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On that basis: UK worst nation in Europe for covid 19 deaths... UK needs to throw the Tories out in 2024.Big_G_NorthWales said:Wales worst region by far in England and Wales for covid 19 infection rates
Wales needs to throw out labour in 20212 -
To be blunt, BigG, although I agree with you on the need short of an absolutely sensational result it’s damned difficult to see any government being formed that doesn’t include Labour.Big_G_NorthWales said:Wales worst region by far in England and Wales for covid 19 infection rates
Wales needs to throw out labour in 2021
I think Tories - most seats but a Labour-Plaid-Green (if any) coalition government would be a reasonable bet. The snag is that unless the Tories or Plaid win an outright majority, one of which is out of the question and the other of which is extremely unlikely, then Plaid will almost certainly back Labour ahead of the Tories.0 -
There is a big, and to the Chinese government hugely frustrating, contradiction on the status of Taiwan. China's position is that Taiwan is integral to its territory. In other words it doesn't matter a tiny bit what the people of Taiwan think, although the Chinese don't actually want to send the troops in. Taiwan doesn't object to reunification in principle although it distrusts the Chinese government in practice, Their point is that legitimacy comes from the people and it is entirely up to the people of Taiwan what they do.williamglenn said:China sets the record strait on Taiwan: it's an internal civil war, but Chinese don't fight Chinese, and China reserves the right to use force.
https://twitter.com/MahuiChina/status/1260866328463843328
https://twitter.com/MahuiChina/status/1260866335170605057
https://twitter.com/MahuiChina/status/1260866336256909312
To be fair on this issue, China position of territorial integrity no matter what people in that territory think, is legally the same as many other countries. The United States for example.1 -
I saw a story second hand about Senegal doing incredibly well. Lots of chloroquin around as they already have it for Malaria. Simple treatments. No frills.Nigelb said:
Though some poorer nations with effective public health systems are doing relatively well too.kinabalu said:
Exactly right. It's about competence not some great philosophical weighing up of elderly lives against younger ones or of lives generally against money. Also it's very different for the developed world c.f. poorer nations without advanced healthcare.Nigelb said:
The genuine differences seem to be between countries with proactive/competent and reactive/dialling-it-in governments.kinabalu said:
Yes, I think the 'grand bargain' thing is off beam re this crisis. The virus without restrictions so severe as to wreck the economy and impinge on personal freedoms would have wrecked the economy and impinged on personal freedoms.Nigelb said:
The Prof is also assuming - without any hard evidence at all - that avoiding taking countermeasures would not have resulted in a similar depression.NickPalmer said:
Broadly speaking I'm a utilitarian - if something benefits a lot of people at the expense of a few people, I tend to be in favour unless it's outrageously unfair. But the Bristol Prof's view goes too far - effectively he says that we should accept the imminent death of N people in order to give the rest of us 3 months' longer lifespans. No. I'll take 3 months' less life rather than subscribe to sacrificing 100,000 lives to avoid it. If that's the choice.kyf_100 said:
It's my view that the course of action the government has pursued will cause a great depression that will be an order of magnitude more harmful than the virus. Here's a professor from Bristol University saying just that:
"If the countermeasures we take reduce our life expectancy by more than 3 months, then because there are so many of us in the country, that means we will actually suffer more loss of life than we will from the epidemic itself".
https://www.energylivenews.com/2020/04/02/an-economic-crash-could-cost-more-lives-than-the-coronavirus/
I'm not arguing against lockdown because I'm bored and fancy a pint with my mates, I'm arguing against it because I think it's a calamitous policy that will ultimately hurt more than it helps.
So he's effectively suggesting sacrificing a number of lives for an outcome which might be no better.
But I am interested in the general concept. For example, one I floated a while back, which sounds a bit silly but IMO isn't, since it illustrates the point well.
If a million people having a harmless but uncomfortable nosebleed for 60 minutes prevents a 75 year old man in Basildon* dropping dead of a heart attack, is this a good trade for the nation?
* he doesn't have to be in Basildon.
The lockdown/no lockdown debate is a distraction.0 -
I think it does show the different perils for those MPs who use twitter because in public life they feel they have to, and those who are genuinely into using it and thus much more likely to make an arse of themselves.ydoethur said:
Should we consider the possibility it’s because she’s a useless twat?TheScreamingEagles said:So why is Nadine Dorries sharing far right fake news when she's a health minister during a pandemic?
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The UKIP vote rose from 6% in 1999 to 16% in 2009 on the European elections due to uncontrolled immigration from Eastern Europe. With proper transition controls like Germany had Brexit would have remained the pet hobby of obsessives like Cash, Farage and Hannan.Nigel_Foremain said:
Nope, the key reason for the Leave vote was most that voted that way were just xenophobic. You don't need to worry though, because though you have sucked up to the loony right ever since, you voted Remain, and are only therefore xenophobic by association.HYUFD said:
That decision undoubtedly suppressed wages for the lower skilled and added to pressure on housing and public services and was a key reason for the Leave vote in 2016matthiasfromhamburg said:
Was that fact that you're requesting gratitude for really some sort of sacrifice made by the UK to its own detriment, or was it more a case of the UKG making the decision to do its own economy a favour, by, on the one hand, attracting 'the best and the brightest' for its financial services and other high-value industries, and, on the other hand, attracting less - but still sufficiently - skilled workers for production plants, construction sites, hospitals and nursing homes, etc., because the UK workforce was not prepared or inclined to fill these more menial roles?HYUFD said:
No gratitude for the fact we did not impose transition controls on free movement from the new accession countries in 2004 as Germany for instance did for 7 yearsCarlottaVance said:
The development of unemployment numbers doesn't seem to indicate that net migration had driven the British out of their jobs, and it seems fairly arguable whether the widely percieved, but hardly measurable, wage suppression was more an effect of net migration or post-GFC wage austerity.0 -
Have we discussed this news?
Boris Johnson's government has admitted it will erect Brexit border control posts for goods crossing the Irish Sea.
https://www.businessinsider.com/brexit-government-admits-there-will-be-checks-on-goods-going-to-northern-ireland-2020-5?r=US&IR=T
I love Boris Johnson, he's sold out the DUP and the Norn Irish.
As strategic blunders go the DUP backing Brexit is up there with Japan attacking the Pacific fleet to keep the Americans out of WWII.4 -
Was on a very interesting call with a synthetic biology biosecurity crowd on Tuesday - a mixture of academics, entrepreneurs, angel investors, law enforcement, military and intelligence types (Chatham House rules).Nigelb said:
No problem.TimT said:
Thanks, once again, Nigel for posting this. Very promising indeed.Nigelb said:
The vaccinated animals did show viral shedding from the upper respiratory tract, but this was a very high dosage viral challenge trial, likely well in excess of any normal human exposure.Nigelb said:Promising.
ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccination prevents SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia in rhesus macaques
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.05.13.093195v1
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in December 20191,2 and is responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic3. Vaccines are an essential countermeasure urgently needed to control the pandemic4. Here, we show that the adenovirus-vectored vaccine ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, encoding the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, is immunogenic in mice, eliciting a robust humoral and cell-mediated response. This response was not Th2 dominated, as demonstrated by IgG subclass and cytokine expression profiling. A single vaccination with ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 induced a humoral and cellular immune response in rhesus macaques. We observed a significantly reduced viral load in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and respiratory tract tissue of vaccinated animals challenged with SARS-CoV-2 compared with control animals, and no pneumonia was observed in vaccinated rhesus macaques. Importantly, no evidence of immune-enhanced disease following viral challenge in vaccinated animals was observed. ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 is currently under investigation in a phase I clinical trial. Safety, immunogenicity and efficacy against symptomatic PCR-positive COVID-19 disease will now be assessed in randomised controlled human clinical trials.
And contrast with similar studies for the original SARS virus vaccines, which...resulted in immunopathology after vaccination and challenge, with more severe disease in vaccinated animals than in controls...
I'm always happier posting good news.
Very interesting presentations on empirical analysis of measures taken vs trust in government, and on information flows.
In short, there seems to be no correlation between measures espoused and outcomes, but fairly strong correlation with trust in government and good outcomes. In other words, the actual strategy for combatting COVID does not seem that important, it is the degree of implementation. So the Swedish model could well work in Sweden, but not in the UK. And the Vietnam model could work there, but not in the US. And so on.
And on the information side, the Economist model of "democracies do better because of free flow of information" seems just wrong - too much information without screening for quality or actionability (US, UK) is not useful; moderated and directed access to information in a more centralized manner (Vietnam) seems to have been more effective; and, as one would expect, telling people what they can do, rather than what they should not, is also more effective.
If you're interested, I'll dig out the papers to send.0 -
You do not know that at this stage but we do know on today's figures shown on ITV Wales that Wales is behind all regions in EnglandBenpointer said:
On that basis: UK worst nation in Europe for covid 19 deaths... UK needs to throw the Tories out in 2024.Big_G_NorthWales said:Wales worst region by far in England and Wales for covid 19 infection rates
Wales needs to throw out labour in 2021
We have suffered from labour for years with failing health service, and my family have had serious issues with it, and failing schooling
Labour and Drakeford has to go0 -
Surely the more amusing irony is that they hurled May under a bus claiming her deal was no good, only to get ruthlessly screwed over by Johnson who imposed a much worse one, indeed, one on the EU’s terms?TheScreamingEagles said:Have we discussed this news?
