/status/1384692683382329350?s=21
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    ydoethurydoethur Posts: 68,332
    edited April 2021

    ydoethur said:

    Confirming that our cabinet ministers are just as stupid as I thought.

    Times of economic chaos are when people listen to dishonest demagogues proposing easy solutions to intractable problems.

    When everything is rosy, people are less likely to vote for radical change in case they bugger everything up.

    The SNP should have their referendum if they win a majority because of democratic self-determination. No other reason.

    The fact the SNP under Sturgeon make Cummings and Farage look like honest, competent and intelligent anti-racists is a detail but is Scotland’s problem only if they listen to these nutcases.

    Absolutely agree - I think the Government need to consider things strategically. How do we are this playing out over 20. Years. Is it now inevitable? Can the current crisis be used as an excuse to give more time to o adjust to the future realty by giving Scotland more powers as a trade off?
    I agree.

    Shame our entire government including the civil service is incapable of thinking beyond the next tweet.
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    NigelbNigelb Posts: 64,235
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    I do think that the inclusion of Latin makes the OP look like a right Starmer - us plegs don't speak Roman.

    Liar considers himself leader Uber alles. Immaculate. Untouchable. I wholly expect him to go down the tone deaf "I am the PM with a big majority and I am in charge" route. Which only guarantees not only Scotland's departure but almost certainly NI as well.

    Once democracy is the tyranny of the masses in another country it ceases to be democracy at all.
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    noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 21,412
    Nigelb said:
    Alternatively Samsung heirs get $3bn each, net of tax, for someone elses actions. That is about 100,000 years average wages.
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    TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 40,691
    Blimey, if even Kuenssberg is tweeting about it..

    https://twitter.com/bbclaurak/status/1384735522556362755?s=21
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    Black_RookBlack_Rook Posts: 8,905

    ydoethur said:

    Confirming that our cabinet ministers are just as stupid as I thought.

    Times of economic chaos are when people listen to dishonest demagogues proposing easy solutions to intractable problems.

    When everything is rosy, people are less likely to vote for radical change in case they bugger everything up.

    The SNP should have their referendum if they win a majority because of democratic self-determination. No other reason.

    The fact the SNP under Sturgeon make Cummings and Farage look like honest, competent and intelligent anti-racists is a detail but is Scotland’s problem only if they listen to these nutcases.

    Absolutely agree - I think the Government need to consider things strategically. How do we are this playing out over 20. Years. Is it now inevitable? Can the current crisis be used as an excuse to give more time to o adjust to the future realty by giving Scotland more powers as a trade off?
    "More powers." Great.

    What a waste of time, energy and money flogging this dead horse is. The Government won't just let them go, of course. But it should.
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    Off-topic, but with the football excitement did we miss the UN calling Liar's "no racism here" report "an attempt to normalise white supremacy"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-56800763
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    IanB2IanB2 Posts: 47,941
    Herculean is surely the wrong word in the lead title?
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    ydoethurydoethur Posts: 68,332
    A bit of a shame TSE didn’t get the Agricola into the lead as TUD asked.

    ‘They create a wilderness and call it peace’ would be a pretty fair summary of Sturgeon’s administration over the last three years.
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    MattWMattW Posts: 19,467
    edited April 2021

    I do think that the inclusion of Latin makes the OP look like a right Starmer - us plegs don't speak Roman.

    Liar considers himself leader Uber alles. Immaculate. Untouchable. I wholly expect him to go down the tone deaf "I am the PM with a big majority and I am in charge" route. Which only guarantees not only Scotland's departure but almost certainly NI as well.

    Once democracy is the tyranny of the masses in another country it ceases to be democracy at all.

    He's trying to civilise you. And he admitted he needed help.

    Is it working?
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    Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 60,997
    edited April 2021
    I agree with the analysis but as has been said it is likely the HOC will be given a free vote which will reject indyref2

    Where it goes from there I do not know
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    ydoethur said:

    A bit of a shame TSE didn’t get the Agricola into the lead as TUD asked.

    ‘They create a wilderness and call it peace’ would be a pretty fair summary of Sturgeon’s administration over the last three years.

    I am not an SNP fan. If the majority of voters disagree and re-elect her government then that is clearly the "will of the people". Whether that is education policy or independence or whatever.
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    OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 32,375

    I agree with the analysis but as has been said it is likely the HOC will be given a free vote which is will reject indyref2

    Where it goes from there I do not know

    Fine sunny morning again, and on, reflection yesterday was a better day personally than I thought at the time.

    However, I suspect our PM isn't likely to support the idea of a free vote. he and those around him don't seem to like contrary, or even different views. And certainly not interpretations of situations which differ from his.
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    Also off-topic, another calamity for calamity Jessie Joe Jacobs in Teesside. Much to the delight of local Labour activists who now have an excuse to ignore her, she's caught Covid
    https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/tees-valley-mayoral-candidate-tests-20430726
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    I agree with the analysis but as has been said it is likely the HOC will be given a free vote which is will reject indyref2

    Where it goes from there I do not know

    Fine sunny morning again, and on, reflection yesterday was a better day personally than I thought at the time.