Boris Johnson's government has admitted it will erect Brexit border control posts for goods crossing the Irish Sea.
https://www.businessinsider.com/brexit-government-admits-there-will-be-checks-on-goods-going-to-northern-ireland-2020-5?r=US&IR=T
I love Boris Johnson, he's sold out the DUP and the Norn Irish.
As strategic blunders go the DUP backing Brexit is up there with Japan attacking the Pacific fleet to keep the Americans out of WWII.
Most disastrous act of political positioning since Felix Fauré’s unfortunate attempt to be Caesar...2 -
LOL. The corollary of the paper I have just discussed, is that the failures in the UK and the US in dealing with COVID have more to do with our societal culture of questioning authority - our very high level of individualism which is the core of our capitalist successes - than with the decisions of our governments. We are to blame, not our governments.Big_G_NorthWales said:
You do not know that at this stage but we do know on today's figures shown on ITV Wales that Wales is behind all regions in EnglandBenpointer said:
On that basis: UK worst nation in Europe for covid 19 deaths... UK needs to throw the Tories out in 2024.Big_G_NorthWales said:Wales worst region by far in England and Wales for covid 19 infection rates
Wales needs to throw out labour in 2021
We have suffered from labour for years with failing health service, and my family have had serious issues with it, and failing schooling
Labour and Drakeford has to go
Having dropped that bomb, I am going to sit back and enjoy the show ...0 -
It largely depends if Starmer stabilises labour in Walesydoethur said:
To be blunt, BigG, although I agree with you on the need short of an absolutely sensational result it’s damned difficult to see any government being formed that doesn’t include Labour.Big_G_NorthWales said:Wales worst region by far in England and Wales for covid 19 infection rates
Wales needs to throw out labour in 2021
I think Tories - most seats but a Labour-Plaid-Green (if any) coalition government would be a reasonable bet. The snag is that unless the Tories or Plaid win an outright majority, one of which is out of the question and the other of which is extremely unlikely, then Plaid will almost certainly back Labour ahead of the Tories.
But for the sake of Wales we need labour out0 -
nova said:
If you ever want to feel old, subtract your age from your birth, and then look at what was happening in that year. Most people consider things that happened during their lives as relatively recent, and exaggerate just how far back "history" isPhilip_Thompson said:That election was over a decade before I was born. I wonder what the cut off is for it to no longer be considered "in modern times"?
It's strange to think but 1970 now is comparably long ago as the Great Depression period before before WWII was when I was in primary school.
nova said:
If you ever want to feel old, subtract your age from your birth, and then look at what was happening in that year. Most people consider things that happened during their lives as relatively recent, and exaggerate just how far back "history" isPhilip_Thompson said:That election was over a decade before I was born. I wonder what the cut off is for it to no longer be considered "in modern times"?
It's strange to think but 1970 now is comparably long ago as the Great Depression period before before WWII was when I was in primary school.
Not many people are inclined to look this directly in the face but it happens to be a bit of a quirky time obsession of mine. In two months time I reach the age of 66 - and I am conscious that was the average UK male expectancy in 1960. By my calculation, I have just reached what was normal male life expectancy in April 1959. I was young at the time but do have vivid memories of those years. I still see 1959 as being in the 'Modern World'.nova said:
If you ever want to feel old, subtract your age from your birth, and then look at what was happening in that year. Most people consider things that happened during their lives as relatively recent, and exaggerate just how far back "history" isPhilip_Thompson said:That election was over a decade before I was born. I wonder what the cut off is for it to no longer be considered "in modern times"?
It's strange to think but 1970 now is comparably long ago as the Great Depression period before before WWII was when I was in primary school.
More strikingly, I tell myself that living beyond 80 cannot be assumed at all. I am faced with the reality that I am as close to 80 as to March 2006 - by which time Cameron had already been Tory leader for three months!0 -
Does anyone know what the best place is to find what percentage the BAME populations of the UK, Sweden, Italy, Germany, and France are?
I have this supposition that the death figures need some adjustment based on BAME populations.0 -
One minute your against party political attacks, then you’re not. 🤷♂️Big_G_NorthWales said:
You do not know that at this stage but we do know on today's figures shown on ITV Wales that Wales is behind all regions in EnglandBenpointer said:
On that basis: UK worst nation in Europe for covid 19 deaths... UK needs to throw the Tories out in 2024.Big_G_NorthWales said:Wales worst region by far in England and Wales for covid 19 infection rates
Wales needs to throw out labour in 2021
We have suffered from labour for years with failing health service, and my family have had serious issues with it, and failing schooling
Labour and Drakeford has to go
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https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-nireland-poll/poll-shows-northern-ireland-majority-against-united-ireland-idUKKBN20C0WFTheScreamingEagles said:Have we discussed this news?
Boris Johnson's government has admitted it will erect Brexit border control posts for goods crossing the Irish Sea.
https://www.businessinsider.com/brexit-government-admits-there-will-be-checks-on-goods-going-to-northern-ireland-2020-5?r=US&IR=T
I love Boris Johnson, he's sold out the DUP and the Norn Irish.
As strategic blunders go the DUP backing Brexit is up there with Japan attacking the Pacific fleet to keep the Americans out of WWII.0 -
The Telegraph reporting the World Health Org saying we should be preparing for the second wave, rather than celebrating the end of the first
How depressing. I really feel for the vulnerable people patiently waiting indoors. No light at the end of the tunnel, things may never be the same again. Akin to a loss of innocence, the eating of the apple0 -
There are plenty of bends left in this particular road. We're not in a position at present to know whether it was a disastrous move by Arlene or not.ydoethur said:
Surely the more amusing irony is that they hurled May under a bus claiming her deal was no good, only to get ruthlessly screwed over by Johnson who imposed a much worse one, indeed, one on the EU’s terms?TheScreamingEagles said:Have we discussed this news?
Boris Johnson's government has admitted it will erect Brexit border control posts for goods crossing the Irish Sea.
https://www.businessinsider.com/brexit-government-admits-there-will-be-checks-on-goods-going-to-northern-ireland-2020-5?r=US&IR=T
I love Boris Johnson, he's sold out the DUP and the Norn Irish.
As strategic blunders go the DUP backing Brexit is up there with Japan attacking the Pacific fleet to keep the Americans out of WWII.
Most disastrous act of political positioning since Felix Fauré’s unfortunate attempt to be Caesar...0 -
wiki?TheScreamingEagles said:Does anyone know what the best place is to find what percentage the BAME populations of the UK, Sweden, Italy, Germany, and France are?
I have this supposition that the death figures need some adjustment based on BAME populations.0 -
Little sympathy to be had for the DUP. They had a great position holding the whip hand over the May government, and one of two things happened - either they enjoyed it too much and caused it to implode and then midjudged Johnson, or they they acted as they did toward May out of genuine principle and therefore deserve no sympathy for suffering worse afterwards, as they surely accepted the potential consequence whilst acting on their principles so don't need sympathy.ydoethur said:
Surely the more amusing irony is that they hurled May under a bus claiming her deal was no good, only to get ruthlessly screwed over by Johnson who imposed a much worse one, indeed, one on the EU’s terms?TheScreamingEagles said:Have we discussed this news?
Boris Johnson's government has admitted it will erect Brexit border control posts for goods crossing the Irish Sea.
https://www.businessinsider.com/brexit-government-admits-there-will-be-checks-on-goods-going-to-northern-ireland-2020-5?r=US&IR=T
I love Boris Johnson, he's sold out the DUP and the Norn Irish.
As strategic blunders go the DUP backing Brexit is up there with Japan attacking the Pacific fleet to keep the Americans out of WWII.
Most disastrous act of political positioning since Felix Fauré’s unfortunate attempt to be Caesar...1 -
I thought the Japanese pre-emptively attacked the American fleet to break the blockade that America had placed on trade with Japan. In which case it makes sense, albeit a very high risk move. No such justification for the DUP's Brexit move.TheScreamingEagles said:Have we discussed this news?
Boris Johnson's government has admitted it will erect Brexit border control posts for goods crossing the Irish Sea.
https://www.businessinsider.com/brexit-government-admits-there-will-be-checks-on-goods-going-to-northern-ireland-2020-5?r=US&IR=T
I love Boris Johnson, he's sold out the DUP and the Norn Irish.
As strategic blunders go the DUP backing Brexit is up there with Japan attacking the Pacific fleet to keep the Americans out of WWII.0 -
Wikipaedia pages on each country tend to have good population statisticsTheScreamingEagles said:Does anyone know what the best place is to find what percentage the BAME populations of the UK, Sweden, Italy, Germany, and France are?
I have this supposition that the death figures need some adjustment based on BAME populations.
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Wiki isn't always reliable.isam said:
wiki?TheScreamingEagles said:Does anyone know what the best place is to find what percentage the BAME populations of the UK, Sweden, Italy, Germany, and France are?
I have this supposition that the death figures need some adjustment based on BAME populations.
I'm looking for data sources like our gold standard ONS.0 -
That poll is old and was taken before Boris Johnson's government confirmed they had sold out the Norn Irish and put a border down the Irish Sea, something they had said they wouldn't.HYUFD said:
https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-nireland-poll/poll-shows-northern-ireland-majority-against-united-ireland-idUKKBN20C0WFTheScreamingEagles said:Have we discussed this news?
Boris Johnson's government has admitted it will erect Brexit border control posts for goods crossing the Irish Sea.
https://www.businessinsider.com/brexit-government-admits-there-will-be-checks-on-goods-going-to-northern-ireland-2020-5?r=US&IR=T
I love Boris Johnson, he's sold out the DUP and the Norn Irish.
As strategic blunders go the DUP backing Brexit is up there with Japan attacking the Pacific fleet to keep the Americans out of WWII.0 -
France doesn't collect data on ethnic minorities and the UK data is 9 years old.0
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I was unaware that Gwilym ever joined the Tories.At Pembroke he had no Tory opponent at the 1945 and 1950 elections, but by the latter his ever closer association with the Tories alienated enough Red-leaning Liberals to hand the seat narrowly to Labour's Desmond Donnelly!ydoethur said:
Gwilym Lloyd George was a funny one from that point of view (I had a long and rather unproductive argument about him with our own dear Hyufd only the other week). He described himself as a Liberal in every election he fought - even though he lost the Liberal whip after joining the Conservative front bench under Churchill. But after switching to NuTN he was supported by Central Office, so was described by others including The Times as a ‘Liberal and Conservative.’ This didn’t sit well with the local Tory association, who on at least one occasion put up a candidate against him (I think it was in 1951).justin124 said:
To a large extent - if not totally - the National Liberals had been swallowed by the Tories by the early 1950s. I know they still had their own Chief Whip at that time, but in reality they had lost much of the seperate identity they had had under John Simon in the 1930s. I think of Gwilym Lloyd George - though I believe he was elected as a Liberal & Conservative in 1951 , having lost Pembroke to Labour against the national swing in 1950. Of course, Heseltine was originally a National Liberal - and John Nott.ydoethur said:
In 1951 there were around 15-20 Liberal Nationals,* without whom Churchill didn’t have a majority at all. Your point being?justin124 said:Ted Heath's majority of 31 in 1970 included 8 Ulster Unionists still taking the Tory Whip. Without them , his majority was just 15 - reduced to 13 a year later following the Bromsgove by-election - and to just 11 in December 1972 after their loss of Sutton & Cheam.
*Identifying Liberal Nationals is an inexact science, as some identified as Liberals, some as Liberals and Conservatives, some as Liberals and Unionists and some as Liberal Nationals. It is safe to say however that Churchill’s majority was dependent on them and the nine Ulster Unionists in a way that Eden’s or Macmillan’s was not.
I think it was only after he became a peer in 1957 that he actually joined the Conservatives.0 -
The DUP will back Starmer next time if they have the balance of power and EEA for the whole UK.ydoethur said:
Surely the more amusing irony is that they hurled May under a bus claiming her deal was no good, only to get ruthlessly screwed over by Johnson who imposed a much worse one, indeed, one on the EU’s terms?TheScreamingEagles said:Have we discussed this news?
Boris Johnson's government has admitted it will erect Brexit border control posts for goods crossing the Irish Sea.
https://www.businessinsider.com/brexit-government-admits-there-will-be-checks-on-goods-going-to-northern-ireland-2020-5?r=US&IR=T
I love Boris Johnson, he's sold out the DUP and the Norn Irish.
As strategic blunders go the DUP backing Brexit is up there with Japan attacking the Pacific fleet to keep the Americans out of WWII.
Most disastrous act of political positioning since Felix Fauré’s unfortunate attempt to be Caesar...
Boris therefore must win a majority of again next time to stay PM as unlike Cameron or May the LDs and DUP will not prop him up0 -
This is the fact of living in labour Wales and suffering in the failing health and education systemsJonathan said:
One minute your against party political attacks, then you’re not. 🤷♂️Big_G_NorthWales said:
You do not know that at this stage but we do know on today's figures shown on ITV Wales that Wales is behind all regions in EnglandBenpointer said:
On that basis: UK worst nation in Europe for covid 19 deaths... UK needs to throw the Tories out in 2024.Big_G_NorthWales said:Wales worst region by far in England and Wales for covid 19 infection rates
Wales needs to throw out labour in 2021
We have suffered from labour for years with failing health service, and my family have had serious issues with it, and failing schooling
Labour and Drakeford has to go
Our local hospital concealed 84 covid deaths from the stats, yes 84
And Drakeford is a Corbynista and I have never agreed a truce with anyone who is a Corbynista
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The ONS is 9 years out of date I guess. Wiki doesnt even seem to guess for the other countriesTheScreamingEagles said:
Wiki isn't always reliable.isam said:
wiki?TheScreamingEagles said:Does anyone know what the best place is to find what percentage the BAME populations of the UK, Sweden, Italy, Germany, and France are?
I have this supposition that the death figures need some adjustment based on BAME populations.
I'm looking for data sources like our gold standard ONS.
0 -
It's great, also confirmed that Dave (pbuh) was right about what Brexit would do the Union.ydoethur said:
Surely the more amusing irony is that they hurled May under a bus claiming her deal was no good, only to get ruthlessly screwed over by Johnson who imposed a much worse one, indeed, one on the EU’s terms?TheScreamingEagles said:Have we discussed this news?
Boris Johnson's government has admitted it will erect Brexit border control posts for goods crossing the Irish Sea.
https://www.businessinsider.com/brexit-government-admits-there-will-be-checks-on-goods-going-to-northern-ireland-2020-5?r=US&IR=T
I love Boris Johnson, he's sold out the DUP and the Norn Irish.
As strategic blunders go the DUP backing Brexit is up there with Japan attacking the Pacific fleet to keep the Americans out of WWII.
Most disastrous act of political positioning since Felix Fauré’s unfortunate attempt to be Caesar...0 -
Nope, it was taken in February 2020 after Boris got his Withdrawal Agreement with a border in the Irish Sea and after he won a majority.TheScreamingEagles said:
That poll is old and was taken before Boris Johnson's government confirmed they had sold out the Norn Irish and put a border down the Irish Sea, something they had said they wouldn't.HYUFD said:
https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-nireland-poll/poll-shows-northern-ireland-majority-against-united-ireland-idUKKBN20C0WFTheScreamingEagles said:Have we discussed this news?
Boris Johnson's government has admitted it will erect Brexit border control posts for goods crossing the Irish Sea.
https://www.businessinsider.com/brexit-government-admits-there-will-be-checks-on-goods-going-to-northern-ireland-2020-5?r=US&IR=T
I love Boris Johnson, he's sold out the DUP and the Norn Irish.
As strategic blunders go the DUP backing Brexit is up there with Japan attacking the Pacific fleet to keep the Americans out of WWII.
The DUP may hate it but most Northern Irish voters are fine with no hard border with the Republic of Ireland and still technically part of the UK0 -
The key point, obvious to everyone apart from themselves it seems, is that Unionists are the party of the status quo. Brexit threatens the status quo so they should oppose it with the Red Hand of Ulster.kle4 said:
Little sympathy to be had for the DUP. They had a great position holding the whip hand over the May government, and one of two things happened - either they enjoyed it too much and caused it to implode and then midjudged Johnson, or they they acted as they did toward May out of genuine principle and therefore deserve no sympathy for suffering worse afterwards, as they surely accepted the potential consequence whilst acting on their principles so don't need sympathy.ydoethur said:
Surely the more amusing irony is that they hurled May under a bus claiming her deal was no good, only to get ruthlessly screwed over by Johnson who imposed a much worse one, indeed, one on the EU’s terms?TheScreamingEagles said:Have we discussed this news?
Boris Johnson's government has admitted it will erect Brexit border control posts for goods crossing the Irish Sea.
https://www.businessinsider.com/brexit-government-admits-there-will-be-checks-on-goods-going-to-northern-ireland-2020-5?r=US&IR=T
I love Boris Johnson, he's sold out the DUP and the Norn Irish.
As strategic blunders go the DUP backing Brexit is up there with Japan attacking the Pacific fleet to keep the Americans out of WWII.
Most disastrous act of political positioning since Felix Fauré’s unfortunate attempt to be Caesar...0 -
Northern Ireland and Scotland still part of the UK after Brexit has been delivered?TheScreamingEagles said:
It's great, also confirmed that Dave (pbuh) was right about what Brexit would do the Union.ydoethur said:
Surely the more amusing irony is that they hurled May under a bus claiming her deal was no good, only to get ruthlessly screwed over by Johnson who imposed a much worse one, indeed, one on the EU’s terms?TheScreamingEagles said:Have we discussed this news?
Boris Johnson's government has admitted it will erect Brexit border control posts for goods crossing the Irish Sea.
https://www.businessinsider.com/brexit-government-admits-there-will-be-checks-on-goods-going-to-northern-ireland-2020-5?r=US&IR=T
I love Boris Johnson, he's sold out the DUP and the Norn Irish.
As strategic blunders go the DUP backing Brexit is up there with Japan attacking the Pacific fleet to keep the Americans out of WWII.
Most disastrous act of political positioning since Felix Fauré’s unfortunate attempt to be Caesar...0 -
But long term?HYUFD said:
Northern Ireland and Scotland still part of the UK after Brexit has been delivered?TheScreamingEagles said:
It's great, also confirmed that Dave (pbuh) was right about what Brexit would do the Union.ydoethur said:
Surely the more amusing irony is that they hurled May under a bus claiming her deal was no good, only to get ruthlessly screwed over by Johnson who imposed a much worse one, indeed, one on the EU’s terms?TheScreamingEagles said:Have we discussed this news?