    However, I suspect our PM isn't likely to support the idea of a free vote. he and those around him don't seem to like contrary, or even different views. And certainly not interpretations of situations which differ from his.
    But on indyref2 the vast majority of mps would vote no, especially labour
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    Also off-topic, another calamity for calamity Jessie Joe Jacobs in Teesside. Much to the delight of local Labour activists who now have an excuse to ignore her, she's caught Covid
    https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/tees-valley-mayoral-candidate-tests-20430726

    Why are you so unpleasant

    No matter your politics why celebrate someone catching covid
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    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 57,087

    Off-topic, but with the football excitement did we miss the UN calling Liar's "no racism here" report "an attempt to normalise white supremacy"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-56800763

    No, we didn't.

    I think it's one of the most absurdly hyperbolic reactions to a report I've ever seen.
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    eekeek Posts: 25,876

    Also off-topic, another calamity for calamity Jessie Joe Jacobs in Teesside. Much to the delight of local Labour activists who now have an excuse to ignore her, she's caught Covid
    https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/tees-valley-mayoral-candidate-tests-20430726

    Why are you so unpleasant

    No matter your politics why celebrate someone catching covid
    I think the issue here is that you have not met her, RP and myself both have.
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    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 57,087
    On topic, I don't think there's a contradiction between the Tories campaigning on a "no second referendum" platform and then conceding there must be one if the nationalists win a big majority. The former line only holds if they are able to deny the nationalists a majority.

    On the strategy for one I've seen two suggestions. One, that the exit terms should be pre-negotiated so Scots know what they'd be voting on as a condition of a vote and, two, that the benefits of the Union should be made loud & clear - rather than going full Project Fear.

    I think they are good ones.
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    Also off-topic, another calamity for calamity Jessie Joe Jacobs in Teesside. Much to the delight of local Labour activists who now have an excuse to ignore her, she's caught Covid
    https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/tees-valley-mayoral-candidate-tests-20430726

    Why are you so unpleasant

    No matter your politics why celebrate someone catching covid
    Far from it - Covid is a personal tragedy to everyone. I hope that she powers through it and is healthy very soon.

    I'm pointing out that (a) it's her latest calamity on an awful campaign and (b) the cancelled events will be a relief to the activists who no longer have to go through the pretence of making excuses.
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    ydoethurydoethur Posts: 68,332

    ydoethur said:

    A bit of a shame TSE didn’t get the Agricola into the lead as TUD asked.

    ‘They create a wilderness and call it peace’ would be a pretty fair summary of Sturgeon’s administration over the last three years.

    I am not an SNP fan. If the majority of voters disagree and re-elect her government then that is clearly the "will of the people". Whether that is education policy or independence or whatever.
    Well, yes. Just as it was when they re-elected the Johnson cabal of lowlifes and crooks.

    That doesn’t mean they made the right decision for good governance. Indeed, a strong case could be made that the SNP are a far worse government than even Westminster has produced.

    But as with Johnson, the issue is however bad they are, they are probably still better than the opppostion.

    And on that cheerful note, have a good morning.
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    eek said:

    Also off-topic, another calamity for calamity Jessie Joe Jacobs in Teesside. Much to the delight of local Labour activists who now have an excuse to ignore her, she's caught Covid
    https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/tees-valley-mayoral-candidate-tests-20430726

    Why are you so unpleasant

    No matter your politics why celebrate someone catching covid
    I think the issue here is that you have not met her, RP and myself both have.
    But why celebrate anyone catching covid
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    Off-topic, but with the football excitement did we miss the UN calling Liar's "no racism here" report "an attempt to normalise white supremacy"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-56800763

    No, we didn't.

    I think it's one of the most absurdly hyperbolic reactions to a report I've ever seen.
    One that's largely agreed with by the supposed "authors" of the "report who openly attacked it as either a complete reinterpretation of their thoughts or open fabrication.

    If you want to hide behind it then feel free.
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,129
    Good morning, everyone.

    Mr. B2 is correct.

    It should be Heraclean.
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    FoxyFoxy Posts: 45,888

    Off-topic, but with the football excitement did we miss the UN calling Liar's "no racism here" report "an attempt to normalise white supremacy"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-56800763

    No, we didn't.

    I think it's one of the most absurdly hyperbolic reactions to a report I've ever seen.
    The Sewell report was a farce, with conclusions drawn in advance. It has been mocked by critics, denied by some contributors and ignored by government.

    Which is a pity as there are some good proposals in there that do attempt to address institutional racism while refusing to use the term.
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    Fysics_TeacherFysics_Teacher Posts: 6,060

    I do think that the inclusion of Latin makes the OP look like a right Starmer - us plegs don't speak Roman.

    Liar considers himself leader Uber alles. Immaculate. Untouchable. I wholly expect him to go down the tone deaf "I am the PM with a big majority and I am in charge" route. Which only guarantees not only Scotland's departure but almost certainly NI as well.

    Once democracy is the tyranny of the masses in another country it ceases to be democracy at all.

    Most of us don’t speak German either (I’m assuming that Uber alles is German and not an obscure reference to an on line taxi firm).
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    SandpitSandpit Posts: 50,761
    LOL, the Guardian have just implemented a "Registration Wall" on most of their content. It's still "Free To Read" but they want your email address, presumably for their tracking systems and advertisers.

    Sadly for them, they use the same crap tech as the Telegraph and Spectator, loading the whole article in the background then trying to hide most of it at the end of the page load process.
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    Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 34,365

    On the strategy for one I've seen two suggestions. One, that the exit terms should be pre-negotiated so Scots know what they'd be voting on as a condition of a vote and, two, that the benefits of the Union should be made loud & clear - rather than going full Project Fear.

    Neither will work

    On the first, the answer to BoZo will always be "like Brexit?"

    On the second, you can't say being in the Union is great without also saying not being in the union will be shit.
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    FoxyFoxy Posts: 45,888

    On topic, I don't think there's a contradiction between the Tories campaigning on a "no second referendum" platform and then conceding there must be one if the nationalists win a big majority. The former line only holds if they are able to deny the nationalists a majority.

    On the strategy for one I've seen two suggestions. One, that the exit terms should be pre-negotiated so Scots know what they'd be voting on as a condition of a vote and, two, that the benefits of the Union should be made loud & clear - rather than going full Project Fear.

    I think they are good ones.

    I think a further Sindyref inevitable, it is just a matter of timing. Having an outline agreed between Westminster and Holyrood of what Indy Scotland would be like would be a useful lesson to learn from the post Brexit fiasco.
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,129
    Mr. Scott, that does imply the belief that the UK was as integrated in the EU as Scotland is in the UK.

    Which is palpable nonsense. The desire to avert that was part of the reason for leaving. In addition, power had flowed from nation states to the EU, whereas power has been devolved to Scotland within the UK.

    In short, the comparison is silly.
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    AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670

    Blimey, if even Kuenssberg is tweeting about it..

    https://twitter.com/bbclaurak/status/1384735522556362755?s=21

    I'm sure the follow up tweets will have a senior government source saying this is a good thing plus an anti Labour attack line.
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    Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 34,365
    Foxy said:

    I think a further Sindyref inevitable, it is just a matter of timing. Having an outline agreed between Westminster and Holyrood of what Indy Scotland would be like would be a useful lesson to learn from the post Brexit fiasco.

    Which is why it won't happen.

    BoZo can't demand a detailed manifesto after all his bullshit for Brexit
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    CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    MattW said:

    Lets treasure it - the inaugural dinner of the ESL chairmen. They had such a bright future ahead of them!

    How many can we still name? Be honest.....
    Me about 5.
    3. That’s embarrassing

    For me... and them...
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    AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670

    Off-topic, but with the football excitement did we miss the UN calling Liar's "no racism here" report "an attempt to normalise white supremacy"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-56800763

    No, we didn't.

    I think it's one of the most absurdly hyperbolic reactions to a report I've ever seen.
    The report that misquoted research, fabricated evidence and lied about contacting researchers and academics?

    To be honest I don't think the reaction has been strong enough. People should lose their jobs for that fraudulent piece of propaganda.
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    MattWMattW Posts: 19,467
    edited April 2021

    Good morning, everyone.

    Mr. B2 is correct.

    It should be Heraclean.

    But the article quotes Latin, not Greek.

    Heraclean is probably a Landrette in Oxford.
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    MattWMattW Posts: 19,467

    Nigelb said:
    Alternatively Samsung heirs get $3bn each, net of tax, for someone elses actions. That is about 100,000 years average wages.
    Don't see any problem here.

    The tax rate is 50% for the vast majority of it.
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    SandpitSandpit Posts: 50,761

    Blimey, if even Kuenssberg is tweeting about it..

    https://twitter.com/bbclaurak/status/1384735522556362755?s=21

    Government moving mountains to get their hands on medical equipment during a global pandemic, really isn't the big story she thinks it is.
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    Sandpit said:

    Blimey, if even Kuenssberg is tweeting about it..

    https://twitter.com/bbclaurak/status/1384735522556362755?s=21

    Government moving mountains to get their hands on medical equipment during a global pandemic, really isn't the big story she thinks it is.
    I read the story and I agree

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    eekeek Posts: 25,876
    Scott_xP said:

    Foxy said:

    I think a further Sindyref inevitable, it is just a matter of timing. Having an outline agreed between Westminster and Holyrood of what Indy Scotland would be like would be a useful lesson to learn from the post Brexit fiasco.

    Which is why it won't happen.