Boris Johnson's government has admitted it will erect Brexit border control posts for goods crossing the Irish Sea.
https://www.businessinsider.com/brexit-government-admits-there-will-be-checks-on-goods-going-to-northern-ireland-2020-5?r=US&IR=T
I love Boris Johnson, he's sold out the DUP and the Norn Irish.
As strategic blunders go the DUP backing Brexit is up there with Japan attacking the Pacific fleet to keep the Americans out of WWII.
Most disastrous act of political positioning since Felix Fauré’s unfortunate attempt to be Caesar...0 -
That's spinning it somewhat. Most Northern Irish, push come to shove, will take a border in the Irish Sea if it avoids the even worse land border. But only extremists are happy with either border.HYUFD said:
Nope, it was taken in February 2020 after Boris got his Withdrawal Agreement with a border in the Irish Sea and after he won a majority.TheScreamingEagles said:
That poll is old and was taken before Boris Johnson's government confirmed they had sold out the Norn Irish and put a border down the Irish Sea, something they had said they wouldn't.HYUFD said:
https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-nireland-poll/poll-shows-northern-ireland-majority-against-united-ireland-idUKKBN20C0WFTheScreamingEagles said:Have we discussed this news?
Boris Johnson's government has admitted it will erect Brexit border control posts for goods crossing the Irish Sea.
https://www.businessinsider.com/brexit-government-admits-there-will-be-checks-on-goods-going-to-northern-ireland-2020-5?r=US&IR=T
I love Boris Johnson, he's sold out the DUP and the Norn Irish.
As strategic blunders go the DUP backing Brexit is up there with Japan attacking the Pacific fleet to keep the Americans out of WWII.
The DUP may hate it but most Northern Irish voters are fine with no hard border with the Republic of Ireland and still technically part of the UK0 -
26% of covid hospital deaths in England had diabetes
Also dementia and lung problems have a higher risk of dying0 -
Brexit will change the face of the European Union in many ways. For one, it will make it a lot whiter.Andy_JS said:France doesn't collect data on ethnic minorities and the UK data is 9 years old.
In a bloc that hasn’t placed much focus on increasing the political representation of minorities, the U.K. stands out. Its history of conversations about race relations is wholly different from most of Europe. It’s home to some of the most extensive anti-discrimination legislation and scholarly discussions around race. And it tracks and actively promotes minority leadership in politics and businesses through government-funded programs.
Activists and some politicians in Brussels have called for U.K.-esque policies to be implemented in the EU for years — but Brexit makes that far less likely.
http://www.politico.eu/article/brexit-diversity-exits-the-eu-brussels/amp/0 -
Even if Starmer does not stabilise things - and I think he will - while I can see the Tories creeping to 24 seats in a good year, I cannot see them getting any nearer 30. And without 30 seats in the absence of the Liberal Democrats they have no hope of forming a coalition. Plaid will not back them. Not even under Adam Price. So it would be a huge upset to see them take power.Big_G_NorthWales said:
It largely depends if Starmer stabilises labour in Walesydoethur said:
To be blunt, BigG, although I agree with you on the need short of an absolutely sensational result it’s damned difficult to see any government being formed that doesn’t include Labour.Big_G_NorthWales said:Wales worst region by far in England and Wales for covid 19 infection rates
Wales needs to throw out labour in 2021
I think Tories - most seats but a Labour-Plaid-Green (if any) coalition government would be a reasonable bet. The snag is that unless the Tories or Plaid win an outright majority, one of which is out of the question and the other of which is extremely unlikely, then Plaid will almost certainly back Labour ahead of the Tories.
But for the sake of Wales we need labour out
And while Plaid might get 20 seats in a good year, that is pretty much their ceiling.
We could see Tory - 23, Labour - 22 Plaid - 15. Or, perhaps more likely, Labour - 25 Tory - 20. But whichever way around it is, who will Plaid back? And they will be the kingmakers.
The only way that might be averted is if the Tories agreed to a flipped coalition with Price as FM, but that seems even more unlikely. Perhaps a respected figure from outside the party leadership - Rhun ab Iorwerth or Janet Finch Saunders or evening Kirsty Williams if by some miracle she survives - might be put forward as a figurehead, but I don’t think it would work. Too many tensions and strains.0 -
Germany doesnt either. This is all I could findAndy_JS said:France doesn't collect data on ethnic minorities and the UK data is 9 years old.
https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/largest-ethnic-groups-in-germany.html1 -
What a hypocriteBig_G_NorthWales said:
This is the fact of living in labour Wales and suffering in the failing health and education systemsJonathan said:
One minute your against party political attacks, then you’re not. 🤷♂️Big_G_NorthWales said:
You do not know that at this stage but we do know on today's figures shown on ITV Wales that Wales is behind all regions in EnglandBenpointer said:
On that basis: UK worst nation in Europe for covid 19 deaths... UK needs to throw the Tories out in 2024.Big_G_NorthWales said:Wales worst region by far in England and Wales for covid 19 infection rates
Wales needs to throw out labour in 2021
We have suffered from labour for years with failing health service, and my family have had serious issues with it, and failing schooling
Labour and Drakeford has to go
Our local hospital concealed 84 covid deaths from the stats, yes 84
And Drakeford is a Corbynista and I have never agreed a truce with anyone who is a Corbynista0 -
Secure, Boris has banned indyref2 for the rest of his term and if Starmer gets in as PM the UK will return to the single market and any threat to the Union disappearsTheScreamingEagles said:
But long term?HYUFD said:
Northern Ireland and Scotland still part of the UK after Brexit has been delivered?TheScreamingEagles said:
It's great, also confirmed that Dave (pbuh) was right about what Brexit would do the Union.ydoethur said:
Surely the more amusing irony is that they hurled May under a bus claiming her deal was no good, only to get ruthlessly screwed over by Johnson who imposed a much worse one, indeed, one on the EU’s terms?TheScreamingEagles said:Have we discussed this news?
Boris Johnson's government has admitted it will erect Brexit border control posts for goods crossing the Irish Sea.
https://www.businessinsider.com/brexit-government-admits-there-will-be-checks-on-goods-going-to-northern-ireland-2020-5?r=US&IR=T
I love Boris Johnson, he's sold out the DUP and the Norn Irish.
As strategic blunders go the DUP backing Brexit is up there with Japan attacking the Pacific fleet to keep the Americans out of WWII.
Most disastrous act of political positioning since Felix Fauré’s unfortunate attempt to be Caesar...0 -
You are being deliberately obtuse.HYUFD said:
Northern Ireland and Scotland still part of the UK after Brexit has been delivered?TheScreamingEagles said:
It's great, also confirmed that Dave (pbuh) was right about what Brexit would do the Union.ydoethur said:
Surely the more amusing irony is that they hurled May under a bus claiming her deal was no good, only to get ruthlessly screwed over by Johnson who imposed a much worse one, indeed, one on the EU’s terms?TheScreamingEagles said:Have we discussed this news?
Boris Johnson's government has admitted it will erect Brexit border control posts for goods crossing the Irish Sea.
https://www.businessinsider.com/brexit-government-admits-there-will-be-checks-on-goods-going-to-northern-ireland-2020-5?r=US&IR=T
I love Boris Johnson, he's sold out the DUP and the Norn Irish.
As strategic blunders go the DUP backing Brexit is up there with Japan attacking the Pacific fleet to keep the Americans out of WWII.
Most disastrous act of political positioning since Felix Fauré’s unfortunate attempt to be Caesar...
You can make your point with some certainty in five or ten years assuming the status quo remains.0 -
Very little discussion of this. It was the first ten mins of News at Ten last night. The presenter was almost in tears. It seemed like I was watching a magazine type programme rather than News.
"Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) medics and healthcare workers say "systemic discrimination" on the frontline of the coronavirus outbreak may be a factor in the disproportionate number of their colleagues who have died after contracting the virus.
In the biggest survey of its kind, ITV News asked the UK's BAME healthcare community - respondents were of different ethnicity and roles in the NHS - why they thought more of their BAME colleagues are dying than their white counterparts.
The government has not published an official breakdown of NHS deaths by ethnicity, but ITV News' analysis found that the number of BAME NHS staff who died in England, was seven times higher than white workers."
https://www.itv.com/news/2020-05-13/discrimination-frontline-coronavirus-covid19-black-minority-ethnic-bame-deaths-nhs-racism/0 -
I would agree.ydoethur said:
Even if Starmer does not stabilise things - and I think he will - while I can see the Tories creeping to 24 seats in a good year, I cannot see them getting any nearer 30. And without 30 seats in the absence of the Liberal Democrats they have no hope of forming a coalition. Plaid will not back them. Not even under Adam Price. So it would be a huge upset to see them take power.Big_G_NorthWales said:
It largely depends if Starmer stabilises labour in Walesydoethur said:
To be blunt, BigG, although I agree with you on the need short of an absolutely sensational result it’s damned difficult to see any government being formed that doesn’t include Labour.Big_G_NorthWales said:Wales worst region by far in England and Wales for covid 19 infection rates
Wales needs to throw out labour in 2021
I think Tories - most seats but a Labour-Plaid-Green (if any) coalition government would be a reasonable bet. The snag is that unless the Tories or Plaid win an outright majority, one of which is out of the question and the other of which is extremely unlikely, then Plaid will almost certainly back Labour ahead of the Tories.
But for the sake of Wales we need labour out
And while Plaid might get 20 seats in a good year, that is pretty much their ceiling.