    BoZo can't demand a detailed manifesto after all his bullshit for Brexit
    BoZo also knows that the only way to win an election / referendum is to offer optimism (to the point of everyone having their own personal unicorn). So Boris will know that any Scottish Independence referendum is a lost cause, the issue is how do you kill it without having your fingers all over it.

    A free vote in Parliament is just about the only way you could do that...
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    Alistair said:

    Blimey, if even Kuenssberg is tweeting about it..

    https://twitter.com/bbclaurak/status/1384735522556362755?s=21

    I'm sure the follow up tweets will have a senior government source saying this is a good thing plus an anti Labour attack line.
    An outrageous story by the BBC. It is Right and Proper that Tory Party donors should be able to avoid paying due taxation during this time of national crisis. Nothing to see here.
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    FoxyFoxy Posts: 45,888
    edited April 2021
    When I was at school in America, there was a flag raising ceremony before school, with the US and State flags being ceremonially raised, and lowered again at the end of the day. The school day started with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, standing, hand over heart facing the flag in the corner of the classroom. I was a Conscientious Objector to it, and after a bit of fuss granted an exemption on grounds of being British, not American.

    I don't think that would work here.
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    Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 34,365
    eek said:

    Boris will know that any Scottish Independence referendum is a lost cause, the issue is how do you kill it without having your fingers all over it.

    If he is playing to his Little Englander base then having his fingers all over it is the whole point.

    If it's already lost, his key aim is to be out of Downing Street before it happens
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    Scott_xP said:

    Foxy said:

    I think a further Sindyref inevitable, it is just a matter of timing. Having an outline agreed between Westminster and Holyrood of what Indy Scotland would be like would be a useful lesson to learn from the post Brexit fiasco.

    Which is why it won't happen.

    BoZo can't demand a detailed manifesto after all his bullshit for Brexit
    It must be ever so painful for you that despite all your comments Boris gets more popular by the day and today many European newspapers are blaming him for the collapse of the ESL

    He will wear that badge with pride

    Boris 2 - Europe 0
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    If the SNP government is re-elected then a new referendum is a democratic necessity. So once we get past months of Tory ministers being sent onto the media to explain why ignoring the will of the people is the will of the people, the government will u-turn as it always does.

    The sensible way to run things would be to say "we have learned the lessons from Brexit, lets agree a shape for how Scotland will work post-independence and then you have your vote". However I can't see why Scotland would accept anything less than a rerun of the Brexit stupid and a rerun of a straight yes / no question with no answers as to what next.
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    moonshinemoonshine Posts: 5,254
    Well the super league was a fun diversion for a few days.

    Meanwhile in America...

    https://youtu.be/SKsLK_Na7iw

    News bulletin from NBC last week, further softening up of the US public for the biggest story of all time.

    paging @Leon
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    Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 34,365

    It must be ever so painful for you

    Why would I be in pain?

    I would be more embarrassed to be a BoZo fanbois
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    PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 76,158
    Foxy said:

    When I was at school in America, there was a flag raising ceremony before school, with the US and State flags being ceremonially raised, and lowered again at the end of the day. The school day started with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, standing, hand over heart facing the flag in the corner of the classroom. I was a Conscientious Objector to it, and after a bit of fuss granted an exemption on grounds of being British, not American.

    I don't think that would work here.
    I think standing and remaining silent and respectful is the correct thing to do in that situation. Pledging allegiance to another state you are resident in but not a citizen of would just be odd.
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    TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 40,691

    Sandpit said:

    Blimey, if even Kuenssberg is tweeting about it..

    https://twitter.com/bbclaurak/status/1384735522556362755?s=21

    Government moving mountains to get their hands on medical equipment during a global pandemic, really isn't the big story she thinks it is.
    I read the story and I agree

    Who would have predicted?!
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    Scott_xP said:

    It must be ever so painful for you

    Why would I be in pain?

    I would be more embarrassed to be a BoZo fanbois
    But then your anti Boris posts are not working

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    Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 34,365
    Foxy said:

    When I was at school in America, there was a flag raising ceremony before school, with the US and State flags being ceremonially raised, and lowered again at the end of the day. The school day started with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, standing, hand over heart facing the flag in the corner of the classroom. I was a Conscientious Objector to it, and after a bit of fuss granted an exemption on grounds of being British, not American.

    I don't think that would work here.

    As a primary school pupil in Scotland I was taught the words to God Save the Queen

    Which is why I get irritated when England National sporting teams don't know the words
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    Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 34,365
    Nothing to see here...

    @REWearmouth: “I am first lord of the Treasury,” Boris Johnson tells James Dyson in text convo mid-pandemic about what tax Dyson… https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1384762048408604674
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    Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 34,365

    But then your anti Boris posts are not working

    WTF are you talking about?

    We are commenting on an obscure internet blog, not texting Cabinet Ministers...
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    eekeek Posts: 25,876

    Scott_xP said:

    Foxy said:

    I think a further Sindyref inevitable, it is just a matter of timing. Having an outline agreed between Westminster and Holyrood of what Indy Scotland would be like would be a useful lesson to learn from the post Brexit fiasco.