We could see Tory - 23, Labour - 22 Plaid - 15. Or, perhaps more likely, Labour - 25 Tory - 20. But whichever way around it is, who will Plaid back? And they will be the kingmakers.
The only way that might be averted is if the Tories agreed to a flipped coalition with Price as FM, but that seems even more unlikely. Perhaps a respected figure from outside the party leadership - Rhun ab Iorwerth or Janet Finch Saunders or evening Kirsty Williams if by some miracle she survives - might be put forward as a figurehead, but I don’t think it would work. Too many tensions and strains.
I have known Janet and her family for years and she is an excellent AM0 -
At the time of the 1970 General Election I was living in Blackheath. I voted Liberal in the Greenwich seat. The candidate was unusual - she was English but had converted to Sikhism. On election day she was the front page news story in a Sikh newspaper. She did not win.0
-
Cannot be a hypocrite for opposing all and everything to do with toxic Corbynbigjohnowls said:
What a hypocriteBig_G_NorthWales said:
This is the fact of living in labour Wales and suffering in the failing health and education systemsJonathan said:
One minute your against party political attacks, then you’re not. 🤷♂️Big_G_NorthWales said:
You do not know that at this stage but we do know on today's figures shown on ITV Wales that Wales is behind all regions in EnglandBenpointer said:
On that basis: UK worst nation in Europe for covid 19 deaths... UK needs to throw the Tories out in 2024.Big_G_NorthWales said:Wales worst region by far in England and Wales for covid 19 infection rates
Wales needs to throw out labour in 2021
We have suffered from labour for years with failing health service, and my family have had serious issues with it, and failing schooling
Labour and Drakeford has to go
Our local hospital concealed 84 covid deaths from the stats, yes 84
And Drakeford is a Corbynista and I have never agreed a truce with anyone who is a Corbynista
And how about condemning our hospital concealing 84 deaths0 -
In the interest of accuracy BigG, I take it that they concealed the cause of death, not the fact of it? Bearing in mind ‘concealing a death’ is an extremely serious criminal offence even if it has to be tried under the peculiar formula of ‘preventing a lawful and decent burial.’Big_G_NorthWales said:
Cannot be a hypocrite for opposing all and everything to do with toxic Corbynbigjohnowls said:
What a hypocriteBig_G_NorthWales said:
This is the fact of living in labour Wales and suffering in the failing health and education systemsJonathan said:
One minute your against party political attacks, then you’re not. 🤷♂️Big_G_NorthWales said:
You do not know that at this stage but we do know on today's figures shown on ITV Wales that Wales is behind all regions in EnglandBenpointer said:
On that basis: UK worst nation in Europe for covid 19 deaths... UK needs to throw the Tories out in 2024.Big_G_NorthWales said:Wales worst region by far in England and Wales for covid 19 infection rates
Wales needs to throw out labour in 2021
We have suffered from labour for years with failing health service, and my family have had serious issues with it, and failing schooling
Labour and Drakeford has to go
Our local hospital concealed 84 covid deaths from the stats, yes 84
And Drakeford is a Corbynista and I have never agreed a truce with anyone who is a Corbynista
And how about condemning our hospital concealing 84 deaths0 -
I'd need more detail on that first question. Immediately return or return soon? A few weeks here or there could make a big difference on how I answer depending on what other areas are reducing restrictions.HYUFD said:0 -
A reference to the Vendee Revolt, of courseydoethur said:
Yes, but it should also be paid through a Vendeeing machine.williamglenn said:
Should this regulation come with a guillotine clause?ydoethur said:
Easy solution. Make everyone pay €30 for the privilege of leaving their house.CarlottaVance said:We're not alone in struggling with regs
https://twitter.com/DougSaunders/status/1260667166677970953?s=20
That will also solve Macron’s fiscal problem and leave the rest of us with an unparalleled opportunity to watch a 1789-style explosion.
(That might be too subtle a pun, but we’ll see.)
The most important function of the guillotine in 1793 was that it deCapetated the monarchy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_the_Vendée1 -
Gold star for Sunil.Sunil_Prasannan said:
A reference to the Vendee Revolt, of courseydoethur said:
Yes, but it should also be paid through a Vendeeing machine.williamglenn said:
Should this regulation come with a guillotine clause?ydoethur said:
Easy solution. Make everyone pay €30 for the privilege of leaving their house.CarlottaVance said:We're not alone in struggling with regs
https://twitter.com/DougSaunders/status/1260667166677970953?s=20
That will also solve Macron’s fiscal problem and leave the rest of us with an unparalleled opportunity to watch a 1789-style explosion.
(That might be too subtle a pun, but we’ll see.)
The most important function of the guillotine in 1793 was that it deCapetated the monarchy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_the_Vendée
Or perhaps, a drink. Would you like a Bourbon?1 -
Eurosceptic propaganda did a good job of presenting Leave as the status quo option, and the EU as a burning building we needed to escape from.FF43 said:
The key point, obvious to everyone apart from themselves it seems, is that Unionists are the party of the status quo. Brexit threatens the status quo so they should oppose it with the Red Hand of Ulster.kle4 said:
Little sympathy to be had for the DUP. They had a great position holding the whip hand over the May government, and one of two things happened - either they enjoyed it too much and caused it to implode and then midjudged Johnson, or they they acted as they did toward May out of genuine principle and therefore deserve no sympathy for suffering worse afterwards, as they surely accepted the potential consequence whilst acting on their principles so don't need sympathy.ydoethur said:
Surely the more amusing irony is that they hurled May under a bus claiming her deal was no good, only to get ruthlessly screwed over by Johnson who imposed a much worse one, indeed, one on the EU’s terms?TheScreamingEagles said:Have we discussed this news?
Boris Johnson's government has admitted it will erect Brexit border control posts for goods crossing the Irish Sea.
https://www.businessinsider.com/brexit-government-admits-there-will-be-checks-on-goods-going-to-northern-ireland-2020-5?r=US&IR=T
I love Boris Johnson, he's sold out the DUP and the Norn Irish.
As strategic blunders go the DUP backing Brexit is up there with Japan attacking the Pacific fleet to keep the Americans out of WWII.
Most disastrous act of political positioning since Felix Fauré’s unfortunate attempt to be Caesar...0 -
Ultimately anything other than a close rule-taking relationship with the EU is going to be hard work. Not sure it will save the Union, though, and it's problematic in other ways.HYUFD said:
Secure, Boris has banned indyref2 for the rest of his term and if Starmer gets in as PM the UK will return to the single market and any threat to the Union disappearsTheScreamingEagles said:
But long term?HYUFD said:
Northern Ireland and Scotland still part of the UK after Brexit has been delivered?TheScreamingEagles said:
It's great, also confirmed that Dave (pbuh) was right about what Brexit would do the Union.ydoethur said:
Surely the more amusing irony is that they hurled May under a bus claiming her deal was no good, only to get ruthlessly screwed over by Johnson who imposed a much worse one, indeed, one on the EU’s terms?TheScreamingEagles said:Have we discussed this news?
Boris Johnson's government has admitted it will erect Brexit border control posts for goods crossing the Irish Sea.
https://www.businessinsider.com/brexit-government-admits-there-will-be-checks-on-goods-going-to-northern-ireland-2020-5?r=US&IR=T
I love Boris Johnson, he's sold out the DUP and the Norn Irish.
As strategic blunders go the DUP backing Brexit is up there with Japan attacking the Pacific fleet to keep the Americans out of WWII.
Most disastrous act of political positioning since Felix Fauré’s unfortunate attempt to be Caesar...0 -
Don't the DUP have this strange religious thing that they think the EU is something mentioned in Revelations?0
-
The former Tube trains shuttling between Ryde and the Shankhill date from 1938!JohnLilburne said:
The Island is stuck in the 1950s. It's part of its charmAndy_JS said:
I always thought it was a risky choice because there are so many retired people there who are less likely to have smartphones.FrancisUrquhart said:
Not enough people.Big_G_NorthWales said:Over half the Isle of Wight have downloaded the app
0 -
Yes, I'm fairly certain the DUP would support the EU if the founding treaty was anything but the Treaty of Rome.CatMan said:Don't the DUP have this strange religious thing that they think the EU is something mentioned in Revelations?
1 -
I prefer Custard Creamsydoethur said:
Gold star for Sunil.Sunil_Prasannan said:
A reference to the Vendee Revolt, of courseydoethur said:
Yes, but it should also be paid through a Vendeeing machine.williamglenn said:
Should this regulation come with a guillotine clause?ydoethur said:
Easy solution. Make everyone pay €30 for the privilege of leaving their house.CarlottaVance said:We're not alone in struggling with regs
https://twitter.com/DougSaunders/status/1260667166677970953?s=20
That will also solve Macron’s fiscal problem and leave the rest of us with an unparalleled opportunity to watch a 1789-style explosion.
(That might be too subtle a pun, but we’ll see.)
The most important function of the guillotine in 1793 was that it deCapetated the monarchy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_the_Vendée
Or perhaps, a drink. Would you like a Bourbon?
1 -
I had forgotten that. Remain somehow wasn't the status quo.williamglenn said:
Eurosceptic propaganda did a good job of presenting Leave as the status quo option, and the EU as a burning building we needed to escape from.FF43 said:
The key point, obvious to everyone apart from themselves it seems, is that Unionists are the party of the status quo. Brexit threatens the status quo so they should oppose it with the Red Hand of Ulster.kle4 said:
Little sympathy to be had for the DUP. They had a great position holding the whip hand over the May government, and one of two things happened - either they enjoyed it too much and caused it to implode and then midjudged Johnson, or they they acted as they did toward May out of genuine principle and therefore deserve no sympathy for suffering worse afterwards, as they surely accepted the potential consequence whilst acting on their principles so don't need sympathy.ydoethur said:
Surely the more amusing irony is that they hurled May under a bus claiming her deal was no good, only to get ruthlessly screwed over by Johnson who imposed a much worse one, indeed, one on the EU’s terms?TheScreamingEagles said:Have we discussed this news?
Boris Johnson's government has admitted it will erect Brexit border control posts for goods crossing the Irish Sea.
https://www.businessinsider.com/brexit-government-admits-there-will-be-checks-on-goods-going-to-northern-ireland-2020-5?r=US&IR=T
I love Boris Johnson, he's sold out the DUP and the Norn Irish.
As strategic blunders go the DUP backing Brexit is up there with Japan attacking the Pacific fleet to keep the Americans out of WWII.
Most disastrous act of political positioning since Felix Fauré’s unfortunate attempt to be Caesar...0 -
Brexit will be status quo in short order. Indyref is harder to win if there's not free and open and frictionless trade with the rest of Europe. You can create enough doubt in people's minds just because the land border for Scotland is with England, not the EU. The SNP abstained on a lot of the meaningful votes, but voted against Customs Union, and I think that will come back to bite them.0
-
They never occupied the French throne.Sunil_Prasannan said:
I prefer Custard Creamsydoethur said:
Gold star for Sunil.Sunil_Prasannan said:
A reference to the Vendee Revolt, of courseydoethur said:
Yes, but it should also be paid through a Vendeeing machine.williamglenn said:
Should this regulation come with a guillotine clause?ydoethur said:
Easy solution. Make everyone pay €30 for the privilege of leaving their house.CarlottaVance said:We're not alone in struggling with regs
https://twitter.com/DougSaunders/status/1260667166677970953?s=20
That will also solve Macron’s fiscal problem and leave the rest of us with an unparalleled opportunity to watch a 1789-style explosion.
(That might be too subtle a pun, but we’ll see.)
The most important function of the guillotine in 1793 was that it deCapetated the monarchy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_the_Vendée
Or perhaps, a drink. Would you like a Bourbon?
Although it’s hard to imagine they would have made a worse mess of things than Louis XVI or Charles X.0 -
Indeed - such a much more civilised time.Philip_Thompson said:
I like that, though biased by making it just before I was born. But pre-Thatcher certainly seems like a totally different era.Andy_JS said:
Modern times start in about 1980 in my opinion.Philip_Thompson said:That election was over a decade before I was born. I wonder what the cut off is for it to no longer be considered "in modern times"?
It's strange to think but 1970 now is comparably long ago as the Great Depression period before before WWII was when I was in primary school.0 -
They have nobody that wants to negotiateTGOHF666 said:
Time for this but no time to negotiate a trade deal ...CarlottaVance said:0 -
NickPalmer said:
Eek, I see what you mean. That takes me back to 1880!nova said:
If you ever want to feel old, subtract your age from your birth, and then look at what was happening in that year. Most people consider things that happened during their lives as relatively recent, and exaggerate just how far back "history" isPhilip_Thompson said:That election was over a decade before I was born. I wonder what the cut off is for it to no longer be considered "in modern times"?
It's strange to think but 1970 now is comparably long ago as the Great Depression period before before WWII was when I was in primary school.
It takes me back to 1888 - but it tends make me see the 1880s as not so far back after all!NickPalmer said:
Eek, I see what you mean. That takes me back to 1880!nova said:
If you ever want to feel old, subtract your age from your birth, and then look at what was happening in that year. Most people consider things that happened during their lives as relatively recent, and exaggerate just how far back "history" isPhilip_Thompson said:That election was over a decade before I was born. I wonder what the cut off is for it to no longer be considered "in modern times"?
It's strange to think but 1970 now is comparably long ago as the Great Depression period before before WWII was when I was in primary school.0 -
I think Drakeford is a dick, and he wouldn't be my choice as first Minister. That said Drakeford, and it might come back to bite him has played a more consistent game than Johnson over Covid-19. Testing in Wales was off to a better start than England although chaos did follow. I admire Drakeford for ploughing his own furrow over the lockdown, he may pay a heavy price for that, but I believe he stuck by the science. I am not sure Boris didBig_G_NorthWales said:
You do not know that at this stage but we do know on today's figures shown on ITV Wales that Wales is behind all regions in EnglandBenpointer said:
On that basis: UK worst nation in Europe for covid 19 deaths... UK needs to throw the Tories out in 2024.Big_G_NorthWales said:Wales worst region by far in England and Wales for covid 19 infection rates
Wales needs to throw out labour in 2021
We have suffered from labour for years with failing health service, and my family have had serious issues with it, and failing schooling
Labour and Drakeford has to go
Granted I live in the opposite end of Wales to you but I don't recognise the country of which you regularly complain. To be honest BigG. your lapdog love for Boris and criticism for everyone else is very tiresome.
0 -
TheScreamingEagles said:
Yes, I'm fairly certain the DUP would support the EU if the founding treaty was anything but the Treaty of Rome.CatMan said:Don't the DUP have this strange religious thing that they think the EU is something mentioned in Revelations?
1 -
No, this is silly. Crossrail requires that we run trains which can cope with the signalling systems from three (or possibly four - I forget which) different tracks and switch seamlessly from one to the next as they cross between them. It’s getting this part to run correctly that has run drastically over time & one of the main reasons for that is the difficulty in finding the time to run test trains across the network - it turns out there are very few time-slots where you can run a train all the way through and test every part. This has drastically slowed the test->find problems->fix problems->test again cycle and meant that fixing the (inevitable) teething problems has taken much, much longer than anyone expected. Like many modern projects, Crossrail is also a software project & sometimes those take a lot longer than you expect.Nigelb said:
Is Khan responsible for the Crossrail delay, which seems to be a pretty significant part of that thread argument ?CarlottaVance said:
(A genuine question, as I have no idea of the answer to that, but I'm fairly sure we have someone here who knows.)
In fact, that’s a pretty good description of the entire project - it has been riddled with teething problems that have simply taken much longer to sort than management expected: https://www.londonreconnections.com/2019/crossrail-progressing-but-slipping/
The idea that Crossrail was "on time under Boris" but "delayed by Khan" is simply wrong. Crossrail was delayed under Boris too, we just didn’t know it yet.0 -
In 1970 we were just back from Singapore and living in Carnoustie. It was my first general election (I was 9) and I remember delivering leaflets for the Tory candidate who won South Angus by a landslide but (without my help) lost it 4 years later to the SNP. It was the start of a regular swing in the constituency which again switched back from Tory to SNP in 2019.
My main recollection is going out for a celebratory tea the next day with my somewhat bemused parents who couldn't really understand my interest.0 -
Is JRM serious? Or is that just another hilarious example of his waspish wit?HYUFD said:1 -
I have a little secret. The SNP voting against a Customs Union (not sure which vote that was) won't bite the SNP one bit.Monkeys said:Brexit will be status quo in short order. Indyref is harder to win if there's not free and open and frictionless trade with the rest of Europe. You can create enough doubt in people's minds just because the land border for Scotland is with England, not the EU. The SNP abstained on a lot of the meaningful votes, but voted against Customs Union, and I think that will come back to bite them.
If it comes to a referendum, I'm not sure how voters will put their crosses. I think it could go to independence. At the moment we can say that Brexit is putting a lot of strain on the Union, not least by the irredentist approach to Brexit by the UKIPped Tory Party.0 -
His function is the improve the gaiety of the nation and he was somewhat behind on his quota having said nothing spectacularly daft for over a week.Mexicanpete said:
Is JRM serious? Or is that just another hilarious example of his waspish wit?HYUFD said:1 -
Who will be able to afford that, and all food and drink at colossal pricesHYUFD said:
You probably get put up in a hotel for the 14 day quarantine and cannot leaveStocky said:
How will they know?HYUFD said:
It means you cannot go out at all I think for 14 days on your arrival or returnStocky said:
Damn - what does this quarantine actually mean though? Does it just mean self-isolation like we are doing now?HYUFD said:
Looks like summer in Blackpool, Brighton or Skegness it is thenCarlottaVance said:0 -
The increasingly noticeable noises against devolution almost seem like a deliberate attempt to blow up the union.FF43 said:
I have a little secret. The SNP voting against a Customs Union (not sure which vote that was) won't bite the SNP one bit.Monkeys said:Brexit will be status quo in short order. Indyref is harder to win if there's not free and open and frictionless trade with the rest of Europe. You can create enough doubt in people's minds just because the land border for Scotland is with England, not the EU. The SNP abstained on a lot of the meaningful votes, but voted against Customs Union, and I think that will come back to bite them.