    Which is why it won't happen.

    BoZo can't demand a detailed manifesto after all his bullshit for Brexit
    It must be ever so painful for you that despite all your comments Boris gets more popular by the day and today many European newspapers are blaming him for the collapse of the ESL

    He will wear that badge with pride

    Boris 2 - Europe 0
    I don't think stopping English teams playing in a Super League wins Boris any votes in Scotland.
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    following the collapse of the super league, and it feels like it was ultimately the reality that the English teams would be blocked by the British government by any means necessary from participating... a controversial set of questions...
    Would such action within membership of the single market have been possible and lawful?
    is Boris Johnson now the most influential and powerful head of government in Europe?
    Will we hear fans chanting "we love boris johnson" from the Anfield Kop?
    Will his actions over the last few days have any short to medium term political impact?
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    Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 13,295
    Foxy said:

    When I was at school in America, there was a flag raising ceremony before school, with the US and State flags being ceremonially raised, and lowered again at the end of the day. The school day started with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, standing, hand over heart facing the flag in the corner of the classroom. I was a Conscientious Objector to it, and after a bit of fuss granted an exemption on grounds of being British, not American.

    I don't think that would work here.
    I was in the same situation when it went to school in Washington DC - excused flag shagging on grounds of being British (as I was then).

    I enjoyed going to school in the US. In stark contrast to my previous school in Brussels I didn't really learn anything in an academic sense but the sports facilities were first rate.
  • Options
    MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 50,537
    moonshine said:

    Well the super league was a fun diversion for a few days.

    Meanwhile in America...

    https://youtu.be/SKsLK_Na7iw

    News bulletin from NBC last week, further softening up of the US public for the biggest story of all time.

    paging @Leon

    It is going to be an unimaginably massive story - but based on 99.9999% speculation. 24 hour rolling news will be mental. "Where is this life in the Universe? Are they more like Alien - or Predator? What will this news do to house prices? We go over now to Meghan Markle for an in-depth interview on what it means for the Royal family....."

    We are going to lose or shit. Be a good time to bury bad news though...

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    eek said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Foxy said:

    I think a further Sindyref inevitable, it is just a matter of timing. Having an outline agreed between Westminster and Holyrood of what Indy Scotland would be like would be a useful lesson to learn from the post Brexit fiasco.

    Which is why it won't happen.

    BoZo can't demand a detailed manifesto after all his bullshit for Brexit
    It must be ever so painful for you that despite all your comments Boris gets more popular by the day and today many European newspapers are blaming him for the collapse of the ESL

    He will wear that badge with pride

    Boris 2 - Europe 0
    I don't think stopping English teams playing in a Super League wins Boris any votes in Scotland.
    Actually the SNP were wholly behind Boris as the ESL would have affected football across the UK
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    NemtynakhtNemtynakht Posts: 2,314
    ydoethur said:

    ydoethur said:

    A bit of a shame TSE didn’t get the Agricola into the lead as TUD asked.

    ‘They create a wilderness and call it peace’ would be a pretty fair summary of Sturgeon’s administration over the last three years.

    I am not an SNP fan. If the majority of voters disagree and re-elect her government then that is clearly the "will of the people". Whether that is education policy or independence or whatever.
    Well, yes. Just as it was when they re-elected the Johnson cabal of lowlifes and crooks.

    That doesn’t mean they made the right decision for good governance. Indeed, a strong case could be made that the SNP are a far worse government than even Westminster has produced.

    But as with Johnson, the issue is however bad they are, they are probably still better than the opppostion.

    And on that cheerful note, have a good morning.
    On Topic Scotland really does bring out the hypocrite in people. Yesterday we had all the remainers arguing Scotland should leave and today we have the crowd who think that if Scotland get a majority SNP they can go anything, but a Tory majority shouldn't be allowed to do anything in Westminster!
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    DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 25,333
    Sandpit said:

    LOL, the Guardian have just implemented a "Registration Wall" on most of their content. It's still "Free To Read" but they want your email address, presumably for their tracking systems and advertisers.

    Sadly for them, they use the same crap tech as the Telegraph and Spectator, loading the whole article in the background then trying to hide most of it at the end of the page load process.

    Or you can just press the "I'll do it later" button.
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    Scott_xP said:

    But then your anti Boris posts are not working

    WTF are you talking about?

    We are commenting on an obscure internet blog, not texting Cabinet Ministers...
    The only point in your posts is to attack Boris while at the same time he grows in popularity

    It must be very annoying
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    TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 40,691
    Foxy said:

    When I was at school in America, there was a flag raising ceremony before school, with the US and State flags being ceremonially raised, and lowered again at the end of the day. The school day started with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, standing, hand over heart facing the flag in the corner of the classroom. I was a Conscientious Objector to it, and after a bit of fuss granted an exemption on grounds of being British, not American.