If it comes to a referendum, I'm not sure how voters will put their crosses. I think it could go to independence. At the moment we can say that Brexit is putting a lot of strain on the Union, not least by the irredentist approach to Brexit by the UKIPped Tory Party.0 -
I like this technique and I'm going to look it right in the face alongside you. The time you have left in this world is quite likely similar to the time that has elapsed between DC becoming Tory leader and today. Gulp.justin124 said:Not many people are inclined to look this directly in the face but it happens to be a bit of a quirky time obsession of mine. In two months time I reach the age of 66 - and I am conscious that was the average UK male expectancy in 1960. By my calculation, I have just reached what was normal male life expectancy in April 1959. I was young at the time but do have vivid memories of those years. I still see 1959 as being in the 'Modern World'.
More strikingly, I tell myself that living beyond 80 cannot be assumed at all. I am faced with the reality that I am as close to 80 as to March 2006 - by which time Cameron had already been Tory leader for three months!
But you never know - it could also be more like the time elapsed looking back from now to when "Our Friends In The North" was on*. Now that feels better, am I right?
* amazing it's never been repeated.0 -
I really can't abide these fence sitters who try to have it both ways.williamglenn said:TheScreamingEagles said:
Yes, I'm fairly certain the DUP would support the EU if the founding treaty was anything but the Treaty of Rome.CatMan said:Don't the DUP have this strange religious thing that they think the EU is something mentioned in Revelations?
1 -
"Taiwan has been a part of China's territory since time immemoral" is a rather strong claim - I knew a Chinese-descent but pro-independence Taiwanese person who'd have argued strongly against that. The indigenous population was Austronesian (ie related to Polynesians, Indonesians/Malays, Filipino, Madagascans etc) and in fact the island is believed to be the place of origin of the entire Austronesian language group, from Malagasy in Madegascar to Hawaiian and Maori...).FF43 said:
There is a big, and to the Chinese government hugely frustrating, contradiction on the status of Taiwan. China's position is that Taiwan is integral to its territory. In other words it doesn't matter a tiny bit what the people of Taiwan think, although the Chinese don't actually want to send the troops in. Taiwan doesn't object to reunification in principle although it distrusts the Chinese government in practice, Their point is that legitimacy comes from the people and it is entirely up to the people of Taiwan what they do.williamglenn said:China sets the record strait on Taiwan: it's an internal civil war, but Chinese don't fight Chinese, and China reserves the right to use force.
https://twitter.com/MahuiChina/status/1260866328463843328
https://twitter.com/MahuiChina/status/1260866335170605057
https://twitter.com/MahuiChina/status/1260866336256909312
To be fair on this issue, China position of territorial integrity no matter what people in that territory think, is legally the same as many other countries. The United States for example.
Though it was home to a small number of Han traders by the time the Europeans arrived, it went through 38 years of Dutch colonial rule (and in some places Spanish, with several Japanese expeditions having failed) before the Chinese conquered the island - initially in 1661, in alliance with anti-Dutch indigenous Formosans, by Ming loyalists fleeing the Manchu onslaught who were looking to set up a kind of "rebel province" they could use to recapture the rest of the country, in an odd foreshadowing of the KMT retreat to Taiwan. In 1683 they surrendered to the Qing dynasty, who seriously considered abandoning the island and withdrawing all ethnic Chinese to the mainland. After a change of imperial heart, the island was administered as part of China but largely leaving the old Dutch system of rule over the Formosans intact, and migration restrictions leaving the island with just a few thousands ethnic Chinese.
Again foreshadowing Tibet and Xinjiang, the decision was made in 1760 to populate the island with millions of Chinese migrants, and the Formosans became a small minority. From 1895-1945 the Japanese controlled the island, then shortly after that the KMT retreat to Taiwan brought a lot of new mainlanders with them. Something which I've been told irked Taiwanese about the first few decades of KMT rule was that they effectively ran the place like just another colonialist - in their fantasy, the island was just a stepping stone to regaining control of the mainland again, and the political leadership was dominated by mainlander exiles rather than the Taiwanese-born. That, combined with their brutality and the increasingly obvious implausibility of their fantasy to reunite China under KMT rule, produced considerable dissent. The CCP's governance of the mainland from Xinjiang to HK hardly makes KMT's currently preferred "one country, two areas" appealing either and there are a considerable number of Taiwanese who would prefer independence as a long-term goal.1 -
Labour in Wales has been a disaster for years.Mexicanpete said:
I think Drakeford is a dick, and he wouldn't be my choice as first Minister. That said Drakeford, and it might come back to bite him has played a more consistent game than Johnson over Covid-19. Testing in Wales was off to a better start than England although chaos did follow. I admire Drakeford for ploughing his own furrow over the lockdown, he may pay a heavy price for that, but I believe he stuck by the science. I am not sure Boris didBig_G_NorthWales said:
You do not know that at this stage but we do know on today's figures shown on ITV Wales that Wales is behind all regions in EnglandBenpointer said:
On that basis: UK worst nation in Europe for covid 19 deaths... UK needs to throw the Tories out in 2024.Big_G_NorthWales said:Wales worst region by far in England and Wales for covid 19 infection rates
Wales needs to throw out labour in 2021
We have suffered from labour for years with failing health service, and my family have had serious issues with it, and failing schooling
Labour and Drakeford has to go
Granted I live in the opposite end of Wales to you but I don't recognise the country of which you regularly complain. To be honest BigG. your lapdog love for Boris and criticism for everyone else is very tiresome.
Drakeford is inept and my family have suffered over health and education issues for years. How about 86 weeks wait for my bi lateral hernia in 2017
Maybe using words like lap dog comfort you but if you have followed my posts recently I have been critical of HMG and expressed concern over Boris health0 -
Interestingly (to me) pro-independence Taiwanese seem to picture themselves in a similar vein to Singapore - culturally Chinese, with protected minorities, but not "of China" - rather than trying to play up (valid) claims to cultural and historical distinctiveness, e.g. reviving and celebrating their Austronesian heritage. It's a contrast to the difficult birth of FYROM, which lacked history as an independent state in its current ethnic arrangement and whose culture was claimed by both Serb and Bulgarian nationalists as having no independent existence and being merely an extension of their own - the response being a period of pseudo-historical "Macedonian" culture- and nation-building around Alexander the Great, In contrast, whenever the KMT has power, it deliberately tries to grow cross-straits cultural and trade links in part to make separation more painful. I wonder if that drip-drip ratchet effect combined with the lack of a distinctively Taiwanese identity outside the Chinese cultural orbit will eventually suppress the drive towards separation within Taiwan. Obviously the geopolitics makes it an impractical dream anyway, but for now at least a lot of people feel torn between their desire for independence and the strategic reality.MyBurningEars said:
"Taiwan has been a part of China's territory since time immemoral" is a rather strong claim - I knew a Chinese-descent but pro-independence Taiwanese person who'd have argued strongly against that. The indigenous population was Austronesian (ie related to Polynesians, Indonesians/Malays, Filipino, Madagascans etc) and in fact the island is believed to be the place of origin of the entire Austronesian language group, from Malagasy in Madegascar to Hawaiian and Maori...).FF43 said:
There is a big, and to the Chinese government hugely frustrating, contradiction on the status of Taiwan. China's position is that Taiwan is integral to its territory. In other words it doesn't matter a tiny bit what the people of Taiwan think, although the Chinese don't actually want to send the troops in. Taiwan doesn't object to reunification in principle although it distrusts the Chinese government in practice, Their point is that legitimacy comes from the people and it is entirely up to the people of Taiwan what they do.williamglenn said:China sets the record strait on Taiwan: it's an internal civil war, but Chinese don't fight Chinese, and China reserves the right to use force.
https://twitter.com/MahuiChina/status/1260866328463843328
https://twitter.com/MahuiChina/status/1260866335170605057
https://twitter.com/MahuiChina/status/1260866336256909312
To be fair on this issue, China position of territorial integrity no matter what people in that territory think, is legally the same as many other countries. The United States for example.
Though it was home to a small number of Han traders by the time the Europeans arrived, it went through 38 years of Dutch colonial rule (and in some places Spanish, with several Japanese expeditions having failed) before the Chinese conquered the island - initially in 1661, in alliance with anti-Dutch indigenous Formosans, by Ming loyalists fleeing the Manchu onslaught who were looking to set up a kind of "rebel province" they could use to recapture the rest of the country, in an odd foreshadowing of the KMT retreat to Taiwan. In 1683 they surrendered to the Qing dynasty, who seriously considered abandoning the island and withdrawing all ethnic Chinese to the mainland. After a change of imperial heart, the island was administered as part of China but largely leaving the old Dutch system of rule over the Formosans intact, and migration restrictions leaving the island with just a few thousands ethnic Chinese.