    I don't think that would work here.
    I guess that there’s a case for that sort of thing when it has grown organically as part of the forming of a national polity though not my cup of tea. Bolting it onto a developed society (particularly a divided one) would be counter productive I feel, as well as just plain weird.
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    Sandpit said:

    Blimey, if even Kuenssberg is tweeting about it..

    https://twitter.com/bbclaurak/status/1384735522556362755?s=21

    Government moving mountains to get their hands on medical equipment during a global pandemic, really isn't the big story she thinks it is.
    Hang on. Getting the ventilators isn't the issue. Paying tax is. Lets assume a made up number for the tax bill - £500k. Dyson could compensate the employees (and "senior individuals") for the tax paid. And add the £500k on to the contract value if he wanted to.

    We *have* to have tax transparency where foreign-based companies pay due taxes in the UK. Whether they are Tory donors or not.
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    Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 13,295
    Pulpstar said:



    I think standing and remaining silent and respectful is the correct thing to do in that situation. Pledging allegiance to another state you are resident in but not a citizen of would just be odd.

    On some US bases they used to play the anthem and do a bit of flag shagging before chow. US Navy messes are much more formal than British ones; you have to ask the senior officer at any table for permission to sit, etc. I used to stand in silence but the other exchange officer, a Norwegian, just used to sit down, start inhaling his meal and say "NOT MY FOCKING FLAG" if questioned on his deportment.
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    DavidL said:

    The Scottish Conservatives are campaigning on no to a second referendum. It's not quite their only policy but it is close. The SNP are campaigning for a second referendum. They don't really want to talk about their increasingly abysmal record in government over the last 14 years and who can blame them? Labour and the Lib Dems both oppose a second referendum wanting to "fix" Scotland first. They are both struggling to be heard a bit. The Greens want a referendum, no doubt on recyclable paper. Alba thinks a second referendum is a compromise.

    So the people of Scotland, even those who find politics tedious in the extreme, really should know what they are voting for. Those who are actually interested in how Scotland is governed, how its economy recovers from Covid and the heavy handed Nicola and how its once vaunted education system is falling apart making young Scots less employable are in something approaching despair, at least if those I speak to are typical in any way (and in fairness they may not be). Our political class has done almost nothing but play political games about constitutional matters for more than 20 years. It's a disgrace.

    If the majority of the people of Scotland vote for Indyref 2 then that is what must happen. We are voluntary members of one of the most successful unions in the history of the world. We are a part of this great, democratic country. I am proud to be a part of that country and that union. A part of that greatness is that the will of the people has to be respected. This is not in Boris's gift, it is in the hands of the people and they must choose.

    Exactly my view
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    eekeek Posts: 25,876

    eek said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Foxy said:

    I think a further Sindyref inevitable, it is just a matter of timing. Having an outline agreed between Westminster and Holyrood of what Indy Scotland would be like would be a useful lesson to learn from the post Brexit fiasco.

    Which is why it won't happen.

    BoZo can't demand a detailed manifesto after all his bullshit for Brexit
    It must be ever so painful for you that despite all your comments Boris gets more popular by the day and today many European newspapers are blaming him for the collapse of the ESL

    He will wear that badge with pride

    Boris 2 - Europe 0
    I don't think stopping English teams playing in a Super League wins Boris any votes in Scotland.
    Actually the SNP were wholly behind Boris as the ESL would have affected football across the UK
    the SNP might have been but SNP supporters and Scottish referendum voters won't care.

    As I said it won't win him any votes above the border...
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    eekeek Posts: 25,876

    moonshine said:

    Well the super league was a fun diversion for a few days.

    Meanwhile in America...

    https://youtu.be/SKsLK_Na7iw

    News bulletin from NBC last week, further softening up of the US public for the biggest story of all time.

    paging @Leon

    It is going to be an unimaginably massive story - but based on 99.9999% speculation. 24 hour rolling news will be mental. "Where is this life in the Universe? Are they more like Alien - or Predator? What will this news do to house prices? We go over now to Meghan Markle for an in-depth interview on what it means for the Royal family....."

    We are going to lose or shit. Be a good time to bury bad news though...

    Things we can't quite explain isn't really prove of aliens from elsewhere...

    That would require metals or compounds no one has a clue how to make or organic matter that has little to do with us.
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    eek said:

    eek said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Foxy said:

    I think a further Sindyref inevitable, it is just a matter of timing. Having an outline agreed between Westminster and Holyrood of what Indy Scotland would be like would be a useful lesson to learn from the post Brexit fiasco.

    Which is why it won't happen.

    BoZo can't demand a detailed manifesto after all his bullshit for Brexit
    It must be ever so painful for you that despite all your comments Boris gets more popular by the day and today many European newspapers are blaming him for the collapse of the ESL

    He will wear that badge with pride

    Boris 2 - Europe 0
    I don't think stopping English teams playing in a Super League wins Boris any votes in Scotland.
    Actually the SNP were wholly behind Boris as the ESL would have affected football across the UK
    the SNP might have been but SNP supporters and Scottish referendum voters won't care.

    As I said it won't win him any votes above the border...
    They do care about this but independence is the only thing that matters to the SNP
  • Options
    CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758

    I do think that the inclusion of Latin makes the OP look like a right Starmer - us plegs don't speak Roman.

    Liar considers himself leader Uber alles. Immaculate. Untouchable. I wholly expect him to go down the tone deaf "I am the PM with a big majority and I am in charge" route. Which only guarantees not only Scotland's departure but almost certainly NI as well.

    Once democracy is the tyranny of the masses in another country it ceases to be democracy at all.

    The Scottish electors had a vote a few years ago and decided it wasn’t another country. Their determination should be respected
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    Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 34,365
    Not just the PM who cones out of this Dyson thing looking grim. Whose first thought when asked to help in a national crisis like this is ‘but what about my taxes’?
    https://twitter.com/gabyhinsliff/status/1384766194239016961
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    Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 34,365
    V interesting story from Laura about ventilator challenge..

    At the time, other manufacturers felt that in the key March 16th meeting the PM was especially keen to involve Dyson and JCB, as manufacturer-supporters of Brexit, rather than carmakers and aerospace (who succeeded) https://twitter.com/bbclaurak/status/1384759633957511172
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    DavidLDavidL Posts: 51,996

    eek said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Foxy said:

    I think a further Sindyref inevitable, it is just a matter of timing. Having an outline agreed between Westminster and Holyrood of what Indy Scotland would be like would be a useful lesson to learn from the post Brexit fiasco.

    Which is why it won't happen.

    BoZo can't demand a detailed manifesto after all his bullshit for Brexit
    It must be ever so painful for you that despite all your comments Boris gets more popular by the day and today many European newspapers are blaming him for the collapse of the ESL

    He will wear that badge with pride

    Boris 2 - Europe 0
    I don't think stopping English teams playing in a Super League wins Boris any votes in Scotland.
    Actually the SNP were wholly behind Boris as the ESL would have affected football across the UK
    I still think Dundee United turning down their invitation on moral grounds was the turning point.
  • Options
    guybrushguybrush Posts: 244

    moonshine said:

    Well the super league was a fun diversion for a few days.

    Meanwhile in America...

    https://youtu.be/SKsLK_Na7iw

    News bulletin from NBC last week, further softening up of the US public for the biggest story of all time.

    paging @Leon

    It is going to be an unimaginably massive story - but based on 99.9999% speculation. 24 hour rolling news will be mental. "Where is this life in the Universe? Are they more like Alien - or Predator? What will this news do to house prices? We go over now to Meghan Markle for an in-depth interview on what it means for the Royal family....."

    We are going to lose or shit. Be a good time to bury bad news though...

    That's all we need after the last 12 months, bloody independence day. I mean, is Will Smith still available?
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    CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758

    Blimey, if even Kuenssberg is tweeting about it..

    https://twitter.com/bbclaurak/status/1384735522556362755?s=21

    Would it have been better that we didn’t make this change and he didn’t do the work to try and help out in the pandemic?
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    solarflaresolarflare Posts: 3,623
    "Some UK ministers believe PM should force a new independence referendum fast amid pandemic job losses & economic turmoil to try to emphasise risks of Scotland going it alone. One said: "The time to do it would be in the middle of economic chaos"

    I wonder if they're really thought through whether highlighting massive economic problems in the UK in order to get people to vote not to leave the UK would really be the best way to go about that.
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    CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758

    Off-topic, but with the football excitement did we miss the UN calling Liar's "no racism here" report "an attempt to normalise white supremacy"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-56800763

    No, we didn't.

    I think it's one of the most absurdly hyperbolic reactions to a report I've ever seen.
    Are Syria and Saudi still on the UN Human Rights Commission?
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    Scott_xP said:

    But then your anti Boris posts are not working

    WTF are you talking about?

    We are commenting on an obscure internet blog, not texting Cabinet Ministers...
    The only point in your posts is to attack Boris while at the same time he grows in popularity

    It must be very annoying
    This government has a big majority and is going nowhere. So the point isn't about popularity or trying to score points for the opposition. Its about Right and Wrong. It is even more important when a government has a large majority that it acts properly.

    When you see what you consider to be errors or waste or wrongdoing with Mark Drakeford you shriek endlessly about it. You are a massive hypocrite in not applying the same standards to the PM.
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    moonshine said:

    Well the super league was a fun diversion for a few days.

    Meanwhile in America...

    https://youtu.be/SKsLK_Na7iw

    News bulletin from NBC last week, further softening up of the US public for the biggest story of all time.

    paging @Leon

    It is going to be an unimaginably massive story - but based on 99.9999% speculation. 24 hour rolling news will be mental. "Where is this life in the Universe? Are they more like Alien - or Predator? What will this news do to house prices? We go over now to Meghan Markle for an in-depth interview on what it means for the Royal family....."