Again foreshadowing Tibet and Xinjiang, the decision was made in 1760 to populate the island with millions of Chinese migrants, and the Formosans became a small minority. From 1895-1945 the Japanese controlled the island, then shortly after that the KMT retreat to Taiwan brought a lot of new mainlanders with them. Something which I've been told irked Taiwanese about the first few decades of KMT rule was that they effectively ran the place like just another colonialist - in their fantasy, the island was just a stepping stone to regaining control of the mainland again, and the political leadership was dominated by mainlander exiles rather than the Taiwanese-born. That, combined with their brutality and the increasingly obvious implausibility of their fantasy to reunite China under KMT rule, produced considerable dissent. The CCP's governance of the mainland from Xinjiang to HK hardly makes KMT's currently preferred "one country, two areas" appealing either and there are a considerable number of Taiwanese who would prefer independence as a long-term goal.1 -
They failed to report the deaths but it has now come to lightydoethur said:
In the interest of accuracy BigG, I take it that they concealed the cause of death, not the fact of it? Bearing in mind ‘concealing a death’ is an extremely serious criminal offence even if it has to be tried under the peculiar formula of ‘preventing a lawful and decent burial.’Big_G_NorthWales said:
Cannot be a hypocrite for opposing all and everything to do with toxic Corbynbigjohnowls said:
What a hypocriteBig_G_NorthWales said:
This is the fact of living in labour Wales and suffering in the failing health and education systemsJonathan said:
One minute your against party political attacks, then you’re not. 🤷♂️Big_G_NorthWales said:
You do not know that at this stage but we do know on today's figures shown on ITV Wales that Wales is behind all regions in EnglandBenpointer said:
On that basis: UK worst nation in Europe for covid 19 deaths... UK needs to throw the Tories out in 2024.Big_G_NorthWales said:Wales worst region by far in England and Wales for covid 19 infection rates
Wales needs to throw out labour in 2021
We have suffered from labour for years with failing health service, and my family have had serious issues with it, and failing schooling
Labour and Drakeford has to go
Our local hospital concealed 84 covid deaths from the stats, yes 84
And Drakeford is a Corbynista and I have never agreed a truce with anyone who is a Corbynista
And how about condemning our hospital concealing 84 deaths0 -
The high UKIP vote in 2009 owed a very great deal to the Expenses Scandal and the resultant widespread disillusionment with the major parties.HYUFD said:
The UKIP vote rose from 6% in 1999 to 16% in 2009 on the European elections due to uncontrolled immigration from Eastern Europe. With proper transition controls like Germany had Brexit would have remained the pet hobby of obsessives like Cash, Farage and Hannan.Nigel_Foremain said:
Nope, the key reason for the Leave vote was most that voted that way were just xenophobic. You don't need to worry though, because though you have sucked up to the loony right ever since, you voted Remain, and are only therefore xenophobic by association.HYUFD said:
That decision undoubtedly suppressed wages for the lower skilled and added to pressure on housing and public services and was a key reason for the Leave vote in 2016matthiasfromhamburg said:
Was that fact that you're requesting gratitude for really some sort of sacrifice made by the UK to its own detriment, or was it more a case of the UKG making the decision to do its own economy a favour, by, on the one hand, attracting 'the best and the brightest' for its financial services and other high-value industries, and, on the other hand, attracting less - but still sufficiently - skilled workers for production plants, construction sites, hospitals and nursing homes, etc., because the UK workforce was not prepared or inclined to fill these more menial roles?HYUFD said:
No gratitude for the fact we did not impose transition controls on free movement from the new accession countries in 2004 as Germany for instance did for 7 yearsCarlottaVance said:
The development of unemployment numbers doesn't seem to indicate that net migration had driven the British out of their jobs, and it seems fairly arguable whether the widely percieved, but hardly measurable, wage suppression was more an effect of net migration or post-GFC wage austerity.0 -
Tests/million:Mexicanpete said:
Granted I live in the opposite end of Wales to you but I don't recognise the country of which you regularly complain.Big_G_NorthWales said:
You do not know that at this stage but we do know on today's figures shown on ITV Wales that Wales is behind all regions in EnglandBenpointer said:
On that basis: UK worst nation in Europe for covid 19 deaths... UK needs to throw the Tories out in 2024.Big_G_NorthWales said:Wales worst region by far in England and Wales for covid 19 infection rates
Wales needs to throw out labour in 2021
We have suffered from labour for years with failing health service, and my family have had serious issues with it, and failing schooling
Labour and Drakeford has to go
England: 35,100
UK: 33,400
NI: 29,400
Scotland: 26,400
Wales: 16,9000
0 -
Serious. He asked how can it be reasonable for children to go back to school if MPs won't go back to work.Mexicanpete said:
Is JRM serious? Or is that just another hilarious example of his waspish wit?HYUFD said:3 -
The large number of people with Dementia that die, surely that is correlation not causation i.e. very old people die of this at a very high rate, very old people are much more likely to have dementia.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8320081/A-QUARTER-COVID-19-patients-died-hospitals-England-diabetes.html0 -
Tescos own brand are very good .. coops are crapSunil_Prasannan said:
I prefer Custard Creamsydoethur said:
Gold star for Sunil.Sunil_Prasannan said:
A reference to the Vendee Revolt, of courseydoethur said:
Yes, but it should also be paid through a Vendeeing machine.williamglenn said:
Should this regulation come with a guillotine clause?ydoethur said:
Easy solution. Make everyone pay €30 for the privilege of leaving their house.CarlottaVance said:We're not alone in struggling with regs
https://twitter.com/DougSaunders/status/1260667166677970953?s=20
That will also solve Macron’s fiscal problem and leave the rest of us with an unparalleled opportunity to watch a 1789-style explosion.
(That might be too subtle a pun, but we’ll see.)
The most important function of the guillotine in 1793 was that it deCapetated the monarchy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_the_Vendée
Or perhaps, a drink. Would you like a Bourbon?
0 -
Amazing over 50% and 19 point lead still despite the onslaught against HMG recentlyCarlottaVance said:
Seems Starmer is taking green and lib dem votes0 -
No its just age once again as always.CarlottaVance said:
If you want to compare for what generations think when they turn 18 you need to compare with like-for-like polls from decades ago.1 -
https://twitter.com/cricketwyvern/status/1260907789410598912?s=19
The 8th is the peak the 8th is the peak the 8th is the peak is the 8th is the 8th of the peak.
The 16th? Oh, that's just the highest day. I definetely wasn't wrong calling the 8th the peak despite hundreds of people telling me I was wrong.0 -
Starmer is doing ok. His big message is obviously nine kinds of stupid, and that'll hurt him. Ok though.Big_G_NorthWales said:
Amazing over 50% and 19 point lead still despite the onslaught against HMG recentlyCarlottaVance said:
Seems Starmer is taking green and lib dem votes0 -
Put that way, that is a very fair point.Philip_Thompson said:
Serious. He asked how can it be reasonable for children to go back to school if MPs won't go back to work.Mexicanpete said:
Is JRM serious? Or is that just another hilarious example of his waspish wit?HYUFD said:2 -
The Guardian is closing its online dating service Guardian Soulmates because it is "no longer viable".
Not enough people willing to actually pay apparently.0 -
Correlation is a distinct possibility I agree. I`d wager that a good proportion also suffered from arthritis and lacked hair.FrancisUrquhart said:The large number of people with Dementia that die, surely that is correlation not causation i.e. very old people die of this at a very high rate, very old people are much more likely to have dementia.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8320081/A-QUARTER-COVID-19-patients-died-hospitals-England-diabetes.html
On the other hand - Foxy was talking about the vascular side the other day and that could link to dementia.0 -
29% of population have had CV by middle of April...
https://twitter.com/DrAdrianHeald/status/1260951024954638337?s=19
Think they might to need turn it off and on again.0 -
Transport for London (TfL) has secured £1.6bn in emergency funding to keep Tube and bus services running until September.2
-
If true, and thats a big if reading the report, again large gathering + shouting. But outside this time, but like the Italian football match.Big_G_NorthWales said:twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1260985522677301249?s=09
0 -
I too have personal experience of the health service in Wales, with mixed results. In 2011 my much loved mother was as good as executed through neglect during the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend. It was a political scandal and the WAG needed to get a grip and turn things around. My father's last month's of care atBig_G_NorthWales said:
Labour in Wales has been a disaster for years.Mexicanpete said:
I think Drakeford is a dick, and he wouldn't be my choice as first Minister. That said Drakeford, and it might come back to bite him has played a more consistent game than Johnson over Covid-19. Testing in Wales was off to a better start than England although chaos did follow. I admire Drakeford for ploughing his own furrow over the lockdown, he may pay a heavy price for that, but I believe he stuck by the science. I am not sure Boris didBig_G_NorthWales said:
You do not know that at this stage but we do know on today's figures shown on ITV Wales that Wales is behind all regions in EnglandBenpointer said:
On that basis: UK worst nation in Europe for covid 19 deaths... UK needs to throw the Tories out in 2024.Big_G_NorthWales said:Wales worst region by far in England and Wales for covid 19 infection rates
Wales needs to throw out labour in 2021
We have suffered from labour for years with failing health service, and my family have had serious issues with it, and failing schooling
Labour and Drakeford has to go
Granted I live in the opposite end of Wales to you but I don't recognise the country of which you regularly complain. To be honest BigG. your lapdog love for Boris and criticism for everyone else is very tiresome.
Drakeford is inept and my family have suffered over health and education issues for years. How about 86 weeks wait for my bi lateral hernia in 2017
Maybe using words like lap dog comfort you but if you have followed my posts recently I have been critical of HMG and expressed concern over Boris health
the same hospital in 2017/18 were faultless. Throw me statistics but from my own experience they got a grip.
Both my son's had excellent primary and secondary educations in the state run sector. I have been involved with post16 education in Wales with an Estyn rated 'excellent' institution. It wasn't in the slightest bit excellent, but then I became involved with a similarly Ofsted rated 'excellent' institution in the West Midlands. It was probably worse.
I would be quite happy to see Adam Price as First Minister, but Paul Davies and his shower of no hopers? No thanks.0 -
Would it be tasteless to suggest this might be natural selection?Big_G_NorthWales said:0 -
Most of them will survive.Mexicanpete said:
Would it be tasteless to suggest this might be natural selection?Big_G_NorthWales said:0