    We are going to lose or shit. Be a good time to bury bad news though...

    there was an interview with someone on the Delingpole podcast (i liked him before he went mad) who set up a whole series of scenarios that had been planned by some spooky people who control the world. He said post covid it would be the existence of aliens. All sounded like conspiracy nonsense... but maybe not!
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    DavidLDavidL Posts: 51,996
    moonshine said:

    Well the super league was a fun diversion for a few days.

    Meanwhile in America...

    https://youtu.be/SKsLK_Na7iw

    News bulletin from NBC last week, further softening up of the US public for the biggest story of all time.

    paging @Leon

    What, bigger than the ESL? How on earth would we cope?
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    Scott_xP said:

    V interesting story from Laura about ventilator challenge..

    At the time, other manufacturers felt that in the key March 16th meeting the PM was especially keen to involve Dyson and JCB, as manufacturer-supporters of Brexit, rather than carmakers and aerospace (who succeeded) https://twitter.com/bbclaurak/status/1384759633957511172

    The PM? Very keen to grant large contracts to Tory donors as opposed to the companies best equipped to manufacture the critical equipment? Naah, that would be corruption mate, he is flawless and immaculate and would never gift cash to his mates or mistress.

    If Labour were doing it, the usual suspects would be shrieking to high heaven about it.
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    eekeek Posts: 25,876
    edited April 2021
    Charles said:

    Blimey, if even Kuenssberg is tweeting about it..

    https://twitter.com/bbclaurak/status/1384735522556362755?s=21

    Would it have been better that we didn’t make this change and he didn’t do the work to try and help out in the pandemic?
    It really is a complete none story - we need to ship people to the UK - can you confirm before we do so that they won't need to pay any tax (and he's asking for his staff not him).

    I wish the ESL story hadn't been killed last night at least that was interesting.
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    Charles said:

    Blimey, if even Kuenssberg is tweeting about it..

    https://twitter.com/bbclaurak/status/1384735522556362755?s=21

    Would it have been better that we didn’t make this change and he didn’t do the work to try and help out in the pandemic?
    It would have been better to have paid taxes due. Once you establish that helping party donors to avoid paying taxes is in the national interest there is little left to say. Remember that in the same period they have zealously gone after UC claimants to recoup years old money which HMRC had just discovered was paid in error.

    One rule for the little people, another rule for Tory donors. Yet you insist your friends and party are above reproach when it comes to financial standards.
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    MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 50,537
    Foxy said:

    On topic, I don't think there's a contradiction between the Tories campaigning on a "no second referendum" platform and then conceding there must be one if the nationalists win a big majority. The former line only holds if they are able to deny the nationalists a majority.

    On the strategy for one I've seen two suggestions. One, that the exit terms should be pre-negotiated so Scots know what they'd be voting on as a condition of a vote and, two, that the benefits of the Union should be made loud & clear - rather than going full Project Fear.

    I think they are good ones.

    I think a further Sindyref inevitable, it is just a matter of timing. Having an outline agreed between Westminster and Holyrood of what Indy Scotland would be like would be a useful lesson to learn from the post Brexit fiasco.
    Highly amusing that those who bleat loudest about "the disaster that has been Brexit" are strangely silent on why Scotland needs to benefit from lessons learnt from that disaster....

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    kjh said:

    Sandpit said:

    Blimey, if even Kuenssberg is tweeting about it..

    https://twitter.com/bbclaurak/status/1384735522556362755?s=21

    Government moving mountains to get their hands on medical equipment during a global pandemic, really isn't the big story she thinks it is.
    Hang on. Getting the ventilators isn't the issue. Paying tax is. Lets assume a made up number for the tax bill - £500k. Dyson could compensate the employees (and "senior individuals") for the tax paid. And add the £500k on to the contract value if he wanted to.

    We *have* to have tax transparency where foreign-based companies pay due taxes in the UK. Whether they are Tory donors or not.
    That isn't the issue though. Dyson wasn't attempting to profit from it. He just wanted to ensure that the company and staff would not be penalised for overstaying in the UK to achieve a positive aim.

    I have no problem with this. Both Boris and Dyson were trying to do the right thing and didn't want to be caught out by rules not intended for these special circumstances.

    I have campaigned for a defence against against penalties for breaking laws that have unforeseen consequences. We must of all come across 'jobs worths' who have applied rules correctly no matter how irrational they were in the circumstances.

    The only criticism here is it is one rule for Dyson and another for the rest of us because there isn't a defence for the rest of us.
    Dyson and his "senior individuals" can afford to pay a bit of tax for a few weeks. Dyson can afford to compensate his "senior individuals" for the extra tax they have to pay. Or can pass the value onto the contract cost.

    It is no surprise that the usual suspects are trying to say that Tory donors getting the Chancellor and PM to waive them paying tax is a non-story. There is no Tory sleaze, no no no. All entirely above board.
This discussion has been closed.